persephone

pics taken on iPhone , edited with mextures Today was the first in ages we had Sun enough to dry washing! I also had a helper who thought my recycled pusher -do-everything-trolley was just wonderful ...*sigh* Daisy was being very helpful :p

they are amusing - that's for sure . There was an awful lot of woofing this morning . poor Dougal cat had managed to catch a small rabbit ... and was surrounded by 3 woofing dogs as he was trying to eat breakfast - he was NOT amused! I did rescue him .....

Yes, he has those bedroom eyes! :laugh: and they work :p

After a big run thru wet grass- covering oneself with fine sand will help dry your coat , and make it all shiny ....

So sorry you now have a huge hole in your heart . Think of her now as being gorgeous and happy and healthy over the bridge , with that happy airedale grin ...

When you get a puppy , I suggest leaving it alone for some time from day one , so it does not get accustomed to being with humans 24/7. Obviously it needs to be warm, have an enclosed bed/kennel and be in a secure pen - have food & water ..and nothing dangerous around .

T................ermmmmmmm Mum is one of ours- a very cute little mostly Koolie ..with one maternal Great G/ma a pedigreed kelpie - very similar to Ess, she was . There was a mix up ..and well, dad could be either or . Either a 'Barb' kelpie (large, solid black, with a white chest point) ..a very old name - a lot of bushies still have this type as workers , and refer to them by the old name - or a LabxKelpie ! Both males are big sturdy dogs ..the 'barb' is a good worker- the labX does work , but is the very solid companion of an older fella . neither are ours . Ess is SO like her maternal side - even has a habit passed down thru three generations of a 'silent' bark ..and then the lots of teeth clacking , but no growling or anything aggro charges (known here as a snapping turtle attack ;) She hasn't worked yet - but is more inclined to go around and 'herd' - where Don sees something, and will use 'eye' - & crouch low - before just rushing. he is a leaner/cuddler..cruiser ... :)

It's a pretty special snail, that's for sure!!

for 6 mths old - he is quite solid ..and huggable :)

Don (and Ess ) inside this afternoon...

walking won't make her milk dry - less sucking from the pups will :) how old are the pups? I would be VERY careful about where you take her , in case she brings nasties back on her feet . perhaps she can do more training/interactive play etc in the yard to exercise her a bit?

oh :) reminds me of quite a few labs I trained years ago ...and of a brood bitch who threw puppies with that gorgeous ridge ....She looks gorgeous, and my fave pic is number 3 - she just looks really relaxed .

:) Weaning is easy - in a couple more weeks -feed bitch less - exercise her more ..and leave her outside when you give puppies meaty bones on which to suck/chew. Gradually introduce some good dry puppy food (no need to soak - and no need for milk) ,,and more MEATY bones , like chicken wings /lamb ribs .provide a heavy and small container with water in ...... They will still get most of their food from Mum ..but gradually they will nurse less,eat more ..and , with a reduced diet, and more exercise, Mum will produce less milk , and enjoy her time away :) No need to hurry it , or make it sudden . Our bitches/pups seem to sort it out nicely themselves - we have never had any dramas , saggy boobs , or very dependent pups , luckily :)

labrador :)

What a good choice of yummies :)

My BCX let my work briefcase be stolen out the car ..... but bailed up a postman delivering a parcel

This was my first sighting of one, raineth ... I think they have a very short lifespan, because they are so magical ;)

Awww - he's a lucky boy .

*coffeesplurk* Sooper Beagle !

ANY dog can act as a "watch dog" :) The dog needs to have the inclination .. One of our best watchdogs ever was a scruffy little terrierX dachshund ! She would bark/growl ..and in extremes- go for an ankle (all she could reach) .She was very effective . Sometimes I wish a few of our dogs had not ever decided to 'guard' It can be tricky to manage - esp if that "off" switch isn't easy to locate .

Whichever dog breed you choose - it HAS to be safely contained at all times - if your fencing is "reasonably" dog proof ... that is an invitation to disasters of all sorts - especially with an active working breed, and a novice owner - yes, you are a 'babe in teh woods' here - watching training , and having dogs be friendly to you is SO different to being tired/having a young keen dog/having the responsibility of not ever allowing your dog to be a danger to itself or others. I like the idea of a run - just as long as you realise what a dog is capable of ;) jumping/climbing 6' fences..digging almost a metre underground to make tunnels ....and a dog left alone ,and bored, has plenty of time to think of ways to have "fun" (in dog ways ) Don't be in a hurry to get this new family member - take time to thoroughly research the breed - you're off to a good start :) have you read pages like these ? While not every philosophy or method suits us all - there is something to enjoy and learn in any piece of writing :) have fun! LINK LINK

Noooo- YOU cannot lock a thread - and it's not "long", until it gets to around 100 pages :p :p it is MUCH easier to keep everything in the one spot - for everyone :) oh- and there is also this:rule 17 <li>Only start a new topic ONCE in the appropriate forum For example, if you have something for sale or have lost your dog, there is a forum set up for those purposes. Whilst we understand your topic may be important, if everyone posted their topic in multiple forums, it would soon become annoying and confusing.

LOL

oh, yes!

:)