Dory the Doted One

We have two, two seater couches in our lounge room. Guess where me and the daughter are sitting? Guess where Dory and the kitten are sleeping?f Anyone would think the couches where his and hers for Dory and Oscar the Shark Slayer (kitten). How did we come to this? I am now going to turf one or both of them off...as my is going tragically numb.

I have never seen a Prong Collar so I am happy to be wrong, but they look like they could inflict some pain. As such I have no issues with a trained professional, or even someone with common sense using them, but arent we under an obligation to protect dogs from morons, so banning them is not such a bad idea. Its like banning smoking in cars with kids, we shouldnt need to legislate it, but because there are so many idiots out there it needs to be done. I think there are enough checks in place that we don't need to ban these collars. They aren't that readily available, and I've seen worse reactions from dogs with choke chains (oh...sorry CORRECTION chains ) that I'd ban them before I'd ban a prong collar. I've only seen a prong collar used in d*ckhead fashion once...and that was by a professional trainer!!! I've seen plenty of novices use them quite capabably. Now again....correction chains....I've seen them abused so many times it makes me wince, yet we see not a mention of them being banned. I don't think prong collars should be a first port of call for behaviour problems, but I think it would be a sad day for dogdom if they should ever be banned. I've seen them save dogs lives. I wouldn't want to see them available on petshop shelves though. Purchased through an approprately experienced dog trainer...sure.

If the dog doesn't need one, then it only doesn't need to be used. Doesn't matter if the dog is wearing it in case it might ever be needed. But I think I know what you mean. I'm not against the use of training collar corrections, but some people rely on them too heavily. Exactly, Erny. They could be using it because of a physical disablity. Some people just don't have the necessary strength to give an adequate correction (or reminder) when needed.

As far as I know it is not illegal to use them in SA. Plenty of people will tell you that they are, especially those working for AWL or RSPCA. There are many obedience clubs that won't allow the use of them on their fields. Espcially those affliated with DogsSA, plenty of their members still use them though. I know of a couple of training establishments in SA that seem to hand them out to nearly all of their clients. Which concerns me. I think they are very useful training tools and definately have their place. But I have seen a lot of them on dogs that didn't really need them if their owners put in the necessary work in the first place. The average person has no idea what they are, but if you are worried you could always hide it under a bandana or make a special cover for it.

1. Flead. Check 2. Wormed. Check 3. Anal Glands emptied. Check 4. Not eating food that makes us itchy. Check So why on EARTH is she still scooting her butt? Does she like it or something? So the question is, has any one got any other ideas of what might be going on? She has been vet checked...regularly, but we can't find a thing wrong with her. When not scooting it, she is licking it. Today she started at one end of the courtyard and scooted to the other. Got up...walked back to where she started and did it again. Rest of the time she is fine. When she is in the house she doesn't do it. When she is with us, she doesn't do it. It's not a constant thing. But it is often enough to be noticeable.

Rain or Shine....Dory and I will be there. I'm sure she'll overcome her objection to rain if it means a romp with some friends. If not, she can sulk in the car.

Cool Thread! Dory came to me for a variety of reasons..... 1. Special Dogs need Special People. (Or vice versa) 2. She has shown me my own issues with separation anxiety and clingy over attachment . 3. I wasn't that attached to a super obedient dog, anyway. 4. I know she knows and she knows I know, you know...but we pretend we don't. You know. 5. I quit my crappy job where I couldn't take her to work (and I got paid when they could afford it), so I could get a better job where I can! 6. I always have someone to hug, who won't EVER say they have had enough or their too busy. 7. So I could have a dog that I can take anywhere. And most likely a whole lot of reasons that we are yet to discover......

Three better words "toilet on command". Makes life so much easier. I use a combination of both.......trained to 'pee' on command (provided bladder not just emptied), umbrella and leash. P.S. Leash means "Okay, I'm coming with you to do as you wish", whether it's car, walk or toilet!! Ah, you peoples are taking all the fun out of my life. Didn't you know I thrive on Dory being such a Princess. ;) But... :D .....don't tell her that. She is VERY good at being inventive, especially if she finds out I've been playing her as much as she plays me. :D

I wanna come back as my dog! Life is sooooooo hard.

We have to trick Dory to go out when it's not raining, let alone when it is raining. Sooky little bugger hates to be away from us. You know the trick...you act like your going outside and when she barges past you quickly slam the door. Well, she's onto that one now, so now we have to go out with her wait for her to dash over to the otherside of the yard and then quickly run back inside and shut the door on her. A couple of times we have had to lift her up and actually shove her out the door. I am stumped as to HOW she can hold on for so long. We are lucky, new house has big covered veranda so she can still pee when it's wet. Downside...she has chosen to poop under the washing line when it's wet! ARGH. Ironically....if we leave the back door open when we are home...she will willingly mosey on out and sit in the sun for quite some time. Unasked. Not coerced or bribed. Not forced. Willingly! But then we got a kitten and now we can't do that anymore for fear the little Poo knicks off out there with her. So we are back to booting her out.

