Little Gifts

All is forgiven now! I went out this afternoon and before I had my shower I told them all what I was doing, why and how long I would be and there was not a peep out of the worry wart. I came home and they were all just lying around in the air cond on my bed. Same when my sister came home. She's currently lying on the floor with a sore hip and no-one is even trying to sit on her! Everyone is still all cruisy despite it now being 10 minutes past what Tempeh considers to be her official dinner time. So Ams, even though she loves you lots and lots you can't have the expensive leash chewer back - but perhaps you can explain to me why they don't eat the cheap ones???? She also quite likes expensive bras! (must be dirty of course) Oh and any tips for a sore foot pad? I think Stuss may have burnt hers a little during her run in the heat yesterday. Very red in one spot but no broken skin or blood. Just watch it? The only exercise she's chosen to do today was roll over on the bed to cool her other side so I'm hoping that will help! Cyn I will PM you Heather's details as she may do phone readings. She tended to shut her eyes and said she got images from the dogs so it wasn't like she had to be touching them to be getting info from them.

"My name is Luka. I live on the second floor...." because I'm so much taller than all the other dogs here and they can't reach that high!

I love her licking her lips over that tasty empty toilet roll! Nom, nom, nom....

She stayed well past the time she thought we were supposed to be there (she thought 4 and we thought 4.45) and it was Tempeh that she noticed, which made her come over in our direction when her car was the opposite way. We wouldn't have spoken to her otherwise so

Wuffles the GR was just out of his yard and his daddy found him and put him back while we were waiting for the RACQ man. Becks, things have gone a bit feral since I broke my wrist as my poor sister can't do everything and work full time, so the dogs just all got over excited with the thought of a group outing. T - my entire house and bed is full of sticks. I can't keep up with picking them up! DD I'm pretty sure I saw Amanda de Warren at the Gold Coast Pet Expo for a free session last year (without dogs). She didn't tell me anything I couldn't have come up with myself. This lady is called Heather and runs Intuitive Connections - Angels, Ancestors and Animals. She knew a lot about animals in general and was running sessions as a fundraiser for a Brisbane based rescue. She had had a long hot day and had a headache so I wasn't sure what we would get. First she focussed on Tempeh. Her anxiety started in the womb and was exacerbated by 'the man'. Both true (and I think Ams would support that). We have to stop molly coddling her and put stronger boundaries in place (true - we thought she was younger than she was when we first got her so our work with her was out of age synch. And since a traumatic trial placement and 'the man' scared her we have had kid gloves on). She gets very confused and needs more guidance from us. She needs more adventurous activity (we already know she's good at agility so that fits) and that assisted us to identify a job for her in the pack - the adventurer! She thanked us for opening our home up to her. Stussy is bored, bored, BORED! Hence the recent running away since she hasn't been getting as many walks and outings. She is very intune with me and knows my arm hurts and wants to help me more and be a mentor to Tempeh but she also needs me to remind her of good behaviour out on walks again (due to boredom having fuzzied her brain). She acknowledged that Stussy is just your basic extremely happy dog who knew that other dogs didn't have it so good and she was grateful for us letting her into our home. She said she could just see all this colour over Stussy's heart. Awwwww. Wolf showed Heather he bum the whole time in a superiority thing. She thinks she is even superior to us at times (True!). We have to be firmer with her despite her age now. She has no health issues so her lying where we want to walk and not getting up now is her being superior and nothing to do with slowing down in older age. We need to keep making her do what we want. Tempeh has been randomly peeing on my sister's bed. Wolf never even used to let Tempeh into the room and now she is letting Temp pee there as payback for my sister not having as much time for her as she wants. Temp is doing it as a stress thing. We need to put a baby gate up with some pipe cleaners sticking up off it as the pipe cleaners will scare Temp but not Wolf if she wants to jump over the barriers (my sister never shuts her bedroom door and has stuff blocking it). She picked up something in a chakra over Wolf's abdomen and initially thought it was a possible ailment but then picked up a change in diet (true since the last 3 weeks). Wolf told her she knew the new diet made her feel good but she didn't like the consistency as much. Wolf expressed no gratitude in us being her mummies - typical! Heather advised we needed to talk to our dogs a little like we would a house mate, sharing basic information, particularly for Temp who has the confusion and anxiety and over excitement happening. So we instigated the biggest change of telling the dogs what we are doing as soon as we got into the car (how long trip was going to take, where we were going, any stop offs we were going to make) and they all slept like logs the whole way home. Last night they were all quiet and serene and put themselves to bed without any prompts from us. This morning Tempeh was giving Stussy a hard time when Stuss was still half asleep. It’s one of our morning issues that drives me crazy. I told Tempeh several times that Stussy wasn’t awake enough to play yet and she stopped and walked quietly beside her! Also there was no big excited carry on at breakfast time. I invited them all to breakfast, they waited and ate! We have always done the Amichien Bonding thing of not telling the dogs what we are doing because we are the alphas and the alphas don’t need to explain themselves to the rest of the pack. But telling them as a group simple things has certainly made an immediate difference. And it is such a simple change that it is very easy to do and we are already seeing the outcome of it. Next I am going to try walking only one dog at a time and revisiting any training they need during our walk. I will tell the other dogs what I am doing at that it will be their turn another day. Usually when we leave the house with only one dog the others carry on while we are gone. Heaven forbid if we ever left only one dog at home by themselves - unheard of!!!! It cost $80 for all three - 50 min session and we were very happy with her insights. It is not something I would seek out but given the opportunity presented itself why not?

