KumaAkita

*steals Asti and Ella*

I am also a Dog Whisperer watcher and have IQ'd it. While I don't necessarily agree with all his techniques, there are some that do strike a cord with me. When the OH and I watch it, the episode can often spark a lightbulb moment and remind us that we have to be consistent with Kuma. Not that we have to alpha-roll him or anything like that, but we have to maintain our rules, each and every time. We'll often watch an episode and afterwards say "we need to remember that Kuma is not allowed on the carpet at all, not just sometimes" or something like that. As the seasons have gone on, he has changed his focus from only on the dogs to be a little more on people. Sure, it makes great TV to help a woman who couldn't walk long distances by giving her a mobility scooter so she could walk her rescue rottie, or many of the other things he's done. But I get the sense that he's in it to help people understand that dogs just don't become good dogs without rules boundaries limitations (yep, we say that around our house with a Mexican accent...) Plus the understanding that an exercised dog is a happy dog has probably gotten quite a few dogs out of backyards where owners have thought "oh, my yard is big enough, we don't need to go for a walk". As previously said in the tread... If his show has sparked people's attendance at obedience because they want a better dog, or worked out that they are contributing to their dogs behaviour, I don't think that's a bad thing. AND... I agree with the teeth whitening! Man, you can certainly tell the old shows... the transition from scruffy Mexican to polished TV presenter is a sight to behold. The teeth, the manscaping, the even tanned skin tone, no name clothes to designer brands to Dog Whisperer clothes...

Morning all... so I had a crap nights sleep, kept thinking how much I have broken my dog and that I should really spend more time training him. Damn this forum. :D KTB: mwah ha ha @ Elbie... that's just so funny! poor bed, it didn't stand a chance I reckon that the pup in that photo is a bundle of cuteness, think a visit to the breeder couldn't hurt, just be prepared to walk away if it's not perfect. (Just my opinion there, feel free to ignore me altogether). KTB & Clastic: You're more than welcome to try your had at spitzies with my boy... he'll try your patience, but will love you forever! I so want a Shiba... one day, one day... Wizzle: @ head... in ice cream bucket... Max#1: Watching the clip, OH asked me what that noise was! I told him to just be thankful we have a quiet dog! (who then proceeded to bark at shadows for about an hour!) Primedogs: hmmm, must be one of Kuma's siblings. I think there may be a few around... and I agree with KTB, that's a photo op if ever the was one. SammieS: Asti is adorable. Is she a fiesty Frenchie... the ones I have met seem to have so much personality. MM: Lovin' your doggies... (but you can keep your 7 cats. don't get me wrong, I love kitties, but yikes... :D ) Niques: Why are there so many Canberrans on the forum??? Coz Canberra is the coolest place in the world You should come visit some time. I gave Kuma a bone this morning... well, it was a pigs trotter. It kept him amused for the 45 minutes between the time I gave it to him and the time I left for work. I don't think he was giving up on it any time soon. He was so into chewing this thing that he ignored the builders who were working on the block behind our house (very rare) and I could even get in for photos... I'll share those tonight when I get home - oohh the carnage! so gory! And last, but not least... It's Kuma's 1st birthday on 11 November and I'm thinking of having a partay... any of you lot wanna come help the boy celebrate??

If I did, I certainly wouldn't say anything on here, I'd need a flame retardant suit first Ahh, possibly a sibling then. You will have to get your passport out and come over to the northside!!

I want to live in Canberra!!!! You could name the little guy 'Sausage' and serve little sausages!!!!!! I know. Lame. What name options have you got? ** Wizzle gets baby name book out** I agree with wizzle... Sausage is an awesome name!

Hey primedogs, do you live in the gungahlin area? We saw a little sheltie at the guru cafe who looked a lot like Watson!

ha ha ha... good luck with that... Sorry, my catholic education and upbringing was left at home when I moved out. My OH says that he grows horns when we enter a church! My mum however is First Lieutenant in God's Squad! We couldn't turn up when we visited the other weekend before a certain time because she was having her bible study ladies over... :rolleyes:

lilli_star: get off DOL and do your assignment!!! I see you still lurking down there! (says she who is trying to finish meeting minutes from like 3 weeks ago!) Either that or tell us what your assignment is about and maybe we can help. KTB: oh yeah, my head knows that. But my hands... my hands have a mind of their own

Unless you're Kuma and you're still learning how to pee like a man. If its a biggun, his little cocked leg gets tired and keeps touching the ground. Or he tries to pee on the slope of a garden bed and almost falls over :D

I was thinking how I'd get Kuma into a hotel room... not something I could do easily! *sneaks off to read thread* I'm having one of those days... you know the one, where your head is saying "don't take the bait, don't say it" but your hands are already writing away and hitting post for an open forum, ones opinions always seem to be needing to be checked at the door. ETA: Yikes.... read that thread...

Look at that.... that's a whole bundle of cute right there!

ok... I'm backing out of the main forum... staying in the cozy corner. Too many people with too much time on their hands.

we had the same problem... Kuma is on Advance, and I think that the kibble may be a bit tough for puppies... try soaking it first. If that doesn't work, go with what Aussielover said. 15 minutes to eat food, max. They soon learn what's on the menu and work with it.

Yikes... that's charming... I'm lucky that I live in a new suburb so we have loads of buidlers skip bins that I can chuck Kuma's litte blue poo filled bags in, so they don't stink up my bin there's quite a few bins with little blue baggies in them...

