Beth.

Haha, now you've got me searching Lottie (blue merle) for things Bonnie, hahaha... I want to find a love heart!!!!

Thanks for that info Shyla!!! I am hoping it just clears up, but i'm probably just being paranoid!!! I would hate for it to go generalised!!! I think i'll wait another 2 or so weeks to see if it's healing any better... but seeing that on your girls face, it looks VERY similar to Lotties!!! and similar size as well!!!!

Hahaha... I know, I don't know how i'm going to keep her entertained!!!! As she starts to feel better I'm sure she's going to want to get out of the crate, but we have to be strict!!!!! She can help me study the next week or so, although i'm pretty sure that will put her to sleep, hahaha!!!! If anyone has any ideas for keeping her entertained?? I'll get Lottie's kong when I go home next, and put things in there that she can chew, but I don't really know what else????

Thanks for the lovely thoughts and comments everyone She's all nice and suggled up in her crate.... with 2 new pollar fleece blankets I just bought from coles She's toasty warm and very very comfy!!!!!! It's so nice to see her not in to much pain.... I just got her up to take her for a little toilet break, and she whimmpered a little... so it was a quick trip out then straight back to bed. I opened up the crate door as Lottie was standing there, and Lottie ever so gently put her head in the crate and licked her face... it was the most SWEETEST thing I think i've ever witnessed.... and with the lick, Astro closed her eyes, and Lottie layed back down beside her... I LOVE MY DOGS!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Dexta and Astro aren't 'techinally' my dogs, but I do see them as my own - they're my sisters, but she's in the armed forces so is not around ATM, so they are pretty much mine!!! hehehe, Lottie thinks they are her sisters as well....)!!

Thanks for the heads up.... I just got back from a shopping spree at coles!!! There's gorgeous patterns - boy coloured stripes and girl coloured stripes - I got one for each of the girls, and also got a couple for my friends boys!!! They're GREAT!!! I also got a single bed sized one for Astros crate!!!!! and soooo cheap!!!! Lottie will be nice and warm at camping next week!!!!

Thanks aussielover!! Well it's kindof been an ongoing injury that no-one could figure out... but the specialist assumes maybe by her jumping (when she was younger she used to jump like crazy!!!! We tried everything and anything to stop it!!!), but probably some sort of trauma like that - maybe even just doing zoomies with the other dogs?? Yeah, i'm lucky she's being so good about it!! She's not crate trained as such, but they're all such easy going, well-behaved dogs that take anything in their stride - but she's very used to being tethered while camping etc - as long as Dexta (the Rotti) is around she's happy!!!!!!! Not sure what she'll think of it by the end of the month though, haha

Hey CW EW Yep, Astro had lots of xrays yesterday when she was first in - of her hips, spine and neck - but nothing out of the ordinary!!!

Thanks for the healing thoughts everyone!!! I went and picked up Astro this morning to take her to the specialist - she was looking better this morning and in no where near the pain which was good!! So off we tottelled to the specialist (who was LOVELY!!!), and by the looks of it, she's got bilateral (so both sides) strains to her Illiocostal muscle - so that's a muscle that runs up into the belly type area, and runs to the head of the femur (the tendon joins the femur), so as you could imagine, everytime they extended her leg backwards, it was stretching these muscles causing LOTS of pain!!!! She's on STRICT crate rest for 1 month - with toilet breaks on lead only!!! The poor little thing!! But as long as Dexta (the Rotti) is in the same room she's happy.... Now some exciting things for her to chew on/play with in the crate?? You could tell, even from just one night of cage rest and pain relief she's feeling soooo much better!!!!! Luckily we had a crate (I have a soft crate but Astro can be a bit destructive!!) from when Dexta was a pup and was transported once!!!! Poor little Astro.... The two girls giving her a little sympathy!!

When I was emailing breeders trying to find my Aussie Shepherd, I think I added SOOOO much info into the first email about myself, my home, that i'm at uni, other dogs in the house, my experience, what I planned to do with my pup.... it was about a page long!!!! After that first email, then I would get a phone call and go from there - with Lottie's breeder, I gave her so much info about myself and what I wanted etc that the phone call was just a chance to talk to me and get to know me better.... the rest is history... Going by some of the questionairs, I might not look like the 'best' owner - I'm a full time uni student, but I do have a part time job, a very supportive family, an awesome house on 1/2 acre, doggy friends for Lottie, and money saved up for any illnesses etc. So although I might not look it on paper, I think I have offered Lottie an amazing home!!!!

Thanks for the lovely comments everyone Hopefully tomorrow she's feeling better and the meds have worked a little!!

Hi Rommi n Lewis Yeah, I know it's really nasty stuff, but because Lottie is an Australian Shepherd, she can't have Ivermectin or any related products - she has a localised patch of Demodex on her face which we were hoping to go away by itself (immune system), but it just seems to be getting bigger - i've been washing it with pyrohex and malasab, and also giving her milbimycin, but it just doesn't seem to be helping - It was suggested that I try some diluted and dab it only on her spot on her face... I just really really don't want this to become generalised!!!

Well, today has been very eventful!! It all started when I was woken this morning by SCREAMING from Astro - she's our little rescue Staffy/cattle dog. The dogs were all asleep in my room, and Astro must have moved, and the screaming began!!!! I rushed her into the vets (we had a bit of a sleep in this morn as i'd been up late studying), and poor Astro was in a bag way - not able to walk well, screaming when she was moved - you shoulda heard her when I put her in the car!!!! The vets did lots of xrays and found NOTHING abnormal (it's her hips/musculature that are the issue), also took some joint fluid which we'll get the results back tomorrow.. Apparently at the vets, she was in so much pain that they could hear her at the other end of the surgery screaming anytime she moved ;) I went and visited her tonight and boy is the poor little thing looking very sad and sorry for herself!!! She's on lots of pain relief which has really helped her along for the night... Her bloods show she has some muscle inflammation - it's all such a mystery!!! We've had her in at the vets quite a few times with pains around the hips/legs over the last 6 months - things like after going for big runs, she'd then cry out a little that night (so the big walks/runs had to stop), and we were treating that with anti-inflammatory's - but there hasn't been any issues for a couple months now, and now this all of a sudden!!! Lets hope tomorrow - we have an appoint with the specialist - we can get to the bottom of this, it's so annoying not knowing whats causing such horrendous pain Everyone send healing vibes for my poor little sore Astro!!!

