Simply Grand

So cute :D Love the kitty in the third pic

Something like a lightweight rain coat or a shirt/vest made of cotton or rash vest type material could be worn with an Easy Walk harness. Then you could just get patches with the wording you want and sew them on. If you're handy with a sewing machine you could even make something. I've had Saxon in a both a front close jumper and a jacket with Velcro fastening across his chest and under his belly with the Easy Walk underneath and it has worked fine.

Oh it's beautiful. Both the effect and the look on his face :)

So noble Ronin.

The guy with the dog is bad enough but I can't believe the clothing store guy came out to whinge about how you didn't want him to pat your puppy THREE YEARS AGO. What a loser (both of them).

That is so cute! He was so happy :laugh:

Yay Didi! Well done for all the work you've been doing with her Terri.

I agree with you mita but I think it takes a certain level of knowledge to be aware that that's an option. Perfume is gaining that knowledge being on DOL. I also think it takes some level of confidence that not everyone has if you haven't done it before and don't know what to ask.

Perfume did specify that she was talking about ads that direct people to a website so I don't think that applies to breeders who have forgotten they have one or don't want to use theirs as an initial means of communication.

A good website used properly is such a good way for responsible breeders to educate potential puppy buyers. As we know the puppy farmers are excellent at having good looking websites that provide lots of "information" about how great they are. Informative, up to date websites from breeders and breed clubs could be so helpful in reaching the general public who don't even know that buying a pure bred pup from a registered breeder is an option for a pet. Making it difficult for them to find accurate information is just pushing them away.

Requested to join :)

Classic bitey face :laugh: Looks to me like Tigger is saying "I'll show you teef, young puppy!" Lisa, baby Nova with his friend

I haven't actually used a breeder website to look for any of my pups but I can imagine your frustration. A good website is such a valuable tool in anything you do in this day and age and yet so many people don't keep them up to date, which I almost think does more harm than not having one at all. Having said that I have seen some great breeder websites :)

God I have so much sympathy for guys, and so appreciate how good I have it with my guys. Quinn's in season at the moment so rather than going to the off leash park or just walking around the neighbourhood I have been taking them to the central town (on lead) park for the last few days. So far we've had two off leash dogs come over to us. The first was a little one that I've seen there off leash before so as he approached with his owner calling in vain I was slightly evil and, knowing my guys would be fine with it but would make a lot of excited noise, I just stood still and waited for him to get there. The woman was pretty freaked out by the noise and Quinn jumping around (she was play bowing but weirdly coz she was on the leash and I was holding her back a bit). She was very apologetic and put the lead on after that. Maybe she'll learn a lesson. Today was a black lab x, I was feeling more generous and the dog seemed nice, although again was ignoring his owner calling him, so I used it as practice to keep my dogs focussed on me and calm for the greeting. Again, I hope maybe the owner realised his dog wasn't as reliable as he thought. I've been lucky not to have many problems with loose dogs during on lead walks (although we do off leash parks more often) but each time I experience it I think of all those trying to work with or just exercise their reactive dogs

Thanks BCA. I came across your website when I was researching and found it useful. Would you be able to elaborate on why collars should not be worn for more than 10-12 hours per day? ETA - don't worry, I think I've found why. The manual says it's to avoid the risk of pressure sores/injury.

I think they've already figured out collar off means they can bark as normal. I think most dogs would pick that up quickly and that's why many people say their dog doesn't bark with the collar on but does when it's off. If I just stopped at that it would be easy to eliminate the problem by just putting the collar on but then there's no chance of them continuing the 'no barking' behaviour when the collar is off. And I also think it will make the collars a negative thing in themselves. I don't think you can do collar on but switched off otherwise they will sometimes be barking and getting sprayed and sometimes not. That makes the behaviour unlikely to become extinct. The key to punishment working successfully is that they have to receive the punishment every single time they perform the behaviour. Jemmy, long story short I work nights and the dogs were waking up and barking when I got home in the early hours. I didn't realise it had been disturbing the neighbours for some time until last week one of the neighbours yelled abuse at me over the fence. I do understand why they are upset, just wish they had let me know in a slightly nicer way. I definitely wanted to stop the noise quickly though so decided on the collars.

According to my recent research the ultrasonic devices are the lowest level bark deterrents. They may be effective on some softer natured dogs but are designed more to distract the dog from whatever they are barking at rather than providing a negative consequence for barking. So if the dog had a reasonable drive to bark it won't be enough. Next level is the vibration collars but they are similarly meant to distract rather than actually punish the behaviour. Then comes puff of air collars, then citronella or lemon spray collars then electric shock collars. What is necessary to be effective depends on the individual dog. Well that's my understanding anyway!

*melts* Me SOOOO wants! Totally in love! Maybe I'll have to wait until Luna has pups? *grin* T. Ooooh excellent idea T! Perhaps that timing will be perfect for me too :D :D

This week I had a rather forceful noise complaint from my next door neighbour regarding my dogs barking when I come home from my night job in the middle of the night. Here is a thread I started in Off Topic that explains the situation if you want the details, the first post explains what happened. http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/260284-just-a-vent-noise-complaint-from-neighbours/ Because I needed a fast and effective solution I have put citronella spray anti bark collars on Riley and Quinn (the culprits). They've been wearing them for a few days now and we seem to be going well with resolving the issue. I understand the theory behind these collars (I believe) so have decided that the dogs will wear the collars all the time while they're at home so they learn not to bark here. Outside of home they will remain free to bark to their hearts' content. My instincts say to just put the collars on when I go to my nights job as I know they will understand collar on means no barking, collar off means barking ok however my knowledge says that that isn't the right way to do it. Below is how I explained it in the other thread: It does seem to be working, over the last couple of days they are staying quiet but becoming more relaxed and playful, and behaving pretty normally while wearing the collars and I'm hoping that will continue. However I still feel a bit mean I'd be interested in hearing others' thoughts on this. Thank you :)

She says "right back atcha"

Happy 1st Birthday Herbert! So grown up in some ways but still a baby in others Quinn (my baby girl) shares your bday, she turned 3 today:)

I don't blame you Don, I'm not a fan of commuting at all! It's a bit more than I'm hoping to spend as well. Mum and step dad have said I can stay with them for a while while I look for a place but the dogs wouldn't be allowed in the house and I can't see that going down well with them or me so I'm trying to avoid that if possible lol.

It's just that bit too early for me! I won't be ready to move up there for a few more weeks. Don't you want to rearrange your life plans just to suit me and move a bit later :p

What Perse said. And Malaseb baths every few days.

I'll use my accidental double post to add some larger breeds - Golden Retriever Collie Rough possibly... It does depend so much on what a first time owner is looking for.