newfsie

And one more from me

I have got another one to add to my two previous Annabelle and Johnno, our two rescues

I can tell you now that importing from the USA is actually cheaper............We have both horse and dog harness and it is very expensive in Australia. And not necessarily better quality. Sledding harness is quite different from pulling sulki/cart harness. There are lots of different sites. I have found it quite easy to deal with different companies in the USA. And freight is also quite cheap. http://dogworks.com/store/harness.html

Congratulations agility dogs and thank you............ Annabelle loves agility and it gave back a lot of her confidence after her terrible start in life. She loves to climb and run through the tunnels. but I think everyone would laugh at her rather slow pace. And even though she likes to jump and does the heights happily, i think the heights she has to jump is not too good for such a heavy dog (54kg). So we keep it for reward and keep the jumps low. When we train obedience at home, we do a quick run on our agility course at home.........She loves it. I really respect the effort you guys put into all your dogs

Annabelle got her second leg in CCD today in Wangaratta............Only one to go, hopefully in Wagga in September We bombed out in the morning run, because my darling rescue girl was worried about the male Judge following her around. She is still timid around some men She will have to get used to this. And I think she is getting better But the Afternoon Judge was a much "softer" person and even said hello to her at the beginning and she was happy with him. So I am proud of my girl :D ;) for my Annabelle Congratulations to the other Albury Kennel Club members, Mercedes, Tracey, Billie and Joan :D :o

So sorry to hear of your loss.....At least Jack was lucky enough to have been with you and to have been loved

Is this what you mean? This is my dogs swimming at lake Mulwala....A full moon was just rising And this is sunset at our property Our Dogs tracking and hunting

Shake a very small amount of sardines in a plastic container and leave overnight with some fishy dry food. Dry food we use is Eagle holistic sardines and salmon . My dog will do any thing for this mix. And it is not as wet and fishy. But you might find you attract all the other dogs at training too. Especially if you are the "post" :D :)

Yes that is what happened to us when we first got the stand...it happened with both of ours. Just keep going :D

Having had a couple of rescue dogs and the last two being fully grown newfoundlands. i have learned the trick never to allow them to straight line and get into a towing match with you. I was taught the trick to have the dog close to you....Use all the heeling instructions of check-chain and reward. But if you find the dog suddenly starting to pull. Disengage the hind-quarter. Now if you are a horse rider, which i am, you will understand this instantly. it works well when you keep the dog close and use your knee to push the hindquarter (flank). The dog will loose it's straight-line action and the head will come around to you. It often gives the dog a moment and you can get control back. we have used this with both our newfs in the early training days and they were both huge pullers with no manners and training at all. It does not hurt and just stops the towing along. it is however best to not get into these pulling sessions. Annabelle definitely does not pull anymore..........Basic obedience has been a god send to us. And we are now trying to get our CCD

