sandgrubber

Pretty amazing . . .

Ugh, it can be really complicated and ambiguous with some dogs. He might find chasing them helps him resolve whatever he's feeling inside. He might recognise the activity as a safe outlet because the bigger dogs are ignoring him. He may indeed feel more in control, and he might be feeling like he's successfully driving them off. My Erik loves to chase other dogs and can get intense, but it seems like a good outlet for him to cut loose. He is often more relaxed after a good crazy run. He used to chase our retriever friends, who don't mind much as long as he doesn't get near their things. Now he has Kestrel and he plays rowdy chase games with her. I suspect, also, that dogs vary in their imprinted definition of prey. In particular, the tendency of dogs to be valued as vermin hunters often seems to result in deep drive against small mammals. GP's don't have a chance where this imprinting is in play. I have retrievers. They tend to either ignore or try to catch (without killing) birds, but they want to kill and eat rabbits, mice, rats, armadillos, etc. I've seen hounds repeatedly attack porcupines, despite getting a very very painful face full of quills each time they do it. Same with skunks, though it's stink not quills, and many breeds will go for them. There seems to be a different prey drive for things categorized as 'might sting or bite or poison'. When I was in Australia, they harassed blue tongue lizards but didn't mount a full on attack. I'll never forget my first dog's reaction to a starfish . . . she was obviously terrified of it, but at the same time wanted to kill it. Darted in and out, air-nipping when she came close, and at the same time barking furiously. Likewise, insects seem to be categorized. Most moths, flies, and grasshoppers are in an 'eat without question' category. Beetles, wasps, and cockroaches seem to be protected by a 'taste awful or might bite' taboo.

One of my three is seizure prone. She has done fine on Bravecto, and it works. The soresto collar caused compulsive licking . . . which the vet on the helpline said was probably a result of paresthesia (tingling sensation that manifests in dogs as compulsive licking). I haven't tried Nextguard . . . it's similar, chemically, to Bravecto.

If the cats are about when you are watching, you can also buy a BIG squirt gun, like the kids use on hot days, and fill it with something smelly. Then 'shoot' the cats when they appear. My mother trained the neighbors cats off her bird feeder this way . . . and got a lot of malicious pleasure doing it.

Doesn't Australia follow the convention of listing ingredients in the order of quantity? I don't see how you could formulate (or feed) a kibble that had more salt than wholegrain cereals and cereal by-products.

If you don't care about aesthetics, you can probably make the equivalent of a concrete sink by making up a bag or two of concrete and forming it around a plastic bowl or dish pan . . .or even a 4 L milk jug. Dig a hole in wet sand to form the outside. Nearly fill it with wet concrete. Push your mold down in the middle to yield something weighing 20 or more kg with walls a couple inches thick . . .you will probably need to dig as well as push. A trowel helps for this. Flat bottom is highly desirable, so you might want to make a wood or plywood form instead of sand. You can buy stuff to paint on to make concrete release from boards...or just line with plastic sheeting. You might want to put plastic sheeting around the thing you use to form the interior mold as well.

Mild yeast infections are very common in dogs who (a) like water and (b) have ears that flop down. I've seen loads of yeast infections in Labradors. I don't think it has to do with food . . . just with their ears being ideal environments for yeast and the reality that many Labs are water-mad. Yeasties like a warm moist environment; they do no like low pH. My vet recommends getting a ketchup bottle, filing it 1/3 water, 1/3 vinegar and 1/3 rubbing alcohol, and squeezing gently into each ear. ...then gently rubbing the outer ear to clean up any gunk and dry things out a bit. I've heard that the same treatment is used for swimmer's ear in kids. The vinegar brings down the pH, the alcohol is drying, and the water makes sure neither is too strong. I'm not sure I'd do this with a 10 week old pup . . . but it's a great way to control mild yeast infections, and a lot cheaper than the commercial ear douches.

It depends on where you are. Where I live, in rural Florida, pit bulls, and bull breeds in general, are not only allowed, but extremely popular. I find it silly that Australians are so fond of Staffies (#1 or #2 in number of pups registered with AKC in recent years) and so worried about pit bulls. Yes, there are some bad pit bulls, most of them have bad owners. But in the 15 years I lived in WA, I met a few just plain ugly-tempered, mean Staffies, and quite a few f DA Staffies and staffie crosses. By in large,if you overlay the temperament spectrum of both breed/types you get more overlap than separation. As for AmStaff and pit bull, in my experience the difference is more historical and a matter of pedigrees than real. "The following 17 states prohibit their municipalities from passing breed-specific laws: Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Massachusetts, Nevada, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Utah and South Dakota." Quite a few cities have BSL, but most don't. The bigger problem with bull breeds in the USA is that they have large litters, and quite a few people don't spey or otherwise prevent pregnancy of their bitches. Hence shelters are overflowing.

It's quite widely used here in the US, and many people are more-than happy with it. I used it for a year and a half on my dogs (two batches). Had problems with the third batch. One of my dogs started compulsive incessant licking, which went away when the collar was off. A vet told me this probably indicated that she was feeling a pins-and-needles sensation, and it could be a side effect. The other two had no problems, but our local flea population seems to have caught on to the collars, and they have ceased to work for my dogs.

I suspect microchips are over-rated. Has anyone studied the number of dogs they save? Or the number of microchips that have become useless because the puppy buyer never mailed in the paperwork or forgot to register changes in phone number and address? Seems to me there are much more important things to talk about . . . like people who bring home a pup but don't spend any time with it. IMO chips are mostly a quick feel-good gesture but the problem they resolve is a small one, and they often fail to resolve it. But it's an easy law to write and sounds good.

#1 ASK HOW SERIOUS THE SEIZURES ARE AND WHETHER THEY SEEM TO BE GETTING BETTER, OR WORSE, OR STAYING THE SAME! Some dogs have full grand mal seizures and don't do well at all. Others have little focal seizures . . .they may stare fixedly for a minute or two or walk funny or something well short of loosing consciousness, gnashing their teeth and going incontinent. Some dogs do get better. Others just go from bad to worse. My old girl, who just had her 12th birthday, started having seizures at 7 years. Her muscles tightened and she got uncoordinated, but didn't loose consciousness. It started with a horrid episode of cluster seizures, which I think was brought on by licking a spot-on flea treatment off another dog (synthetic pyretheroid-type ). The vets called it epilepsy. She got put on phenobarbitol, which controlled the seizures. Over four years, I halved the dose, then halved it again, then went to once a day, then stopped altogether. She no longer seizes at all. Epilepsy is a variable condition, and veterinary science has a lot to learn about it.

For the many years I lived in WA, the better known breeders in WA didn't advertise much. They always had waiting lists. But they were friendly enough and would pass on referrals to people who have used their dogs (as studs). When I was in WA, Glenice McClure at Blackboy Labs, in particular, had a long history of working toward the dual purpose ideal. I expect there are some great newer breeders as well. Yes . . . try the breed club.

I did it years ago. It was open book then. Not really an exam. Just an exercise that makes you think about subjects any breeder needs to know. I don't know if this has changed. If it hasn't changed, use it as a learning exercise. P+

I don't know if you've found this page http://www.vetbook.org/wiki/dog/index.php?title=Hemophilia It mentions various blood problems with GSP's (a different pointer) and the tests needed to accurately diagnose them. Also mentions that there is no cure, but mildly affected dogs often go through life with no need for treatment . .. .except during surgery.

Definitely contact the breeder. If it is actually grass allergy, and grass allergy runs in their lines, I would give her an earful (or take her to small claims court). Allergies are a PITA, and can get very expensive. IMO an allergic dog is basically, defective. I have never understood why breeders make a big deal of doing hip/elbow testing, eye exams, etc., and don't bother to mention when their lines are allergy prone.

Interesting. I've heard abundant denials from kelpie folks that there is ANY dingo blood in their dogs ;)

Sad story. I feel for the people. I once donated a beautiful little Labbie pup to research. At three months, it was clear that this pup was going crippled and was going to need surgery on all four limbs to have a hope of leading a normal life. Both sire and dam had excellent hip/elbow scores. I hope somehow her little life contributed to a better understanding of the genetic causes of skeletal problems. Brings tears to my eyes to remember it. I think it was the right thing to do, but there's still deep sorrow.

The Science Dog blog summarized an interesting study, based on videotaping dogs in shelters, of what dogs do and don't get adopted. https://thesciencedog.wordpress.com/2016/08/24/when-sit-doesnt-mean-sit/ Bottom line was 1) more social / outgoing dogs that interact with people walking by their cages get adopted faster; and 2) it's easy to make dogs more social by teaching them to associate treats with people walking by their cages. Here's the blog's take away: Sad as it may seem, when it comes to a dog’s behavior, potential adopters appear to be more concerned with avoiding dogs who demonstrate behaviors that they don’t like rather than seeking dogs who show behaviors that they do like (such as responding to sit). The good news in this story is that the behaviors that people generally avoid (and which may signal a lack of sociability on the dog’s part), were demonstrated to be reduced in a substantial number of dogs without the need for a detailed and labor-intensive training program. This is classical conditioning at its best folks. Pair the approach of a visitor with yummy treats (visitor predicts treat) and over time, the appearance of a person flips the dog’s emotional response from apathy/distraction/fear to happiness, joy and interaction. The fact that the researchers improved in-kennel behaviors that were related to poor adoption rates in almost 70 percent of dogs using a simple, non-contingent procedure of food delivery is an enormously important bit of evidence. And it is evidence that can and should be used to encourage shelters everywhere to invest in treat pouches, arm their workers with a pouchful of yummy goodness and get going.

That is interesting. I was on a US grooming forum yonks ago and they certainly considered it to be super premium. TOTW was one of the first to get on the grain free bandwagon. It used to get rave reviews from people who imagined that grain free was somehow advantageous. There are a lot more grain free varieties on the market now, and TOTW has taken a few hits . . . recall for salmnonella a few years back, lots of questioning the amount of the exotic species in their more interesting versions, generally knocking Diamond (the manufacturer). I'm pretty skeptical of grain free and all the exotic claims that pet food manufacturers make these days. In the US, TOTW (big bag) is $5 or$10 more expensive than basic ProPlan or Eukanuba . . . I can't say whether it's worth it, but I guess if you believe that grain free is better, it's a reasonable choice.

TBCA A German flight attendant has adopted a stray dog after it waited six months for her outside a hotel where she had stayed the first time she had fed it. Olivia Sievers first met the big mutt when she was out walking in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in January or February this year. She had to leave the country to continue her job but every time she returned to Buenos Aires, the stray was waiting outside the hotel for her. Ms Sievers arranged for the stray to be rehomed, but it escaped and returned to the hotel. Eventually Ms Sievers decided she would need to adopt the dog, naming it Rubio and going through the lengthy procedure to bring it to Germany. Rubio is now living happily in Germany with Ms Sievers. Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/world/2016/08/10/13/48/flight-attendant-adopts-stray-dog-after-it-waited-six-months-for-her#UyBYYb60wHkoXpPF.99 The second one is a video and I can't copy it.

I confess, as kids we enjoyed the roaming dogs in our neighborhood, and learned a lot about dogs from playing with them. There was a Basset who always went to the school, cause he loved kids and an epileptic poodle...a few Labs who played fetch. The only bad one was a Dane who was into humping, scary for kids. We all got lots of laughs out of the Daschund who went through cat doors . . . but one day got stuck cause his privates wouldn't clear the bottom. I don't remember any dog fights, or anyone getting bitten. The really bad thing was so many dogs got hit by cars.

For useful advice, name the active ingredient that concerns you. My guess is it's Ivermectin for heartworm. Collie types tend to be VERY sensitive due to a genetic mutation (MDR1),but the mutation is rare in breeds and dogs without the mutation tolerate high doses. It's more complicated but let someone else explain. Other worms: depends on what worm. Tapeworm requires a different med from roundworm, etc. I only treat for tapeworm if/when I see it in the poops. Otherwise I use something with pyrantel paomate as an active ingredient. I worm puppies often, but older dogs a few times a year at most. You can get combos that do both intestinal worms (other than tapeworm) and heartworm. I like Heartguard plus. There are lots of options. Heartworm is horrid, but other worms are no catastrophe, so no need to go for overkill. Flea and tick treatment varies a lot depending on where you live. We have awful flea problems where I live, and I find Bravecto is great. But in areas where fleas aren't bad, Frontline, Advantage, etc. work fine.

My favorite pug in history tale, which may be fiction, is the story of the pug, Fortune, and Napoleon and Josephine's wedding night. https://mimimatthews...o-bit-napoleon/ Fortune doesn't look much like a modern pug.

No, let's say lots more. I would like to see the press release that accompanied the study because I bet it will be almost word for word what it says in the article. The actual conclusion is of low diversity not no diversity. And? The diversity is so low in the breed that the significant health issues and poor longevity associated with the breed cannot be corrected without an outcross. Except it says might not will. It behooves the media and people who read these things and report them to actually report correctly. Dreamer! The media can seldom be accused of accurate and correct reporting of scientific research ;) We in the scientific community insert so many 'probably', 'possibly', 'maybe', 'likely' words that the media gets frustrated and distorts. Say I spend two years writing an article. Some journo has three hours to summarize it. Of course they slash my carefully chosen hedge words to get something clear and simple. That's life.

great article . . . the study it refers to is well worth reading. https://cgejournal.b...0575-016-0036-y This points out that the breed comes out of a small founder population, dating back to 1860 or before. So it's no surprise that the OP's post, giving a life expectancy of 6 years in 1953. Most of the damage to the breed was done well before that. Also notable that the UC Davis study looked at sections of the genome that are strongly associated with immunity . . . and found that the BB has very high homozygosity and little genetic diversity in these regions. Not a prescription for health.