Crazy Daisy

1. Simpson dog hairdryer 2. Andis clippers 3. Furminator Hehehe... My dogs have to look nice

Congratulations. Lots of pics when she arrives

Gilbert is just gorgeous, congratulations. Can't wait to see photos as he grows up.

I bought my Shih Tzu through a breeder on Dogzonline sight unseen. I liked the look of the mum and dad and more research into their lines and showing history showed they were nice dogs and did well in the ring. I spoke to the breeder on the phone quite a few times and got photo's emailed to me and I chose from three remaining puppies. The breeder told me all about their temprement and even though there was one I liked the look of better than Daisy the breeder suggested she might be too timid for us because we had young kids. I was really happy she was honest with me. The breeder flew down with Daisy (she had stuff to do in Brisbane anyway). I was so happy when she arrived as she was exactly what I wanted and has been the best dog I could have asked for. If you are interested in a certain breeder's dogs. Give them a call and you will get a feel for them. Trust you instinct too.

My kelpie x shepherd had them and one got torn off while he was playing. It was really painful for him as it tore the skin quite a bit and he ended up with six stitches. My current rescue dog has ridgeback and is possibly crossed with GSD or kelpie and he has two back dew claws that were supposed to be removed when he was desexed but weren't unfortunately. I will definately get them taken off if he ever has to have another general again.

I don't know, there are a few things I don't like about it. Like when you click on breeds and I go in to gundogs there are these really hard to see black line drawings of each breed. They would be much better to have a real life picture of a good example of each breed. or at least a bigger version. I am also not a fan of websites that make you download every little piece of information. They need to have the old cccq website redirecting to the new one too as I originally just typed the old address in. I suppose it's a work in progess. I just get picky as I love building websites

Great news. Glad she is feeling better.

My GR was a smallish goldie for a boy and he stayed around 26-27kgs his whole life!! I can't tell you how many people commented on him being skinny, I just always replied back "this is what a healthy Golden looks like". He never had any issues with his joints. As long as you and your vet are happy with her weight try not to let others bother you.

We had laminate wood floor boards put down when we built in every room except the media room, which has carpet. The laminate is great and is really hard to scratch the only down side I have is it is quite porus (sp?). I have to make sure that if anything is spilt on it you wipe it up straight away. Also when Ruff was a baby he had an accident in the toy room which I didn't get to in time and it has bubbled the board a bit. It's in the corner so not too noticeable. If you have original wood floors I would try a stain on it. It is the coating that goes on the wood that scratches really easy and can look horrible after a while.

I really hope so. I have been petrified of even contemplating another retriever as I thought that no dog of the same breed could ever compare and it wouldn't be fair on a new dog, but... I really hope I have the courage one day to try. I think that your connection with your heart dog has to go both ways. You just GET eachother. I think it also depends what is happening in your life. Ronin helped me through some really tough times but was also there to witness some of the greatest moments. Most of my memories about getting married, having kids, buying my first house, having my second child all include Ronin. I remember him being beside me for every great moment and some of the shockers. Maybe I'm just not ready yet for that perfect heart dog to come along again. But I really hope I get the chance one day to experience it again.

You know the theory about a parallel universe? Maybe we all have parallel dogs in other countries

I just spoke to them and inquired about upcoming shows in Feb and march as they're not on the web and they said the new website is nearly ready to put up. I emailed them two weeks ago and never got a reply so I called them. Maybe call or write a letter?

When I joined DOL and first heard of the phrase "heart dog" Ronin my Golden retriever jumped straight into my mind. I have had lots of dogs and they have each taught me some really great lessons but there was something so special about Ronin. I can't put into words what he DID to become my heart dog, he just is. I have a big professional black and white photo of him on the wall when you walk into my main living area. He is still the center of our household and I look at that photo at least 10 times a day and my heart swells. I tear up everytime I think of him. He is buried up the back of our property and I go and talk to him when I feel I need to. I would have to say he was my best friend, better than any human friend I could ask for. I don't know if I will ever have another dog that makes me feel the same way, but I really hope so.

I think someone has already suggested them but I think a Retriever would fit your criteria. They are smart, cuddly, a good medium/large size, they have a great coat to play with brushing (you'll do lots of it ), they are very social. My old guy Ronin helped me make lots of new friends just by wanting to say hello to everyone ;)

You can't guarantee cuddly. Although from personal experience I find my males have always been more willing to have a cuddle than my female dogs. Having a sociable dog that also gets along with cats is how you bring them up. But I would be wary of say a sight hound around a cat. The chi wouldn't be suitable if you want a dog to go on long walks with.

