B-Q

I didn't used to like using human names on pets but now I do. Particularily on working breeds I think it suits, Quinn was Quinn 4 years ago when I decided I wanted a BC, when I first met her on the way home Mum asked what I wanted to call her, I said I was thinking Quinn or maybe Monroe and she said Quinn suits, it really does. There are some human names I'm saving for if I ever have kids, if I don't then I'll use them on pets later. All our dogs names have gone like this. Jack, Tussy, Martha, Sophie, Daisy, Buster, Mac, Harry, Quinn And our cats have been. Pie-Wacket, Billy, Panda, Elliot whatever suits, suits

I'm sure its the 11th-13th. If not, I'm screwed.

lol, Quinn starts her classes back this Sunday so we have one practice before the big thing. Hopefully Daisy will make me appreciate my perfect, well behaved puppy.

I'm so sorry. Hopefully it'll give you something concentrate on. Ugh I am dreading it in that regard!! I am sure Daisy is going to be at 300% evilness, because I basically haven't done anything with her since November apart from a bit of basic agility stuff. At least we'll provide some entertainment. LOL. I hope she outshines Quinn on the naughtiness scale. Nothing quite like an adolescent border collie to keep you on your toes. Mum took to Friday off to drive me down (naughty me, STILL doesn't have a license) and I'm so freakin excited. My family is giving me a lot of crap for being such a dog nerd. Quinn's soft crate arrived today, its a bit small for her I think but I'm going to bring her big wire crate aswell. She can still lie down comfortably in her soft crate so I'm going to bring it with me and sell it cheap to my sister and buy a bigger one when I get back. pity, its sooo awesome.

My favourite thing about my dogs is that they ARN'T human, its a great disservice to them to treat them otherwise. Sure we use phrases like "go find your mum" but I don't think we overly humanise them, sure I buy them nice coats they don't need for winter, they get christmas presents, I like taking them out with me if I'm going somewhere, they sleep in my bed and their dinner is prioritised over my own but I don't think any of this negatively effects them, you should see their faces when they get a present at christmas!

Watching it now *twitch* I can't believe they don't mention crate training, Quinn is the first puppy I've trained with one and that and puppy preschool are 2 of the single most important things I did with her I feel. We've always had puppies but it didn't occur to me how much incredibly hard work they can be, Mum had always done most of the toilet training, the excercise, early training etc etc. Quinn surprised me with how effort she took honestly, she was more energetic than any puppy I've ever met and I would have done it all again to have her but I think a lot of people might not be prepared for it, my first 3 or 4 weeks felt sleepless, into bed late, out at 5 then play for an hour or two, then breakfast, then toilet break then I could start my day. I remember one morning MUm walked into the laundry at 5am to find me cleaning up a poo in the middle of the floor, I just looked at her and her exact words were "omg you do look like a new mum" It was more work than even I expected but I did love it and I would do it again. ETA: Quinn was in the toilet for the first night as I hadn't got her crate yet and Buster hadn't met her yet, the second night I crated her beside my bed and she just screamed and screamed for 2 hours till I threw her in bed with me and Buster and she shut up. She surprisingly only ever had one accident in my bedroom and generally waited till I took her out. These days she prefers to sleep in her crate. She comes up for a snuggle first and then goes and gets in her crate.

This thread has made me think of the time we had to use the emergency vet here, they were fantastic. Our old bitch was fine one day, restless that night and really ill the next morning. We wern't sure what it was or how serious, it was a Sunday and we had to take her to the emergency vet that we'd never used before. Turns out it was a massive tumour they thought was attached her kidney, they kept us informed the entire time on what was happening, that they could try to remove one kidney with the tumour. Soon they relised it was actually all around the split in her aorta artery and they couldn't remove it, they had to put her down while she was still under. When we went down to pick her up they let us in to where they had her and gave us a few minutes with her alone, they offered to take her out to the car for us but we did it ourselves and they were very compassionate and didn't rush us to pay or anything. I wouldn't hesitate to use them again in an emergency, they were kind, compassionate, kept us informed the entire time and treated us fantastically eventhough they didn't know us, it meant the world to us.

