RiverStar-Aura

I'm loving all your puppies! They're so cute I'll officially be able to join this thread in two and a half weeks when my little Aussie Tee girl comes home. Until then I'll be impatiently waiting in the "waiting for a puppy" thread!

WTF is wrong with people?! I can't even form words right now. The other one that got me was the mention of the 10 year olds chopping off 2 kittens' feet with scissors (or the equivalent).

Or you could just drill extra holes in it yourself and cut off the excess with a decent pair of sharp scissors. I've done this myself numerous times for Zeus's collars because I prefer wider collars and since he has a scrawny chicken neck the medium sized ones are too long. I've also used scissors and a soldering iron on his woven fabric ones too; the soldering iron works wonders to burn holes through these collars!!

You should also look into the Aussie Terrier too but that's only because I'm completely breed biased! They've got Cairn Terrier in them and are just fantastic bomb-proof dogs. Definitely worth a look! :D

Moose sure is a gorgeous boy Cassie and the name suits him too ... well maybe more when he grows a bit! I love that he's a smiley dog because there's nothing I love more than puppy photos with a huge grin; he looks so happy when you went to go meet him!! I wish you best of luck with him because he's a stunner!! So cute and fluffy!

Poochie had a few of these hard lumps too around her ribs and my vet told me (because I was worried about them too) that older dogs bones start to calcify and go nobly like that so it was nothing to worry about. I'd definitely get Woofer checked out if it's possible, even if it's just for peace of mind. But as my Poochie had a similar problem, I'm willing to bet that he's got the same thing. Fingers crossed that things are fine!

Obviously it isn't the same for everyone, or we wouldn't have a topic talking about those people. However to the dog it is all the same. When a dog is abandoned, we (most of us on DOL) care about the trauma that the dog must endure, regardless of who owns it or why they got rid of it. Dogs normally get attached to their owners regardless of their owner's feelings about the dog. We can recognise that many people may be willing to get rid of their pets and go overseas. But they get my derision and not my respect. That is what we all need to remember. I'm not going to argue here because it seems that we both have differing opinions on this topic, but I'd like to hear your opinion on rehoming a pet because it is too sick to make the journey (or has a disease in which it won't pass quarantine). And I'm not just talking about the old ones who've "had a good life so it's time to PTS" dogs either. What about the younger ones too? ETA: I totally agree with the fact that a lot of people act without thinking of the consequences and I feel that more should be done about educating people of the responsibilities of pet ownership. We're living in such a "the novelty has worn off" society it angers me just to think about it. It's not fair that pets have become real-life Tamagotchis who are really fun and cute in the beginning then end up being abandoned when the responsibility becomes too permanent. Pets are forever and you can't take out the batteries when you get sick of them.

I need some suggestions on what treats would be good to use for training. Zeus has an ultra-sensitive stomach and everything I've used in the past gives him very smelly gas. I've tried liver treats, Nature's Gift Energy 200+ chicken bites, carob and even those "Chunkers" from Woolies (in the meat section). I'm finding it hard because it's not that he won't eat them, they just don't agree with him. What do you guys use?

I'm very excited for you Cassie and even though some of us have had to wait, I think waiting is part of the fun and excitement too! At the moment I'm trying to stop myself from bouncing off walls and have almost needed to chop up my bank cards; I've been buying way too much dog and puppy stuff!! Zeus is being completely spoiled and so is puppy and I haven't even met her yet! The only thing making me nervous is how Zeus will react with the new addition. I've only ever had one dog at a time and when I got Zeus, my beloved Poochie was nearly 16 and was only alive for about 6 to 8 months with Zeus. Poochie was also about the same size as the puppy (just much stockier in build) but Zeus is my daddy-long-legs dog weighing in at about 15 kilos. Can anyone offer suggestions on how to introduce the two? Zeus has been well socialised since puppyhood and loves to play with others; he's just very rough, bouncy and hyper! ETA: I'll definitely be taking lots and lots of puppy pictures during my visit! :D

The thing we all need to remember is that each situation and each person is different. Just because some of us couldn't bear the thought of leaving a loved pet behind, doesn't mean it's the same for everyone. I love Zeus with all my heart and wouldn't be able to leave him behind, however, if I was to move to London (which I plan to in the very, very, very distant future) I don't see that it would be fair to take him too. I'd probably end up in a smallish apartment with no backyard and Zeus is an outside dog who loves to run around. Now I'm not saying the decision would be easy, but there are so many things to consider. Of course I'm dealing in hypotheticals here but I highly doubt an overseas move and the decision to leave one's pets behind would be easy for anyone. I agree that we shouldn't be quick to judge because it's not a matter of "oh I'm moving overseas therefore the pets have to stay" it's a case of doing what's best in each situation. I wouldn't wish that decision on any pet owner because it'll be heartbreaking for everyone.

