cowanbree

I have a bitch due to whelp in a couple of weeks. She is not very big and I strongly suspect 1 or at most 2 pups and given it was a c-section last time strongly suspect it will be one again esp given the low puppy numbers. She is due on the Saturday and my vet is not on duty that weekend so I would have to go with a strange vet. I am considering doing an elective on the Friday but am not sure if that will compromise the puppy. I did 2 matings 1 day apart and the Saturday is 63 days to the first mating. Has anyone done this? Over the weekend we have to use the duty vet and it could be a horse vet with little to no small animal experience. I have been very lucky previously as my vet has always came in esp to do it but he isn't available this time

Fair enough, I have used it for years and found it works well even with the number number of dogs I have but it isn't for all dogs. I can't say I have ever had any issues with it but my breed is very prone to barking

It is a can with stones in it and the lid taped shut. You throw it on the concrete or at a wall near the dog and they will startle. Use that brief quiet to say quiet and then praise him and bring him inside. Works really well but I wouldn't use it if your dog was of a nervous temperment

Dogs aren't stupid and are as capable as we are of knowing the difference between the neighbour making noise and stranger danger. Barking at neighbours is due to lack of training, I use a number of techniques to stop it. I start with training the command quiet. Every single time my dogs bark I go out and say quiet. if I am not immediately obeyed I either use a throw can to get their attention and praise them as soon as they obey or I crate them for 10 minutes until they settle down and will listen. For unwanted barking inside I use a water pistol, works very well. Barking when you are not home is a lot more difficult to control but really your dog should not be barking when you are home. I accept barking when strangers enter the property, a bit of barking first thing in the morning and after work when they are first let out but other than that I don't allow barking. Neighbours won't tolerate it and if it has already got to the stage that neighbours are meeting with other neighbours over it you need to be very proactive

So sorry to hear this. I have had a similar thing happen but while I personally will never feed bones again after my horrific experience I have also had dogs choke on dry food. Everything has it's risks and all you can do is your best.

I have Chilli due on the 9th, also a sheltie

My worst nightmare. Shelties are very difficult to catch once they get a fright, often they won't even come to their owners. The sheltie will be holed up somewhere close to houses but in a bit of bush. The first time you get a decent sighting I would get a trap out there, it is the best bet to catch him. Very remote chance that he will approach any strangers. Good luck

No I don't think it was you in the ring with me. The offender had a Rotti and was throwing bait for the dog to catch. Not a problem normally but it was lunging forward and my sheltie stacked less than 2 feet away found that understandably quite threatening. Not only was the dog moving the entire time but so was the handler and they were very close, very inconsiderate. I would ask how happy you would be if your dog was behind you? Does he upset other dogs? I think that will give you the answer to your question.

I also would have asked you to keep your dog quiet. While it is great to try and keep your dog animated it shouldn't be at the expense of other exhibitors and a dog stacked behind you barking would unsettle a lot. The dog directly behind me over the weekend did a similar thing and was constantly jigging round. In my opinion she needs to do some training and be more considerate of her fellow exibitors

Not the person from Gisborne who wants to breed partis and blue merle poms? If so I would caution you to check the home

Depends on the individual dog more than the breed. I am a sheltie breeder and have 2 big dogs as well. It works under supervision as the aussies are totally submissive to the shelties. Shelties play completely different from the aussies, they don't do the wrestling games the aussies love which is fortunate as the 15kg difference in size can be an issue. Dobes and shelties have very different temperaments though

It is not overly hard but yes you have to go through an agent. To minimise costs you can do some of the vet visits yourself. They have to current C5 vac, need a blood test for BG and have to have a vet exam and tick treatment. Cost depends on where from and too but it is not cheap

I have gravel runs and no issues at all with my dogs feet. I did find however that they kicked it up quite a lot and even with a foot of gravel were ending up dirty. I have put paving stones under the gravel which has for the main part fixed that

I always put my puppies in a pen in the spare room with paper down until they are at least 4-5mths. It has never affected house training and saves getting up at night all the time. also it has been very handy over the years to have them paper trained.

