Simply Grand

I know KTB's dogs and they are DEFINITELY NOT badly behaved dogs that could not be looked after by family or friends! I was actually inclined to offer to take them myself, knowing how lovely they are and that they would most likely be quite manageable along with my dog (shortly to me dogs) and cats. After reading KTB's reasoning for seeking a kennel or dog sitter I can totally see where she's coming from though and in fact think she an OH are being very organised for thinking about the best place for their dogs and even checking whether they need to book now! Having said all that KTB I don't know anything about local kennel experiences, if I find anything out I'll let you know. And also if you run out if all options and I do stay in town over Xmas (which is reasonably likely) you won't be stuck, E & H could always join my menagerie, tho I totally understand it probably wouldn't be ideal! (heeheee, I can just imagine the pile of animals on my bed, I tend to let any visiting dogs join Saxon and the cats in my room...)

Oh, that's so sad! I can just imagine how scared the owners were, trying to catch their dog dreading it being hit, and then for the worst to happen and the people to not even care I hope he was ok. That's terrifying!! What absolute morons, how cruel...

I agree with this. Say you "just happened to come across this rescue pup, look how cute he is... oh and he happens to be already desexed and microchipped, saves you the cost of that!" I think it's a good way of trying to influence people who are unlikely to listen to arguments about health testing and responsible breeding and raising of puppies to do the right thing.

corvus, I'm looking forward to the findings of your study! I think it's really interesting what different dogs react to (and amusing ). I wonder if the difference is whether they are actually able to perceive things or just whether they react to them? Nik, your comment about the Totally Wild music reminded me that Saxon reacts to the sound of certain ads coming on and runs to the tv, particularly the Kleenex long roll toilet paper one where the Lab starts as a puppy and then grows up and the Pedigree puppy food one with the Lab puppy in the maze...He barks at the puppies, so cute! Wuffles, Ava reacting to the dog on the screen also reminded me, I have the Ruthless fundraising dog calendar at home which has a photo of a dog for each month. I showed Saxon each photo as I turned over the months and he didn't react to the first few so I thought he probably couldn't see a printed still picture, then we came to one he apparently could see and got quite scared of (I'm trying to remember which dog it...)

When the RSPCA ad that has all the different animals going across the screen from one side to the other came he used to start at one side, follow then along the screen then watch the edge for them to come out I thought it was so funny that every time the ad came in I put him in front of the tv to watch him do it... he got bored of that game though so we had to stop Saxon doesn't seem to react to people talking but he does to babies crying. He's never heard a baby cry in real life but if he hears it on tv he starts whining... weird. My cats don't pay any attention to the tv (sound or pictures) and I wonder whether the cats are smart enough to know it's not real so they ignore it and the dog doesn't understand, or whether the cats can't see the screen but he can...

Hahaha! I love watching Saxon watch tv, I usually point out when there's an animal on tv just to watch his reaction. When he spots them he lifts is ears and looks then usually does a few "ruff...ruff"s then depending on what's happening runs to the tv and stands up and barks He knows certain words now because I keep doing it to him - "look, a puppy" "look, a horsie" and "look a puddin' (cat)" all make him look at the tv to see what's on there

Oh stop it, she is toooo cute!! And look at that expression, she knows it too I'm so envious of your weekly photos, but on the other hand since I finally got a photo of Riley it's made it so much harder to wait! Week and a half to go... kasoo, I had enough trouble picking a name when it was only up to me, I don't envy you having to find one that everyone likes!

Naaaawwwww, she was looking all big and grown up in the first photos then you see this one and realise she's still only little! How cute

Oh SF, I've just read through the thread and am so so sorry to hear about the hard decision you've had to make I can't even imagine how you are feeling, but just thinking about what you're going through breaks my heart. I know exactly what you mean about the little face peeking through the bathroom door, even when you thought they were sound asleep and tried to sneak off quietly! I've seen that look where they're in pain and they look at you like why, what have I done wrong?? It's just heartbreaking I know, they can't understand it and when you've tried the treatments and they haven't worked the kindest thing really is to let them go. Such a hard decision but you have made the right one I'll be thinking of you this week and especially Saturday xxx

