RiverStar-Aura

I don't want to hijack the latest 'which breed' thread so I thought I'd start my own. I've noticed that 'non-shedding' seems to be a requirement lately of about 80% of prospective dog owners who post on the forum. What is it about shedding that people object to? I personally don't care about a dog shedding because I see how much my own hair sheds and it clogs up the vacuum turbine (Dyson) far worse than any dog hair. Besides, a part of owning a dog is about the mess -- I don't visit my friends who own dogs and expect their house to look like a show home. I don't mind if there's a spot of fur floating around; that's all part of owning a dog. Unless there's a specific allergy to dog hair, then I can't understand the 'non-shedding' requirement. So many fantastic and suitable breeds are ruled out by prospective puppy buyers due to them shedding. If the most suitable breed for your lifestyle happens to be a shedding breed, would you compromise on the shedding aspect? Question is open to all; I'm keen to read opinions!

They're so cute hey? I didn't see the Frenchies one though

I couldn't resist walking past these jumpers without thinking of the DOLers who own pugs!! Edited to say they're also available in olive green too. They are sooooo cute ^_^

That pug hopping up the stairs all stiff body cracked me up too. Fancy bouncing up stairs like that but hey, whatever works right?! :laugh:

Etsy

That beagle near the end sticking his head in the camera had me in stitches!!

Not sure where to put this but I've just come across 4, 15 month old greyhounds FTGH in the Penrith area. If anyone would like the link or knows someone I should let know please PM me.

I've always pictured sighthounds to be lovely and lean, but with excellent muscle tone. The pictures of the racing greys, while probably on the lean side, have awesome muscle definition. I like the idea of seeing muscly rump and shoulders. And Salukibel, Belle is such a stunning Saluki!!

Kirah had a Snuggle Puppy when I brought her home -- she was a winter baby and being outside I figured she could use the extra warmth. I found that as long as you turn the heart off durning the day, you won't need to replace the batteries -- I didn't change them once. The disposable heat packs were awesome and Kirah really loved the Snuggle Puppy -- it's been the only plush toy she hasn't destroyed. I've since sold it to another DOLer who was getting a pup as I no longer had any use for it. Good luck with your new pup and pictures are a must!!

I am not agreeing in any sense at all with this new proposed 'law', however, the sentence I've bolded above is not how I interpret the article. It clearly states that the main meal is to be fed in a receptacle (not just a bowl). My interpretation is that bones can still be fed, not in receptacles, unless the said bone(s) are the main dietary staple. I just can't believe that in a world with so many problems, people are wasting their time with trying to dictate how individuals must feed their own pets. Why not focus on something that is really important rather than something silly like this, which I have no idea how they'd plan on policing. Are they going to have rangers visit every property with a dog at meal times to ensure this practice is being implemented? Not once does the article mention bowls. The word used is 'receptacle', which means an object or space for containing something. That can be taken to mean a bowl or treat toy/puzzle toy.

Zeus was on Supercoat Puppy before I made the switch to Royal Canin adult. He did really well on it and no complaints from me over the quality of the food.

I'd like to thank you all again for your advice and follow on with an update on Kirah. We've been back to the park a few times since I last posted and I've already seen a huge improvement in Kirah's behaviour. When a boisterous pup approaches her, I've been letting it say hello, however, I've been standing very close by ready to intervene. A few times she's given the pup an 'enough' warning but it continues to harass her so I've stepped in. The owners have been really good about it too as I've explained to them what's happening and what I'm trying to do with Kirah -- as I've mentioned before, we're a really close knit community and I love the close friendships we've all made. She's even progressed to the point of stepping in and playing with these puppies -- there are four really goofy ones that are the best of mates: a Bull Arab cross, an Aussie Bulldog, a Mastiff x Great Dane and a Golden Retriever, who roll all over each other. Kirah circles around the group bouncing in her happy 'play' way and even gives the occasional excited bark, like she's cheering from the sidelines. Then the funniest thing, she bounces over to me, sits at my feet and looks at me with a 'did I do good?' grin. I'm so pleased with her progress so far -- that she's starting to initiate play with the puppies on her terms. She's having a ball playing from the sidelines and while she's not directly interacting with them, I'm happy with how things are going. The puppies are also fantastic in that they're so focused on each other, that they never even bat an eyelid at her and are happy for her to join in, in her own indirect way. When she's had enough she comes over to me for pats and praise and then is happy to follow me around for a bit before bouncing off to explore or to chase her brother Zeus for a bit. I think we're both starting to feel more confident in each other and that she's starting to learn that I'm around to protect her. Lastly, thanks so much for the link to that He Just Wants to Say Hi article -- so very informative and all puppy owners should read it!!

