Simply Grand

Oh I meant to say, agility certainly isn't a requirement. When I say we "do" it, that's training at the obedience club, not competing. I've been doing it with Saxon for 5 or 6 months and he seems to love it, and be quite good at it. It's quite fun but tires me out more than him, trying to run around the course! We may eventually compete but it's really only for the fun and the training experience for me and stimulation for him that we do it. I do obedience training with Sax too, again not competing, and would definitely want to do that with any dog I have, for the dog's behaviour but also for the bond it forms and how it teaches you how your dog learns best. To be honest I don't think I'll have time to do both obedience and agility with two dogs!

Bailey's Mum, I watched your puppy posts in the Breeders Community, you had me wanting one of your babies when I wasn't even looking for a puppy, let alone an Aussie Terrier. From the sounds of it one would actually fit in really well with Saxon, they are on the list! Chin's are cute, with their funny little faces! I think the Tibbie appeals more to me though, and probably more of them around? It's really interesting looking at all these breeds and realising that some of them instantly appeal and some don't, and then (more importantly) there are the personalities/temperaments, and the physical requirements. I had thought of all this kind of stuff before and am happy to research and plan, but it just emphasises to me how stupid it is to just take home a puppy you saw in a pet shop that day! SO glad I found DOL

Hmmm, so it's seeming maybe a Pug wouldn't be the best fit for us. I had thought they were a pretty "easy-fit" sort of breed, but may have been wrong. Maybe I've been wrongly influenced by how often they are used for cross breeding, poor Puggies Gosh I love those little faces though I have worried about Saxon's zoomies and wrestles, plus the cats, with a Pug. Saxon's also reasonably confident but I suppose a bit of a sooky Mummy's boy... maybe that's a factor too. I'm also going to add that I'd like to find something within the next 6 months or so... I know people often wait longer for a pure breed but for me 6 months is a pretty long time . I just want a nice healthy pet dog, raised in a happy family environment, that will fit in with the household and be happy

I love those photos of Carl showing his different looks! He has "alert", "chillaxed" then "just keeping an eye on things..."! I think I've ruled out terriers, again not for any particular reason, just that I have to narrow it down somehow. I know socialisation and training has a huge impact but I think the drive of a terrier with Saxon would mean they would be very full on. His friend who we often dog-sit is a pug x JRT and the two of them just race around the house chasing each other at full pelt or play bitey-face the ENTIRE time she's here... I know they wouldn't all be like that but I think a dog that would sometimes just ignore Saxon instead of encouraging him would be good, for the sanity of me and the cats... Pug experts, do you think it would be like that with a Pug? I thought with Laila it's more the JRT that give her the energy. I also thought a fawn pug would be better than a black from the "not being too full on" perspective (even though I think both are totally cute). As far as a Poodle, I LOVE Saxon's poodle-ness and the more Poodles I meet the more I love them so I'd always like to have a Poodle, but I'd like to experience a different type of dog. Saxon's the first dog I've ever had and I'm learning so much about dogs but I'd like to experience something different, appearance and temperament wise.

Ok, that is totally gorgeous! I hope his owner gets found I hadn't looked much at Tibbies before, but having had a quick look, they are pretty impressive too. How are they with other dogs and people? Would they enjoy a run around and play at a dog park?

I thought Cavs would come up I can't say why but they're just not the dog for me I really don't know why, I think they're just gorgeous and have always liked the ones I've met, but not for me, at least at the moment. ETA - although that look Georgea's giving is pretty persuasive, gorgeous girl!

