KismetKat

Well they jdidn't have veal casserole meat at Woollies so I bought "veal cutlets" instead. They look like giant lamb cutlets. As I was making a casserole I cubed the meat but have two cutlet bones left over - are these bones OK for doggies???

Thanks for all the replies. There's no concern at this stage about the dogs hips - both parents scored and the breeder is a very good and reputable one with great puppies. From what everyone has said it sounds like the vet wants to get $$$ for the dog's balls twice - once now for the undescended one, and later at 12 months for the other. It's just what the vet said gave my friends hubby's the willies. But armed with further advice from voices of experience will help. And yes, perhaps she should ask around for another vet.

A friend of mine has a gorgeous newfie pup - he's currently 4 and a half months old. He's got 1 undescended testicle and the vet is pushing to operate pretty well straight-away saying it could turn cancerous. The vet has said that while the dog is under they would also take the opportunity to x-ray the dogs hips. However my friend is not happy with the idea of going under a GA so young. The owner has also spoken to the breeder and she would prefer to wait until the dog is 12 months old (as the idea was to desex him when he was 12 months old anyway). My friend's hubby is worried by what the vet has said and wants to go for the op. But my friend would rather follow the breeders advice and wait . What is the experience/advice of DOLers.

Thanks Sheriden - I'll let her know. I don't think he needs a lot of work - just the occassional stripping out.

a bump for my sister. and OK - how about I ask 'can anyone recommend a groomer for a "snappy little bugger"!

My sister has recently moved to Geelong and is in need of groomer (not a "mobile" one) in the area. She's in West Geelong. Her dog is a rescue. He's a maltese cross of some sort. He has more issues than you can poke a stick at - including doors, wheels of any kind, and the elderly! Jeesh. Since the move (he's still not recovered) he's added trucks to the list. With grooming he IS used to being dropped off and kept in a crate/cage. He is very sensitive about his feet and used to being 'muzzled' by use of a stocking when his feet are done. He's a sweet little guy really (as long as you aren't 'elderly' according to his definition - whatever that is - his last groomer was in her 70's but by his standards not 'elderly" even tho people of similar age were). So can anyone recommend a good patient groomer in the area or is there one on this board happy to take on a little dog that needs some special treatment??

I don't think so. Somehow I managed to very calm afterwards and got her in a sit by my side. And the other dog (once leashed and controlled) was also seated next to the owner while we had a talk about it all. I got my dog doing some drops and re-sits and gave her rewards. She seemed ok. We were back there today - I had to sit in the car for a while as there was a heavy shower - my dog did some quivering but it could well have been the rain or just the unusual situation of sitting in the car not doing anything (she has some terrier in her so sometimes does the quiver thing). Once out of the car she was fine and enjoyed her dog class. The other owner was there but was a long distance away and didn't aproach us at all. The situation has gotten awkward as the other owner is upset that I spoke to the head trainer about it all. So perhaps more than one reason for lack of contact

Kavik - I'm certainly not allowing them off-lead together. Erny - I will try and find out more about the methodology being used. The incident happened at dog school and the further training of the other dog (since the incident) is being done under the eye of the school. My concern was, however, the owner wanting to rely on the e-collar without a muzzle as back-up. Particuly given the discrepency in sizes and the other dog is a big hefty dog from working lines of a breed often used as security dogs

We both know not to trust the dog with my dog. Its breed and our location are not relevant. My questions is really, given (I hope) my friend is quick enough to use the e-collar, is the e-collar sufficient in its own to protect my dog. Or should the dog always be muzzled in my dog's presence if the dog is not held by a short lead?

Fair enough. And I really don't want to give too many details. I have a good degree of confidence in the owner and their ability to train. After the incident there was an intensive 45 minute session with the dog with the e-collar. After that the dog was certainly staying nicely seated (on lead) next to the owner when we both talked - my dog also seated at my side. However - left off-lead in a command position with the handler out of sight (tho, I trust, watching) I have concerns. How safe is this, with the dog unmuzzled, given that it has had something of a 'success' in attacking my dog? And wha tif it is not in a 'command' position? The dog out-masses mine by a factor of 5. Would the e-collar be enough to halt it in full attack-mode if it broke position? (and keep in mind the attack that did happen happened so quickly there was no time for the owner to do anything). I guess what I am asking - is the e-collar enough on its own?

I am in the awlful situation that my dog was attacked by a good friend's dog. We've long known her dog has some issues with mine but they've been OK. But recently the dog attacked mine and it was a full on attack. Only the fact the dog was muzzled saved by dog (and me) from serious injury or worse. The attack was unprovoked. We were 4 metres away when the dog rushed us to attack. My friend is now utlising an e-collar (and yes she knows how to use it). She is teaching the dog to ignore ALL dogs. My question is - is an e-collar enough to keep this dog in a command position (and off my dog) when the dog isn't muzzled.

