Dame Aussie

Yay! Sounds great mantis :) Can't wait to see the pics!!

Yep this is our place. I vacuum and use a rubber broom but I swear the stuff just appears! Rubber gloves are good, rubber brooms, shoe soles for rugs/carpet and I always have a sticky roller thing for my clothes. Next time Im getting a Poodle :laugh:

Oh how lovely :)

No I don't believe there is any truth to that! I think you're doing the right thing though, tail chasing can become a real issue, you want to stop it immediately if you see pup doing it. I know some certain breeds can suffer more than others but I don't believe that has anything to do with them being purebred dogs.

I'd like our council to do ANYTHING for its rate payers. Off lead parks Bins Poo bags Nice areas to walk Education days Any of those would be appreciated. Ours won't even pick up contained strays after 7pm. Hopeless.

I think it depends on the dog. My Anatolian x is quite a picky eater but my Aussie is a a complete piglet.

My mum is the only one who looks after our dogs. I wouldn't trust anyone else with them.

From what I've read dogs only experience emotions like happiness, fear, anxiety and the like, very basic. Anything that goes beyond this such as guilt, worry etc no, they don't think that way.

I didn't look at the pictures either :laugh:

I don't mind mice, snakes etc and am not what you would call a girly girl in that sense, I used to keep mice and rats etc but spiders... I will try and answer your question from my perspective. Everything about them creeps me out, their hairy spindly legs, the way they move, the fact they can bite, some can be life threatening, the mere thought of one makes me physcially shudder. I have nightmares about them, have trouble looking at pictures of them, quite regularly inspect areas inside before going into them to make sure there are none there and if I get one on me I become absolutely hysterical. It's out of my control. And pretty funny for anyone watching :laugh: When I was a kid I wasn't as scared of them until I was bitten by some kind of jumping spider and developed a shocking infection at the bite site. I think that has a lot to do with how I feel about them. Yes they may be harmless in most cases but I've experienced the harmful side and I wouldn't want to do it again :laugh:

Ahhh.. you have answered your own query - ..and as you are aware of BYB's - now is a good time to step away from any more associating with them I'm sure you will be responsible and do the best for your gorgeous boy ..ie: desex and enjoy without extra hassle :D :D . Yes, I couldn't have said it better. Desex him and just enjoy him for the beautiful boy he is :)

:laugh: Lili has done this with a couple of beds.... That dog isn't going anywhere nekhbet :p

TOO CUTE!!

14-18" Not all aussies are reserved and many aussies these days have been bred to have the friendlier temperament. Mine will alert bark. Due to extensive socialisation most of mine love every body but I do have 1 who is reserved with strangers until she decides they can be friends. This is my girl. She doesn't like being touched by strangers and can be very reserved meeting new people. Does seem unusual that all their dogs have both blue eyes. Mine is Merle and she has one half blue eye but I don't think either of her parents had blue eyes.

:laugh: what a helpful boy, he's adorable.

My two don't show much of a preference between us, but they have their preferred guests. My Mum and one of my OHs mates are the favourites :)

We have two but when we finally get some land and move further out I would get anywhere up to five or six....can't wait.

True story. Was once on my bed with a member of the opposite sex when the white creature in my banner below suddenly jumped up on the bed and tried to get between us when we were getting closer. It is not about jealousy. Getting between or 'splitting up' is a typical calming signal a dog will display when a situation is getting 'heated' or 'tense' and they want to calm things down. http://www.abetterpet.com/abetterpet2/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/CalmingSignalsA.pdf Thanks for that link espinay, Lili does this sometimes if we're sitting together on the couch, I assumed it was jealousy or just her wanting to be a part of it but that's really interesting.

Both my two are a yes :laugh:. If I stop with Mo he paws me, Lili will come over if I stop with her and torture me for more :laugh: Although she is very wary of strangers and generally prefers not to be petted by people she doesn't know unless they are in our home as visitors. Mo couldn't care less who it is, it's a pat!

I don't know anything about it sorry wuffles. If it were my dog I would most likely go ahead if it's become such a big problem though. All the best with it whatever you choose.

No you don't :) Remember dogs have much more sensitive noses/ears ..and can pick up the presence of things like cats/foxes/possums/people/dogs , where humans have no idea! This. The possums have arrived here and Mosley sure knows they're here!

Very tricky. As far as they see it they're helping

I think most trainers/behaviourists advocate that it is the dog reacting to our body language etc, but I don't know if anyone can really say for sure.

He didn't seem to think so no, there wasn't really a section on that. They definitely have their own personalities though and I can't see why it wouldn't be natural for them to change a little just like we do as we get older. He did address anthropomorphic tendencies in humans, something I have been very guilty of :laugh: Let me know if you'd like to read it Sam I can send it to you.

I read a book recently called "Dog Sense". Very interesting. Covers domestication and goes through all the emotions. The author believes that dogs do have similar emotions to us when it comes to the basics, joy, sadness, love etc but is unsure about more complex emotions such as guilt. Great book.