LDR

Oh my dog Quoll - I'm just chillin' waiting for my biaaaatches. Yeah I sexy - you heard.

I love how dog savvy we've become through DOL, "oh there goes an iggy" we say as our friends say "the mini greyhound??"

OH was gardening today .... in the front yard. Our street leads to a dog park. Now let's frame the context - OH pre Timmy and dog ignorant thought poodles came in one size. Tiny. So a car drives past, standard poodle in the back, head out the window .... "LDR, I seriously thought it was a dude with a beard! They are so human like!".

I must admit I do use this to my advantage ... LDR (reading magazine, sipping wine and simultaneously hogging the remote control *and* recliner) - Honey can you grab me a top up? OH - Are you seriously that lazy? LDR - But loooooook Timmy is sooooooooooooooo comfy in my lap! I can't possibly get up! OH - grizzle grizzle off to fridge Timmy - Is that a fridge door opening ????? Runs .... OH - Here, *you* carry it back to Lady Muck then Lord Muck ....

Now that's love!

I'll never forget the day I was training Timmy to walk on lead - a ten minute track took 1.5 hours (I was beside myself! ). I muttered "That's it, free to a good home, this Saturday's paper". A lady about my Mum's age gasped in horror and gave me the filthiest stare! After my intial frustriation, I got used to chanting "walking a puppy is an exercise in patience"... (better then angry "you're going to be tied to the nearest lamppost" mutterings)

Timmy wasn't overly smoochy from 8 weeks to around 13 months. I think it was mainly because he was my first ever dog on my own and I smothered him ! I have found as he's matured (he's 2.5 years now) he's become a real smoocher. I used to have to seek out cuddles now I get them for free. I think maturity can help, plus if she's checking to see if you'll come back she clearly knows you are "hers" and vice versa.

Timmy goes naked at home too, and even out only wears a tag-less harness / leash combo. Our yard is pretty much escape proof and the couple of times he's been accidentally locked out the front (after "helping" us garden) he sits at the front door step indignantly barking to be let back in. I really worry about strangulation as Timmy gets himself into some tight spots (window bays, in between beds and walls, even just squished in the far end of his crate) to snooze throughout the day and the thought of him getting caught makes my blood run cold.

Timmy was mostly a great puppy, a little bitey and took a while to toilet train (tiny bladder) but very adorable. The only thing that was difficult was his size (or lack thereof! ). I honestly thought 6'4 OH was going to somehow crush our 750gram puppy! But they bonded *instantly* - was really sweet. They still sit exactly like this most Saturday nights ...

My mum used to be terrified of large dogs, regardless of breed, irrational and baseless too - never been bitten or known anyone who had. It was quite heartbreaking as she was really scared, to the point of near tears. Well along came Lord Muck (aka our boy Timmy the Mini Foxie) and Mum is besotted with him (play dates, sleepovers, his own lead and *yes really* pjs at her house, her "granddog"). I loooooove all dogs, big small and in between. And I love watching Timmy socialise with all dogs at the dog park, on walks and at dog day out type events. I must have stopped Mum's phobia purely through exposure therapy! She's met so many wonderful large dogs, but I must admit when I heard her cooing at a dog event recently saying "ooooh sweetie, look at your boooodiful face, that's a boy! You little stud muffin, look at those eyes" (whilst the owner looked on as though she was bonkers :D, dog loved it though!) I expected to see a little fluffy. No it was a rottie. You could've knocked Dad over with a feather! efs

I have that dinnerware! Wedgewood? Countryware? I got it for my "dowry" at 14 (yes my Dad is that old fashioned), I thought I was getting a computer so was majorly bummed .... I do appreciate it now though!

Ditto, Tess is a stunner! I didn't even think of "incidentals" - a small trampoline bed to lounge on in the sun cost me $35 and could fit three Lord Mucks. The XL was over $80! :D Ditto the cost of harnesses etc. Buuuuuuut at least you didn't have to cough up for a special small breed car seat as well as car harness so Lord Muck can see out the window! Oh and steps for him to get up and down off our bed and furniture Note to self: Come back as a DOLer's dog! :D

What gorgeous boofers! I'm in luuuuurve. My lil fella (4kg) costs me $30 a month to feed - that's BARF patties, good quality (local) sardines in olive oil, chook necks, free range eggs and the odd brisket bone / ox tail. Add in $34 for vet insurance and I'm looking at $64. I just realised how lucky I am with costs, but oh as OH says ... to have a "proper sized dog". ETA - flea / tick preventatives = $10 per month, plus I do the annual heartworm vac at I *think* around $85?

