karen15

don't talk to me about going mad with the clippers. My male westie had his belly clipped from ribs to hocks. Gave him clipper burn. Also clipped his entire front leg from elbow to paw. I was furious. Took a year until you couldn't see it. That was a year of being pissed off every single day I saw that leg. Learned from that if my vet isn't available, don't use another one at the same practise! It was a desex of a male dog, not something I thought would be done differently by different vets.......

pulling out of the pet store this evening and saw a guy walking a dog on the footpath. Greyhound looking dog. Thought to myself it looked a bit thin. Check traffic and look back at the thin dog.... Um yeah, it was a pushbike LOL anyone else have unusual dog sightings?

country park herbs seem to have better rates, I use them regularly and they have great service and prices 1kg glucosamine sulphate $60 1kg msm $45 https://countrypark.com.au/product-category/joint-supplements/

do you get cartrophan or pentosan injections? They're an important part of arthritis management as they help to maintain the remaining cartilage. Cartilage can't be rebuilt, so keeping it as long as possible is the goal. You may or may not see a reduction in pain levels using these, but that is not their job. Pain should be managed with other treatments. you can also use glucosamine sulphate (my reading suggests this is better absorbed than the hydrochloride - minimal difference, but a difference is a difference) and msm. These help joint fluid. after that, you are looking at antiinflammatories. A strong one used for horses is devils claw. There's also the standard willow bark, ginger, turmeric etc plus the green lipped muscle types eg technyflex. A herbalist could give you suggestions. Plus fish oil - I found krill oil much better. Vet prescribed antiinflammatories like metacam / meloxicam I found to be wonderful. Also tramadol at the end for pain management

I honestly don't know what the difference is between medical and drug abuse cannabis. However, the links between the second and mental illness cannot be ignored. Maybe medical professionals feel they don't know enough about that correlation to suggest medical cannabis is safe for use. After all, in centuries past things like mercury, arsenic etc were seen as harmless treatments.

Bella looks gorgeous and being only 3 is a great age. Puppies can be a bit full on but by 3, you've got a nice settled dog. You'd just want to watch what she's like on walks, sounds like she could be frightened of other dogs out. I'm not so good at reading dog ads for the hidden meanings but this made me think of a mastiff cross a friend got from a foster organisation, who is majorly dog shy and frightened on walks. Happy to have dogs come and play at his house though and a lovely dog at home. "teaching her to socialise without being scared of dogs in the big wide world (Bella will happily play with dogs at home on play dates, but strange dogs in open spaces are still a bit scarey for our cuddly muffin)"

that sheds some light on the cocker showdog. She is like a puddle on the table, annoying! She had been groomed by groomers before I got her, but just won't stand up by choice. So that has been worked on and she stands now. The westie is best described as stoic. He is very good and happiest once the clipping (very minimal just feet and ears) and nails are done. I had a groomer friend do the clipping for the first few grooms so he had good experiences and I could see what to do. I've got a folding table we use for grooming days. They do get a piggy ear afterwards, which is the only time they get those. The westie is done first so he gets time to eat his without the cocker pinching it. He's a sweety and will bring me his "treasure" to look after if he isn't finished by the time she's done.

unfortunately I don't have the space for dedicated grooming spot, so regular brushing happens on the couch and the grooming table gets set up in the lounge room on grooming afternoon. Would love another room! Desk, treadmill, grooming table and sewing machine could all have a home! I sit here and dream of a small extension at the front of my place, in a space that's just dead space....... Obviously designed by a man. Front external light is right over the front door. Too close for a full size bulb as I discovered when I smashed one on moving in. If it was a foot to the right, there'd be no issue. Lounge didn't even have a light until I replaced the fan and got a light wired in. And then that dead space that is the perfect nook for a treadmill etc It's at the front of the garage and you would have thought they'd at least have a sliding door there so you didn't have to get wet getting inside, but no...... anyway, way off topic LOL

I did similar to what RP said. My boy was fussy about his feet getting handled and the brush. For feet, I turned it into a game in the morning. He jumps on the bed, I roll him over and tickle him all over. Started with quick holds of the feet, stopping before he could pull them away - that's really important. You need to teach you choose when the foot is let go. As they get better, you hold longer, building the tolerance, then start ru bing between toes etc. These days if he isn't rolled quick enough he runs around my feet and rolls himself LOL For the brush, I kept it next to the couch and daily, randomly when he jumped up for a cuddle and nap, I'd brush quickly. Only short time at the start building as he got comfortable.