If you're really keen on the idea of terriers, there are so many that could suit your lifestyle. Norwich Terriers are on my 'to own one day' list and I'll never be without an Aussie. Aussies are generally only around the 6 to 10 kilo mark, so smaller than you're looking at, however, they are big in personality and toughness. People often assume that because they're small, that they are fragile or delicate and get quite the surprise when they see just how rough and tumble they are. Neither the Aussie nor Norwich Terriers shed and hand stripping is required. As far as price goes, Aussies are around the $750 to $900 mark whereas the Norwich Terriers are around $2000+. Norwich Terriers have small litters of around 3 puppies and they are not at all a common breed here in Australia. Aussies are also a very hardy breed with very few, if any, health issues. They are fantastic with kids (Poochie grew up with 5 kids ranging from 4 to 12 years) and love being with other dogs too. Of course they are still a terrier so I doubt you'd fully be able to trust them around your chickens, however, they can be taught to coexist with cats -- Poochie was the 'Otis' to our cat Calypso's 'Milo'. Aussies can also be quite stubborn, so a firm hand is needed -- you need to have them understand that you're the boss, not them. They really are a delightful breed to have around and I can never sing their praises enough; in fact I wish everyone knew about them!

What is the weight range of a Wheaten? The OP mentioned looking at a dog somewhere in the 6 to 10 kilo range and going by the height and size, I would've thought a Wheaten to be around the 15 kilo mark. Although the OP did mention a medium sized dog, which is around the 15 kilo mark too. How about a Beagle or a Fauve? I don't know a lot about Fauves, but I think they'd fit the size bracket.

I have a question regarding the Stay training. Some training schools I've been to have told me not to use the word stay ie if a dog is told to sit, it's to stay sitting until released. They use the same method with drop/down, stand etc. The dogs are expected to stay in the position regardless of the command, until released. What's your opinion on this method and does it really matter if people say 'stay' or not?

There's a gorgeous SCWT puppy at my dog park who's about 5 months old at the moment. I've been speaking to his owners who'd also previously owned a Wheaten and really, really love the breed. He's currently going through his mottled coat colour so he's a cute mix of varying shades of brown -- I'd never known Wheatens were born dark. Regarding coat care, the puppy's owners commented on how the breed shouldn't be clipped as it ruins the coat. They said they used to get their previous Wheaten clipped, but his coat was never the same so they're not planning to have their new pup clipped. I had the luxury of meeting their previous boy on a few occasions before he died suddenly and they are a lovely breed. I'm biased of course because I have a love of terriers and their personalities. Most terriers are quite stubborn and require a firm, stern hand when giving commands, but they are generally keen learners and quite intelligent. If given an inch, they'll walk all over you so you need to make sure they know you're the boss Of course, like Sheridan has said, not all terriers are the same, Poochie (from my sig) was a very happy go lucky Aussie Terrier and completely different to Kirah, who is the most stubborn turd I've ever met. They do make for an interesting training challenge and you'll find the terrier mindset much different to the hound and working dog you've currently got. As long as you're willing to learn with a terrier and find a training method that works, I think a Wheaten could suit you quite well. Just remember though that terriers more often than not have the 'there's nothing in it for me so I'm not going to' mentality, which can make for some very frustrating training!! I also note that you're on the South Coast. I'm in the Illawarra myself, so if you're close by, you could come chat to the Wheaten owners I mentioned above. They love sharing their knowledge of the breed!!

Happy 1st B'Day sweet Tempeh!! Kirah Little will love sharing her special day with you. She's 2 today!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Sorry to bring this topic up again but Zeus has itchy lumps on his belly and armpits and I'm willing to bet he's allergic to some kind of weed/grass found in the scrub at the dog park. I'm putting Neocort on it for now, but I'm wanting to try him on Polaramine as he's currently given 1/2 a Zyrtec daily and it doesn't seem to help. I've been on the Ingleburn Vet site regarding doses and it says 0.4mg x body weight. Zeus is roughly 15 kilos (14.8 kilos) which equals 6mg, however, StaffyLuv above has posted that for a dog between 10.1 and 30 kilos, 4mg is sufficient. The Ingleburn site also says twice daily so I just want to be sure. I'll also be popping into the health store for some more Calendula tea as I'd prefer to not keep using the Neocort.

This is a topic that has actually had me stumped for a long time and I don't know the answer either. I've always assumed that fussy dogs are a product of their upbringing -- ie being pandered and fussed over by their owners. To me, a dog should be such that they'll eat whatever they can whenever they get the chance; such is the nature of a scavenger. None of my dogs, either current or past pets, have been fussy and will scoff their food with gusto regardless of what it is. Smaller dogs, particularly the toy breeds, might end up being more fussy due to the size of their mouths -- maybe they're more precious about food because their mouths and teeth are smaller? I definitely believe that some fussy princess dogs are a product of their owners, however, this wouldn't be the case with all dogs. It could also be due to the size of a litter -- a smaller litter of say three pups wouldn't have to fight for a teat whereas a litter of 10 plus, would be a lot of first in best fed. Maybe that has something to do with a dog's need to scoff everything in sight or not. There's definitely no definitive answer -- well that I can see anyway.

