pip1981

Crazy Daisy: i'm sorry your heart dog is gone, I just had to say what you said about looking at his picture, your heart swelling, that's how I feel when I look at my girl, perfect description, my heart swells with love, like I couldn't possibly love her more, sometimes I actually tear up. *runs away out of sheer embarassment*

I'm so sorry to read about Hooley, Ceilidh, my thoughts are with you. I cry even thinking about that day coming with Dakota, and she's only 2. Take care of yourself. *hugs* When I was a little girl, some people my parents knew gave them a pup from an unwanted litter (as far as I know). I was about 4 or 5 at the time, it was close to my birthday, and they passed it off as a birthday present, to get rid of it I guess , anyway Cindy was a Kelpie (maybe x?) from a working farm. She was loving, but Mum and Dad did nothing to train her/improve her behaviour, or even contain her properly, and eventually a Border Collie/ Heeler X got to her, and we had pups. Mum chose one puppy to keep, I named her Jelly, and they gave Cindy away We moved to the suburbs and Jelly came with us, she was always an outside dog due to my Dad's upbringing, sooo sweet, great with us kids, friendly to all, although shy of men (except those she knew) due to an unfortunate experience with a dog-sitter. She grew out of this fear at about 12 years old, and lived until the ripe old age of 16, when it was my decision as a 21 year old to give her her wings, as Dad was too scared to make the decision that would break my heart. Jelly helped get me through my parent's separation, teenage break-ups, and even when I was in trouble with Mum and Dad, I went to Jelly for comfort. Now, I thought there was no way I could ever love a dog as much as I loved my Jelly, but then my OH and I got our very own puppy when we finally moved in to our own home together, and I was IN LOVE! Dakota is definitely my 'heart' dog, I've never felt so close to an animal before her, and even when my OH (who loves her dearly) has been asked what would happen with Dakota if we ever split, he has said she has to stay with me, he said I NEED her more than he does. I thought that was sweet that he knows that, in a weird way..lol. It does make me feel guilty, because I'm sure I probably even told Jelly I would never love another dog like I loved her, but I know that's silly. I think for me the big difference was having an inside dog, you are just naturally more close with them (unless of course you're always outside with them, which some people are, but we weren't). On a side note: Has anyone else found they can have instant connections, so to speak, with other people's dogs, or even strays they have met in the street? I love being around all sorts of dogs, and enjoy it whether they're paying attention to me or not, but sometimes there is something special, that almost makes you sad to say good-bye, and I miss them. Maybe I'm just too sentimental..

OMG Bindii: you poor thing, I'm so glad Fletchie boy's ok after chasing the bunny, silly boy! I have nightmares about this kind of thing, and I get nervous every time we have Dakota off-lead, which these days is only really at the beach. Thank dog for Kepala!! *hugs* from Dakota and me, for you and Fletcher

Sorry for your loss, Myra was a lovely looking girl, who sounds like she was very special.

Made me really smile! thanks

Lol, I can definitely associate with this problem, except, rather than finding Dakota's hair on another dog, I often find it on the OH's chin (stuck to his whiskers....lol). :D

Hope poor old Reg is feeling better very soon...

Love all the updates Armahani! How lovely to see nearly all of them with their new families! I remember exactly what that feeling is like, holding your new baby, about to take them home!! Memories...

so sorry for your loss... *hugs for little ralph*

Love all these pics! My OH took this one on Monday night while we were away camping, I really like it because it was such a lovely night, a beautiful memory to keep!

so sorry Rozzie... 20 years probably still doesn't feel long enough for you *hugs*

My current girl (in my sig) is, of course Dakota, which is used as a boy's name too. My family dog, was Jelly, I was allowed to name her at 6 y.o, hence the silly name. Some of the names in this list are fantastic, think I'll save it for when I need another girl name one day.. Alika Alchemy Amber Amelia Amy x 2 Anais Anastacia (Annie) Angel x 3 Anishinaabe Anna April Ariane Arizona Asante sana Ashka Askari Astro Audrey Aura Ayla Baba Baci Bailey Becky Bella x2 Bit Blossom Bonny Bree Bridie Buffy Cally Cara Cassie Cedar Chelsea Chloe x 2 Charlotte Cinta CJ Claire Claudia Clover Cleoparta Cleo Coco x2 Daisy x 1 Dakota Delilah Delta Dexta Durham Dyzney Ebony Echo Elizabeth Ella Ellie Ellie Elly Emily Emma Erin Fanta Finta Glitter Grace Griffin Gypsy x2 Harlow Hayley x2 Heddy Heidi Holly x 5 Honey Honour Imogen - Imy Jay Jay Jazz Jelly Jezebel Jindi Jodie Kara Karmen Katie Kayla Kenzie Kiesha Kizzey Krissy Kuean - (Queen) Lacey Lady Layla Lea (lele) Lily x 1 Logan Lottie Lucy x3 Mable Marie Claudette Marlo Meg Merrique Mia Millie x2 Minnie Mischka Molly x3 Molly Coddle Mya Nala Narla Natasha Ness Nova Pearl Peggie Perri Pip Pixie Popcorn Porridge Reba Rommi Rosey Roxy Ruby x3 Sabrina Sally Sascha x 2 Satu Shae Shandy Sharnie Sheba Shine Sinta Skye Sophie x2 Sparky Springy Spook Stella Stimpy Storm Sue Tansy Tara Tayla Teegan Tess Tia Tilba Tilly x3 Tinny (tin tin) Tori Trixie Tully Vada Voodoo Winter Wilhelmina Xanthe Ziva Zoe

i'm gonna be honest..we didn't go....again! i'm so pathetic... on the upside..a friend of ours brought his new girlfriend around for a visit..and turns out she's a DOLer....lol...had a great old yarn! sorry Dakota off to Kepala tomorrow morning for lots and lots of exercise!

wow Fran! so sorry you had to experience this...how scary glad you're all ok.. YAY for Atlas!