when I look for a dog, I list what I like appearance wise, coat wise, the size (height and max weight) and the temperament I'm after. Then google to get lots of suggestions. Check out what comes up and you'll find you discount some for common reasons and like others for common reasons. Refine your search to get a short list and then check them out in detail re common problems, health issues etc. I found breed standards really helpful for this. When I settled on a westie it was because I wanted a dog with a square head, solid body around 10 kg mark. I wasn't concerned with coat and I like terriers. I could not have chosen a more perfect dog and he had very big paws to fill. I have a cocker and I don't think she's typical of the breed, most likely because of her very unsettled early years. I was her fourth home before she was three She is quiet and loves a cuddle, but isn't really into playing. After two years with me she instigates play, but only plays for a few minutes vs the westie who keeps on going. The westie would probably be too lively for a timid child. A friends daughter has known him from a 2kg pup and even when he was teeny she'd carry on if he got excited. They have a grown up trained Toller, so she wasn't used to a puppy not knowing words. Now she's 5 she's better with him, but I supervise closely.

I feed turkey mince as my westie doesn't handle fatty food (upsets his tum). He can't eat beef mince and even pork and veal mince is iffy. They also get chicken mince, but less often than turkey. I buy the two for $9 from woolies - its for human consumption. I've always preferred human grade meats as some pet minces are really not nice. I don't feed raw as such - have no idea what that involves. But have always fed a good kibble, mince and bones. Preference is for beef mince, but westies sensitive tum and cockers weight mean leaner mince. Dogs are always shiny and healthy with great teeth

My westie loves kids. He is your typical terrier, wanting to be in everything I had the young boy from next door visiting and they were chasing the tennis ball, which went under the couch and all you could see was two bums poking out as they went to fetch it and started wrestling under there. The cocker is less lively and a softer dog, not as out there and excitable. I don't know if that's the breed or just her. She likes kids too, but isn't much of a player. Prefers to sit and cuddle. My staffy also loved kids and, like the westie, was happiest in the thick of things. I don't have kids myself, but do make a point of using my friends kids of all ages to socialise the dogs. I'm not sure what breeds you have looked at, or what you like. Me, I love terriers and their personalities are very suited to me.

for the bones I feed beef neck bones aka soup bones. They aren't overly fatty from woolies and the butcher I get them from has less left on, so they are leaner still. My westie is really sensitive to anything fatty and he handles these well.

Just thinking about this and remembered a scam the guy I got the cocker from told me about. Apparently a group of people were advertising pure bred dogs. When people wanted to come and meet the parents, a ring in would be used. I think he got caught thinking he was getting a golden retriever but it turned out to be crossed with a lab and not pure as he was led to believe when he viewed the parents. Not sure how he found out it was a cross. But honest people really don't think like that, so it's so easy to get caught out unless you've done your research.

Maddy, unlike the majority of people, I do not believe human life is sacrosanct. Quite a few million less humans on this planet would do a great deal of good IMO Regardless of the facts and who attacked who first, those children had no right to be in that yard. Their self centeredness has cost a cognisant being it's life. I hope they feel bad for the rest of their miserable lives. the laws that need changing are the ones that give criminals more rights than their victims. If you trespass on a property, you should have to accept the consequences of that trespass. Legally that isn't the case and that is the issue.

what if they entered the property to burgle, the dog came at them, attacked and they stabbed it in defence to stop it attacking. Only those horrible kids know what happened. An anecdotal story. I was dog sitting for a friend once. A nova scotia duck tolling retriever. I knew the dog from when he was a puppy, saw him pretty much every weekend and we were buddies. I arrived to feed horses and dog. Dog was on verandah. I thought he might like a pat, so I started to cross the driveway. BIG mistake. We met half way across and stopped in a stalemate when he started growling, hackles up. I mistakenly took a step backwards. Realising what I'd done and not wanting to spend days trapped in the feed shed with no mobile reception, I squared myself up and ordered him back to his bed. Thank god that worked. After that we had an accord. I did my duties but did not approach him. He left me alone. When his people got home, we were buds again. So it is entirely possible the dog above took exception at strangers in it's yard. If it were my dog I'd be out for blood as they shouldn't have been there in the first place. I'd certainly be persuing trespass charges if they did indeed cross locked gates. Rural pug, from what was posted above, the defence of provocation / self defence by the dog already exists. In this case the issue would be knowing what actually happened. CCTV would have been their only supporting evidence for the dog defending itself. If a burgler breaks into your property, trips over a hose and hurts themselves, they can sue you. Given that, the dog stood no chance unless the little s*its admitted to hurting it until it defended itself........

