Dogs are wonderful

[Dujon]

I've never owned a dog other than part of a family whose patriarch owned a few over the years.

A late friend of mine though ran a registered kennel as a side-line. He and his wife bred the little westie terriers, some sort of sheep dog - the breed of which I cannot remember - and Bernese Mountain dogs. When they were spruced up for the shows (it seems that that's what kennels need to do) they all looked quite different from their day-to-day appearance.

My favourite was the Bernese Mountain dog bitch. She was beautiful when in mufti and as placid as a lamb. They are not small dogs. I told Geoff on a couple of occasions that if he had to let her go for any reason I'd take her off his hands. Of course that never happened. These days I don't think I'd be able to keep up with one. Every now and then the bitch of which I speak would 'escape' and disappear for an hour or six. Often she'd return home with a prize between her jaws. That trophy was invariably some other dog or cat's food dish; empty of course.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Our Oscar. He's my brother's dog, but I take him for maaahoosive walks. Problem with that is that every time I turn up at Our Kid's, young Oscar thinks I've turned up only to take him on a biggie. Even after 14 miles he still brings sticks for you to throw. He really is an absolute love though and is as daft as you like. Though there really is absolutely no wearing him out.

Is he begging you for sandwich in that picture?!

De ja vu?

Ditto ja vu...

[Gary the Enfield]

I'd love a dog. We always had one in the house when I was growing up. Some great pooches too. Sadly, because Mrs GtE and I work full time we feel it would be unfair to leave a dog indoors all day on it's own. So we have a cat. She doesn't give a shit what we do so long as we're there to feed her and let her in and out of the house when she says so.

To dogs we are family.

To cats we are staff.

[Harry Genshaw]

I was going to put this in the happy thread but remembered Will had specially created this thread for all things canine.

New years day, we're due to become dog owners again to a rescue border collie, who actually looks quite a lot like Bruces brother's dog above. Nervous and excited about it, particularly with the amount of training, exercise and stimulation he's going to need. If he lives to a standard age of a bc I'm going to have him until I'm 60

[thebish]

Border collies are ace - hard work! - but ace!

[Burnden Paddock]

I was going to put this in the happy thread but remembered Will had specially created this thread for all things canine.

New years day, we're due to become dog owners again to a rescue border collie, who actually looks quite a lot like Bruces brother's dog above. Nervous and excited about it, particularly with the amount of training, exercise and stimulation he's going to need. If he lives to a standard age of a bc I'm going to have him until I'm 60

Great news, Harry! Is that one from Bleakholt?

[Harry Genshaw]

I was going to put this in the happy thread but remembered Will had specially created this thread for all things canine.

New years day, we're due to become dog owners again to a rescue border collie, who actually looks quite a lot like Bruces brother's dog above. Nervous and excited about it, particularly with the amount of training, exercise and stimulation he's going to need. If he lives to a standard age of a bc I'm going to have him until I'm 60

Great news, Harry! Is that one from Bleakholt?

Cheers BP. Not from Bleakholt though, oddly enough. He belongs to a colleague whose husband had recently retired and was planning on spending his days with the dog. Sadly, he's got very ill, very quickly and they can't manage. So still a rescue

[thebish]

the thing about collies... well - two things..

1) loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong adolescence!
2) too bloody clever by half - so need constant attention and stimulation!

(ok - 3 things)

3) bloody ace dogs!

[General Mannerheim]

Larry David made a pal at Bolton Abbey...

[Bijou Bob]

Someone from a Spaniel club we belong to lost their young pup this week, after he stole a mince pie off the kitchen table. He went into fatal liver failure as a result of the dried fruit. I had no idea, but apparently dried fruit and grapes are incredibly toxic for dogs. Timely reminder given the time of year and festive fare.

[thebish]

^ good advice... keep that stuff where dogs can't steal it.. this is one of the very few fb scare-stories that actually has some truth to it...

[Raven]

If that's your dog General he is gorgeous.

Still trying to persuade the better half my dog needs a buddy

[TANGODANCER]

Someone from a Spaniel club we belong to lost their young pup this week, after he stole a mince pie off the kitchen table. He went into fatal liver failure as a result of the dried fruit. I had no idea, but apparently dried fruit and grapes are incredibly toxic for dogs. Timely reminder given the time of year and festive fare.

