Dogs are the best type of pets to have.

Grace would agree 100% with you but she doesn't quite understand the concept of dogs as pets. As a dog, she owns us !
But I also agree with the added bonus that 1) if you get back after hours away, they don't nag or whinge "what kept you?" No they are happy to see you, and 2) when you tell them what a c**p day you have had, they don't sigh and say "Tell me about it" do they?
All problems can be solved by either (or all of) a treat, a tickle on the tummy or a biscuit.

They nick chocolate cake off the table, wee on the floor if you don't read the signals, jump on your bed with muddy paws, scare the postman, chase the cat, shed hair all over the furniture, dig sodding rather big holes in the flower beds, chew anything they feel like, apart from the toys you buy them, roll in disgusting dead things the cat has left on the lawn, scare the living daylights out of the chickens, cost a fortune at the vets and bark at any advert on the telly that has a dog on it (most of them do)

Yep! HunterF. I wouldn't be without them

You don't mention f**t when you have visitors,and sit and stare mournfully at anyone who has the cheek to sit on "their" end of the sofa,especially visitors,mump at mealtimes with baleful eyes while you are eating and have to be ejected from the room whilst doing so,drop large doo doos in the garden that have to be collected,take up all the bed and snore and twitch whilst asleep with you hanging on to the last half inch of bed,wake you up desparate for wee at 10 past two you let them out and they sit at the front gate gazing up the road....

Would I be with out one not on your nellie

Mine doesn't wake me up at ten past two desperate for a wee....That's DH

Does he sit at the gate also merlot

He's partially sighted, NellieSmol so he can't even find the gate. I've had to fetch him out of the wardrobe a few times though.

My cat has just ripped up the Radio Times.....

Oh, how I wish I could have a dog (or multiples thereof) again!

When I was with exdh we had three, a collie spaniel cross (rescue dog that came to us around 1 year old) a JRT, again rescue, came to us aged around 10 months was rejected for being too soppy (!!) and (here, I hang my head in shame, but I swear she was raped) a dog that we had from birth, son of Poppy.

We now have three cats, stories of which I have already told.

yes, Frank on the whole I would agree with you about dogs, but I must say that when I lost my youngest son at 19, 2 of the cats' behaviour changed dramatically. Yes, I know you could say the same about digs, but it's as if your animals pick up on and react to your feelings.

Having said that, when I brought my youngest son home from hospital as a newborn, Poppy, (collie spaniel cross mentioned above) lay in front of the pram and growled at anyone who came near!

And DHs are good at f**ting at night too! The advantage of a dog is that if you let one slip, you can glare accusingly at the dog!
DH or dog merlot ? (the gate and being rescued from the wardrobe......

Glad you asked that question gracesmum re the gate and the wardrobe with DH and dog I didn't like to
If I let one slip I normally glare at other half and blame him

If I ever hear the wardrobe door creaking at 2am I know DH has turned right instead of left. As for the gate? We haven't got one.

He may be trying to find Narnia merlot

I nkow that this has nothing to do with dogs, but we do seem to have digressed. According to Mr P, he has a medical condition known as "flatulating kneecap". Apparently changes in the weather have an effect.

I have done some preliminary research on this (well, I Googled it) but to no avail.

No doubt there is some department somewhere in the process of applying for funding (Lottery or Government) to try to find some sort of cure for this distressing condition.

Do you think perhaps Mr P has......
Luxating patella (or trick knee, subluxation of patella, floating patella, or floating kneecap?

Taking of flatulence (weren't we?) I have a problem with one of mine. Dogs, that is. He just seems to be carrying a mild miasma of iffy smells around him. This is very recent, no dietary changes and no, how can I put it, obvious eruptions. He's been bathed, wiped down daily, even sprayed with perfume, but this vague odour hangs about him. I've googled obvious things like anal glands but he has no symptoms. I suppose it's a vet visit unless anyone can suggest a cure?

Pepto bismol? Both me and the dog use it. For flatulence .

Is that safe for dogs Tegan?

Google it Kali. When my dog had an upset tummy we gave it to her, but couldn't buy it from a chemist when I mentioned it was for the dog . It's very expensive, though. The tablets are better than the liquid [which looks like windolene]. But I wouldn't stop yo from seeing a vet if you're worried. It was recommended on my whippet forum.

Talking about pets, my old dog Lady now sleeps a lot between her walks, however if we are expecting visitors she sits in the window, not because she psychic but because we get the hoover, duster and spray polish out and start to clean.

Just for the record Kali and tegan I used to give my border collie Kaolin when she had an upset stomach, the vet recommended it and it worked wonders with her. Had to use a syringe to administer it though

juneh

My ex used to take charcoal tablets for - er- flatulence. I wonder if they would work for dogs.

And an allergic reaction can be treated with piriton. I always keep some handy after my dog had a terrible reaction to a wasp sting. Obviously took her straight to the vets when it happened but a tablet straight away might have stopped it getting so bad. It's the only antihistamine recommended for dogs.

Thanks for all the useful tips

annodomini - the black ones (houses) in Shapes could have the same effect re flatulence. I once complained to the Shapes people as I had a bag with hardly any black ones in. They refunded the £5 purchase price against a new bag and maintained that they strove to ensure all shapes and colours of biscuit were present in their product.

Would they work for me?