I have a huge amount of respect for them aswell. I love our vet, all the nurses are great (excpet one, she's okay she's just blunt) and all teh vets are great. We had a terrible fight between our dogs a coupe of years ago, it was just between our two cattledog boys untill our old bullarab mix bitch decided to get in on it, she's just a machine when she goes and I think they almost killed him. My little sister was home alone trying to break it up and when she eventually sorted it she had to cal the vet to see if they would come pick him up, they came right away, took him back and started sorting him out. It was just before 5pm and they all must have stayed back. I'm so greatful for them for that. I think we all must develop a weird relationship with our vets, they know us and our dogs and they see us at our best and our worst. They've seen me stoked with Quinn at 3 months taking her in to be vacc'd, they've seen me run in looking half mad after I found out what had happened to Buster, they've seen my entire family huddled around Harry while he was PTS a couple of months ago. I did a few days work experience at a vets the year before last and it was awesome, I'd love to be a vet nurse.

I've only just started getting into using my camera a bit more so I'm a total newb. But I've always admired your photos Kirislin, I think you take spectacular photographs.

Thanks Huski, I do want to buy Quinn a nice leather leash at some point. I have really nice strong rope one already but its a bit heavy so the next one I get I would like to be able to get in my hands first to see how it feels.

Thanks Huski, I do want to buy Quinn a nice leather leash at some point. I have really nice strong rope one already but its a bit heavy so the next one I get I would like to be able to get in my hands first to see how it feels.

I just don't like them looking at me while I'm eating, but I like having them at my feet weather I'm sitting on the couch or at the table.

Hmm. So I was lying in bed last night thinking about the workshop and being excited and wondering what I would pack. I havn't been anywhere with a dog before and I can see myself ending up with a mountain of stuff "just in case" I figure I'll take her soft crate, some toys, some interactive toys, a small bag of dry, mountains of treats, a leash or two, a collar or two. freckles, strawberrie creams and a couple of changes of clothes for myself and my camera ofcourse. So my bag will contain approx 90% stuff for Quinn and anything she allows me to take after that.

here here. Buster's DA isn't controlled enough to take him to classes but learning to find my voice has made it a hell of a lot easier to walk him. Quiet a few people have copped it from me in the last few years.

I ended up taking a really nice AmStaff to the vets here a couple of weeks ago, gorgeous friendly boy who met when out walking Quinn and wouldn't leave me alone, no collar but I hadn't seen him around and my area is actually pretty good about keep their dogs in. (touchwood) He freaked Quinn out a little by being too over the top, he had no road sense so I figured I'd just call him across with me and take him home where the road is dead and work it out form there, body blocking him from Quinn the entire time. We took him into the vet and he was chipped luckily so hopefully he went home. I'd be super thankful if someone grabbed one of my dogs and found me. Quinns tag says she's chipped and there is a reward for her return, Busters says "If I'm alone...I'm lost" so people don't just think I just let him wander.

I've been pretty careful with Quinn, Buster can be quiet rough wehn he plays so for the first 6 months or so they wern't allowed to do anything more than a couple of minutes here and there. Now she's 8 months I let her go a bit harder but if it gets too rough I stop them again. I'm too paranoid about her being damaged long term from something she does now. But accidents can happen at anytime, my sisters kelpie/mini foxy mix collided with Buster (Kelpie/Cattle dog mix) when they were both going for the one ball. End result, 2 very sore mouths and Mac having to have her 2 front teeth removed because they'd broken off. Thats when they were 5 and 8 years old.

I was actually just thinking today how much I would like to take Quinn on my next holiday and how you go about making sure you've got pet friendly accom and what do you do if you can't take them somewhere you are going? I wouldn't likely take Buster because we usually stay with family and he's DA, doesn't overly like strangers and would try to eat any cat that came near him. I'll likely take Quinn with me next time though.

I started a thread about this a few months ago, there are some good links in it. I havn't bought one yet because I'm a bit strapped for cash and this summer hasn't been too bad. http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?show...=206373&hl=

Got a new pic thismorning. Head Tilt by Buster-Quinn, on Flickr

LOVE this!

I forgot to put up my weeks 3 but here it is. Quinn 3/52 Quinn 3/52 by Buster-Quinn, on Flickr And this week. Quinn 4/52 Quinn 4/52 by Buster-Quinn, on Flickr

Oh yeah, Buster loves it. It doesn't bother me that much.

I can't wait to meet some other DOLers, especially the evil beagle.

Just remembered this one, Busters "WTF" face when he found a blue tongue in the bushes.

If there are a few people coming from Brissy is there anywhere down near Cooboolture that'd work?