She has gotten so big! Have her eyes turned to more of a green tone or is it just my computer? She has some very comical looks!

Ah my heart girl Stussy and our new girl Tempeh were both very special today! It was like a gazillion degrees and to avoid over excitement for an important outing with them I secretly got everything ready several hours before our departure while they were outside. It comes time to leave the house and surprisingly we were early so I went out and opened the car up and put our gear in the boot. When it came to put harness and leashes on though we hit the epic fail button. Both Stussy and Temp escaped the front door sans apparel and as I had left the gate on the front verandah open they both took off down the street. Tempeh was rounded up fairly quickly when a stray GR splatted her onto the pavement and she panicked and ran home by herself. So we got her harness and leash on and bundled ourselves and the third dog in the car and headed off in 36 degrees of heat to look for Stussy. She has a regular route when she does a runner (we have a very quiet U shaped street) so we went off calling out the windows but couldn't find her at her regular hang outs. Because I was too busy calling and looking I managed to hit a gutter and rip open a tyre so we galumphed the car back for home but didn't quite make it. My sister takes off one foot while I call RACQ (those tyres were screwed on by Ironman). Luckily he didn't take too long as the two dogs in the car thought it hilarious to keep jumping out of the windows making me catch them while we waited. My poor sister was walking in the hot sun looking for Stussy at a bmx event in the park behind us and the little toad just wanders up to the car out of the blue in the direction we'd been driving in. So I harnessed her, gave her water, clipped all three dogs to the open car and headed off yelling for my poor sister (in her rush she forgot to take her phone). Finally she hear me yelling like a crazy woman and came back. By that time Tempeh had chewed through her very expensive and brand new leash! I had to put one of those double leash things on her and Stuss. The RACQ man came, changed over the tyre and we headed off. Strangely we were driving an hour to see a pet psychic sort of person. We managed to get there on time but as it was at a big park we couldn't find her and had to ask random people if they'd seen her. Eventually one of the random people we asked was her! She thought our appointment had been changed to the morning so was all packed up ready to go home. Given our circs she agreed to stay and do the reading or talking to the animals thing she does. So while she is channeling our dogs Temp started eating through not only the double leash holding her and Stussy together but also the leash they were sharing! Then they both bolted off simulataneously after something and took me flying off the bench I was sitting on sideways, past the concrete and into a drop and roll on the dead grass. Given I am still sporting a rooted wrist all I could do was fly through the air and tuck my arms in! Apparently it was rather spectacular to watch! The lady we talked to told us some very useful stuff about the dogs and did reiki on them. They slept all the way home and have been quiet and serene all night. Unfortunately poor Stuss consumed a lot of water and had not peed while we were out and we didn't realise she was holding on as tight as she could. Not tight enough though as we hit the drive way at home and she saw grass it started to trickle - all over the back seat, out the door and onto the grass. Minutes of peeing. Like the rest of us didn't also want to go! Honestly, they wonder why we don't want to take them out as a trio more often! Please tell me your dogs sometimes test your love for them like this?????

