I've just realised I joined UA ten years ago in April 2003!

I didnt have a dog when I joined , just Kim the cat . The dog section was very busy and the cat section very quiet.
 I adopted Dibby the dog in July that year and he is still with me plus Pip JRtx and Libby Chi x but sadly kim died on Nov 2011.

 Where does the time go ?
 Ali

 Sorry to hear about Gizmo 

Cats and dogs pick up our feelings from our body language, from facial expressions etc ,the way we act and from our voices.  They even pick up signs like your pupils dilating so perhaps they pick up the signs of emotions better than some  humans do . 
     Ali

 Sorry to hear this Danni . Did you go to the vet ?

Thanks for posting that link, kayleigh   Welcome to the forum .

 Ali

Lots of articles and youtube clips
http://kindmethoddogtraininginformation.weebly.com/index.html

Owner hired digger after Lulu gets struck in a pipe.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2306875/Dog-owner-hires-digger-rescue-missing-Jack-Russell-disused-pipe-stuck-days.html

 Welcome to UA. 
 Well done for adopting an unwanted cat. Snowy is lucky to have been adopted by you as you have the knowledge  to help him settle in.

 Is it just on the top of his head or behind his ears and chin , anywhere else ?

What flea treatment  do you use?  Did you apply it before he started scratching? have you tried a plug- in Feliway?

You could try trimming his claws if you can so he doesn't hurt himself so much.

 So ,  I dont think its certain that its stress.  I would treat it as both stress and allergy or sensitivty.

 Some cats are sensitive to flea treatments m my cat was sensitive to frontline and I changed it to Advocate .   A change of diet might help too.

 Feliway is a must from stressed cats . There are herbal remedies and also Resue Remedy .

I bought Pip a wooden one from pets at home but I dont think it was a Nina ottoson one.   I bought it for him because he had seperation anxiety and I wantd something to keep him occupied. he soon got the hang of it and also chewed it 

  They are popular and people have bought them for the breeds of dogs that are busy and need something to do like Border collies.   
 Ali

Following on from the Dispatches programme a petition against the bulk importation of puppies from Europe. Please sign and share wherever you can.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/47539

 Hi Sally,
 Welcome back , 
 Congratulations on your new pups, I've not heard of this breed.
 Do you mean split the two meals into three i.e the same amount of food per day or add an extra meal ?
 i think pups that age are fed three times a day . What food are you feeding? You could check with your vet or the manufacturers.

 Ali

 
 

    Thats good !

That sounds good. 
 Good point about owner compliance !  I would imagine a fair few of the "average" dog owner wouldnt want to do a raw diet or find it too much to cope with .
 Didnt know that about running being ok . It can be hard finding the right advice especially when its conflicting and vets say different things
 Ali
 

She's lovely  What's her name ?

 
As Chris says , she is under socialised and fearful.   Although she was making progress , each  time a dog jumped in her face or sniffed too long , it caused her stress and stress builds up if this happens frequently hence her becoming more defensive.   Behaviour is an outward expression of our emotions. By lunging and barking , she isn't showing confidence , she is fearful and is acting like this to keep the other dogs away.   You are doing the right thing by keeping to the side lines and also you can  block other dogs unless she knows them or turn away and go on another direction if they come to close or she starts to react.  (Some dogs are very rude and pushy,  its really annoying that owners let their dogs run willy nily around the park being a nuisance.)

  You can also use food treats if she will take them or a toy to reward her if she is calm.  This also works by changing how she feels towards other dogs.  If she had something really yummy when she sees another dog , she will associate  them some nice with them rather than something to be feared.
 This type of agression is common so dont despair.
  Look up on line about
Desensitising and  Counterconditioning

 BAT - behavioural adjustment training . (greisha Sterwart)
 LAT - look at that .


  Alison

 How's it going ?
 Sorry,  I can't offer you any advice , its not something I've studied.
 Good luck . Ali

 Thank you  for the replies .
 I like Minnie and Tina  but she responded better to Libby so am going with that .
 
  She really is a Minnie the minx and very bossy with the other two but better now she has had off lead walks.  She runs so fast and can keep up with Pip JRT.
 Her house training is coming along, Í have to be very vigilant and I leave her in a crate when i go out.
  Ali