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The Spotted Devil

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Everything posted by The Spotted Devil

  1. I use Kong Wobblers for my dogs' dry food- mind you I bought them super cheap and on free shipping from the US. For puppies I also like to put their food in something from the recycling box....cardboard boxes, clean milk bottles etc. Makes a mess but you do end up with a sleepy puppy!
  2. I'll be disappointed if they un-wonk :laugh:
  3. Same. The problem is that not eating usually indicates an underlying issue. So sorry you even have to think about this possibility
  4. Frozen chicken wings are great for puppies!
  5. Hahaha, WHAT ARE YOU SAYING, TSD?! Kidding, I can vouch. Gus is bouncy as all heck, but we also don't have kids and he does slow right down and is very gentle with kids. My sisters 1.5 year old was running/toddling about the house last week and he was crawling alongside her and was an absolute gem. He also surprised the life out of me with a kid at the park who had Cystic Fibrosis and was in an electric wheelchair, which Gus had never seen before and he was as gentle as a lamb and didn’t try to climb aboard for love, like I half expected... Having said that he has bowled a kid or two over in his early years, before we really instilled the no jumping habit. Ahem. He's such a sweetie! Bouncy but a heart of gold :D My Dally is a bit like that too - very bouncy but really tones it down for kids. Although he will start to push the boundaries of silly once he gets familiar.
  6. When you want him to sit for his food and at the door try waiting for him to offer the behaviour rather than asking him to sit. I like to put the onus on the dog. Provided they don't need to toilet just walk away from the door OR just wait them out with something to do - I like to check my emails on my phone whilst watching out of the corner of my eye. I do this with pups/youngsters/adults including some who have spent only up to a month with me - 12 months later, I meet the dog and they still remember that behaviour even though they're super excited to see me.
  7. Flatcoats and Goldens are super breeds but can make for very boisterous (and strong) youngsters. Certainly the pet ones I see in classes are.
  8. Aussie Agility has great dried treats: http://www.aussieagility.com.au/
  9. Shedding is not uncommon in dogs that are acutely or chronically stressed so it may be all the change that was around her circumstances that also contributed. Sounds like she's a pretty happy dog now though!!!
  10. There are not many Welshies around but I'd be happy to put you in touch with someone I know who does showing, tracking and agility with hers. She breeds only very occasionally but she could put you in touch with the right folk. You probably need to meet both breeds in the flesh - I think the field bred ESS I know have a more distinctive on switch and off switch. The Welshies shouldn't have a heap of coat but they do have more than my Springer - certainly they have heavier ear leather. A lot less coat than a show ESS. There is no split between show and working in Welshies.
  11. Some lines of working ESS make great pets. Depends on the family situation of course but their ability to switch off and relax makes them very easy to live with.
  12. Em starts to quiver when I pack the esky but that's an easy one....means a weekend of camping and trialling.
  13. Agreed but it's so often about perceptions and not outright lies. I get a lot of pups from legal puppy farms in my classes and people really believe they've made an ethical choice from a "breeder".
  14. Super - thanks :D Hopefully I won't get called into work! Oh, and he wants to know if she gets cold in the snow!
  15. Oh Gawd. I knew it was a mistake. I JUST showed him and he sighed all forlornly over her We are actually free that Saturday (at least for the afternoon) and Mr TSD is all like "can we?" Do you have a link to a club page? I will PM you if we can get there :D
  16. I am SO not showing Mr TSD. She is adorable and he would be smitten!
  17. Not bird related….but when I go to my room to get changed into training gear Em knows. She goes bonkers. She is in the lounge room behind a baby gate so she can't see what I'm doing. Clearly there is something about how I open drawers or the order in which I do stuff but she always goes nuts. Zig goes a bit crazy too but I wonder if he is just copying her lead.
  18. I agree that it sounds like an analogy rather than a diagnosis. My Dalmatian was always an independent one - he was very "meh" about us and would much rather wander off an pee on a tree than work for food or a pat so I had to learn to build value for me. If the pup works for food then I would be having him work for every scrap! My Dally is now the most beautiful, relaxed house dog. Very attached to me. An awesome agility/obedience dog. Still fairly "meh" about strangers and still very much a silly Dalmatian at times EXCEPT he has incredible patience and sweetness around young kids, kittens, puppies and anyone who seems to be a bit vulnerable.
  19. Wonderful memories of lots of super work and fun times :) Congratulations to you both and Happy Retirement to a lovely boy!
  20. LG - RSPCA doesn't have any animal welfare legislation per se although they do of course have policy. Animal welfare legislation is state government based and they use the RSPCA to enforce it. I'm not sure how you change attitudes on such a tight budget (think seat belts, speeding, drink driving etc which are very resource hungry) - I am getting a LOT of puppy farm types and awful BYB examples in my classes and so many of these new owners proudly tell me they went to a "breeder."
  21. I find that artificial colours and flavours can cause hotspots in my Dally. He does very well on Artemis dry and I ensure his training treats are either commercial treats with no "rubbish" or "natural" eg cheese, chicken, egg etc. Haven't had a hotspot in years.
  22. I often cycle on a trail that is shared by cyclists, dog owners and horse riders. I really love it! And so does my carriage dog :)
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