KismetKat

espin - as she hasn't grown up dealing with chicken frames - I would be worried about how she would handle the little bones. But I will certainly ask my butcher for some 'meaty' ones for her. as to the marrow ones - I DO get them off her after a while. One thing I have to be careful of is the cat getting to such things - he's old and on a prescription diet - anythingelse upsets his tummy (in a VERY ugly way ) thanks for your help.

espin - i was a bit worried about giving her too many bones as 1) i was told they could bind her up (poo wise), and 2) marrow bones were very fatty and could make her fat. what sort of bones should I ask the butcher for? (mind you she tend to bury them for a few days before chomping on them)

I'm just wondering how 'sheep doggy' my dog really is. She is absolutely fascinated by them (as stopovers on the Hume Highway have shown), yet the two times she's actually got close to one (thru the bars of a mobile petting farm at street carnivals) she's sniffed them and wagged her tail. Perhaps she thinks they're a marramer and wants to play?

thanks espin. so would you be feeding more meat than me and less veg? as to oil - it's good olive oil (and just a dollop) - is that a bad oil cooked? and I admit that i do feed the small handful of complete just to cover myself

What vegies are good and what should be avoided? I know onion should be avided, and I've heard potatoe isn't good either. Also peas and corn. But perhaps this info is wrong? My dog eats cooked veg (mainly pumpkin and celery plus maybe beans and broc and sweet potatoe if it is leftover from dinner or starting to wilt in the fridge). I heard somewhere that oil is good so add a splosh to the cooking water. I know many follow BARF here but when I got her a) I didn't know about it and b) suspect I woulda found grinding up raw veg more onerous that cooking up the batches that I do. She's very healthy and fit and has a glossy coat. She has fresh meat (meat and veg are both human grade). Casserole steak diced - 1.5 kilos lasts about 7-8 days - is that enough fresh meat? She also has a quarter of a marrow bone once a week. For 'dinner' she has a small handful of complete dry food. She's a medium dog weighing about 12 kilos.

look out for an incoming email dave. mind you, when I told hubby about it he thinks I am absolutely nuts! Thinks I am getting too 'doggy"

The airport? Heck, I've got an e-tag! Could someone PM me the details on who to contact there? or what the place is called so I can look it up in the phone book? Thanks for the explanation/description mjk - glad to read how controlled it all is (for the sheeps' sake). and "DOL' - goddit! :rolleyes:

Thanks hedds - and please call me Kiz. I am checking out that thread. Ta heaps. btw - still not used to some of the jargon here - what is a "DOL" dog?

I thought I had better start a new topic as this question might get lost in the Sydney one. I know from another forum member here that she can take her dog to sheep dog lessons - with real sheep! Is there anything like that in Melbourne? Is that what "herding" is? They would have to pretty bullet-proof sheep wouldn't they to cope with a beginner dog?

one old fashioned and organic method of helping combat fleas in the garden is to plant the herb pennyroyal. Especially in shady spots where cats and dogs like to lie. It's probably not as affective as nuking them, but it looks nice. ;)

well no matter if they ARE cheaper than ebay, I am sure the farm is cheaper than my local rip-off pet shop - and it sounds a fun family day out to boot! (excuse the pun )

Land rights for gay bacterium! *grins and runs*

can u PM me about where to get them in doveton? If the problem gets much worse I may have to visit.

is Doveton near melbourne? Sorry haven;t been here very long so am geographicaly challenged.

are they a pet shop item kimjim? Any idea of stockists in Melbourne? Mind you i can imagine my beloved mutt trying to chew them off!

where do you find such boots kimjim? How do dogs take to wearing them?

well at least I know now that it's not just my dog being a wimp! Do their paws toughen up over summer? Or is it an ongoing problem? Are some sort of 'bindi boot' an answer?

In my favourite park the bindi's are ripening. I hate bindi's! My poor dog - she gets them in her pads. They obviously hurt as she limps and I have to pull them out. At the moment it is only the sunnier side of the park that they are sharp - so I am keeping her over to the other side. But what do I do once they start to turn sharp too??? Do they bother all dogs??

Thanks Am! I felt in my bones there was something amiss with what I was doing, but didn't know what. So glad you spotted it. Yes I am just luring her along. Ta for your help.

a question about traning to heel. We go to doggy school each week and although at times she heels very well (loose lead) at other times I am having to correct a heck of a lot! I must admit that we really don't practice this enough. Most of her exercise is playing with her friends at the offlead park. And while I can practice sit/stays etc. at home, when it comes to trying to do any lead work in the back yard it just DOESN'T work cos she thinks she's due a walk! (can't blame her really). I DO get her out to a nearby park with has a basketball area which is great for practicing heel etc. - but I will admit that I don't do this often enough. So that's the background. Now my question. A couple of times (and so far it HAS only been a couple so if what I have done is 'wrong' in some way I can stop straight away) I have practiced heeling in the backyard with NO leash (see above about wanting a walk) but having treats in my hand. BOY do I have her attention! But is this perhaps not a good way to train? She does walk at my heel, her head is up looking at me (is that good or bad?) and I've generally gotten an automatic sit when I halt. Trying to do a stand is tricky tho. The drops work fine but they always did when food was involved *sigh* Please advise.

Thanks lilysmum. And, having smelt 'pal farts' there is NO way I would feed my dog stuff like that! but what i meant about cooked foods was eating human leftovers - surely dogs have been doing that for generations??? oh my girl DOES get raw egg too - whenever I schnitzel she gets the leftover dipping egg. She gets part of a marrow bone once a week (my butcher quarters them for me), but I've been told they shouldn't have them too often. The raw meat she gets is diced casserole steak. Is it better the meat be minced rather than diced? Whats the diff?

Thanks lillysmum - and I did a bit of a net search too. I was surprised by the veg being raw as well - I've always cooked mine. And I think the site also said no grains. But if dogs have lived so long with people wouldn't some cooked leftovers be a 'natural' part of their diet? And what is "scour'? (to get back on the topic here)

What's BARF philosophy lilysmum? and i too only feed my dog human grade meat. She gets diced casserole steak mixed with cooked up vegies as her main meal in the morning and a small amount of dry food in the evening. she looks very healthy and everyone comments on how shiny her coat is.

Tris - is the litter kept clean? Some cats don't like dirty litter so will go elsewhere. I've started using the new crystal litter which, with one cat, lasts up to a month. I remove solids very quickly (have too or the dog pinches them for a tasty treat ) But given her age I think you might be right in suspecting it is part of the problem. To discourage her from behind the tv have you thought about sprinkling something she won't like (pepper? chilli powder?)