Big difference in size between a mastiff and a Chi I've never owned any of those breeds so can't help you with which would be best for a first time owner, although you have a lot more grooming with a Newf than the other two. As soon as I moved out of home (18) I wanted a shepherd. I saw one in a pet shop but decided to go to the RSPCA to have a look first and fell in love with a shepherd x kelpie. He turned out to be the best dog. But my first house was a small townhouse with a tiny yard and I had to make sure I walked him three times a day. Morning, night and my then BF now hubby came home from work at lunch to walk him too. We also did obedience on Sundays. What I'm getting at is it is all good and well to research now but you have no idea in two years where you will be living, it could be a house with a large yard or an apartment. So keep your options open. Research, research, research.

I'm so sorry you had to go through this experience. It is really horrible when you feel so out of control. Big hugs to you.

I've grown up with dogs and it wasn't until I was 14 and was allowed to choose our next dog that I really became dog crazy. After all my research I chose a gold cocker who ended up loving my stepdad more than me. When I moved out of home the first thing I did was get a dog. I got a shepherd x kelpie from the RSPCA. He was an obedience drop out but I was hooked. :D So I researched again and got a golden from a breeder who was an old family friend of my OH. We both did great at obedience and they asked me to be an instructor. I went to lots of lectures and courses and was tutored by some of the best trainers in Sydney. But having all that experience I still make mistakes with my dogs. :p Dog behaviour is something that really fascinates me and I love reading heaps of books on the subject. I wanted to make dogs my career so I started learning to groom at a grooming salon on my days off and weekends while working at PP (I know, I have reformed :p ). I trained for 2 years as a groomer before starting my own salon. When I was pregnant with my first child I left dog training (Too hard to bend over to teach a drop to a puppy ) I have been a groomer for 12 years, but sold my Brisbane salon a couple of years ago due to nerve damage in both wrists from grooming. I miss it everyday. My poor Shih Tzu Daisy has had every hairstyle imaginable. Now I am looking at getting my first show dog and about to learn a whole new dog sport and I can't wait. :D

:D That is a classic. I think I'll laugh everytime I go into Aldi now.

I'm sure they will, after being asked so nicely OK, yes maybe that wasn't the nicest way to put it Maybe I could put it this way. If you are at home and see your dog going off at someone just trying to go for a walk would you be so kind to try to call your dog away from the fence.

I'd definately report it and give the ranger a description of the dogs and their owner. You might find someone else comes along whose dogs were attacked that has caught her rego number or something and complains and then she can't say it was a one off.

I don't think it would work well on a terrier type coat. I think you might find it will break off the feathering of a westie. It mainly works on undercoats. great for my shepherd X and I used it heaps as a groomer on cats, labs, shibas, corgis and similar coated breeds. Just keep using your rake, comb and a good slicker brush. A good brush while blowdrying is all you need.

I wouldn't mind if it was just a warning bark, but these dogs run up and down the fence which is post and wire, with such ferocious barks that you can't even think straight. I certainly do not find it acceptable. I can understand if the owners weren't home, but to SEE what they're dogs were doing and to just go inside and do nothing is just plain rude. ;) There is another lady down the street who has recently got a dog and she and her children are petrefied to walk down there. That's not on in my book. And they just don't bark at us when I have the dogs they also do it when I take the kids that way to get to another part of the bush that we like to walk.

OK I need to have a vent. I have avoided walking my dogs down the street for weeks now. I normally use the back gate and go through the bush or put them in the car and drive them to another street. Well today because of all the rain I decided the bush was too muddy and the dogs were stinky so I decided to walk down my street. Not a good idea On my left: Two houses down two goldens ran up and down the fence barking madly Empty block Beagle barking his head off, owner comes out and calls him, no response from dog. Owner goes inside with dog still going ballistic. I notice there is no gate . Beagle charges out as we pass but just stands behind us barking. Next door two border collies going off and barking as loud as possible. Owner says "quiet" and walks inside while dogs continue to try to savage us :D Next two labs, again barking madly and doing my head in. Two empty blocks and end of road, have to turn around. Bummer Now on my left with said dogs now on the right still going crazy Bitzer and swf going mental. Non dog house (how they stand it I don't know) Husky x , gives a quick bark and runs away. I was so angry I stood in the middle of the street and yelled "shut your bloody dogs up!!!" I am so proud of Daisy and Ruff not even one growl from either of them. Ruff was a bit amped up in the middle of this commotion but he just did those little hops where he bouces on his back legs. But settled really well when I talked to him. I am so cranky that I can't even take a nice walk down my street without coming back with a headache. I also can't believe people were at home and didn't try to do more to stop their dogs. Most of these dogs are purebred. If you go on this site and you own one of these dogs. Bloody train them and make it a nicer street to live in!!!!! OK, rant over :D

Oh how devastating :D He put up a great fight the poor old boy. R.I.P Reg :D