Dogs Life magazine ran a competition last year for the best 'dog friendly' gardens - and my sister-in-law won first prize! Woohoo! She has a fantastic garden - except for the vegie patch every plant in the garden is a native - her garden attracts heaps of native birds. One major thing she did was watch where the dogs run - their zoomies tended to have a regular track. I think she observed and then marked these doggie routes with lengths of hose. These 'runs' are NOT where you place your garden beds So she built the garden beds next to the dog paths, using soil to build up and actually raise the garden bed (kinda like giving the dogs banked corners to run on, and then planted shrubs above the run area so that when they grew the grew up and overhung the dog trails - so now they have shelted 'tunnels' as part of their zoomie tracks. She also uses a lot of 'found objects' (found at the tip, e.g. she planted some giant springs in the ground) to define corners and stop the doggies taking short cuts. These 'found objects' are also useful peeing posts. With clever planting she's managed to build an absolutely beautiful and lush garden that is also 'doggy-proof'.

Ugh - too many results which don't seem relevant Can you post a specific thread which you think I should read?

thanks for everyone's help

She does get chicken necks on occasion What are brisket bones? The butcher once gave me some sort of lamb bones (he was out of marrow bones) but they really made her fart something chronic She gets some raw egg once a week when she gets the leftovers from the egg mix when I do schnitzel. Hadn't thought of sardines - do I just buy a tin? speaking of richer foods - she does get to eat what the cat left of her frisky feast tin.

Not that I am worried - my dog is very healthy and has a glossy shiny coat - but previously when I asked about feeding the combined opinions was that dogs need a LOT of red meat or meaty bones. She is just over 10 kilos and is fed a diet of 1) breakfast - a handful of Optimum dry food 2) dinner - cooked up vegies (mainly pumpkin and celery, but added to with leftover vegies like brocolir, beans, sweet potatoes) plus about 150gms of diced casserole steak (human grade). She doesn't have breakfast on sunday but after training she gets one quarter of a marrow bone. Like I said, I don't think her diet is deficient, but do people think she should get more red meat and less vegies? Oh and she also gets the pickings from the chicken carces (instead of red meat) when I do a chook roast.

Thanks for the advice. Will keep my eye on her and just a light meal later (I have some leftover roast chook - I will make sure I give her only the leaner stuff from the breast). I wonder if the trembly/shaky was more to do with she had just done something in the house that she normally wouldn't do. She's certainly looking quite perky and happy now.

well there was no strong odour, but we were all in the family room together and didn't hear any 'jhacking up' - thus jumping first to the conculsion it was wee. can dogs do silent vomits? she's now sitting in her 'waiting for dinner' position on the rug. I'm confused.

It's a public holiday in Melbourne so can't get hold of my vet. Just discovered on the floor a wee (very unusual, she's well house trained and didn't even ask to go out). The wee was a very bright yellow and was also somewhat foamy. There were two more little dribbles of wee under the table - and these were almost all foam. The dog is looking sad and trembling (she's taken herself off under the coffee table). It's a hot day down here but she's been inside with hubby and the kids with the cooling on. The haven't seen her eat anything unusual or anything. She was perfectly fine and happy an hour ago when I got home from work (yes had to work today). Any idea what this could be? Could it be serious? Should I try and see if taking her for a walk (it's cooled down outside now) or giving her dinner (it's almost normal dinner time) makes her better? ETA: Well we didn't hear her vomit - but could it be bile? There was a leaf in the middle of the biggest one, but heck, there are leaves on the floor so it might have been there anyways. It's just she's now happy as larry playing with my daughter in the back yard and did a wee that looked normal (Hubby saw it). As to why I have leaves on my floors... that's a long story to do with an early shedding decidious tree and a fluffy cat whose coat is a dead leaf magnet. Is vomiting foamy bile bad? (if that is what it is)

Yes that's the one - he's had a colurful life.

My DD picked up a book by this bloke at a fair stall. Seems he was (or is) on ABC radio somewhere and this book was published in 2001. It's called The dog man - an expert explains dog sense - has anyone heard of him and his theories or read the book?

sending you a PM

With the spring moult my Main Coon occasionally gets 'dags' around her bum Her breeder tells me she often clips her cats undersections in the summer to help with this occasional problem and also to stop matts etc. in the armpits. The breeder says she just does them while lying on someoneelses lap. My cat is her retired breeding/show cat so she's had this done before. anyone know of a groomer in S E Melbourne who is happy to work with cats and give my girl a bit of a clip?

whereabouts in Melbourne are you? I'm in SE area and go to Moorabbin ODC which is VCA affiliated. Dog needs to be 18 months old (so fully grown) and also handler/dog must be up to level 'green' in obedience. You can see a list of of dog schools around this part of town here http://users.bigpond.net.au/doge/pages/links.html

Thanks Mrs D Like I said just before, it was all a bit of a blur. Now I've sorted out in my mind what really happened, and your explanation, it now makes sense. Mind you, doesn't stop me from thinking that a dog that actually comes on the first command (no matter what else) should at least get a better score than a dog that vaguely wanders over when it feels like it. Grrr