mrs tornsocks

If I put the wonky bed out, he and his 30kgs would collapse in a heap. Lesson learnt - at least the cooler bed is going to his little friend so it's not a complete waste. I'm thinking I might buy one with the hessian (and already assembled). He has a crate inside but he gets too hot in it - even with air con. Occasionally he barks when he's hot, I've let him outside thinking it was toilet, and he's plonked down on the deck panting. So I'm thinking an outside bed that's very simple (ie tramp) is the solution.

got it in one, persephone. I posted, showered, got a coffee, returned to computer and kapow ! Back to the drawing board. I think a clam shell is the go for now -- he doesn't seem to do this with his metal bowl, but it's too small now to sustain him for any length of time, especially in this weather. Your honour, exhibit A ...

My water baby likes nothing more than pawing his full bucket of drinking water until it falls over. Problem obviously when I'm not here and this weather is so stinking hot. I don't have any taps at the right height in the backyard, so I came up with the idea of putting the leg of the outdoor table (very very heavy) in the bucket of water. I have covered it with three plastic bags, but wondering if the metal or any material inside it might be dangerous and somehow seep into the water ? I figured since people put bricks in the bottom of water buckets, it might not be too bad. Said water bucket and said water baby ....

awww your not having much luck :D Can you send it back? Hopefully, but I'm not sure if 'cannot assemble' will suffice as an excuse for a return to the good people @ Deals Direct. I'll have to wait til there's someone with me (other than Archie 'helping' ) and see if I can master it.

Ggggggrrrrrr. And now I am trying to put together his trampoline bed, also bought via Deals direct. It (the canvas bit) simply doesn't stretch for me to put the screws in. Worse than any ikea piece of c**p. Of course he helpfully comes over and licks my hand every now and then. http://www.dealsdirect.com.au/p/black-pet-...me-105-65-20cm/ "can be dissassembled and cleaned. Pft, what a load of hogwash" ... "cannot be put together in the first place". I have learnt the hard way that peanuts=monkeys when it comes to pet paraphernalia.

thanks, secretkei. Not only should I have checked measurements, should have figured deals direct might not be QUITE what the labrador ordered ....

**Archie says "hopefully my swf friend wants it !"**

Archie's new bed arrived, but guess who forgot to check the measurements ? "Large" is never going to fit, even though he's still only 10 months, it dismally failed the lab test, see below. The length is 65cm, width 52cm. If anyone is interested, still $20 in the plastic, it's here Will also post in Marketplace, I'm in Sydney.

Both me and my beautiful and loving 10 month old lab Archie need to get ourselves a little more training. We did puppy school, canine kindy, regular sessions together but it stopped about 4 months ago for no good reason except I got slack. I really want to get back into it -- he's pretty good at the basics and has an excellent sit stay and is a clever monkey. However he pulls like a steam train on walks (is improving slowly but I only have limited knowledge on how best to improve this), and gets way over excited whenever he sees another dog. If he's on lead, he strains at them -- although he will sit when I tell him as soon as his ears prick up, but he almost never stays sitting when the pooch walks past us. Also does the same with humans but is improving there to. I feel like he could be a 30kg handful at beginner obedience with other doggie distractions, so I'm wondering what I should do:- 1. Get a one on one session with a trainer, then 2. With that knowledge, do some training on our own, with distractions (eg other doggies, but not too many) then, 3. Go to obedience club Or should I just go straight to obedience club and also do our own training during the week ?

I ordered one yesterday. Figured if it's a dud, I'll make it bedding for his crate (without the ice pack thingy)

I saw that ad during the superbowl, it's super cute. Also holds special appeal as our lab boy 'speaks' like that, and would also gobble a packet of Doritos given half a chance. Plus his paws smell like doritos

People pay thousands for Tassie Oak !!! I would keep them, rather than pull them up and put wood laminate in --- get them covered/lacquered with something that's going to ensure no scratching. Our doggie 'moves' between two homes, and we have laminate floorboards in one and timber floorboards in the other -- the laminate is probably better overall but I still wouldn't be removing great original f/boards.

please please please do not flame me for this -- it is not a criticism but an observation that I sat looking at for 10 minutes and decided I could not let it pass. It might've been a typo, but I am genuinely perplexed that you could write/spell word two (above) but not word one ? I am nice, I really am, but this caught my eye. Running off now .....

:D Well that doesn't matter, do it while he's sleeping. More time for it to absorb too that's what I meant He was in bed and I was in bed when I posted.

The poem is great !!! We had a little furmination session last night (made me feel better) -- and he is due a bath so maybe that might be at least bit of a temporary help. Probably could brush more often as well. I think I will also make a rule not to allow him in the bathroom . Although he is super-cute when he comes in to inspect my bath.

got it @ woolies this arvo But forgot to put it on his pawpaws before bed

OMG that is exactly that - I 'm usually a chilled person but it's starting to turn me into a bit of a compulsive.

I am having a really frustrating time atm with my obsession over the amount of hair left all over our house. Our lab is constantly reminding us of his presence and it's really getting me frustrated. I'm not a clean freak but I do like to have the floors looking okay -- and I seem to sweep up only to have it return in less than a day. I love Archie to bits; and I don't really want to change where he's allowed in the house (ie everywhere) -- but I hate that I'll spy a little pile of hair and it irritates me so much. And I also don't want visitors to think I never clean ! I have the electro magnetic broom, I have the furminator, I have the dust buster. For some reason this really gets me upset and frustrated - I don't think there's any easy answer, maybe just empathy ???? :D ETA: Do more baths help with this problem ? We don't bath him heaps, only really if he's on the nose. Alway rinse him after beach and water play.

Awesome, thanks ! Just one of those things I've never noticed when shopping.

I have searched on DOL for this but to no avail. Where is paw paw ointment sold ? Archie's pads are quite cracked (and he's only a baby !). I'd like to give pp ointment a try.

Here's one of me and Archie from our weekend away this weekend.

Please take the photo first and post

Thanks everyone. I would really like to find a trusting dog minder in our area, I'm not sure I could do it again. We have some great dogsitting options but they're mostly out of Sydney -- and he had a little cold when he came back from kennels last week (which was partly why I didn't put him in last night).

I loved that bit, how he was learning some carpentry skills in your absence. I think it's a good idea to get dogs used to spending time without you, right from the time they're young. It helps if you have good neighbours, like we do. We look after each others dogs, if someone's going to be away for a whole day or overnight. The dogs have got very used to this. When the folk next door are off to the airport, they just pop Lily the tib over the fence & she knows what to do. She runs up our back steps & gives a 'Yip!' thro' the grille door. She's here right now because her 'mum' was called away to NSW due to a family illness & her 'dad' had to go to work. Stretched out sleeping! Oh yes, he is a great little helper. He sniffs around for a while, then usually plonks himself right in the middle of the 'job'. He 'helped' OH & I put together a killer Ikea piece the other day and then flopped down on the instructions and over all the screws etc. The next door neighbour did actually offer to take him over her place right at the end -- I think she felt bad she hadn't offered at the start. But she has a rescue doggie, a senior miniature poodle, and Archie loves his plays, so would be a bit of a handful with the little oldie so I said thanks but too much hassle for you. That's such a great arrangement you have with your neighbour, and sounds super cute !! I love the description of him running through the door.