Hey Mercedes, remember we are very obedient :D

That is so sad.....And I feel for you :rolleyes: You will know what to do and it will never be easy But it is amazing that you had your beautiful for seventeen years and kept him healthy for so long. I posted this recently for a good friend on the labrador page.................I hope it helps. it was given to me by a friend when I had a very sick dog How Do You Know When It's Time? I don't subscribe to the idea that dogs and cats "will let us know when it's time", at least not in any conscious sense on their part. They are not people. We lovingly anthropomorphize our pets during our time together and there's no harm in that, even quite a bit of reward for both them and us. But the bottom line is that they are not little people and they don't think in the way people think. (Many of us would argue that that speaks to the superiority of our pets.) These amazing beings love us and trust us implicitly. It just isn't part of their awareness that they should need to telegraph anything to us in order for their needs to be met or their well-being ensured. They are quite sure that we, as their caretakers, operate only in their best interest at all times. Emotional selfishness is not a concept to them and they don't know how hard we sometimes have to fight against it ourselves. They also have no mindset for emotional surrender or giving up. They have no awareness of the inevitability of death as we do and they have no fear of it. It is fear that so often influences and aggravates our perceptions when we are sick or dying and it becomes impossible to separate the fear out from the actual illness after a while. But that's not the case with dogs and cats. Whatever we observe to be wrong with our sick pet, it's all illness. And we don't even see the full impact of that until it's at a very advanced point, because it's their nature to endure and to sustain the norm at all costs. If that includes pain, then that's the way it is. Unlike us, they have never learned that letting pain show, or reporting on it, may generate relief or aid. So they endure, assuming in their deepest subconscious that whatever we abide for them is what is to be abided. If there is a "look in the eye", or an indication of giving up, that we think we see from our beloved pets, it isn't a conscious attitude on their part or a decision to communicate something to us. It's just an indication of how tired and depleted they are. But they don't know there's any option other than struggling on, so that's what they do. We must assume that the discomfort we see is much less than the discomfort they really feel. And we do know of other options and it is entirely our obligation to always offer them the best option for that moment, be it further intervention, or none, or the gift of rest. From the moment we embrace these animals when they first grace our lives, every day is one day closer to the day they must abandon their very temporary and faulty bodies and return to the state of total perfection and rapture they have always deserved. We march along one day at a time, watching and weighing and continuing to embrace and respect each stage as it comes. Today is a good day. Perhaps tomorrow will be, too, and perhaps next week and the weeks or months after. But there will eventually be a winding down. And we must not let that part of the cycle become our enemy. When I am faced with the ultimate decision about how I can best serve the animals I love so much, I try to set aside all the complications and rationales of what I may or may not understand medically and I try to clear my mind of any of the confusions and ups and downs that are so much a part of caring for a terminally ill pet. This is hard to do, because for months and often years we have been in this mode of weighing hard data, labs, food, how many ounces did he drink, should he have his shots or not, etc. But at some point it's time to put all of that in the academic folder and open the spiritual folder instead. At that point we are wise to ask ourselves the question: "Does my pet want to be here today, to experience this day in this way, as much as I want him to?" Remember, they are not afraid, they are not carrying anxiety and fear of the unknown. So for them it's only about whether this day holds enough companionship and ease and routine so that they would choose to have those things more than anything else and that they are able to focus on those things beyond any discomfort or pain or frustration they may feel. How great is her burden of illness this day, and does she want/need to live through this day with this burden of illness as much as I want/need her to? If I honestly believe that his condition is such, her pleasures sufficient, that she would choose to persevere, then that's the answer and we press on. If, on the other hand, I can look honestly and bravely at the situation and admit that she, with none of the fear or sadness that cripples me, would choose instead to rest, then my obligation is clear. Because she needs to know in her giant heart, beyond any doubt, that I will have the courage to make the hard decisions on her behalf, that I will always put her peace before my own, and that I am able to love her as unselfishly as she has loved me. After many years, and so very many loved ones now living on joyously in their forever home in my heart, this is the view I take. As my veterinarian, who is a good and loving friend, injects my precious one with that freedom elixir, I always place my hand on top of his hand that holds the syringe. She has chosen a life of healing animals and I know how terribly hard it is for her to give up on one. So I want to shoulder that burden with her so she's not alone. The law of my state says the veterinarian is the one licensed to administer the shot, not me. But a much higher law says this is my ultimate gift to my pet and the responsibility that I undertook on the day I welcomed THAT life into MY life forever. -- Hilary Brown

Thank you newfsie what beautiful words and a beautiful story. Yes training was hard tonight, to look back and not see that gorgeous yellow girl waiting for us to finish, it broke my heart. But we have to be strong because we know that in the long run it was the right thing to do for Cassie. It doesnt mean it wont continue to hurt for many moons but its bearable with the support of our many 'doggy' friends. It was strange...........Never realise how often you check across to see the other dogs. good to see Maddie and Titan though

Cassie sweet Cassie , we missed you at training........And we will miss you again and again. It won't be the same on Tuesday nights, you were our favourite Yellow girl. Another Angel for Rainbow Bridge, run free sweetheart............love from part of the "black team", Newfsie, Mike, Annabelle and Tessa The Rainbow Bridge "The Rainbow Bridge" (author unknown.) There is a bridge connecting heaven and earth. It is called the Rainbow Bridge because of it's many colors. Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge there is a land of meadows, hills and valleys with lush green grass. When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place. There is always food and water and warm spring weather. The old and frail animals are young again. Those who are maimed are made whole again. They play all day with each other. There is only one thing missing. They are not with the special person who loved them on earth. So, each day they run and play until the day comes when one suddenly stops playing and looks up. The nose twitches! The ears are up. The eyes are staring. And this one suddenly runs from the group. You have been seen, and when you and your special friend meet, you take him or her into your arms and embrace. Your face is kissed again and again and again, and you look once more into the eyes of your trusting pet. Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never again to be separated.