Since Saxon was about 6 months old I've been hanging out for the next baby. A year later the time to start searching has come! I've been considering breeds and researching off and on since then. I've been tempted to rescue but have decided that pure breed is a better idea this time, Saxon has actually been incredible easy as a first-ever dog and I think I need a bit more dog experience before I take on the unknowns of a rescue. So, I have a couple of breeds in mind (Sheltie, Pug) but would love suggestions of one over the other, or other breed possibilities Here's the situation: - I have two cats - one about 17, one 6, both pretty tolerant and adaptable - and 1 dog - Saxon, 19 month old Toy Poodle x Maltese - Space is somewhat limited, I'm in a two bedroom house with a small fenced yard, no grass but paving, mulched area and garden beds - room for a small dog to run around, toilet and play but not much more - I'm single and live on my own so there's only me to take care of the furries. With my current job I'm away from home 10 hours a day, 5 days - I walk Sax for about 30 mins most days, either morning or evening. Plan is to walk both dogs together when pup is old enough - I do obedience and agility with Saxon and will do at least obedience with new puppy - animals have inside/outside access through pet door - pup will be separated until safe with others I'm looking for: - an easy going dog who will get along with the other animals, or at least Saxon (I can manage dogs and cats being separated) - a dog who wants to hang out with me (and Saxon) when I'm home but is ok without me when I'm out - ie affectionate but not clingy - happy to play with Saxon but not TOO crazy - he doesn't need encouragement - happy to have a run around at the dog park and meet other dogs and people - trainable and keen to learn - grooming up to 10 mins per day and/or 1-2 hrs per week/fortnight - that's about what I do with Sax and it's no problem - PERSONALITY! A bit of attitude is ok as long as they are trainable - I can be patient and consistent and - Cuteness I do think all dogs are cute but there are some that appeal to me personally more than others. What do you think?

Hmm, so there can be lots of variety. Even in purebreeds it seems. So is the size of the parents much of an indication? Or do you have to go back through generatioins of a pedigree?

Does the size of a young puppy give you much of an idea of how big the adult dog will be? As in could 2 different breed puppies of about the same size at say 10 weeks turn out significantly different sizes as adults? This really applies more to mixed breed dogs I guess, pure breeds being much more predictable, and I'm asking because of the number of conversations I've had with people who have a puppy they've brought home at 8 - 12 weeks, without meeting the parents, of about the same size as Saxon was at that age (Toy Poodle x Maltese, 4.8kg as an adult, 1.8kg at 10 weeks - I met his parents, he's the size I expected), and they are expecting to end up with a medium size dog because puppy is apparently a small breed x medium breed. This would be assuming that the pup really is the cross (or pure breed) that the owners have been told. Is it possible that the pup could start off the size of a toy or small breed in the first 3 or 4 months, then actually grow to the size of a medium or larger breed? And alternatively, could a pup be the size of a large breed at 3 to 4 months, and only grow to the size of a medium breed as an adult? Hmm, should give examples of what I'm talking about: Toy/small breed - Toy poodle, Mini Foxy, Pomeranian, CKCS Medium breed - Kelpie, Cocker Spaniel, Staffy, Mini Poodle Large breed - Lab, Rottie

Oh Adnil, I so feel for you trying to figure this out! The balance between cats and dogs is so hard to figure out. i don't know the regs where you are (sorry I should look!!). I think here in Canberra there are some suburbs that have cat restrictions but others that don't... I know that where I live is not restricted. I do understand though that by letting my cats out I am exposing them to risk... I'm sure as an animal lover you would be sad if your dog injured a cat but ethically I don't think you should feel responsible as those of us that own cats do, or should, understand the risks of letting them roam!! PS I do get my cats in at night, they only have outside access during the day... they are kept seperate from the dogs in the house and avoid the dogs when outside!

