Gayle.

Dusty never actually got going, she's the laziest dog I've ever owned. The others only slow down when I tell them to or after a good 30 minute run. Can't see that changing til they're well into their teens. Shae is almost 6 and she's a pocket rocket.

My herding dogs all differ greatly in their intelligence and use of it. Benson was scarily smart and he was an awesome problem solver. To the point whee we had to be one step ahead oh him all the time, and I always had the distinct impression that given poor leadership, he'd have taken over in a heartbeat. Dusty doesn't have half the brains he did, she is just happy bopping along doing whatever, as long as its with me. She's not a great thinker and gives up easily if she can't solve the problem. She is probably the easiest dog of all mine to live with as a house pet. She's happy to do nothing all day and has a soft sweet biddable nature. She is not ideal as either a show or performance dog though. Isaak and Shae are similar, it's all about what's in it for them. Isaak is probably softer natured than Shae but he's had an easier upbringing than her.…he's been totally spoilt and never known a harsh word, whereas she had a rough start to life. Neither are easily offended, both are bundles of energy and both have off switches when needed. I actually prefer this demeanor to Dusty because they want to do stuff, they're happy when they're doing stuff and they like being the centre of attention. That makes it fun to show him, and compete in herdng with her. Unilke Dusty, who acts like she wants to be anywhere other than in the ring, arena or spotlight. Ripley is a dark horse. He doesn't come across as being hugely intelligent but he gets out of our very secure yard in the blink of an eye, something none of the other dogs have ever done. So he was hiding his light under a bushel because it takes some brainpower to work out he best escape route when previous ones have been fixed. He is an easy dog to live with though, affectionate without being needy, sweet without being all over you and biddable without being a trip hazard. As far as herding breeds go, I think he's probably the temperament that's easiest to live with aside from his penchant for wandering.

Definitely not normal. Communications is so easy these days that to find someone who you've previously been communicating with easily, uncontactable, is a cause for worry. If it were me, I'd be worried about my money.

Woodside beach in Victoria is dog friendly. It's near Yarram and not too far from Sale. It's part of the Ninety Mile Beach.

Actually in a few breeds (mine included) breeding for colour is very important. If a standard lists certain colours only, rich, clear colours, certain pigments with certain coat colours.....then you need to take that into consideration in selecting your breeding stock. It's as important as selecting for other traits.

I thought she DID state her full intentions.....she wants to breed to keep the black pigment (points).

For breed specific information, see if there are any Facebook groups for Poodle breeders or enthusiasts. I've learned more from a FB group for my breed than I ever learned from DOL, going to shows or being part of a club. If you can find one that includes long term breeders from various countries, breed judges and handlers, you'll find you'll learn a fair bit just from reading the various discussions.

Did you test it on yourself to see if it was working? No reaction there would be something wrong somewhere The one we use the fur had to be shaved too, so maybe that could be it?? Yes it was working, I can definitely testify to that. No, the fur shouldn't need shaving, the girl I borrowed it off uses it on a lab who has a thick ruff of hair around his neck and she definitely didn't shave her dog. Isaak is a show dog, so shaving is never going to be an option, but the collar came with longer prongs to use on long haired dogs. This wasn't a cheap collar, it cost my friend over $700. I have used a cheap electronic stim barking collar before, on my first boy Benson (RIP) as he was a happy barker who loved the whole world to hear his voice. It worked with two barks. I tried the same collar on Isaak and it had no effect whatsoever (combined with herding me is a very annoying bark). He just seems to be impervious to the feel of an electric shock!

Aaaah, that place looks familiar to me! Did you have a good time? I haven't been for a while, too many other things on my plate right now but I'm starting to get itchy feet for some sheep.

Do a prentend leave and watch how he's getting out....you may need to go next door to watch. He's not leaving as soon as we do. My husband has been coming home through the day, dropping in to pick up tools or whatever, and Ripley has been safely where he's supposed to be. It seems to be mostly towards the end of the day...maybe he's come looking for us.

The only thing with something that provides an electric stim, I would really need to try it first. I borrowed a very expensive remote stim collar to use on Isaak, as he has a bad habit of trying to herd me and I wanted to break him of that without having to push him away. The collar belongs to a co-worker and I had it for 3 weeks while she was on holidays. I set it on the lowest level and put the collar on. Used the remote when he jumped.....no effect. I tried a higher setting....nothing. I checked the collar was working, it was......turned it up.....no effect. No brain, no pain? I tried it time and again over the 3 weeks I had it and the stim had NO effect whatsoever on Isaak. So I would have to be sure that a stim would work on Ripley before spending that kind of money because he might just go right over or through an electrified barrier without blinking an eye.

The photos only show the "after', they do not show the condition of the dog's coat before the clip. We don't know how matted the legs were. Dog looks very well and happy, but we just don't have all the information. There is a before photo. The dog is not unkempt, uncared for or flea-ridden. I stand by what I say, that groomer did a shit job and shouldn't be let near any dog with scissors or clippers.