I know how excited you all are because I'm feeling the same way. I've been waiting for another Aussie Terrier pup for about 3 years; it was put on hold because I fell in love with my darling Zeus and I wasn't allowed another puppy. Then we lost our Poochie so I went Aussie hunting again. I found the best breeder ever, who lives in my suburb who has 2 bitches both of whom she breeds. The first mating didn't take but then the 2 girls both went into heat at the same time late last year. One girl's litter (of one pup) died and the other only had one girl puppy (who was already spoken for) so she contacted a friend who's girl whelped 7 Aussie pups on May 1st and I get first pick of her girls (there are 3). I'm going to meet them in a week's time and then I'll be bringing her home in the last week of June. It's all happening so fast; especially after waiting 3 years for a puppy! :D

Hi Brus84, I live in the Wollongong area and there are heaps of off-leash dog parks and dog friendly areas around. Can't really help with the rental question though; your best bet would be to contact real estate agents and let them know you're looking for dog friendly rental properties. Other than that, you could look a purchasing a house, which would of course depend on your financial capabilities. There are lots of lovely suburbs around the Illawarra and most of them are about 15 to 20 minutes from the Wollongong CBD. Personally I'd steer clear of the Northern suburbs (Austinmer, Thirroul etc) and also around the Shellharbour area (including Blackbutt) as they're quite pricey. Hope that helps some and welcome to the Illawarra and DOL! :D

I'm actually really glad someone posted this thread because washing dog blankets is a huge problem for me here. My mum has this thing where the washing machine is for human things, the fridge is for human food etc. and our local Laundromats don't allow pet things to be washed in them. It's been interesting to read that people haven't had any problems with dog hair but that most of you seem to prefer top loaders. We've got a Bosch front loader here (apparently front loaders are supposed to be better for skin allergies?) but I'd never dare risking mum's wrath by washing dog blankets in it! Does soaking the blankets work well enough to wash them and if so, which washing powders would be best to use? I've used eucalyptus wool wash in the past but would this kill germs/bacteria/dust mites etc? Other than that, I'm just frequently buying new dog blankets but Zeus also gets a mix of our old blankets too. He's currently got our old mattress protecters (mum's just recently discovered fitted ones!!) and some cheap fleece blankets I buy from either K-Mart or Top Dollar. I don't mind buying blankets but I'm just now thinking about how I'm going to wash his new dog bed.

It just astonishes me at how stupid people are becoming. There's a definite lack of common sense and it gives me the s**ts too. Logic would state that if the dog bolts once in the front yard, put it on a leash because it's not going to just wake up one day and think "I'm actually just going to get in the car now". :rolleyes: I can understand how people have trouble training their dogs though. I'm still working on Zeus's recall (he'll be 2 at the end of next month) and while he's not perfect, we're both getting better. He still pulls on the lead and also takes off if he gets out the front gate, however, he's been taught that he's not to go out the front unless I say he can so he'll sit and wont barge out. The only thing I do take pride in is that I'm not a moron when it comes to his behaviour (at least I don't think so anyway). I know that he'll take off if given the chance so I make sure I don't provide him with the opportunity to do so and if we're going for a drive and my car's out the front, I'll put him on a lead so he can't escape. I honestly don't think it's hard to use common sense but these days, it's totally become a real effort. :rolleyes:

Poochie (Aussie Terrier) used to have a very potent dog smell and needed bathing at least once a month. The type of coat (wiry and coarse) didn't help matters either because it seemed her fur would absorb everything. She also had sensitive skin but I found that any shampoo containing oatmeal worked wonders and after a bath, she'd be so soft, fluffy and shiny! Zeus on the other hand is a right dirty b@stard. It doesn't matter how often I bathe him, he's off finding the dirtiest thing to roll/splash in as soon as he's dry. As a result he gets bathed maybe 4 times a year (once each season), but luckily, he still always looks clean and doesn't smell. There was one day I'd taken him into Pet Barn and a lady commented on how clean and shiny he was -- I failed to tell her that he hadn't been bathed for about 4 months! But I guess ultimately the bathing decision is personal. What works for some dogs and people, doesn't work for others. As long as both you and dog are happy, then it's all good! :D

1. What are your thoughts of animals in pet shops? Cruel/Unsure/Fine -- cruel but unsure Comments: Being stuck in a glass cage while everyone under the sun comes along and pokes, taps and annoys the puppies/kittens would suck, however, I'm sure there far worse environments that some puppies/kittens grow up in. On the other hand, pet shops don't only sell puppies and kittens; they sell fish, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, mice, birds/poultry, reptiles, snakes, scorpions and hermit crabs too and to be honest, I don't really think anyone puts much thought into these animals when it comes pet shops and BYB. I know I've never heard of a pure bred fish registry or an organisation who fights for fish rights. I do find the concept of pet shops for the purchasing of puppies and kittens wrong though. Today's society is so much about consumerism and impulse buying and it should never be linked with puppies or kittens. We can't go off and replace a pet every season purely because someone has an epiphany and dictates that "cats are sooooooo last season"; something needs to be done on how animals are bought and sold. I don't know what the answer is but it does need looking into, and wow! I've just ranted on! 2. Would you consider buying an animal from a pet store? Yes/No -- In regards to a puppy or kitten no, but for fish, wouldn't think twice about it. 3. Have you ever brought an animal from a pet shop? Yes/No -- Yes 4. Why did you get the animal from the pet shop? Poochie was getting old and I'd been in the market for another Aussie Tee for 2-ish years when I spied Zeus in the glass box. I wanted a dog I could take out for a jog/run every day and sure, he was bloody cute and all alone. 5. Did the animal live with you till the end of its life or still is living with you? He's not quite 2 years so he'll be with me for a long time yet. 6. If you answered No for question 5, do you know what happened to the pet? N/A 7. Reason to give the animal up. (circle answer)  Can’t afford it  Moved housed  Took too much to care for  Too destructive  Not good with kids  No time  Didn’t get on with other animals  Other Other: would never "give up" but would PTS if circumstances arose that it was required (eg. attacking people/kids/other animals or incurable debilitating illness). 8. Do you know where pet shops get their animals from? I'm of the understanding that people sell their unwanted animals to pet shops for profit and also from BYBs. 9. Does it make you concerned? It concerns me that pet shops can price mongrels upwards of $1000 while beautiful pure breeds from reputable breeders are falling off the map. Pet ownership and breeding should never be about money and it's a real shame that society has gone this way. 10. Do you think Pet shops are better than shelter pets? I really don't understand this question. Better in what way? Healthier or happier? Easier to integrate? I don't believe either is better or worse than the other. 11. Have you ever brought an animal from a rescue shelter, group or qualified breeder? Yes/No Our 2 Aussie Tees were both from breeders: the first was from a breeder about 30-40 years ago and Poochie from a breeder 17 years ago. 12. Where you happy with the animal? Yes/No -- Hell yes!! 13. Did the animal live with you till the end of its life or is it still living with you? Brutus was PTS at age 14 and Poochie was PTS at age 16; both because it was their time to go.

I can't believe how popular the Lappies seem to be. Although I will admit they are gorgeous dogs!! My list stops at one breed and one breed only; the Aussie Terrier. I've had no desire to own any other breed and I feel blessed to be part of the small Aussie Tee ownership. I wish more people were aware of this gorgeous breed and took the time to own one because seriously, you never look back. Don't get me wrong though, I love all dog breeds and will be the first to swoon over whatever turns up at the local dog parks but I'll always be a proud Aussie owner and the only thing beating an Aussie Tee ... 2 or 3 or 4 Aussie Tees!! :p

