When the dog is reaching her fertile phase, known as estrus or heat, her vulva will begin to swell. This can be seen on the outside of her body if you look at the area directly below her anus. The vulva will be puffy and will appear red in color. By the time she is in full heat, the vulva will swell to about three times its normal size. Along with the vulva swelling, she will also have bloody discharge coming out of her vagina. This discharge begins before the dog is fertile and lasts until after she has ovulated and is no longer fertile.  Vaginal bleeding usually starts a week or so before the dog actually ovulates. Sometimes it is hard to spot the vaginal bleeding because the dog cleans herself quickly and does not allow it to become evident. In cases such as this, you should look for increased licking. During her fertile period, a female dog may urinate more than usual. This is a sign that her hormone levels are changing and that she may be ready to mate. The urine passed by a female dog in heat contains pheromones that signals to male dogs that she is in heat. There are tests that can be used to identify when a female dog is fertile and ready to mate. These can be done by veterinarians at their veterinary practices.  One test is a vaginal cytology test. This is a non-invasive vaginal smear test that examines vaginal cells to look for changes associated with ovulation. To assess when your dog is fertile it may take several tries. The other test is a serum progesterone test. This is a blood test that looks at progesterone levels. It is very accurate and popular but does require that your dog's blood be drawn.

Summary: Look for swelling of the vulva. Spot vaginal bleeding. Watch for increased urination. Consider getting your dog tested to determine when she is fertile.


Gardening gloves will protect your hands from minor slivers, while a face mask will help prevent inhalation of dust and particles from the materials you’re working with. Having all your tools and supplies on hand will speed up the process of making your own potting mix. You’ll need:   Large receptacle for mixing: This can be a large bucket, garbage can, wheelbarrow or other container.  Container for measuring: Some of the materials will be added in smaller amounts to the potting mix. It is helpful to have a container to measure accurately. A 5-gallon bucket is a useful size, as are 1-cup measuring cups.  Water: Have a watering can and hose available.  Trowel: A trowel will be useful for mixing your materials together.  Shovel: Have a shovel ready for shoveling larger amounts of soil, peat and compost into your mix.  Hardware cloth: Hardware cloth is a wire mesh screen that will be used to push your materials through to sift out the large pieces and debris. One-quarter inch hardware cloth is ideal. It can be helpful to have a table for preparing the potting mix, especially if you’re making smaller batches in buckets. At the very least, you should have a level, open, work space that is outdoors. Put a tarp underneath your work space to catch extra dirt and other material. Use a mixing barrel or large garbage can for mixing your potting mix. There are a number of different recipes for potting mix, each of which is appropriate for different types of plants. For a general, all-purpose potting mix, use the following recipe: Measure 1 part peat moss; 2 parts compost; 1 part vermiculite; 1 part sterilized garden soil; and 1 part perlite or sand. To start, use a 5-gallon bucket as each “part.” To remove large chunks and debris, run each of your ingredients through a screen or ¼ inch hardware cloth. Hardware cloth is wire mesh available in rolls from hardware and home supply stores for $5-$10 per roll. Dump all the peat moss that you’re using into a mixing bin. It may help to start with a small batch of soil, instead of using all of your available materials in the first batch. These will add nutrients to your potting mixture. A good fertilizing mixture is: For everyone 5 gallons of other ingredients, add 1 cup greensand; 1 cup blood meal; ½ cup bonemeal; ½ cup lime; and ½ cup rock phosphate. Add each of these ingredients one by one and mix thoroughly. Turn over the soil to make sure you are mixing them all in throughout the potting mix.

Summary: Wear protective gear. Gather your supplies. Prepare your work space. Measure out your ingredients. Pour all ingredients separately through wire mesh hardware cloth. Put in the peat moss first into your mixing bin. Add fertilizers and mix thoroughly. Add compost, vermiculite and perlite.


If you are a skilled worker, you should begin looking for employment sponsorship 3 to 6 months in advance of your trip to Australia. There are a few different ways that you can find sponsored employment.  Contact a recruiter in Australia to get help with finding a position. You can find recruiters through Internet searches, and you may be required to pay for their services. This is a good idea if you have a highly specialized profession that is listed on the SOL. Register for a free "work in Australia" online job board. These sites, such as jobs4travellers.com.au and liveinaustralia.com/home/employment_in_australia.asp ask you to sign in and allow you to look for job boards. If you are a professional working in 1 of the listed fields, you are much more likely to get a sponsored or independent work visa. Medical, engineering and computer professions are some of the most common items listed on this document.  Visit www.immi.gov.au/skilled/_pdf/sol-schedule1.pdf to read the most up to date SOL. Do research on international companies that have bases in Australia. Applying for work in 1 of these companies may allow you to go through training in Australia or work in an Australian office. Search for applicable jobs in large Australian companies. Very large companies are more likely to hire international employees because they can afford the visa costs. Keep in contact with all of these companies and search often for new jobs. There are several types of business visas, usually available to people who are entrepreneurs or investors and seek to enhance the Australia economy. You can also seek a visa to train or conduct business for a short period of time.  If you are planning a business visit, you will need to apply for an ETA or eVisitor visitor visa before being granted a subclass 956, 977 of 651 visa. Visit www.immi.gov.au/skilled/business/business-visit-visa-options.htm to find out how to apply. You will need to apply for a short stay business visa if you are not eligible for an ETA or eVisitor via. Visit the link above to apply for a subclass 456 visa. The Australian government seeks out individuals with specialized skills, such as those listed on the SOL. Travel to 1 of these events to look for employment. You may need to travel to England or another country to attend this recruitment fair. Visit www.immi.gov.au/skillevents/upcoming-events.htm to view a list of these events. This visa is only available to people under 50 with English proficiency who are able to prove that they offer a skill that is in demand in Australia. People in the medical field are especially sought for this type of visa, which can take up to 18 months to receive.
Summary: Find an employer to sponsor your visa. Consult the Skilled Occupation List (SOL). Apply for a business visa. Attend a "Skills Australia Needs" event. Seek permanent residency with a skilled independent visa.