cowanbree

A lot of small dogs are very hardy and would love to go camping etc. Would you not consider a smaller breed? I know my own breed shelties is as active as you want to be. Happy to tramp at your side through bush all day or sit on your knee on the couch

As a breeder it is a conversation I have quite often. I will always do what is best for the dog concerned and I don't really think placing a puppy with an elderly person is in anyone's best interests not only in terms of activity but also expected life span. I try to steer them in the direction of an older dog but even then they must have a plan. People often say oh my son will take the dog. If the son is not a doggy person he is unlikely to really do that and even if he does, will the dog live a quality life. If they have a close family that also has shelties I am far less concerned. I do really feel for people without that support as I can't imagine life without a dog so on a couple of occasions I have lent them a dog of my own. Theirs to love and look after as long as they are able but they are to come home otherwise. I keep in regular contact and the dogs often come back for holidays so still very much part of the family.

I find it brilliant in stressfull situations such as this and I don't generally use it. I use the DAP spray not the plug in

I always spray the crate bedding with DAP which really seems to help

The other side is of course provided your current dog is dog friendly getting a puppy now while you have time to devote to it might be a great idea. At a later date when you need to concentrate on the baby and house move at least the 2 dogs wil have each other for company and I haven't found 2 dogs that much more work than one. Depends how much dog a Bully puppy is really, my own breed (shelties) I wouldn't hesitate but would have to think seriously if I wanted another aussie

I have 10, 9 shelties and 1 aussie, I normally own 15ish. I should perhaps have less but as a breeder it is really difficult to be successful in the show ring and keep your numbers down without rehoming. I love owning numbers, many generations of the same family and struggle to rehome my oldies.

About 10 years ago now before I was hip scoring I brought in a bitch and bred her. It was not until the resulting puppies were 12mths old that I found out the entire litter had terrible hips. The litter and sire and dam were x-rayed. The dam had a hip score of 44, sire was fine but the entire litter had scores in the 30's. There were 5 puppies, 1 was very overweight and has been on meds most of her life. 1 was fine until about 7yrs when her hip was dislocated in an accident and the rest including the mother have lived normal lives. They are a smaller breed at about 8-10kgs but I find it amazing that their hips can be so bad and yet have so little affect. If he is not showing any symptoms I wouldn't rush in. I would also seriously considering adding Ester C to his diet. Research indicates that it can help if given when growing.

Had a fence very similar that my dog was getting over. Attached a plastic pole on a wire about 3 inches above the top of the fence so that she didn't have anything steady on top to use to pull herself over. Worked very well

I think a lot of breeds would work if you are prepared to put the work in. When I was at Varsity I had 2 shelties with me in an apartment. They were walked 2-3 times daily and were fine. They are not a quiet breed but are extremely intelligent. My bedroom window was right on the footpath of a very busy street and yet my dogs would sit on my bed and watch people pass within metres without an issue. These same dogs would come home with me on holidays and were very different dogs. They knew the rules

She looks gorgeous. What about Zuri which means beautiful in Swahili?

This is so true, strike it all the time with my chosen breed, shetland sheepdogs

Thanks everyone

Thanks, who is Wayrod. Do you have an e-mail or website?

I was wondering if anyone could recommend a transport company for international pet transport from Melbourne that is both reliable and cost competitive.

I have often doen general x-rays without any form of sedation. It really depends on the dog. Mots times they let me come ina nd hold them as long as I suit up. Much easier on the dog and it helps keep the cost down

I have just done hips and elbows for health clearances, full general included $180. Under 10kg dog but not that much more for larger

Thanks everyone. She has taken her back to the vet this morning and suggested the panacur which the vet has agreed might be worth a go but she is questioning the dosage she has been given. The vet has said she needs 12mls 3 days in a row for a 25kg dog but the bottle label says 3mls for up to 40kg of live weight. Vet is closed now so not possible to ring and check. Indigirl, do you recall what dosage you used?