I have so much stuff for Zeus you'd think I've got a small army of dogs living at my place! I've got a shelf behind the garage door dedicated to air-tight food containers (kibble and treats) and a small cat litter tray (new from el cheapo store), which is full of grooming tools (I think I've got nearly 2 of everything!! ). Then there's a huge cardboard box full of toys, which I let Zeus ferret through when we're playing. I'm also in the process of cleaning out the garage and making use of the giant wooden toy box I had as a kid (I think it's full of my mum's pre-school craft stuff, which we no longer need -- but she'll probably think she needs to keep it!! ;)). That way I'll have a nice solid box with a lid that I can use to keep blankets, towels, toys and grooming gear when they're not in use. As for leads and collars, I keep them hanging on hooks I made my dad put up in the garage and like others have confessed, I too have enough collars and leads for 5 plus dogs! :D Oh and the excess food from the 15kg bags is kept in one of those free Eukanuba storage bins from Pet Barn, which I was able to score from a friend who had 3 spare ones. It's on the floor behind the garage door underneath the food shelf (and there's also a kitty litter storage bin there too!). So much dog stuff and every time I go into Pet Barn I swear I'm only going to buy the absolute essentials but come out with more stuff I probably don't need! :D :D

+ 20 million! Aussie Tees are fantastic little dogs and they do love to run around, they're awesome with other dogs and are a very hardy breed. Call me biased but Aussie Tees are so the way to go!!! ETA: They don't really need lots of exercise either and most are happy with a half hour walk per day. They're also very happy to curl up on your lap and lounge around lapping up the typical lazy Aussie lifestyle. However like any dog, they will need to be mentally stimulated as they're quite intelligent and very eager to please and loyal. Spend time with training and you'll be rewarded with the most loving companion ever and you'll never turn away from the breed again!

Definitely trust the breeder and check with them first. Hopefully they provide good nutritional information but I guess ultimately it will depend on what suits the dog and works well for it. Some dogs can have sensitive stomachs so there's more trial and error in finding something suitable. Once your friend has spoken to the owner and found out what kibble they suggest, come and let us know because we can try and compare brands. Also, check out the numerous threads in the Health/Nutrition Section because there are heaps of threads about the different brands of kibble. Hope that's somewhat helpful!

I'd also like to add my best wishes for Ollie and you tomorrow. He sure sounds like a fighter and he may yet have more fight left in him. Get better sweet boy and I'm thinking of you and your family! :laugh:

I agree with everything that's be said so far. Guinea Pigs, rats, mice, rabbits etc. are prey for dogs, cats, foxes etc so it's really no surprise that this has happened. You yourself has said that you weren't happy with the strength of the hutch and to be honest, a neighbour's cat could also have done this to your step daughter's GPs. The wounds you've described don't really scream vicious dog attack and seems more like the GPs being frightened to death by something that was playing with them. I also agree that making the dog sleep outside is a serious moot point because he's not going to know why he's out there. I'm really sorry this has happened and I hope you can all move on from it -- and hopefully Joss isn't punished too harshly for acting on instinct. But I'd definitely keep an eye on his interactions with the cats because again, cats and dogs are enemies and even the best of friends can have bad days.

Wow this is a fantastic idea! I've never heard of anything like this and it's a very tempting thing to contemplate. I've saved some of Poochie's ashes in two hollow urn-like pendants I bought from eBay (designed for vampire wannabes to store blood in) and wear them on a necklace but as they're made of glass, it's easy to see what's in there. These gemstones are a very subtle idea, however, I'd be concerned that they don't actually put the ashes in the gems and just dispose of them. How would you know? Call me skeptic but I don't know if I'd trust someone with the small amount of Poochie I've kept.

... I lost the best friend I ever had. I will miss her and love her forever and I just wanted to take the time to start a thread so we can all honour the memory of our loved ones. My sweet darling Poochie-Pie may you always be with me and we'll be together again some day. Until then, run happy and be free my forever friend!

It must've been the most difficult decision for you to have to leave the poor pup behind. I totally understand why you did -- you have your own woofer to take care of -- but still ... such an emotionally difficult choice. I really hope things go well for the puppy and that he either gets re-homed or that the current owners become less douch-bagger-y. All in all I believe you made the best decision because a 6 hour drive for a post-surgery pooch and a little puppy would be very stressful for everyone. Give lots of hugs to Chester and I wish him a speedy, trouble free recovery! :hugs: