Jenni87

Yeah they're puurrfect angels. NOT! But I love them to bits anyway! Thanks for the advice everyone, I showed this thread to my partner and I think he is starting to understand it all now. I hope. He agreed to it now so that helps. I think the year old one will be a terror, he stirs my girl up all the time, I think it's just the age. Hopefully they will just treat Pup the same as they do the other dogs they come across but as long as everyone is under supervision etc... I think it will be fine. I hope. Oh thats a good spot - I was looking around our room last night for somewhere we could set up and wasnt sure of anywhere.

Hi everyone, I have been reading up on crate training, I have never done it before (only had adult dogs before already trained) and while the other half has had pups before, never done it or heard of it. I know there is heaps on here regarding it but in my searches I havent come across anything relating to cats and puppy. Apologies if it's like 2 posts down I was totally blind to it. Ok first things first. We have 2 cats, one is nearly a year old and the other is 6 and since we have decided that we're ready for a pup we have been getting a friends to bring their dogs over to start getting them used to dogs and seeing that it isnt going to hurt them (one was a poodle x 8years and the other a CKCS 2years) We adopted them both from Cat Haven and neither have had anything to do with dogs (I got the 5 year old when she was 3) so not 100% on her history. So far they are acting better than I thought with the dogs, they are not interacting as such, I think more just curious. First time there was a little bit of hissing but otherwise the older one just sits and watches and the younger one starts to approach but then looses his confidence. So when we bring our Pup home I think the crate will be a great idea but OH thinks the baby gates we are putting in place will be enough and doesnt see the point of a crate, as he has never done it before. I dont want the pup to spook the cats as the dogs are used to cats and even though the Cav is 2 she is a very placid little girl. I think the crate will the cats a bit of comfort and a chance to explore the new family member on their own terms. I also have been reading about keeping the dog on a leash at all times in the house which makes sense for control purposes. Can anyone tell me if I am on the right track with this? And secondly regarding the crate training side of things, is there a really good book or site regarding this? I want to make sure we do it properly. A friend I was talking to about it said wait till we start puppy school and ask there, but I'd rather have this organised before we bring "him" home so we know what we're doing and can have a routine already in the making.

Am I able to say the place on here? I'll PM you with details

I phoned them this morning and was invited to go to a class on Sunday morning to check it all though I think the lady was amused at this as we are not even close to getting our pup yet!

No, you're correct - no puppy till October, just trying to be organised for once in my life!! I actually spoke with a lady from the dog club last night, random run in at the beach and I think I will go that way, as she seemed really nice!

Hi everyone. Hope this doesn’t sound to silly to anyone but I am already trying to start to see about puppy preschool classes and what not in my area. I am located in Western Australia - South of the River and there is a local dog club that offers it but also nearly every vet around. So I was wondering what is better, the vet or the dog club? Friends have used one particular vet and highly recommended it as the instructor was really really good and helpful especially with any health/behaviour worries they had but a relative swears by the dog club. Instinct is telling me the dog club as at least from there we can advance and learn more and go into agility and those kind of activities but with a puppy, wouldn’t a vet be handy for those starting out worries? There is also the Tafe campus in Murdoch who is now offering a variety of classes from the basic beginners right to advanced. Any help/tip/advice would be great – thanks in advance Jen.

thanks everyone. thats the only flaw in dogs, they dont live as long we do ;)

If love alone could’ve saved you... You would’ve lived forever .... :rolleyes: Chocky 1995 - 2007 I remember it like it was yesterday. My olds and I had gone on the hunt for a new dog (small, female) after the pasing of our girl, Bella a few months before. I had gone off in a sulk for whatever reason and went down one of the rows we hadnt been in yet. We had actually walked past it somehow but I ended up wandering down it. All the dogs barked and jumped around for attention and I ddint think anything was in the last cell but popped my head past to check. In the corner on one of those bed things curled up was the most cutest dog with sad eyes and big ears. His name was Chocky and after abit of "come here boy" he came over, his little tail "stumpy" wagging as he got closer. His wet nose came through the mesh and i let him lick my fingers. I knew this was my boy. Once mum and dad came over, a little hesitant cause of his size and everything we were not meant to be looking for they agreed to 'meet him' and we waited in the yard as the lady struggled to bring the bouncing giant hyped up dog over. In an instant he was giving me kisses and cuddles and Mum and Dad both have their doubts on this gentle giant. They constantly warned me to keep my head away from his but i didnt listen. A week later after school on a Friday I went with Dad and a friend from school came along to, and we brought him home. It sounds sappy and lame but from the first moment I saw him I knew he was my baby, he was a gentle giant who everyone couldnt help but love. Few were wary due to his size but he didnt have a bad bone in his body. Being a hunting dog he had lovely vocals and those who heard will agree he really could talk, I Love You - being his most used phrase, Stop It, Home and Mum (he always dobbed on me and dad when we played fight) He had lovely legs, big Bambi legs and when you were getting him excited he would dance around like a prancing pony, and it did hurt something rotten if he did get you with one of those giant paws. He had the kindest gentlest nature out. Andrew my cousin, who was a premi-baby, had a blanket he carried everywhere with him. He called it his "lace". Chocky had his dummy aka a Kong ( red rubber indestrucable thing he went through 3 of due to loosing them) One day Andrew took his dummy and wouldnt give it back, and so CHock went into andys room and got his lace and as soon as andy saw that he offered chock is dummy back but wouldnt let it go. Chock being so gentle and with good manners wouldnt snatch it off him and the pair ended up having a game of chasey around the passage ways, until andy finally put down the kong, and then chock dropped the blanket and the pair quickly grabbed their favourite possessions. It was hilarious and I will never 4get that. His fav place to sleep was in our bed, and I am glad of this as it was having to share my single bed with a giant like Chock that finally made my parents get me a double. He still took up all the room. He was human like than you could imagine. If he sneezed, i'd grab a tissue and he would manage to blow his nose - then proceed to try and eat the tissue. He was also a mischeif maker and my dog really did eat my homework. Well not so much ate he shredded. Lisa and I had spent the arvo getting things for our biology project and he then got hold of the leave samples and trashed them all. He really was more my dog than anyones. It was only a few months we got him some family were over and my nanna after watching him follow me arond, sit when i did and watched me play - "round and round the garden like a chocky boy.. one step two step - tickle you under there" commented on the bond we had together. You'd just look at him and he knew what you were thinking and act accordingly. "round and round the garden" was also one of his favourite games and he would expose his belly for as long you would tickle him, stretching his arms out so you could tickle his underarms and he would howl and laugh - before you even got there as he knew what was comming and if you held off for to long the anticipation got to him and he'd get up and get you. There are to many memories, to many moments, to many things he did - to put them all on here to tell everyone. You all knew him at some point and I hope you would all agree what a truely one of a kind dog he was. He will always be in my heart and thoughts and right now the hurt and loss of loosing him is unbearable. I know in time looking at his pic wont make me cry and I can talk of the memories and smile like I used to but not yet. Not now. I love you chock and I know you're with Bella - off to run around and play with all your friends who have left before you like Winston, Candy and Tahe. I'll see you again when my time comes - and I know you'll be waiting, with you little stumpy tail going nuts!