wuffles

Awww I just love Ziggy, but of course I am biased. Ava sends body slams and bitey face back at him Ohh lilli_star that's no good Get better soon! KTB the first name that popped into my head was "Charles" I think because he looked so proper and Charles seemed fitting... The lucky girl got another present today from her lovely breeder and she was very excited Here are some pictures tonight. Little Miss Grumpy had to sit still while I take a photo of her with her present. :D My two furry models! "Please share with me, Satchy!" "NO!" *whomp*

Yes, I would say it's frustration. Ava sometimes whinges during shaping and it's generally when I am expecting a bit too much from her, so I tend to stop and do a few known commands so that she regains confidence. Then no more of the stressful activity until another session (which is hard for me sometimes but I think it's best for her ). I'm shaping a dumbell retrieve at the moment which is a very, very slow process and a few times she has started whinging and chucking the dumbell in the air. I take that as my cue to stop Edit: In saying this, sometimes I do push her slightly as when she whinges it means she starts trying all kinds of crazy stuff and sometimes gets it right. If she's obviously not getting anywhere though, that's when I stop.

Thaaaanks! They grow up so fast :D I will have to make sure I get some pics tonight and compare them to her puppy photos, although she has been constantly wet and muddy these past few days... sigh. She really has calmed down lately, OH and I have both noticed. Not sure if it was the desexing or just because she's getting older, but it's really nice!

I know this doesn't really help finance-wise, but maybe you could buy the 20kg and donate the unused portion to rescue. Then at least it won't go to waste :D

Mine don't pee inside but boy could they hold on forever Our little one is easy enough to get outside and she will go reluctantly in the rain but our big boy is another story. He hadn't been outside in about 16 hours last weekend so we thought enough is enough. Bribing didn't work. I put his collar and leash on and dragged him outside where he proceeded to sit at the door, in the rain, for about 15 minutes - no peeing. So I gave in and took him for a walk around the block where he happily marked every bush he saw

I think you'll probably find that very few people are "purely positive" trainers and most don't claim to be. For example, I would say that I train using positive reinforcement and that involves negative punishment as well (taking away something good, for example of the dog jumps, turning away from them). But I (and probably most others) also use mild forms of positive punishment which is associated with "old school" training... for example I will use a pop on the leash for pulling, and I will use "no" and "uh uh". Our club teaches positive methods but I have seen plenty of the instructors telling their dogs off for misbehaving Ultimately it just comes down to both the dog and the owner and what is best for them. Ava is really, really soft so she doesn't need strong punishment. Satch came to us very sensitive but has toughened as he's become more confident in the world so he oftens needs a stronger hand. Once OH yelled at him for destroying something he shouldn't have, and Satch went and hid under a desk for an hour. In my world that's when you know you've taken it too far... I want the dog to stop what he's doing wrong without making him frightened or upset.

I've fed them before with no issues.

Once I was at OH's soccer game when a guy injured himself quite badly. We got some ice from the servo down the road, but had no bags to put it in... until I reached into my pocket and pulled out a few poo bags. People got a good laugh out of it but none of them could produce the goods :D

Ava has black spots in her mouth. She didn't want to herd the sheep and won't retrieve a ball

I don't think there's a problem with a bit of a telling off if the other dogs are misbehaving or getting in his face. I think Satch had a grumble at nearly all the dogs at the BBQ on Saturday because they were bouncing around him being silly puppies I just worry when Ava does it because she seems scared rather than the other dog actually being overly rude.

Most of the Canberra people will have heard this story but I'll tell it again for the benefit of Max#1 and her naughty runaway pup! One day after obedience training, Satch and some of his classmates were having a run around in the "puppy pen" which is just a small fenced area off to the side of the main obedience paddocks. Someone went to leave and Mr Mo slipped out the gate before I could stop him. There were about 5 obedience classes going on in the paddock he got into, and I think he went and said hello to EVERY SINGLE DOG. He was play bowing, running circles around them, and generally looking like it was the most fun he'd had in his life. I was so embarrassed. I yelled "COME!" at him and to my delight he ran straight back to me... and then straight past me... then around the back of me... then back into the classes Finally, someone grabbed his collar for me until I could catch up. Sometimes I think our dogs are put on the earth just to embarrass us Ava is getting much more wary of other dogs as she gets older As a pup she'd go and bounce on any other dog she saw but she is becoming selective and only likes them once they are established as "friends". A small dog had a go at her a little while back and she actually retaliated for the first time (just by raising the lip and a little growl), and she's also raised the lip at a few dogs if they get in her face. And she tried to run away from one of the dogs at the reserve this morning! Not sure if it's a fear period as I think they can go through one at around 12 months. Or it may just be that she is maturing and doesn't want to tolerate as much anymore... she is definitely acting more like an adult than a puppy these days I definitely don't have the problem with toy focus, I would be happy if Ava would bring a ball back every now and then

