Simply Grand

So sorry msdani, how heartbreaking I recently had to make my first ever put to sleep decision with my old cat, it was horrible but it was clear her time had come. She went down hill quickly over the weekend and I booked the appointment for late on the Monday and spent the time just being with her. I don't think I would want to put a pet through surgery and chemotherapy but I know many do, it's such a personal decision and as others have said there is no right or wrong except what is right for you and your much loved dog. Our oldest childhood family cat lived to 21 when she dies naturally but it was obvious she was quite ill for some time before she died - my mum still says she really regrets not making the decision to have her pts earlier so she didn't suffer. That made the decision easier for me, I definitely agree that slightly to soon but while they still have some quality of life is better than letting them go on unhappily for too long. Hugs xx

Steph, I think it was pretty obvious that all you meant was that your car is small and it would be hard to fit a big dog in (and kinda funny to see)! Greytmate, I think you were being overly sensitive...

Get a Frenchie! You know you want to;)

Hmm, horts just read your post. So is the Alpha more likely to protect to others? Or the rest to protect the Alpha? Probably depends on the situation, maybe an alpha is more likely to diffuse, whereas in a full fight the others will try to defend the alpha? (just speculating)

I refer to my 3 as each others brothers/sister although of course they aren't, it's just easier than saying male/female fellow pack member :) I'm sure mine attempt to defend each other in some situations especially with Quinn, the youngest. She's usually full of confidence and happy to barrel around with most dogs but occasionally she'll be wary of one, seems to be youngish large males. She makes this obvious (well to me) with her body language and if that dog comes and jumps on her to play both Riley and Saxon will run over and intervene, seemingly trying to get the other dog to move away from Quinn. Saxon is good at diffusing, and uses different approaches, sometimes barking and chasing off the other dog amd other times being gentle and standing up to lick it's muzzle to try and calm things. Riley tends to stir things up by barking and going on the attack *eye roll* so I always keep a close eye on him. I think the way I talk/write about the makes it sound like I'm anthropomorphising but I also think it makes sense for pack members to defend each other, or at least those ranked higher than them (Quinn is the boss of my boys - sorry my male pack members ;) )

Ugh, I can imagine how you feel! My 3 always look and sound as though they're killing each other when they get into full on play mode and I know it freaks people who don't know they're family out sometimes. I've never had anyone yell or KICK at them tho Did the woman have her own dog or just barge in on her own? It does sound like she had good intentions, which is nice especially as plenty of people just stand back when there are problems, but she needs to observe and think a bit before she reacts. I would have been furious too but if you can, it would be a good situation to educate someone about dog behaviour as well.

I don't know, i've seen some poos at the dog park that would fill a bread bag, eeeeww. I use the roll ones from the cheapo shops and could probably fit a poo from all 3 of my dogs into 1 bag if they would coordinate. I don't want to carry around a bag with a poo already in it tho and they never coordinate, so I usually end up using at least 3, sometimes 6, bags per outing...sigh...

Hi helen, I have a Sheltie here in Canberra too (Northside though), do you know where your boy came from? My Riley is from Shelbrae Kennels. I do my own grooming but have heard good things about Shampooch salon, which I think is Southside. The other salon I've heard good things about is Fancy Feathers & Fur but that is Northside (Holt). Aussie Pooch Mobile are mobile and do good washing and basic grooming so may be able to help too, depending how much needs doing.

Love that attitude CH, that's how I want to be with my future kids! Embarrassingly I talk to my dogs like that when they do silly things and then whinge, like if they're playing rough and one squeals or when they walk to close and get stepped on - "well I told you not to do it"

Steph, funny you say that about boy cats vs girls, I've always found the boys to be sooky cuddlers too and the girls to be, um, let's say moody...? Don't know what others think but I don't think the difference is as extreme in dogs, plenty of cuddly sweet girls around, although I have heard that some bitches live up to their names, hehe.

Oh, meant to say d, love the Pom + kitties pic, you can tell the dog because he's the only one smiling! (said as a lifelong cranky cat owner ;) )

I think there's a difference between barking as a breed trait and barking for attention etc etc. I wouldn't have thought barking was an ideal trait in Toy breeds historically because it would be annoying! Possibly a reputation brought about by owners treating them as toys, not dogs, and teaching them to be demanding?? (not DOLers, but we all know they're out there...) Herding breeds do use their voices for working so it makes sense that the trait is pretty ingrained and harder to train out (not making excuses for my own situation!) I don't know how Spitz breeds fit into that, would they use their voices in their work? Back to Steph tho, I would think you'd be pretty safe with most of the toy breeds so long as you talk to the breeder and be consistent with your training and discipline from day 1.

