pebbles

Teething will play havoc with ears and if they were tipped before hopefully they will go down once he's finished teething. There are things which you can put on the ears to help but I'll leave that to someone else. The stuff I used to use years ago when I had Collies is probably not even obtainable now and I cant remember the proportions to mix anyway, lol. In the meantime, if your pup likes to settle with you on the couch or your knee, just gentle fold the ears where they would normally drop and very gently massage on the fold with your fingers. The more often you can do this the better results. Hope this helps until someone gives you other measures.

Well, I guess it's what a person can manage! Would say that a big percentage of show people use check chains without any ill effects and they're usually very fine chains so the basic training is there as some of the big dogs could easily snap the chain if they got toey. When I first started obed. instructing there wasn't any of the many alternatives (ie gentle leaders etc.) so people were taught to use the chain in the correct manner. I still think it's one of the best training methods when used/taught properly.

Yeah - OK so I used the wrong word - being old and forgetful still cant think of the word!! Collar? Thing around the neck? Lead attachment? Got a case of the dumbs! Always used the chain loose, the slightest touch without actual tightening would get the required response - turn, stop, move, whatever. Wouldn't swap them for quids!

I've shown big and small dogs on check chains for 50+years and never had an injury or a traumatised dog. As austogo said - used CORRECTLY they are IMO the best type of restraint.

Down to mainly the basics now. When I was a 'showing fanatic' I had an Ecnovan with everything and more in it. Leads, brushes, coat stuff, trollys,puppy pen, a bed for me for weekend shows, annex for the van, stove, camping gear, etc. all in it's place. Coming home from a country show, way out in the middle of nowhere, the van caught on fire. All I managed to get out were the dogs and my handbag. Not a good way to reduced your equipment!

Sam's coat has always been shiny and sleek, Pebs. is another matter - she's chocolate and having spent years keeping her from sunbaking, which she loves, I'm afraid her coat is now a burnt orange due to laying in the sun. Figure that as she's no longer a show girl she's entitled to do her own thing. I use Epi-Soothe Oatmeal shampoo.

I read often that it's the body language associated with a word that is the key to the dog understanding what you are saying. Ben, in particular, would cue onto words when I was in conversation with someone else, not even about doggy things. Some I remember - calling out from the shower - "I need a clean towel". Ben had a piece of towel he played with, would go and get it if you told him to. Well, he arrived at the shower with his towel in his mouth! Friend was talking about a horse he was teaching to lead - Ben goes and gets his lead. My two now only have to hear the word 'car' regardless of the conversation and they're ready to go! Same as the word 'walk'! My mouser, Sam, hears the word 'mouse', in a conversation, doesn't matter who says it, me or visitor, and he's ready for a hunt. So IMO they 'know' those words as distinct to all the things they have been taught and are conveyed along with body language.

I followed his racing career, saw him on TV on the Footy Show and admired his layed back nature. I knew he had gone to a home and what better one than with you. Sam lived out his life with love. Damn, it's hard to lose them

I used it for 5 years constantly on a show Affie and she had the best coat of all my Affies. She was a gold with black fringing, beautiful long healthy coat so I can't knock it. Another Affie, blue brindle, his coat went best with Johnsons Baby Shampoo, anything else would make it look dull and stringy. When I was showing a few Affies, the shampoo lineup stretched right along a shelf

Guess it's like everything else - suits some and not others - even within the same breed I've found what suits one coat doesn't do a thing for another.

Ummm... "Martha Gardiner Wool Wash (Mix)" was the one I always used, guess it's still around!

Used 'Martha Gardiner Wool Wash' on an Afghan years ago, no itchys and kept her coat in great condition! When I was showing a number of Affies I used different shampoos on different dogs - 1 - Johnsons Baby Shampoo, others made the coat seem 'claggy'. 2 - Wool Wash - stopped 'fly-away' coat and itches. Some were OK with a good dog shampoo, some had conditioner as well - a case of trial and error.

Snakes are a problem. never know when one's going to suddenly appear! The first thing I would do is teach your other dogs that lizards are not to be chased. This is how I taught my dogs not to go near creepy crawlies. If you have any distance to travel to a Vet. then perhaps a search on here for Vitamin C and snake bite might help and you can then make up your mind if you think this is worthwhile. Good luck.

