Monah

that just put my spinone at the top of the list My viz is the easiest and quickest (to do commands) that I have ever had. My nephew had a cattle dog who knew hundreds of words and had a great career as an actor.. I dont like 'lists' and believe most dogs of all breeds are 'intelligent' especially if they are heavily involved with their family or humans in some way (as we measure intelligence by what they understand in a human way). I've even found this with sheep! We've had many pet sheep and they've been treated the same as the dogs, even gone in the car etc. and I've found them extremely clever.

That's very sad Wings..

Affenpinscer.. ;)

I swim mine daily. Re breed specific etc. , if you really want to know the best times I'd ask a dog physio. I have a terrific one and yes, swimming IS good for dogs and yes it does help dogs and is VERY important in any recovery. Both of mine are breeds who have to swim for their 'work' and I've found breed does apply in most instances as compared to say herding dogs, that I've owned, the swimmimng breeds (gundogs inc irish water spaniel) have been much 'better' swimmers and much more inclined to want to swim (try getting them out!!!) sighthounds I"ve had have not liked the water for swimming, but maybe it's just been my experience. swimming is also fantastic for the heart as well as muscles.

thanks Kaff. I think it's impressive, they do have a safety net and their tails are up. I know when my girl is not happy with something you can tell straight away. I should imagine they have had a lot of training to get to this stage, tiny steps...

:D ;) You'll have to show me how!!

I know there's a few dutch shep enthusiasts/fans on DOL and an agility nut friend sent me a youtube (I can't do links!! though) named Zippo Dutch Shepherd Agility and OMG!!! it's fantastic. I think it's a plice dog named Buddi.. If anyone can link it on here that would be great, or else take a look, well worth it!!! Incredible dog.. ;) :D

I'm stepping up a notch at the end of the month.. 2 Vizslas for the weekend. ;) ;) :D lock the fridge....

Malaseb.. but of course if it's a flea allergy, get rid of the fleas. There's no need for any dog to have fleas and they look miserable if they have an allergy. Hope the dog gets well very soon. xxx

I do that. My brother knows I won't ever stay with him if I have the dogs with me. He's an "inside equals spoiling dogs" kind of person. ;) Me too. I'm going away for the first time in 25 years...my girlchild is babysitting...this is rare as she is usually overseas and boychild is in the navy so unavailable too. I have no family who can care for them, mum is 86...gundogs are way out of her league... ;) ;) I guess sometimes ie' hospital etc there is no choice about going 'away', but I've always made the choice to stay home if the dogs have to be left...even if OH is going etc. I was the same with the kids though, no family= no babysitters=dont go out etc... None of OHs family are dog lovers (except funnily enough his ex!! and his 2 boys from that marriage, and they have vizsss!! :D but they are all in SA.. ) My inlaws are really awful re pets, esp. the cats, so I ignore any negative comments completely. I understand we are all different and as long as it does not impact on me or the pets (and it doesnt) that's fine. No way could I EVER take any pets to any of their homes, even outdoors!! I'd never even broach the subject.. My girls sleep in crates too, so really would not be much bother..(except for thieving food..slobber, hair.....taking up the whole settee...sticking tongues down your throat..) PF.. if only you could be cloned... ;) ..

Hi LM. Wonderful that you are doing so well. sounds terrific all round! :D Hope Lilly is OK. Dear girl. Could she have bladder stones? Only mention it because my elderly ACD had problems and ended up having many stones removed.. poor girl. she was terrific afterwards, back to normal. She was about 14 at the time.. Love and hugs. xxxxxxx

I wish I had trouble connecting.. I bond far too fast, it can be a problem...and this is why I can never do fostering. :p I agree with the training comments. Dogs (and owners hopefully) really do connect through training.xxxxxxx Lovely dog BTW :D xxxxx

Glad someone else is as neurotic as me.. xxxxxxx Toads a very very social, so I dont think territorial at all. If you are removing them though, you will notice a decline in numbers.

Yes Kaffy, winters are mild (cold!!), I am in my winter woollies now!! See you soon!!!xxx

Hi Kaffy , I love bostons too, I think there's a breeder in Maryborough but I dont know anything about them.(breeder) Jaxxs Buddy has a really really lovely boston!!! :D I'm not sure how they go at agility here in the heat... if that's something your daughter is going to want to do, maybe check it out.xxxx You'll have to visit me, then you'll soon know how you handlle bounciness :D I love it, love the pure joy of the gundog personality, everything is an opportunity for fun fun fun fun fun....

