tdierikx

Have you got a side on standing photo of Loki so we can get an indication of her size and structure? She definitely has the most adorable face... *grin* T.

Could be BC/Kelpie too... I've seen some heavy set BC's around. I'm not seeing Rotti apart from the colouring, but everything else suggests not Rotti. I think he's actually one of those very rare and highly sought after "Cuddlehounds" myself... I'm loving his name... Hamilton definitely suits him! T.

It's not irresponsible breeding that causes the numbers of animals in pounds... it's irresponsible ownership... I'm of the opinion that there is room in this world for all types of dogs, pure or crossbred. I've owned pure dogs and crosses - never loved any of them less because of their lineage - and I would like the right to choose when or if I will desex them thank you. Why do we have to legislate to the lowest denominator? It is beyond sad... T.

Ummm... why are my eyes leaking? T.

They only want dogs who are deaf or blind, or both... that rules out my naughty Pickles who "only" has mobility issues... *grin* T.

I stand still but have my balance ready to swing a very hard kick to the head or chest if the dog thinks it's going to do more than just check me out. Never step backwards from a dog that is coming at you - if anything step towards the dog as that will put you more in control balance-wise if the dog has intent. T.

Well - the little buggers are smart and cunning like Dingoes. They managed to pull all the sides of their pen in today and a couple of them then worked out that they can climb over the top if the corners are just right... and they are only about 7 weeks old!! Luckily they are contained in the granny flat... it just meant more picking up of poops outside the pen for me... *sigh* They are still pretty quiet little pups. Only Scout will bark, and it's not the usual puppy style yips and squeaks - she gets such a serious look on her face when she does it too, like "hey, I'm down here, and want picking up and cuddling please!" - cheeky sod! The others will whinge and grizzle if they want to be where I am and they can't get to me, but only Scout has the bark as yet. Tarquin tries to pull the screen door off if I'm on the other side of it, and he's a lot stronger than he looks. Fable is the most adventurous of the lot - she will go and check things out on her own happily. She also does the best zoomies. Nathaniel, Tarquin, and Scout are the smoochy ones - and they let you know in no uncertain terms that it's their turn for a cuddle by either all piling onto your lap at once, or hanging around your feet occasionally jumping up and letting you know they are there. Tarquin has the waggiest tail. Theodore is the quietest one and a little timid at first, but once he realises you are the cuddle giver, he warms up to you heaps. T. All of them give great kisses...

We've just got a lovely little ACD cross girl in from one of the pounds - she has shortish legs and is kinda large (read Cardigan) Corgi sized. White with tan spots, and gorgeous blue eyes. She's somewhere between 6-12 months old and gets on great with other dogs of all sizes. We can test her with a couple of sheep, but don't have any chooks to test her with. She has an adorable nature and loves her cuddles. We don't know how she wasn't adopted by anyone straight from the pound - she is a dream dog! We have tentatively named her Sweet Pea... *grin* She will be available for rehoming in a couple of weeks or so. T.

I'd be getting a cat trap and taking any roaming cat to the pound if it was known to "invade" my yard regularly. Let the owners find it at the pound and pay costs a few times... T.

I have used Martha Gardener's Eucalyptus Wool Wash on puppies too young to be bathed in the normal dog flea washes... works great, don't need to use a lot, and it's not toxic. Bought a 5 litre bottle of basic dog shampoo for $39.95 at the local pet supply place, and it's working very nicely on the rescue dogs. We water it down a bit due to some volunteers being a little heavy handed with shampoo, and it still brings them up all shiny and clean with no dry skin. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat - most of the other 5 litre bottles of name brands started at $99 and went up from there. This "cheap" stuff is doing the job just fine and it smells nice too! T.

Digital Camera Warehouse has a whole pile of Canon mount macro lens options also... http://www.digitalcamerawarehouse.com.au/category702_1.htm T.

