squeak

I guess I'm just over it this morning. When I take Stormy for a walk, we always include some training. It might be something as simple as getting her to sit when we're stopped at a corner, or something which does probably look silly which is me running backwards & getting her to "come". It seems like I get weird looks from everyone - if I'm trying to get her to sit straight, I get looks like I'm abusing her. She also does this bouncy thing when their are other loose dogs around (seen and unseen) and I'm sure that people think that I'm strangling her. I'm trying to replace this behaviour by getting her to "watch" me, but I need to get her attention, which usually involves "kissy-kissy" noises. And if I happen to praise her, I also get weird looks. I guess I feel like I just can't win and that people don't understand that I'm working towards having a well behaved dog and it involves some work. It won't change anything that I do, I guess I just wish people would understand sometimes.

For us "newbie", can someone explain how to check you dog for ticks properly??? I've been just running my hands over her & feeling for bumps, but I'm never sure if I'm doing it properly? I also look in her ears, at her gums/lips and try to feel between her toes. I'm guess I'm just scared that I'm going to miss something & she's going to suffer for my ineptness.

We use Revolution (spot on) once a month for fleas & heartworm & Canex tablets every three months for intestinal worms. We were thinking about switching to Sentinel Spectrum for fleas & heartworms since it comes in a tablet and I really don't like the spot on stuff. However, since it doesn't kill adult fleas, we've decided to stick to Revolution.

Many thanks to everyone who has responded to my initial question. And hats off to everyone for keeping it civil. I guess when I first posted the question, I feared that it might become a 'flame war'. I'm more than happy for people to discuss equipment as well as anything else here... I'm just here to learn.

Another question - for those who have done the NDTF course. Who has done the course by distance education??? If you have, what did you think of it? Do you think you would have gotten more out of the course if you had of attended it in Melbourne???

I'm currently toying with the idea of doing an instructors course some time in the future. I've been looking at the two instructor courses that I can find, the Delta one & the National Dog Training Federation, and would be very interested to hear feedback & opinions from people who have done either or both courses. I'm interested in why you chose to do one course instead of the other, and if you have done both, your thoughts of what benefits you got from each course. I guess in honesty, I'm probably leaning towards the NDTF, because at the moment, I'm not entirely convinced about "purely positive" training, which from what limited information I can find, seems to be what Delta promotes.... but I am willing to be corrected on this. If anybody can give me any ideas on time commitment & cost of each course (I've sent away for some info too), I'd be grateful.

Dinner bowl is a glazed ceramic dish - blue on the inside & beige on the outside (I think stainless steel would get pushed around too much). Huge ceramic Studio Sebastian water bowl & and stainless steel bucket for water dishes. Food dish gets washed up after breakfast & dinner, with hot sudsy water. Water bowls just get rinsed out to get all the dirt/sand & fur out of them. Probably should wash them with sudsy water too, but I haven't bothered yet.

Lanolin???

I probably won't help you, but when we were looking at changing flea products, we spoke to our vet. He advised that Sentinal(sp?) whilst it breaks the flea breeding cycle, it doesn't kill adult fleas on your dog. We use Revolution, which apparently breaks the breeding cycle, as well as killing adult fleas - however this is a combined heartworm/flea treatment, so I don't know if it will suit your needs. Perhaps give your vet a call???

NO RAW POTATOES - others will explain why (I'm a doofus & can't remember). I think also that cooked potatoes are questionable. Oh, and some people say no onions.

Greenies/Snopes

I'll put up some in the photo section shortly - I'm a cr@p photographer!

Yeah, a picture posted here would be good. I'd love to have a look at one too.

Just wanted to give everyone a quick update - Stormy's had some small pieces of lamb flaps (~ 150g) with her kibble two nights in a row.... watched like a hawk by her nervous mummy. Initially she didn't quiet know what to do with them and ate her kibble first , but then she played with them a little and slowly crunched them up :rolleyes: So, it looks like I've been blessed with a dog who isn't a greedy eater. I gave her her first chicken wing this morning, also watching her like a hawk - again, slowly crunched it up. Thanks again guys for the advice & support.

Thanks for the replies guys - I'll try her tomorrow and see how she goes. The ones that I got didn't look too fatty. I have to take her to the vet to get her vaccination in the next few days - I don't think she's overweight - RSPCA said that she could probably gain a little, but I don't agree with this, so I'll probably ask the vet.

Thanks Rusty - I would of course feed them raw. I think I might save them until tomorrow night when I can watch her - she doesn't seem to inhale her kibble, and enjoys a marrow bone, but as you say, I would be best to watch her. So, dumb question, do your dogs just crunch the bones in the lamb flaps like chicken wings??? Sorry, a real newbie here.

Picked up a couple of cheap "lamb flaps" at the butchers the other day. However, I'm not sure if I can feed them to my dog - she is a 12 mth old deerhound X - I'm just a bit concerned as the butcher said that some of the bones can be hard & crack, instead of the dog just eating them normally (like chicken necks & wings)????? Only had her a few days, and I know that I want to go "raw" with her at some stage, but guess I'm just learning. Probably should have just got chicken necks first up

I think we need pics :D

I'm sure she is too - she just had to make sure she said goodbye to you first, and thank you I'm sure. Joshua & Rachaels bub will be blessed to have such a special guardian angel I'm sure.

And if you're like me & squeamish about handling a spring trap with a dead mouse, I have your solution. Get an empty 1 litre cardboard carton of milk. Rinse out the carton well & open the top fully. Then you can slide your loaded trap into the carto. This way, when you catch you mouse, you just have to fold the top down on the carton & throw out. I know that most of the traps are reusable these days, but for $2, I'm will to throw them out with the mouse!

Hi Perry's Mum How long do these keep for???

:D

Interested in Sydney, depending on cost.