OSoSwift

Hope things are going okay for you today. It can take a little bit to get things settled. EVen though Lewis was fantastic and settled in well we still had a couple of teething issues. I think even if they are well adjusted behaved dogs things will be different to what they are used to and they can carry on a little. I would also interrupt the humping every single time it happens and from day dot work on him being happy in a crate with a bone etc while youa re in another room. That way he will elarn to settle, will learn you do come back and MAson can have a break.

I don't like to be away from my dogs just because I miss them. However due to being out of town if I need to take the dogs in for something, even something simple I can leave them in the car etc on warm days so they get left at the vets for a few hours and I pick them up on the way home. I know Rommi ususally gets heaps of cuddles because they think she is cute. Lewis I have bever really had to do it as yet and he does have some seperation anxiety but we have been working on it, he can be crated by himself even though he does whinge a bit. He is fine if Rommi is with him though so if he had to stay at the vets for example and was stressed out I would take Rommi in as well. Even though I still work on his seperation anxiety. I went away for a few days and my Inlaws looked after the dogs - they live just up the hill- and to make sure they were safe, no back yard at the inlaws- they were in their runs and let out very regularly for a good run and play every day. They are always happy to see me and I them but I think I miss them more than they miss me

She isn't a guide dog puppy any more

What she said!

Had just finished feeding and rugging my horse. My Dobe and Stafford were running around as per normal. We were walking from the horse paddock to the house. The two dogs were running around mouthing at each others faces running flat out but looking at each other. The did a huge circle and came down the hill behind me. As they ran past the Dobe swung her bum out to the side and collected me just behind my knees. I went down flat on my back and didn't even get a chance to break my fall. Luckily other than being a little bit stiff I was okay. Later on she got me when she jumped off the A-Frame and her head collected mine. Result a huge haematoma on my eyebrow (but not as big as that other one!!) and concussion! It took 18 months for the nerves to settle down and stop me waking myself up when my arm brushed my face as I sleep with my arms above my head.

Done as well

I am not from Vic but a good place to start would be going along to agility trials and have a little bo-peep and going to an agility club (someone in the know can help you there) just as an observer for a little bit and hopefully taking said dog along. My sighthounds love it and are very good at it - better than their owner if fact and would probably be better if not owner handicapped

It happens a fair bit as well for some reason. Luckily they think it's funny! Maybe it's because LEwis is a people type of name as well.......Lewis/Nelson ...... yep that is similar......sort of.............

I do but I certainly don't treat them as kids. Also I do have children so it causes less confusion.....except for when I call the kid the dogs name ooppss!!!

Just gorgeous I just want to moosh his little cheeks!

I have found having Whippets that they are one of the easier sighthounds to train, but basically everyone has covered it. Mine pick up very quickly if I am frustrated. A really good reward history is the key. When mine go to training they never play with other dogs or people when they are there. They work, so they hold no value for other people or dogs as I am the one who gives them all the attention and rewards. When Rommi first went she was all over the place for a good six weeks. She was working to Novice trialing level at home, but out there were a lot more distractions. Start small and short and work up. Now she couldn't care less what was going on around her. Make yourself the most fun exciting thing there, be happy happy, 5 minute blocks (if that) at a time.

We picked up some food from Wendy on Saturday. I know she was getting ready for the big shows on the weekend but she didn't mention going away or anything She gave me a call back yesterday and hopefully all sorted out. Wendy has a friend who lives closer to me and fingers crossed the friend will get the food from Wendy at a show and I pick it up from said friend. Just sucks that I now live so far away from her! I tried emailing [email protected] yesterday and it bounced back? Good to hear

I could ask likewise of you. Just because my pets are shown does not make them objects. Mine are not objects either. They are pets that are loved and included in my family - much more than some "only" pet dogs that I know. I take my dogs into the show and trial rings because we enjoy it. They are happy, wagging their tails and the enjoy the interaction and reward they get from me putting the time into training them to a level where they can gain passes at trials and show well enough to gain awards in the ring as well. I find that fact you state the above extremely objectionable and insulting. You got some sound advice and it was not rude. Maybe you did not really want to hear that your knowledge is lacking, but you asked on a public forum and you got answers that I personally agree with. Breed from a non-health tested individual dog that has not been assessed either by breeder or peers as an exceptional specimen and you are dicing with the hearts and happiness of the poor unfortunates that are potentially going to give loving home to YOUR puppies. My first dog was one of those and she took a piece of my heart when she died at 3 and a half. The way you worded you OP does sound like you are going to try and breed your dog. No I am not a show snob or a nut, to bred dogs that are not health tested or peer/breeder reviewed is nuts in my personal opinion. If that offends you I frankly don't care.

