Niques

Wow! How lucky you were to find her! What a scary experience. Tilly, that would have been a huge relief! All the while I was worried that he'd catch sight of a bird (let alone a cow!) - his biggest dream is to be allowed to chase birds in the park and he would have been after it like shot. I have to say, Big Ted is the cutest dog's name I've heard

I know the feeling. I have a tricks book containing some that just make you think...why?! That's a really good idea to clicker train him to keep still! Hadn't even thought of taking the trick that far back. I gave up on the clicker after I think about 3 days ( ) but the principle stays the same - I think I might have to pinch that idea and work on it with James.

I thought it was a kitten! Cute photo of your son and dog together! They look like a terrific size.

Bit of brag/immense relief post! I didn't get a chance to walk James this morning so took him for a stroll x training session around the park just now. We didn't walk very far - the main idea was to work on his stays and recall. On the return journey I'd started dropping the leash and walking a few paces back before calling him. Just as I'd decided to leave the park and head back home, the lunatic puppy took it into his head that now might be a pleasant time to do some zoomies. Within two seconds he'd pulled the leash out of my hand and left me gawking like an idiot (he was JUST lying on the grass contemplating a nap - I could have sworn he had no energy!). We don't go to dog parks so he's never been off-leash in public before and I stood there freaking out for a moment trying to work out what he'd do and what I shouldn't do...all the while he's madly running in circles around me I had one tiny fragment of biscuit left in case I'd needed to get his attention on the short walk home. I called his name, showed him the biscuit and he started zoomie-ing ever so closer trying to snatch the biscuit. Had the brilliant idea (I thought it was stupid the moment the words left my mouth ) to ask him to "sit" the next time he zoomied-by and you could have knocked me over with a feather - he sat! So I shoved the biscuit in his mouth and dove onto the leash And that, is the end of our little adventure! It's the middle of the day so the park is completely empty and we're semi-rural so I wasn't too concerned about the danger, more the fact that I was positive he would take off into the creek (and then the park on the other side) and disappear into the sunset. Scared the crap out of me. But, I've come out of it mightily impressed that a) he doesn't think "freedom" when off-leash and tear off like it's a game and b) that he listened to me, even whilst engrossed in his own behaviour! Very proud of my boy. Anyone have any "I've let my dog go..." stories while I calm my heartrate down?

Good luck - I can't even get James to keep his head still long enough to put the biscuit on, let alone keep it there! His head has a tendency to follow my hand. He has a bizarre hand signal for "Shake" simply because I needed to distract his head with one hand to stop him interfering with the hand I was using to pick up his paw, when teaching him He does have brilliant self-control with food and bones anyway though, so I've decided to rest my attempts on the balancing trick for the time being. I accidentally walked off the other night after setting his bone down without telling him he could eat it. I figured he'd know that when I walked off he could go. I turned around before going inside and the poor sod was still staring at me waiting for permission The poor pup in the last video Look at those eyes!

Our breeder had us bring along some empty juice/soft drink bottles to fill up with their tap water to take home so as to not upset his stomach. He came home with a "James" folder with pedigree, copies of parents' hip/elbow scores, vaccination record, worming tablets and LOTS of information on puppy care and the breeder's history, etc (most of which we'd already been given). When we got there, we got talked through everything in his folder again: feeding and worming, etc. Oh, and we filled out his microchipping form then and there so it was all ready for us to just post off. As for taking him home, James had started screaming before we even got to the car It was not a pleasant trip home but I'm not sure what we could have done differently there. Just brace your nerves - I was ready to turn around and take him back within 5 minutes of driving off Can't help you on car-sickness, I'm afraid. Hopefully your girl will be fine! I hope the next 3 days fly by for you

I initially fell for James because he had a scar on his neck... :D Felt a curious bond towards the scabby dog. His personality amused me but if I'd put any serious thought into it, I probably would have been less pleased. Whilst his many siblings played, chewed on each other and pulled tails, etc., he would snuggle his way into a corner for a nap. Until their mother walked in at which point he'd be the first one dashing across the room for a feed He made me laugh but if you'd asked me then I would have said I wanted a more bouncy, playful pup. Fortunately for me, I was wrong James is so, so me. Luckily, I'd completely fallen for Warthead by the end and his breeder (without having been told of my fondness) had him picked out for us anyway.

I ordered mine last Friday and am very eagerly waiting for it. Elbie's looks wonderfully spacious, KTB - which size is his?

