Livi

So sorry to read this RIP Merlin and my condolences to you Sue

By Law or by Etiquette ? If the dog is onlead and not causing a danger, then I guess it is in control..barking or not ? Personally I would leave if my dog was barking and wouldn't settle (or ask for help in getting the dog to stop being ridiculous) but I don't think it is a requirement of "control" as far as dog laws go ? For example if a little dog was onlead near my big dog, and the little dog barked and snarled and jumped and snapped but his owner had a good grip on the lead..and my big dog lunged and overpowered me/caught me off balance and chomped the little dog (not that he would) I'd be legally in big trouble I think !!

She won't go that because the the rug would have dog hair on it and that would mean the chance it would end up on the couch. Does your wife touch the dogs at all ? What was the agreement between you when you decided to get dogs, did you discuss how the dogs would integrate into your daily life ?

I think you need to take your wife shopping !!! There are some really lovely beds available these days that will, shall we say, compliment the decor of your home Compromise is needed, the dogs have to lay on something and if it isn't the couch what better than a tastefully designed dog bed which can easily be moved and cleaned.

Well it only took me two years to get Jones to speak "on command" hahaha so don't ask me for help. Now, much like babies, you can't wait until they learn to walk and talk then you spend years wishing they would sit down and shut up !!! I did have a fun time recently on the phone to a friend interstate whose children kept making me "do it again" and were laughing their heads off at the way he speaks. He actually almost talks rather than barks, it is more of a very animated whinge than barking

OK, you got me, I bought a clicker today. OH has threatened a mutiny if I use it in the house though I think perhaps though if I can clicker train the children also he might come around

Just out of curiosity what vet do you go to ? As you can see I'm in Penrith too and always on the lookout for good vets PM me if you don't feel comfortable posting. I quite like Penrith Vet Surgery, found the one behind Petbarn a bit pricey when I went there years ago so haven't been back. Used to go to the old vet at Stafford St but didn't warm to the new one so haven't been back (might have just caught him on a bad day)

I might be able to answer this in 5 years time Will be interesting though as I've started both dogs, one a BC X (I think) a month ago and the other a dobe last night I think the BC is easier to train, she has a confidence issue though. The dobe, well if I can ever get him to focus on me for more than 10 seconds while other dogs are around and to stop thinking "heel" means "charge!!!!!!!!!" we might get there one day. I have worked on him walking 'nicely' on a lead without dragging me around so he is a pleasure to walk and have around the home but we are basically starting from scratch with the 'formal' obedience. EG- He knows sit/drop/stand/stay but not in an 'obedience' sense of the word (if that makes sense?)

Jimmy your dog sounds a lot like my Jess ( she is a 10mth old BC x GSD ...or something that looks like that ;) ) Andrea's advice is spot on, don't push him too much. My girl is coming along beautifully now, but all simply by encouraging and ignoring (at the same time).

you must admit...once the panic subsides and the dog is OK, that is almost worth the vet bill funny :rolleyes:

I was told you can leave a properly fitted martingale collar on as a general collar. I had one fitted on my dog by a trainer and it was put on as tight as you would a flat collar so any pulling at all would tighten it. I would suggest you talk directly to people experienced in the use of the collar though as to the suitability for your pup and the issue of leaving it on 24/7.

:rolleyes: RIP Loki :rolleyes: Hugs to your Mum and Bosco

Ya big sook As the others have said he should be fine, our vet doesn't give pain meds and I've never seen a problem with post op pain. Maybe try some Rescue Remedy (from health food shop or chemist) to calm him down for a day or two afterwards and if he is a fiesty little sook the collar varicool suggested might be a good idea too. Good Luck Frodo !!!

Agree My rescue pup went through a stage of growling when 'cuddled' she was too big to need to pick up but I think it was a little bit of fear/discomfort at being confined (if that is the right word for it ?). We backed off on the cuddling but now it is she who comes to us to cuddle up LOL I'll have to dig out a pic the kids took of me and the dogs..well you can hardly see me as mostly covered by an adult Dobermann and GSDxBC 7mth pup and a kitten

Thinking of you and Atlas today, hope all is well TB

Bloody Dog !!!!!!!!!!! I hope he is OK..it is so hard, if you go to the vet they will probably have to x-ray etc and if it is nothing it will cost you a fortune for peace of mind which a little patience would have solved for you. Glad the vet is staying on call for you and hope he is bouncing around in the morning like nothing happened

;) I am quite certain my pup (7mths) thinks that I am in a serious battle with the vacuum cleaner and is trying to help me win...which of course we do every time I either put her outside before vacuuming or ignore her and run her down with it (gently of course)

I would think lilysmum any pound puppies possibly incubating parvo would be kept in foster care until all clear. What other problems have you seen occur from a pup being left while the owners are at work ?

At what age do you think a dog can be left alone for a working day lillysmum ? IMO one would be extremely unlucky to leave a healthy pup in a safe and secure environment, where it is able to toilet appropriately and has access to food/water/shelter/entertainment, and come back to find it dead or near death. Can you give some examples of the nasty outcomes you have seen for pups left alone during the day, in your rescue experience ? I am very interested to learn more about this topic.

In this case the OP hasn't left their puppy alone for 10 hours. I believe ideally a very young pup would be better off having someone to check in during the day but reality is that isn't always possible. I feel you have interpreted my post Toohey that I am saying dumping a bowl of kibble and leaving a pup without a care in the world is OK ? That is not the case. Toys, a secure environment and abiltiy to toilet appropriately, shelter, water etc etc and LOTS of interaction during the hours of the day the owners are home are also vital. To be honest I can't see that it would make that much difference to a pup if someone delivers lunch and gives them a pat for a short period during the day, in fact it could possibly just make them pine for company twice during the day instead of once ? I really want to know what is SO bad about a pup being left all day between 8-16 weeks other than being given lunch ? Obviously the pup is going to be lonely etc at first but isn't that the case regardless of if the pup is left for 4,6,8 or 10 hours ? *Edited typo I think a lot of people would be excluded from dog ownership if they were expected to be able to leave a pup for no more than 4 hours for the first two months of ownership.

We had our first Christmas Beetle casualty last night I don't know about snails, I think as long as they haven't been baited they aren't toxic as such, a bit gross though isn't it. Don't worry if I don't beat her to it mine cleans out the kitty litter for me Cute as they are dogs are basically disgusting

If an owner of a young pup is out from 7am - 5pm obviously it would be a good idea to have someone come in and give some lunch. However if that is not possible feeding breakfast and leaving some kibble and/or other suitable food/s and plenty of water, having the pup in a secure and safe area outside or with access to outside or an area where it can go to the toilet without assistance (puppies do not need their nappy changed, they just need a place to go) really isn't the worst life. I don't know that it is absolutely necessary for pups to be fed by the clock, what is so bad about leaving 1/3 of the daily intake for the pup to graze on during the day if the owner can't be home ?

lilysmum you don't have any children do you ? IMO you are humanising baby pups a bit too much. I think it is a bit extreme to expect that people shouldn't have a puppy if they work full time. I am home most of the time and my dogs spend the majority of it lounging about anyway, while my presence may be a comfort to them I really don't think it is necessary for their wellbeing I couldn't honestly say I spend any more "quality time" with my dogs than a person who works full time would.

I heard the lady who is the boss of the AVA (sorry can't recall her name) on the radio saying that 70-80% of council registered dogs are desexed. Of the other 20-30% some would be owned by registered breeders/exhibitors, some by deliberate BYB's, some by people who are responsible and take due care of their entire dog but have other reasons for choosing not to desex and some by idiots. So the 'average person with a dog' more than likely has the dog desexed or will at a time they and their vet agree is appropriate. However MOST of the entire dogs causing overpopulation problems are also probably not registered, or microchipped, or vaccinated or treated for heartworm, or worms or fleas and no matter what is said on a dog forum these people are not suddenly going to run out and become responsible They are not owned by 'average' people but by a sub class of people who have no respect for the law and do not behave in a responsible manner. The only way I can see for society to clean up the animal problem is if 'average' people are better educated to buy their pets from either registered breeders or rescue, for the general public to learn that supporting BYB and Pet Shops is not a responsible thing to do. I recently saw someone referring to buying a dog from a petshop as "rescuing" people need to understand that just because they are offering a good home to the animal that they are not doing a good thing.

Oh I get it ...you are looking for a Rough Collie and your BF is also going to get a dog and you want to be sure they will get on ? I guess there are no 100% guarantees, the same as kids, sometimes brothers and sisters are just at each others throats almost all of the time, others get on and play well together most of the time. You can have a bit more input into the temperements and sex of the dogs you choose but there is always the risk of personality clashes down the track. If you buy both dogs from experienced and caring breeders (or rescuers if you choose that path) you should be able to get help choosing two dogs who will be likely to get along with others based on the temperement of the parents but should also have a backup plan of a way to keep them seperated when not under supervision if it does turn out they don't get along well enough to be left alone in a yard together.