The Spotted Devil

Why's that? Worried about grass seeds? Or snakes? hahaha Show off :p :laugh:

When they have that much drive (and previous success) even hot wires may not be enough to stop them. I know of an ACD who would see a kangaroo and then line herself up to take the hit from the house fence. To her the kick from the fence wasn't enough to deter her. It was just another hurdle to the thrill of the chase.

I have lost Elsie over the top of the hill quite a few times chasing hares :laugh: Em would happily join her in that! The thing that freaked me out most in NZ was working Gundogs in long grass in Summer. I must have gone white as I saw the Irish Setters sent in to hunt and point based on their owner/breeder's response lol

Ha ha he's such a cutie pie! My Spaniels would go WILD EYED CRAZY for that terrain!!!

What a beauty!

http://dublindog.com/collars/all-style-no-stink :D *shakes fist at the DOL enabler* So pretty aren't they! Although the website was super slow to load so found them elsewhere.

I love Rogz stuff but have realised my Spaniels get way too wet and filthy for them. Mostly I have neoprene slip leashes or collars for walking, Black Dog for my Dally but they compete nekkid.

Yep. What you think is "dominance" could very likely be appeasement. I've had a number of pups the last few years for friends and all of them have been very different to toilet train. My own 16 week old pup still makes mistakes but that's my fault. I bred her and we have had a lot on so we haven't quite been on top of things like we normally would be.

Cat food. Perfect for worming the puppies - they were beside themselves with excitement :D Ginny recently had ABs and I had all the dogs sitting for a treat. A little competition helped the medicine go down :laugh:

What an adorable party photo! Happy Birthday Mac :D

I go on breed stands in Melbourne but I wouldn't pay $25 to get in. But then I'm not the average dog owner.

Surefind Kennels in Cranbourne - quality set up. And exactly what I wanted.

That coat is stunning! The perfect model too

Some of the front attach harnesses are really good as they do enable you to turn the dog in the opposite direction and then let the leash loose when they are walking nicely. The harnesses that attach at the shoulders do encourage pulling in my experience.

Agree - equipment can help, especially when it's a strength/safety issue but it's no substitute for training :)

I don't choose but I do guide - mine generally went to experienced working homes and the litter was very even but I still knew those puppies inside out and who could cope with their strengths and weaknesses. With this last pup it wasn't so much that the prospective buyer had no choice but that I spoke to around 10 people before I found his perfect home.

I usually count on one National a year...agility, Dalmatian or retrieving. This year Dally and retrieving were both in QLD so I really could only afford the $ to fly up for one (Dally won out). 2016 is interesting as the agility is in May in SA and the retrieving is in Sept in NSW. Both doable from Vic. I really want to do the retrieving and agility will be the optional extra. I'll see how Zig is traveling too...it's a long way to run just Em and my pup won't be ready.

My ESS is a similar age...frozen chicken frames, big lamb bones, whole raw carrots, old marrow bones, deer antlers, veggie pig ears (lower in fat), dried beef tendon and the occasional kitchen drawer handle :laugh:

Hope your dogs get the benefit mine have!

Fantastic Steph! Look forward to seeing photos! If only I could take a duck...

He's adorably funny :laugh:

I'm all for sharing info about my dogs but when you're trying to enjoy a nice meal it gets a bit tired!

We get that on camping holidays or when we go out for breakfast/lunch. I've had my meal interrupted so many times because people want to pat the dogs - just when we've got them quietly settled of course. I've even had parents send their kids over whilst they continue enjoying their own meal!

If you just want pup to get used to the crate, leave it open and put pup's food in there. After a while you can wait until pup is super tired and hungry and give him his meal with the door shut. My pup is either fed in her crate or via training or a mix of both. She literally bounces into her crate with excitement - it should always be an incredibly positive association.

That's pretty much me. Flew my Dally recently for the first time since he was a puppy and he coped much better than I expected. My young pup sleeps in a big crate next to my bed - keeps her out of mischief and I can take her out to toilet as soon as I hear her getting restless. It's very wet and muddy here at the moment and the crate is a great way for a dog to dry off after training/exercise. A towel just doesn't cut it. It also allows my pup some down time (she hasn't quite learned to relax/sleep in our busy household) and I can put her Mum in there instead to give her a break from her pup! I have an indoor pen set up as well and I will be able to make better use of that once the other pup goes to his new home. I also use crates as part of drive and self-control training...it translates so well to lots of things my dogs do in everyday life (automatic sit stays to go through doors, get out of the car) and in competition (agility start line stays, retrieving). No they are not an essential for the average pet home but I wouldn't be without them.