Thanks everyone, the tuna was a hit and if I add that to some of his other meals he is eating most of them so I am really pleased. His appetite still isn’t great but at least he is eating something. Also found the smoked chicken in a can in the same place and he really likes that even blended.

Thanks everyone, the tuna was a hit and if I add that to some of his other meals he is eating most of them so I am really pleased. His appetite still isn’t great but at least he is eating something. Also found the smoked chicken in a can in the same placed and he really likes that

As a breeder it can be hard to let go esp when people do things you don't really apporve of. Give her some time, she will lighten up and will be a very valuable source of information down the track - at least she cares. Must say though I wouldn't be that happy with you changing the diet of a puppy you have had less than a week either. Going to a new home is a big enough change without a diet change as well. I always say stick to the diet supplied for at least a month and then change it to suit your house slowly

I have a 10yr old dog who the last 6mths has been through the wars, bowel obstruction, peritonitis, and then esophageal issues which mean he will never eat a normal meal again; they all have to be blended. He has never been an overly food motivated dog but lately it is very difficult to get him to eat. He doesn’t want that mush but unfortunately there is no other option. He has been extensively health tested from scans to bloods etc and my vet has confirmed there is nothing wrong with him. I have tried just about every combination of food I can and nothing other than blended mutton motivates him for long. He can’t live on mutton alone and no doubt will get sick of this soon too so I was thinking an appetite stimulant. Can anyone recommend something suitable?

I have a 10yr old dog who the last 6mths has been through the wars, bowel obstruction, peritonitis, and then esophageal issues which mean he will never eat a normal meal again; they all have to be blended. He has never been an overly food motivated dog but lately it is very difficult to get him to eat. He doesn’t want that mush but unfortunately there is no other option. He has been extensively health tested from scans to bloods etc and my vet has confirmed there is nothing wrong with him. I have tried just about every combination of food I can and nothing other than blended mutton motivates him for long. He can’t live on mutton alone and no doubt will get sick of this soon too so I was thinking an appetite stimulant. Can anyone recommend something suitable?

I am considering getting a new dryer and want some recommendations for something suitable for a sheltie coat. I have previously owned an ezycoat force dryer for the last 10 yrs which I love and a liberty which is way to slow for me and the hose keeps coming off. I am considering either another ezycoat, a pupkus which has the same level of force as the ezycoat and is heat or the Simpson and Langley Powerjet. http://www.pupkus..com.au/index.php/cPath/17_22 I would be interested in anyone who has used any of these and their pros and cons or if anyone has a better suggestion.

I use a dog sitter all the time and it works out well. My dogs esp the oldies wouldn’t handle a kennel well and this way they can stay in the comforts of their own home. It is all about finding the right person and also about how your home is set up. My house is set up so that even if one gate/door is accidentally left open they still have to get through another before they can get out. I have always found my person through word of mouth, vet nurses are excellent. I

I think it is really important that everyone makes an informed decision regarding what they feed their own dogs. Personally I have always fed mine mainly dry with about 1/4 raw and my dogs have lived long healthy lives. I was recently swayed towards feeding more BARF but thousands of dollars in vet bills and a dog that will never eat a normal meal again have changed my opinion on that.

My dogs are show dogs and know a lot of commands and have great house manners but they are possibly different to what most pet owners would train. My dogs all know their name and have an excellent recall but otherwise the majority of their commands are for use in the ring. Stand, walk up, back, etc. I would never train sit and while I have trained down in the past I don’t really anymore as I don’t really use it. How long have you had your new girl? It does take time for adults to settle into their new home, at least 6 weeks. The plus side of buying a show dog is they should be very well socialized and they learn quickly

It is not actually the flights that are the issue as when it is in the air the hold is temperature controlled. What you have to watch is load/offloading and stopovers as the dogs can be left on the tarmac or the air conditioning isn’t working effectively

Just a dash in their food twice a day. It is quite safe so you can't overdose them