Henrietta

I agree with your whole post. It's strange isn't it? To others, myself included, I think a lean dog is a happy dog. At least, I think good body condition is one very important aspect of the health and well-being of a dog.

Some of the stories here make me really appreciate my own vet. I have a dog that dislikes strangers and the vet. My vet is great at calming me and my dog down. Very no-nonsense with me (I had a tendency to stress at the vets, no matter how much I made a conscious effort not too, until I realised that he knew what he was doing handling wise ) And very understanding with her, gentle and respectful and not worried. Plus, he is just a good all-round vet that investigates thoroughly and explains issues and possible scenarios to you and is not trying to push you out the door. Thankfully, I have not had to use his services often with my girl, but I know he is there which is reassuring.

My older girl has started to become anxious around storms... the panting, pacing and staying close by to me. I really don't like it, I hate seeing her stressed out. I ignore it the best I can and if she is up to it we have a fun little game before the storm hits. She never used to be this way, but the thread I made about it in Health made me realise that her reaction is certainly not severe. I am closely monitoring her in case she gets worse.

Barking. Harming of wildlife. Has there been an incident involving an attack lately, I wonder? Edit - I guess that's more personal, maybe the perpetrator was trying to target someone and did not care if there were other victims? They certainly didn't care about the risk to children either.

Yesterday morning I went through the motions of breakfast. The morning routine is usually as follows - dry and something for the older girl, rmb for the little one. They both have their own bowls - the older stainless steel, the younger ceramic. I prepare the older girl's brekky in the ceramic bowl. I realise my mistake and think, 'oh well...' Give older girl the ok to eat and then go out the back to give the little one her RMB. I get caught up with the chooks, so I potter around up there for a while. Come back upstairs, I catch Grace still giving me that look like I haven't feed her, in the exact same spot she sits when I haven't feed her. This dog is a monster at feed time, I admit. And she does get away with it, the younger one knows better. I notice she has eaten all her brekky, so I decide to ignore this. But then she sits by my side, looks at me pleadingly, wiggles her bum and it soon escalates to that 'woo-woo-ing' that she likes to do when she really, really wants something or is very, very excited. She had plenty to eat and normally she is really content after what I give her. The sad bit is, I gave in to her and gave her the tiniest bit extra in her 'proper' bowl. And then she was happy. Not a peep. Coincidence that the bowl was different today and I got this behaviour?

Three is a good number here. Technically we have two, but I help walk, train, groom and cuddle my nan's dog. So it's a bit like having three I guess. I couldn't have any more numbers wise with my current lifestyle.

I have never attempted more than one at a time. If I have a willing volunteer, then we go out together.

I hope Shonkypaws/Deshonko are offering Jesses for sale in time for Easter. Pre-programmed of course, but I'd like the updated version that can put in a DVD, not a VHS. That is really old-school. I haven't seen that before, Marion. Very good video. He could be an assistance dog perhaps?

My goodness... sounds like my girl and my younger brother. And the wife sounds like me.

That's lovely, Gayle. Shae is beautiful and it's great to hear she has settled in so well. I am considering an adult dog as my next dog (whenever that may be). I'm just not sure I could face puppyhood again.

I must be such a recluse. I hardly ever meet anyone when out walking (lovely, peaceful) perhaps because I start out at 4.00 - 4.30am and in the afternoons/evenings I just avoid others like the plague. I have a dog with issues, so this is understandable I think. The people at club don't seem to ask stupid questions. Sometimes I get asked questions at work as the resident 'dog person', but none of them are particularly strange. I think the title of this thread could be a title for a book.

A look at the DOL advertisements for SBTs is an eye opener. How long has this trend been going on?

When I was 11, I had my heart set on an English Setter. My parents were not dog people so it didn't happen. I left home, moved a lot, got into horses and didn't get my first dog until I was 37 - wish I'd done it sooner but its never too late. I waited till I owned my own home. I'd recommend that to anyone. Sounds a bit like my life - and I agree with PF. I waited till I owned my own home as well (and also until a time when I was settled into my career) and I too would recommend that to anyone as well. I think this a good idea. One day, hopefully!

Dogperson, I know where your mum is coming from. I'm going through this myself at the moment, but from the perspective of a girl who got a dog whilst living with my parents thinking that I'd move out with dog, it'd be fine. But as it turns out I need to share in order to rent and my dog has behaviourial issues that aren't really conducive to a happy home environment whilst sharing. She is safer at home with my parents and they are fine with it, BUT I never factored this in. I have also ran into the problem of my dog being very bonded to my parents' dog - my parents' girl is her only canine friend. I'll always be around in the same area as my girl, but it's not ideal and not something I want to repeat. I am waiting until I am financially able to rent or buy on my own before ever getting another dog. These are only my own personal guidelines based on my stuff-ups. I hope that my next dog has a solid, good temperament and I will do everything in my power to ensure this, but I will also always be thinking worse case scenario from now on. Thankfully, my parents are much wiser than me and factored this in way before it was even a blip on my radar...

