Erny

Good questions, both of which I didn't think to ask at the time (Doh!! ). If you ring them and find out, will you post here please? I might have bugged them too much as it is. Their quote initially was much higher but they did some work/research and found another laboratory and were able to create a considerable saving. I think good on 'em for making the effort :).

Checked with Ultimate Vet Clinic (Dr Bob Cavey) in Narre Warren South. Informed by Dr Christina there that they will run titre tests which will incorporate testing for Parvo, Distemper and Hepatitis. Two of the tests get sent to labs in WA. The other one to the UK. Total cost is $188.10. Doesn't sound a bad price to me :).

Delta - the $70 is for the FedEx Courier. Well, I should clarify that's the fee I paid about 12 months ago from Melbourne to California. I guess there'd be a variation depending on the exact origin and destination of the parcel. $45 USDollar is Dr Jean Dodds' fee for the Parvo and Distemper Titre. At the moment it would probably prove to be a couple of dollars less than that in Aussie Dollar equivalent. Add about $60 for your Vet's consult. The total would come to about $175.00. If you could line up a number of people's dogs and send under the one FedEx Courier, the cost would be reduced.

DC - the international courier (FedEx) fee is about $70 AUD. Have you googled Dr Jean to see if she has her fee for titre testing up on her site? Just add that as the Aussie dollar is about the same as the US dollar, although we're beating that by a tad, just at the moment. Oh - and of course you need to add your own Vet's fee for drawing the bloods. ETA: Just been to Dr Jean's site. Titre test for Parvo and Distemper - $45.00 USD. Does anyone know why they wouldn't include Hepatitis titre test?

And I expect he'll enjoy that :). Don't feel bad about laughing, Atanquin. It was funny. I think it is great that with the laughter, you've also been conscientious enough to understand the bloke. :)

This sounds like the right stuff :D. I was actually speaking with Kerry who is the person behind "World Par Tea" which is the site for the link you put up, fbaudry. I rang her only to check on one or two things before I could come back to you and confirm with a good degree of confidence that you were on the right track. Anyway, I ended up telling her how much good this Tea was being put to in the dog world and the successes I alone have had using it on my boy, let alone what others were also experiencing. Kerry was so delighted to hear that people such as myself and others have had a good deal of success with its use and has told me that if I can pass on your name and address, she'll send you a packet to try, free of charge!! So, if you'd like to email me at Pro-K9 and provide me with this info, I'll pass it on to her for you. I thought that was a tremendous gesture on her part and for those who don't have convenient access to a Health Food Store that sells the product, she does ship all around Australia.

If you can't find it I can arrange to send you some up via post - or perhaps ask my local Health Food Store to send it. The Health Food Store I use is in Berwick, Victoria. Details are on my website (look to the left of any page) www.ProK9.com.au. They don't have a website .... lol,she doesn't need one - She is popular and flat out busy as it is.

I have a spare 180g jar of the Proden PlaqueOff. I bought a jar for my sister's dog as well as for my own. Sadly ..... very sadly, Monty, who was an elderly dog, deteriorated very quickly and he was given his wings just last Thursday. I will be coming up to the MDBA Awards in Queensland and can bring it with me then if anyone who is going to be there wants it, or I can post it to someone if someone elsewhere wants it. Same price as what I purchased it for - $50 plus $10 postage. It has a long shelf life so it is not as though I won't use it, but if anyone is desperate to want it sooner than they are currently able to get it, let me know. Don't PM me - it is easier and better if you email me HERE

Mind you, with some of the media reports and the mismatched photographs, I don't wonder that there are people out there who don't know what PB's look like. Yes - it was funny and my first response was , but as soon as you mentioned the bloke was elderly my heart melted and I 'felt' for the guy - just as you did. I feel sorry for people who don't understand. Is it their fault they've come to learn what they have? I don't expect everyone to be doggy fanatics as we are.

I'm sorry, Shazzapug - I'm unfamiliar with the Calendula Oil. I'm not a naturopath so I'm not an expert in knowing what's what in the natural medicine cabinet, but I'd be taking a guess that the Calendula Oil is a blend? IE That it is some sort of oil base with Calendula Tea infused?? Even if it wasn't, the problem with the oil (just musing and visualising) is that it is more likely to attract dirt and potentially clog pores (again ???). My instincts are to suggest the Calendula Tea would be the better and safer bet. But I am open to being contradicted by someone more in the know as far as that's concerned.

And also tell about your observations at the shows you're talking about. Eg. Different/certain other breeds in closer proximity? Busier shows? Indoor shows? Outdoor shows? Could weather be something that is affecting?

That's a great improvement, Andisa

Although my experience is not a "scientifically proven" one, but I can tell you that in the use of Calendula Tea with my boy's skin based issues (includes rashes; hives; interdigital cysts; flaky skin; itchies) I have noticed a difference inside 24 hours. The difference might have been subtle inside this time (although in some cases it was astounding) but definitely an improvement. If I don't see an improvement with the use of the Calendula Tea in a relatively short period of time, I don't rely on it for the purpose. Generally speaking.

I'm not a breeder, but what a great thread! Very interesting and obviously very helpful :). Thanks for the link, Leema and Kadbury. And thanks to everyone in that thread for their explanations.

