kelpiecuddles

What do you use for homemade?

I bath the girls once every two to three weeks, basically just when they start to get smelly so sometimes it's longer. Sometimes I notice them starting to smell but might not be able to get a chance to bath them for a few days so wondering whether there are any brush through type shampoos that are actually decent? I'd just ignore it if they were outside dogs but as they sleep in the loungeroom i really notice it.

I bought my girls some jumpers today, they are a jumper/jacket style as opposed to a coat and have little legs, etc, they are lined with polar fleece(kind of like a baseball jacket style). I expected Josie to crack it but she has accepted it like she's always worn one and happily curled up and went to sleep. Sascha on the other hand is sitting on her bed giving me a kelpie death stare and refuses to lie down. It doesn't seem to be too tight on her but she's certainly in a mood about it. I need to get her used to wearing something as she's nine years old and is starting to feel the cold a bit more than she used to, also I'd like them to be able to wear them when we travel in the car to reduce fur on the seats. Does anyone have any tips to help get her over the indignity of being 'dressed up'? She's not particularly food motivated so I'm not sure treats are going to cut it.

Yep, I would do the vasectomy early if necessary or imprtant to you for council registration or just for your own peace of mind and then get the full job done at 12-18 months.

No, I think they are hoping that when they go out they will be companions for each other, currently they have to contain him in the bathroom when they go out or he rips the curtains down running from window to window, they never leave him alone for more than an hour. The maltese used to have a rottweiler friend but they lost him a while back so it's alone now.

Yeah, I gave her a bit of a look when she said staffy plus 4ft gates, i did say it would be difficult with those fences, especially since staffys are renowned for being escape artists! Thought I'd put it out there anyway though in case someone hd a little furry someone that might suit, from talking to her it sounds like everything else is perfect, just that issue really.

I think that due to their fencing situation they want to deal with a rescue, they had been looking at the pound here but had a very bad experience with a dog from there and they aren't keen to go through the pound again. They want to ensure the dog has been properly assessed in a home environment and stands a reasonable chance of fitting their home situation. That said if a rescue gets him out and still feels he would suit them i'm sure they would be happy to look at him then.

Not sure Dogmad, I suspect they could be convinced to let the dog sleep inside though. I think the malt was also a rescue and was used to sleeping on the bed, etc and they don't like this and the little malt is quite persistent about itand it has caused them some hassles(it has seperation anxiety issues and will tear the place apart if they leave it alone inside). I suspect they are just pushing for the complete opposite so they don't feel they have to have the dog on the bed but could be convinced to have it sleep in the laundry or garage or similiar if that's what the dog was used to.

I have found the best way to find a good breeder is to go along to shows and watch the dogs and their breeders(from an out of the way vantage point), you'll quickly get a feel for the breeders and their dogs that way. If you are sensible and wait until the breeder is finished showing they may even be willing to have a chat with you there.

I've been walking my basset along in the shallow water, in the past she wouldn't have even set foot in it but she will now follow the kelpie in until the water is up to her chest(not very far when your legs are that short!). I think a gently gently approach where you just encourage them in depper a bit at a time is the way to go so they learn that they can move forwards through the water and that there is no need to panic.

I had a lady ask me today if I knew of anyone in rescue with a nice staffy in need of a home. They are a nice couple in I'd guess their 60s??, they have another small dog already(maltese). They have a bit of land I believe as she was talking about how the neighbourhood kids jump the fences and nick fruit from their orchard LOL. So basically they are hunting for a small dog friendly staffy who is relatively calm and happy to go for walks with them, be inside during the day but will probably sleep outside at night. They have 4ft gates so needs to not be a fence jumper. Anyone have anything that might suit?

All that said my kelpie will work for anyone happily and attentively but her bum waggles extra fast when she sees her mummy. I think a dog that is confused or has a poor relationship with their owner is more likely to just switch off and not have that bond and go to anyone who will lead them whereas a dog which has an excellent training relationship with their owner might work happily for someone else in the short term but will still display that bond with their owner and want to return to them.

I agree, I think even something as simple as body language and a dog will completely change their behaviour. I know a couple of dogs personally who are almost unmanageable around their owners but if i walk in with an authoritative air about me they totally change.

Or they're a labrador LOL

food

I was 'attacked' by lots of dogs when I was a child, they were usually wagging their tails and licking me all over and once they were done I'd finish giggling, get up and keep playing. To me it sounds like the father is interpreting over the top play from the dog as an attack. Maybe she has been snapped at once or twice and he now sees any dog moving quickly around her as threatening. More often than not I'll growl at my children rather than the dog if a dog isn't behaving positively. Most of the time it's because the child is doing somethiung that the dog doesn't appreciate, it's meant my kids have a healthy respect for dogs rather than fear. But as PPs have said, that's asking him to change his entire parenting style and that's a whole new ball game.

If tomorrow would suit I can do it, I have a day off and no children. Any time between 11ish and 4.

Makes sense. the girls sleep inside and I'm pretty wussy so my house stays warm at night, around 16 degrees but they are out during the day no matter what the weather is like(unless it's disgusting weather!).

Thanks all, I've been using a few of these suggestions over the past few days adding to what I had already started and I can already see a difference, she's no longer looking ribby and looking more the way she should. I don't like much extra weight on my dogs(like to be able to see the last rib) but it's a fine balance with her and she can drop the weight so quickly sometimes.

Queue the dickheads deliberately backyard breeding their poorly bred and raised pitties just so they can trade them in and get 'financially combensated'

I am away from the house from 7-6 five days a week so three or four meals a day won't work but they are having their dry in the morning and then bones(lamb flaps) in the evening when I am home to supervise. I'll add any extras then as I have a bit more time up my sleeve whereas in the morning it's a quick scoop the dry into the bowl, send them outside for the day and off we go to school/work.

Thanks guys, I'll keep up the research, there is a Sam's Warehouse about 40 minutes from here so might head down that way on Sunday and see if they still stock them. The kelpie jumps up and down fine but with her shape of course it's not good for the basset to be jumping up and down from the back of an SUV.

Just wondering how heavy and bulky they are? I'm considering getting one to get the bassets in to the car. Right now I'm making do as Josie is a smaller basset at about 24kg but it can be a struggle if she's excited and wriggly and it would be easier for me if I could just walk her up a ramp but if the ramps going to take up a lot of space or is just as heavy as the dog it kind of defeats the purpose! I'm looking at two second hand at the moment, one which folds in half and the other where one half slides inside the other half.

Can I request one with a longer lifespan so I get to spend much longer with him or her? Surely if my corella is still spritely at 34 it's not that much to ask that my dog is too!

I don't mind RC, I've used it in the past for my cat so it would probably be the one I would choose out of those brands. Eukanuba lost my vote when they put a basset on the weight control food LOL