Nellie

Someone said no cooked meat - why is that?

That's really lovely that you are able to have some more time with the real Rosie

Argh ticks - they are so horrible. When we were in Tsv we got an awful infestation of the blighters - thankfully, just normal ticks as Townsville doesn't get paralysis ticks. Nonetheless, it was awful and they get EVERYWHERE - ears, between toes, under legs, backside. We just made a habit of regularly (three times a day) checking the girls and pulling them off. And of course getting yard done for them and frontlining girls etc. Finally got rid of them but we were terribly pleased to move to Canberra where they don't seem to be . . . Was no harder finding them on our black dog than our gold one - particularly once they were big (YUCK).

I agree Trisven - a constantly barking dog would drive you up the wall. Your friends must be very patient people if they haven't gone mad with the ones next to them. Something else we are going to try is openign up a room during the day that they don't normally have access to - and change rooms each day so it is like somewhere new for them to explore (especially if hidden treats in there). Fingers crossed. Would love to hear some more ideas from people!

Our neighbour said that when they bark they bark for 15-20 mins at a time. Which I can imagie would be incredibly annoying so we are keen to do something to stop it. Have asked him whether they seem to be barking from boredom or triggered by people walking past etc. Tape recorder is a good idea - that way we can guage how bad it is.

So Bark what are you doing with your dog to try and combat the problem? Our neighbour complained about our dogs this week and while I am hoping it was just our foster dog hyping them up, I want to try and see what we can do to stop them. We haev blocked their line of sight outside so they can't see anything as it walks past (although if they are loud I guess they can hear). They have toys galore and we have also been giving them big bones to chew.

I am no expert in dog behaviour so I can't really comment on your problem but just had to say how gorgeous your boy is - come and post some more pics in the photo section of the forum!!

No vac for pets is a good deodoriser (and I am sure there are plenty of others) and just keep them clean. We air the house regularly too. Oh, and washing their bedding helps too!

I love this site - I really do. So many well-informed people. We had our dogs vaccinated weekend before last and this morning I found a lump on our youngest's neck which is quite large. Although it is where the needle went, I immediately started thinking well as it is a week after the vaccination it can't be from that, it must be a spider bite or something equally as terrible! We checked the skin in the area and it is not inflamed and after reading other people's posts where they have noticed a lump a similar amount of time after the vaccination I am no longer panicking. However, when we go back to the vet on Friday, I will report it and get it checked as wise people here have advised.

Hugs to your and your Lane and your hubby.

We just got C5 done in Canberra and it was $78 for each of our girls who weigh b/w 10 and 14 kgs (if weight does come into it).

Is it itchy?? Sorry you may have said that and I missed it. My parents dog had an unexplained rash one year - he went on elimination diet, tested for various allergies etc and it wasn't until the pest control man came around and noticed a big nest of hairy caterpillers in one of their trees. The nest looks just like bark and the hairs just fall to the ground and irritate dogs skin. Although I guess it would be itchy if this is what it is. But maybe something else has moved into your yard that is causing a reaction??