persephone

Your children need to be taught what they can and cannot do around the puppy - likewise the puppy needs teaching the rules! You might get some benefit from this ebook ..specifically for families . CLICK HERE

he can not graze if the food's not there all the time!

So - if, strictly speaking we cannot confidently say our dog is happy.. then what are we supposed to say when we perceive our dogs to be: relaxed fearful aggressive excited playful bored etc? or are these all common to humans and dogs?

He looks great in those

Flux- nekhbet raised an interesting point. What does Riley do during his day ?Does he enjoy digging? Does he have a sand pit? Does he enjoy chasing a soccerball around the yard? How often do you practice your obedience training ?

are you sure she received the dry food whilst boarding? Can/will she eat bones/chew treats, so you can rule out teeth/jaw trouble? What happens if you just leave food down for 10 minutes, and offer it again next day? NO treats/broth/fish etc.... ?

fantastic pics!!

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5131/539458...eb63f131e_z.jpg Nice one!

I can't get by without my.............. picasa Glad you have it working a bit better !

The bodies ........... Unfortunately back when I was working , bodies were bagged,collected, and 'mass buried' ....not many went home to be buried, and almost none were cremated. I do remember a few that had been in car accidents.... bagged and waiting, when the family decided they needed to come 'say goodbye' and I had to hurriedly wash/brush /arrange the poor little bodies so they were respectable .... Dark humour was, and I guess still is a part of coping ... and we had our share of moments ...

Well yes, of COURSE animals have preferences! Dogs have taste ability..and can feel texture/temperature, so naturally, given a choice, they will choose that which they prefer.No choices here though .. That's a given. Parrots and goannas,and sheep ...they all have preferences , too .. it's just a lot of the time, what they eat is out of their control.

Boy she has grown!! lookit those long legs!! She looks very happy - so does your old boy. To me she looks very greyhound now ... in this photo.. her front legs look a bit bowed/and as if she is not taking weight on them? Got any more photos of her sitting & standing ? It may just be the angle.. but I always worry about large pups... they grow so quickly ... .. http://www.dolforums.com.au/uploads/monthl...85544_thumb.jpg

yep.

Very cute!!

new show starting on the BIO CHANNEL on thursday night at 9:30 called " Why we love our cats and dogs " It looks interesting

That's interesting ,actually. Dogs around me are not my life & soul ,and neither do I fill their day with chatter.... but I enjoy watching them be dogs ..I love watching them hunt/run/play..and I like that they will bark & alert me to dangers ..and I like the secure feeling of having a dog sleeping in the room . I enjoy the tactile presence that is dog ,and the communications that are done without words

A couple of times I have been the one to take friends' animals to be PTS ..animals I had known and loved..and was very upset. I phoned beforehand and explained..and got an agreement from teh staff to not speak to me,or ask me anything, or pat me on teh shoulder.... it was the only way I could stay 'together'

Well, I guess I talk to the dogs..giving commands, and praise,and calling them ..but I don't discuss my day with them I know hand signals/whistles will do ..and that dogs can interpret our body language accurately .Use of voice is handy,and more socially acceptable sometimes .

Like what sort of talk.... The 'get off the couch ,idiot' talk ,instead of 'go to your bed' or the "Hey,fido...do you know why God gave you fleas? No? So you remember you are a DOG" talk ?

I because some owners are understandably upset..and may 'grab at the dog in a hug..moving the dog,causing a possible needlestick injury to staff..or a messy and painful injection Also because some dogs may be upset/aggressive... and it's not fair on an owner to see their dog's final minutes spent in a struggle. ... also because sometimes the owners faint or collapse seen all of the above ..except the needlestick, thank goodness.

like the idea!

zackly!

bossyboo - welcome. Some more info would be great! What would a dog's routine be, roughly? EDIT to say you posted while I was typing Where would they sleep? Do you have access to parks etc? Do you have dogs regularly visiting/staying? A lot of things to do with reactions to kids/other dogs are the results of training/socialising as a puppy ....

Oh I am crying for you ......and because I know how they are....That nuisance ,gorgeous boy Go & annoy everyone over the bridge, Donkey..have fun ! I too lost my favourite years ago... we didn't know she ate a whole loaf of bread ...and was dead next morning.

IMO not all bitches are born to be mums... in some, the first rush of hormones ensures they stick with puppies when first born... but, given access to all their normal things.. some of the newbies will 'go to the dark side' ...and prefer their pre whelping habits They are only dogs ---- and simple choices can change everything.