sandgrubber

What's the active ingredient? Some spot ons work better than others. My dogs have had had horrible reactions to synthetic pyrethiods. Seizures etc. I've never seen a spot on advertised for more than a month.

I've used a ketsup bottle with lambs

What are temperatures inside and outside? Is there a chance he's going out to find a cool place to lie?

I'm not sure you can or should do anything. I had to pts my old Lab just shy of 15. Her daughter, a nine year old, is spending a lot of time outside, but still comes in to sleep and eat. I have two other dogs, so I still get my dog fix. Maybe get a puppy?

My little Springer will put her paws on a Swiss ball and hold for a few seconds

In my experience, retrieving champions whose lines have completely divorced from showing are the most likely to be extremely high drive, though not all (or even most) of them are. Competitive retrieving can become another form of exaggeration. Happens more in the US than Oz. Can be good pets for sporting folk, good for dock diving. Btw, You won't find many Lab breeders in Oz who don't have show titled dogs in their lines.

There are excellent breeders who show. I've been with Labs for 20 years or so. The long and respected tradition of 'dual purpose' and need for Guide Dogs, police sniffer dogs, etc. has been good to the breed, and show preferences haven't led to extremes other than some favoring of heavy build. Puppy buyers can seek and find a working / show bred pup that is a good companion, likely to be easy to train and not crazy high drive. Many breeds do not have such advantages. Many breeders (including some Lab breeders) fixate on earning titles, an exercise that does not serve the interest of pet owners. I wish that longevity and veterinary history were tracked along with pedigree and titles.

I do not believe this is uniformly true. All show breeders are not ethical preservation breeders. Health tests do not guarantee health. There are no tests for many major/common ailments (allergies, bloat, most cancers) and some common tests (hip and elbow scoring) aren't strongly predictive. Show performance does not guarantee good temperament. In some case (eg, extreme coat, brachy face) breeding for traits that win in the ring means breeding for difficult management as a pet if not ill health.

"Because puppies that fall short of being show dogs are still more likely to be healthy, and more likely to have a sound, breed-appropriate temperament. This is because ethical preservation breeders utilize extensive health testing before ever breeding a dog." I do not believe this is uniformly true. All show breeders are not ethical preservation breeders. Health tests do not guarantee health. There are no tests for many major/common ailments (allergies, bloat, most cancers) and some common tests (hip and elbow scoring) aren't strongly predictive. Show performance does not guarantee good temperament. In some case (eg, extreme coat, brachy face) breeding for traits that win in the ring means breeding for difficult management as a pet if not ill health.

A vet once recommended not before 4 months....by then immune systems have developed to the extent that Salmonella won't be lethal. That said, I've fed much younger pups... but the risk is greater

High-Ranking Dog Provides Key Training For Military's Medical Students https://n.pr/2JXjEux

This article outlines the concepts. https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2016/05/my-pet-has-kidney-disease-what-kind-of-diet-should-i-feed/ Long ago I had a vet recommended making a kidney friendly food from rice, lean meat or fish, and supplements (I can't remember which ones). Perhaps your vet can give you suggestions.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/20646119/ Very narrow gene pool. Effective population size ~18.

In choosing a smaller gun dog, I suspect the individual dog may be at least as important as the breed. I'd suggest chatting with breeders with emphasis on temperament. Better to ask what temperament is found in their lines and what they aim for. Also probe about how they match pups to homes before telling them what you are looking for. Like most people, breeders tend to tell you what they think you want to hear.

If you can find one that is healthy and not inbred

I have long observed that in 'what breed' discussion, everyone tends to recommend their favorites and dismiss others. I'd ignore anti gun dog stuff. My mother's dog, when I was an infant, was an English Springer. She was a great family dog (though inclined to chewing and to retrieving the neighbor's chooks, unharmed). My labs have all had good on/off switches. My 12 mo Springer (hunting lines) spends a lot of time relaxed. It doesn't take much to arouse her to barking excitement, though her arousal level has decreased. She's extremely affectionate and playful and loves children. I'm an oldie who lives with a few dogs, but I think she would have been an excellent family pet.

How about either Springer? Close to whippet size but more robust and a gun dog. I've been a Labrador person, on my first Springer. She's remarkably quick, absurdly interested in animals, brave, and despite feathers, doesn't shed much or require much grooming.

See previous discussion on DOL

There's no best dog (or for that matter, human) food. Dogs, like humans, are omnivores and do well on a variety of diets. And like humans, dogs tend to be healthier if they're kept slim.

I have a working line Springer pup (12 mo). If yours is anything like mine, a harness may work better than a collar. It's far from a complete solution, and a big yes to, training and exercise.

I've killed half a dozen vacuums with Labrador hair and puppy chewing fragments. I've found two things that work. First, get a shop vac. They are designed to pick up heavy mess and don't clog up on pet hair. Alternatively, get one of those 'miracle brooms' and sweep the bulk of it before vacuuming.

I don't think it's cruel. If he's used to an outside routine and isn't bothering anything (neighbors?) outside, what's the problem. I would consider it as cruel to subject an older, peaceful dog to agro ruckus.

So glad I'm in NZ. I don't understand why Oz is so stupid about dog matters.

Possibly. Kelpies are strong minded and like to be in charge. If you're bred to herd sheep and all you have is dogs, what do you do?

I've been around a lot of dogs. I wouldn't want to advise on this without seeing the problem first hand. There's aggression and there's Aggression. Sometimes the owner can inadvertently be a trigger, sometimes a damper, sometimes it's entirely between the dogs. I'm not a big fan of behavioralists, but I do think it's a good idea to go over this with an outside person who has a lot of experience with dogs.