Golden Rules

Ah, I LOVE Simon's Cat, he has captured the essence of most cats I think and I always laugh!! My alarm goes off at 5.30am for the dogs to get walked so sleepins these days are 7am starts if I'm lucky

It's just gorgeous!!! I love all the doggies and bones! Fantastic job Rainy, well done!!

I think Perth is very dog friendly, not sure about all of WA. We have lots of dog beaches here, the river, some fantastic dog exercise areas and there is soon to be a new fenced (and covered apparently) dog exercise area 2 minutes down the road from me where a park is being made over with lots of new features. Some alfresco cafes are happy for you to have your dogs at your feet .... and some even provide water bowls. Mandurah is especially good cafe wise. Our council put in a dog water fountain at our local park at our request which we thought was great!

My 6 month old used to try to lick, but it's something I can't stand so stomped that out smartly, it absolutely drives me SPARE! My little Norwich tried to lick me all the time and at every opportunity, UGH!

Awwww, that's so good Rainy! I'm dying to see the quilt myself so I reckon you should post a sneek peek pic. :D I think the quilt IRL will be a surprise still because it will look and feel fabulous in a way that a photo just can't portray! :D

Cloverdale CC starts again tonight so that is where I am headed every Monday night from now on. Am so glad it's not a hot day to start back on!

Fantastic, thanks! I don't use the 'view new posts' so am not bothered with that aspect of it, I just hope people see there is now a specific place to put those awful threads.

You should be telling us the name of the online store you have had issues with. It helps to spread the word Absolutely agree. I have bought an awful lot online over the years, from Australian and overseas websites. The only issue I have ever had with any of them, I am sad to say, is with an Australian online store - Pet Supersavers in Qld. If I had googled them first, I wouldn't be out of pocket now. There are a number of unhappy customers who have been ripped off by this store as I found out by googling..... you live and learn.

Agree 100% with everything deelee has written - especially about not mollycoddling the dog, and the exercise. I would make sure the dog was very well exercised (more than usual) before I left in the morning so it is less inclined to be anxious or concerned. Danois, if you already have an anxious dog, perhaps you could try Rescue Remedy or Emergency Essence (the latter being my preferred option).

Rusky, that's a very successful night! Well done!!

Hi and welcome! Make sure your dog knows the cats come first, and don't tolerate any stalking or chasing of the cats. As for puppy classes, the absolute best one is Carolyn Read's Train A Pup Time I went to two lots of puppy classes recently (simultaneously) and Carolyn's classes were so much more valuable, informative and beneficial than the vet puppy classes I also attended. Good luck and have fun!

So sorry woodbyne Sounds like she went very quickly and peacefully after spending the last few months being totally loved, adored and pampered. Do you have a photo you can post?

One of the nominees is from WA and was nominated by me and Golden Rules for her excellent puppy classes! Yay!! Go Carolyn!!

I have found most dogs don't go too far away from their owners or wherever the other dogs are. So unless you have a dog like one of my Golden Retrievers who is a free spirit and has no recall, then you will find they hang about fairly close to you. But for peace of mind when you are a waorrier, I would just slap a long lead on them (eg a lunge lead). Good on you for the great recall!! It's the single most important thing anyone can teach a dog I reckon! Ooooh yes, I have one that loves to chase seagulls as well, in fact anything in the sky .... including the rescue helicopter that flies by low and frequently! Bloody crazy dogs- Honey would do that too! Have I mentioned her obsession with skywriting? Oh yes, I recall reading that now! Very funny!! :D Dogs are such great entertainers aren't they??!!

Ooooh yes, I have one that loves to chase seagulls as well, in fact anything in the sky .... including the rescue helicopter that flies by low and frequently!

One that thinks that if a dog is tied up outside a major shopping centre that it must be friendly enough to approach. Not saying it was OK for the mother of the boy to let him approach the dog, but I could understand what someone might think in that situation. You certainly don't expect a dangerous dog to be tied up in a public place! The owners of the dog were/are totally ignorant and from what I have heard, they are remorseful and have apologised to the boy. They are also being charged. Unfortunately sometimes this is what it takes to educate people. Sad, so sad.

100% agree! Hope Troy will consider it!

I am not a worrier at all so if it were me, I would just make sure of the surroundings (ie other people and other dogs) and when I was OK with that, I would just let them off lead and let them have a swim! It's no different to when they are off lead any other time, if they have good recall then you will be fine! It's great you can whistle to them because it is sometimes hard for them to hear at the beach, and I find whistling to my dogs is easier to hear than me calling out to them. Lucky dogs! Have a great holiday!!

This is so true! As the dog chews, it produces saliva and enzymes to break the food down in it's digestive track far more efficiently than a dog wolfing down a great lump of minced chicken bones for it to just sit in it's stomach. Chicken bones are also 'rubbery' which are perfect for cleaning dogs teeth, better I think than most other bones. Feeding minced chicken frames to a dog is like feeding pureed meals to elderly people with no teeth! Except the dog has teeth and they are meant to be used! Off my band wagon now ....

Oh, I am sorry it happened that way :D RIP forever Kassy.

I have been here almost 4 years now and have almost reached my 10,000th post! How has DOL affected my life? Well, housework has become a rare event :rolleyes: I watch less TV (almost zilch) and I spend a lot more money than ever before! I found out about Registered breeders - had never heard of them before and didn't even know they existed! Have made some wonderful friends from DOL and have learnt lots about dog behaviour. Fascinating stuff! :D Also learnt that dogs don't need to have a bowl of ice cream after dinner every night The things you do ...... The best thing about DOL is that you know dogs all over Australaia and beyond will all benefit somehow from this wonderful website and forum that is jam packed full of interesting and knowledgable members.

That is gorgeous! What a great wee dog!! How old are the kittens? I would be so interested to see how they turn out! :D

But one of them looks JUST like Louis!!! ('Honey, I shrunk the dogs!' just went through mmy head! :D )

That last pic is a Vizla to a T!

Vizlas are mad You see them at Riverside a lot on Sundays when they have their meets, they are hyper dogs!