crazydiamond

One of the reasons my Mr Trevor was a Fallen Angel from Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is because he would rather kill you than have his nails cut. When I first got him it was not easy to even to look at his feet at all but he now begrudgingly accepts a feel without too much bother if he can see the treat he is going to get for allowing me to do that. I managed this with clicker training. Also with the clicker training I did get to a point with him where I could cut a small amount of just two nails before things would get anti social but it didnt last long Its not just a case of muzzling him ~ he has to be held, wrapped up in a towel with the leg you need sticking out by one person, another has to hold the leg steady and I get the foot to cut the nail. Its a real struggle as he thrashes about like a wild thing jerking his leg all over the place. So Mr Trevor has quite long nails which I never let get to the length his toes are spreading or the nails cause him discomfort because as they get to too long I book him into the vets, they have to knock him out and cut the nails as short as they can. Mr Trevor keeps his own dew claws in check by biting them. anyone elses dog bite its nails?

Because I have Danes I get all the usual " its a pony/donkey/cow" The one that gets on my nerves is when I am out with Boris "does he have Dalmation in him?" to which I generally reply "Only if he ate one while I wasnt looking" it takes most people who ask it a while to work out my answer which is not surprising considering they asked the stoooooopid question in the first place.

Well done Keep on keeping on

I have been in the place you are now. Its scary and really hard. I suggest you keep coming to the board even if its just to look and not respond, it will keep you feeling part of the community here. It is good you are seeking professioanl help. It mustve taken you some time to put this post together and the people who have been missing you will appreciate that. I do not know many people on here as I post so infrequently but I can understand what you are going through now and wish you to know that you are not abnormal or a failure in any way. It will get better and it will take as long as it takes but do not lose faith in the fact that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Here is my Byron in the puppy bed I call the pic 'does my bum look big in this?'

Next Saturday I am judging at the Fun Dog Show at the Middlesex County Show ( it is also on the Sunday) http://www.hdfairs.co.uk/middlesex/about_the_show.asp on July 12th I am the co-ordinator for the Top Dog Events at the Cold Wet Nose Show ( my title being Top Dog Top Bod ) http://www.thecoldwetnoseshow.co.uk/ on July 20th I am doing something at the Chilterns Show with the Fun Dog Show ( it is also onth 19th) http://www.hdfairs.co.uk/middlesex/about_the_show.asp any of you going to any of these events?

I only went into full time work in January. My partner changed jobs and has taken a severe pay cut whilst training for his new role as a train driver. We needed to know we had a definate income from me during this time and my dog work is far too erratic to rely on to keep a roof over our heads. I have a family friend who has known my dogs from day one who can come over and sit with them,play with them and walk them. Mostly though my eldest daughter stays here during the week In a few months my partner will be back on shift work too so he will also be around during the daytime often. Its hardest on me as I really miss the time I used to have with them. The main thing to have suffered is their training.

I have a week or two off starting next week and would be happy to make calls/send e-mails to discover rescues and contacts in Bucks and the surrounding area. Whatever is useful to you really.

Boris is a 3yr old neutered Dane who has been with me about 7 months and Byron is a neutered Dane nearly 8 who has been with me nearly two years. The day before yesterday when I got up I noticed that Boris was kissing Byron alot around his face and ears. Boris is very prancy on his feet whilst he was doing this with high tail carriage. This very soon moved on to Boris licking the end of Byrons willy Boris has persisted with this over the last few days - the licking of both of these areas on poor Byron and following him around with his prancy footwork, tail held high sometimes slowly moving side to side a little bit at the end. Now I have seen dogs behave like this around Byron in the past but it has always been puppies never a grown dog. When pups have done this they have been persisitent in trying to lick all inside Byrons jowls, his eyes and ears as well as 'other areas'. Boris has not witnessed any other dog do this to Byron. Byron is not being reactive to this situation other than to have the look on his face that says " please Mum stop this dog pestering me". I have had to put Boris out of the way a few times and am frequently having to tell him to leave Byron alone. The attention is not constant but frequent. Any ideas folks?

Do all the things you can bear to do. I have suffered with sciatica and other nerve pains on and off for over 16 years now due to a crumbling vertebrae. So I get back pain as well as the nerve pains. Sometimes it is all contained in my back but mostly I also get the nerve pains in my buttock/s and thigh/s at times it also travels to in my lower leg/s too and in extreme bad times I have shooting pain in all those areas and out the end of my toes with every step. I find the most comfy thing is to keep moving. When it is bad I cannot stand still. Suitable exercises can help with the pain and strengthen your tummy muscles up to help support the back but check withthe GP before you take any on if you dont have some already. Also I find using an ice pack several times a day offers relief too. Accupuncture is really good for this. Hope you mend soon.

I had this kind of thing when I first took Byron on - lasted about 6 months on and off like you describe. It really was a case of "suck it and see" with his diet. When he came to me he had this bag of food with him like nothing I have seen before or since and he needed about half a bucket twice a day. I thought I would change him to something better so I went with Burns too, a gradual change over 8 days from one to the other, all was well for about three weeks then he got uncontrollably runny. Three days of rice and coley got him right again so I start to introduce James Wellbeloved ~ again all was well for a few weeks. I too tried cooking for him, barf and Chappie ( he was best the longest on that) then I went to a non cereal based complete that being WAFCOL Salmon and potato for Large breeds. It suited him to a tee so long as I soak it in boiled water for an hour first as it has alot of swell in it. Have to say though there was alot out of the other end, it would take me three poo bags each time he went. Byron is doing very well on the RC SC24 but it is awful expensive. A few days ago I started to introduce a small handful of his Wafcol and so far so good I will give it week with one handful per meal (he is down to three meals a day now and that is how I will leave it) and if no ill effect then I will increase it to two and so on. However I hasten to add that the reason I did not take Byron to the vet about this is because he didnt get thin, He maintained his ideal weight or very close all the way through and there was never any blood.

Thanks for your replies the 6kg bag we got from the vet has cost £30 and will last eight days as he has to have 800g a day nsplit over four meals. I understand that there is a 15kg bag also so that will be more cost effective. I am looking into a way I may be able to get it even cheaper but I cannot say if I do manage it howcome I did ( its not illegal though) What is the main ingredient in the Burgess and the fat content please? This RC food is high in protein, 24%, which normally I would avoid. I think 18% is enough really.

My Byron boy bloated and torsioned 2 weeks ago. I was very lucky ~ they operated and he is still here with us. I was just wondering if any of you have experience of dogs after bloat and gastroplasty (sp?) (thats where they have stitched his tummy to his inside to prevent a torsion again) and digestion. We were back at the vets with him yesterday as he is not really keeping much in him. He was being sick yesterday and a bit the day before and has the most terrible wind plus loose motions. The vet has given him some meds to make his tummy better and a Sensitivity Control diet ( Royal Canin ) made of tapioca (YUK) and blue whiting. In the time I have had Byron I know how sensitive his tummy is, there are lots of things he cannot have.