Some (many) "healthy" dogs might not show up the system reaction swing that might be triggered into place for correcting skin pH level altered through multitudes of shampoos. Or it might be that it doesn't show up for a long time to come, until perhaps the body system can't deal with it as efficiently any more. Then there are other dogs that might be otherwise healthy, but with systems not quite as resilient as others. I don't know .... it's just a thought. I wonder how much breaking down of the system we cause through all of what we apply/do. Mind you, I wonder that about humans too. But I don't spend so much time studying "human" as I do dogs. Not as interesting :laugh: . (Other than when I can apply it across to dogs :D . )

This is off topic, but I do wonder how many of our dogs have the itchies because of the baths we give them and how frequently we give them. Not saying you do, nor am I saying that every case would come back to this, but I just wonder. ETA: And then, if we are stripping oils with their baths, that would (I presume) make their skin more susceptible to allergen reactivity. No expert. Just guessing. And wondering :).

Taste of the Wild is all cooked meats ??? Appreciate your feedback, Clyde. Would like to know of anyone else's. ETA: Sorry - that's unfair to the OP. I'll start a new thread for comments, unless someone can point me to a thread that's already been done ? ETA: Disregard .... I spot a thread just a few doors down from this one. Headed off there for a read now :D.

Lol ... that's ok Aussie3. Mind you - my eye sight is probably a bit wonky too, :laugh: .

MG - a DOLer did report that the tea she bought stained her dog's white hair yellow. My boy has a small white patch on his chest and this has never stained yellow (and he has had lots of washes with the tea in his earlier 'hive' days). I was curious about this so I sent the DOLer some of the tea I get from my local Health Food Store to try and she reported no problems. This is why I now make the point of people getting organically grown tea without artificial colouring. Although it is a presumption it is what might have been the cause of the other DOLer's yellowing experience. .... I've forgotten the name of the DOLer in question . Try a test patch first if it is a concern.

Thanks - but it turns out I am having PC probs and the YouTube video clips are skipping pieces/running haltingly. I suspect this is why this video footage didn't appear as it seems to have done to everyone else.

Cowanbree, put it this way. It is highly unlikely that you will cause any harm by dipping Payton's feet in a Calendula Tea brew. (With the feet, I like to gently dab with a dry towel in between the toes afterwards.) The Calendula can 'fix' things, but it depends on what is actually causing the problem. If it is a case of the initial cause no longer being there but the problem relates to the ongoing licking/scratching having become a vicious circle, then yes, Calendula can work to resolve the issue. But if there is an actual cause still lingering (eg. diet; liver dysfunction; contact allergy; etc) the Calendula will sooth and help whilst you work on the actual problem, but won't 'fix' it. Calendula tea has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities, yet isn't harsh or stringent on the skin. Make sure you get organically grown Calendula tea and that contains no artificial colouring either.

I'll second this. After reading Erny's advice in other threads on using Calendular Tea I gave it a try. I had to search a few health food shops before I found it. It's very soothing on itchy skin. I use it as a final rinse after washing my dog and keep a spray bottle of it on hand too. When my dog was chewing his feet until they bled he was prescribed 'Elocon' cream. In Bruno's case, I honestly think that changing his diet and using Calendula tea made more of a difference. Whoot Toot - fantastic to hear, guys :D. Trinabean - even try skipping the shampoo bit for the wash and wash through the coat to the skin with the Calendula only (and as per usual, don't rinse). You'd be surprised at how clean and fresh the skin can become and as you have a short/fine coated breed dog, this shouldn't be too hard. It's hard to get out of being used to thinking/feeling that something's not washed unless it is suds up whereas the soapiness in any shampoo can affect the pH balance of a dog's skin. But I am so glad the Calendula works for you.

Yes it is that one. For the most part I found the photo's fine. Note that the photos used are 'real life' situations and that would make some instances difficult to capture. You know what it's like - dog behaviour can change in a nanno second so taking piccies wouldn't always be easy. I think they've done well. And what I like are descriptions/explanations that go with the photos. Eg. "... The dog furthest on the left is doing an Avoidance-style Look Away. Note her braced front leg, while her hindquarters are tucked under. If she moved it would be away from the creature on the right." There are a few photos that comprise a series of still shots, with explanations showing how the behaviour has changed and what emotions reflect those changes. A bit like talking someone through a very short video slide by slide (sort of). Other books that have been mentioned might be easier as starter books, but I think Brenda Aloff's book captures more detail in terms of what to take into account. Perhaps start with the easier to read ones and move on from there. The trouble with drawn figures is that there is much detail lost in the communication,however that is a place where I first began my theoretical journey of breaking dog body language down into increments and then building my knowledge base on from that, so that's not necessarily a bad place to start.

IMO hackles indicate uncertainty. That "uncertainty" can range anywhere from 'just a little unsure but reasonably ok with it' to 'quite fearful'. The stronger the emotion the more the pilo erect (another description meaning 'hackles') moves from tail/rump up towards and over the shoulders. Pilo erection can occur during play as well. I still believe it is a signal of uncertainty. It could simply mean "yipes!! I better move or he is going to 'tig' me" during a game of chasey or something, not necessarily something so nervewracking to the dog that it wants to stop play. But in other instances it is just that - a signal that the dog wants out (or wants the stimulus to go away). I'm not so sure that "arousal" is really a descriptive enough word for it, but this is just my opinion. Many other body language parts (eyes; ear set; forehead smooth/wrinkled; stance; tail set; tail wag; what's happening in the environment; etc) should be taken into account all at the same time to be able to read things in context. Of all the books I have (and I have Turid Rugaas as well) I particularly like Brenda Aloff's Canine Body Language. This is a fairly large book with a lot of real life photo shots and Brenda gives a good explanation to them.

Yeah I getcha. And I'll just have to bow on this one. When I first started re-play my stomach turned. I didn't get more than about 15 - 30 seconds in when I had to shut it down. It doesn't matter than I don' see it. It's that I know what's coming.