My dogs are never outside anyway and if we are out there together they leave toads as I have taught them 'leave'. I catch, fridge and freeze any I find. on our 2 acres when we first moved here 9 years ago I could easily get 60 a night, now i'm lucky if it's 3. often none. I would not ever risk a dog catching one , try and make other arrangements, ie. indoors somewhere.xxx snakes would also be a worry, they do hunt at night as well as day and I've known dogs who are in runs to be unable to retreat from incoming snakes.

grew up with Patterdales, goldies and wolfhounds..all very different! Adore all breeds but some are not suited to my temperament (bit soft!!!... ) As an adult I have had, wolfhounds, irish water spaniels, lakeland terriers, Giant schnauzers, BCs, cattle dogs, swf (rescue), hungarian vizsla and italian spinone (my current girls) The two breeds I am really hoping to have before I cark it! are Bracco Italiano (been after this for many years) and Wire viz, which are absolutely lovely, sweet, delicious dogs. and more of what I have. I also would love (in an ideal world!) Billy, Porcelaine, Ibizan hound, foxhound, portugese water dog, standard poodle, boston, manchester, welsh, lakeland terriers, affenpincser, english, spanish and several of the french pointers, greyhound, whippet, deerhound , wolfhound, epagneul Pont-Audemer, Picardy Spaniel, Schillerstovare, foxhound, Grand Bleu de Gascogne, Podenco Canario... I do not ever see myself with any spitz, bull, mastiff, or toy breeds (maybe a toy poodle... :D I also don't really find short legged dogs appealing enough to own one, but love them all the same. I feel most suited to gun dogs, cattle dogs and wolfhounds..

Lovely photos J. No cold weather here so snakes are always very busy. I wonder if that's why some (esp red bellies) get so huge, really really thick in the body!! Terrible re the penguins we used to have nests of them under the house on KI. Lovely,...noisy but you get used to it and dont notice..

Thanks for the ID. Yep, loads of both 'running' around the garden. Loads of very tiny green frogs too, not baby big ones, tiny different type.. The vizsla runs wild too.. I didn't realise that you're an idiot! Now I know...

for jerojath..

someone sent this to me too as there is a vizsla in it.

I haven't read most of this forum, quickly scanned.recent posts. Only looked because of the other topic! I'm a rodent lover too. I rescued a beautiful rat from our pool and it sat down and washed in front of me, I have always had cats and have never ever had a mouse etc. in the house. I've never had aviaries or chooks etc. either as these attract mice and hence snakes and our doors are never open as the cats are indoor only. I've lived in some very 'mousey' areas in the bush and still have not had any. I do see critters outside, rats here love the fruits on the palms... Prevention by making sure there is nothing available for rodents and checking they cannot enter a home (plagues excepted)is really simple. I also worry that when some people kill these things (one way or another) that if they are outside, they can easily be native mice,, rats, marsupial ones, etc. It's indiscriminant, same with poison. Poison can also be a hazard to many other animals. Cruelty to anything is inexcusable, I do understand pests need to be 'given their wings' and I have had to do this myself and have always researched and taken the humane option (toads).

I dont think a kelpie or any dog would be happy just on a treadmill, but I;ve worked with heaps of kelpies and when not herding, which is often very fragmented except during shearing time, they are chilled out or happy just following around doing household 'tasks'..playing ball/frisbee, chewing a large bone... they love love to learn tricks too. I think that the OPs dog is also at one of the most difficult stages, adolescence.. which IS a hard time in many energetic breeds. Often by the time they are mature, about 18 months to 2 years dependent on breed (vizsla , well, 10 years? LOL) they are incredibly wonderful andyou breathe a sigh of relief that all the hard work has paid off!! I also have many friends who have them at home (average yard) without any problems at all and my viz is far more energetic.. I've had kelpies, BCs and cattle dogs who have not worked the farm and have a working line short hair BC still. My cousin has working line acd and kelpie too who do dog sports but apart from that no work. I'd suggest flyball as the trainer does not need to 'move'. You can even do this at home, we've made our own jumps and 'box' to play with. It gives them stimulation and great exercise and is a lot of fun. It's entirely up to the OP what she feels is best for both her and the dog. I dont have an issue with rehoming especially if the previous owner is open to taking the dog back. I do get heartbroken though over just how many working dogs/puppies are desperately looking for homes.

I agree. The most dominant (I dont like that word...confident? powerful personality? respected?...) dogs I've had have never ever fought. They only had to enter the street, walk past, look at another dog and the other dogs would be like putty in their paws... No need to ever do more than look.. an approaching dog was always ignored. Obviously the breed and purpose of a dog matters, up until recently the purpose of the dog was THE reason to breed it to a standard.

My k9 royales can stand up to an enthusistic spinone. she can also undo the front zip around the door... so I have to tie it shut. the mesh is great and strong. mine love to see out so I leave awnings up. love the 'bags' and also the storage bag that comes with the crates. I've had my crates for about 3 years with silly gundogs and no issues at all, oh, except sometimess the cats use them as scratching posts, but they have even stood up to this!!! no 'pulls' in the material