All being well.....Dory and I shall be there, with 14yr old daughter in tow. Also heads up to you Rescue Crew....I'm scouting around for the perfect dog for a client at our Vet clinic. I posted in Rescue...but if you guys know of anything or anyone that may fit the bill, please come and have a chat with me! The situation is not your average situation and needs some 'splaining.

Still no itching...parcel delivery came, but as it was dark couldn't see. I did see it smiling at me as we went outside....she'd been holding onto it...but then nipped off somewhere I couldn't see to deposit. Gave her some more tonight, this time mixed with some eggs. At BF's house, finished a late shift at work and shops were closed so couldn't pick up some mince. Nicked some of his eggs though. She seemed quite keen on eating it tonight. Eggs are not one of her favourite foods, she will eat them but not with relish. Tonight however she seemed interested. But then again she didn't have her usual brekkie AND the other girls at work did not bribe her with treats. Scammed some liver at puppy preschool though. (Atta girl)

Edited as computer spat out double post.

But would not a young adult that has been in a foster situation and been assessed by someone who has spent time testing and checking the DOG (not Pup), be a good compromise? Even within breeds you can have diverging temperaments, pedigree increases your odds that you will get a more standardised temperament. I observed in one Rottie litter quite diverging temperaments. One was dead from the neck up with no personality at all. One had a very well balanced temperament and one was a total psycho. Of the three the Psycho had quite a good bit of socialising, but was a real meance. Hated everyone and everything. Could pat him one minute and the next he'd try to rip your arm off. The other two were very manageable, cept I couldn't do the dog with no personality. Where was the challenge?

I would love to have a Siggie of Dory. I don't have a lot of piccies of her....but here goes...probably crap cos they were taken with phone or crappy camera. Do the piccies need to be bigger? There is a couple of nice shots of her in the Adelaide DOL meet photo thread. I'm a photo gumby.

The blueprint for the masterpiece is the standard. If the puppy is growing into the standard, it's a masterpiece. However, I agree.....some masterpieces are an acquired taste. And not just in the dog world. Totally Agree! Sometimes I'm such a Gumby with words. :D

When it comes to Masterpieces...I just like a well constructed dog that is well angulated, well put together, moves beautiful whatever its breed or breed/s. There is just something special about about balance and good construction that really sticks out. A dog with free, well controlled movement. A dog, that despite it's size could move all day. I'm not taking offense to the cartoon/masterpiece comment (now that I've seen it in it's entirety). There are some breeds of dog that can be as close to their Standards as perfection can make them, and I'll still struggle for Masterpiece. But beauty IS in the eye of the beholder. But soundness carries them for life.

This person was very scathing of anyone that had a swf, dd etc. I think that is what got up my nose more than anything. They were very disparaging and quite thick with some very unflattering generalisations. And wouldn't hear it any other way. Being an Aries...we love to defend the meek and unrepresented in any discussion. Tokkie....loads of people think Dory is a 'breed', scam artist that she is. She knows how to charm the pants off people. As to the term of Mongrel...considering that it is rarely used these days as a flattering comment and not often attached to conversations regarding the parentage of pets, you can understand 14 yr olds distressed at hearing her dog compared to an unsavouring element of society. Have no probs with the term Mutt. And she may technically be called a Mongrel, but I'd prefer if you didn't. Especially as there are other terms that can be used. And I'd say that of most other cross breeds....cept the grumpy little Sh*ts that try to bite me....and that ain't relegated to just cross breeds or even dogs.

My rant comes after one too many encounters of this attitude. Generally I can blow it off. Perhaps it is just the month for it. Or wrong month for something! I just wondered if it was something that happened to other people and with any regularity.

