cowanbree

You would be better off using a Mars Coat King. I am about to buy one to use on my pets. Apparently it thins the coat and look totally natural

I have used it for years, never had an issue or heard of anyone having problems. Wonderful Stuff

How old is the pup and do you intend to show him?

I have both a force dryer and a liberty stand dryer for shelties and Persians. The force dryer is a lot quicker but doesn't give the finish of the stand dryer and the dogs don't like it. The stand dryer does take slightly longer but the dogs enjoy it and it is brilliant for hands free when you are doing the cats and need to groom at the same time. I mainly use the stand dryer with the hose attachment on heat. I have heard the heat can melt the hose but if you angle the dryer down you won't have a problem. I do have a problem with the hose heating up though and making it uncomfortable to hold. I have done 3 in a row (3hrs grooming) but I had to put it on cool towards the end. The hose is not easily removed for hands free. In short if I could only buy 1 and was grooming pets I would buy the best force dryer I could find and save for the stand

Took some new pictures yesterday and got a head shot of my Sterling that I just love so was wondering if someone can amend a picture done for me previously. It is post 1878 on page 126 and I would like Sterling’s head replaced with the new picture recropped as required and have him in front instead of the sable. I need that relatively large as it is for my website Thanks

I think perhaps you have meet some shelties with very bad temperaments. Believe me none of my dogs want to stay at home, they go everywhere with me and not a lot phases them - they just are more interested in me than other people. Also the amount and way they are socilised as pups both with teh breeder and new owner helps Having said that I have also in the past done rest home visiting and they are perfect, very gentle and not pushy wanting attention. Kell was my best one, she would enter the room and sus out if the people like her and then go and sit beside them. Where are you located, perhaps I can recomend a breeder you can go and visit and sus them out for yourself

Sheltie breeder and owner of 20 years here. I think the first thing you have to consider when looking at a sheltie is their temperament and if it will fit into your household. The sheltie standard reads should be reserved with strangers. Don’t mistake this as timid, it simply means they have little to no interest in people who are not part of their family. If you are looking for a mini border type temperament that isn’t a sheltie. For example if you visited my house I would not expect any of my dogs to go bounding up to you but after you had been accepted into the house and had been sitting on the couch they will come up for a pat. This is vastly different from a sheltie that is hiding under the couch and would never come near a stranger. If you are a serious competitor you also need to consider drive. The soft smoochy temperaments that make lovely pets quite simply are too soft for obedience. They can compete of course but are more of a challenge to train and I find never make the top grade. The ones you actually want are the pups that need a job, and yes they are out there. Can you tell that many years ago I used to do obedience

Are we talking a pug? When I had an issue that needed swimming I went to the warehouse and just brought a little one for $50. Set up poles so I could loosely fasten the dog in the middle and as long as they couldn't reach the ground the dog paddling to stay afloat worked fine. Really did help

Thanks, it is a terrible decision that I am struggling with. He was born with his stomach split open. The specialist operated on him at 9 weeks to fix the huge hernia that went from his breast bone right down to his penis but unfortunately some of the stitches gave and he has been left with 2 small hernias about an inch wide. He has lived like that for 4 years now but they are starting to bother him more and I am worried all the stitching will split further as well as the fact that he is obviously uncomfortable. If it weren't for the anaesthetic risk I would take him straight up and get him operated on but I would hate to lose him. So I have to weigh it all up

It never rains but it pours. After a rough last couple of mths with the critters I am having issues with my special needs boy Payton. It is looking like he may need to go back to the specialist for another operation on his tummy and I am very concerned. He had his first operation with the specialist at 9 weeks which was a 4 hour operation that he came through really well. Come time to neuter him at 6mths (with my normal vet) and he stop breathing under anesthetic and they had a terrible time getting him going again. This time he would be going back to the specialist and having a reasonably extensive operation involving muscle grafts. I am very concerned about the anesthetic. Has anyone any experience in dogs having issues with anesthetics and then no further issues at a later date. He really needs this operation to be more comfortable but I don’t want to lose him

Can you please explain more on this. Leanne It cuts the coat - not suitable for show dogs

I have had 3 dogs with HD now – you can not tell by gait or by the way they sit they are affected. I only found out when they were x-rayed and they have quite high scores

I have had to operate on a few older critters, I always do geratric bloods first to make sure that they can handle the GA and then make sure they get fluids before during and after the operation and it really does help. Very stressful but you can't leave them in pain and teeth do hurt

My sincere sympathies. Having just lost a dog to gangrene in her feet I know exactly what you are going through. They are still bright and happy within themselves but they have to be able to walk – they have to have quality of life. Just be comforted by the fact that she is ok now. She is not suffering or frightened and Toller you did help her by doing the right thing. As hard as it is, you did it for her. Cherish her memory

It is a week down the track and Keriem has had the gauze removed from her eye socket, in fact she is due to have the stitches out on Monday. She is eating well and seems quite happy but I am still a bit concerned about the discharge. It has very much decreased but she still has a very slight discharge that seems to be coming from her nose occasionally – perhaps only a few drops 2-3 times a day. It is bright red blood. Anyone had that?

I have had plenty of cat abbesses and some of them have been quite big when lanced. They are never stitched and seem to dry up quite well without any more intervention than wiping with iodine. Not sure any have been quite that big though

Try a car full of shelties on the way to the beach, not a quiet breed at the best of times. I take my trusty water pistal and anyone who carries on too much is shot. Mostly I just have to pick it up and all is quiet. Funny they love the hose but hate the water pistal

Kymbo, the vast majority of sheltie ears require help to tip at some stage. They are normally gunked or taped up until around 12mths when they set. Anyhow lovely dog

Thanks, they look great

Thanks Freckles, any chance you could do the second one bigger. It is meant to be 300dpi and no less than 300kb - It is going in a sheltie mag

Gorgeous baby. As BC said her tail is a fault, looks like it is too short, the tip of it should touch the hock and also looks like she has a flatish croup and high tail set. None of these things matter in a pet but it would count against her in the show ring. Just enjoy your pet, she is a nice typey pet puppy and her tail will not cause her any difficulties in life

I attach a picture of my friends dog that I was hoping somebody could help me with. She loves the picture but hates the background. We want it to look totally natural so thought perhaps someone could just gently fuzz the background, no frames or anything needed. Secondly I love the head shot on this picture and though someone might be able to have a play with that. Thanks

It is still weeping slightly, just enough to color her face between me wiping it every couple of hours. He didn’t seem to be alarmed and she will be going back Monday morning so I suppose I just have to trust him – he is a good vet. He packed the eye as he said in his experience a lot of times the eye sockets fills up with fluid requiring another operation to drain it. This way they just pull the gauze out on Monday and she should be good to go. Have to say she has had a really rough time with this and is only eating the odd mouthful so I am hoping she comes right. She suffers from PKD which has affected her kidneys so it was a big decision to do this operation – I wanted to do what was best for her and it hasn’t gone as well as I had hoped

Sorry for the off topic but am a bit concerned about my cat Kerriem and was wondering if what is happening to her is normal. She had to have her eye removed on Wednesday and has had a tough time recovering from the anesthetic so has spent the last 2 days at the vet on a drip. I picked her up tonight and noticed that she has a very slight bloody discharge from where the gauze they have packed the eye socket with is poking out (It is removed on Monday) I mentioned it to the vet and he just wiped her face. I am a bit concerned about this, is this normal? It is bright red blood which I don’t think it should be considering she had the operation on Wednesday. It is very slight but definitely new blood

Bluo was great but i don't think it is being made anymore