Here's my perspective - I work as a Property Manager here in the ACT, I'm a tenant with 2 cats and a small dog (toy poodle x maltese) in the ACT and I'm a landlord in ACT and QLD - so I have kinda a broad perspective... Basically, best option is actually to be honest about having a pet, if I discovered a tenant lied to me they would probably lose the property regardless of how good a tenant they may be. Rental properties in a body corporate situations have not only the owners' restrictions but the body corporate/strata restrictions that generally don't allow pets - it is possible as either owner or tenant to apply for pet apporoval but it's most often rejected and takes time, even as an owner... so possible as a last resort but not ideal. Any property manager that has or has had pets will probably figure out if you have them but haven't said... ok maybe that's just me but I don't think lying is a good plan.. as a Property Manager, if I found at an inspection that you had an undeclared pet (and you'd have to hide it VERY well for me not to know) I'd be issuing a legal Notice to Remedy... In a house or seperate title townhouse complex, it is basically up to the owner. Then it seems to depend on the competition for the property and what the tenant will agree to. For example, in my current personal situation - a private rental of one unit in a duplex property - we have an agreement that I can have the pets (two cats and a dog) but I will replace the laundry external door - where I installed a cat/dog flap - and the lounge/dining and hallway carpet (where the pets have access) when I move out. So the deal is basically that we agree the pets will do minimal damage and I will restore the property to how it was before I moved in, including new door and carpet, no matter what the pets do in the meantime. As a property manager and property owner I have no problem with pets but I would expect pet owners to take responsibility for their pets and agree to repair ANY damage, including REPLACING carpet for inside animals and paying for a landscaper to maintain/repair any damage or wear in the garden. If you are willing to pay ANY cost resulting from you pet/s, go for it, be honest and put in writing your commitment and references... It's always worth asking about pets, a lot of people will consider them, you just have to be genuinely ready to repair any damage they do. Also, as a general "how to get a rental property" recommendation, try to get in touch with the property manager and talk to them, explain your situation, it will quite likely help... no guarantees obviously!

Hey, that's exactly what happened in that tv show, Flash Forward... all the birds in some US desert state suddenly died and fell out of they sky then soon after there was a weird thing where everyone in the world passed out for a minute or something and had a "flash forward" to their fate on a certain day in the future... spooky!!

I'm with Medibank but my reason isn't too helpful...I went with them coz I have my own insurance with them and they seemed to cover what was needed. I haven't made a claim yet but took Sax for vaccs the other day which apparently I can claim, so we'll see how that goes

Heehee, just had a funny moment reading about Pug shedding! Saxon(my Poodle x)'s little Pug x friend came to stay with us yesterday, I was just sitting here reading about Pug hair getting everywhere, went to move the (computer) mouse and noticed spiky fawn strands all over the table... looked down and they're all over my clothes too Saxon doesn't shed but my cats leave fur all over the place, it's not like spiky Pug hairs though! Anyway, I was re-reading the Pug breed thread because new puppy decision time is getting close for me now and I just keep coming back to a Pug!

This must come up a lot but don't think it's been mentioned here yet... My friends' 6 yo pet Golden Retriever is clearly gay, he only ever tries to hump male dogs And he's not desexed because they think he'd be unhappy not having his manhood, but it doesn't matter because he's gay so he wouldn't mate with a girl dog anyway

hehe, that's a great video KTB! Elbie and Hoover were very spoilt with those great pressies. I love Hoover's reaction at the beginning when you show him the card - at first he's like "yeah a card whatever...sniff sniff... hang on, that smells YUMMY! Gimme..." and then he's REALLY interested in the rest of the presents :p

Aaawww... merry Christmas Miss Molly! From Saxon, who loved being Christmas dog all day (yeah right...) This is his second Christmas and his mum (me!) made him be extra festive!

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I agree. I certainly think that for a puppy, or a small dog that you can physically restrain, a halti shouldn't be necessary. Obviously you may need a collar or harness your dog can't wriggle out of! Learning how to teach a puppy to loose lead walk is invaluable training for both the puppy - in learning their relationship with their owner/handler, and the world - and the owner/handler. It works off the basics of training, where the puppy learns to look to you for guidance and follow your lead, and doesn't get a reward for doing the wrong thing. It would be good if puppy owners at least got the chance to learn how to train their dog properly.

Flat collar and leash here (or extendy leash), no problems with loose lead walking. Although with a 5kg dog, it is quite manageable to teach good walking! I think there are plenty of good reasons for using a harness/check chain/other training aid, but I also think for some people they just haven't and don't want to put in the training effort. Still, a walk on a harness is better than no walk, and you can't tell the situation just by looking at someone walking past. I have seen a number of medium to large dogs around here being walked on the good old KraMar car harness (harness around chest, lead clips to D ring between shoulders on back) - I would think this would make walking the dog harder, with the pulling, but maybe people don't know... or have other reasons??? As far as walking dogs off leash in public (non-off leash) areas, I've said it before - I think it's lazy and unfair... Whether my dog stays right by me off leash or not, I want him within leash length when walking in public, so why not just clip on the leash? If it's a hassle to walk your dog on a leash, seems to me the dog is not well behaved enough to be off leash...