Wondering if anyone has had any experience dealing with Giardia. I have a friend with a 14 1/2 year old dog that has been experiencing vomiting and diarrhoea issues for 4 weeks now. She has just finished a 5 day day course of Flagyl on Tuesday and she is concerned that she is going downhill again already. The vet isn't keen to medicate anymore unless she is actually vomiting etc. I am interested another peoples experience in dealing with this? This is a short history 14.5 year old huntaway cross bitch, gotten thinner over last few months, eating well, still very active, got sick with vomiting and diarrhoea taken to vet, given an anti nausea injection, stopped eating, on a special diet(rice/chicken/probiotic yoghurt and cottage cheese)started to eat again , few days later sick again with vomiting/diarrhoea, back to vets new medication, stool sample given, got very sick stopped eating , diarrhoea just water, back to vets, scanned, blood tests and overnight stay, started eating Hills Science Diet for dogs with gastro issues, very bright, eating again and happy, started to go down hill again, vets changed medication to (flagyl) after finding out its Giardia from stool sample, I am making sure she is on a lead out for walks, she has 5 dog companions, only one other dog got a little sick and off food for a couple days, no vomiting but a little diarrhoea. Sick dog is very obsessed with keeping clean especially back side.

I have tried a lot of remedies for hot spots and had reasonable success with some but my vet recently gave me a tube of Panalog and seriously 1 application stops hot spots in their track. Just trim the hair and put some of this on it and all fixed. Great stuff.

As horrible and tragic as this is I am not that comfortable placing all blame on the owner. The articles I have read state the dog had never previously bitten and had no history. Who is to say the dog didn't have a brain tumour or similar which can cause incidences such as this. I would suspect not many people could honestly claim their own dog has always been on lead or in a fenced yard 100% of the time. I know myself I have had this exact thing happen, a dog got out under my incorrectly closed garage door. Fortunately a sheltie on the loose is viewed very differently from a bull breed. It was a horrible and tragic accident.

He is one of my older show boys and hasn't been shown recently but will be in upcoming mths. He has a lovely coat and with regular brushing he looked fine until recently when he had a big coat drop at which time in my experience they really need to be bathed. Thanks everyone for their suggestions.

I will definitely try changing the water temperature. I wonder if the same applies for the dryer. I currently use a dryer with heat but could swap back to my old force dryer that is only room temperature. I have tried vinegar although I think it was white vinegar and it severely affected him, worse than shampoo. I do wonder if I have used the wrong bar of soap this time as I don't remember him being this bad last time, poor dog

He is bathed very seldom, his last one was nearly 9mth ago. I have tried the calendula tea as a final rinse but he has large areas of white and it left them dirty looking which defeats the purpose of bathing him. I haven't tried altering water temperature so will do that but he is very well dried and every hair combed right down to the skin. Ultimately I will most likely have to shave him but I currently show him so would like to avoid that as long as possible. I am hoping to find some magic pill to give him to stop all the itching before it starts.

I have a sheltie who after bathing is intensely itchy to the point he rips 1/2 his coat out and creates hot spots. I have tried every shampoo under the sun, soap free, fragrance free etc etc etc and the only thing he can even slightly tolerate is goats milk soap. Unfortunately being a long coated dog, he has to at times be bathed so I am looking for a way to better manage it. I am not looking for shampoo suggestions as I have spent years trialling him on different ones and none really work. Otherwise he doesn't have any skin issues. Currently the day I bath him I start him on pred, put his plastic collar on and he has to wear boots but he is still very itchy for around a week. I feel so sorry for him. He has had numerous vet and even specialist visits but they can only suggest steroids which don't seem to help to be honest. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I am so sorry to hear your news. He certainly was a character and his loss will be sorely felt. Take comfort in the fact that you were with him in his last moments. Having had one die overnight at the vets, it still haunts me today and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.