Willem

...let face it: these self-service outlets todays are not made for bringing your dogs; when I visit Bunnings and the like, a lot attention is required just to find what I want, it is time consuming too. To accompany me on a shopping trip is definitely something my dog wouldn't enjoy, and it would be much more stressful for me too to have to watch her. And if I intend to buy more stuff and need a trolley...(and maybe I get one with a damaged bearing that wants to go only in one direction) ...and have to control the dog, make sure no one stumbles over the leash, have to maneuver around other trolleys loaded with 3 m long panels and trolley owners who own this specific aisle...clearly, it is better for me and the dog if the dog stays at home!

... my brother and my brother in-law live in Germany - both have dogs; would they bring the dogs to a hardware store?...never ever...

...most of the tradies park their car in the sheltered area where you drive in and out; ...and 'recommendations' like 'putting 5 years old kids on leash' are actually pretty 'archaic' and won't help to achieve a better understanding for both sides...

...that's totally inappropriate... Why? Where is the evidence the kid didn't go in to touch. 5 years olds are inquisitive creatures ...thanks god that they are inquisitive creatures, but it is the responsibility of the adults to keep them safe!...if the dogs were taken into the store it can be assumed that these are not dangerous dogs and somehow stress resistant...the aisles are pretty narrow and just passing would get anyone close enough. The misjudgment of the dog owner is to blame here - I don't say / know whether the dogs area aggressive or not or just not used to children, but the dog owner should know and if he / she is not absolutely sure about this: don't risk it!!! ...would I take my dog to Bunnings? ...never ever, also I know it is not an aggressive dog.

...that's totally inappropriate...

....the OP didn't mention that it was 'not and off lead area'????

...that's another tool that gives great trainings results: My link...I use it for our dog (she gets very exited when she sees other dogs too) beside clicker training and the obedience training in the club and can see the first results: ...on Saturday, when I played the 'leave it - take it' game with her before the official obedience training started she was in the middle of running off towards an other dog, when she was halfway approaching the other dog she turned back and continued playing with me!...the first time I really could call her back when she was in 'play with another dog' mode. Clicker training (other forum members recommended it to me) is another excellent and simple method to train the focus (I actually don't use the clicker anymore but copy the sound with my tongue - much easier) - the big advantage is that you can do this kind of training everywhere and in situations without any stress. By increasing the stress level slowly the clicker sound gives you more and more control...very simple, very effective. ...then in the obedience training the dogs just get used to that other dogs are around and once they are in training mode it is amazing how little they are distracted by other dogs - here you also train passing other dogs without loosing the focus... You are lucky as you have a friendly dog, so it is much easier to train him in an environment where other dogs are around...and the fun is for free :D .

...your dog might be friendly, but as it is a big dog and other people see you struggling to control him it could still lead to dangerous scenarios. Sometimes when I walk our dog we bump into a lady with a young Rottweiler, a beautiful, friendly and playful dog - however, she has only limited control over him: the last time he pulled her straight across the road!...of course people are worried as they might doubt that you can control your dog. ...get him into obedience training ASAP - he will love it!!!

sorry, I have no idea about 'Buprenorphine', I didn't even know that it is used for dogs;...could it be that the panting was just caused by high humidity?... we had a very high humidity during the last day and also this morning in our area (Illawarra) and the impact the humidity had on my dog and also on other dogs in the obedience training this morning was significant, every dog was more panting than usual...

their webpage actually doesn't disclose much details wrt the ingredients - the information is very general - I miss some percentage figures and more details regarding 'seasonal fresh vegetables & fruit'...

...selamectin (ingredient in Revolution) treats roundworms and hookworms in cats, but not in dogs...I assume the reason for this is somehow linked to the different digestion systems? ...selamectin is also only effective against brown ticks and some other ticks, but not against paralytic ticks.

...they should have lower rates for non-smoker :laugh:

outch! ... that's $1,326 p.a., more than double compared to the quote for our 11 month old BC from PIA...

I found RSPCA pretty expensive ...best quote so far for us is PET Insurance Australia for $407 p.a. with $100 excess (no excess $520 p.a.) for 'Accidental Injury Plus Illness Cover - 80% - with an annual benefit limit of up to $15,000 '...RSPCA has only a an annual limit of up to $11,000 and would cost me $636 p.a. for 'Ultimate Accident & Illness Cover' with no excess (the Economy Accident & Illness Cover reimburses only 75%)...I guess all these insurance fees go up pretty quick when the dogs gets older?

...just noticed while I trained our 'so energetic' BC:...5 minutes chasing the rag (the leave it - take it game) and she was puffed out...just 23 deg C outside, but over 90% humidity!!!...she was not even really thirsty - it's just that the 'evaporation cooling' doesn't work as good if the humidity is high.

yep!!!...(hey sandgruber, looks like we have more in common than our dislike of anti-social media :D )

...'profit' yes, but not without complying with the laws....that's why price rigging / price manipulation is illegal also for our society... FYI: this is about drugs that work reliable against 'paralytic ticks' - and it seems that Merck & Co. achieved nearly a monopoly in this sector (Bayer / Advantix is the only competitive drug left on the market? ...TBC)...and monopolies are absolutely against the interests of every society.

...hm, I'm still contemplating whether it is worthwhile to get an insurance for our - I guess younger - dog...or whether I should put the money aside (and invest it perhaps in Merck shares - I found out that people here love their products and their pricing :D )...I guess it also depends on the relationship you have with your vet and his pricing, maybe it is worthwhile to have a chat with him. I also recognize that times obviously have changed - we had 2 family dogs and both died very old and only saw a vet once or twice (for vaccination and 1x to close a bite wound with a few stiches after a fight with another dog)...today it seems you need not only a vet but also a chiropractor as dogs seem to be less healthy ...despite better food and available medicine...

I want to see this :D ...

another BC specific behavior that might be important to point out: depending on how much 'herding instinct' he has, nipping and biting will likely be an issue (it was an issue with our BC where both parents are working dogs). It took me quite a while to teach her that she doesn't want to have any fingers or limps in her mouth...

NO! ...insulation is always an advantage as long as it doesn't restrict the heat exchange of the dedicated major cooling system, which for the dog is panting (evaporation cooling via nose and mouth) and not the skin. And it doesn't need air temperatures above 40 deg C to heat up surfaces (coats, skin, bitumen, rocks...everything that absorbs sun radiation) above 40 deg C...

nice work

...just read that this afoxolaner drug wasn't actually developed by Nexgard respectively Merial (Merial is the company that produces also Frontline and Heartguard), but by Du Pont De Nemours. They - Merial - must have bought the rights and have now the patent. Merial was formed as a JV from Sanofi (Sanofi-Adventis) and Merck, and Merck is also the manufacturer of Bravecto...looks like they have it all covered, not much competition left...maybe I should invest some $$ in Merck shares...(seeing that everyone is happy with their pricing :D )

...valid points, but considering that marketing, packaging and transport for similar sized drug packages should be similar: that leaves Nexgard a very big portion just for R&D...I understand that a company want's to get the money they invested in R&D back ASAP, but I wonder why pharma companies actually are quite reluctant to public the real R&D costs...they always use it as an argument for the high drug costs...till someone throws an alternative cheaper product on the market and suddenly they can produce it for the same price or even cheaper and still earn money with it....

...obviously there are some merits in it that bigger things (pets... houses... cars etc. etc....) cost more...and it should be like this :)