Simply Grand

I'm really lucky to have come across quite a few good owners at my local dog park. A couple of examples: There's a man who comes now and then with his old, large male rotti (I think). He starts off with him on a leash when he comes in and does laps around the park, starting out near the fence away from everyone and working his way closer to the other dogs. After quite a while, when he's sure the dog is relaxed and happy and has had positive interactions with all the dogs nearby, he'll let him off leash, but stays right next to him and monitors every interaction. He told me that when he first started taking the dog to the park he couldn't have him around other dogs at all, especially off leash and especially around small dogs as he was very DA, but he wanted to help him get better. After a year or more of work the old dog is now generally calm and happy to greet the other dogs around him. There are two huskies who are litter mates, who belong to two girls who are twins (I think they're about 12). The dogs are around the same age as Saxon so we've been seeing each other at the dog park for about the last year as they've all been growing up. At first I was worried about kids being responsible for huskies but they've done a great job and the dogs are gorgeous. The parents are always there too of course, but the girls are expected to take responsibility for their dog, and they do. They've always watched them very closely and have monitored who they play with, making sure they are similar size and play style, controlling their greetings with new dogs, and making sure they're gentle with smaller dogs. They also take them to obedience training. Whilst they are still young, boisterous huskies, one in particular, they interact beautifully with other dogs of all shapes and sizes and are very responsive to their owners' (the girls and the parents) instructions. Saxon looooooooves them and when they were smaller they used to play a bit, but now the size difference is so great (Saxon's a toy poodle x maltese) it doesn't work too well so they just say hello and walk around a bit together, although they have been known to lie down and let Saxon walk all over them (literally)

This is such a sweet thread! Having only got my first dog just under a year ago, I didn't know what I was missing out on. Now, whenever I see pretty much any dog, I can't help smiling I hope I always have a dog around from now on (sorry to my gorgeous puddy cats, I always thought I was a cat person until I got a dog what a traitor ) I don't think I've been around dogs enough to know if there is one particular breed I totally click with, and if so, what it is but so far: I looooove my poodle x Saxon, could not be happier, and know it is particularly the poodie traits I love, so they're on the list... Can't wait to get my Puggie (next dog), totally love the big personality and the cuddly little package it comes in. I also love GSDs, don't know what it is about them, but I think they are the most amazing creatures, I think it's something to do with amazing power and strength contained with a thoughtful, curious and responsive-to-humans character that seems like a privilege to be around...

Here are some photos from the day after Saxon's bday, when he finally got a bday treat! (naughty mum :D ) Me -"Oh, Saxon's very good at waiting for me to tell him it's ok to eat, I'm sure we can get a nice posed photo": Saxon - "ohmygod PORK CHOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! stuff you mum" Charlie, enjoying birthday pork chop from the safety of the bench - "hmm, well the dog's good for something at least...": And for size comparison (see day 1 photo), a picture with Polarbear, still going strong despite daily attempts on his life:

My puppy chewed the cable on my laptop and managed to kill the computer. Massive PITA! Luckily he was fine, even though the cord was sparking a bit It was the first time he'd done it so I didn't even get a chance to try and stop it. Good luck to you, I hope you get it sorted!

Aawww thanks. He did get lots of birthday attention from the class so he was happy He didn't even get a special birthday dinner because we were at training. We'll have a birthday dinner tonight. Not that he cares what he eats, as long as it's food he's happy!

