hortfurball

Dobiemum, is your boy chocolate and tan (or red and tan...not sure of the correct term)? I only saw the one male dobie and thought it couldn't be you because you would have mentioned if he wasn't the standard black and tan. Nice to meet you Tibbie, Periwinkle and Tatertot even though it was only for a short while at the beginning.:) How did you guys go BTW? We had a ball but didn't complete two obstacles. Ella fell off the log twice and the third time it was me so we were out for that one! On the last obstacle, she hopped up quite happily but when I shifted my weight and it moved she jumped ship and refused to get back on! Next year it's your turn Rolfie :D

I was on there Tibbie, I left it about a week ago when it went nuts.

My team is my kelpie x Ella, the only bernese mountain dog in the comp, a husky x and a lab. Periwinkle, when she was younger, Ella would have been the hypo one running rings around me, but she finally matured and is almost like a normal dog now that she's 13! When we're not actually on the course, look for Rolfie and you won't be able to miss us! Apparently rain is forecast so looks like it will be the mud rush after all! Anyone know where I can get windscreen wipers for spectacles? At least it's going to be nice and cool, much nicer for the dogs...and us!

Mercedes, is it possible the field spaniel breeder was testing to see how committed you were? Or perhaps they have doubts but all it will take is a little reassurance on your part. A friend of mine wanted a golden retriever pup but her son was a toddler. The breeder said they never allowed a puppy to go to people with children. She persevered and convinced them, and the dog and boy have been best friends for nearly ten years. My friend regularly shares photos with her breeder and the breeder couldn't be more delighted with the situation. Unless they said an out and out "No, we will not consider you" then I'd get back to them and convince them that you'll make sure the kids are no issue. If they have doubts, ask what exactly they are concerned about. If you have an honest answer for everything, and assure them that the children won't be left unsupervised with the pup, you may yet get your dream puppy. :) If that fails, I'd definitely contact other field spaniel breeders... and I also thought of a cocker spaniel for you straight away, even before I'd read that you were looking at a field spaniel.

Yeah, who'dathunk that lil' ole Perth would have something that the rest of Australia doesn't!! Good luck DobieMum! Mim, you should come and watch - see what you'll be up for next year! :)

Tibbie Tabbie, I'll keep an eye out for you. I'll be easy to spot - just look for Rolf, he's likely to be the only great dane there. He, my OH and my friend will be spectators while Ella and I make idiots of ourselves! :laugh:

We're doing the recreational, not competition because Ella's nearly 13 and I'm not as fit as I once was! If you're super keen and weren't aware of it, I think there might be a few cancellations so it could be worth contacting them to ask. It's in Donnybrook so quite a nice day trip if you want to check it out before next year. If you're wondering why Ella and not Rolfie, just picture me trying to get a great dane into a wheelbarrow! :rofl: http://dutchfielddog...-survival-2013/ What is a Dog Survival? A Dog Survival is a trial run in which a handler and dog walk or run a set course of about 5 kilometre in which they come across about 15 obstacles or challenges. These obstacles/challenges have to be overcome by handler and his/her dog. For instance, climbing over piled up haybales, putting the dog in a wheelbarrow and walk to a marker, crawl under a camouflage net or crawl through a labyrinth made of haybales and canvas cover. The dog stays on lead the whole time. Categories: Competition: this category will be timed. Every minute a new team starts, competitors follow the set course. There will be volunteers at every obstacle to help competitors. Competitors are free to skip obstacles if they don't feel they are up to it (time penalty: 10 minutes). There will be prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for category male competitor and category female competitor. Recreational: Handler and dog can walk the course in their own time, and can team up with others up to 4 handlers/dogs in one group if they like. Volunteers at each obstacle will help them and stamp their trial card if they complete the challenge/obstacle. When they finish the course, the points will be added up and they'll receive a certificate of participation. Who can compete? This event will attract dogs and people of all shapes, sizes and athletic ability. Participants need to be reasonably fit as well as their dogs. Dogs need to be at least 1 year old to participate.There will be a vet check before getting their start numbers. Participants are limited to one dog each and all dogs must stay on a leash for the entire trail run. Why a Dog Survival: We like to encourage people to be active outdoors together with their dogs, to have a great and challenging fun day, to bond with their dog, to develop a trusting relationship and overcome challenges together!

Three years today my lovely lad. Gone but never forgotten.

So sorry to hear of your loss Popsicle. Beautiful tribute. Made me teary. Rest easy Indiana Paddledog I haven't dropped into DOL for months so only just saw this . How is Emmy Lou coping now?

Am I the only one who thinks if they had the dog's stomach contents tested, they'd find that the guy had testicular cancer?

Sounds like standard vet practise to me, they're not a charity. If you can't pay for the emergency vet care, it's pretty common to opt to PTS. She was given that option, and as there was clearly no pet insurance, that would ordinarily have been the likely outcome in the circumstances. Wonder what happened to poor Mojo in the end?

Two years! I so remember this lovely old man. It certainly takes a while for the smiles to come instead of the tears. Thank god they do, otherwise it would all be too hard. Ain't that the truth! A new dog in your life does help to not dwell on the loss, although obviously the timing of this varies for everyone. Took me about 14 months, but Rolf kind of fell into our lives, we wouldn't have got another dog for another year or so more except that he was being rehomed at that time and someone suggested we meet him. If I didn't have Ella already I would never have made it more than a few months I don't think. It's not that I would have been ready for a new dog, more that I wouldn't have been able to stand being without one. I met someone who had been dogless for a few years after losing her beloved dog, and said she'd never have another because the pain of losing them was too great. I can't begin to imagine not having a dog in my life at all - that would be like constant pain! Someone else I know waited about 6 years because she loved her old boy so much, now she loves her girl so much she can't believe she waited and suffered so long without a dog in her life! I also think Ella has greatly benefitted from having a new friend.

Two years went by a week ago, can't believe it's been so long already. Miss you sweet face. :heart: Now I can smile for having known and loved you, rather than cry at your loss :)

Given that we are all interpreting your posts the same way, perhaps the issue is in the delivery rather than the interpretation. "did their little fluffball yap and carry on toward the larger dog first or was it as portrayed, a completely unprovoked attack? Unfortunately we're never likely to know!" I've been accused of all sorts of things in this thread. I've been accused of suggesting that a small dog yapping at a larger dog somehow justified the small dog getting ripped to shreds. I look forward to someone showing me where I said that - not some ridiculous extrapolation of what i've said, what i actually said! The 'ridiculous extrapolation' that you so kindly quoted again above was a direct quote from you. I've bolded it for your easy reference. You suggested that the fault might lie with the little dog's actions, and then were incredibly rude and insensitive to small dog owners, basically suggesting everyone should 'control their yapping little shits.' That one's NOT a direct quote, but I can't be bothered going back and searching seven pages for more of your posts for the one I refer to. I can't believe that with all of these people telling you how unreasonable your posts are coming across in this thread, that it doesn't occur to you that there may be some merit to what we say.

Given that we are all interpreting your posts the same way, perhaps the issue is in the delivery rather than the interpretation. "did their little fluffball yap and carry on toward the larger dog first or was it as portrayed, a completely unprovoked attack? Unfortunately we're never likely to know!" Reading comprehension 101 - is the above question inferring that somehow the small dog MAY have been to blame for the attack because it 'yapped and carried on'? Yes, I do believe it is. End lesson. Nic.B, what a terrifying experience for you and Fern, so lucky the two of you didn't receive worse injuries, not in any small way due to your selfless defense of your dog!