bk_blue

Informative Guest- whoever and how many of you there are- I personally would love it if you signed up to be a member :D

Now that you mention Colgate... (this is off topic) Is it safe to use people toothpaste on your dog's teeth? I think I read somewhere that it wasn't a good idea, but I just wanted to get the experts' opinions :D before I go and attack the dog with the toothbrush!

Schwarzkopf are owned by Wella- and they are safe! :D (oh, but Pantene is soooo nice on my hair, I hear you say... :wink: ) My stepmum used to use Wool Mix on Rinny! It worked very well on him, got rid of all the loose hair, smelled nice and was something we had in the cupboard anyway ;) So you think it is ok to stick to people shampoo?

Procter and Gamble (who make Pantene, Clearasil, Cover Girl and other products) test on animals. So do Unilever, Clairol, and Johnson and Johnson. L'Oreal test their *ingredients* on animals, as if that entitles them to a higher moral plane!! [url]http://www.allforanimals.com/cruel1.htm[/url] has a more substantial list. :evil: :evil: :evil:

Hi Gordonmom and welcome :D I didn't know that about the tea, what's in it that makes the paws toughen up? Bk used to avoid puddles like the plague, but now he stands in them and drinks out of the puddles. (I always take water along with me, but he just likes puddle water!). I thought it may have been to cool his feet off? But he does it in winter too. :-? I know dogs sweat out of their feet but I just thought it was odd. Does anyone else's dog do that? Oh and I love the exasperated look that sometimes creeps into his eyes when going through another obedience exercise... "[i]I[/i] can do it standing on my head, [i]you're[/i] the one who can't get your signals right!" :wink: (Anthropomorphism at its finest :D)

I used Pantene shampoo and conditioner the last time I washed BK but since I have found out they test on animals will not be buying it :evil: Prior to this we used Velvet soap on our Basset and Cocker!!! And an anti-flea type thing when they had fleas in summer. As BK only needs a wash twice a year at the most, what would you recommend? Do dog shampoos have an expiry date? He does not get fleas and obviously has a short coat that doesn't stink and thankfully is easy to brush mud out of! Or could I go on using human shampoo, as he does not react to it? I don't have a problem with buying him doggy shampoo but if my shampoo works then I needn't bother :-? thanks guys.

Blitz gets Shmackos (sp?), a kind of liver treat. I try not to food-train him just because I don't want him to get used to it, though if I am having trouble teaching him something a treat can help things along. He likes Dentabone and I like it too because it helps clean his teeth, but if I go out there at "that time" (ie. 4.30pm) and give him a bone when he is expecting to go for a walk, he will just ignore the bone and keep pressing for the walk!!! So you can see he's not very food-motivated, more social butterfly-type. 8)

Oh yucky!!! So do even the premium dog food brands have mites do they?

I was going to do ACDs but instead opted to write: The History of A Mutt! Mutts have been around for as long as dogs have. They are usually produced when two dogs of different breeds, who are strays or naughty owners haven't had them "done", get together and mate. Of course the male nicks off and it's the female (and the owner of the female) who has to put up with the pregnancy, see dogs and humans are quite similar aren't they! But I digress... Anyway with any luck the bitch has healthy pups who take on the physical and mental characteristics of both the mum and dad. Of course if the parents themselves were mutts it's hard to tell what exactly the pups are going to look like and how big they'll get. It can also be very hard to tell what a mutt's personality is going to be like- but rest assured they'll be gorgeous nonetheless if raised with love and care, like any dog. A mutt can have any range of inherited health problems from both parents, however there is a belief that a mutt is generally healthier due to the infusion of "new blood", and free of most of the hereditary problems that can plague purebred dogs. A mutt is sometimes misunderstood by what I call "dog snobs" (and there are none on this board! :D) to be not as pure, good-looking or intelligent as pedigree dogs. However that is not the case. Mutts can be purebred mutts- if theire parents were mutts, it counts as pure doesn't it ;)- they can be ten times smarter than their pedigreed mates- and they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder! My mutt is an ACD/Smooth Border Collie/who knows what mix. He is medium-large, lean, muscular, sickeningly healthy, freakishly smart, incredibly friendly, devoted to his family, protective of his ageing "brother", persistent, attention-seeking, snuggly, affectionate and attracts more attention than I do when we go out- he's all that and a bag of chips :D And I love him and wouldn't have him any other way! Herewith concludes the history of a mutt.