One got a roll up dog mat in the back of my car and I think it's an Animates one. It's quite thick and has a waterproof backing and a thick flannel material on the top. It's also quite a decent thickness. Will check it out tomorrow and get back to you.

Oh wow. Thank you all for your helpful input. It's not actually occurred to me that it's the behaviour of the puppies who are the cause of this problem -- I was thinking that she's the one acting inappropriately. I just look at the puppies bouncing around and whacking her in the face with paws as being 'typical puppy behaviour' and not something I should discourage. I'm actually feeling pretty stupid now, because it's so obvious to me now that Kirah probably is rightfully telling these boisterous pups where to go -- I know I wouldn't appreciate being bopped around the face by anyone. I didn't realise that her trying to hide was her looking to me for support -- I just assumed she was trying to get my approval of her actions and that it would make her worse. If its back-up and support she needs to feel safe, then I'm quite happy to provide that now. I've just been reading her behaviour so wrong -- the whole time I've just been thinking she's being a typical turd of a terrier. I just can't believe how wrong I've been and feel bad for letting her down. I've failed in providing her safety and security and instead of trying to help, have probably made her worse. Poor girl Knowing what I do now, I'll be happy to step in and stop the puppies from bouncing around her and whacking her face with their paws -- she can hide between my feet while I stomp and growl at the pups. Gosh this has been a wake-up call and I'm glad I started the thread -- but I'm just sorry it's taken such a long time to address.

I just want to preface this topic by saying that I have been in contact with K9 Pro and am currently organising a suitable time to see Steve. Kirah, my 2 year old Aussie Terrier seems to have a hatred of puppies. If they come bouncing up and whacking her with their paws in play, she'll growl, snarl and snap. She's perfectly fine roughing and tumbling with large adult dogs, her behaviour is aimed only at puppies. What I'd like to know, is this a common problem people have experienced? I understand that we can't make dogs be friends, but I'm just worried she'll hurt one of these puppies who never seem to understand that no, she doesn't want to play regardless of how much snapping she does at them. Being a terrier, Kirah won't give up either so I remove her from the situation but the puppies always keep coming back for more. What frustrates me is that they could go play with Zeus who loves to play, but he's completely ignored and Kirah is always chosen despite her best efforts to get away. Is there something I can do in the meantime before seeing Steve in order to help this? I don't want to avoid the dog park because we've become a community of close friends and Kirah is fine with their dogs. It's only when a new puppy comes up into her face. Oh I need to say too that when she's carrying on, I DO NOT pick her up and when she tries to hide in my legs, I step away from her too. Is this the right thing to do? I'm at my wit's end with this behaviour and she's otherwise such a great little dog. I'm just so angry at myself and blame myself for her behaviour in that perhaps I've done something for her to be this way.

I've had those light up collars purchased from Woof Lights in Sydney via their website. Good idea, but they didn't last long at all and I'd bought 4 -- two for Zeus and two for Kirah. The problem I found is that the LED band didn't keep the collar adjusted to the right size and kept slipping off their necks. They also stopped working after a short amount of time. And they're not at all water resistant. The Rogz Lites are really good though -- especially now they've replaced the flimsy plastic connector. I've got all four colours and think they're great and they so far seen water resistant. I have black dogs so seeing them at night is impossible.

My two are both on RC Sensible (Mini and Medium breeds) with raw roo mince and Proden PlaqueOff added. I've chosen the RC after a bit of trial and error with Zeus as he seems to have a bit of a sensitive stomach when it comes to dry food. As a puppy, he was on Supercoat, but once he hit 12 months I made the switch to RC based on results from previous pets. Zeus does fantastically well on RC; his coat is very shiny and he's in perfect health and weight. When I got Kirah, it was easier to stick with what I know so she was put onto RC Sensible Mini at 12 months too and is doing just as well as Zeus. She probably doesn't need to be on the Sensible version of the kibble, however, if it works, why change? I did try Nutro a little while back to see if both could be on the same food (two different sizes of premium kibble gets a bit costly), however, Zeus's poops went sloppy over time and turned a yellowish colour. He's since back on the RC Sensible and is back to being well!

Oh wow!!! He's a stunner Tris What's his non-show name -- his registered name is a bit of a mouthful!! :laugh: He's so lovely and I wish you luck with him!