Beth.

Oh My God Gayle....that is possibly the cutest thing I have ever seen Gayle, you're making me want another Aussie puppy.... naught naughty!!! Although, I'm sure Lottie would love a little playmate.... I think i'll be on the hunt for a red merle next...

I agree with this!! My Aussie girl LOVES toys (and is VERY spoilt - She gets a new toy every time I go to the shops, which is most days!!), and her little eyes light up, and her bum wiggles like crazy when she gets a new one. I also use a tug toy and a training tool - her 'big' reward at the end of a session, or when she does something really good!!! Toys are great - why don't you go to a cheap shop, like the reject shop - it's where I get most of my toys from, they're cheap as chips and my girl loves them!!!

That is GREAT news!!! Congrats on your hard work and a well-behaved boy!! I'm sure he loved being able to run around and explore with Pepper!!

Bit off topic her but just to add...they are quite hard to tell apart as both male and female have a cloaca and concealed sex organs within it. Lots of people confuse the cloaca for a penis. The females pouch is only visible if she pregnant or lactating so what appears to be male can quite easily be a female! They are incredibly intelligent, fascinating animals, thanks for the pics! Yep!! We've done Echidna reproduction in uni - the males actually have a fascinating penis, haha.... Sorry very off topic - but this guy was very stressed (understandably), didn't uncurl at all, so unfortuantely we didn't see to much - the one photo was about all he did, so we just popped him in a box and covered him up so he didn't stress more then needed!!!!!

I know, it was so nice to see him - this morning when I went out to get up the neighbours dogs - the fence is just one of those metal ones with small squares (if that makes sense), well anyway, when I went out there, I did notice they were both looking in the little garden bed barking at it... but because it wasn't too light I just didn't see him!! Lottie followed me out, and straight away she was weary of the garden, but again it was cold, dark and I wanted to be in bed, so I just told off the dogs and came back inside. This arv, the young guy was in the yard working on a car, and me and my housemates were in ours kicking the ball to the dogs, and I walked over to the garden and was saying this is where they were barking at... I looked down, and I barely saw it!!! It was hiding well.... He was a big boy as well!!! (not that we actually knew if it was male or not!!). But it was big anyway!!! I really love seeing wildlife, and I just hope this guy goes ok!!!

Haha, I hope so, and I hope the little guy is ok.... I'm kindof thinking he got 'trapped' there because of the dogs - not that they were on our side of the fence, but they were just constantly barking at him!!! So i'd say he was too frightened to move anywhere!!!

Sorry guys!! I put it in the first post again... here is another one This gorgeous echidna somehow got into our yard, and half buried itself in a little garden on our side of the fence, but the dogs clearly were not happy about his presence!!! He has now been taken just up the road (as we have 3 dogs, and the neighbours have 2 - just not a nice spot for a beautiful echidna), and hopefully he'll continue on his way!! (we live in a little town with lots of bush around us...).

Just an update and picture of what the dogs were barking at, just because it's beautiful!!!

Hey Hayley, and welcome to DOL!!! It's a great to get so much information, I love it!!! I own an Australian Shepherd and she's about 8 and a half months old ;) how time flies!!!!! She has been MY first dog - I'm at uni and have been for the last 3 years in the city so I couldn't really get a dog, but now i'm out in a Gatton (a small town) for uni, last holidays was the time to finally get one!! We've always had dogs in the family, but she's my first, and she's the greatest dog (I totally understand why you love them!!! ;) ), so loyal, obedient, easy going, nothing phases her and just has a beautiful temp (sorry i'm a bit biased!!). I was always going to get a working breed, as I love their traits and they just 'fit' with my lifestyle so well, and while I was looking around, I was mainly focused on Border Collies... Then I saw a picture of a blue merle aussie, and that was it!!!!! All my time and effort went into looking and looking, and I found my girl!!! I can tell you that i'll never not own an Australian Shepherd!!!! Before all that (this was around june/july last year), I had never even heard of the Australian Shepherd!!! So that's my story, not too exciting, but Lottie is the best thing that's happened to me in a long time!!!

Well... Just found out what they were barking at.... photos to come soon (so the suspense can wait till then ;) ). Also, the guys next door weren't home last night that I just found out, so all is forgiven as the dogs really are lovely, was just very annoying at 4.30am!!!!

Well, I ended up going outside and talking to them (the dogs), they're two very sweet little girls, but they were actually barking at something in a bush and were scared!! So I chatted calmly while walking near the bush (it was kindof along the fencelince - I just did all this from our side), and off they tottled back to bed... So now looks like i'll take Lottie for a nice big walk because i'm awake, haha!!

4.30am is way too early to be woken up to next doors dogs barking - going on over an hour now!!! Now, they're not usually dogs who bark but wouldnt you- a) go and see what they're actually barking at??? or b) tell them to be quiet and take them inside!!!!!! Ah, you gotta love it... I just don't understand how they can just be there (there's 3 of them live there and they are all home!!) and not do anything about it?? It baffles me ;) ETA: Well we found the culpret of why the neighbours dogs were barking non-stop for over an hour... and here he is.... This gorgeous echidna somehow got into our yard, and half buried itself in a little garden on our side of the fence, but the dogs clearly were not happy about his presence!!! He has now been taken just up the road (as we have 3 dogs, and the neighbours have 2 - just not a nice spot for a beautiful echidna), and hopefully he'll continue on his way!! (we live in a little town with lots of bush around us...).

Yep, i'm going to be setting up a little agility course over the june/july holidays, and i've got some white electric fence poles that you step on and push into the ground that i'm going to use for starters I just got mine from a produce shop when I had the horses!! Edit because I quoted the wrong person sorry!! hehe

I am so sorry for the loss of this beautful girl!!! Like other posters have said, please don't blame yourself - accidents happen, and this is a tragic accident. Big hugs for you and your parents during this hard time!!