PM Tapua. I'm sure she does this (or something very similar).

I always stay in and help with the wash when I take my pei girl to my local groomer and I will be telling her 'Buddy's Story'. Not because I think she runs a bad practice but as a reminder of how precious our animals are and how we trust these groomers with their lives while they are in their care. I will ask her to share the story with her staff too. Maybe others of you wish to do the same so collectively even good groomers don't get complacent about the trust we are placing in their staff and salon set ups. And any of you who have not stayed and watched while your dog is clipped and washed or even asked to see the set up out the back should do so immediately for your own piece of mind. Don't let Buddy's loss be for nothing.

Gosh I wish Roxy lived near me because she would fit right in here! My stafford girl is gutted if the fosters (shar pei) don't know how to or like to play. I've seen her teach one boy how to play tug and eventually they were both zooming up a storm in and out of the house, wrecking stuffed toys and dragging tugs off each other. She lives by the motto Eat. Play. Love. and Sleep.

Our little pei girl probably turns at least a dozen times (quite frantically, including scratching and bunching whatever is under her feet) before she will lie down for a nap. She only does this on the lounge and the human's beds. The always has a very plump bed in her crate and she walks straight in there and just drops to sleep. And after she wakes in her crate in the morning she takes forever to come out as she does ballet like stretches with her two back legs. She also talks a lot and makes so many different sounds but I have worked out now what means what and when she needs help and when she is just talking to herself.

I can try that too Hankdog! Thank you!

Same here. I avoid getting to close to them as all I have encountered have been either agro or indifferent, never friendly to other dogs. They are a true fighting/guard breed and as such were never bred to have friendly temperaments. I find they can be indifferent to other dogs rather than aggressive. I'm always amazed at how many pei come to the Peinics and yet there is no fighting or carry on, even when treats are being doled out. They are just not interested in each other!

Welcome Bec! As a fellow Qlder it is good to know of your existence and how you are operating. You have an interesting mix of 'clients' at present!

I feel so very, very angry on yours and Buddy's behalf. She has told you the awfulest of truths. My gut told me all along that he wasn't simply left alone for a couple of minutes or this would not be the outcome. I do hope the owner and all the staff working there are traumatised by this experience so those that don't worship the ground every dog walks on find new careers. But I also hope you might take some time before you decide what it is you want out of this situation and be true to your own nature. You are not a vindictive person and nothing is going to bring Buddy back or change how he left this world. Don't become bitter over something you had no control over. Take your time and go with actions that feel right in your gut and hopefully they will be actions that some good can come out of. Love you honey. XXX

Huga I cracked up when you mentioned the bath - ours is ancient and was probably white at sometime in it's life! Possum I have simple mode, Intelligent ISO (WTF?), normal picture, macro and numerous scene modes (for night stuff, action, mountains, etc) including portrait. I have pulled out the tripod and I can also turn the flash off on all the settings. So I guess I will keep trying all the suggestions and see how I go. I have a good spot on a big table on my front verandah where I will get natural light so I will set up the tripod and start experimenting! Thank you everybody for the advice!

Yes I have display stands for everything and I have a tripod that has never been out of it's little box so that's an excellent suggestion as I am a bit shaky! The fun in playing is only if you ever get a decent photo - don't make me insanely jealous now! Oh and the jewellery is mainly crystals and lampwork bead type of stuff so I'm thinking I don't want too much light directly on them affecting the true colours.

