~*Shell*~

This is the part that gets me - they're openly acknowledging that a lot of people won't get dog licences. Essentially, you would be taxing the responsible dog owners to deal with the problem of the irresponsible ones. Nothing is stopping those irresponsible owners from aquiring a dog off a friend with unwanted puppies or from an unscrupulous pet shop without a licence, the same way we still see unmicrochipped and unregistered dogs in pounds here. In a world where everyone who had a dog paid for a dog licence, it would be a good idea IMO so that there would be more money for dog-related schemes, law enforcement and activities but I don't think it will work that way.

At dog shows they do most of the time. Most things you would need to show your dog. They do everything from grooming stuff to show leads to gazebo and crate mats to puppy pens. No idea when the next show in brissy is on but i'm sure someone will be able to tell you.

I want one of those! Even though I don't show, I carry enough stuff to shows and trials that i should get one! they're the best for carting things back to the car at the end of the day!!! I've got to admit - I do own some pretty rockin' dog stuff. It sucks having friends with dogs because we are always eyeing eachother's stuff off! For example, I got the blow dryer, nik loved it so she got hers. I borrowed her CC t-brush to do Zero's pants and then I had to have CC brushes as well because they were insanely better than the ones I owned before! It's only getting worse as I get more friends with dogs - Lol, it's a show trolley. Dogs who are properly conditioned to them love crates, they don't care what it looks like. they don't make the connection between bars and prison. Zero has a hard (metal) crate and a soft crate - he will pick the one with his doona in it every time!

It wouldn't surprise me if the first thing she suggested is a pin brush!! You can do most things with it - I have a lot more stuff because Zero never liked being brushed when I got him and so I have good quality equipment so that i never pull on his coat or cause him any pain while brushing. There are a lot of cheaper alternatives to what I have - you can buy a slicker and a pin brush at pet barn for like $10-$20 each and combs are cheap as chips at a dog show. Zero hates being brushed with my old cheap equipment so I spent more money so the brush goes through his coat easier.

From what I can see, while there is a bit of difference, it's not enough to change tools. best check with your breeder - she'll have a better idea of what to use. I use a chris christenson pin brush (getting rid of knots and the general upkeep of Z's coat), t brush (for his pants and the underside of his tail), comb (to remove dead hair) with a comb holder on it so my hand doesn't get sore and curved slicker (for final touchups and to make his coat stand in the right place - also for his legs and sides of his face) Then I have a forced air dryer to dry Zero off and to fluff him up so he looks good (also great when he's blowing coat because i can just blow the dead hair off him!) And clippers so i can easily take the hair out from between his toes (though i would never touch any other area of his body with it!):

When Zero's around functionality and practicality beat fashion. I couldn't care less what I look like really as long as Zero is well taken care of when we're out. I could tell you what's in my grooming box too but that might scare you. Let's just say that the running tally of what i have as far as grooming goes is well over the $1000 mark and I don't own a hydrobath (yet).

i got mine in big W - it was about $16 from memory. You can get them in a lot of places though! I've seen them in toy stores, target, k-mart, big w and even down at our local bunnings. They'll get more common as the weather heats up

Oh! and for me, one of these (doog walkie belt) for short walks: One of these (houndbag) for longer times out with Zero: And one of these (I lie, the car is actually for Zero, not me) :

Things I could not do without for Zero: Ruthless Leather Collar and leash: k9+ Royale 2 dog crate (complete with Zero's name on it) Clamshell pool + kong (zero has 4 kongs): Bowl: A harness (ruffwear palisades pack): That becomes a backpack: Toys!!! Tug-a-jug Stuffingless fox And donkey (to name a few):

He sounds like a normal, aging dog to me. In fact, he sounds just like Caesar, my aunt's dobe when he was getting older. He didn't have dementia, he was just getting older and grumpier. If his hearing is going, he may not be barking at nothing - he could just be hearing different sounds or things could be sounding different to him. The lack of sound could be triggering him - maybe he wants a response from another dog or he's used to hearing someone make a certain noise when he barks which he can no longer hear. The seasons are changing at the moment and I'm noticing a change in my dog as well. He's only 6 so it's not an aging thing for him. Also, if your boy is sleeping during the day and awake at night, it doesn't surprise me that he wants to be up and out at night. He might not be hearing your other dog or her bumping him could cause him pain which could certainly account for the growling. Maybe a trip to the vet to see what they have to say. As i said, it doesn't sound like dementia to me but I'm not a vet and I haven't seen what your dog is doing in person.