;) That's brilliant! Poor little guy

Western suburbs of Brisbane. Hadn't thought of Bunnings - don't know where my head is!

I am James'. He'll have a look around if anyone else in the family gets up to go somewhere or go welcome them by the stairs when they come home (although even then, sometimes he won't bother), but no one gets the reaction I do He's my boy.

Clearly Poppy was just after a good book to pass the time! James has had a clam shell since fairly early on, but I stopped filling it up. Can't remember why - I'm thinking maybe because it's incredibly annoying to have a constantly wet dog. Although he's forever splashing around on the top step of the pool anyway, so there must have been another reason. Perhaps it didn't entertain him. He does enjoy fishing debris out everytime the rain fills it up though. My little retriever boy You're in Ipswich, yeah? I'd be interested in knowing where you find some sand if you follow that route - I know James would love a sandpit, but I haven't worked out where to get sand from. Cracking up here at Genevieve taking photos! Are they any good? I came out of the shower the other morning to find my iPhone headphones completely mangled - I trust him alone with my laptop but completely forgot that I'd just left the headphones lying there, still plugged in. Very cranky! Although, to his credit, I think it's the first household thing (aside from a potplant) that he's actually destroyed.

If the toxin is unknown and there are so few reported cases of grape poisoning, how are the renal symptoms and the grapes linked? Slightly off-topic, a previous poster mentioned passionfruit - are they too, supposed to be toxic? In early puppyhood, James always had a ball batting them around and sucking on them - is it a problem if he gets into the seeds?

I think her day sounds excellent. It sounds like she's getting lots of good exposure to situations and experiences that would keep her entertained and exercised, I'm sure! As for your Mum, I would be pushing the fact that Mindy needs that sort of training and reinforcement as a Guide Dog.

I was soooo puppy clucky for 2-3 months after James came home. Cause one was just not enough! :p The cluckiness has settled though - we need a better yard for a second dog. Jamie boy is more than a handful to manage, let alone another little fluffball

James is forever dropping his Kong and treat ball off the edge of the deck. When one eventually crawls under to retrieve said Kong, you'll also find any number of balls and shreds of stuffed elephant I have contemplated buying him another Kong or two, but I just know that I'll be even less inclined to find it from whatever hole they've rolled into if there's another one I could use instead.

I always reeeeally wanted a JRT as a child. Slightly followed by a beagle. Instead, now have a labrador

Your breeder sounds great, Djubre! I had that exact thought whilst in the research stage. Now I'm forever saying how lucky we were to get what clearly must be the best dog of the litter. I'm sure it's like the parent thing and all the other owners think their puppy's the best, but there are some days when I'm quite certain that none of the other 9 are as completely wonderful as my boy

I wanted to return him for the first week and a half or so. Not because he was awful but because I felt so guilty taking him away from his siblings to be stuck with us for the rest of his life I felt so, so sorry for the poor mite. Prior to last month I would have said that I haven't had those thoughts since, but by god, I would palm him off to the first asker if it stopped him whining for a wee at 5am each morning. I think he's taken to drinking far too much water before bed. Which I will have to address eventually as it's slowly driving me insane

Our breeder picked James for us. Although he was the one I had my eye on We didn't know it was to be him until the week before he came home. Honestly, I would have been completely at a loss picking a pup myself based on all the old tales of searching out the bold puppy or what have you. With 10 puppies swarming over you I couldn't even keep track of which were the black males, let alone which was the more confident, etc.

I don't think it's a General Pop v More Doggy People distinction. More common sense v idiocy. You would think that if you saw someone looking focussed with their dog (or in any situation!) you'd not interrupt. I'm with Fran - I'd be mortified if my dog disrupted someone's training session.

Thanks Yeah, he is extremely cuddly (I type as he attempts to push his way onto my lap ). He occasionally pops his head up mid- "dead" to take a look around and needs to be told to keep it down, but I think we're getting there ;)

He's only 7.5 months, but thus far (touch wood), "no" to all three.

James has had more solid bones daily since 4 months and chicken wings daily prior. I would just keep an eye on the quantity of dry food you're feeding if you're still doing 3 meals a day so he's not getting too much food if you're giving quite meaty bones.

:D My boy doesn't even realise it's edible until he accidentally drops it and it cracks. He gets about 2 eggs a week with no problems. And very rarely, some leftover scrambled egg.