Hi Everyone, I've been waiting patiently for this wash to become avail. again in stores (it hasn't been available for quite a while now!!), and I'm really wanting a little bit...soooo... I was wondering if any of you amazing DOL's might have a bottle sitting around at home that I might be able to borrow???? I'll pay postage and everything :D . Thank you very muchly - feel free to PM me!!!!! Thanks, Lottie and Beth!!!!!!!

HAHAHA... That's way Lottie is such a HORRIBLE pet.... orange eyebrows and 4 hairs under her chin :D ;) Oh and not to mention i'll NEVER be able to tell when she's happy because she doesn't have a tail (or that a wagging tail means that the dog is happy).... ah there's more ways to show happiness!!!! ;)

Name: Lottie - Sarbinma Bobbi something (I forget the Last name... will check up on that, oopsies) Nickname: Lot, Stumpy bum Breed: Australian Shepherd Gender: Female Age: 9months approx Picture: Where did you get them from? Registered Breeder (see prefix above) How often do you exercise your dog? At least one outing per day (walks, visit to lakes, playdates with friends) plus lots of short training sessions throughout Do they know any commands? Sit, Drop, Stand, Shake both paws, Shy, Roll-over, Spin, 'Please', Drop from a distance, Stays (in obedience) Compete in any dog sports? She hasn't yet competed - but we're getting lots of focus in obedience and we're doing really well... so hopefully by the end of the year... Will also do herding and agility Favourite treat: Anything really - she's very food driven!!! She even LOVES her dry food Favourite toy: She LOVES her soccerball!!!! can chase it for ages!!! Funny habits or quirks: EVERY time she gets wet she'll rub up against anyones legs who is standing close - or walk inbetween their legs to try and dry off - and if you touch her back when she's wet she arches up like a cat :D it's soooo funny!!! I warn everyone around when she goes swimming!! What's their personality like? Lottie is a very laid-back, calm dog, nothing phases her, loves being with me, follows me where ever I go, LOVES playing with other dogs, and just a very happy girl!!! Do they get along well with other dogs? She LOVES other dogs!!! Playing is her most favourite thing to do!!! Are they scared of anything? My brother plays the Clarinet - the first time she heard it she was quite 'unsure'!!! but she's pretty good otherwise!!! What training methods do you use? Positive reinforcement? Corrections? I work with treats/tug rewards - so positive reinforcements!!

We have about half an acre and our dogs hardly ever run around by themselves (sometimes Lottie makes the older border collie do zoomies with her, haha!!), but it's mainly when we go out and kick the ball with them they run in the yard, but we take our dogs out pretty much everyday - lots of places to explore out there, haha, most of the time they just sleep!!!

The plant Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow (Brunfelsia bonodora) is very poisonous!!! We had a dog in at work over the last few days with poisoning - shows neurological signs such as seizuring etc... nasty plant!!!!!!! they also loose ability to use their back legs - maybe do a google search for the piccy of it....

"Special" indeed Lottie looks really Aussie-ish if you know what I mean. Her merling, her shape and her lovely eyes just all scream Aussie. Yep she sure does... and you should see her 'pants' (the fluff on her back legs!!!) :D :D I LOVE IT!!! It's sooooooo long and fluffy, i'll have to post a pic of it, it's great, hahaha!!!!! I think having no tail makes it stand out even more!!!

Thanks all for the lovely comments!! Wuffles, mis-marks are very special - you're girl is gorgeous as well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for all the lovely comments I think she's pretty special, but i'm biased!!! hehe

I hope you all don't mind me posting this here (i've posted it in photos, but I just HAD to share it!!!). This was taken at the Million Paws Walk in Brisbane, and I LOVE it!!!! My Beautiful girl.... :D I just don't know how I could love anything more then I love this dog - and reading the thread on excuses for re-homing, I just can't fathum and understand how anyone could give up an animal that expects nothing, and gives endless amounts of love!!! I could also never even think for a second rehoming her in her older days - with the amount of joy she's given me in the 7ish months I've had her (she's just over 9 months old), keeping her happy, healthy and comfortable is the least I can do for her!!! Sorry about the bad quality - I just had to scan it in

I just thought i'd share this gorgeous photo with you!! I got this done on the million paws walk... My Beautiful girl Lottie.... :D Sorry about the quality - it's just been scanned onto the computer!

I would assume Maltese x poodle?? (probably others might mean the same!!). I know what it's like huski... but one by one i'm teaching my family - and boy is Lottie helping - they can't believe what a great dog she is, and when I tell that where she's from etc, i'm slowly beginning to get through to people

OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That has to be the most ADORABLE thing i've ever seen, and soooo funny, what a little cutie!!!!

Should add: When I got Lottie (November last year), I had a kong for her - and because it was summer, I used to get a stock cub - chicken or beef, add it to some water, so had tasty water, plugged the little whole on the kong with peanut butter - then filled the kong with the stock water and some little nibbles like cheese/kibble and froze it!! Lottie loved them and would keep her entertained, and it was a tasty treat as well I don't use them at the moment, but when Summer comes back around i'll be doing it again - it also helps keep her a bit cooler as well!!!