She sounds like a lovely girl already! Yes, I think securing the enclosure is a good idea, so if she does try to climb it won't fall over, and she can't push or drag it around. Hopefully if she has lots of toys and things to chew in there she'll be too busy to think of trying to get out! At 9 weeks she won't be able to hang on all night without going to the toilet. A lot of people, especially those crate training, do get up every few hours during the night to take their puppies outside for toilet stops. I have to admit that thought doesn't appeal to me! I didn't know about crate training when I got Saxon but even now knowing about it, I'm not sure I'll use if for my next pup. Saxon slept in the bathroom when he was a baby, and was in there during the day when I went out (it's quite a big bathroom and he was a tiny puppy!). I had a baby gate to keep him in there and put down puppy pads. I found that he was pretty good with using the pads whenever he was confined to the bathroom, and I wasn't fussed if he didn't quite make it because of the tiled floor, but there was no chance of him going off to find a pad if he was free in the house. Whenever I was home with him I had to take him outside every hour to see if he needed the toilet, until I found I could read his body language for when he needed to go and then it was less often. There were many accidents though, they're very quick if you're not paying attention! My aim was always for him to take himself out the doggy door and go outside so as soon as he was big enough to get up and down the back steps on his own I started teaching him to go through the doggy door whenever I took him out, and then rewarding him whenever he toileted outside (first just with praise, but I found food treats as well worked better). He'd still go in the bathroom overnight but I just ignored and quietly cleaned up whatever he did toilet-wise in there. Anyway, the point of that long story is that you should still be able to teach her that going outside is the right thing - and from her point of view, the way she earns rewards - even if she does go on pads in the laundry overnight until she is old enough to hold it. But she'll learn quicker if you do get up and take her out a few times a night, and reward her when she goes - she'll start to try and hold it then for a little while, while she waits for you to take her. It sound like you're doing a good job, don't worry Oh, but you're right, your OH hitting her won't help at all...

Awww, sweet! Before you know it Zedley will be dragging you out the door to go and get his masses of attention every morning

6 months old - very bad haircut from mum, how embarrassing! 8ish months - playing with Milosh, my very own Siberian Husky! Playing with my best friend Laila. The only time we were still the whole weekend was for the photo! No birthday photos yet, I'll get some tonight

Day 1 - phew, exploring a new home is tiring! End of week 1 - hi mum, love you! 4 months old - sand is fun!

I can't believe he's 1 already! Where does the time go? Even though he's not actually a baby anymore, he's still my baby In celebration, he spent the morning chewing a stick on my bed while I got ready for work, then enjoyed a chicken wing when I left :D (Oh wait, that's pretty much how he celebrates every morning :D ) Tonight we have obedience training so he'll get to party with his friends, and get lots of attention from everyone. Here are some photos of his life so far: My first picture of Saxon, with his mum and brothers (he's on the left, on top of his brother): The first time I met him, as a 2 week old guinea pig: Settling in on the first night home: First day at home, beginning his (still ongoing) attempts to kill his polarbear:

I'm not sure I'd leave a puppy unattended for any length of time in the Bunnings compost cage... what do others think? To me they're not that stable and are quite climb-able, with the possibility of getting stuck. I guess if you somehow secured the panels it might be ok... Sorry RPMgirl, that's not very helpful of me!! Re. the clamshell, my puppy (well dog now I guess) loves digging in the sand! Yes, hide treats and toys she likes in there and she can search around for them. Be prepared for a mess though

Does anyone know if there are any figures showing how many "puppy farm" puppies go to pet shops? Is it the majority? If so, maybe stopping the selling of animals in pet shops would go a long way to stopping the farms. I know there are a lot who sell via the internet too though.

I like something like this better than a set maximum number. Isn't that what they do with childcare? If someone can meet the requirements re staff and environment and pay the associated costs and still feel that they have a worthwhile business then they can continue. If it is not financially viable for them then they shut down. I have no idea, without the model being tested, whether it would be financially viable to have a large number of dogs, but if it is and they're properly cared for then I think people have the right to run that business if they want, whether we like it or not.

If you can get a psychiatrist to say you are unfit for work due to depression/ PTSD from the fire etc, it will last 3 months and can be renewed with another form from psychiatrist in 3 months time. I was thinking about this last night - seeing a psychiatrist/psychologist/counsellor I mean. For financial reasons of course the documentation would be great, but I was also thinking for yourself, some grief counselling could be really helpful. You've been through massive trauma and may be feeling overwhelmed about what you still have to face. There should be some public health system assistance available on that front hopefully. Ok, that's all I'll say about that - it's totally none of my business, and you may already be doing it. No need for you to respond to this suggestion in any way, just something to think about, I know I've personally found professional help from a good psychologist to be invaluable during difficult times. On a brighter note - I'm glad you're still showing your sense of humour, and can't wait for the day when you have all your puppers home with you

... Don't worry, answered my own question!