Don't be embarrassed, I'm absolutely sure many others do as you do. Just think though about what would happen if you/someone else driving had to slam on the brakes, or god forbid, got in an accident.. There is massive force involved and however good your intentions, you probably couldn't restrain Hugo. I'd suggest a seatbelt harness, I just got mine from the supermarket - KraMar car harness, size small, which I've had on Sax from when he was a 1.8kg puppy to a 5kg adult, adjusting the size - we've used it with the booster seat, just on the backseat with the seatbelt, and now in the footwell. I know pups want to be with you, and can freak out in the car, but seriously, I feel like it has to be worth the effort to teach them to deal with being strapped in. Look at the research about humans, especially babies, without seatbelts - surely animals need the same protection!! I wanted to get him a booster seat but with mom in the driver's seat and me in the passenger side seat, I didn't know how to attach the booster seat! I will get him a harness when he's a bit older though--right now the only time we take him with us in the car is when we're going to puppy preschool. Yes, good point. The two cars I've had since having Saxon have had split-fold rear seats (yay Honda), which seem to be needed to loop a booster seat around. However, I intend to put next puppy in a harness on the floor with Saxon asap, or at least on the back seat - I think the booster seat added to Saxon being Mr Noisy Whinger in the car... So if you can get away with just a harness either through the seatbelt on the back seat (no airbags to hit their head, a risk in front passenger seat) or in the back footwell, I'd try that first, for your driving sanity

As long as you are aware that you could get very badly bitten doing that to a truly aggressive dog. The dog may well just turn it's attack on you and if you are lying down your face and neck would be very vulnerable. It makes me cringe to think of it. Yes, that's definitely my concern!! I certainly know that an angry animal can have super-strength. I guess I like to think that I would be able to bear down my full weight on the dog and hold it down, if I was in serious fight/protect mode. I just think my full weight would be more effective than kicking. I also would gouge eyes, use my elbows, whatever else I needed to do. Certainly not a perfect solution, but I'm not going to start carrying knives/guns/illegal weapons so would have to go with what I have. This is really last resort stuff and really hope it would never happen, but I don't think I'd have it in me to not try and save my dog, even at the risk of harm myself.

Don't be embarrassed, I'm absolutely sure many others do as you do. Just think though about what would happen if you/someone else driving had to slam on the brakes, or god forbid, got in an accident.. There is massive force involved and however good your intentions, you probably couldn't restrain Hugo. I'd suggest a seatbelt harness, I just got mine from the supermarket - KraMar car harness, size small, which I've had on Sax from when he was a 1.8kg puppy to a 5kg adult, adjusting the size - we've used it with the booster seat, just on the backseat with the seatbelt, and now in the footwell. I know pups want to be with you, and can freak out in the car, but seriously, I feel like it has to be worth the effort to teach them to deal with being strapped in. Look at the research about humans, especially babies, without seatbelts - surely animals need the same protection!!

Well, anything's worth a try, even a thumb up the butt! To be honest though, I'm actually not sure it would stop a dog in full on fight mode... I feel very protective of my dog, given that he weighs 5kgs or less and I weigh... much more... so I keep a very close watch for unknown dogs and wouldn't hesitate to avoid the dog or pick Saxon up to protect him. I know from experience that my first reaction, once a dog is actually on Saxon (either playing too rough or being aggressive) is to stick my hands in its mouth, open it's jaw, then grab Sax away. However, I've recently learned that I won't always be able to open the other dog's jaws... I learned this with a 4 month old puppy trying to play (roughly) with Saxon, even being so young and small, I couldn't actually open his jaws. I had to just hold his collar till he let go then push Sax away - luckily no harm done. I feel like my reaction, if it got to the point of a full-on attack and I didn't have a weapon, would be to throw my full body down on top of the attacking dog, preferably over its head and just holding it to the ground. I'd then yell for help, if there might be any about, or if need be, press my hands down on its neck to choke it... This would be one occasion when I would appreciate being not a small girl! God, I hope it never happens, I'd hate to do hurt or kill a dog, but I absolutely would if the need was there.