Monah

Stunning photos and really beautiful dog!! WOW!!

Aw. Poor baby. Lovely pups

Gorgeous, hiding in the bushes. Lovely photo

;) The girls are weird! I guess being bossed by 4 cats and a bird all your life does that!! Roisin does have a 'thing' for Black cockies, but neither of them have ever hurt anything. Roisin has cought pigeons and a duck! and just given them to my had, then they flew away Hmm. I have big , tough dawgs ;)

I wonder what she is thinking The 'crew' tonight sorry about the crappy quality.

Yes, dog hair!! The frogs are so placid and the dogs like them Both dogs are terrific and have never hurt one, but I still stay out and supervise, don't want one to get stepped on.! Ravyk, what sort are the big fat green frogs? We have all different ones, the sumo ones, medium ones and tiny little ones that can really jump miles, they are a different shape and all legs, skinny the supermodels of the froggy kingdom :D

Looks great. Someone on here called harmony did loads of cards for Dolers last year and they were really wonderful. I don't know if she is still on here, but someone may have pictures of what she did.

We have these and also the gigantic green 'sumo' frogs outside my kitchen door every night. Also some lovely little brown mottled froggies who sit on the ground. Altogether around 2 dozen frogs. The dogs give them a 'kiss'and then ignore. They are just starting to croak all the time, so I guess they are getting ready for mating, wet season. I always remove any toads (fridge) in case they take a liking to the frogs. The frogs are happy to eat moths out of my hand, although sometimes take my fingers too :D

Gorgeous :p xxx

Great thread. I have a question for anyone in the know. How are puppyfarmers/breeders/whoever able to have so many dogs in the first place? Is there any limit on the amount of dogs a breeder can have? I don't understand how these things of loads of dogs happens. How do the relevent clubs/authorities not know there are so many dogs? if they do know, and it is not legit, how can they get away with it? Who polices this stuff? The council? Because the council certainly will not allow me to have how many dogs I'd like to have. Also, is it necessary to have so many dogs? Why? All the breeders of both dogs and cats, over 40 years, who I've dealt with been friends with, have not had many animals, most about 10 or 11, have been extremely successful and improved their breeds. How does someone end up with loads of dogs, and what is the legislation on this? Can someone really care for so many dogs properly and meet all their needs? I'm not talking about laws that say a dog has to have an hour out of it's pen either I'm not breeder bashing. I'd really like to know re health problems. If a breeder has tested and done all they can, I don't think it's necessary to blame them for anything. I'm sure reputable breeders are just as devastated as owners when a dog of theirs exhibits a health issue. For me, If I have bought a pet, it is my responsibility, my decision, my consequences.

Gorgeous gorgeous pup!!!! Great advice on here. I have tried everything with digging, and with mine (spinone) it really did not stop until she was about 18 months old. So, I just washed her face and paws each time, yelled out if I SAW her doing it, fenced off parts of the garden I wanted to save. With that orange plastic fence stuff used around building sites. Poo in the hole did not work for us at all. As far as stealing/chewing, it's up to the human to make sure there is nothing around for the dog to get hold of. Only things the dog is allowed to have (and that are SAFE) Leave it, is a great tool, but will only work if you are there, at least until the dog is mature. We have many green froggies here, and the dogs know to leave them as they have been taught, even if they land on their face I would definately teach a leave command, but would not rely on this at the pup's age. The ARGGH!! thing is great and a beginning. Just remember that he is a pup, and digging is a lot of fun, so don't expect it to stop or him to remember when you are not there to ARGGH! at him. ;) xx

Poor Grumpy It's very difficult. I've had several dogs need general anaesthetics at 14 and 15 years of age, all turned out very well, even for big operations. However, every time they needed the op. I was also very worried, like you. I don't know if I would have gone ahead if the ops were not necessary for their lives. I do have complete trust in my vets though and felt comfortable with my decisions, and I knew there were risks. Scary. It's a very personal thing, but I have only had good experiences.

