Simply Grand

shags you should definitely lead by example and do as you're told! But seriously, Leslie Nelson's Really Reliable Recall DVD is great and the earlier you introduce it the better! Search the forums for recall advice too but the moat important principles are that coming to you is ALWAYS a good thing, no matter how frustrated you are, hide it and give your pup praise when they come, and when they are running towards you anyway, as they do, open your arms, give an enthusiastic call and lots of rewards when they get to you - this will help condition them to automatically come when you call without thinking about it.

Puppy claws, ouch! Definitely know where you're coming from, I have a 9.5 week old and her claws huuurt! Filing is good and the ongoing training as suggested above, it will get better. At this age they don't quite get what we people are saying but they understand consistency, ignoring and rewards for what we want! As a short term solution so as not to hurt your mum put puppy on a short leash and physically control him (gently), with lots of praise when four paws are on the ground and eyes are on you :)

Cutting a dog's hair doesn't hurt it any more than cutting a person's hair. However ridiculous they may end up looking it doesn't hurt them, and they don't care what they look like, at worst they get very bored while the clip is done. Docking tails and cropping ears is a completely different issue.

ETA - mine have been very reasonably priced, $1,000 for each of the limit registered pedigree PBs, both in 2011, money well spent :)

I think it makes sense that purchase prices would go up, as have the costs of vet care, food, housing, electricity and everything else! I agree that puppy prices are no doubt not based on CPI but I think it's a good thing if they are not seen as a "cheap" item in any economy, there are things to buy on the cheap, an animal shouldn't be one of them IMO.

Hmm I has a Shouty... Although he he isn't upset, anxious, nervous or angry at the stuff he shouts at, just excited, and interacts with said stuff every day (toys, my other dogs, food, the washing machine, me, the doorbell...) The multiple people, dogs and cars that pass our house on a busy main road however, meh!!

How could a dog possibly knock the handbrake out of position?? It can't have been on properly in the first place. Yes, lucky no one was hurt!

On a different note, I find it very interesting that the cats seem to know which dogs are visitors and which are here to stay. Since I got Saxon they've dealt with several different visiting dogs and now two new resident dogs and they seem to avoid visitors the whole time but go about their business as usual when new resident puppies arrive. I assume it's something to do with the interaction between me and the dogs. Cats are super smart!

Thanks showdog, I'm glad to hear that longer term boarding is available and that most dogs cope well!! I'm not going to take her, the last time (Xmas) we agreed that she would pay $10 per day for 15 days, which she did, then tacked on a day at the start and 3 days at the end. I find it hard to say no to such things especially when it's a dog I know so well and care about, and she takes advantage of that. I keep thinking that technically I could manage it, it just means a whole lot more work for me to keep all my animals happy (exercise, feeding separately, confining to areas for dogs and cats day and night, more barking etc etc) but I don't wanna! Anyway, I really don't know what she's thinking she'll do but if I tell her early that I won't be taking the dog and can at least suggest that boarding in a kennel is a good option I hope I won't feel so guilty

I just now saw it on tv! So funny, cheeky doggy!

Thanks Snook, I think what you've suggested saying is actually exactly what I need to say to her!! I just needed to hear it from someone else. I do care and worry about the dog but I really have enough on my plate with my own pets. I just feel so sorry for the poor dog in a strange place for 10 weeks, I actually wish my friend would rehome her (she asked a couple of times not long after we first met 2 years ago whether I would "like to take" her dog but I told her I had breeds in min for my own dogs) but she seems to like to have her "puppy" (4 yrs old) around to cuddle when it suits her.

A friend of mine (sort of) has a little pug x (I've posted about them before...). She is planning an overseas trip in May and will be gone for 10 weeks. She and the dog live in a share house, renting from the owner who also lives there with her SBT. My friend often goes away for short periods and leaves her dog with the flatmate. When she goes away for longer periods she usually asks me to look after her dog. I've had her many a time, most recently for nearly 3 weeks over Xmas. When she picked up her dog after the Xmas visit my friend mentioned in passing that her dog seems much happier staying with me than with the flatmate, that she's not sure the flatmate feeds her properly as she seems to lose weight when my friend is away, and that she doesn't know what she's going to do wi her dog when she goes away for the 10 weeks. I said "mmm..." :laugh: Knowing this girl as I do I suspect that I will be asked at the last minute to take the dog. I now have 3 of my own dogs plus 2 cats and it disrupts everything to have the other dog stay, Riley was all worked up and barky when she was here last, the younger cat spends the whole time hiding and I don't know what it would be like having her with Quinn, who will be big by then! I feel really sorry for the dog but I don't want to look after her again Can you board dogs at kennels for periods that long? Any ideas how a dog would cope? Are there any other options people can think of? Could she pay a foster carer for that period? I suspect the flatmate/house owner will flat out refuse to look after the dog for that long and I do think the dog would be happiest here with me (actually she'd be happiest with a reliable owner and a stable home ) but I'm already stressed at the thought of taking her and it's still 4 months away and I haven't even been asked! I just know what my "friend" is like and can really see her calling me in a panic and saying "I'm leaving tomorrow and have nowhere for the dog, will you take her?!?"