Hi Everyone, I'm really really wanting to get into photography - I LOVE taking photos, but just have a little digital camera, so I'm wanting an upgrade, but because I know NOTHING about photography/cameras I need some help!! What type of cameras should I be looking at?? It's just something I want to do for fun - i'm at uni so it's hopefully going to be brithday/christmas presents combined from mum, dad, brother and sister (i'm yet to discuss this with them though ), but yeah, if anyone has any suggestions/brands/types that I could start researching so I have a little list to show them that would be awesome!!! I would love to get a good camera that I can continue to add new lens and things to it... and eventually go to some courses would be great as well I'm keen on doing lots of animal photos - especially of my girl, but also just scenery etc etc.... Thanks heaps for your time and help!!!!!!!!

Hi Scouty Your girl is gorgeous! Just thought i'd add a little - I have an 8 month old Australian Shepherd who I was really hoping to trial by the end of the year - so about 1 year as well, but I really think i'm rushing her - now I know I don't know anything about your girl at all, but after seeing some other dogs working and in trials, I can tell Lottie just isn't ready - Yes she can do pretty much everything (our drops were a bit of an issue, but alot better at the moment), but she just doesn't have the focus yet, well she does, but I doubt i'd be able to do it all without having treats on me, haha!!! So I'd say definately go along to some trials, maybe even youtube them and that way you'll be able to tell if your girl is ready!!!!!! Goodluck with it all - I can't wait to be trialing, you never know, maybe by the end of the year I hope!!! hehe!!!

I know, that my problem, I have to be more patient ... But now that i've seen that when I go nice and slow, have fun with Lottie and really get excited that she actually enjoys what she's doing and wants to learn . So yes, no more wanting to fly through everything, I'll take all the time Lottie needs and have fun while doing it, and I will definately come and talk to you on Monday, can't wait!!!!!! Lets just say i've had a bit of an eye-opener and was expecting WAY too much from a baby!!!! Woopsies.....

So I thought i'd give you all a little update I've been working ALOT with Lottie this week, making everything so interesting and fun!!!! I went back to the beginning with her drops and 'jackpotted' her and she started going down alot better... I've also been trying to get her more excited (as she's quite a calm dog), and that has helped ALOT - and not only been using treats, but i've been taking a rope pull type thing, and at the end of each little session we have a massive play!!! I feel alot better about it - we went down to Sandgate this arv for a lovely walk, and I decided i'd do a little training (on the big grassed areas), and there wasn't many people around, and boy did she go well today!!! Then again, we had SUCH a massive play, throwing sticks into the water, playing tug etc etc... There is hope yet... :p I do love my girl to bits!!!! I just can't expect so much from her, which is what i'm doing.....

Yep, when I first got Lottie and beforehand I always thought i'd take her to dog parks every day!!! Well, I hardly EVER take her anymore - I took her about a month ago to one because she had been SOOO good on her walk, and there was just a couple of bigger dogs playing in the park, and she really does love playing with dogs!! - but she has lots of doggy friends she gets play time with at peoples places most days, and we go on lovely onlead walks everyday.... I hope the poor little dog is ok, and the owners of the greyhounds found!! (and i'm not blaming it on the greyhounds, just the STUPID owners!!!).

Hey Lucy's Mama... I hope things get better with your boy - I was thinking along the same lines as Bindii - if you're going to get him desexed you might as well do it now, you never know, it may help a little, but it also might not... Thats probably not much help though, haha!!!! Good luck with whatever you choose though!!!! ETA: spelling and just letting people know i've changed usernames - was Beth86 but now LuvLottie....

Lottie is my first dog, and from day dot she was to be an outside dog most of the time (except sitting on a mat inside for quiet time), but sleep outside etc etc, as I really really didn't want a dog that couldn't be left alone outside, barked, whined, scratched at the door (as i've seen this in a dog and I just couldn't stand it if she was like it...). Anyway, I was pretty strong for about the first 5 months.... but now she's inside with me, sleeping in my room (and OFTEN jumps on my bed during the night). I do love it though, that I could put her outside for the night and she doesn't care at all, she's such an easy going dog, i've been very very lucky So yes, I feel like i'm a hypocrit now, as before I got Lottie I couldn't believe that my friends let their dogs in the house to sleep, but it's very rare that Lottie's not inside with me... I do love her being in my room

I go between Northside and Gatton alot - so if you PM me with a time/day i'll see if I can make it - I have an 8 month olf Aussie shepherd who loves playing!!!

Agreed, he looks really out of proportion to me EDS: Just saw the photo of him standing... beautiful boy!!!!!!! He's so solid!!!!

You beat me to it Bec. Beth come see me on Monday night and I'll show you how to fix your problem. Cheers Maree Now Beth will have to choose who to go see - we'll see who she likes better come next Monday ;) Thanks both of you Tonight was just one of those nights I shouldn't have gone to training hmmmmm decisions decisions.... to see Daisy or BC4ME?????? hehe, I'll come and chat with both of you - it really got me down tonight and to make it worse I was mean to her

Hey everyone.... I'm just after some tips... I take Lottie to obedience everyweek with the hope to be trialing by the end of the year!! She's so focused, great at everything - healing, sit, stand for exam, recalls etc, but she's really lacking enthusiam in her drops - she takes about 3-4 secs to drop, and tonight it was worse (and then I lost my temper with her, then I felt sooooo bad ). Does anyone have any exercises, tips I can use to get her to drop quickly?? She's a very relaxed/laid back dog, but everything else in training she's really on the ball, but her drops.... but it's weird - even her drops at a distance she does quickly , its just when we're healing and I ask her to go into a drop.... Hope to hear some great things I could try!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!