Dingoes apparently are the only dogs that can turn their wrists in a similar way to how we humans do. They also have a different set to their teeth. Trouble, my BYB Lab from Moree, has a smidge of Dingo in her background, which is evidenced by her wrist movement and different set to her teeth than most Labs - she also has certain behaviours that are VERY Dingo. Pickles the camp dog has a great set of Dingo teeth and some Dingo mannerisms - I'm sure she would have the wrist movement thing too if she didn't have a disability in her legs that makes checking it impossible. Tarquin showed off his special wrist movement for you the other day... cool isn't it? T.

I have chew marks in all of the skirting boards and door frames. There is a hole in the kitchen wall and in the kitchen door. Chew marks and claw marks on the wooden floors. All the edges of the coffee table have been chewed, as have some of the shelves on the bookcase. Lost track of how many teddy bears have been disemboweled... I've been lucky with none of them being big cord chewers so far - only sacrificed one speaker cable and one phone cable so far. Have also gotten used to looking for work boots and ugg boots out in the yard... *grin* Pups are always crated in my car, so no major damage there. Do I care about the damage? Nope... 'cos I get all the puppy cuddles I want... hehe! T.

I think we can all understand those thoughts... lol! Photography is addictive, isn't it? T.

You are getting REALLY good at this photography stuff Rach! Yet another batch of "I wish I'd taken those" photos... *sigh* T.

I'm liking your thinking there Katdogs... and don't they give the BEST cuddles? T.

I'm sure we could arrange for her to come live with you PS... *grin* T.

I'm not seeing any staffy in these babies - they are way too finely built. I can definitely see working line builds of ACD, Kelpie, and maybe Koolie (allows for the blue eyes on the ACD or Koolie cross). Their coats are short, but longer and definitely different to staffy or any of the other bull-type breed coats. Trust me, I see LOTS of bull-breed crosses in rescue... lol! If there was any "staffy" in these pups, it would be a heck of a long way back in the genes. I'd be surprised if these pups fully grown will be any more than about 15 kgs and just below knee height to me - which would definitely put them into the "medium" dog category. Whatever they are breed-wise, they are lovely natured and happy little munchkins... with just the right amount of cheek to make them virtually irresistible... *grin* T.

The vet that is now trying to get you to put your dog through expensive and most probably unnecessary surgery was the one that told you to feed it calcium powder, isn't she? At 14 months of age a Cavalier doesn't need any extra calcium if she's getting plenty of bones and the like. Stop the calcium powder and get a specialist to properly diagnose what (if anything) is going on with your dog's knees... and get yourself a different general vet for non-specialist visits. I'm not going to give advice about breeding a bitch that's never proven herself in the show ring... but let's just say I wouldn't do it just because her temperament is good and she looks pretty to you... T.

Nice focus Rach! Loving all the colours in this one too! T.

Great job all! T.

Maybe Cr Pendleton could visit the various pound(s) in Sydney a few times and see the numbers of pregnant bitches and discarded litters of pups that come through the doors? Obviously he's not thought his argument through to the end... simply watching a bitch whelp isn't the end of the process - the pups need to be reared and then homes found for them... and that part seems to be the hardest bit for many people. Another thing to note, has anyone else noticed that no-one is ever offering up pups as free to good home any more - it all seems to be about "making money" off the litters nowadays... T.

I could stretch to Koolie/Kelpie cross for the brindle boy, but really don't want to list Dingo as part of the breed mix on the chip database - do you think we could be safe listing them as ACD/Kelpie? Prospective new owners would be appraised of the Dingo possibility in their genetics. They are the sweetest pups, very friendly and playful. Whoever "bred" and raised them to this stage didn't neglect them socially... which is always a bonus... it certainly makes my job as a foster carer much easier when we get well adjusted pups into care... *grin* T.

But neither the GSD nor the Husky breed have brindle. So if they were a cross of just those two breeds they could not be brindle. GSD crossed with a breed that has brindle can throw brindle, certainly. Tarqin looks very much like my Pickles when she came into care. I'm thinking these guys are tracking to be about her size when fully grown. Pickles is about 15 kgs and would fall into the 'medium size range. They really look like Australian working dog type mix to me - definitely nowhere near GSD or Husky size. T.

Some group shots... Tarquin and Theodore Theodore, Scout, and Fable Tarquin, Fable, and Scout (and Nathaniel's bum) T.