Sounded from the article like Prince Andrew could also have been there, not just the "dog boy" (which sounds bad but is probably a good job!). Either way, sounds to me like a whole lot of dogs, by the sounds of it two separate packs, just being dogs. Unfortunate that someone got hurt, and hopefully they won't be walked together again, but I dont think one can claim "bad" dogs or "bad" handling just from what we've heard (ok misjudgment from the dog boy in agreeing to all 9 dogs walking together but you say no to a Prince when you're a Royal employee).

The funnest thing about dogs IMO is that they have their own little minds and use them to outsmart us, in the most annoying ways! I've given up on pairs of socks, now if they're a similar colour and neither have too many teeth holes they'll do. Even tho I'm pretty good now at remembering to put them straight in the wash basket and close the door behind me, somehow the dogs still manage to get hold of them and have a sneaky chew.

You're right showdog, I wish I'd been much tougher on Riley's barking from day one, exactly as you said a baby puppy yip is much less annoying than a grown up bark! Lesson learnt with my 3rd pup, she's much quieter. I was lucky with my Poodle x as he was always quiet, except he will alert bark sometimes. Steph, Riley certainly is a character, and my "problem child" but he has more than enough good qualities to make up for it - not that I would recommend a Sheltie for your situation!! When I was choosing which breed tho it was a close toss up between Sheltie and Pug, I do love them :)

Sounds like there are heaps of breeds that would suitable for you. I'd add mini or toy poodle to the list. Totally agree with being careful about the barking in a city apartment, you don't want the neighbours to hate you ;) Unless your heart is set on a "barky" breed I wouldn't go for one. Also talk to the breeder you pick about the individual puppy you get. I learnt this the hard way with my Sheltie - as soon as he had a voice he was the barkiest in his litter but I didn't realise what a problem it would be as he grew up. He does bark at "things" (unusual noises, someone at the door, dogs on tv, neighbours coming home) BUT he also barks with excitement when playing with other dogs, seeing me, the cat walking past, getting food etc etc etc, and may well just bark at the walls!!

Mine are always getting their genders guessed wrong! The big boofy one is the girl, and the two dainty fluffy ones are the boys, and they're all long coated so you can't really see any bits or the girly pink collar ;)

I would be FURIOUS if a child of mine intentionally hurt or teased someone's animal (or another child) - not that I have kids but I did I would certainly tell them off if I saw it. I would (and have) also tell other people's kids not to do something around my dogs if necessary, luckily I haven't had to be too firm so far but I would if need be. The way I see it is if your child is hanging around me and my dogs you'd probably expect me to step in if the child was at risk somehow (which I would) so I will also step in if the child is causing risk. Kks, I don't get people who take an animal to the vet and then seem to have a problem with other animals being there too - it's a vet!?! Also in 25 odd years of taking cats to vets in their carriers I can't recall any of them caring in the slightest about dogs in the waiting room...

GSDOwner, I'm glad you've taken positivity from this thread :) You should be proud of the bond and commitment you have with your gorgeous young-at-heart dog!

I think there is nothing sweeter than an elderly animal being loved and cared for by their owner. Everyone loves a cute puppy but as so many of us know sharing a life and respecting our animals as they grow old is true love and caring. 6 days ago I had my 19 year old cat pts, I would have said she was technically "old" from about 10 onwards but as others have said, she didn't think so at all, and I couldn't have been prouder of her being a tough old girl til the end. Embrace it, you know you love your dog and always will, whatever his age.

Sooo cute MUP, and the caption is perfect, looks just like what the monkey is saying :) Love the Fame photo, "I is so beautiful..." Animals accidentally being funny cracks me up because they so obviously don't mean to!

I've seen in a pet shop here (guess which chain) "pure" Jap Spitz puppies with lovely bits of pale tan colour through their coats...*eye roll*

I'm by no means an expert but looks blue merle with tan to me, just with minimal white... Totally cute :) ETA: could also be a bitsa??

Another advantage for you with keeping pup with mum and preferably litter mates longer is that they will probably help teach pup not to NIP so much with those puppy teeth. My 3 came home at slightly different ages and even a few days seemed to make a big difference to how much they bit. Mummy dogs are much better at teaching them than humans!

So lovely :) one of the things that amazes me most about dogs is the trust they put in us as their humans. I hate that some people take advantage of that, but then more often you see the beautiful good side like this.