Me = secretary / OH = uni / part time paper boy. Timmy? Lord Muck? Well we have our theories .... We had an annoying Mrs Mangle type living next door to us at our old place and she complained routinely about loud music / parties (it was actually the apartment next to us, not us). So her complaints about partying were usually at times when we weren't home. So either it was the neighbours or ----> Timmy's Sexy Parties

Oh poor Sash, again, thank dog she's with you now! Oh yes we have a master manipulator. At "Nanny and Poppy's" (yes they really do refer to themselves as that with him! ) he will stare at the toaster to guilt Mum into making him jam on toast. And when he first learnt the sit command as a puppy we had the *sit monster* on our hands - he associated it with treats so would come to you out of nowhere stare at you intently then sit very slowly. He also does the odd fake protective bark at the screen door to get praise (we operate a "one bark to alert us then quiet" system in our house). Dogs, love 'em.

That's very sad, thank goD she fell on her feet and into a loving home with you. Timmy used to cower as a manipulative thing. Trust me - we got him from doting breeders and he's never been physically disciplined, but he had the really sad cower down pat. A lot of training to build confidence and he hardly does it now, it used to break my heart even though I knew he'd not been hit.

Timmy runs sometimes, sort of lying flat on his side, his little legs going fast and he looks really excited. I like to imagine he's chasing birds in his dreams, OH prefers to imagine him in some James Bond type scenario chasing down the baddies! Occassionally he'll let out a super contented sigh or groan too. Thankfully, he hasnt ever seemed distressed in his sleep (that I've been awake to see! ).

We're the only ones in our social / family circle with a dog. So Timmy is very spoilt with human contact (my parents are ridiculous with their "grand-dog" and one of our friends is Timmy's bona fide girlfriend - he adores her and sits guarding her quietly whenever she's around ... the time she brought around a new boyfriend, well Timmy was *not* impressed! ). So we have one very human focused dog, he's also very little at 4kg and easily overwhelmed at dog parks. We've worked extensively with a great one on one trainer to build his confidence and he's quite happy now to "sniff hello" and be on his way. This was crucial as we walk him daily along a very dog populated route, some of it off lead. I must say it does make my heart sing though when the leggy Miss Rosie (the sexiest whippet I have ever seen ) comes into the picture. Watching my 15cm at the withers boy desperately try to engage her as she prances her pretty whippet prance is adorable! eta - I'd love it if friends / family had dogs he could play with at bbqs etc, but sadly only my in-laws have two cavvies both kept very much outside and away from the family, Timmy isn't welcome there. And Pep, OH's parent's late silkie loathed Timmy.

Great idea. Also I'd say "look I don't like feeling scared in my own home and it really riles Soph up as she's so protective, please cxan you guys respect that". Then give them a stern yet motherly look. I pull the "r" word out when necessary with males and it seems to put them in their place as needed.

And to add - a really good friend let himself into my private (7 foot fences etc) yard the other day via the side gate - I was pegging out washing at the time and didn't hear the door bell / knocking (and have told him to just come around the side if that happens). I almost screamed the house down I was so flustered and surprised! Then again I'm an exclaimer! Once I got over my "arrrghhh there's a man there!" moment I laughed but I tell you had it been a neighbour or one of their unknown mates, I probably (on gut instinct) would've taken to them with a garden shovel! - fight or flight and all that. I can't even fathom what goes though (any breed of) dog's mind when they are confronted with that. It's certainly not one I'd want to risk my butt guessing over for the sake of a tennis ball. efs

I like this - takes the dog factor out of the equation. Regardless of if I had a dog or not there is NO way I'd want my neighbours in my backyard! That's just rude.

Completely agree with this. My SIL's 12 week staffie fell off a first floor balcony a few years back, the bill? Around $5k. She didn't blink, he was her boy. People actually told her she was mad and to put him to sleep as she'd only had him a month. I would go into hock for my dog, seriously I can't think of a figure too high if quality of life was sustained. Personally I pay $35 a month (I don't even miss it coming out of my pay) to insure Timmy. I'd hate to worry about the cost. My shock is simply from hearing that it can reach that much, and as a dog owner who fortunately has never had to face that awful scenario, my surprise is more my naiviety. I would certainly seek the best treatment for my dog, no doubt about it...plus in OP I imagined a little paw coming thru the fence so WAS suprised that the damage was so great... We were in the know for Timmy after SIL's experience. I hope all puppy buyers are aware of the potential costs. It climbs really quickly.

Completely agree with this. My SIL's 12 week staffie fell off a first floor balcony a few years back, the bill? Around $5k. She didn't blink, he was her boy. People actually told her she was mad and to put him to sleep as she'd only had him a month. I would go into hock for my dog, seriously I can't think of a figure too high if quality of life was sustained. Personally I pay $35 a month (I don't even miss it coming out of my pay) to insure Timmy. I'd hate to worry about the cost.

Oh that is just gorgeous!

Awwww..... look at that gorgeous little pink puppy tummy I know! It was a real shock when it started to go all freckly - Timmy is my first Mini,