I reckon there is some staffy or AmStaff in there, he has quite a chunky head and the shape of his body. Also the colouring wouldn't have come from a GSD or Kelpie would it? He looks to me like he could be a mix of all sorts of things, including gorgeous!

So cute! Love the name :)

Congrats skunk, so exciting! My older dogs are loving my new Aussie Shepherd puppy too, it's so cute :) I agree about the feeding in the early hours too, you may find she won't settle back down without it even when you don't want to be giving it to her anymore.

Our ACT government fenced dog parks have rules/etiquette posted near the gates but they're not always that visible and even if they are I don't think many people take the time to read them. They're also pretty basic rules - dogs must be "under control", no aggressive dogs, no food etc. I think some signs like you suggested iBoz would be pretty good, somewhere visible, might make people think and help educate people that just don't know any better. Unfortunately I think that many of the people whose dogs cause problems aren't too interested in learning. I find myself talking out loud "to the dogs" a lot at the dog park, where I'm actually telling people what I'm doing and why...eg 'Riley come here, we'll go down this way coz you're a bit small to play with them'. And actually to other owners via their dogs too, as in (intercepting and holding their dog as owner eventually approaches) 'ok buddy you're a bit big to start a game with Saxon, you go over that way and we'll go this way'. No doubt I sound like an idiot but it usually works quite well and stops things escalating.

Loooove 8 below, watched it tonight on tv for the umpteenth time, so awesome! Dogs are so amazing!

I just wanted to say, Jess I'm glad to see you back! You started the gorgeous Waiting for a Puppy thread, which is awesome! Best of luck with your new baby and your pup :)

Or a Cairn

Ooo Norwich terriers, gorgeous! Added to my desired breeds list after watching Best in Show! Aussie Terriers are on the list too and both were considered before I got Riley (Sheltie). I seem to be into Collie breeds now but if I get a terrier down the track it would be a Norwich or an Aussie

mm I LOVE your responses!! Sooo awesome! Yay Benny doing a drop stay, that is very impressive, what a way to shut up the dumb woman! Gotta love those "smart ass puppies" (insert eye roll). What a shame you got stuck with this class I wish you could have had a better experience but I actually think you handled it great and it will help you feel confident in your abilities as you go on with Benny. See if you can find a GOOD training club to continue obedience with, I reckon you would both love it! And I agree, complain to the practice manager, in a calm and reasonable way, hopefully they will try to improve and not cause more problems for people who don't know any better (like people who feed their puppies hot dogs and fatty BBQ chooks - so hoping not bones and all).

I do have to say that whiskas tinned and whiskettes dry were all our cats were fed growing up. They don't have the best record tho, although one lived to 20.

Oh gosh lushos and talien, I don't know if this will make you feel better, but just to reassure you that whatever you are doing you're not "breaking" your puppy, Saxon wasn't reliably taking himself out the doggy door until he was at least 6 months old, at 2.5 he will now hold on for 8+ hours with no problem at home and has not ever gone inside someone else's house. Riley is just about now fully reliable at 8 months, so now I've just brought home a new baby! Now, there is no reason other than MY laziness (I chose to sacrifice my flooring and cleaning up time) for toilet training to take sooo long. I'm just telling you about it to show that you can be hopeless for months and your pup can still very effectively learn where it should toilet!! I'd say that as you follow the routine of once per hour or whatever you really will start to spot when your pup needs to go, and they'll gain enough control to get outside when you call them, and eventually it WILL click for them.

I'm super interested in this topic and very happy that perse has started the thread, I'm not a very experienced dog owner - got my first ever 2.5 yrs ago just before my 30th bday - but I now have a lot to do with dogs, I've just got my third (as in now have an 8 week old, an 8 month old and a 2.5 year old) and work as a dog washer/groomer. I've found that I've had very few problems with my own dogs or with my "client" dogs and wonder whether that's by luck or design? BUT I have very limited experience, time wise so don't think I can jump to conclusions... I will post more of my experiences over the weekend but will keep reading with interest!

I like Natures Gift for tinned food! Like Gayle and weas said, it's a back up in the cupboard if there's nothing else. I generally feed Advance dry for everyone in the am and people mince (turkey, chicken, sometimes lamb) or tinned tuna, sometimes mixed with grated veg and cooked rice, for dinner. I find this easy coz I can feed it to the cats and dogs, and actually quite cheap. BUT I like Natures Gift for tinned food as it pretty much has just what it says in it! Ie. Saxon is sensitive to beef but many prepared foods have beef products in all the flavours, even the chicken. I also agree with keetamouse, they get what I decide to give them, if they're hungry they'll eat.