anyone got any tips on keeping march flies off dogs?

Discussion in 'Planting, growing, nurturing Plants' started by forest, Nov 21, 2005.

  1. forest

    forest Junior Member

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    We have two gorgeous airedale terriers and they're being driven mad at the moment by march flies. We give them garlic and emu oil in their homemade food and I tried lavendar oil on their coats last year but it didn't help much. Does anyone have any tried and true anti-fly remedies?
     
  2. Tezza

    Tezza Junior Member

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    Yes Have you ever thought of moving to Antartica I heard its too cool for em there

    Tezza
     
  3. forest

    forest Junior Member

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    HA! that may be the only hope. Those blasted flies hurt when they bite. They go for me as well.
     
  4. Cornonthecob

    Cornonthecob Junior Member

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    Frogs and Lizards!

    Works every time!

    :)
     
  5. earthbound

    earthbound Junior Member

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    How does one apply the frogs and lizards to the dogs Corny...? :lol: :lol:

    I've heard before that the squashed march fly only attracts others... And I have seen first hand that blue attracts them more than other colours, but appart from that...... :?
     
  6. Tezza

    Tezza Junior Member

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    Blue.......................Better cancel the Blue Toungued Lizard then corny

    Tezza.

    Maybe breeding march flies instead of humble house fly may reduce flies..
    Why are they called March flies over here they dont read calenders

    Tezza
     
  7. Cornonthecob

    Cornonthecob Junior Member

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    I use to pull a wing off ( :oops: ) and throw them to the frogs and lizards....kinda a fulltime job though.

    :)
     
  8. Tezza

    Tezza Junior Member

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    gee no flies on you are there Corny

    Tezza
     
  9. bazman

    bazman Junior Member

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    Get a whippet :) ours eat the march flies, if we get one in the house all you hear is snap snap snap crunch no more march fly.

    I think Rocky got bitten a few times and has a real dislike for them now.
     
  10. forest

    forest Junior Member

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    our dogs try to catch them too and I often hear hollow snapping just near the back door. :lol:

    They have their favourite spots during the day. One sits in the brick garden shed and the other in the bushhouse, but they love it if they're allowed in the house during the day.
     
  11. Guest

    No gaurantees here, but I am thinking maybe tea tree oil or citronella?

    Or maybe try rubbing the dogs over with capsicum?

    Only hypothesising mind you...might prove useless.
     
  12. HoneydaleFarm

    HoneydaleFarm Junior Member

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    A rosemary and Tea tree spray used to work for me in Nth Qld -just steep a big bunch of rosemary in hot water over night , and add some tea tree oil to it (1 ml in about 1 litre) and put in a spray bottle for application. Just put in on your hands to wipe on the dogs ears, but stay clear of eyes and the muzzle. Might want to do a test patch as some dogs are allergic to tea tree oil.
     
  13. forest

    forest Junior Member

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    I'll try that. I sometimes put tea tree oil in their bath rinse water. I'll grab some rosemary and whip up a tea and spray it on. thanks! :D
     
  14. Richard on Maui

    Richard on Maui Junior Member

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    we look after a really annoying chihuaha/jack russel cross (too much ch./not enough jr) and his one useful function that I have identified is that he catches flies and mosquitos out of the air.
    i hope your airedales get some respite forest.
     
  15. sabine

    sabine Junior Member

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    my dog and i also feel the sting of marchflies - nothing works completely but i can vouch for tea tree. for my dog i use a hand spray bottle with a few drops of tea tree and eucalyptus oil diluted in water - aimed mainly at the rear end 'cause that's the bit she can't reach! i wouldn't recommend citronella unless its just one drop or something tiny as i've read it can be toxic to dogs - i don't know if that's via absorption through the skin or licking it. i use the same spray - but for heavy duty protection i've got a stronger mixture (including citronella) in an oil base, and even sand flies don't like that!

    peace,
    sabine
     

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