Heehee, koala, I'll be very happy to have a little Elbie jumping all over me! Even if we might get in trouble for playing during work time There are big lights at night, it's very well lit actually, but unfortunately no heaters!! Double socks for me too I think. Clastic, I'll have to look more closely for you and Mars this week, I was looking around last week but must have missed you. I was too busy trying to make Saxon pay attention to me, instead of barking at the dogs in the field behind us!

ooh, also when I'm a parent, I will teach my kids how to interact with dogs, and watch them closely all the time, regardless of what I think they know! At the dog park the other week there was a family there with their dog and their two young kids. The older kid was intellectually disabled and the other one was probably about 4. The parents were chatting to other people and letting the kids run around doing whatever they wanted. The disabled one in particular clearly loved dogs but was showing this by running up to all the dogs he saw, grabbing and patting them. He "patted" Saxon by putting his hands on either side of his neck... I was quite freaked out, it looked like he was strangling my dog!! but I watched very closely and he was quite gentle, and Saxon wasn't bothered. The thing that really worried me was he ran up behind a young husky who was about to have a drink from the water bowl (I know the dog well and he is very well behaved but still young and slightly unpredictable), wrapped his arms around the dogs middle and rested his head on its back. The husky turned around in surprise but tolerated it well and didn't do anything. The parents were nowhere in sight so I stayed to watch closely until the kid moved away. I certainly think any kid should be watched closely and controlled around dogs, but particularly an intellectually disabled child who is likely not to have the skills to read dog and owner body language well enough to know how to interact with that particular dog. Sigh... Oh, and CW_EW, please don't think I'm saying you're wrong in your behaviour with Emmy at all! I know I'm lucky not to have had the same issue with Saxon, as kids certainly like to rush over to pat the "little fluffy one". As I said, I will definitley watch my kids and teach them to behave around dogs, and I wouldn't think any owner who didn't want kids rushing at their dog was in the wrong at all! It's just that it's impossible to control others' behaviour...

My parents never said anything one way or the other to me about dogs. Neither are dog people or ever had dogs, and it wouldn't have occured to them to learn about how kids should interact with dogs. They're not bad people, or stupid by any means, dogs just weren't ever even on their radar as something to think about re. their kids. I know I did pat dogs either with their owners or just out on their own when I was little, so I guess I was lucky nothing ever happened. I still have a tendency to want to pat or cuddle other people's dogs, but since having my own dog I've learnt to read dog body language and owner body language hopefully well enough to know when to steer clear, when to ask first and when it will be ok. Saxon was born into a house with three young daughters, plus their visiting friends and he has no problem with kids, even rough or noisy ones. I think though with my future dogs I will do what I can to expose them to kids and teach them to be comfortable with unpredictable behaviour. I'd rather rely on my and my dogs' behaviour than the behaviour of other people and their children.

How does a rescue puppy of unknown origin and breeds fit in with that definition? You won't know whether the dog it grows into will be appropriate for your lifestyle. Not having a go, I think it's a good definition, but as with, I suspect, all of these questions, there are always grey areas. I personally would not rescue a puppy for that exact reason, but I like pedigree dogs so that's just me. To answer your question - if you are going to rescue a puppy of unknown breeding then you need to be VERY sure that you can cope with ANYTHING. I don't think there is any grey about that one. Unless you know you can cope wit the demands of the dog, don't get it. I know this is harsh, but I just hate seeing dogs in poor situations. I don't think it's harsh actually, I agree with you personally. And if you do get the dog (or whatever animal), then commit to doing everything you can to take care of it, for its whole life. Unfortunately the wider population probably doesn't share this view