I couldn't leave Zero or Mow or the birds. They are my family - i wouldn't leave if they couldn't.

Full frame means that it's the equivalent of the 35mm film frame which means it's bigger than what you have on your 450D. I think the sensor size on a full frame is 36mm x 24mm whereas the size of the 450D's sensor (as well as most of the other DSLRs in canon's range) are APS-C size which from memory is about 22mm x about 15mm on a canon but a bit bigger on some other cameras (like nikon). What you see on your camera, would be the middle of the photo taken on a full frame camera (like you'd cropped the sides off it) - like a rectangle (APS-C) within a rectangle (full frame) if that makes sense. I don't explain it very well - look it up on google. Someone will be more articulate than I am!

Yeah, I'm a little reluctant to put up what I have in my kit. ;) People can pretty much see what I've got anyway if they look at what I shoot! I'm only shooting on a 450D at the moment - hopefully I'll have the funds to buy a better body soon! I'm tossing up between a 5D mark II or a 7D. I'm finding the same issue with the 2.8 - it's a beatiful crisp lens but it goes for the subject that isn't moving rather than the one that is! Most of what I shot yesterday was on manual focus because it just annoyed me!

It's a 70-200mm 2.8 huga - awesome lens but I'm still trying to get used to the extra weight of it!

Lol - i thought it looked like Zero was kissing her on the cheek Zero has been wrapped around Soakie's dew claw from the time she was about 10 weeks of age. It's so funny to watch him with her now that she's all grown up. I think he loves her even more now Between Soaks, Poocow's Morgan and now Fable too, he's pretty much in heaven!

I love old photos!! Those are awesome!

Thanks! I think I need more practice with the lens though - for some reason I'm having focusing issues and I'm sure it's me!

I went for a walk with lovemesideways today and thought I would take my camera (and new lens) with me. I didn't expect to get anything special but here are some shots anyway: Riddick Rover (for some reason I didn't get as many of Rover, will have to get more next time!): The boys: And then of course, the obligatory shots of Zero, the off-leash sibe

Awesome shots everyone - I've been coming in and out to look at what everyone is doing but not posting anything! Eventually I'll get around to putting all of the photos up from my 52 weeks for dogs - I've been so very lazy about posting both them and my project 365 shots! Here's this week's shot - Zero and the love of his life, Ahsoka. ETA: can you pull the vignette back a little on the 1st shot TLC? I like the composition of the first one more but the vignette annoys me in the bottom left hand corner.

I started with the Canon 450D twin lens kit (same lenses as the kit lenses with the 550D) and they were great to learn on. My photography equipment seems to multiply though - if you really get into it like a lot of us have, it's a very expensive hobby Get the twin lenses and then get the 50mm 1.8 - it's only about $120-$150 so it's relatively inexpensive to buy!

Oh no! It's one of those evil, killer pitbulls He's gorgeous!

Personally I would be taking the dog off to a behaviourist to see the reason behind the aggression and see if they could give me the advice I need. Dealing with aggression is a serious thing and shouldn't be done over the internet. There is no sure way to cure it short of having the dog put to sleep.

I want to be that guy!

Great photos Bec!!! Sometimes shooting cats s***s me to tears - soooo uncooperative!!

Bahahahahaha - what an awesome model!!! There is no way in hell Zero would have a bar of that. Red is just gorgeous - great shot!