ellz

Don't you know that dogs have schizophrenic mouths? They are sieves when there is something in it that YOU want there, and like a vice when there is something in there that THEY want there!

Personally, I'd be crate training from the get-go. It's a lot easier (and quieter) to crate train a small puppy than an older dog which already has opinions. And believe me....most Staffords have very STRONG opinions!!!!

I've had success with a garbage bag and water. 1/3 fill the garbage bag with water and hang it so there is a goodly amount of "dangle". When the dog jumps up to grab it, they get a sudden shower. Works unless the dog loves water or is pretty darned stupid. Disclaimer: DO NOT TRY THIS IF YOU HAVE A LONG-HAIRED DOG AND DON'T WISH TO HAVE TO SPEND AGES DRYING IT!!!

I found this picture of Reginald as a puppy and had to share it. This was his favourite sleeping spot in the house we lived in when we first got him. In this spot, he could survey the world when awake, and snore his life away the rest of the time.

Thanks again everybody. The old boy has left a hole that's impossible to fill. Mr Ellz is inconsolable, they were two grumpy old men together. I'll paste here a eulogy that I wrote for another list. I still can't read it without crying so please forgive any spelling mistakes, it's hard to type when the screen is blurry. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The Rainbow Bridge has another occupant. R.I.P. Aust Ch Gamester Street Machine - 6th June 1997 - 12th April 2007. You were the breed standard to a T...."bold, fearless and totally reliable". Your spirit will live on in our memories. Our laughter and tears today are a testament to the hole you have left in our hearts. There will never be another Reginald. You were the sex police, the nicotine police and the drug squad. It's a miracle we ever managed to have children because affection wasn't affection unless Reginald was in the middle of it. You burped and farted your way through life with the biggest smile on your face and you epitomised "joidevivre". You gave me wonderful memories. My first time handling a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. My first Specialty CC win. My first Specialty BIS win (191 entries). Runner Up Best In Group (Group II) at the Royal Hobart Show under Michelle Billings (my dream come true!). You protected me when you thought there was danger. You kissed me when you thought I needed cheering up and NOBODY in our household EVER had dirty ears or faces because you took that part of your job very seriously indeed. The sun isn't as warm and the tears are hotter than I can ever remember. The girls are looking for their mate and for a change the food bowls are full. Nanny Ford's Malteser packet is in her handbag and she hasn't had to hide her handbag to stop you from finding it. God, if he gives you so much as an ounce of trouble, or backchats you when you tell him off, or hogs the bed, or burps in your face, or steals your socks and puts a hole in them, you're very very welcome to send him back. We understand him and are more than happy to put up with his little quirks just to have him in our lives again. The world just doesn't look the same any more. R.I.P. Reginald, my boofy-snodge, my smelly old mate. The days can't go fast enough until we're together again. Don't put a hole in that tennis ball too quickly, I'm not sure if they've got tennis balls in that particular colour over that stupid bridge. I love you old man.

Thank you all. I still cannot believe he is gone. We have spent a family day together sharing memories and alternately laughing and crying. Had a drink (or three) sitting in Reg's favourite sunbathing spot in the backyard and had some "equine comfort therapy" with the horse. It'll take a while to sink in that there'll be no more "huff and puff and blow your house down" at the back door at dinner time, or mad zoomies through the house at bed time. The sex police, nicotine police and drug squad have left the building never to return. It'll be might quiet around the old homestead now.

Vale - Aust Ch Gamester Street Machine 6.6.1997 - 12.4.2007 Retired from the ring for some years now, Reginald's greatest delight in life was his tennis ball (well ANY tennis ball really), a sock, food and his family. A Specialty BIS winner, Group winner, Royal RUBIG winner and multi class in group winner, he loved the ring and the attention that came with it. One of the sweetest dogs you could hope to meet. He never met an enemy and there was no such thing as a stranger. Rest In Peace Boofy-Snodge, we love you and the world won't be the same without you.

Honestly, I know that all of the "experts" say you shouldn't use human shampoos on dogs but to be honest, I've been using various combinations of human shampoos on all of my dogs for the past 20 years and can count on less than one FINGER the number of problems I have had with skin reactions, allergies etc. A lot of it is in the rinsing, conditioning and FEEDING!!!

I can relate. I use Plush Puppy on myself and my horse but it doesn't do good things for Michael. Forgot to mention Laser Lites smells nice too!!

Another for Plush Puppy here. I also used to use Flex Shampoo and Conditioner and that stayed smelly for yonks. Oh and one of Australia's top American Cocker breeders put me onto another really good cheap human shampoo which has a lovely lasting smell and that is Papillon Shampoo and Conditioner which comes in a huge pump pack from Big W and Woolworths and only costs $1.98 a bottle.

Hi Bruno Agree with Toohey about the apples. Personally, whilst the bulk of the diet you feed sounds pretty good, I'd also be considering a better grade of dry food. I really do believe that there are better puppy foods than that brand around at a comparable price. Would also be careful with the blood from the meat if the meat has been left standing at all. Tends to breed bacteria. Much the same reasons why it is best not to use leftover marinades from human food preparation. Also best not to boil the heck out of any vegetables that are fed. All this does is removes the goodness. Raw veges are far more beneficial.

Kitty poo = Doggy caviar!!! I have found that squirting my dogs with a spray bottle deters them when I am around to see what they're up to. But failing that, keeping the litter tray clean works pretty well too. Outside is a bit more difficult but most cats in this neighbourhood are smart enough to stay out of my backyard and as my dogs rarely venture out the front without a human they don't get to find the treasure! Friends of mine built a really good kitty litter cupboard which has a door opening built into the side relatively high up that the cats can get into but small enough that the dogs can't. They open the door to change the litter and the cats can do their business in peace.

NEVER, EVER, EVER should bones be fed cooked!!!!!!!!!! That is cardinal rule number ONE!!! Raw bones splinter and can cause terrible damage internally. And if you are lucky enough that they don't, they have very little nutritional value and it is pointless feeding them.

My puppies start getting bones from the time they are first weaned. At first it is just the wingtips and crushed necks, but they soon learn to crunch them up. As they get older, they are then given full wings and necks (although the piglets still have them crushed) and by around 8 - 10 weeks, they are MORE than capable of managing a full chicken frame and do so with great enjoyment and more than a little noise!!

:rolleyes:

Hey Sil!! :rolleyes: How goes it?

Really is a "how long is a piece of string" type question. As the PP said, what breed, what age, etc? You will get many varied replies according to each individual breeder. The correct answer is of course, a balanced diet with ample fresh water available at all times.

Glad to hear all will be well. I had a puppy some years ago with intussusception (where the bowel telescopes back on itself) but his had tightened instead of loosening and he had to have 6 inches of bowel and 6 inches of intestine removed. Happily, the surgery was successful and he went on to live a good life, but it could have been fatal.

I find too that quite often it is a territorial thing. The best toilet trained dog of any age will quite often have an "accident" in a new location. As suggested, check her first for a urinary infection and then take her back to basics and you'll probably find she is back to trained again in a very short period of time.

Most tear staining is caused by bacteria that discolours when it makes contact with air. I'd imagine the eye wash would remove the bacteria. You may also investigate Tetracycline Powder from Aquarium shops. Many US people add a small amount of this powder to drinking water for the same reason. It is simply an antibiotic for fish but is a lot cheaper than the same product for companion animals and doesn't require a script from a vet to obtain. I have an email tucked away about this somewhere, I'll try and find it.

ACV with honey is Mountain Maid brand. Bottled in Tasmania. Should be available from a Coles supermarket and if they don't have it, they should be able to order it in.

I swear by ACV. I think I'm addicted if I'm truthful! I use it for EVERYTHING, I've even been known to add it to my bath water and it really does help when you're a bit ouchy from the sun. Stings a bit at first but then becomes rather soothing. I drink it myself and haven't had a UTI in a very long time. You can also purchase ACV with honey added specifically FOR drinking!! Kitty litter trays don't smell. Stud dog pee doesn't smell. Water buckets don't go slimy. Heck, it's Nature's wonder cure-for-all!

Something to add here. Brown paper apparently undergoes a different "purifying" process to white paper which leaves it still quite primitive in its form. Something to do with the bleaching and preparation process according to Mr Ellz who is a printer. Perhaps that is why the vinegar and brown paper poultice was seen as being medicinal?

Okey dokey. Some news. I have just spoke to the guy who does the Innotek collar rental/try-before-you-buy scheme and he has given me the lowdown on prices etc. His website is here if anybody is interested. If I can sell some of my gear that is on the Buy and Sell forum, I'm good to go. The rentals are done on very reasonable terms and all rental costs and bond is taken off the price of the collar if I decided to keep it which is pretty darned good too. So....cross fingers but I'd imagine that Michael will be wearing a nice new Innotek collar by Christmas!

He certainly sounds like he has "small dog syndrome". BUT...how are the guests and/or other dogs approaching him? Think about it, if you were a little dog like that, would you want people rushing up to you or towering over you? You'd probably find it threatening and come out with your teeth showing as well. Until he is comfortable with people in your home, I would probably suggest people ignore him and allow him to approach them. Then if/when he does that, have them offer a hand for sniffing and certainly don't try to pat his head from above.