How does a rescue puppy of unknown origin and breeds fit in with that definition? You won't know whether the dog it grows into will be appropriate for your lifestyle. Not having a go, I think it's a good definition, but as with, I suspect, all of these questions, there are always grey areas. Not easily is the answer. If you have very definite lifestyle requirements of a dog, then a rescue pup of unknown origin is not what I'd call a safe bet. An adult rescue is a better one. Hmm, so maybe not just choosing the appropriate breed, but seeking to choose the appropriate dog, with the understanding that there are no guarantees, and the commitment to finding a way to meet the dogs needs for its life, either yourself, or if you are unable, then in another appropriate home. The trouble is, how do you legislate any of this? As everyone has said, it's very subjective.

How does a rescue puppy of unknown origin and breeds fit in with that definition? You won't know whether the dog it grows into will be appropriate for your lifestyle. Not having a go, I think it's a good definition, but as with, I suspect, all of these questions, there are always grey areas.

Yay, I'm glad it went well koala! I was thinking of going down on Sunday, especially to see Elbie! I set the alarm and everything but when it went I switched it off and went back to sleep I'll try for next week, now I want to meet the gorgeous Indi too. We went to our first Bronze class on Thursday night (I was in Sydney so missed the first week). Saxon was most unfocussed! I think it was the excitement of being back at training, new smells, new dogs in class etc etc. Plus I'd been a bit slack with practicing during the break. Hopefully he'll get serious this week

Well if you spent $500 on a dog bed you'd wanna be able to sleep in it! Even if it is a troll, I love the image of Oscar eyeballing the BF when he's in bed and the BF slinking away to sleep in the dog bed. Not the perfectly good couch of course...

http://blogs.news.com.au/bossy/index.php/n...at_should_i_do/ Dear Bossy: I don’t even know where to begin with my problem. It’s been going on for a few months ago. I guess I just should come out and say it. In January, I bought my girlfriend a puppy....[edited] She absolutely adores him. When we got him he was 8 weeks old, and used to yelp if we left him alone, so she used to get him to sleep in the bed with us, and immediately our sex life halted whilst he was in this yelping puppy stage. Anyways, now that he’s settled in she still will not let him sleep out of our bed. I bought him a top of the line dog basket, lined with this beautiful warm rug, and it cost me 500 bucks, and he has never even stepped paw in it. I met my girlfriend for coffee the other day in my lunch break, and I asked her not to bring Oscar (that’s his name) along, but she did, and everytime I brought up the subject of us not getting any nookie, he started barking louder then my voice, she got frustrated, and took off with the dog. I’ve tried to initiate sex in the bedroom, but oscar keeps looking at us, and when I try to get him out of the room he won’t budge. I can’t even get it up if oscar is looking at me, and because of this my girlfriend told me to go see a doctor about my apparent “erectile dysfunction”. This all came to a head the other night when i was working overtime. I came home about 1 in the morning, both of them were sprawled out in the bed, and when i tried to get in, oscar growled at me, and I ended up sleeping in the brand new dog basket. Wells as you can imagine when my girlfriend awoke the next day, she told me i’m pathetic, and that i should move out. I’m so frustrated, everytime I paws for reflection over it I start actually getting a tear, I mean i really love this girl. Sincerely, Mans real best friend. Bossy says: Never have the words “in the dog house” been more apt. This hound needs to learn who is boss. At the moment it is certainly not you. Next time you want to be intimate with your girlfriend pick the dog up and dump it in another part of the house. If he is a biter, wrap your arm in a hoodie first. Close door on dog. Tell your grilfriend you find it disturbing being watched by a dog when you are on the job and he can come back after in afterwards. Learn to negotiate with your girlfriend and stand up to the dog. If it growls, reprimand it loudly. I expect as soon as you stop acting like a sook and bending over for the dog it will start respecting you and the time you want alone with your girlfriend. And remember, if you lie down with dogs you will get up with fleas.

Weird... maybe not actually posted by Grace, someone else under her name somehow? :D