Mr R & NR

Not too good on the geography over NW -West of Melboure but check out http://www.fourpawsk9training.com.au/contact.htm. Others may know of clubs closer to you KelpieI who runs it is on DOL. Certainly they don't have any breed specific rules.

Hey Dzy, not wanting to take your thread off topic but just had to tell you how great those Polar collars are................. for me. (Its ok, my dogs were home and in comfort). Was at a dog event this morning which fortunately finished around 11:30. I took both the soaked collars with me. They really helped me through the worst of it. Blessings!

Hopefully you haven't gone away Slk. It is unfortunate the experiences you have had with your last three dogs. To answer the orginal point of your post I believe SADS to be a great organisation. I worked on the weekend for them as a volunteer for two years before they had their great new premises. They were good organisation and as far as I know the people in overall charge have not changed. They, like a lot of rescure organisations put a huge effort in to rehoming the dogs. I believe they did good temperament testing, they give you the opportunity to bring your dog (if you have one) to meet the adoptee on semi neutral turf. I never experienced them rehoming an aggressive dog. They also take the dog back if it doesn't work out. People used to say to me "how can you do that sort of work, I would just want to take them all home" like I was some hard hearted person. Well SADS was a great place to be, good people and lots of care and particularly given the awfully difficult physical premises they were in at the time. The word hovel springs to mind. If you have decided to go down that route for your next dog/puppy, then I am sure you know, training and socialisation is extremely important. By the nature of the place socialisation will be have been taking place since the puppies arrived and you will need to continue this. If there is anything else I can help you with, please feel free to PM me. EFS

Sure it wasn't Steve Courtney from K9Force? http://www.k9force.net/ If it is he posts and here. I have attended his seminar and highly recommend him.

Good on you Daisy, a good idea. I looked at my two the other day and can see the weight creeping on because in this weather they simply don't get enough exercise, I HATE the heat. I have been getting up in the morning early to take them before work. As much as I hate the thought of it, once I am up and out it is really nice. I only have two dogs and they can go together but you have 4+ Good luck

Erny trains at Lynbrook, near KCC. You can contact her via her website, she has training info on there. Group classes are on Sunday morning but she also does one on one if that is more suitable. Group classes may be better for the socialisation you want your dogs to have. Her website is: http://www.prok9.com.au/

So sorry Haven, he was so much part of your life and you did so much to make his life better. Poor Nova too missing her buddy.

For what is it worth my RR. My RR was "under supervsion" and got them out, left him for 5 minutes. Collar stayed on once he was stichted up again. I went out, told OH not to take the collar off him but he felt sorry for him, stitches gone again. Very embarrassed at the Vets the second time. Also even if they are not interested in them for the first couple of days the wound can get itchy after a while and it atracts their attention, it is extremly easy for them to get them out, believe me.

Oonga, if they did get saved, I still really want that 'portrait' type print of the two of them in their beautiful drop stay on canvas. Maybe PM me if OH is still able to do it. Could be my Christmas present to myself................. ETA: Back to work woman

Maia was VERY accurate with her Inventory, no toy escaped and no toy got contaminated by the 'other' Rottweiler. Still look at those photos and laugh, they are the best I have ever seen. Nasty VISTA losing them.

Thanks Dyzney for the reply regarding the mats. Will have a think about it. She loves the tiles and lying in the shower recess and lying under some shrubs at the side of the house that I hose down for her. That is probably enough. I just worry a bit when I am at work but they probably just sleep quietly and only get hot because of the excitement of me returning. Surfgirl Maia, I can just see her. Beach babe as well as Supermodel

I have to say Dyz, I am really pleased with how long the cool collar stays cool, excellent. Nel was funny with it last week, she had it on a few times and it really helped, feeling under it felt just right, not too cold. However she now decides when she wants it on. I will offer to put it on, sometimes she does, other times she says she doesn't need it. "Don't make a fuss mum!" A question for anyone using the mats. I have tried putting a wet towel on the tiles for my two and also draping a wet towel on them (not covering them, just on their legs say) and the look I get is as if I was trying to murder them. Has anyone who has a dog that is finds the wet towel adversive been able to get them to use the cool mat? edited for spelling

I too can vouch for the excellent service from Dyzney, waiting on mine because I forgot to tell her my address............... hmmmm, might have helped. I ordered two, just in case I lose one but now I am going to use it on me after reading about the idea, I hate the heat and sit around in a grump with a frozen bottle of water resting on my neck, now I will be able to use the collar. Might even get me a mat to put my feet on cos the dogs will just run a mile from a mat. They won't lie on a wet towel either, get the look "you must be joking, yuk!"

I too live in a rental. What I decided to do was scatter some of their ashes in the creek where we went for some of our best walks. I really like house plants so I repotted some and put some of their ashes in with the house plants so they continue to grow around me and I can take them with me when I move. It continues to give me comfort.

Annes, so sad for you. Beau will be with the other loved black & tans now.

Nup, me neither

Dyz, I too don't visit this thread often. Very sorry for you loss but it sounds like it was the right time. I hope Mark is coping ok. Just so hard not to look for them all the time, takes ages to accept they are gone.

What Shoemonster says..............

How about "I need to vent"

HR, I am sure we could bag ADT a lot more, after all they are not around anymore to defend themselves. The best time to 'have a go' wouldn't you say?

The recent posts highlight one of the things that was different about ADT in that all instructors taught the exercises the same way so it didn't depend on which instructor was teaching the class how an exercise was taught. ADT instrutors had other methods up their sleeves for obedience and behaviour issues if it was just was not working for dog and handler but the client would be helped individually in these circumstances.

Hi Kalevi, can't help directly with your question but you may want to contact Erny. She is trying to put together some training for ex ADT clients. She was a trainer with them but also has her own company [email protected] Better to email her than PM

Erny, can I borrow Mandela when you have finished training him please. Prepared to pay top dollar for the ironing

Yes, wondering how you went today? Fingers & toes have been crossed.

Yep, book me in 2010 with Erny, would love to see it all again. Now just gotta make my little buggas listen like I did