Oh, sorry if I wasn't clear, Dakota's well and truly finished puppy classes, she's 26 months old...lol, this was 2 years ago and most of the hour, was chatting and questions with the pups just sitting/laying down, but on lead, with learning the techniques in between... Dakota's case is probably a combination of an already happy-go-lucky girl by nature and playtime with other pups I guess. She may have been as excitable as she is without puppy school, but we'll never know...lol...nevermind, we love her to bits! :D

I'm sorry, I don't know anything about the sterising thing, but personally I would feel I had to remove the tree and find another form of shade until I grew a new tree. It's too risky.. (sorry, this is coming from experience with toxic poisoning from flowers, my girl is lucky to be with us)

Thanks SecretKei! I think you've taught me that there is one positive to me being heavier than I'd like...lol...because Dakota sure can PULL! I guess, being a Samoyed I'd be worried if she couldn't, but still.... I'm sorry you've had to deal with all of that..how difficult with such a large dog. Well, I think it's safe to say that puppy school probably is responsible for her excitement around other dogs, but thank-fully I don't think it's bad enough that we couldn't attend group classes, etc, because the excitement does settle after a time, especially when I take her to DOL meets. I can barely hold her back when we first get out of the car, but after a while, even off lead, she has reasonable recall, and that's surrounded by 15 or so dogs.. Our puppy school classes consisted of maybe 1 hour on lead tasks between owner and dog, followed by about 20 minutes of off-lead play, which I guess is why Dakota does see other dogs as a 'reward' as you put it. We're considering starting obedience to improve her focus on us, and hopefully improve her walking on lead with me. Do you suggest I find somewhere that doesn't allow much 'play' time with the other dogs? Cheers sorry for hijacking the thread, but I think this might be useful info to the OP anyway?

Good luck slk! I'm sure you're right, and the right puppy in need of a good home will come along soon

Hi There, sorry if this is too OT, but I was wondering if you could elaborate a little on the puppy school thing, because I think I've had an epiphany (sp?)! Is puppy school why my dog thinks every single dog is her new best friend?!!? We just thought she was the friendliest, most mentally excitable dog ever? Have we done this to her?

Hi Megan! Thanks for the tip re: melb weather, unfortunately on weekdays I'm up at 5.40am to get ready for work, I really can't see myself getting up any earlier than that to walk Dakota. I guess after getting up at that time 5 days a week, I don't really feel like taking her on a 6am walk on the weekend...but if this heat doesn't relent, I'll just have to!

very cool, and what a funny little dog to watch ;)

Well, it's really hot in Melbourne at the moment, yesterday was too hot after work to take Dakota for a walk. I could have waited 'til later, no excuse for that one, just couldn't get my butt off the couch after a week's work...sorry puppy! If it cools down enough tonight I will definitely take her, and should be able to rope the OH in as well, being a weekend.. We're supposed to be going to Kepala (private dog park) tomorrow to play with 21 other doggies and their humans (DOL meet), but if it's anything like today, I can't justify putting my big woolly dog in the car I love going, I really hope we get a miracle cool change. Good luck everyone ;)

I'm back already, but at least I went! It is still fairly warm outside here, I didn't realise this while sitting in my air-conditioned living room, lol. Ok, I think the martingale is more effective than the harness, but I really need to start doing some obedience with her I think, she just doesn't take me seriously, even when I really mean it, the spoilt brat took me for a walk. On the up side, I wasn't the only one being taken for a walk! I got to meet another Samoyed in my housing estate (whom I've never seen, kinda proves I don't walk Dakota enough huh?), and a Sibe, taking their humans for a walk. I think the big male Sammy would have been ok meeting Dakota on his own, but I think he kinda fed off the female Sibe's vibes, and he scared my little wussy girl, so that meeting was short-lived. Sorry, went a bit OT. So, Day 1. Easy walk 30 mins max. I aim to walk fairly late tomorrow night, as it's gonna be a stinker here, then probably no walk on Saturday, even hotter. Sunday we have the Melbourne social dog meet at Kepala, so she will get plenty of exercise, I'll just have to run with the dogs too..lol. p.s Good on you Teebs, I'd love my pants to fit better...

Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you! I don't know how this thread has managed to motivate me, but it has!! Dakota gets a lot of stimulation/exercise simply from the games we play (and the spethal games she plays all on her own), and she's very petite, but deep down, i do know she needs to walk, and we don't walk nearly enough. And I'm putting on weight like no tomorrow! I don't see myself finding the motivation to stop eating junk anytime very soon, so I should at least attempt to shift some weight with exercise! I'm going right now! It's about time I tried out the new martingale collar anyway... I'll report in later

Have joined and invited all my friends, hope I can help