Nic oh lah

Just got an awesome mental image of that Haha - anyone that has anything to do with a Blue Heeler and has seen one around a ball knows what i'm talking about. Pickles is a lovely girl, but Ball vs Human, the Ball will always win.

Eep - and it's so not up to you to be stern to their dog - their dog, their responsibility. If Sophie had any interest in balls and stole someone elses I would remove the ball and pass it back to it's rightful owner and take my dog to a different section of the park, should the ball owner not want to have my dogs slobber all over the ball which is completely understandable. This reminds me of another stupid person at the dog park on the weekend - a freind was with me and brought her 3 dogs as well as 3 others she walks and trains, and a girl, maybe 12-13yrs old was standing there squeezing a squeaky toy non stop with an audience of agility trained dogs who are used to squeakies as their motivation sitting as her captive audience. I went over to her mum and suggested that if she continues she'd better not be too fond of her fingers! She was just teasing them, about 4 dogs that she'd never met. Silly girl- although maybe she didnt know better. The mum saw sense though and when she saw what the girl was doing said told her to cut it out and stop provoking dogs and thanked me for pointing it out. Whereas i know had I thrown a tennis ball up in the air and caught it myself, I would have copped a blue heeler in the head, lol.

Hi NicGSDlover Where did you get yours from? I was looking at them around the net and there can be a huge price difference. Sue PS I left the quote in hope i did it right!!!! OzPetshop.com.au - it was a fair bit cheaper actually, $32 + $5.50 postage to me in Brisbane - vs $39 + $6 postage from the houndbag website, but i had a good look and it's definately genuine. I haven't dealt with this website before but looks quite good, only ordered yesterday, but will let you know how soon it arrives!

While we're discussing it - this is Sophie on the weekend, (excuse the bad quality photo, great camera is on the wishlist!) and she was weighed the same day at 34kg. I'd love to have some other GSD owners give it to me straight, because I think she's too thin and needs another 4kg at least - the breeder said he'd expect she could carry 38kg well - when she's running full tilt, you can see her ribs, and i'm having so much trouble putting weight on her! Her waist is quite sunken also. Vet says she's healthy as a horse (a healthy one i presume ) but needs more weight - I'm thinking bulk up the chicken frames and starting her on some lamb flaps, whatever they are, as i've heard other people talking about. But yeah - do you guys agree she's looking like a runt? She's a tall girl. It gets irritating because freinds with staffies or labs that are very overweight keep telling me i'm starving her - she just won't finish all her food, and gets plenty of excercise, lovely shiny coat, but because she's not wheezing with weight they seem to think i'm starving her. Grr.

I think it can be done, but in terms of looking for a dog, perhaps suggest that there are plenty of people rehoming adult dogs that already have an idea of their personality and may be able to match them with a dog that is quite secure being alone for that long. I work 8.30-5, somedays i'm home for an hour in the middle of the day to see my dog, but other days not, and she's fine, but we got an (almost) adult dog who is happy to entertain herself throughout the day if she doesnt see us, and is then ready for an hour of excercise in the evening, whether it be walks, or the dog park - and then she sleeps on our bed with us for a few hours till she eventually gets put outside so we can move in our own bed! (I've told hubby i'd love a great dane, and he said we can't afford to feed it AND construct a 10ft wide bed ). And obviously Kongs are fantastic for giving them some entertainment, and Sophie generally gets walked in the morning also, so when i do pop home for lunch, i usually find her sleeping anyway!

Sophie likes playing with the other big dogs cause they can keep up! I have noticed she drops all her other friends the second she sees a golden Retriever, or any larger dog with a fluffy tail! hehe - she follows them round fixated on the tail. Maybe she just prefers Blondes.

Eep - a woman threw your dog? Gah!! I love the dog park - the ones we've been to are brilliant, the dogs are all good with each other or their owners keep them on lead, and everyone has been freindly, except the morons with their 3 year old. Mind you the park i go to is massive (5 acres i think) so it's not like we're all in each others way. Although i've been warned by a vet that there's a heap of Kennel Cough around at the moment so to keep sophie away from the dog park for a couple of weeks.

Just ordered my Houndbag - can't wait for it to arrive!

I will fess up and say Bull Terriers are some of the only dogs that do frighten me due to having one have a go at me as a kid - that said was i ever to meet a nice freindly one and be able to sit and have some pats and cuddles, i would probably then be fine. Silly isn't it how I feel like that, yet don't understand people thinking my GSD is scary though she's twice the size of a Bully! C'mon Brisbane, someone introduce me to their Bully!