If it wasn't so long, I'd love to call my next female dog Bernadette. For a male, I'd love a Stanley. But all names, regardless of how much you like them, have to be bestowed upon the right dog. Or in other words, dogs have to have a name that suits them well. Edit - ooops, left in some quote.

Lol, "the flow of the working day is dictated by the need for 'walkies.'" Some people would just call that being a responsible owner ensuring that their dogs exercise needs are met. EFS

I should've just quoted this. I wholeheartedly agree.

I don't think there is anything wrong with 'humanising' dogs, like celebrating a birthday. The dogs don't understand 'birthday'. They aren't getting some complex because we are making them celebrate their birthday. They aren't thinking, 'Oh dear, am I leader now because my stupid owner has driven me through the Maccas drivethrough and given me a cheeseburger.... am I really a dog at all?' I'm sure they just enjoy the burger/bone/cake etc that they are given. Extra special treat? Yum. It's how you treat your dog most of the time that counts. I think that if dogs are thought of as dogs and trained and exercised more, we'd have less problems regardless of whether they slept on the bed or celebrated birthdays. I don't think it is always actions that matter, it's the thinking behind the action.

Please stay safe everyone. I hope people inland are also prepared, going by the BOM threat map, it is going to remain a cyclone for a good distance inland.

Well, I don't even know what my breed is... I'm still researching. I currently have a Chi x. It was through her that I discovered the delights of training (obedience, agility) but I have never been able to compete or participate in agility class because there are safety issues, it is too much pressure for her and I'm more focused on behaviour mod. We do partake in some agility training at home and at my friend's place, so we are really enjoying ourselves. My girl and I also play around with rally-o. Would love to try agility and obedience (and rally-o) in the future with another dog, would love to do endurance as well and what else came our way. But my dogs will always be pets, first and foremost. I do take into consideration the dog sports though, because I would like a breed that is conformationally sound and ideal for the rigours of these sports. I don't need to be ultra-competitive though, I'm not particularly athletic myself, so I couldn't do justice to an exceptionally fast breed. So to summarise... I didn't get my dog thinking about dog sports, I caught the bug but have had to focus on other things. In the future, dog sports will be considered when I choose a breed.

Both of mine do it, quite often. I think it can perhaps just be a social thing as well. One starts, the other follows and they chew and wander around, content in each others company. Well, that's my interpretation anyway. Edit for wording.

Oooh, some familiar titles and some that I am curious about/really want. What is 'Zoomility' about? I also enjoyed Click to Calm and Control Unleashed. I am interested in Karen Pryor 'Reaching the Animal Mind' and I know I really, really want Steven Lyndsay's books, I think I could get a lot out of them. Some more people to google - Silvia Trkman and Michael Ellis. Corvus, I will actually PM you about Grisha Stewart. I am curious.

Yes, isn't it funny how you may have had information presented to you you before, but a particular book, author, instructor, person presents that information in such a way that the penny drops. I've had this happen on many occasions.

I thought I might start a thread about dog books and see if there is any interest. I thought general would be appropriate because books can cover all sorts of dog topics - behaviour, training, grooming, breed information, history, training for a particular sport, health and nutrition and the list goes on and on. Let's see, I am just about to start reading Bruce Fogle - The Dog's Mind. My personal favourites are Patricia McConnell's At The Other End of The Leash which is very popular and I think a wonderful book about human/canine interaction. I find McConnell's writing style really enjoyable and it is one book that I have given to family members and they have enjoyed it immensely and have had many 'ahh, I see' moments. I also have an ongoing love of Brenda Aloff's Aggression In Dogs: Practical Management, Prevention and Behaviour Modification. Now, I am not advocating anyone just buy a book and try things out with an aggressive dog. Please see a reputable Behaviourist for aggression issues. For me, it supplemented the knowledge that I had gained through a behaviourist. I found the information in the book very interesting in regards to aggression and it's prevention from someone who knew very little about the subject matter. I am constantly referring back to it and I do like the way the behavours that are presented are split into very small chunks, especially for one as inexperienced as me. If I have trouble with any training or behaviour (not necessarily to do with aggression), I have this visualisation of how to break down the exercise. When I first read it, it was an eye opener and I'm a much more clued up trainer for it. What are your favourites? It can be anything your like - behaviour, training, breed bible, grooming, specific to a sporting discipline etc. DVD are fine too.

Sorry to hear of recent passings of old friends - Ebony and Zues. When my nan's dog passed away it was a huge shock. Even though she was old, maybe it shouldn't have been for me. It was really hard for my Nan. My parents' dog is getting older in years and a little more grey around the face, a little less active... but she is still so happy. I don't think it is a conscious thing, but we just do more of her favourite stuff now. More car rides, she just loves the car. More leisurely strolls, as opposed to fast-paced exercise, to just enjoy the moment and let her sniff to her heart's content. More massages - she melts when she has those. I think we have quite a few years left yet, but yes, the thought makes me cry.