Too sensible. :D Can you keep the dog with you upstairs? The more the dog is with you , the more she will want to be with you and get more used to it. Hopefully the more she is with you, the less over excited she will be (unless she is a vizsla! ) She may have to learn how to behave with humans and you can help her by teaching her to be calm and have manners. Trainers are much better suited to this type of advice than me! Is there any way to put a kiddy gate at the stairs so she is with you where the TV is? It appears she may be in a habit of being downstairs and if you would like her with you, she needs to learn a new 'habit'. Good luck, the other posts are excellent and very helpful and from people who know what they are doing. ;)

My easiest puppies ever were Wolfies ;) :D they are just so wonderful. Real sweethearts and love to nap and cuddle My vizsla was my most 'difficult' pup. Interpret that as BUSY ACTIVE NEVER TIRED DEMANDING EXCITABLE ;) she was exhausting but what a joy!!! Very easy to crate and toilet train, just OMG! the energy and excitement. Up at 4am. and ready to run run run run! Then I got the spin when the viz was 12 months and JUST becoming 'livable'. but the spin was much quieter and would happily sleep in, even at 8 weeks, and, TOILET TRAINED already. But I was on constant supervision duties as the viz was so active that I was worried about the pup. Anyway, when my kids were born/toddlers etc. we had puppies too, giant schnauzers, irish water spaniel, lakeland terriers. I found having pups and kids really easy even though all of them were livewires. I was in the 'zone' of being active and up early anyway and they all played and entertained each other. Very easy. The dogs were just part of the family and did everything with us, so it wasnt' like we had to 'do things' with the dogs. The kids and dogs wore each other out too Now the dogs wear ME out!!!!

And isn't he a HONEY!!! He ought have been a movie star instead of a vet. ;) He's good looking and has the smoothest English accent. Oh and he's also very good at his job. ;) HONEY!!! THat's a serious understatement. ;) THe first time I saw him, I almost forgot why I was there! OMG! He is gorgeous, iintelligent, gorgeous, sympathetic, gorgeous, honest, Oh did I mention GORGEOUS ;) and, he has the cutest brown burmese that he ADORES (I'm a sucker for a cat man!) AND, of course, he is a fantastic surgeon too!

Ours was too. there probably is a reason why, but I also think it may be that some owners notice earlier. I noticed with my dog, but no one else could 'see' anything. I had xrays done to check, and, voila! there is was ;) I've asked other people about their dog's hips/joints and they think that because the dog has 'always' walked like that, that is just the way they walk. Maybe the severity of the HD has something to do with when they are diagnosed.??

Gorgeous, they worked!!

THat's what I think of as a good dog too kavik. Not a habit of mine, but I saw Airport yesterday on TV. Did anyone else see it? ANyway, there was a magnificent GSD on a plane, taking up 2 seats He had been in India, searching for survivors in an earthquake and was flying back to new york via Heathrow. Anyway, he needed a wee as he had not been for 12 hours and was also dehydrated from spening 4 days in the desert. The handler was great and extremely protective and worried about the dog. I was SO impressed witht he dog, taken by a stranger, down the plane steps, to go for wees in the kennels (because of laws). This dog was quietly confident, HUGE!, calm, obedient etc. and the animal health ranger just fell in love with him. To me this is the behaviour I would prefer and want from a GSD. I don't consider a volatile or 'scary' dog a good dog. Nerves of steel should translate into confidence, not flying off the handle by being 'protective'. I dont know how we got onto 'trained' protection type dogs, but I loved next door to a police GSD for many years and was able to spend a lot of time with him as his owner worried about us because OH was away so often! even though I said we were fine. Anyway, the dog was perfect and did nothing, ever, without his trainer's say so. He certainly never 'took the law' into his own paws. For the OP, I wouldn't worry too much about what happened with your dog. Most people would steer clear because of how he looks. It was very unlucky that the person had illness issues because someone in their 'right' frame of mind would have avoided you and the dog. It's almost a one off experience that hopefully never happens again. Keep the inof to yourself too. My mum told s guy at our door (asking where someone lived, bogus!) that don't worry, the wolfhounds are sooks and wont do a thing!!! BAH! Next day we were robbed. and the bloody dogs slept through it!!!!

