[Feet]

Great post Sandymere: I've written about feet too, on more than one occasion. Poorly maintained claws are a real hate of mine, can't stand seeing dogs with long claws. One of the Airedale lurchers has appalling feet, which are made worse by the fact that her toes were never strongly arched to begin with (the fault of her dam, the Airedale, which is surprising to say the least). Couple long, flattish toes with mega strong claws that grow very fast, and it's a recipe for problems. I have to use a nail grinder to file them down every 10 days or so, and using the grinder means you can take the claw almost back to the quick without hurting the dog.

We can't always have dogs with perfect feet, but proper maintenance goes a long way to keeping the toes injury-free.

[Muntjac fighting ,stolen vid]

No wonder they need such thick skin round their necks and heads. More like two pigs fighting than deer.

[The Beauty Of Nature, "add Yours"]

And rather appropriately, a bee orchid

 

[Pads]

Pads, like all skin, are a good indicator of the dog's general health, and a lack of fat and/or accessible protein can cause drying to the skin. That's assuming the dog isn't running for miles on gravel or tarmac which is hardly a suitable surface. That said, some dogs, like some people, do suffer more from dry skin and may need additional fat in their diet. Personally, I'd animal fat rather than vegetable oil of any kind. 

Even running about on grass on hard ground can damage the pads at this time of year. 

[RIP Tigger]

A proper old fashioned type. I always loved seeing photos of him. Superb make-up and shoulders. Would have liked to see him run. And 13 is a good age for a dog of his size. I bet you have some brilliant memories of him. 

[Help: trying to set up a new account to replace this one]

Can any moderators please help? I've got a laptop now, to replace my desktop that is, soon not to be, with Virgin, as we are moving on to a boat. I've set up the new account which now says awaiting validation. But it's been so long since I joined that I can't remember what to do next! Do I have to wait until someone in admin sees my application and send me something to fill in? I have one day left before my current email address expires.

[Meindl Douvre Extreme boots for sale]

NOW SOLD

[NOW SOLD]

Now sold.

[Running Dog Maintenance books for sale]

Thank you all for your good wishes. We never know what's around the corner in life. Challenging though it is, our future is a lot more interesting and exciting than it was before, when we were just sitting in a rented house mouldering along, even if trying to fit a quart into a pint pot is somewhat scary, though decluttering ( to use one of those hideous trendy words) my life is certainly invigorating.

[Meindl Douvre Extreme boots for sale]

View Advert

Meindl Douvre Extreme boots for sale

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And almost new pair of Meindl Douvre Extreme goretex lined, leather boots. Vibram sole, size5 1/2 (39 EU). I bought these a few years ago and have worn them only 4 times. Cost over £200  new. They are just a size too small for me. Quality boots that should last for years and years. Collect from Huntingdon or can post for £4

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• Advertiser
  skycat
• Date
  14/04/19
• Price
  £50.00
• Category
  Clothing and Footwear

 

[Running Dog Maintenance books for sale]

We could only afford an old Springer, but she's sound, has been overplated properly and everything works as it should. It should do us for the next 5 years until Andy retires when we'll hopefully be able to afford something bigger, unless, of course, I've got used to living in a sardine can. We looked at quite a few boats, most ridiculously overpriced, including a beautiful old converted iron barge 57 feet, but it needed too much doing to it, and besides, our boat is called Windsong which seemed significant, though I couldn't say why. I just like the name. She's very basic, but does have a wood burner, shower and kitchen, and enough room on the stern deck for my pots of herbs. We should be moving aboard by mid May, and yes, I'll put some posts on with photos of dogs chilling and moored up a tributary of the Ouse, which is our aim. Marina for when the river's in flood and for trips to the laundrette, diesel and water etc. Once Andy retires we'll be continuous cruisers with no fixed abode: can't wait for that! Finding little out of the way places out on the fens as far from other people as we can get, our idea of paradise.

[Running Dog Maintenance books for sale]

Thanks, only a small boat as we couldn't afford a great big one, but it will be all ours and no one can take it from us, unlike the house that I've rented for 30 years and the owners, the Church, greedy pigs, have decided to sell. Actually, we were always going to end up on a boat just not quite so soon, and yes, there will be lurchers on board. Only got one young one now, and sadly one of my Airedale lurchers is riddled with mammary cancer and is a grumpy sod to boot so she won't be coming. Andy still has one lurcher but since his stroke he's pretty much stopped any form of hunting. I'll still get out on the lamp when I can: kind of like the idea of training the youngster to leap off the roof of the boat as we cruise slowly down a back water. It will be a whole new way of life and we're really looking forward to it. I'll put some photos of the boat on here when she gets here: on her way down from Burton on Trent at the moment: life in the slow (and minimalist) lane: ah!

