rubiton

If I see thm coming my choice is to pull off to the left since the young dog doesnt understand correct behaviour yet (but is slowly learning that if he sits he gets to watch them - he goes nuts he gets to watch a tree or something. And if someone is walking along on a horrid retractable lead (seriously THOSE things shoudl be banned) no matter how the dogs are bahaving Im giving them a massive berth (the ones I did get narky at had twolittle dogs on those leads and instead of going right to right (ie everyone stays to the left of the path) they went to the right into the area just off the path then when I had no choice but to jam mine up against the fence they drift back to the path. Luckily mine stayed where I put them and their dogs did stay away far enough but nothing worse than controlling yours and thinking how are you going to kick to keep uncontrolled ones away from yours (retractable leads = little control as far as Im concerned).

But if the numbers was the issue why did the RSPCA only take 8 and within days put down 3 so far? Why wasnt the property given a warning just like their tv shows of a few yeafrs back use to hand out to puppy farms/hoarders etcand reinspected prior to a mere 8 animals being taken (7 dogs of which 3 are no more). we've all seen the show and the others from OS that show even older animals are given a chance not written off or did they not pass a temprement test (but even so arent they still the property of the berri shelter until the case goes to court?

Ours love their schmackos. And there is nothing wrong with giving healthy dogs a treat - not like they are getting half a packet with their tea every night.

I think there is a limit to about 10 min in a burst but that could be wrong. Check www.dpreview.com that usually has all the specs for caemras and if not the forum is filled with camera users who would know.

I doubt vets would actually make money over a piece of plastic that they usually giveyou the optin to get later if the dog does start to lick at the stitches. I get sick of reading the paranoia that vets are in it for the money THEN when some need them all is forgotten and they are heroes for saving the animal. Perhaps most vets actually do want the best for the animal they treat - the customer always has the right to go elsewhere if they think their vet isnt treating a pet as they would prefer.

Agree with megan. Get the dog YOU want and your dog will adapt as long as you police what they can and cant do. Our older dog always had been an only dog and when younger she did use to play with others but not for years now - only meet and greet and wander off. Which is exactly how she treats the young dog - first she wanted to know when he was going back, then she put up with him, now she uses him to her advantage when she can.

KC is something best explained by the vet but there are bacterial and viral parts to it - bit like when you get a flu virus it can develop into pneumonia or sinus which does get treated with antibiotics. Some people with colds and flu are fine after a few days some people can take weeks to get over it due to teh secondary issues. I did look it up and ask the vet about it last year when we got our rescue dog - most dogs just are a bit depressed and have the cough for a while but others suffer a lot worse. And its true many dogs will have built up an immunity through exposure to the diseases but no one wants theirdog to be the one that succumbs to one of the diseases due to being unlucky. Obviously IF the vet recommends not vaccinating a dog due to medical issues present or past that like people who cannot have human vaccinations due to allergy to eggs (back when we were young if anyoen had an egg allery they would not have vaccinations as apparently it was grown in something to do with eggs) that a completely different story to reading stuff about them being 'poison' on the internet. Things like antibiotics kill off bacteria to cure you of an infection you could call them poison if you were so inclined but vaccines stimulate the bodys defences into thinking they need to make antibodies to fight the disease so that it will already know what to do if exposed to the live virus. As in humans they need boosters over time and the 3 yearly booster that is now preferred by many is obviously evidence of the the various studies mentioned online. And tetanus for people is no longer every 10 years its 'see your doctor' in regard to your circumstances. I daresay if you are near horses its more common to have boosters than someone who isnt as likely to be exposed.

Ness - I guess your older dog has immunity to it which would come up in a titre test but I had to read up on kennel cough (including asking the vet) as the young dog had it just when we were suppose to get him from the rescue so we had to wait due to the older dog. But then I lived through the era when a kid had Hepatitis in the class and suddenly we were all rushed off for vaccinations I know someone who had polio and can see why vaccinations were brought in and do not think they are 'poison' as you can read on the internet. in fact the only kid disease I didn't have a vaccination for myself was chicken pox because it wasnt around and got as sick as anythign with it as an adult. As for dogs i remember when parvo appeared in the 80s and how grateful dog owners were to be able to access the vaccination to try and prevent infection. Due to vaccination it is unusual to see most of the diseases that are vaccinated for and if they do get kennel cough and others the disease shold not be as severe - which in a young dog not so much a problem but i an old dog they are like old people who they recommend having a flu shot each year. Since our family dogs have all lived into their teens and all had their vaccinations & heartworm once that came along too (although worming and flea treatment is as needed which is only a couple of times a year for worming and I've never had to treat for fleas and the vet has never had an issue with this). So I guess personally that is why I have no issue with using scientific approaches like vaccinating on teh advce of the vet.