EXACKERY! but...there are plenty of people on DOL who walk with big stick and poles to protect their dogs if they get attacked. Is that not okay? Well I personally don't take a big stick with me when I walk my dog. If other people are going out in public instending to use and big stick as a weapon then no, it's not ok, it's illegal. If someone has a big stick that they use as a walking stick and someone/something attacks them and they use it in self defense thats a different situation entirely. The difference with the woman that Huski has been encountering is that she has demonstrated on a number of occasions that the pole is meant as a weapon and she uses it to intimidate regardless of provocation. NicGSDlover, I'm a law student in WA so my information might not be as accurate as what you have access to, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong here... Haha - no arguments here - i've found that usually the law agrees with common sense, which in this case is don't attempt to make a doggy shish-kebab out of innocent pooches!

Yes thank you. Me and Sophie will still play with you

I'm pretty sure that regardless of if the people were asian or not, MissbeRidgerant could tell that they didn't know better. Shall we reword? "She was talking to a gathering, be it a group or a small party, of persons, non male or female, who may or may not subscribe to any racial background, and obviously they didn't know better as demonstrated by their actions.

Assuming of course Nic that the woman isn't suffering from some form of mental disability, which I'd argue is more than a possibility. Legal rights are wonderful things.. but they don't repair broken dogs or pay the vet bill. As dog owners I suggest we rely on ourselves to protect our dogs, rather than the law. Oh absolutely, i completely agree, stuff who's right and who's wrong if my baby girl in in danger. I just get peeved when people rattle off their interpration of "the law" to justify their arguments. At the end of the day commonsense must prevail, and yeah - rather than arguing in court, lets just look after our fur-kids, and rise in unison with a song of solidarity along the lines of "if you don't like dogs, you're strange.............." Now i'm going to have someone posting that thier long lost step uncle didn't particularly like dogs and for me to say he was strange is illegal.....

Excuse me if i'm being completely ignorant and you are currently practicing law in Queensland, but I am, and people had a "legal right" not to feel threatened, just like people have a right to walk their dogs. Are you referencing The QLD Criminal Code of Conduct Chapter 33/355 or Chapter 26 / 272 - you really should be more specific, or leave the law to the lawyers. And if someone is that concerned for their wellbeing should they be afraid of a dog, they can always walk accross the street. Huski and Daisy has as much right to their personal space as everyone else - regardless on what obscure peice of legislation you think is supporting your argument. I can tell you that were this to go to court, the judge would be much more interested in why a woman is walking around brandishing a weapon with the intent of causing grevious bodily harm to pedestrians and dog's under effective control.

I looked at the site lol they charge by the kg - it is times like this i wish I owned rat dogs LOL Haha - I had a look too - it say's we charge by the kilo...... just kidding. lol.

Hehe - lets do it - i'm always up for Doggie Playdates - and I dont care if a dog is entire as long as he doesn't get his freak on with my girl, who is desexed, but when i took her for a visit with her old owners their other GSD who is a male had forgotten Sophie used to be the boss of him took interest in Sophie, and my poor dear baby kept hiding as he was determined to have his way with her. I half laughed and half screamed when he decided to violate her in the ear So yes - as long as they keep their pride and joy to themselves, no worries! And peeing - haha - I was chatting to a lady on Saturday at the dog park and scratching the chin of her dear little terrier when i noticed that he was peeing down the side of my black leather handbag! Yuck. Luckily i had wet wipes in my bag! But i've told hubby this is a dogs way of telling me that it's worth the money to buy a houndbag

This is copied and pasted from a post i just made in a different topid - I think people think dogs have no right to be walked? We had a situation at the dog park last week when our girl was running around with a Tibetan Mastiff having big bouncy doggie play-fights and chasies, when a couple came to play at the park with their 3yr old daughter. AND NO DOGS. Just thought they'd bring their 3yr old who was wearing no shoes play on the agility equipment! Luckily i saw her before she saw us and put a lead on sophie, as the kid spotted her and ran at her wanting to "pat the puppy". Soph is fine with older kids but i've not had her round kids younger than about 7, and playing or not, she could really hurt the kid. So i calmly told them to keep their child away from strange dogs, and suggested that maybe they take her to a playground rather than a dog park - to which the guy said - F&%$ off, it's a free country! To which i said, "I understand that but if your daughter doesn't get hurt or eaten by a less controlled dog, then there's as much chance she'll step on a snake or in dog crap and get worms'. Geesh! They left about 5mins later so we could all let our dogs go and play. This is at Kroll Gardens, which has massive fences and signs and poo bins, so very clearly a dog park. Sigh. Some people. Edit - I see you are in Brisbane too! Well people are always calling dogs away from my harmless GSD - maybe we should meet up and betwen us we can probably clear out the park -