These weren't the type of people one would be civil to. They were nasty, bitter and cranky women. I would have picked another descriptor if it fitted them, but this was the only way to describe them. I had had the pleasure of (unintentionally) overhearing the conversation for a few blocks and can tell you they would complain about winning the lotto, they were bemoaning just about everything else. Sorry if I have offended you, but that's them apples.

Oh, I'll be the first to admit I have whistled while Kuma's done his business and walked away. That's only when I have run out of bags and haven't noticed before setting out for our walk. I'm still half asleep when I take him for a walk at 5:30 am! Plus... I have probably missed some when I'm picking it up, coz I'm swiping in the dark! I have also gone back and picked it up the next morning... wow... that makes me sound bad! I do go back and pick it up... promise. Plus, we're walking around a building site area so there are no residents who's lawns we're messing up. I now check every morning that his poo bag container is on the leash and full!

After reading this thread Link I kept thinking to myself "lucky all dog owners are not like this..." and yesterday I saw something that made me happy... I was walking through downtown Randwick and saw a lady with a baby in a pram, a toddler and a Mini JRT. The dog stopped on the footpath and did the biggest crap I have ever seen There were two old crones walking behind me "betcha she doesn't pick it up...", "I'd put money on it, lazy cow"... But... then the lady stopped her pram, fished out a plastic bag and picked up the poop. Sure, it's fairly insignificant, but she did the right (responsible) thing and explained to her toddler why she picked was picking up the poo. I felt like hugging her (and blowing a raspberry to the old crones!)

HIIIIYYYYYAA... he's just so darned cute! he got half way up on Sunday and fell off... silly sausage! naaawww... CUTE! look at your happy pack... they're beautiful. shucks... thanks... Yeah I have since worked out that most breeders don't email. You'd think in this modern world they'd be up on that stuff, but hey... Treason is an impressive animal. There is little wonder why he is the grand champion, best in breed Akita in Australia for the last 8 or so years. I'm loving everyones stories... We would have gotten a dog from either a petshop or the pound if we hadn't settled on an Akita and the only way to get one is through a registered breeder. We didn't know the truth about petshops, puppy farms or BYBs. Now, I'm an advocate for pound puppies or registered breeders. Don't let anyone give you grief about getting your dog from a petshop or BYB. You are giving a dog a good home and are now more aware of the consequences of bad animal husbandry - you have learned and are continuing to learn. I'm on this forum to learn from experienced dog owners and not to be given grief for not doing the right thing. There are people in this world who love nothing more than putting other people down . That's my 2c worth

The Kuma Story The OH and I had wanted a dog for AGES. We were only renting, first in Sydney and then we moved down here. I think we'd started planning for a dog about 7 years ago, but every landlord said no. The rental agreement for our first place in Canberra even prevented us having fish (really?? coz they're going to do heaps of damage!) Our first breed of choice was a staffy, and remained that way until we saw an Akita on TV. Albeit on The Dog Whisperer where the Akita was going off it's trolley! That made me a bit wary of the breed and after we did some reading I got even warier. All the books say "bad dog, aggressive...". Oh and then I worked out how big they are! Anyway, we were driving past a puppy class at Gungahlin vet and saw an Akita - OH pulled over the car and we stopped and said hello. They had a backyard bread Akita, which was placid and gentle. I decided that I would be ok with an Akita, but it would have to come from a registered breeder who bred for temperament, no shonky backyard jobby. So, I emailed a few breeders, and the only one who responded was Tabatha at Daykeyne. I met her and her dogs at a local show and fell in love. First I met Treason He is a big gentle giant and was just wonderful. Tabatha mentioned that she had a litter available and only had one boy left. We went to meet the puppies and our boy was just so perfect for us. He was independent - which was a characteristic we found appealing as he would have to cope being outside alone all day. He waddled over to say Hi and then went back to his business. The other puppies were jumping all over us! Turns our that Kuma is a redneck inbred - Treason is his grandfather on 3 out of 4 sides! This is Sniper - Kuma's Dad This is Code - Kuma's mum and the entire litter And this is my little boy at about 6 weeks... you can see that he's just had his dinner! Kuma came to us at 8 weeks He's one year old in a month...

Awesome Pics KTB - looks like Elbie had a blast. Glad you had the park to yourselves! Kuma isn't sure of the tunnels, doesn't jump anything and is too big for the balance beam, so Forde's pretty boring for him unless he has a dog to chase!

Ha ha ha ... I think it is a conspiracy that non-spitz don't shed as much as double coated spitzies. kuma hardly sheds on a daily basis, but will blow twice a year (apparently) and when he blows it'll be a big one. Max#1: thanks for being so understanding about Kumas PSD. Good to know that we are not alone in our struggles!!! Re food. Kuma is on Advance puppy growth for large breeds. Apparently that makes us bad owners because he doesn't get raw food. Hey, it's what his breeder feeds her dogs and recommends, and her dogs look super awesome so it can't be too bad Have fun at herding today... I wanna see photos!!!

I use photobucket.com.au and copy the link from there.

There are more things in this world that we need to turn our minds to in order to reduce pollution, rather than dog/pet excrement. Sure, there's probably some scientific merit in the reduction of pet/animal waste, but seriously... The big smoke billowing coal fired power stations need to be reviewed first, dog shit second. :p

None of this is fact. yeah I would like to know where he is pulling this info from! probably same place the poop comes from ( :p )

Kuma's either in a tight ball or all legs akimbo as such: and he snores loudly when he's really tired.