Mags, wow, very interesting!! both my cattle dog and BC are from working lines too. Love all these different stories

Fantastic Jeff, and great posts, very intelligent and experienced. I wish I had my old cattle dog to put on your list. I would have found it fascinating to see how far she would go if allowed. The BC I often have is with my daughter so I've lucked out there too, he is extremely protective, almost too much. Huski, I completely understand where you posts are coming from and agree. Dogs must not 'make their own mind up' on how to act and when. What a disaster that would be! ;) A funny thing used to happen with my ACD. Because of her age and health we only walked her intermittantly, every second or third day. But, on walking the other two, all the dogs in the neighbourhood would bark on going past, a couple would 'rush' out to the end of the driveways etc. whenever we walked with Pindi with us, there was not a peep out of any dogs or any rushing!!! from any dogs, they just watched us go by. Can anyone enlighten me on this? Why etc??? We would crack up laughing, she had 'presence' or 'hand' or whatever you want to call it and never had to do a thing, just look. She was very protective of children, and also me and I had to be on guard the whole time if we had tradesmen etc. around the place. Thankfully we never had an incident and she was incredibly obedient. If only my gundogs were as obedient By the way, although the viz can look terrifying and bark, I've no doubt at all that she would run run run away if confronted!! as for the spin, she would be behind me ;) but I've lived alone a lot, out in the middle of nowhere when OH has been away for long intervals, and am very capable of taking care of myself and children AND pets. And I'm well trained :D

I completely agree with this. I protect my dogs, not the other way around. having said that, I have had a cattle dog (15 years) who was very very protective and a Border collie (working short hair) who is even more protective. Neither were trained to be, neither have ever bitten anyone, BUT they havent' been pushed, one look at their behaviour and no one will attempt anything. Mind you, they are/were very good and when told relax, would be as soft as the softest dog and the best kids dogs ever. I would never tolerate a dog deciding when to take someone on (that's not aimed at Lilli either, but at people who say they want a dog FOR protection and don't know what they are doing) Also had a very protective Patterdale terrier when growing up too.

But he is outside all day and we get home around 6pm and then take them for walk and then when we get home they are outside again until we go to bed and no winging or howling in that time.....This only happens in the morning around 4:30 - 5am - About same time we wake to go2 work.....I think if he was winging and howling to come inside then he would also do it at night but this isnt the case. He only does it early mornings just before we wake up. Maybe his body clock is saying it's breakfast time? How many meals does he have a day? Other than that, maybe just lonely? When does he get 'people' time? Is it only on his evening walk? know everyone is different, but we spend all but a few hours a day, (maybe 5 at the most not with them,) with ours. That's not to say anyone else should, but if you are at work very early, then they ahve a walk at night and back outside, when is he having play, training, fun, cuddle time? He may be too tired at night after his walk, to whinge.

Hi Mr Busy. That sounds like my vizsla You were so lucky with the other dog, but this is the real deal. I agree with PoodleFan and others. I tried ignoring my viz when she was 'out of control', but that did not help at all. I have never used physical reprimands either, ever, for kids or animals. However, I did find that a sharp ARGH!! would get her attention and stop the unacceptable behaviour. It is easy to be 'indulgent' when you have had an easy dog, but some dogs will really be over the top if you do not teach them how to behave. I have to keep my wits about me at all times with the viz, with my spinone I can be as soft as I like, and she is always an angel. Very different personalities. It's a great idea to get a little outside help with a trainer etc. and will really boost your confidence and hopefully things will start to improve. You have a fantastic dog for doggy sports and I'm sure will notice great changes by maturity. Dogs like this are great fun and work really well. It's worth the hard work, I ADORE and love my viz to bits and wouldn't have her any other way I just remembered a game I would play with her (and still do) when she was little. Hide and seek. In the garden or the house. She loved it, kept her mind and body busy. They learn to 'find' very quickly. So if you can use a person or a toy (and have a name for the toy), then tell the dog to FIND BUNNY (after hiding it in an easy spot graduating to a difficult spot later), this can give hours of fun and enjoyment while they are learning something. We would also hide in the bushes or behind a tree etc. in the garden. Just an idea you might like to try. Of course you have to train them for this slowly by teaching all the steps, starting with the object in full view and praising when they 'find' the object, then moving it a little further each time, or placing it under a pillow or in a box, in view, and so on.

My lakelands AND my vizsla were early risers, 4am!! until around 12 months of age. I just used to get up. Eventually they would sleep in until about 6am! for life. I can't even remember the last time I would have been in bed past 6am. on any day of the week. On weekends I will have a nanny nap though I never let them make a noise etc. as I had children who needed sleep for school and OH. I worked too and was exhausted by the time for work, but the dogs were worn out and at least would sleep while I was out Luckily my spinone LOVES a sleep in and even at 8 weeks did not wake us up!!! I've NEVER ever had a dog like that before. She's a bed bug

OFF here too, drop for obed., give for whatever is in the little darling's mouths!, LEAVE IT! used mainly for when they decide to kiss frogs but comes in useful for other things, like, kitty litter