I saw Harper's pic in the other thread, he's just gorgeous!! Love the name too I'm sure you'll get some more advice from those more knowledgable but I'd say he was just a bit freaked out at yet another change on such a big day for him. He was feeling happy and secure being next to you after his big trip, and when you put him in the crate he probably thought he was going away again or something. I think if he has something yummy and something comforting in the crate with him (not being fed to him by you) and can see you nearby as you just do stuff and ignore him he'll stop crying and settle eventually. I know it's hard to hear him cry but he really is safe and well in there! And I would think that once he does quiet down if you just go over, open the door and let him out but totally ignore him for a minute while he comes out and makes a fuss then he won't feel like if he cries in the crate eventually you come, then he gets a treat and gets let out. You want going in and out of the crate to be just part of life, not a big deal one way or the other... Easy for me to say when I've never done it!! I think I will be crate training my new pup starting in a couple of weeks so then I'll come back and say OMG I had no idea what I was talking about ;) Edited for clarity

to everyone's replies, and to PickledRoo for doing the research!! Your puppy is adorable! It has already been said but just wanted to re-emphasise how important it is to do all the things you'll need to do for grooming later, even if the puppy doesn't actually need it now. I made the mistake (not consciously, just didn't think about it or know better) of not trimming the bottom of Saxon's feet regularly when he was a baby because they didn't actually need it. I did regularly brushing and clipping/scissoring of everywhere else but didn't do his feet until he was nearly 1 I think when I noticed the hair growing over the foot pads. Because he wasn't used to it he hated it and it's now taken almost another year to build up to him letting me do a whole foot in one go, we had to build up basically from one clip with the scissors, treat, let him go, a bit later two clips etc etc. Big fat pain!! Oh BTW - Saxon is a poodle x maltese, he has a curly but fine coat that matts all over the place if I don't brush and trim out knots every couple of days!

And Moose pics Cassie!!!

Hello puppy people,I'm very excited to be able to join the thread finally! I've been watching it since it started dying to be in it and finally am! This is Riley : I got my first pics of him last night and am so excited now! It's been easier to wait without having seen him but now that I have I just want him home to cuddle!! I pick him up on the 18th, so only two weeks to go. Picking names is hard! I wanted to wait until I met Riley before naming him but the breeders obviously wanted to start teaching him his name and Riley was at the top of the list on the day so that's what I went with. I might change it if it doesn't suit him but I somehow think it will stick now! Anna I like Riku, I also like Mikka though, I don't think it's too girly! I suppose your OH should get a say though... :rolleyes: Ambrosia, I like Zara too. I also have a good friend called Annika (Annie-ka) but I actually think A-nee-ka would be good for a pretty dog! Oh, I like Frankie too, although it's not exactly a pretty girly name, hehe. Now, Harper where are the Poodle puppy pics???

They are sooo sweet together And Ginger is one gorgeous cat!!

I don't think of Saxon as my baby or my child but I do think of myself as his mum... and I think he sees me in that role Don't you think when you take on a puppy straight from being with its actual mum you take over her role, in their eyes? I don't actually say "come to mum" or anything, but when I'm pretending to be him talking to me (please tell me I'm not the only one who does this... :D ) I'll say things like "hi mum, hi mum, I'm so excited!" or "muuummm, I don't want a bath...). I also do this with one of my cats, who I got as a kitten and who is quite attached to me personally (he has a meow that sounds just like "muuuummmm"), but not with the other cat who I adopted as an adult as she is much more independent and I don't think particularly cares if it's with me or someone else as long as she gets food and a comfy bed I do call other people their dog's mum or dad rather than owner most of the time. But about calling boyfriends Uncle... I think that's weird to do with pets or kids! My friend calls her bf Uncle Paul to her dog and I said to her "but isn't it weird that Mum and 'Uncle Paul' then go off to the bedroom together..." Eeeewww

I'm sadly excited by this topic! I recently got the Hoover Core Pet (cyclonic bagless) I love it! I got it on sale at Godfreys for $270 reduced from $560. I originally went to get the (cheaper) Hoover Dog and Cat on sale, the one with the power head, but the sales person reckoned this one was better, it doesn't need the power head coz it has super-suction. The suction itself powers spinning brushes in the head which pick up pet hairs. It's quite light, really easy to push, pretty easy to empty and picks up hair really well, even the sticky cat whiskers that I always had to pick up by hand! It also comes with a hard floor head and pet drying and brushing attachments but I haven't used them yet

Not sure I'm qualified to say, having a x breed, but Saxon and every Poodle (and most Poodle x's) I've met play by standing up on their hind legs and wrestling/boxing with their front legs I call it "Poodle wrestling" and have seen Saxon and lots of others do it, or try, from Toys to Standards and everthing in between. So cute. Many other dogs, especially working dogs I've noticed, tend to look confused when they sniff a nice hello, get ready for a good game of chase and then have a little curly-haired thing stand up and starts pointing his arms at them and tapping their face!

Ah, thanks guys, I thought that would be the case. BMP, that's good to know, I thought they would be earlier. I can probably time it to meet up with my friends in the afternoon then

Sorry for the silly question! I want to go along tomorrow morning to watch the conformation and agility but am going tomorrow arvo to the whole show, and there's no pass outs Anyone know if you have to pay the $22 show ticket price to watch the dogs? Not a huge deal, just wondering PS Sheltie breeders, I'll be looking for you! I'll try to stay out of the way when you're busy though...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY gorgeous little man! :D Two years old and going strong, I hope you all get to share many more together

Oh, silly silly dogs, why don't they have the instinct to steer clear of cars!?! I assume because we've domesticated them, which means we have a huge responsibility to them... That is one lucky dog to survive that roundabout, it's massive! It just seems to me that a loose dog isn't necessarily anyone's fault, especially not the dog's. But I think it's nice (and responsible) that some people will stop to help, for the safety of the dog and the public...