[Running Dog Maintenance books for sale]

In the process of emptying my house as we're moving on to a narrowboat, and I found a couple of boxes of Running Dog Maintenance by Penny Taylor (that's me). I thought they'd all been sold, but there are 15 or so left, some without dust jackets. Selling the ones with jackets for £15, and £10 for the ones without jackets. Plus £5 post and packing. Please message me if you want one.

[NOW SOLD]

NOW SOLD

View Advert

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Deben locator mk3 and 3 ferret collars, box of spare batteries. All working correctly, not had a lot of use and in good condition.  £150 ono. plus £5.00 postage

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• Advertiser
  skycat
• Date
  13/04/19
• Price
  £150.00
• Category
  Ferreting Equipment

 

[Dog being aggressive]

To think that he'll grow out of it is very wishful thinking and doesn't take into account why the dog is behaving like this. Yes, he's feeling his feet, his male strength, and the buzz he gets from challenging other dogs is self-fulfilling, but it's up to you to show him the rules, which mean that you are in charge. Every time the dog runs off to 'play', threaten, dominate another dog you are allowing him to be in charge, to be in control. Whilst many people these days feel bad about disciplining their dogs, it is absolutely necessary that you take control of him, in every situation. 

I've had challenges with my latest pup, not that she's aggressive in the slightest, but her daft bouncing, charging at other dogs is not well received by other dogs or their owners. She is now a year old and I have put in months of training to get her to where we are now, which means that the moment she sees another dog she stands still, expecting me to call her back to go on the lead. Believe me this has taken all of her first year, and I've not had to beat, punish or threaten her. It's all been done by slow, patient conditioning.  But if I'd let her get on with it to 'grow out of it' she'd still be behaving as her instincts tell her to behave, which is not acceptable. If we allow, for one moment, such dogs to choose how to behave, we are in trouble.

You can, with a dog of 2 years old, change his behaviour without beating him up, but it will take time, and involves keeping the dog on a long lead for a while, so that each time he goes to lunge forwards/run towards another dog, he'll be firmly checked by you. You then call him to you, and reward him for doing so, even though he hasn't had an option. If he is food orientated give me a tasty treat. If he's not food orientated then use a bit of rabbit skin on a string as a lure, and throw it a few feet from you as he comes to you so he can grab it as his reward. 

Altering an established behaviour will take much longer than if you were simply training him not to charge at other dogs from when he was a little pup, and you'll never be able to relax, be off guard. As for allowing him to run free, you can only do that in a safe enclosed area where there are no other dogs, because if even one recurrence of his instinctive behaviour is allowed to happen, you are back at square one. Don't be afraid to check him firmly as you walk past other dogs and he starts poncing about acting the big man. Keep walking, short lead, firm commands to heel etc. Behave like a drill sergeant. Dogs understand leadership, and appreciate and accept it far better than many humans, and he'll respect you the more for showing him that you are the leader. 

[Marmary tumour]

Mammary tumours are very common in older bitches that haven't been spayed. One of the reasons they develop is because hormonal changes during the reproductive cycle kick tissue changes into life. Some small tumours can stay small for years, others blow up very quickly, and each time the bitch has a season it will get worse after the season has finished.  Tumours come in varying shapes and sizes, from tiny, irregular shaped lumps to flattish, raised areas around the nipple, in the milk gland, and sometimes are perfectly round, like marbles. All will eventually metastasise (spread elsewhere in the body) and will kill if left in place, but your vet is right in saying that spaying late in life won't stop tumours once the bitch has already had them, even if you have them removed. 

[Dog pup]

Purely as a comment, and in no way intended to criticise the owner, but I've had one or two dog pups who were as slow as snails at that age, but who went on to become more than fast enough for a wide variety of game. At 12 months of age a male lurcher of that size has probably barely finished growing in height, and then needs another 6-12 months to fully develop the muscles which are, obviously, responsible for the animal's speed and certainly for early pace. One of my better coursing dogs looked pitifully slow behind a hare at 14 months, but went on to do himself proud by the time he was 2 years old.