I have a lovely Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 with a 10x optical zoom. I've seen the photos other people have taken with this same model of camera but alas, in my hands the photos are no better than what you'd get on a cheap plastic camera at a wedding reception! I have to start taking photos of jewellery and other small items that I will be selling for animal rescue so I need advice about lighting and when to use the close up function as opposed to just zooming in using the normal setting. Where should the lighting be in regards to the item I am photographing? With jewellery should I aim for natural lighting or shine a lamp on the item? I'm assuming a flash would give a different colour image? With close ups do you actually stand closer to the item or is it more about zooming in closer? See how much of a dunce I am? I don't know if my camera is supposed to be close to the item or whether just the lens setting does it! I was also thinking a white background would be better for photographing jewellery? I don't have any white walls but I have a new white length of fabric and I was going to use that to create a set up to photograph against. Any other tips for the stupid? I've read my manual many, many times and tried out all the oodles of special settings it offers but still my pics are generally epic fails (particularly concert pics, which is why I bought the camera in the first place!). Apart from me packing the camera back in the box and giving it to someone who can actually use it, any advice, tips or things to try would be appreciated so I can make the items we have available look enticing. Thank you!!!!!

I'm pretty sure that's a new breed known as Cutie Patootie!

LDH that was all I was told - stay clear. I have no other details than that and even if I get more information on the weekend I would only be sharing it privately with anyone likely to deal with the group. I would trust those people to make their own judgement if they deal with the group as I don't rescue myself, I just like to be informed in case anyone wanting a dog or needing to surrender a dog asks me about groups in their local area. If you know some useful info about the group why don't you post it? I think it is good to hear from all sides. They are a new group and they may have a different philosophy or approach and they may have teething problems and could learn from networking with others.

I don't think you are the suing kind Caz but I do hope you make complaints where appropriate so this particular salon and the staff who work there can never do this to another dog. The very least they can do out of respect for Buddy is change their practices immediately so no dog is left unattended on a table and that more appropriate restraints to a choker chain are used. In Buddy's name don't let this happen to another beloved pet. And if the owner of the salon is uninterested in change then I would ensure she knew that you were part of a very large dog forum with many people already very keen on knowing and sharing the name of the salon. If they want to stay in business then it would be in their best interests to address any areas of negligence before word of mouth took over.

I don't want to detract from your worthy nomination, but back to me for a minute and my nomination from the only people I've recently pet sat for! I want to stick my nomination thingy up but can't get it small enough kb wise. Pauline you might need to buy a glass case to store all your tiaras in!

I made some local enquiries about 3R and was advised to stay clear of them by someone I trust re rescue. I will be seeing this person on the weekend and they will tell me more in person. Ams I will probably pass anything important I hear on to you, just in case.

The dog was in there for 3 hours, not left on the table for that time. It only takes a minute for someone to get distracted & a dog can choke if its on a choke chain or ordinary collar tether. Its happened to others. This is an awful tragedy & you must be in terrible shock. I always advise my puppy buyers to stay with their dog while it is groomed or use a mobile if a salon won't let them. All sorts goes on behind closed doors. I am sure you have a good chance of suing but that really won't be much consolation. I can only imagine your pain & distress. Apologies for my misreading. He was still left long enough that no-one noticed until it was too late but that is slightly better to deal with than my thinking he'd been alone and in that condition for three hours. RIP beautiful boy. XXX

I think that people should be able to ask a new org about itself because that is part of the PR process, growing, becoming accepted, getting community support, networking, etc. Some of their costings look a bit wierd but maybe they are trying to accentuate the costs involved in rescuing a dog? The only rescue group I know of up that way is PAA but the Best Friends FB page has now been expanded to assist a range of smaller rescue groups so someone on there might know about these guys? I'll email someone who manages the page and ask.