KismetKat

Which is what Tammie's initial research found. From what I understand she's looking at a way of measuring 'affability' - and this is regardless of breed or mix. If you guys knew what breed she actually owned herself I think half your paranoic fears would be allayed. Yes I know Tammie, have some idea of her research project, and also know that her research is NOT backed by some evil pet industry company wanting to find skewed results (and even if it were this would NOT wash with Monash researchers). The "testing" she is doing is simply observing behaviour in a controlled situation. It is not any sort of temp testing. She has already stated the saliva swab has nothing to do with her own project, just helps to provide a database for other future research projects.

dunno about the dog (maltese cross??) but am pretty sure that is a dead cow underneath her.

I don't have an xbox - do you have one that plays Playstation?

Yes if the dog is a true mutt, of mutt parents, they won't find anything. I did the test and they only found 'distant" (great-grandparents or beyond) for my dog. I think it would only be handy when your supposed first-cross maltese/mini-poodle ends up the size of a GSD (like the one around the corner from me) and you want to make a point with the 'breeder' *cough*.

It may vary from Council to Council but as far as I am aware dogs are not allowed in hair salons due the health reasons. I used to go to a hairdresser in the Bayside council area who had a lovely rescue dog that was a Bernese Mountain dog x. I loved having him come into the salon from out the back, rest his head on my knee, and give him rubs as he drooled. Apparently a lot of patrons also enjoyed his company. But someone walking past made a complaint to Council that there was a dog loose in the salon and council visited the hairdresser citing "health" reasons why she couldn't have the dog in the salon. I never did figure out what the 'health' reasons were (she didn't serve food) but after that to see the dog I used to have to go out the back to give him a pat.

I have two dogs of different sizes (10.5 and 26.5). Every meal they have some premium dry food, cooked vegies and a "protein" component. I also include leftovers as available like rice or pasta. I have just wondering about the relative value of the different "protein" components of their dinners and if this means I should adjust amounts of the dry and vegie accordingly. I DO adjust the size of the "protein" component of their dinners by their size (e.g. if it is a chicken frame night I have 1 large one and 1 small one) Over a week, 4 of the nights the 'protein' will be diced steak. Interspersed over the other nights the "protein" will be chicken necks, chicken frames and tinned sardines. I try to aim to have leftover rice on sardine night. Look, they seem to be doing really well, but I wonder, for instance, is the diced steak more nutritional value than necks, so they should get more kibble and less veg on neck night, and more veg and less kibble on steak night. You see what I am getting at? Or do not the meals need to be micro-managed to that extent? They also get a bone after dog school on sundays.

That's a bit of a broad and sweeping statement. I've met many Chines people both in parks and at dog school who are doting dog owners and own all sorts of dogs (up to and including GSDs). I've also lived in an Asian city, and while packs of street dogs caused problems and fear, this didn't stop at least some locals from being doting pet owners. I must say tho that I have noticed the same as Lo Pan, and it is African people who are absolutely terrified of dogs (any dogs, even tiny tiny ones). My observations locally is that this fear is universal amongst Africans. That being said there are myriads of different ethnicities/cultures that us Aussies just lump in as "African" - so my "local observation" is really just another "broad sweeping statement" as I really have NO idea if our local Africans come from a singular (dog afeared) group.

I'm with law and it IS selfish and nothing "funny' about it. I'm not laughing.

Victoria - in the Otways Countrywide Cottages - we stayed there earlier this year. There are 4 cabins, and although not fenced, they are spaced well apart. The verandah of each cottage has lockable gates. Dogs are allowed inside and the owner supplies a couch cover. Very dog friendly and I think you can also take horses. Nice friendly owner.