I changed Ava over to adult food quite early (I think around 6-7 months) as she was turning into a chunker She was getting really big and boofy, not fat but just big boned. Also, Satch was eating a lot of her puppy kibble and stacking on the weight as well so it was easier having them both on adult As soon as we changed her over I noticed a difference, she trimmed down and looked much more feminine. She was getting less than the recommended puppy kibble (1.5 cups a day) too, now she gets 1.5 cups of adult and is fine. Great! The inlaws live in Brookfield so that side is fine too! We haven't worked out exact dates yet but we'll probably be there for around 2 weeks or slightly more around Xmas...

Hoover's humpies don't bother me because you watch him and stop him doing it. I have had to leave the dog park before, though, when dogs have gotten obsessed with humping Satch. I have come across the owners that think it is funny, and poor Satchy gets quite distressed after a while. At least one of the dogs was so big that I couldn't get the damn thing off him, so we left :rolleyes: Satch will do it occasionally, but he knows he's not meant to and as soon as I go near him he stops Heee I love threadless. I am wearing a threadless shirt right now, although it is hurting my sunburn.

Awww how cute is James!!! Flying lab! I'm impressed that you got the mid-air photos, I'm always too slow. For those of you who are in QLD (in or around Brisbane), I'll be up there over Xmas with my two ferals if anyone wants to meet up. I'll have a car so can go pretty much anywhere, but my parents are near the airport so close to the Nudgee and Nudgee Beach dog parks :rolleyes: It won't stop raining so it looks like we won't be walking today. Satch hasn't been outside to pee yet today. Ava went out after much encouragement although I did get a death stare We're off to see Harry Potter tonight, yay.

Sure, I understand what you all mean, I recognise a stunning dog when I see one. But most non-doggie people I know go just as ga-ga over shaggy oodles, oversized staffies, and pug crosses with smooshy faces. My little girl turns heads. She is well bred but what gets people interested is her colouring... she is mismarked. Lots of things turn people's heads, not just good conformation.

While I do understand the sentiment of the thread, I'm not so sure it holds true with the general public... us dog fanatics are different I have two dogs -- one a mutt and one pedigreed. To be honest, they both get comments when we are out walking. The general public doesn't notice that the mutt's legs are cow hocked. They don't care that his ears are crooked. And they don't know that he gets allergies. What they do see is a handsome, calm dog on a walk with his family. The general public doesn't notice that the purebred has beautiful conformation. They don't see that her parents were health tested and she is unlikely to have any genetic problems passed down from them. What they do see is a pretty, sweet dog on a walk with her family.

I don't know if it could compare to my sunburn I'm going to be stinky for a while because I can't shower

Oh no Primedogs! I'm glad you made it home safely in the end. KTB, awesome video! Such gorgeous and largely well behaved doggies. Do you mind sending me some of the pics you took of Satchy and Ava? They look really nice I think KumaAkita has Zoe's email address. Stupid photobucket is still stuffing around with the size of my images Here is my video contribution... ! Just got back from my friend's 30th birthday party and one of her friends made a half croquembouce half macaron cake It was very delicious... Hopefully my kids will let me have a sleep in tomorrow, the big juicy bone trick is always good!

And finally, Ava and her pressie stash! She looooves the treat ball and has been annoying us pushing it around the house

Birthday boy Kuma with a big tongue. GIMME. Hoover and his indecisive ear. Deakin and Pepper. Happy Nugget. Sweet Miss Pepper!

Finally managed to get a photo of Deakin with his eyes open! The big boys - Kuma and Satchmo! The only ok photo I got of Elbie...

Here we go. The birthday girl after having her head slobbered on by countless dogs. Satchmo looking very happy and Shandy in the background. My two bubbas Pretty Miss Shandy. Nugget

We all had a great time today (after the other people vacated the BBQ area)! The two pups are knackered, they are fast asleep. I'm just looking through my pictures now and they aren't brilliant but I'll post them soon! Should I post them in here or in the Social Events thread?

Bikkies Will have to somehow make sure the doggies don't get too much human food I've just cooked a big batch of potatoes for a tatie salad. The other salad will be made in the morning. Presents are wrapped... doggies tried to steal the presents while they were being wrapped. And still praying for no rain. Is it weird that I didn't have a party for my birthday this year but I am having one for my dog?

One of the computers in our house is on 24/7! I use the Dell Webcam software, just keep my laptop plugged in and it has no problem recording 9 hours worth of video. The worst bit is going through it at the end.