wuffles

Marlo is so pretty ;) I didn't take many photos at all this week so didn't have much of a choice! Here is Ava demonstrating her 'beg' and showing her teefies :rolleyes: week07 by wufflesx, on Flickr

I'd move her through the levels as well if possible. I have a young lab in my beginners class at the moment who is also doing really well. I've recommended that they start teaching some simple tricks that they can do between exercises if they get bored, and I am happy to help them with some more advanced tricks when they feel they are ready. I was bored in our beginners class too but it was only 8 weeks worth so I persisted. We moved into our club's trialling classes at 12 months old.

I have a small yard too so I feel your pain. Our local school oval is dog off leash and isn't that popular so I go there quite often. There are a few ovals around our area so it's pretty easy to pick the quietest one. Our dog club grounds are also a good place, outside of class times. We are a bit spoilt for off leash areas around my area, though. Does your council provide a map of off leash areas?

I freeze chicken wings for my dogs as my little one swallows them whole otherwise. I also don't hang around... I feed them in her crate and let her be. She does tend to gobble them pretty fast if I'm too close by.

The only time I discourage it is when he wants to pee on a bench, or someone's letterbox, or a freshly painted wall, etc

Anyone got some more details about how they actually met their mentors, or how they actually became your mentor Did you ask them or did they offer? Or did it just happen? I have done our club's instructor training and am helping teach a beginner's class at the moment. I'm also training my own dog and hoping to compete in CCD soon. If I actively approach people from my club with questions they will try to answer them, but I'm not sure how to take that next step towards having an actual 'mentor'...

Don't know if this has been mentioned already but remember with the medium and larger breeds, you should not jog/run with them until they are older (at least 12-18 months depending on breed) as you can damage their growing bones and joints. IMO it sounds like many breeds would suit so go for one that appeals to you!

My lovely breeder () sent my girl a birthday present for her first birthday last year. A toy and some treats and a card. I thought it was great, but I am in touch with her regularly so it wasn't weird at all. If I hadn't bothered to keep in touch then I probably wouldn't want a present. Hard to know though as I'd always keep in touch if possible...

True, but I answered for both my dogs and the answers were very different!

One of mine reacts by pacing, panting and being clingy. He doesn't harm himself but he can get very worked up if the thunder is constant. I do see this as a problem as he is very upset, there is nothing I can do about it but manage it. If I'm home I put on his Thundershirt, give him a quick pat but remain calm and let him hide or do whatever he wants to do. If I'm at home I generally don't rush home unless it is a very long lasting or noisy storm. Thankfully my boss is a dog owner and lover and understands in those situations. Our other dog has what I would call a normal reaction to storms. She is not worried and will continue about her normal business. If there is a loud clap of thunder she will startle, but recovers quickly. I have actually found that having another dog who ignores thunderstorms has been good for our phobic boy. He is usually very picky about his personal space but during a storm will lie closer to our girl than he would normally. I have noticed that she seems to have a calming effect on him I was worried that she would pick up on his fear as she copies him a lot but she seems fine so far.

I filled it out for both my dogs :D I did find the fear questions a bit difficult as well but I did my best!

A dog acting hungry isn't a sign that it's not being fed enough, nor that it is unhappy. I can assure you that my little garbage guts is still happy despite the fact that she acts like she hasn't been fed in days, even if she's just had her dinner And best of all she is lean, fit, healthy and looks great! :D

ooohhh... it's getting sooo close. You will be FINE. You just need to relax and enjoy this time - what happens, happens! Focus on the excitement and leave the nerves at home What are you doing with your fluffers while you're away? Don't worry, I'm not a stressy bride by any means We won't be 'away' as such, we're going back home on the night. Going to the coast for a few days the week after but they are coming with us

I have to say, I have been on more toxic forums than this one in my time. Guys, I am getting married in a week and a half. I think my excitement/nervousness has finally started to set in

One of mine would eat until she popped. She would sell her soul for one piece of kibble. I hear pumpkin recommended a lot as it fills them up without making them fat. I don't mind that my girl is always hungry as it makes her very easy to train

I catch my big boy while he's resting and only do one nail per session, before he can run away Thankfully they don't need doing often as I walk him on footpaths a lot.

It may be, but when my girl does this I am pretty certain that it's an arousal displacement behaviour. I think there was a thread about it a while ago but I'm not sure what the topic name was. My girl won't fetch to save her life but will always pick something up and bring it to us if she is excited or nervous, and you can see that it noticeably calms her down

Black Hawk Holistic has tiny kibble. One of mine gave me the strangest look when changing from Royal Canin (which is quite large) to Black Hawk

I know a few people who have previously or currently own brindle or red SBTs who have purchased or plan to purchase a blue pup.

I never met my pup until she arrived at my house, as they were interstate. She came to us at 12 weeks old as that was the best timing for the breeder and myself. My breeder had done some socialising with other dogs, cars, vets, etc. We started puppy school at the cutoff age, 14 weeks, then obedience classes at 20 weeks. She is a very well socialised and bombproof little girl (except on the weekend when she was investigating the vacuum cleaner and got her nose suctioned in the process, then ran and hid next to our other dog for safety ;)) The best thing for us about coming to us at 12 weeks was that it was easier to start training her, she could last longer through the night and wasn't as attached to her siblings ;)

Happy birthday Ziggy and Elbie! They grow so quickly don't they Although I miss my fluffy, silly, crazy, bouncy puppy I must say I love when they grow up and become 'easier' There is a 6 month old GR x poodle in my beginners obedience class. He is like a big fluffy bear. So full of life, as you can imagine Max#1, we both work fulltime in order to afford dogfood, toys and such (:D) so ours are alone from about 7:45am 'til 5pm. Ava is used to having Satch there with her so I don't know how she'd cope being by herself all day but Satch has always been happy to spend the day sleeping. Before we got Ava sometimes we would get home and he'd still be in his kennel, oblivious. We'd go rouse him, then he'd say hello, go do a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooong wee, have a loooooooooooooooooooong drink, come inside and go back to bed :D

Sue & Cindy, I can't even get my low drive dog (the one I don't do obedience with for this very reason) to look at the dumbell, so you are doing well and will get there eventually ;)

Awesome pics Shell!!!! Dogs on slides are just the funniest thing every :D

I think that $1800 for a blue pup is probably outrageous as well ;) Personally I think that all colours should be the same price but it's none of my business what breeders want to sell their dogs for. I probably wouldn't buy from one who charged different prices for different colours. I have no problem with charging more if the litter cost them more to start with, whether that be because of imported semen or other factors.

Yep, we have a towel. They still drip all the way from the tiles across the towel to the carpet ;) I always warn people when we visit their houses as well :p