Always lived in 'snake' country and over the years I have taught my dogs to (hopefully) avoid snakes. Along with the snakes there's generally been a plentiful supply of blue tongue lizards so youngsters were put on a long lead and shown the lizard. With correction appropriate to the dog's reaction they would be discouraged from going near. I've always been able to call dogs from snakes etc. although there have been a couple I wouldn't entirely trust if I wasn't there. I've had snakes and blueys in the yard and the dogs will stay away but bark so I can come out and get rid of 'whatever'. Hope this may give you some ideas!

Please consider other options. I lost my Ben (9 years old) when put on Rimadyl. Did a lot of research, contacted the Company, while they didn't actually admit it was their product, they were willing to come to an arrangement re Vet costs so IMO they practically admitted liability. My Vet. doesn't use Rimadyl since Ben's death. eta- Ben was only on Rimadyl for a few days when he collapsed.

By the pictures your pup appears to have an overshot jaw. In most breeds the top teeth should fit snuggly over the bottom and the canines (those big teeth) should slot in comfortably. I'll post the only pics of teeth I can find and hope you can see them - can never get the size right, either too big or too small! Perhaps a trip to the Vet. or a doggy dentist would be an idea, there shouldn't be injury to the gum.

From my experience I would not use Rimadyl even short term. Lost my Ben a while ago in a short space of time after being put on Rimadyl from a condition which, IMO, was either caused or triggered by this drug. I contacted Phizer (Sp?) and while they didn't directly admit it could have caused this, they didn't deny it. My Vet. doesn't use Rimadyl since this, now uses Metacam. Then again a friend has had her dog on it for quite some time, without any problems but she does get checks done regularly for any sign of liver problems (I think it's liver they test for).

Mine loved their grass nibble but with the drought the last couple of years there wasn't much around. There's been some rain lately so the grass is showing it's head around the place. The dogs have spent quite a lot of time grazing around the yard - hope they keep it up, might save mowing later on

OK, now please, no-one chop off my head!!! This is not meant to be a debate, just a thought I had reading this thread - I hadn't heard of this before - Could this maybe one reason why some gundogs had docked tails? Perhaps those breeds were more prone to this? Wouldn't apply to a lot of other breeds but I assume there was always, well, generally, a reason for docking.

Thanks, Showdog, Sam did have one molar which had to be removed, others all good. This was last January, had his tonsils out in February. He has never had any problem with ears. Vet. is a bit mystified about it. I've been back and forward since last October trying to track down what it is. As the cough/gag didn't seem to be worrying him I wouldn't have worried but this swelling has me a bit concerned altho. it's only very slight. eta - sorry Jen. don't mean to hi-jack your thread

Showdog - did your boy ever have any swelling? Sam's is just up under the jaw sort of down from the ear but under the jaw. It's only slight, probably only his Mum would notice it

It could be tonsils but Sam had his out and didn't make a bit of difference. He would also have slight swelling under the jaw which would be there one day and gone the next. At the moment he has swelling again and if it's still there Monday we are off to the Vet again. It is just soft swelling, no lumps and never appears to worry him, still eats and drinks OK. and no reaction to touch but it's been there since early yesterday, longest it has persisted. ETA - Sam had his chest Xrayed - nothing! He never does it when on a lead and when he was under for the tonsil op. Vet couldn't find any abnormalities anywhere. He also had a tooth out which had a gum infection, thought this might have caused it due to a bit of inflamation from the tooth - again - no difference. Got to be something to cause the swelling (although barely noticable) so I'm looking for ideas too.

Is it a sort of a 'gaggy' cough? Hard to explain - a cough but not deep as from the chest but more as if he's trying to cough up something stuck in his throat? Sam has had this type of cough for ages also he appears to do a lot of swallowing, not bit gulpy swallowing just small licky sort of swallows - boy, it's hard to explain. Had numerous Vet trips and all sorts of medication and treatment.

Can't even get the little pinky in the Mins' ears - give me an ear I can stick my fist in any day :rolleyes: lol.

One time when I wish I still had BIG dogs - ear cleaning time!!!!!!