Simply Grand

Awwww, poor Rusty! What a polite boy to walk away . Saxon has woken himself up with his farts a couple of times. He turns around and looks at me in disgust as if it was me!!

Not helpful for you at all, but Saxon fits size 00 in babies clothes, heehee. Here he is in is swim wear: (he doesn't really wear the boardies, I just wanted the rashie to protect him from sunburn, he goes very pink and pale when wet ) And in his baby bonds singlet:

How exciting Michelleva! Those 3 sleeps will go slowly Georgia is just gorgeous. Shelties are now at the top of my next dog list. I hadn't realised how little they are, I thought they were about border collie sized then I saw some in real life and they are so cute and beautiful! Can't wait to see pics and hear stories.

I think think you've made excellent points. Availability is also going to be an issue though. Even if the general public are well educated and understand the benefits of pure bred dogs, know how to obtain them, understand why breeders need to question them to determine if they would be a suitable home for a puppy, and have positive experiences in dealing with registered breeders, many people will still not be willing to wait months, years or even weeks for a puppy, usually on a waiting list where they have no idea when they might be successful. I do understand that it's worth the wait for a great dog, but there is plenty of evidence on consumer behaviour showing that if people can't get what they want when they want it, they will find somewhere else. What's the balance between ethical, conrolled breeding and homing, and meeting demand so buyers don't turn back to puppy farms? I don't know the answer but think it needs to be considered.

Because other breeds including GSD's are being targeted, thanks to the R$PCA. Sorry Tarope, but your arguement is as sensible as me saying that all owners of GSDs, Rottis, Staffies, Pits etc etc are Bogan idiots who only have this type of dog because it looks tough or they are vicious. The RSPCA are not the only people pushing BSL, and they certainly aren't responsible for getting Legislation through. Target the politicians who are Legislating. Unfortunately, the media will always report on a sensational attack and whip the public into a frenzy. Surely you should be targeting the media because they are highlighting the attacks? Or what about the hospitals which record the statistics on dog attacks and then release that information? Why aren't they at fault that these breeds are being targeted? And potentially putting other breeds on the lists, because the statistics will eventually show that the JRT or Golden Retriever are also responsible for attacking people? Or are the RSPCA the only bandwagon you have to push? And you can't see how one eyed you are and are determined to keep bad mouthing them? For the record - I don't have an opinion about the type of people who own these breeds of dogs - I was merely demonstrating how stupid some statements can be. The R$PCA is responsible for BSL it's that simple. Do you work for the R$PCA ? Every day more and more people are coming to realize what the R$PCA is really like and not liking what they see. Hmm, very convincing argument! I really hope the puppy is found safe and returned to the RSPCA to be properly rehomed .

Adnil, you seem to be making recommendations for all dog parks based only on your own experience at your dog park. There are two dog parks near me and the experiences I've had between the two of them have been quite different in both dog behaviour and owner attitudes. At one of the parks people in general seem to be more dog savvy and I have seen fewer incidents there but there are all sorts of reasons for that, not just size. I wouldn't use my personal experience at either or both as a basis for how all dog parks should operate. I do agree with some of what you're saying but you are starting to make some massive generalisations based on your own experiences.

So sorry to hear that Nicole :D You must be devastated. Fingers crossed here too, and good thoughts for the best possible outcome in the circumstances.

Oh, and as a small dog owner, I've really appreciated being able to expose Saxon to dogs of all sizes at the dog park. It's helped him be confident and calm around large dogs when he comes across them, learn to behave differently with different dogs, and learn that at times he needs to show submission for his own safety. He definitely doesn't run and squeal, but I do agree that not all dogs should be brought to a dog park and the behaviour of some can cause problems.