Wow I hope evyone with un titre tested dogs/ un vaccinated dogs keep them away from anywhere that dog disease might be. There is actually a 3 year vaccine now which as I said my old dog actually handled better than the old annual one. Except the vet said that kennel cough was still yearly. And you dont want an old dog getting kennel cough (which can be picked up anywhere). Like I said IF you trust your vet talk to them about your concerns. If you dont trust your vet find another that you do trust. As some mentioned if you dont want to vaccinate get the dog titred tested each year but dont just go - 'oh its fine the dog was vaccinated years ago and they actaully last longer than the vet says cos I read it on the internet'. Im also just waiting for the younger dog to have his second tetanus injection to start his jabs with that. Many wouldnt worry about that either but mine go around horses occasionally (but even without horses the vet mentioned how even dogs in backyards can just get a cut and be infected so easily - not often but if your dog is the unlucky one their either live because thousands are spent on intensive care and the dog gets lucky or they die a horrible death when a simple vaccination can be proactive in trying to lessen the risk as much as possible).

A monopod supports te weight of the lens where the lens is heavy like a 100-400m canon. this has got to also be better for the camera instead of the heavy lens pullig on the pins. It also works as a counter balance when walking (weight of camera held in other other) and something to lean on when you have been standing up at an event for hours. KIts no good for something like horse racing or eventing - smaller hand held lens easier but great for dressage and royal shows (where you may ned the extra reach). The actual purpose photography wise is to keep the camera steady for when you are at the extreme end of the zoom (so 400m on the abive lens) as the very slight movement of pressing the button can causse camera shake if not held steady. Yes my lens has its IS on when used with the monopod but again its moving horses and again its to counter camera shake at the extreme zoom. I'd tak a monopod over a full sized tripod anyday.

Last few years our dog who is 13 has had a lump come up after vaccinations and it started to shrink but stay not disappear. A month or so back when she had the new 3 year vaccination (apparently standard at our vet no choice they just use it) plus the KC one she actually didn't have a lump that stayed just a small one that went. I think the new one actually better with her. Considering older dogs will suffer more with things like Kennel cough (they can die if unlucky unless its treated with antibiotics to prevent secondary infection and lets not even mention parvo) if they get it I reckon better to get the jab. Old dogs are like older people if you trust your vet and they recommend vaccinations and you dogs have not had issues in the past why question it.

I was walking the two dogs up to teh shop the other day and there was a parent with about 4 kids. One of the older ones saw hte dogs and started running and w quickly told by the parent if he wanted to pat the dog he had to ask me and not run. I was pretty impressed and pointed them towards the well behaved older dog (the two older kids did then pat the younger dog who still triedto stand on two legs - well ok he tried to jump up but was stuck when I held back on the lead and amazingly behaved himself for the rest of the walk). And other kids have asked before at the shop so its good the lessons are getting out there for kids who obvioulsy dont have dogs at home (the parent was not a dog person from their manner but were teching the kids the right thing).

You need to try the NILIF exercises. Our dog use to take off at the park and refuse to come back til she was ready and it wasnt recall (she KNEW how to come back) it was that she needed to learn respect. In fact I actually found the answer on these forums - somewhere in the training forums (long gone now its was 7 or 8 years back). Exercises like at home mking the dog stay in drop at your feet in front of 20 for 20 minutes - if the dog gets up at any time prior to release it gets put back in the spot and the 20 minutes starts again. Then there is the having to wait for the human to go through doors (and later once all is good they can go through first IF you send them through) - we got some looks from out dog when she barged through and she was called back outside to wait for us to go in. The usual sitting and waiting to be released to eat tea from the bowl an humans always eating before the dog. NOT patting the dog when she comes up and demands it - ignore the dog til she goes elsewhere. Then you can call her over for a pat as many times as you like but its ALWAYS on your terms. No sitting on furniture as the alpha dogs are always higher than the rest of the pack (yes ours later was allowed on the bed for short periods but only by invitation and always has to get off when directed). We kept this up for about 2 weeks (being directed/invited etc with doors and beds kept up but not the patting or enforcing the stay etc) and guess what suddenly she came back when off lead at the park and did what she was told at other times. If you let them get away with 'stuff' at home obviously they think the same rules apply elsewhere. if there are consequences for not doing as told its not a huge leap for the same things to apply outside the house.

I've taken bread out of the bag that was in the freezer put it straight in the sandwich bag with no dog anywhere and hours later get to work and right there is dog hair on the bread. Why stop cooking just pick it out and keep going its not like you havent been exposed to said hair (and whatever is on it) already

Can you carry a stick with you? Like horses dogs also understand if you stomp your foot hard against the ground it means 'get back' especially if you have your dog trained ot stay behind you and you are growling at the uncontrolled dog. Apparently another thing to try and command them to sit - never tried it myself but have seen it somewhere (obviously the non threatening ones that are just rushing up uncontrolled) If you are not surefooted enough to land a kick on the shoulder if one gets too close and appears threatening or your dog gets distressed at the approached if you find a decent but manageable stick (tree branch) to carry with you. You can use it to threaten and many dogs will back off at a stick when they wont at just voice and foot stomping.

Just remember 'ready to print' they are probably in a 4x6 inch or 8x12 inch or 12 x 18 inch (allthese are the same dimensions) shape. If you decide to get some in 5x7 inch or 6x8 inch remember that those sizes will crop the image (in particular the 6x8 is more like a box shape so you lose a fair bit of the ends).

Also take note if your dog tends to be dominant or submissive in meeting other dogs as if your current dog tends to be the dominant one you need to look for a more submissive personality in the new dog. They will sort out who is the boss themselves and if it happens to be the new dog remember you have to enforce what they work out. When we added a second dog we did find one that was younger and he knows he is bottom ofthe pile but will try to push the boundaries sometimes and needs to be reminded of his place. The may be more likely to have squabbles in the short term if they are evenly matched - remember dogs have a hierachy they cannot be of a level standing. You even have to wagtch for small things like our young dog always charges over if he sees you patting the older dog. If he remembers his place he will sit and wait for his turn but sometimes he will try to barge in and push her out of the way ( he may try but gets corrected to wait his turn and when it is his turn for pats you also have to remember to be fair with the attention too) You also have to make time for each dog away from the other as well.

We've had ours for years and years - the only time one tipped over of its own accord it was very very very windy (like stormy windy), clam shell was empty and think it was raised up slightly on one side. Ours treat them as huge water bowls but then you know its a back up to their normal water bowls if the water runs out or indeed heats up.

Set up a video camera and record during the day just to see what really goes on. We were told that our dog w 'barking all day'. Turns out she play wit her food ball then lie in the sun. Then the shadow would move and she'd move into the sun and then the birds would walk right up to the sleeping dog looking for food she'd missed. Dog would wake up chase bird woof once whe they flew onto the fence then go back to sleeping. 3 or 4 times at most per day thid would happen. It was rivetting viewing 8 hours in fast forward each day. Council rang again we told them what had been on the videos and that they were free to view them themselves and we never heard from them again. The only weird thing was the day she ran around the yard about 30 minutes before we were due home dug a hole and stuck a tennis ball in it and left it there. So anyone ever has the 'barkig dog complaint' would suggest set up a camera yourself and see what the dog is actually doing (and if they are barking see what is triggering it).

A few years ago my aunt got someone to go and put down their dog (it had collapsed Wed night and they found the service to visit on Friday morning - dont ask I cant even fathom how someone would leave their old dog down in distress for that amount of time regardless of excuses on why they couldnt put it in the car and go to a vet). Anyway never found out the name but it was apparently a lady vet who goes to the home and puts them down - so I assume this may be the person. They also took the dog away afterwards (another dont ask) and my aunt was apparently happy with the servce provided.

mantis - isnt that called trespass (ie a police matter) if he comes into you yard and messes with your stuff?

I'll give a rushing dog one chance if the owner is chasing after it and reacts as I would if one of mine got away. But if they find it funny or just dont bother to retrieve their dog (or I have to actually threaten or actually do kick it in self defence) I'll report them. If the same dog or dogs menaces me gaain a second time I'll send an email to the council - if they attack and try to contact my dog Ill call it a dog attack and ask to report that and will fill in their form (as I did when one rushed out and had a go and only missed my dog as I got it inthe shoulder - I felt sorry for it though as I dont thin kit had a happy life with the way it looked at me and the story the council found out was the woman who had no control and no fences was looking after it for her son. She was advised of her responsibilites and given a warning which was fine by me as it didnt contact my dog - I however got a sorethroat from the yelling that led to being sick which I didnt need. I never went that way again but then we moved within a coupleof mnths.

Well our young dog who came from a rescue got kennel cough from being exposed to it when being desexed at the vet (the rescue had a few others desexed same time and they got sick the same time he did and all were housed in different foster places).

I can never understand why any vet surgery would have 'resident' animals. I'v read about wandering cats (moving target as my older dog would consider it - she may be old and stiff and sore but put a cat there and shes as quick and agile as she ever was!) not wandering dogs (wouldnt tat be a health risk). As for other dogs if we are just there for cartrophan and both dogs are looking healthy usually you get chatting with other owners and if they are there for the same or something routine it usually ok for dogs to meet under a hold (but only after everyone has checked first).

Thing is the dog tetanus vaccination is two shots a month apart t start with and then its about every 4 or 5 years or something. Our younger dog has to have his first shots this year before he can go out to the horse events. I didn't realise there was one for dogs til the day our older dog cut her foot and it was hard to tell if it had been the day before at the horse event or at home and the vet mentioned that she should have it (that was about 11 years ago so its been available for a while).