Keep the shelter paperwork, make sure the dog is registered and microchipped in your name, and they will have no claim on her.

The OP's lovely dog appears to be neither uncared for nor flea-ridden, in fact he looks like a very well cared for dog. The groomer she went to did a shit job, and using the excuse "It will grow back" is a cop out.

Gayle, I will be at very same 3 shows in Jan. If you like, I am more than happy to go over your girl quietly and friendly (with a treat if you like) prior to you taking her in. I will be loitering around Utility ring with Dyzney, my neuter Rotti bitch. PM me if you want to arrange a hook up Oh yes, yes, that would be awesome. The more people she meets and the more who handle her, the better she'll be. I hope so anyway! No worries at all Gayle. Just yell out. I have a feeling I will know you when I see you anyway. I frequent Kate's and have been herding with Dyzney for nearly 2 years now, so I am sure you will hav a familiar face :D So that will be the 2 at Newborough and 1 at KCC?? Yep, them's the ones. Newborough is local for us, so they will be her first shows ever. Will you be there? I'll come find you if you are, and have a natter. I have got Isaak entered in intermediate, he got his first points (9) at Morwell so I'm all enthused to keep showing him now.

Ohmigod, that isn't even "groomed" it's just shorn like a sheep. I'd be flippin' furious too! What's to be proud of there.....bloody nothing!

Gayle, I will be at very same 3 shows in Jan. If you like, I am more than happy to go over your girl quietly and friendly (with a treat if you like) prior to you taking her in. I will be loitering around Utility ring with Dyzney, my neuter Rotti bitch. PM me if you want to arrange a hook up Oh yes, yes, that would be awesome. The more people she meets and the more who handle her, the better she'll be. I hope so anyway!

Anyway, seeing as Christmas is coming up, we are going to buy a nice box of chocolates, or a tin of biscuits and take them and Ripley around to his holiday family to say thanks for keeping him safe when he's appeared in their street. I feel it's the least we can do seeing as he's vacationed with them uninvited a few times now. The first time he taught their JRT to use the doggy door it's never been able to figure out, the last time he helped himself to a bath when the mum was running it for one of the kids.

That's interesting. I'm almost certain that Ripley learned it from his mother. My best friend used to be friends with his breeder and she's told me the mother was also a climber.....she would climb my friends high Colourbond gate just because she could. It didn't get her anywhere, just into a space at the side of the house that she couldn't get out of but it didn't stop her climbing the gate any chance she got. It would be interesting to find out if his litter mates are the same. For the other dogs here, the fences are a barrier. They don't even try to get out, they just accept that they can't. Even Benson, who was the smartest dog I ever knew, and who was very good at problem solving, didn't try and get out if it wasn't an obvious escape route. For Ripley, the fences aren't a barrier, they're just something to get over. And when we make it impossible for him to get over one section, he finds another section to tackle. When we find him out of the yard, he's happy as can be to see us, even if he's only been out a few seconds. He;s not getting out because he doesn't want to be here or because he doesn't want to play with the other dogs, or because he gets bored in the yard, he's getting out because the fence is there to be climbed. Dogs. Who'd have 'em???

I don't think the OP wanted judgement passed, but obviously she didn't realise that's a given on any DOL thread. She just wanted to vent her anger.

For crying out loud, how many times... SOME groomers, NOT all - please don't generalise. I won't take my dog to ANY groomer because SOME of them can't be trusted and I don't know which ones can. So safer to not take them to any. It's an unregulated industry where any weekend warrior with scissors, clippers, a tap, a tub and a hairdryer can hang out a shingle and start fleecing the unwary.

My little blue muppet is entered in three shows in January, I am so looking forward to it, I just hope she doesn't growl at the judge!

I wouldn't shave one leg, I'd send them elsewhere. If I brought my dog to you for a bath, blow dry, ear, feet and hock trim (which is standard on my breed) and you saw the big shaved patch on her side, would you take it upon yourself to shave the rest of her to match? Even if I didn't point it out to you (and it's not obvious at some angles and now that she has a covering of short black hair there), it stands to reason that if I didn't ask for the dog to be clipped, then I don't want the dog to be clipped. If you felt that the dog couldn't possibly leave your salon with what I'd requested and a big chink of hair missing from her side, then shouldn't you say so before taking to any part of the dog with clippers? A standard poodle with a partially matted leg from wearing a bandage over an injury shouldn't need all four legs clipped. And the customer didn't ask for all four legs to be clipped, so why does everyone feel the need to defend an unknown and obviously not very good groomer for not following instructions?

I have a dog with a large shaved patch on one side due to injury, yes it looks a little odd but I definitely don't want the rest of her shaved to match! Of course the dog can have three fluffy legs and one not fluffy.

Yeah, I think a hot wire might be worth a try, halfway up and near the top of the fence. I'll talk to my husband about it tonight. It would be easier if we could identify exactly how he's getting out but I think I can probably take a good stab at which length of fence he's scaling. By the time we're done, our place will look like a high security prIson.