Gayle.

I'd be interested to know how many entered these shows purely because of the neuter classes. I know Leopuppy did. Wonder if there were others.

My neuter is making her show ring debut tomorrow…at the ripe old age of 6. We've been practising by running up and down the front lawn, which she thinks is a very odd game.

I wasn't at the Monday show, too hot for me to be out with a dog. But I don't doubt for a second that there were extreme temps in particular areas. If you got a thermometer and did a spot check on the sunny side of the big pavilion on any hot day, you can be sure he temperature will be a lot higher there than out on an open lawn with nothing blocking the breeze. I don't see how it's got anything to do with the pure breed dog world. The weather is what it is and dog shows aren't excluded rom extreme weather conditions.

There's a blue one in today's listings, obviously addressing the colour balance of pound staffies. Looks purebred too.

There are always heaps of them taking up space in our local pound, Some of them look purebred, some look like crosses, some don't look much like a Staffie, but if it's brindle and has a big head it gets called that anyway. Then I look on DOL and see 80 or so new litters being advertised. That does my head in.

I'll be there, it's local for me (as in about 35 minutes away).

On Sunday when the show started at 6pm, I can verify that at the entrance to ring 5 it was extremely hot as the gazebos set up alongside the ring were blocking any breeze, and there most certainly were people with sweat dripping off them. I have no idea what the temperature was but it was far hotter there than in the area I was seated, which was in the shade of one of the brick buildings. A huge difference in temperature. It got cooler later but at 6pm when I was waiting to go in the ring, yes it was stinking hot there. Much much hotter than other parts of he ground.

My dad fed his racing greyhounds cooked bones, none of them ever choked, required emergency surgery or anything dire at all. They just ate the bones along with the stew he made for them from sheeps heads and vegetables (blaaaarrrgh!)

Mine sometimes get cooked leftover meat on their kibble, or sardines as a treat, or sometimes I buy a couple of tins of Natures Gift and give them each a dollop of that. I'm sure that they all digest at different rates, just as bone digests at a different rate to meat, and grass digests at a different rate to everything else. Seeing as they are all sheep in dogs clothing, they eat a lot of grass so they'd always have some digesting somewhere but it doesn't effect them in any way whatsoever. Digestive systems are well able to cope with foods that digest at different rates, the idea that it matters seems to have been borne on an internet forum somewhere then spread like a disease. Like the idea that freezing food kills bacteria, it most definitely does not.

The temperatures being discussed are spot temperatures, not averages, and it's very possible to get temps that high in certain small areas. I was at KCC Park around mid afternoon on Sunday and it was very, very hot in some areas, and much cooler in others. There was at least 10 degrees difference between where I parked and where I sat. In fact when I got out of the car I thought I'd made a huge mistake in coming because the heat from the car park hit me like heat from a furnace. The Beaureau of Meteorology reports average air temps, not spot temps for specific locations. If they did, we'd certainly be hearing about temps in the 50s such as is reported at centre court at the tennis.

This time last year I was mourning the death of a dog....a dog who'd given me 17 years of unconditional love, and 17 years of pleasure. Not a bad bone in her little body, she was amazing, I'd had her longer than I'd had my husband or my youngest child. She was a pet shop puppy, bought on an impulse by someone who loved me and thought I'd love her. And I did. Cut the OP some slack, she's bought the pup and she obviously loves her. I hope she gets a similar length of life from her dog as I did from mine.

Another gorgeous place that is dog friendly, but may be a little closer to Melbourne than you'd like, is Toorongo Falls reserve. I took some Melbourne friends there recently for a photo shoot and they was absolutely blown away by the sheer beauty of the place and were amazed that they'd never heard of it before. And they were making noises about going back there camping. It's not coastal, it's past Neerim South (turn off at Warragul), and it's ferny rainforest with mossy rocks, waterfalls and beautiful cool green scenery. We did a photo shoot with dogs, and they are definitely allowed on lead. We didn't go up to the waterfalls as we had 9 dogs with us, so it would have been a bit tricky, but the walks up to them are nice, and you're fit. Some samples of the scenery, complete with doggy models:

I wonder if it's changed recently then. Although I can't imagine dogs being allowed on the beaches in summer, it's packed there especially over Xmas New Year. I was sure my friend said Sept to April, but maybe she said Nov to April. Whatever, she only came back from there yesterday so her info is definitely current. Pity because there are loads of dog friendly places to stay down there.

Aussie Shepherd Samoyed Polish Lowland Sheepdog Bearded Collie Tibetan Terrier (this will be my old lady breed, when I'm too old to run around the ring with an Aussie.)

Here is some info I found on a website: In the Gippsland Lakes Costal Park, dogs are only permitted (on a leash at all times) at the following locations: Barrier Landing, Ocean Grange, Paradise Beach, Loch Sport Causeway, The Wreck, Flamingo Beach, The Honeysuckles and between camp sites one to six on Shoreline Drive at Golden Beach. Dogs are not permitted in other areas of the park nor between camp sites seven to twenty along Shoreline Drive, Golden Beach. http://www.lakesentrance.com/national-parks/gippsland-lakes-coastal-park.html You might be able to find some accommodation around those areas where dogs can be on the beach, but in Lakes Entrance itself, they definitely aren't allowed on the beach at the moment (or for the rest of the summer). My friend was really disappointed, and they also couldn't take her out for dinner as dogs were also not permitted at outdoor eating venues. And it was too hot to leave her in the car.

Also, if you're happy with a river location rather than a beach, there is a gorgeous place called Paradise Valley, near Heyfield. Not sure about dogs but you could always ring and ask. The place is huge and absolutely stunning, very peaceful too. http://www.heyfield.net/pages/paradise/paradise.htm

My workmate just came back from 4 days camping at Lakes. She took her dog and said she"d never take her again. No dogs are allowed on any beaches from Sept to April, not even on leash or in the evenings. She said they were pretty much confined to their tent and the foreshore area. Try Woodside, the beach is dog friendly all year and its close to Yarram if you need supplies.

My neighbours both have male dogs. It never occurred to me to even think about how their dogs may react to my entire bitch being in season. She stays inside but she's allowed out for a run and a play while our entire dog is contained elsewhere on the property.

Some more suggestions: Purple Rain…Prince Singin the Blues…Jazz Red Sky At Night…Shep Red Sky in the Morn…Sailor Snow White…Disney

I'm a rural exhibitor and I love twilight shows. I hate getting up at 4am for 9am judging and much prefer to be travelling in my air conditioned car in the middle of the day, then home in the cool late evening. I showed on Sunday evening and loved it. Would love to see more, especially Saturday nights of regular weekends (non public holiday weekends).

Going OT here, but freezing food doesn't kill bacteria. It kills some parasites but it would be very unlikely you'd encounter parasites in meat bought in Australia.

I don't really understand the problem. Someone sold their dogs and are now selling puppies.

Paint the town red could be Fancy. Or Posh.

How am I doing, have we got them named yet?

Paint the town red could be Flirt Little white lie could be Snitch. Or Fire (Fyre).....as n liar liar pants on fire.