I got Lewis at 8 months and within hours he was following me happily around within two days he was MY dog. He still is and I could possibly say - but not too loud- that he and I are closer than Rommi and I, whom I have had since 8 weeks. The difference is the personality. She is happy to sit next to you, he wants to get inside your skin! Good luck and fingers crossed it all goes well.

Good news for those dogs and owners who do do the right thing and are suited for being un muzzled

Thanks :D I have to take a pick axe to a patch of gravel, which I am not really looking forward too, then shovelling some more bluemetal then some rubber seals - need to get my bum into gear really

Dogs ears don't breed up! Dogs uterus's do. I do not think the argument is even remotely the same. My bitch is entire but I would not expect the average owner to keep an entire bitch just because, and having a uterus is of far more consequence and potential danger than floppy ears.

This is my yard that I am still in the process of finishing

Oh wow awesome news!! We need someone up Joondalup way, hmm maybe I should be one Yep I recieve my first shipment of dog food in two days and I have already sold 5 bags and am dropping off samples to others today. A shame Esperance is so far out of your way!! It is such good value for money compared to any others available down here and so much cheaper that everyone who has read the info and fed the food has wanted a big bag or two Mine are doing great on it, especially the one who did three poops to one feed or dry food - not any more

Poor child and mother, I hope all that were there can get over their mental scares and I hope the child n mother recover well from the physical ones as well. My dogs are by no means people aggressive at all, but I know when I lock them up they cannot get out.

I would video when you are not there just to be sure. They may be doing nothing more than telling him to shut up if he barks or something but in my experience dogs don't do things like he is for no reason what so ever. Even if it is only some small thing and something we would not deem wrong - he may see it as so.

This does interest me as in the livestock world after the 4th generation the animal is regarded as pure. We have some F4 Wiltshire sheep and they look and act like pure Wiltshires however the sheep will not be regarded as pure until the next generation. Interesting that after 12 generations in a dog it is still not regarded as pure. While I don't agree with wily nily crossing I think something like this that is done under the strictest controls is not a bad thing. Would I like it to happen to Whippets, nope probably not BUT in breeds where there are certain issues that are life threatening and could be eliminated or at least controlled by this I don't think it's all bad. Doing what they did with the Boxer however I do not agree with and believe they could have used their knowledge to bring in something that helped the longterm health of the breed.

Great result Ptolomy - you must be very pleased with your furry friends

My Dobe had an abdominal tumour around the size of two eggs side by side. I chose to sedate her and do a FNA. It came back as a haemagiosarcoma and the couldn't give a grading. Apparently they can be rather nasty or only locally invasive. She had had 8 abdominal surgeries in her life and the last one had knocked her for six so I chose to let it go and let her live life to the full. 18 months later she died from a heart issue that was age related. I personally would just see what happens and love them for as long as they have, but each to their own.

To be perfectly honest it is near on impossible to completely snake proof any yard or fence, however there are things you can do to help reduce the likelyhood of it happening. You can buy snake and mouse mesh which snakes cannot get thorugh so I put that around the bottom of the fence. It is buried around 3 inches into sharp bluemetal rocks which I am told snakes do not really like to go on as they are not a natural rock, due to being man made, they have sharp edges and the snakes do not like going over them - not sure if it is true but I am using it anyway. I have rubber seals around the gates. My dog runs have snake mesh now to the roof after I squished and killed a tiger snake in the TOP of the door just above my head after I walked through it! I have also gone around with expanda foam on any of the gaps I could around the top of the bricks. I have had two larger snakes( a foot or two long) and a couple of baby ones in the dog runs in over 10 years. I have been told the only way to build anything remotely snkae proof is to have colour bond concreted at least 60cms into the ground(to stop mice etc digging holes underneath) 6 feet high and all gates in frames that shut tightly into angle iron frames. Have nothing near the fence a snake could climb, or overhanging such as trees.