Can't say I have but it doesn't sound good...

I don't think I can help you Egg with diet- but I am sure someone will. I've always fed BK Pal (Pedigree) canned and dry food, he seems to like it and has not ailed a thing in his 7 years. Rinny, our GSD X, has always had that too and he's 15- so he's either got a cast iron gut or the food is actually -gasp- good for them! I've read about all the yucky things that go into commercial dog food too, it's not nice is it? The dogs we had when I was little were fed on BARF and they were very healthy too, living to 13-14 yrs and not requiring veterinary attention apart from the usual checkups and needles. So I guess it is a matter of personal choice. If you didn't already know, some human food can be poisonous or just plain bad for dogs- if you have friends who feed their dogs table scraps etc, let them know that it's not good! Here is a link you might want to check out which gives you some idea of just how many human foods can kill dogs (I was surprised too): [url]http://www.k9haven.org/poison_plant.html[/url]

Maybe this one is a cross? I'm not sure. But it is noisy! Seeing as it is obviously not used for farm work either maybe that would account for its barking? But you're right, that kelpie stare is famous (or infamous ;)). They are great dogs, one of my favourites, though I couldn't have one unless I moved to the bush!

the puppy thinks it's quite a good system though!!!! :lol:

Hobbit, your kelpie is beautiful! She looks very muscular for a kelpie? Must be all that work ;) There is a kelpie who comes to the dog park and all it does is bark (that high-pitched herding bark) for its frisbee to be thrown, a bit noisy but very cute and intelligent :)

Yes, save a life from the shelter!!!!! Neuter and spay and socialise and train, and you will have a life companion who will give you unconditional love. Though I have to say that if it wasn't for the ignorant persons who didn't desex their dog and bitch, then I wouldn't have my boy BK... but breeding for the wrong reasons (money, life experience, puppies are soooo cute etc) is just, well, wrong. And it is the pups who pay the price...

Very cute, funny link to a housetraining animation (very short) [url]http://www.weebls-stuff.com/b3ta/pets1.html[/url]

I know Rowie, believe me there are so many Goldens that go to the same park and they are just wonderful dogs to be around (I don't really need to convince you, do I!). One in particular is a huge sook and comes and sits at my feet, waiting to be patted!

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Hobbit that was so informative. I really hope I never have to use your advice though, purely because I never want my dog, or any dog I see, to be in that situation. I was initially a little concerned about the advice I found on grabbing the tail, because it wouldn't be hard to break it and since I was a kid I've had "don't pull a dog by its tail!" drummed into me. But I suppose a broken tail is a better outcome than your dog being maimed, or losing its life. :( What would be the best method if there wasn't another person around to help you break up a fight?

Actually, why don't I give up and just go mad now? :D Though I kind of like the idea of having personal elves, like a personal assistant only more helpful *miaow* :wink:

:o I am on someone else's computer at a different house and I still can't see them.... hmmmmm

:o K, I would have said water, I'm sure I've read that in a few books :oops: is that wrong, or just wrong when the dog is already "subdued"? (the site below also suggests water) Taken from: [url]http://www.ccc.govt.nz/animals/DogFights.asp[/url] TECHNIQUES SEPARATING TWO DOGS If there are two people available, both dogs should have their hindquarters lifted off the ground and then be dragged backwards by the tail. This will confuse the dogs and may cause them to relax their grip on each other. If the hindquarters are not lifted first, the dog may anchor itself by its front feet. Further injuries can then be caused to the other dog. In dogs without tails, the hind legs should not be substituted for the tail, as the dog can easily turn around and bite the person holding it. Grabbing the head or shoulders of one or both dogs is dangerous unless the person doing so can get directly behind the dog's shoulders and have the strength to control its head. Is that a helicopter manouevre? Me confused. :-? This site suggests numerous ways to break up a fight, whether off-lead or on-lead. Of course it also says that knowing the signs of dog aggression that can lead to a fight is the best alternative of all! :wink:

d-a-m-n (if this gets censored, the one with the "m" as a 3rd letter) :-? and yes, I still can't see anyone's avatars!!!

Thats a good question K, I was going to mention it in my post but forgot. I like to believe my own dog would never bite me (guess we all do), and so far he's never misdirected any aggression, but I just don't know for sure... and I don't really want to find out, like Hobbit! :roll: With an entire dog I'd be a little more worried just because they can be more aggressive in my limited experience with them. Would that be true?

Oh it is those damn elves again... :D