Scarlet

I can understand vets wanting payment up front, although I don't agree with it. Not in an emergency. Trying to retain your money or business is terrible though and I'm glad you reported it. I would also contact the Vet Assoc although they probably haven't done anything illegal, just immoral. Why would you want to go to a surgery that ignored your stress.

What lady was it? I hope it wasn't the person taking the class! All my dogs have been very noisy when they play and have never had a problem. A play growl is normal and other dogs should be able to tell the difference. Dogs take into account all the body language. Sounds like this person is putting human values onto the dogs.

I hope never to have a puppy again because I don't want to go through that stage. I've had dogs all of my life with most of them coming to me as puppies. I'm past puppies and my next dog, hopefully not for 10 or 15 yrs, will be an adult. If I choose wisely I won't have any trouble bonding with an adult dog. I think it shows that I'm sensible and know what suits my circumstances. I hope the OP finds what she is looking for.

To be honest I wasn't sure if I liked the fully black face but I'm won over now. He's beautiful.

Most / many dogs will chase cows if not fenced, especially if they have not grown up with them. There is no guarantee about barking with most dogs but if a rescue has been fostered in a rural, semi rural area that would be good. Sounds like contacting Cazstaff is a good idea. You need to have some sort of idea on a dog. Small, big, short or long hair. Will the dog spend most of it's time indoors? IMO dogs allowed to stay indoors are less likely to bark and be a nuisance as dogs like to be near their owners.

I can only recommend having everything ready before hand and maybe keeping him on a lead. Talk to him in a calm steady voice and try not to stress as he will pick up on your feelings. I have been known to take dogs into the shower with me, but this works best if you have a shower head you can hold for rinsing or have a bucket of warm water handy for rinsing.

My dogs are only have basic / pet obedience. By that I mean I have never gone in for obedience trials etc. They obey the usual sit, come (pretty good recall actually), stay, drop commands. Of course they could be better but their obedience level is fine for my needs. I hardly ever use treats as a reward. Maybe a couple of times every couple of years! I currently have border collies and although they enjoy their food they do like to please and I use that as their reward. I do use toys as reward too.

If the dog doesn't "hate" the car I'd definitely take it with you. I've travelled a lot over the last 30 odd years and always had a car full of children and/or dogs. Luckily I've never had a problem but my dogs had to get used to travel as a young pup.

Most people on here, a dog forum, are responsible owners so can house entire dogs responsibly. Unfortunately most of the population are not in this category so I wouldn't disagree with compulsory desexing as long as there were exemptions. If you had a reasonable reason for not desexing and were prepared to have a house/yard inspection then choice would not be removed from you. I've rescued from pounds and agree that ALL these dogs should be desexed. But the main source of eventually unwanted pets and impulse buying of pets is from pet shops and puppy mills. I would prefer to see legislation controlling theses aspects first.

Why don't you ask Guide Dogs NSW? I think it is a very reasonable question to ask. I believe Qld breed most of their own dogs or only use dogs from proven previous working stock. I believe the breeding dogs are all tested to the highest possible health standards and I think Qld have a success rate of pups graduating at around 80% If you are raising a puppy and it fails the dog usually goes onto being a companion dog, corrective services or their ambassador program. If they decide to rehome a failed puppy the puppy raiser may get first preference but they would not automatically be expected to keep the pup. I would like to be a puppy raiser or give a home to their breeding dogs. Best wishes with your pup.

I'm pleased they are home already. However long their recovery it will be faster at home. Something to remember for the future. When the dogs are recovered get your aunt to take the dogs to the vet regularly, just to feel comfortable there again. I had a dog needing extensive emergency treatment at the vets and he then refused to walk through their door. I started going just to sit in the waiting room for a little while and give him treats etc. The nurses also made a fuss over him. Eventually he "forgave" the vet.

I adopted a bully once as a relatives throw away. To be honest I was a bit "wary" of her initially because of stories about them. Bert (yes she was a she!) was the best dog for toddlers. She was the most loving dog and simply adored my son. If I can work out how to scan and post a photo after work I'll do it. Yes I would call her stoic too. It was nothing to have toddlers climbing all over her. She had treatment for cancer and would lick the vet as he was poking and prodding her. We only had her for a couple of years but I thoroughly enjoyed her and would recommend a bitch to anyone. I have no experience with dogs.

I would. But then I would also leave my body, or my pets, to science if I had something rare where research was needed. My family know I'm happy for anything to be used after I die - if it's not all worn out by then. I think it is a very personal decision and you need to be comfortable with it regardless of what others say.

I think people forget that dogs have such great sense of hearing and smell. IMO they cope much better than humans give them credit for.

Definitely having fun but I though they were pretty civilised Mine are much louder, with lots of growling

Does the child live in NSW or Qld? The child is not in need if the GF (grandmother) is caring for her. Both DOCs and Child Safety prefer a child to remain with relatives if they are willing and able to provide good care. This is a broad statement but "generally" DOCs will give the natural mother less chances than QLD child safety but their main concern is for immediate risk. Does the GF want permanent custody? If she does then she needs to get something in writing. If not she needs to contact DOCs or Qld Child Safety and let them know. When making a report ask for a reference number and follow up.

So horrible I hope the family are investigated. This is the type of incident that should raise flags with child protection services.

Completely non medical opinion but if the stomach/ intestines / bowel are empty would it take a few days for it to get to the (full) stage before it need to be emptied.

I have 2 red bc's even though I prefer the black and white. After a marriage split up and OH took our black/white border to live with him my boys and I wanted another dog. They wanted something different but the same(?) and we got a red border collie. After fostering for a while and keeping an eye out for a second dog (NOT another border collie -and something older than our girl) another (young) red border collie picked us.

I agree with persphone. Dogs are pretty tough and some reaally like the cold weather. I had a rough collie who loved winter and would be found outside sleeping in the open covered with a light covering of frost!

I've lived in the Kimberley with a border collie and if you're sensible then they are fine. We also had a staffy mix who did cope with the heat better and friends had cattle dogs who seemed to thrive on the heat! Exercise in the early morning or late at night with lots of shade and water available (preferably to sit in) during the day. Unfortunately swimming spots were in short supply. Ticks were a big problem but they are only cattle ticks and not paralysis ticks. I never saw a flea! You still have to treat with washes, advantix etc but cattle ticks are only a real problem when in huge numbers on the dog or if the dog is old/ young/sick. I don't think Headland has paralysis ticks but a local vet could tell you. We travelled from Sydney to Derby with 4 children and a dog in a non airconditioned car in February. We made it so you shouldn't have a problem. Accommodation is in short supply so will you have a (fenced) yard? That would concern me more than the heat.

As horrible as this sounds rescuing/buying these pups only perpetuates the problem. Only stopping the demand will stop the supply. It is not only the pups who suffer but the breeding parents as well. The best solution is for the RSPCA to sieze the pups, which unfortunately they didn't do immediately.

I'm not too keen on the advice. It sounds as if she is expected to "scare" the dog into better behaviour. IMO the dog is being protective of the owner. You state that the owner is a bit soft so maybe she needs to step up a little so the dog doesn't take over the leadership role. She could start with the triangle of temptation-pinned in the training thread. I'd also ask around for a trainer who uses more "positive" methods.

2 please I'd be happy to pre pay if that is easier.

Same here. I also don't think we can necessarily compare with 20 years ago either. Back then, and earlier, many people had a different mindset about the value of their dog. If the dog got sick, the cost of the vet bill was quite often the defining factor as to whether or not they had a problem fixed. If they could not affort to pay the vet bill, then the dog either did not get treated, or it got put down. So some dogs did not live long because they were PTS, and others probably had shortened lives because the health problems were not treated and the dog was put down when things got totally out of hand. Check out how many vet surgeries were in business 20 years ago, and then count the number of them today. You will find a mighty increase, yet the dog population probably has not grown to the same extent. Today, more dog owners are aware of the importance of good health and good veterinary care, and are more able to afford it. Souff I agree with both these points. I mentioned one of my dogs earlier. He lived on pal, cheap dry food (don't think there was much else) but quite a bit of fresh meat. Fresh dog meat was nearly free from butchers so IMO a lot of dogs ate fresh. Can and dry was convenient. Kurie was born 35 yrs ago and was nearly 17 when he died. When he was treated for a broken leg people couldn't believe we would "waste" money on his treatment. There wasn't the vet care available then that there is now.