Congratulations all you agility dogs...........Funnily enough Annabelle my newf loves agility. But she is way too slow. But she will climb anything at any height and loves tunnels Agility gave her back her confidence after all her "bad times"...............Newfsie

I am here now........Annabelle ( I am sure due to my nerves) failed yesterday and we got over that by getting second in the CCD trail today.We have our first ever trophy and ribbons. .......... My clever big newfie girl. I do adore that sweet girl I think after her dreadful start in life and having to restart her life at thirteen months with us, she has done very well She was such a brave and beautiful girl and her drops were fantastic. :D Yes and "Wiggly Bum" was her usual gorgeous self for yours and Tina's support

I am here now........Annabelle ( I am sure due to my nerves) failed yesterday and we got over that by getting second in the CCD trail today.We have our first ever trophy and ribbons.:D.......... My clever big newfie girl. I do adore that sweet girl I think after her dreadful start in life and having to restart her life at thirteen months with us, she has done very well

I completely agree! The reason I chose group sessions was to put him around other dogs (Demon is a rescue too). Specially since loosing our girl. If I was just after training, I would have employed a trainer's services to do private lessons around home. He was fine around the lab pups on the first lesson. Was quite happy to work along side them and the new cav pup classmate, looping around them at close range. Even standing around to pick up our name tag and drop it off, he was fine with the other dogs around (a little excited when we first get there but controlable). It literally just seemed to be the poodle that was Demon's "problem", and it was only when the poodle started leaping and bounding around that it caught Demon's attention. He was originaly more interested in saying hi to the trainer! Yes it can be hard when one dog misbehaves or distracts or hones in on your dog. We have had a difficult great Dane in our class, who bounded along and did all sort of things. We also had a full on focused bounding BC.....But I would just go on as if nothing was happening. Sometimes i think if we (the person on the end of the lead) gets slightly agitated or annoyed, our dogs can feel it and react. so I just smile and "good girl" with treats and just go on....even the bad dogs settle down eventually. All my training at the kennel club is about picking up info and socialization. there are no bad days, just slightly more complicated days

In water rescue we allow the dogs to mouth us...........The dog tows you you when you are considered "unconscious" Newfs have a very gentle mouth/hold...hard to explain. it is not a bite, but a hold But I do not allow play biting or nipping, EVER

I have just received my receipt.......Think positive ( I keep telling myself) and otherwise just have fun You think tomorrow will be on if it is raining.....We will see you at Nine. If it isn't on, we will just go and wash&blow the dogs at K9catfish Well I think today wasnt too bad for both our girls and we can only hope next weekend is as successful. I was very proud of Annabelle, she did a great trial............I was even more impressed with their recall from those two noisy ones. At least ours came straight out when called back to the jeep

I think all the training you are doing is great and it is good to hear you have so much success, well done But I feel the socialization for your dog with other dogs is also really good. being in contact with lots of dogs under control is good for dogs. It is why I go to classes. I know all the training bits, but doing it all with distraction is what makes it challenging and eventually the better social dog I have had several rescue dogs and they were not good with other dogs. So I found training with other dogs helpful. To the point where our dogs are now very social and do all their work with us, no matter what is happening elsewhere. f you go to dog-shows, obedience trials or just walking in public places your dog will have to learn to cope with all the distractions. So I think classes are a good way to start. I enjoy the inter-actions and I think it is good to teach my dogs to cope, anywhere under any conditions

Rain, cold, dark, miserable We have done them all.............They laugh at us and say, knew you would be here. Have gone for an earlier class, instead of waiting for the later class

i suggested this and also suggested not treating aggression with aggression because she told me she slapped him across the nose for it. She is a bit worried about his behaviour. When i suggested the desexing part she said not yet because they want to breed a litter from him first and get a pup. I told her that aggressivness can be hereditary and that she would be passing that on. Dont think that sunk in. As I said my parents bred GSD...........Any dog/bitch that showed aggression was for the knife.........No pups from them EVER! And if it came up more then once from the same parental bitch/dog in a litter it was the same neuter or spay. Just don't let me get started on backyard breeders. I will keep my soapbox under the computer desk for now. As to hitting, that is asking to get possibly bitten....I hope your friend will seek some help, it sounds like she could do with some

I have just received my receipt.......Think positive ( I keep telling myself) and otherwise just have fun You think tomorrow will be on if it is raining.....We will see you at Nine. If it isn't on, we will just go and wash&blow the dogs at K9catfish

My Parents bred GSD's for the armed forces and police. They are vocal dogs and that is part of their character Just like the Siamese in the cat world, we had both at home. I would not get into the dog for it all the time, I would make the pup busy or put something in the pups mouth. We do this with our newfs, wherever we go we find something for the dog to carry. We do it because we want to teach our dogs retrieve and carrying for future use in training. But it would not hurt to do the same. There won't be any noise coming out of the mouth if it is full . I find the conversations we used to have with our GSD's quite sweet. I have a Border Collie cross Golden at present and she loves to talk. We also have taught her to talk on command, she says "hello", which is a good party trick. And we talk to her and she to us when we are making her food. I think it is part of the dogs personality. I love it when you come home and she has her chat...........