After several bollockings from Barbara Woodhouse I actually went on the internet to find out just how much she was exagerating . Crikey, the list of treats and food things dangerous to dogs is huge. Have to take notice of it though.

[Raven]

Yep mine loves carrots though and far better than most treats and good for his teeth, have to be careful as bugger will steal and eat anything

[Montreal Wanderer]

Someone from a Spaniel club we belong to lost their young pup this week, after he stole a mince pie off the kitchen table. He went into fatal liver failure as a result of the dried fruit. I had no idea, but apparently dried fruit and grapes are incredibly toxic for dogs. Timely reminder given the time of year and festive fare.

What to do immediately if you suspect your dog has eaten grapes, fresh or dry.

Diagnosing and treating grape or raisin poisoning in dogs


Ingesting grapes or raisins, even if symptoms have not begun to prevent themselves, requires urgent veterinary treatment and it is important not to delay seeking help. Waiting to see if symptoms manifest within your dog before calling your vet can make treatment more difficult and decrease your pet’s chances of survival.


When you arrive at the vets with a dog that has eaten or is suspected to have eaten grapes or raisins, your vet will almost certainly induce vomiting in your dog immediately, to remove any remaining undigested raisin or grape matter within the stomach. If your vet is some distance away or advises you to do so over the phone, you may even need to induce vomiting at home, although you should never attempt to do this without speaking to your vet first, and should always do so exactly in line with your vet’s instructions. You vet may also administer activated charcoal to your dog, to absorb any grape or raisin matter that remains in the stomach.


Your vet may perform blood tests on your dog to identify the condition of the kidneys, and administer IV fluid therapy and medications to stimulate urine production.


In some cases where the condition is acute and directly affecting the kidneys, dialysis may be required as well.

[Always hopeful]

Someone from a Spaniel club we belong to lost their young pup this week, after he stole a mince pie off the kitchen table. He went into fatal liver failure as a result of the dried fruit. I had no idea, but apparently dried fruit and grapes are incredibly toxic for dogs. Timely reminder given the time of year and festive fare.

After several bollockings from Barbara Woodhouse I actually went on the internet to find out just how much she was exagerating . Crikey, the list of treats and food things dangerous to dogs is huge. Have to take notice of it though.

Chocolate's another one, but I'm guessing most people know that.

Our beagle's almost died on 2 separate occasions after scoffing full boxes of chocolates she'd found soon after arriving at my parents house at Christmas. They don't think to hide them out of harm's reach and by the time we'd said our hellos and noticed she was wasn't within eyeshot, the chocs were gone. Had to get her to the emergency vets for vomiting to be induced. Very stressful for all of us (and vets are very expensive!).

I wasn't aware of the dried fruit issue. Thanks for the warning.

[TANGODANCER]

Our beagle's almost died on 2 separate occasions after scoffing full boxes of chocolates she'd found soon after arriving at my parents house at Christmas. They don't think to hide them out of harm's reach and by the time we'd said our hellos and noticed she was wasn't within eyeshot, the chocs were gone. Had to get her to the emergency vets for vomiting to be induced. Very stressful for all of us (and vets are very expensive!).

I wasn't aware of the dried fruit issue. Thanks for the warning.

Chocolate's a big problem. Our Cadbury ( he's called Alfie really) loves it and can smell it through brick walls. Got to the stage where we have to hide it and not eat it when he's anywhere near. Got to be cruel to be kind and also very careful because he makes the Artful Dodger look like an amateur at thieving.

[thebish]

it's a generally good rule of thumb that dogs are better off with dog food and/or meat/vegetables and not stuff that humans would consider to be a "treat".

tens of thousands of massively fat waddling dogs with foreshortened lives are testament to this...

[William the White]

it's a generally good rule of thumb that dogs are better off with dog food and/or meat/vegetables and not stuff that humans would consider to be a "treat".

tens of thousands of massively fat waddling dogs with foreshortened lives are testament to this...

Well, not doing the humans much good either...

[General Mannerheim]

If that's your dog General he is gorgeous.

Still trying to persuade the better half my dog needs a buddy

Sure is ( the one on the left) and he's an ace dog too tbf. So chilled out and relaxed at home but goes off like a maniac on walks. Can spend hours lobbing logs heavier than he is down steep bankings and he'll keep dragging them back up! Great fun and lovely temperament. but of a schizophrenic when it comes to cats or birds or rodents tho! Will not bat an eyelid while the baby mauls him but goes mental if there's a squirrel outside!