Lucyella

Yes I've showered my labrador many times, and she just loves it. I have a rubber mat on the base so she doesn't slip over and it's so easy once you and your dog get the hang of it. I always get out first and get her to shake in the shower and have already prepared about 10 towels on the floor for her antics once she's on dry land. She's so easy to wash in any case as she'll jump in the bath but she makes such a mess with black hair everywhere so it's the shower, it's much easier to clean. Only problem now is whenever I get in the shower she lies on the bathmat at the door waiting for her turn ??? My new unit has a smaller shower so she has solo showers now and it's even better, she is a labrador, water is her passion. Go for it just make sure you have a mat on the base so they can't slip over and hurt themselves.

I have a labrador and a cat and live in a body corporate unit, comprising of 6 in the complex. They are like little houses with a common ground driveway and the area we have is very spacious and private. The agent I rent through had to apply for me to have my pets via the body corporate and seek their approval before my application to rent the unit was successful. Both animals are well behaved and quiet and I had references for my dog from my dog club and previous agents I'd rented through. The agent asked to see my dog, as she's a large breed and she was concerned about the smallish yard (it's not that small, people seem to think labradors need acres) so I introduced my dog to the agent prior to moving in, which was a hit, luckily the agent is a doggie person. I live in a large country town and work close by so I'm very lucky as I can nip home at lunchtime and play with my animals then go back to work knowing they are happy and not causing any problems. I also live opposite a huge park so the yard was never an issue for me as she sleeps all day and the cats inside. May I say the '4 year old child' in the unit next door to me causes more problems for me and the other tenants with her yelling late at night when we are all snuggled up in bed trying to sleep. There are other dogs in the complex, a little pug and another neighbours girlfriend has two lhaso apso's (spello) which visit frequently, no one really minds about dogs unless they bark and cause annoyance or if someone on the body corporate doesn't like dogs then you'll have a problem. Good luck with your search and be honest and upfront with the agent and you won't have any worries. So far I've never had any complaints about my animals (touch wood) while renting, and I'm aware of the other tenants requiring peace and quiet so I make sure she doesn't put a foot out of line when we go to the park via the common ground. I did have complaints when I had my GSP many years ago, she was whinging when I went to work, and I owned the property and that was extremely difficult to resolve without literally gagging the dog, so she had to be kept inside during the day and I came home at lunch time, just to keep the peace so to speak. :D

GSP's are truly wonderful dogs in the right hands. They are exhuberant and loving in such a funny, clownish way, always full of character and fun to be around. Four years ago I said farewell to my last GSP at the great age of 15, she was the last of my line, I bred, owned and showed over 15 GSP's in my life from the early 70's until the late 80's and fondly remember the days of Jack Thompson and his Dunfrui dogs. GSP's came to Australia in the mid 1960's, they were mainly from English stock, some French also, and more solid than the dogs being bred today and some quite white with brown speckles. We were lucky to have a litter of pups sire by KS Elk vom Hege Haus, and my old dog was the last of his grand daughters from my bloodlines, she was beautiful. My son has a young male GSP bred from Western Australia and may I say he's a handful, very intelligent and a great hunter, a very good looking dog, but he's demanding and strong willed and needs a firm hand, and he whinges, which is an annoying trait of this breed. I personally believe this breed must be worked in some fashion, whether it's hunting, showing, obedience, agility, it has to be utilised for what it was bred for and not expected to be left in a backyard and played with at whim, they go stir crazy unless they are worked and exercised. They need to run and play and sniff the wind, their hunting instincts are very strong. Obedience is first cab off the rank for a young pup, puppy school and then further obedience as they need to know their place in the pack very quickly otherwise they can be rumbunctious and boisterous. Both my sons were raised with GSP's and I couldn't have wished for better dogs around little children, although they were always supervised or separated, the only way to go with dogs and kids. As for a novice owner, I wouldn't like to say no as we got our first GSP prior to kids and we had no experience with this breed, so after a couple of months owning a boisterous puppy we joined the GSP club and learnt from the experts. But they are definitely not a dog for a person who wants a quiet, gentle breed, I'd suggest something else. Grooming is easy for this breed, a wet chux rubbed over them should do the trick, they love swimming and dry off very quickly. They're the type of dog that loves company whether it's human or another dog, they cope okay on their own but do need daily stimulation such as walking off lead (at least 1 hr) or playing tug etc., they're very good at playing chasy and love the rough stuff. GSP's are also couch potatoes, they love nothing more than being a house dog, mooching round the kitchen looking for food and greeting you with a ruff and big slobbery lick when you come home. I would check with the GSP club for hereditary problems, there were eye issues such as entropian in the past and some epilepsy, not sure if that's still the case. I reached the stage in my life when my GSP was 14 and I worried about what I'd do without her, I recognised that I'd struggle with an exhuberant GSP puppy so I bought a black labrador girl and my old girl just loved her. She mothered her to bits and they had twelve months together before she died and one thing she taught the labrador was first and foremost, how to be a lady. I hope I was helpful for you.

Could be stressed out from the overnight stay, can be worrying for a dog especially after trauma, sedation etc., hot weather wouldn't help either and neither would her age, older dogs tend to get knocked around with procedures a bit more than a younger animal, like us humans do.

I understand your angst with a loose dog, I've had one land on top of me after a rear end crunch from a truck, covered in scratches and one terrified dog later, I\we made sure that didn't happen again by erecting a cargo barrier. Luckily for me my current dog isn't a chewer and she's very settled in the car and really doesn't move around much. We travel interstate competing etc., she has a soft sided crate for comps and hasn't chewed at it either. If she showed the slightest hint she'd be destructive in the car I'd have problems as I have a small car, and her crate wouldn't fit, hence the harness option.

It's a shame your young pup has bad experiences at the vet at such a young age. At 5 months, my dog dislocated her back toe it was traumatic for everyone, especially the other patients at the vets ???? as she was in so much pain, and literally screaming the place down and had to be sedated (I probably needed to be also ) She had such a frightening experience at such a young age so from then on I made sure she got a small liver treat from the vet prior to and after examination. She had done puppy school at the vets and I believe that helped her enormously as she related going to the vets as fun times, nice people and treats. Good luck with your dog and do explain to the trainers at puppy school what has happened to your pup and they should support you with handling your puppy for vet examination.

I agree buckling up the dog is safe for the dog as well as yourself. I have a labrador who settles really well on the back seat (I think she's terrified of my driving, singing or taste in music ) and she always wears a harness but she gets uncomfortable on long trips and it seems too firm around her shoulders when she stretches out. I've ordered a 3 - 1 harness from Canine Spirit.com.au which has a softer, wider front which should be more comfortable for her and has more room for shoulder movement when she's stretching out, plus it looks strong and safe. We're off down the beach on the 10th for a week so Ill be able to test the harness out thoroughly.