Two Best Dogs!

While you're getting his health checked, you could try out some self entertaining puzzle games to keep him distracted and reduce his barking? things like a kong stuffed with dinner, a snuffle mat (personally I just scatter kibble through grass for a similar effect aka a kibble trail) http://www.allpetseducationandtraining.com.au/snuffle-mat-mayhem.html bonus, recent research suggests that puzzle games help old dogs stay keen so if his cognitive abilities are failing, the puzzle games and teaching him a new trick might help him out and more time to enjoy the golden years with him https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/02/dog-cognitive-brain-games-touchscreen-lab-video-spd/

Can you set up some barriers eg pot plants to prevent him from getting to the fence? also work on training him to relax when hearing the other dog. You might need to put him in lead, then reward him for only looking at the fence or doing something like sniffing the ground. If he barks or tries to drag u to fence for this, move him further away and practice there

Average joe buyer isn't sticking to Merle dogs together make the pup. The blame lays with those who intentionally put two Merle dogs together. Be it for money, looks, the dogs being amazing examples of the breed in every way and they want to take the risk, or pure not caring/it won't happen to me attitudes. Byb or registered. They are the ones who made the decision to intentionally breed such a high risk detrimental trait. The dogs suffer for it.

thanks all! i am not ignoring post, just very busy at work this week then get home so tired! i like the idea of tiny boxes from milk containers. with a 2 litres that's practicly each dogs meal!

Can you describe more what you are doing here? I'm trying to imagine. Are you trimming all over to the chalky layer for 50% nail? Which clippers are are you using? I have red handle millers forge. They're good for shaving the tip on alternative cut line but slide off everywhere else We we have no issues nail clipping at current except that T1s quicks are THICK so can really only go as short as not touching ground when standing. If we could go further... T2 just lays there. He has one nail which is black and white. I think it's adorable like a neo ice cream

Alternative cut line really helps get it down :D and to to do it every 2-3 days until it's your desired length. The Facebook group is a super help. I use clippers and and a scratch board. big hare feet on my mix with big thick quicks in our nails = I'm happy when standing square they're not touching the ground

We just got a whole bunch of Eco friendly oh Crap poop bags but it brings to mind other things I try to change. We we only partially raw feed yet still SO MUCH PLASTIC. For freezing portions I am using some Tupperware but when I buy the meat it comes in so much plastic! I'm not sure how to reduce that while keeping everything hygienic? i know I can recycle some plastics at redcycle but how to reduce buying it in the first place?

yeah not a good "rebuttal" at all, it's about as hyperbole as most of the news articles are out there - just in a different direction. Doubt they even read the study, considering their points are super misunderstandings of basic research and they didn't even get the name of it right? Then it launches into conspiracy theory territory... yikes. This I find a pretty good summary, in plain english, of the study's relevance and usefulness.

How's he going Caitlin?

I'm not going to panic over it but good to know. I'll be more careful with my chicken cage but I usually prefer to give turkey anyway. Less chokable for big dogs

The dog walker has been charged with committing an act of cruelty, and fail to exercise care to prevent cruelty. Due at downing centre local court in march.

Can't hurt to start the crate training now but also i like rascal's idea, find a groomer who can accommodate you. eg. Thyme's very first time he was sooking and barking a bit, so he got moved into the crate with my other dog to help calm him down. It was a new situation, at 4 months old, he couldn't be expected to be calm the way he would be at home. Even at 5 months...wouldn't say anything wrong with him, just that he is a baby in a new location. Of course will cry But now at one year, I had to leave him at 9am for an 11:30am booking and he was quiet and calm both when i left and arrive. (They did of course let him out for some cuddles and a wee). But I wouldn't expect him to be so calm now when at 4 months through to 6 months he was a vocal little crate boy!

Could contact the Rottweiler club and see if they know any rescue or fostering options? Did they train her through a local school? Could approach the trainers if they know anyone looking for a large young dog?

How terrifying! I'm glad he's made it through quarantine and to his family in their new home. What a cute little pup to boot.

(hit little arrow to move right on pics) mmm turkey necks are delicious! makes him look like a flower

@talking dog sorry i meant this LH study you keep referencing. Not that the Maillard study wasn't an interesting read, it is always worth comparing and analysing different food preparation techniques to see how they affect the end result. It's a perfectly good criteria for me that suspected low crude protein, my dog ate her poop (and lost weight). On higher crude protein levels, she doesn't eat poop and she keeps her weight on. She is healthy, her poops small and solid with a bit of give. They're pretty odourless, is anyone going to find it funny I'm proud of that? My favourite aspect is after a couple of days they disintegrate into the dirt, meaning minimal yard cleanup for me. I'm sharing my experience because it is doubtful poop eating is caused by one or two blanket reasons across all dogs and I figure if anyone is going to be interested about my dogs input and output (why is there no poop emoji????!) it's a dog forum. She doesn't eat poop anymore, even though she's both desexed and food obsessed. Win for me.

i picked up a couple of fly catchers, one is near the kennel and the other near T1's preferred bed. Here's hoping they reduce the amount! Today a combination of the spray and the jelly. unfortunately could not find the horse sprays - we got too hot to keep looking.

Talking dog - perhaps could make own thread to discuss your concerns about training methods? The topic for this thread is about snakes and assorted snake avoidance training. Personally I am tracking this thread so generally I hope it is information relating to snakes, snake spotting, snake prevention or snake avoidance training. This is very helpful, thank you! Most my fences meet your height descriptions there, all bordered with cement but gaps in some locations and while I cannot force my neighbours to clear their side of the fence, the name of the wire to look out is helpful to know! Previously only seen wires recommended that trap the snake - killing the snake and providing risk to us while it is trapped. Not desired! So just the name of the wire to keep them out that I can set around our boundaries would hopefully reduce the amount of snakes (and bluetongues) making their way into our yard and hopefully go somewhere else...

that is the repellent i am using! her ears are a lovely pink but the flies are just ignoring it :'( positively stylish! thyme is licking the jelly off her ears, she let's him. no thyme please don't! i will see if any of the local stores are selling these other horse sprays for her beds. to my shame my grass is quite long in areas right now, that heat has been defeating me! i believe it is only 24 c tomorrow so i will try to get it mowed then. first...going to bunnings for a pool repair, maybe see if a bug zapper i can put near the preferred kennel. stupid flies making her ears all scabby!

@talking dog can i see this study? - We had a challenge with T1 eating poop while on Meals for Mutts salmon. Switched her off that, and she stopped eating her poop. I haven't worked out the particular cause but my suspicion was the crude protein count (20%) was pretty low for what I usually have her on (around 25-30%, she is an active girl). Haven't had any repeats since we dropped MfM and kept an eye on the crude protein levels.

Like for kids? BE cute an functional i'd hope! they are only little ears :'(

Poor Thistle! I thought we had it beat but the recent hot weather it's come back. The flies are landing on her ears and either biting or making her scratch them, resulting in some scabby ears! I've given her a bath to get rid of smells and been spraying the ears with a fly repellent which works on the normal summer days but these 35-42c days, the flies seem to ignore it! Just tried some petroleum jelly on her ears but she's inside for the evening so cant comment on the effects yet. Hoping Thyme doesn't lick it off. Can any one offer other suggestions to try if this doesn't work? No I cannot keep her inside while I am at work. Wouldn't want to either. I got home and it was down to 35 post cool change but still 42 in my lounge.

I attend positive k9 training 2 years now (3 years in may!) and thoroughly enjoy it. I take both my dogs there on a rotational basis. Classes start out as introductory life skills and as you and your puppy get more experienced, you move up to the harder obedience. One of mine is in advanced levels and the puppy is in intermediate. Level 4 social class does introductions to sports such as agility, in multi week blocks. It's a new class starting this week that I've enrolled in Give you a taste at it and the trainers could likely recommend you clubs located near you. I thoroughly enjoy this atmosphere. It is well organised and safe group classes.

I think we can all most of us unanimously say he is an asshole. Here is some stories over the past few days. Warning. The video disturbing. The dog is currently with the rspca, the man identifies and to be charged. Original Facebook post by the Facebook person who caught him is gone: the dog has been found and seized by RSPCA http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-09/rspca-seize-dog-filmed-being-kicked-by-man-on-gold-coast/9315554 being charged http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-11/alleged-dog-kicker-charged-animal-cruelty-on-qld-gold-coast/9321746

On the topic of the ears and colour, the basenji x spaniel study the floppy ears were dominant. And even in the second crossing where the genetics became less predictable the floppy ears, shape of muzzle and general body structure were the least changed. I would hazard that the visual coat pattern and length of fur are the quickest to change/generalise (environment pending) because they would be one of the more significant parts of the physiology affecting survival than if the ears are big, or flopped? Not tha the usual prick ears won't have their benefits just that I can see it as less immediately impacty on feral dogs gone wild. Even Black and Tan is less visual than say white with black spots.