No you don't add a degree to an underarm temperature for a baby! Not if you want an accurate result. Oh jeesh - you don't add a degree??? Is under armpit accuarate then? Well they are 17 and 12 now - so they survived my being an appalling mother. btw dog is now fine. He had a raised temp at the vet, but I could already tell something was wrong by his behaviour. He was put on ABs but last night he was still acting weird, so why I suspected still having an elevated temp. But he's acting perfectly normally today. I will get another thermometer - just still not really happy with the whole up the bum thing - but am sure I can cope. Just trust I don't mix up the 2 thermometers ;)

Thanks for the tips about the ears. I DO have a thermometer, but as I use this with the kids I really don't want to use it where the sun don't shine on the dog I was wondering if using under the armpit (and adding a degree) like you do with babies might be a work around. But I will feel his ears. Ta people

short of sticking a thermometer up its arse, is there any other way to tell if a dog has an elevated temp?

A friend has a new pup and I recommended they start a varied diet to include small chicken necks, small chicken frames and also sardines. The owner has been for a vet check today and the vet said chicken necks were not good as "they have had dogs they have had to operate on because of problems with small pieces of bone causing stomach issues." ??? I know many people (including myself) that feed necks - do they really cause such problems?

Thanks Brad - will send you a PM

We have to work a lot of things out, but I am in contact with an Agility trainer (who has Agility equipment) who was a member of a club in Hawthorn that recently disbanded. We think, with enough interest, we can start a new club. We can also try and get back the Obedience instructors from the recently disbanded club. We are looking at doing this on a club basis (so volunteers and cheap membership - no $900 fees). We can perhaps use the grounds recently used by the club that folded, which is in East Hawthorn. Any ex-ADT members (including instructors) who'd be interested in this arrangement please contact me via PM. If you have contact details of others who may be interested, please pass this info on.

Just saw this here - i just got my email and posted in general dog discussion.

That is fascinating - thanks for digging it up.

a 'bump' in case more queenslanders turn up

Thanks anita. Certainly when I've been here the "track' was fairly simple and I suspect, the same one each time. A "run" for an adult dog consisted of two "laps" (for want of a better word). It was intersting to see on of those links you posted earlier about the condition of the dogs and the need for training - makes me wonder of competitive tracks are also longer aside from being more complex. I also wonder if the injury rate in the US is a lot higher than it is here as I think the only place it is done competitively here is QLD. Like you, I hope some banana-benders wander into this thread to throw some light on the question.

So are fun day tracks simpler (and safer) than competitive tracks? I've never seen the sport done competatively so don't know how it is different from when I've gone to coursing days the Ridgie club hold down here.

A guy I know on another board, his daughter has a saluki she rescued in iraq - they are now living back in the US. I suggested to him she take the dog lure coursing and googled a club nearby where she lives. She thought it sounded fun but said "I have talked to other sight hound owners about it and they said that the dogs can get really ripped up on the wire. (45 mph and wire don't go well together)". I've never heard of any injuries here. Does it happen? Is the difference that it is done competively in the US where here in Victoria it is just for fun?

Thanks Anita. After you mentioned googling it I googled it too - there was some discrepency between the "kiss of Allah" being a white mark on the head and a white mark on the chest. Also the ever unreliable wiki was quite effusive about saluki's being somehow exempt from the muslim beleif that dogs are unclean (which is in the hadiths). So it was really interesting to read what you have posted. "drop bears" - yeh

I know an American on a board whose daughter was in Iraq with the US military. She rescued an injured saluki and eventually brought it back to the US. He told me the dog had some marking on the top of it's head which people in Arabian countries call "the kiss of Allah" and it is a highly prized marking for salukis in those countries. Is this true? And is the mark well regarded here?

Okey Dokey - the dogs are in for a treat They can have them Wednesday when I am at home and can monitor. Just I have once had a problem with a bone chewed too small and a section lodged under the palettte between the teeth with Rosie (and she's the smaller dog) - so am a bit cautious (lucky I was there and could hook a finger around it and get it out).

Yup they're raw - and have meat on them too! Just wondered about the shape/size - particularly with two different sized doggies.