This is for purebreds and Muttleys alike. I went into a supplier of pet services recently, and ended up in one of those conversations that you don't quite know how you got there and wondered how you could get out of it type deals. Person in question was an owner/breeder/competitor of pedigree dogs and rightly proud...gorgoues dogs. But I was hugely put off when conversation (considering I was initially in there to find out prices of things) turned somewhat political. Now I get that most/all breeders are very anti oodles and DD's...but I just wish some of you guys would realise that not all owners of cross breed dogs have them because they thought they were anything other than what they are...Cross Breed. That some of our Oodles and Mixed Breeds are actually pound puppies and rescue dogs. That we did not get our dogs from petshops or from the backyard of some random person because it was cute or we wanted to save a life. To please also understand I do NOT appreciate my dog being called a Mongrel. Yes I KNOW that it was a term that was used to describe a dog of unknown parentage, but my daughter was a bit upset to hear Dory called such a thing. We prefer Muttly, Cross Breed or our Fav....Red Dog Scruff Mutt. And I'm sure that there is a plethora of others who own cross breeds who would feel the same. Especially when delivered in such a flippant way, as if my dog is a nothing because she doesn't have parents with extensive pedigrees. (She actually could for all we know...accidents do happen...and well....Puppy Farmers get their 'pure breds' somewhere). I'm very very Proud to have Dory in my life. I'm very proud of who she is and what she is. I don't condone the breeding of more like her. And I specifically got her because I wanted to give a dog a chance at a pretty cool life being spoilt rotten. (but within reason...) It irks me to have people who bought a DD(in their minds) sneer at her because she is a 'pound puppy' or 'mutt'.(ah...hello love, your dog is a cross breed too!!!!). [okay...Dory has some rough edges and isn't exactly a girly girl kinda girl...she cocks her leg and likes to sniff other dogs butts...she also does not smell like doggie perfume, unless it's of the doggy odour variety]. It irks me to have pedigree dog owners sneer at her for the same reason. It irks me to have said pedigree owners and breeders ASSUME I bought her as a DD. And then proceed to tell me wrong that is. Wouldn't it just be nicer to accept her (and others) as is? And only jump to your conclusions AFTER you ask us where we got her from? Rather than assume we got her from an Evil PetShop or BYB. And on the other hand....to all you Pedigree dog owners.....have you been dog snobbed by others? (I'm sure you have!!!!) I once got lectured by someone at Animal Welfare League about the evils of pedigree dogs and how they are nothing but genetic nightmares and temperament problems waiting to happen. (Yeah mate, that's why the pound is so full of pure breds). Vent over. But daughter is still annoyed over the 'mongrel' comment. *sigh*

So far no itching and she smells alright (bit doggy, she soooo needs a bath). Haven't seen a poo yet. But she was a little bit constipated yesterday, so I expect a delivery sometime soon.

Well I might be biassed...but Dory! KIDDING. Cos ya can't have her. Dory was a rescue dog from a fostered situation. I have to say she was EVERYTHING I was told she was, only better! I was given her warts and all history and it was very accurate. I am more than pleased with the process that I went through and the information that was given. Now the bits that weren't included where these....(and only because who could know!).... Great with cows, horses, cats, ducks, chooks, alpacas and babies. I found these out by exposing her to them, she's a really cool farm dog. Keeps in sight, comes when calls and ignores most of the residents...cept the rabbits. Not so great with lizards, snakes, ferrets or rabbits. Or old ladies with speech impediments, short and round in stature and unsteady gaits....but she's working on it. I highly recommend a young dog that has been in a foster home where it has been assessed. Dory is great with kids of all ages, loves to play but knows how to moderate it for the level that kids can handle. She is biddable and socialable and with I have to sadly admit, not a lot of formal training. (Because I've been there done that, and so long as she walks on a lead well and doesn't jump all over people, comes when she is called...I'm all good). I would be picky about the foster you got your dog from though. I'd make sure that they come with a good reputation, ask you plenty of questions, does a home check...gives you the third degree and can tell you a lot of the dogs quirky personality aspects. I'd also make it real clear what it is you want and are looking for. When I was looking for a dog I had a list and it was thus... Is overall a great dog with a few quirky faults (ie...probably wouldn't pass come Animal Welfare groups Temp tests, because of a few easily managed and modified behaviours) Can take anywhere. Medium, easy to care for coat. Don't mind if she is a little shy or has separation issues. Non barker (don't like barky dogs). Affectionate. I got that in spades with Dory. Anyway....I blather on.... Check out the Rescue Groups. They have loads of GREAT kid loving, fun loving, biddable poochies that would be very loyal and LOADS of fun. I had pedigress for years. My first mutley was a staff x bully high energy. And now Dory. I still love my pedigrees, but I love my Red Dog Scruff Mutt just as much.

Just gave dory her first feed of it, mixed in her fav sardines. She ate the lot, which is good considering she has had a pig out at the DOL meet today. Little bugger stealing other dogs sausages. She wasn't too sure to start with. I hope she doesn't get itchy with it. Because I've just mixed up her next lot and I think that this is going to be a brilliant 'travel' feed for her. Can of 'dines and some of this stuff we are good to go for overnighters at the BF's. Which has been one of the biggest challenges to keeping her on raw. He just hasn't got freezer space and I don't want her to have that many bone meals.

It's nice to finally see a piccie of Dory where she isn't sleeping on the couch. that's about the only ones I get around here. Can I steal piccies as proof my dog does actually have legs and she knows how to use them? She is currently laying belly up on the GOOD couch with her head on the GOOD cushions snoring. She was so happy today. I haven't seen her so animated and relaxed for a little while, was good to blow out the cobwebs of idiot housemates, house hunting and moving. :D

Guess it depends on the owners objective too. I used to trial, and when I competed it was to compete against myself. I didn't need to be the highest score in the ring, I just had to be the best team I could be. Other days i was happy with just a pass. I have owned one dog that was virtually impossible to train for obedience competitions. On a lead for walks and around the house she was good. But try to do something a little more formal and she would drop to the ground and play dead dog. She was not interested in food or toys and would happily lay there for quite some time. As i was not particularly attached to the outcome of her being an obedience dog, she would invariable win this contest of wills.