IMO the best way to avoid puppy scammers is to plan your purchase. By that I mean research breeders, contact ones you like well in advance of getting a puppy, develop a relationship with them. What I would never do is email every breeder I could find and go with the one that has pups now. Why not? Firstly what do you know about the breeder and their dogs? What do you know about their dogs health, health of prior litters etc etc Secondly you're handing over a lot of money to a total stranger who may or may not have actual dogs. It's a very easy scam to wait for a desperate person to call wanting a pup now. Puppy pics are easily sourced and sent, the buyer can be reeled in by a pup suddenly becoming available and having to pay now to secure it or it goes to the next person on the list. animals are a commitment and I believe in taking time to find the right one for me, not the first one that comes up.

I think it would be a great idea. Getting help from an expert when you are struggling can only help. I think I've read a few of your posts and a trainer may change the way you think about what your dog is doing, and thereby how you respond. I got a ground work trainer for my horse when we had trouble communicating. He was confused and the trainer helped me be clearer, which made everything easier for both of us. It was only a couple of sessions and I knew the trainers' work as he'd trained my other horse before I bought him, that was how we met. Changing language in yourself from adversarial / fighting to what you want to actually do is a big mind shift. A lot of people blame the animal for being obtuse / stubborn / should know better. A good trainer will show you how to set up for success and change how you view undesired behaviours.

Finding the right dog vs any dog is really important wild rose. A year sounds like a long time but goes so fast. It would also give your child time to grow and learn how to interact properly with dogs. I think it quite unfair to think of animals as disposable and expect them to tolerate all manner of torment. Have you thought about what will happen if the dog you get doesn't work out? I've got the impression, possibly wrongly, from your posts that if the dog doesn't work out you won't keep it. if I were in your position, I'd get onto a suitable agency, do what is needed to get on the list and then use the waiting time to find dogs for your child to interact with and learn how to behave with dogs. I waited 4 years for my westie. I planned what I was going to do when my staffy died, found a breeder I got to know over that time and contacted her when my boy was PTS with a view to get a puppy in 9-12 months time. Animals are a long term commitment and worthy of investing time to find the right one for your lifestyle.

My pets always stay with me when I'm sick. Either together or at least in shifts. Currently under a puppy pile at the moment, sporting a thumping headache they get allocated sexist roles though - Max is always the doctor and Meg the nurse LOL In my defence, Meg is way less attentive to my health, I think she cares more about couch cuddles than me being sick. Our first dog when I was a kid was put into a kennel once when we went on holidays. Apparently he wasn't the happiest but one morning was extremely excited. That was the day we were driving over to pick him up. It was a long way from home and he wouldn't have been able to hear the car, so no idea how he knew we were coming for him.

I'd be trying to get the cream in. Is there someone who can help you either hold or put in the cream while you hold - I find that can sometimes be the better option as they're used to being held by their owners. my staffy got an eye ulcer, likely from the cat. That required treatment multiple times a day. You'll need to get stuff in there if it gets worse, so I'd be trying to find a way that works now. ETA I've had an eye ulcer myself and it really hurts! I loved the anaesthetic drops I could put in every couple of hours. Didn't remember getting them for my dog, but I'd definitely be asking for them now I know about them.

from chunky, fluffy teddy bear last year to svelte, smoother glamour girl she was a wee bit fluffy after her bath the day before. It's amazing how a trim can bring back her bones! and of course, no post is complete without the stunning white boy I'm still working it all out. You'd think after 2 years of regular grooms I'd be there, but it's just one of those things that you mess around with, do something you like and then promptly forget what you did LOL

I desexed my staffy when he was 11. No issues.

I find the belly strap can get in the way for my boy and his peeing. One type of our coats doesn't have a strap, but instead has a chest piece. Velcro's at the neck (fixed on the left side of the neck, and you Velcro the right side closed), goes between front legs and then Velcro's onto the sides. Sort of like a reverse Y. Has the added bonus of keeping chests warm. this is from the website ETA these coats weren't expensive. I got them 3 coats for $100-$120 from memory. They're much nicer than the coats I've seen in the shops here. That was why I went online in the first place.

had to resort to the computer....... This is a lovely waxed cotton we got. Waterproof and a lovely light coat with a nice quality lining. Definitely waterproof as the westie has sat out in the rain in his to test it out LOL The green velvet number seems to be a long cut, hence why we refer to it as her gown It measures longer than the advertised size and they sent me a replacement for free, which has turned out to be exactly the same size! So I didn't bother getting another. and just because it is one of my favourites........