[pup not taking to diet]

I had one lurcher that couldn't eat raw chicken including bones, or rather she'd eat it (to begin with until she learned what happened) and then throw it back up within half an hour. Eventually she refused it, but was fine on lamb bones. Every individual is different, and if a dog is fine on what purports to be a good, balanced diet, then feed it, but monitor its health and maybe try to change to something else once in a while. I've had dogs become intolerant to certain things, and also grow out of that intolerance. There's so much going on in a body that we can't always understand the whys, hows or whats.

[pup i kept back]

Rabbit is good providing you feed the whole carcase, including the head and brain. Apparently, if those starving pioneers in the USA had eaten the brains of rabbits as well, they'd have been OK, as the brain contains a fair bit of fat, but also, there is a fair bit of difference between a wild canid eating rabbit and our domestic dogs as a wild animal can access all sorts of other bits and pieces which instinct tells it to eat to supplement the lacks in certain wild meats.. I go for variety as much as possible when feeding dogs, and steer clear of cheap dried foods at all costs.

[Shakey puppy syndrome]

That's excellent news. So pleased for you and the pups. You must be feeling so good after watching them come through this and become normal pups. Well done for having faith in them.

[Out Ratting]

just looking through this thread again, with a big smile: something about ratting that makes me happy. Maybe it's because the dogs love it so much too, but there's some seriously awesome photos on here. Do keep them coming.

[Council has nothing better to do...]

That has got to be right up there with these idiots who told an old couple to remove road side flowers: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6290183/Couple-told-remove-flower-beds-danger-drivers-them.html

But at least that council backed down in the end.

Most councils seem to be run by people who want to suck all initiative and joy out of life. Get on to social media, papers: see where it gets you. You can only try and I can't see many of the public being against your efforts when they are benefiting wildlife.

[Before or after?]

Dogs, like all predators, hunt better on an empty stomach. Not only is it dangerous to feed before working, but it must be damned uncomfortable for the dog to have food sitting in its stomach when it's trying to catch something.  There's no reason why you shouldn't feed a small meal at least 4 hours before working, but personally I've never done this, BUT, any dog, no matter how fit, can go off its legs if it is over-run. That's got nothing to do with lack of food, unless the dog has been routinely starved and is massively underweight. The most common reason for a dog to go off its legs is because its owner doesn't know when to call it a day, or a night. The old saying is: go home with another run left in the dog. They are not robots and there are only so many hours any athlete can keep on running.

As far as bloat (otherwise known as twisted gut or torsion: the stomach actually twists round on itself trapping food and gas in the stomach: hence the bloating) is concerned, big dogs are more likely to have this problem, as has already been said. It happens sometimes when dogs ingest a lot of air as they eat, which is why many people feed tall and deep-chested dogs from raised bowls as they are less likely to swallow air as they gulp their food.

[Weirdy Beairdy?]

Like all types of dog, I think Beardies mesh better with some than others. In my albeit fairly limited experience with Collie types, I feel that their bond with their owners depends largely on how you treat them. They can be super sensitive in some areas and as tough as old boots in others. Just as some people get on well with Saluki types, so others vehemently hate them. My own experiences with Beardie lurchers is a good one. Brave, committed, as capable of figuring things out for themselves as a human, and not too keen on being told what to do all the time, which given their level of intelligence, means that pointless or stupid commands are met with the disdain they deserve. But I guess I could say that about all types of dog. It really does depend on the individuals in question, which isn't to say that there aren't nutty Beardie types: it's all down to the gene pool.

[retching/gulping]

I must admit I'd not realised that dogs could get late onset acid reflux. What causes a 6 year old dog to suddenly start getting it?     I saw exactly the symptoms the dog displays in the video after one of my lurchers got either a grass seed or something else sharp stuck in her throat. The dog was scoped  and although the vet found nothing there was a small amount of recent damage to the lining of the oesophagus which suggested there had been and she'd managed to dislodge it herself but the resulting soreness was still there. As there was no foreign object still in the gullet all the vet did was to prescribe painkillers for a few days until the irritation lessened. The dog got better over a few days and never gulped or gagged again, which is why I suggested having a look down her gullet.  Of course it might have been due to something else: maybe a sore throat due to a virus: so many things can share the same symptoms and sometimes we never get to the root of the issue.