OMG that's a huge number! In my search (not this breed) I've been trying to go to shows and meet breeders and their dogs, and talking to people I know about decent breeders. lisat, go to the SBT Breed-specific sub-forum, ask them for advice and tell them about yourself. Hopefully they'll send you some recommendations of breeders who treat their dogs well and raise healthy, happy puppies in a good environment

This afternoon I was driving to an appointment for work down a busy two lane (well two in each direction with wide median strip) road with an 80km speed limit. As I drove I realised a dog was jogging casually along the road towards me, weaving between the shoulder and the two lanes towards the traffic. Poor boy was an obviously cared for black boy, Rottie/maybe Dane looking... he was just jogging along but on a mission. I stopped mid-road for him and as soon as he was out of the way pulled over and got out to go after him. A lady had pulled over a bit behind me and I was walking up behind him in her direction. I tried calling him, he looked at me but then continued on his way. As I got closer to the other woman who'd pulled over he wandered into the middle of the road and stopped two lanes of traffic, about 8 cars in each lane. He stood still in the middle of the road as the lady near him called him and I ran up the shoulder towards them. No one in the stopped cars did anything! I wanted to yell out for SOMEONE to get out and try to get hold of him but despite already all being stopped no one did anything, and they wouldn't have heard me. As soon as he was out of their way they drove off. Eventually he ran over the median strip and across the other side of the road down to the lake area. I don't know what happened to him then but the RSPCA turned up and said they'd been trying to catch him for the last little while and that they'd called Domestic Animal Services. I hope he was ok :D I get that not everyone can/should stop for a wandering dog, but seriously out of the probably 60 cars that passed between when I first and last saw him, only me and 1 other lady stopped and tried?? And when he was standing there surrounded, with me and the other lady behind him no one from the cars stopped in front of him did anything! Apart from that, this morning I was driving next to a guy in a ute with two gorgeous long haired GSDs in the back. They were strapped to the ute frame with a chain attached to their collars. When we stopped at lights the younger dog was hanging half his body over the side of the ute, REALLY looking like he was trying to jump out. He was trying to get around to the window of the cab to get to his owner, or the cars next door, or something... When they moved off he was still hanging over the edge of the ute and trying to climb over the top of the cabin. I was terrified he'd either jump or fall out and be strangled :p Both dogs were moving around and barking. Um, maybe harnesses would be a good idea if you're going to have dogs on the back of a ute. Sigh...

Hi lisat, welcome to the forums! I certainly don't know that much about staffies, but from what I do know, there are two separate breeds - the Staffordshire Bull Terrier (which is sometimes inaccurately called the English Staffy) and the American Staffordshire Terrier. I don't know the specifics of the two breeds regarding but I'm sure some experts can fill you in. I do know that good breeding and good socialisation and training makes a big difference with any breed! Most reputable breeders will have puppies available for pet homes, provided they get desexed, they often breed to get a show puppy but then look for great pet homes for the others in the litter. I'm trying to decide on a breed for a new puppy myself at the moment so just wondering what in particular makes you want a Staffy? And colour wise, of course people have personal preferences, but for a lot of breeders the colour is sort of a non-priority, temperament and type are much more important, so you might find that the right puppy for you personality-wise isn't the colour you want... I guess it depends what you're looking for. Good luck in your search, I definitely share your excitement in looking for a new puppy!

Today I went to the Bungendore show to check out different breeds, it was really good! After the good advice here plus talking to some other people I can see that a Pug probably isn't a good fit at the moment. So on the list now are: Tibbie Aussie Terrier Mini Poodle - I can see that this would be a really good match for Saxon and at the top of the list, Sheltie... At the show I had a good talk with some lovely Sheltie breeders and met their gorgeous dogs! I've come across Shelties before but not really had much interaction with them, which I was thinking was their stand-offishness with strangers, but these ones were so friendly and excited about pats and cuddles - one young one was almost climbing out of the pen into my arms :D He was so sweet, i was very tempted to just pick him up and run So we talked about my circumstances and I asked whether they thought a Sheltie would cope ok with my work hours and the small yard, they said that as long as it got walks and training and attention when I am home it should be fine. Theirs are usually happy to lie around and relax all day. The breeding partner of the people I spoke to apparently has a fairly small yard so I'm hoping I can arrange to go and meet her dogs and talk to her to get more of an idea of whether it will work. I was looking out for Tibbies, I don't think I've met one, but I couldn't see any. They could have been there though and I just didn't realise!