Eep! I have a freind that is terrfied of GSD's and it's going to be a slow and lengthy road before he'll go near sophie - talking to her through the screen door is as close as I think he'll ever manage - but to go out onto public property where people have every right to walk their dogs on leash and act as if to smack them with a pole! That's so out of line. I'd probably say something along the lines of "smack my dog and i'll smack you harder" but you must be calmer than me! hehe. I think people think dogs have no right to be walked? We had a situation at the dog park last week when our girl was running around with a Tibetan Mastiff having big bouncy doggie play-fights and chasies, when a couple came to play at the park with their 3yr old daughter. AND NO DOGS. Just thought they'd bring their 3yr old who was wearing no shoes play on the agility equipment! Luckily i saw her before she saw us and put a lead on sophie, as the kid spotted her and ran at her wanting to "pat the puppy". Soph is fine with older kids but i've not had her round kids younger than about 7, and playing or not, she could really hurt the kid. So i calmly told them to keep their child away from strange dogs, and suggested that maybe they take her to a playground rather than a dog park - to which the guy said - F&%$ off, it's a free country! To which i said, "I understand that but if your daughter doesn't get hurt or eaten by a less controlled dog, then there's as much chance she'll step on a snake or in dog crap and get worms'. Geesh! They left about 5mins later so we could all let our dogs go and play. This is at Kroll Gardens, which has massive fences and signs and poo bins, so very clearly a dog park. Sigh. Some people.

I second and Third that.

Sophie guide to getting the Peanut Butter, without sitting when commanded. Step 1- Stand infront of mum and stare with saddest eyes imaginable. Step 2 - Gingerly lift paw to sit on mummy's knee - continue with sad eyes Step 3 - Lick mummy's knee, lick own paw, make eyes sadder. Whimper if necessary. Step 4 - Use paw to dig hole through mummy's knee whilst whimpering. Simulate crying. Make eyes sadder if at all possible. Step 5- Wait till Mummy pushes your boofhead away, and take the opportunity whilst she is unprepared to launch into her face and give her sloppy tongue kiss. Step 6- As mummy composes self and spits out dog slobber whilst she retrieves her tonsils from her lungs, steal peanut butter jar and run away to safe distance. Step 7 - When you realise you cannot open the jar on your own, bring jar back to mummy, drop in her lap, and then FINALLY sit when asked. Step 8 - Eat the peanut butter! YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.................... Now..... I want the ball! Mum is asking me to drop, but there must be a catch - best be thinking of another elaborate scheme to get the ball.......

We went camping there last year in Jan - it was great except in rained the whole time, and we found that the campsites were'nt level and the ground was really rough. Great to have the stream to have a cool down in, great to have an open fire at your campsite, and the restaurant onsite has amazing food. My biggest tip though - they advertise bbq's at each camppsite - what they mean is there are open fireplaces - bring a grill plate if you actually want to cook bbq food. We went camping before we had a dog, but i'd love to go back with Sophie! not till she's much more obediant though!

Hehe - if Sophie had been a boy she was going to be Jasper - haha. And it's not just that you're biased - she's a stunner!

There aren't many real doggy people in my circle of freinds, so when I disclose the cost of Eukanuba, or say i can't be there right away - give me 2hours because Sophie needs a walk and a brush-out, people think i'm mad. Thankfully Hubby is on-board - being from a non-doggy background he thought I was going over the top, but now sophie has him whipped and what's best for her happens. I would say the biggest thing was part of the pre-dog setup was buying a house with a big yard rather than a big house (we have a teeny living room, and like 500sqm of grass for dog), and then spending $2000 fencing the yard, and then sacrificing the carport which is the only car accomodation in putting it behind the fences and that's Sophie's room - haha. And of course way in the future should a little human join our family, we will buy a big 4WD or similar so that the dog can still come everywhere with us.

We've got the Rubbermaid Scoop-n-store - The largest one, not sure what the exact size is but it takes a 22kg bag of Uncle Albers no problems, and i love the scoop integrated into the underside of the lid, so nice and easy to measure how many cups you're feeding. Got it from Petwise in Redcliffe - $54 i think. good investment though. We just have it outside beside Sophie's bowl - she's never been interested in trying to get into it or knock it over, not yet anyway!

Oh yay Huski!!! Yep, by the sounds of it looks like i'll be joining Metro so we'll definately have to meet up there at some stage!!! I'm very excited about it all.... Me too! I've sent off an email also, can't wait to get started. Sophie is 20months and hasn't had any training until we got her 6wks ago, so here comes the handful. We're getting a couple of private sessions with an instructor from Metro before we start as Sophie is a big girl so having her a little more 'ready' should help calm her to focus. Can't wait to meet Lottie!