I have a new perspective on this after last night. I strongly believe that all dogs should be taught to behave well, regardless of their size and I don't think aggression is "cute" in any dog. I've worked hard, and continue to work hard, to make sure my small dog (Saxon is around 5kgs) is well socialised, under my close supervision, and that he displays good manners. He's definitely not perfect, but he is not aggressive at all or fearful with dogs of any size. Of course not all dogs want to be friendly with him, but he seems to have learnt to judge how he should behave towards different dogs, depending on their reaction to him. And I still always stay close to him to watch both his behaviour and theirs. Anyway, we had our first night of beginner's obedience last night - Saxon did very well, I was so proud of him. He even stayed relatively calm and attentive to me when everyone was arriving and greeting each other, even with lots of puppies straining on their leashes around him One of the dogs we met was a little toy poodle who was smaller than Saxon. He doesn't meet many dogs that are smaller than him and although we've come across some snappy little dogs at the dog park he hasn't really had aggression directed at him from a smaller dog. Saxon and the poodle greeted each other with a nose sniff then the poodle snapped and barked at Saxon. Saxon looked surprised and pulled his head back but didn't do anything else, just stood there. The poodle's owner laughed and said "oh hahaha, he's bullying the big dog!" I didn't say anything and just called Saxon away. Even though the other dog clearly started it, my reaction was that if Saxon had retaliated I would have been mortified! I was confident that even if he hadn't been on a leash the little poodle couldn't have done much damage to Saxon. However, if a dog bigger than Saxon snapped and barked at him and for some reason I wasn't there to protect him, I would be very happy for Saxon to do what he could to defend himself (god I hope he never has to try to defend himself, he wouldn't have much of a chance :D ). So what I realised was that while I would hope that all dogs behave well, I do expect my dog to exhibit better behaviour than dogs that are smaller than him. I know this is not exactly the same situation as many of you who have large dogs have experienced, but yesterday I would have said if a larger dog is provoked by a smaller dog I would be accepting of it retaliating, I now think that I would not actually be accepting of that in my own dog, big or small.

Saxon's are broken I tried poking and brushing them, he didn't react at all.

Yes, I thought the cat thing was true, I've noticed my cat's whiskers droop more or stand out straighter when he loses or puts on weight Hmmm, so we're disadvantaging them by clipping their whiskers. Still, I don't think I'll be clipping around them...

Just wondering... I've heard that cats use their whiskers to judge whether they can fit through a gap or not -ie. their whiskers are as wide as the widest part of their body - so they need them. But with dogs that get clipped, their whiskers get clipped off when you do their face and they seem to manage fine. So do they have them for any reason? Or is the cat thing just a myth?

whoops

Well said StKildaMal, I agree

Aaaawwww, pupieeeeeees

tlc, what a gorgeous bunch you have! It must be so much fun watching them all interact with each other. I don't know how you manage 4 though. Having said that, if I had a bigger house, I would definitely have more than 1 now and can imagine I may end up with a few when I move somewhere suitable... I swear that puppy smell is addictive, I would crave the smell whenever I was away from Saxon when he was a baby! Ha, I would not say Sax was a model puppy! I didn't mention the CONSTANT biting, the jumping all over the cats, the eating his dinner superfast so he could go and steal Charlie the cat's, the refusing to eat unless he's near Charlie (Charlie's now fed on the kitchen bench and Saxon on the floor *sigh*), the running off with any socks, stockings, undies, slippers he could get his little teeth on, the stealing the paper towel I used to clean up his accidents and leaving a trail of wee-soaked paper through the house, the dragging sticks and leaves in the through the dog door and chewing them up all over the floor, the escaping out the gate and taking himself for a walk up the street with me trailing behind trying to convince him it would be fun to come back... But overall he's been pretty stress free and I wouldn't change him for the world! I can't wait to get him a puppy playmate

Some more:

Loooove all the cute puppy photos! I think I was really lucky with Saxon, he's the first dog I've ever had so I don't have a comparison personally but from reading about everyone's experiences, he was really good. He never cried at night, even the very first night home he slept through to a reasonable hour. He was in the bathroom with a baby gate so he could hear and smell me so maybe that reassured him, but I think it was actually he was just exhausted. I picked him up in Sydney and drove him back to Canberra, then my sister came over to meet him and we didn't end up going to bed until 2am (he had lots of little naps all evening though) so I think he was too tired to cry, then just never thought to do it. Toilet training was a bit difficult, but he wasn't being naughty, I think he just thought that an area of the lounge room was an alternative toilet area to outside. After a period of plastic on the floor, and the introduction of food treats for going outside he finally got it! I can't wait to get another puppy! Saxon at 2 weeks, when I first met him: First night home, asleep on my sister's feet: Napping:

That's a great name for her! Boomer for short. I think it would suit her, with her big personality and big paws to match

I was thinking about this last night when I was brushing Saxon (poodle x maltese) and I don't get how you could not think to brush the tail! I'm certainly no expert on grooming, Sax is my first dog ever, but the tail has always seemed like the most obvious thing the brush. It's hard to miss as it gets waved around in your face! Christina, I'm so glad that you've said this This is exactly the routine I've established with Saxon (brushing every 2nd day) and it's great to hear it confirmed by someone knowledgeable. Saxon was never particularly difficult but now at 9 months old he comes and jumps up on the "grooming table" (cat scratching post ) so I can give him his brush, and stands there patiently while I brush him over. Takes 5 minutes.

I agree becks. Sue, I decided to clip Saxon myself (he's a poodle x maltese) because I have him in a pretty straightforward, even-all-over clip. I just watched what the groomer did when I took him the first time then had a go myself - sorry groomers! ;) I've only had one attempt so far and it definitely wasn't perfect - had some uneven bits - and it was a slow process as I had to stop pretty often to bribe Saxon with treats, but with practice we'll get better. I think I'll probably do the all over clip every 3 months or so. I keep his face and feet trimmed but still fluffy, so I use scissors instead of the clippers for them, and I do his face and feet pretty regularly. Here he is after my first attempt (poor quality photo, sorry): And in his more usual state: What is your puppy crossed with?

Cosmolo, from when Saxon was about 4 months til he was about 6.5 months his rear right leg would sometimes seem to lock up - he didn't seem to be able to move it at all and would drag it if he tried to keep walking. I would just hold him still for a minute or so and rub his leg a bit, then it would be fine and he'd be off running again. I took him to the vet when it first started happening and he suspected LP from feeling the leg and moving it sideways like Jed said, but as it wasn't locking up that often (maybe once a week) and didn't seem to cause pain, we decided to just watch that it didn't get any worse or become painful, and x-ray him when he got desexed. The x-ray showed everything looked fine (kneecap was in place at the time), so LP was the most likely explanation, and the vet said that surgery may be required. The x-ray also showed that his growth plates hadn't fused though so he still had growing to do (as you would expect at 6 months). Anyway, since a couple of weeks after the x-ray was taken, it has stopped happening and at 9 months now he seems to be fine. I think like PF said, as he grew it fixed itself. Hopefully the same will happen with Gilbert!

I don't get it either Jess, her whole story sounds very strange to me. I think if she really cared about dogs (not just $$) and didn't have the room or the money to take them all in and care for them properly she'd have found a more suitable home or rescue for the whole family, or at the very least for the mum and pups together until they are old enough to leave Very sad.

I got this baby gate from Toys R Us for my small dog. He was tiny when he was a baby and would have been able to the get through the ones that only have vertical bars: I sometimes have to fiddle a bit to get it secure, it just works off pressure, doesn't actually attach to the doorway so once Saxon got older and bigger he could sometimes work it loose. I ended up sticking a little bit of cardboard covered in rubber non-slip stuff to the stoppers to make it a tighter fit and it has stayed put since. He wasn't heavy enough to move it at all though until he was about 6 months old.

I'm not an expert but that sounds like quite a lot to me for a 4 month old? Especially if she's on leash so has to keep running at a certain pace to keep up with you or a bike. I thought the rule of thumb for walks was around 5 mins per each month of age - so maybe you could do 20 mins or so morning and afternoon, and take it slowly with the cycling. I don't know kelpies at all though, so maybe this doesn't apply...