Rileys mum

Thanks for those ideas. ill have a look at them. I need them for outside and yeah im praying its a behaviour that they grow out of. They are both still very young. 2 years old and 10 months old. Still babies, especially for GSP's. They do get 30 mins off leash runs morning and night but its just not enough to entertain them all day long i think...hence the grand tug toy joy occurs. Ive spent a small fortune on toys to rotate but the wool wins every single time :) I was hoping a really tough outer shell might just deter them as the soft ones they manage to get through in 5 seconds flat. I just wish i could tell them "if you tear up your bedding you will be cold" hehe. Silly kids. I guess if playing with bedding is the worst thing they do then im pretty damn lucky.

Im wondering if anyone knows of a company that makes canvas (as in thick, ripstop, horse rug canvas material) dog beds. Not the sling type beds but cushion beds with filling inside. I have two GSP's who lovingly destroy any soft material and despite me putting about 5 wool blankets out for them to cuddle into, they tear them into tiny pieces and end up with no bedding...apparently wool blankets make the bestest tug toys ever. I am wanting a tough bed that they can still lay on and get some warmth from. Any ideas??

Thanks Clyde. I think ill definately look more closely into it. :)

Thanks for the info. Althought i know alot of general grooming is just the clip em off all over style, its not really what im interested in. I know realistically its where one would likely start but i really do have an interest in learning how to scissor, hand strip, specific breed clips etc. Unrealistic in the short term as a career as there is alot of learning involved im sure but thats what i ideally would love to learn as a skill. Im realistic about the lack of pay...which is a shame as its certainly not an easy job. It is something that i have been interested in for a while but not game enough to make the move simply for fear of the financial side of things. Such a shame but thats life i guess. I have the fairly decent paying job at the moment...but the 9-5 aint even close. days, afternoon and night shifts. My body doesnt know what day it is half the time. I appreciat the honesty thought. Perhaps i should contact a few local groomers and see if i could work unpaid a few times a week to get some basic skills? is this something that is done in the industry at all?

hi guys, I know this topic has been done to death but i would love to pick the brains specifically from those of you who work full time as a groomer. I enjoy my current job but am coming to the stage where im feeling i need to look at getting out of shift work. Its really getting to me both physically and mentally which is not a good thing. Grooming has always been an interest of mine. I realise that its not an easy job and there is alot of training and learning that will go along with the job but its definately something im intersted in. I have years and years of show horse grooming/preperation which i loved so i think i would find the job very rewarding (on the good days anyway ;)) I was wondering if those that work in the industry would be willing to give me an idea of what is generally earnt every fortnight as a take home pay. I would likely be looking to work/train in a shop front salon. I suppose i am looking to see if the drop in pay will still be managable. Im a big believer in doing something that you enjoy so im not overly concerned about the pay drop, i just need to make sure im focusing my attention on something that is do-able financially with my mortgage etc etc. I know its quite a personal question to ask so if preffered those that are willing to can message me. :) I figured asking here would give me the best chance of getting accurate info about this as i know there are some very experienced and skilled groomers here. Thanks for any help anyone can pass on :)

Hi guys, Sooooo i may regret this decision but i have been stalking these puppy bars for months now at work and they have finally come up for auction. I was going to try and get them but have decided against fitting them as i dont think i will use them enough to justify loosing my boot space...plus my car is dedicated LPG so one whole bay would be consumed by the spare tyre. i though someone here might be interested in them. They are no longer using the ford stationwagons at dog ops so they are being taken out and put to auction. They are used (police dog). I know the doors no longer have locks on them so that would need to be replaced and im not sure how easy they would be to install but i guess someone with patience could work it out. Not sure of their condition as they have been stored outside since being removed but i cant imagine they would be too bad. Could be a cheap way of getting hold of them. I assume all the bits and pieces are there such as bolts etc but im not 100% sure. Heres the link if anyone is interested. there are two sets for sale in the one lot. http://www.evansclarke.com.au/detail.asp?id=393842

I agree. sounds like he lost interest quickly once you said he was desexed so sounds like he was just wanting to flog some sperm ;-) Extra security certainly can't hurt though and will make you feel a bit safer too.

Susan garrett just sent out an email on singletons and early development. Im sure if you post on her Facebook with questions/requesting info she will help. Her current dog was a singleton.

I think my user name answers this question lol. I don't have kids so they are defenately my babies/kids

Yeah the pens do have mesh roofs that are zipped on. They are fully enclosed. My two are very good in their crates so Im not so much concerned about escapes etc as both options are fully enclosed...was more worried about stability of the pens as they are a meter tall and i think if a wall got lent on etc it may not stay upright.

thanks guys, you confirmed my thinking. I just wasnt sure if they were sturdy because the extra room did look inviting but its no good if it wont stay up etc. My two are really good in their crates but I think i will go ahead and get a soft crate. Cheers again :)

Cheers but Im not needing to crate train them. I have hard wire crates at home and both are crate trained already....needing advice re the soft crates vs the soft pen enclosures i have seen (the one in the link). will be using them at shows/training. :)

After some advice/experience from others. I am needing to purchase another crate for my second dog. I already have a xxxl size soft crate for my boy but need a second for my lass as she will now be coming along with us everywhere we go :) Whilst searching online for a second crate i found some soft pens (like crates but much larger). Has anyone ever used them for large dogs? are they stable? I like the fact that they are a bit more roomy (as my pups do enjoy the old GSP style lay on their backs legs up in the air sleeping method) but i am also quite partial to the small security that a crate has. I only plan to use the crates when at training/competitions and obviously they wont be confined in it all day, just when im training the other dog etc. Any opinions greatly appreciated heres a link to the pens http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PORTABLE-DOG-PET-CAT-EXERCISE-PLAY-PEN-CAGE-TENT-XXL-/260761322123?pt=AU_Pet_Supplies&hash=item3cb696028b

Thanks guys. Im looking forward to being more mobile with the dogs now. should be great. :-)

Today i finally purchased a new (well second hand) car. I had been umming and ahhing between trailers, utes, wagons etc etc for some time and with the help and opinions from here i settled on a lovely 2008 BF MIII wagon on dedicated LPG with a cargo barrier (plus alot of added extras that i was blown away to get on a car...sure saved me having to get them put on/negotiate to have them put on lol) Pick the little baby up on Monday :) Hopefully the dogs appreciate the extra room...the Getz, although fantabulous, just wasnt cutting it size wise anymore lol. So just wanted to say thanks to everyone who added their input. Gave me alot to think about and add up the pros and cons.

Lol try telling my dogs their crate is a cage.... i have to lock the doors to stop them from wanting to be in there all the time and usually have to kick them out of their crates in the mornings. Its no cage in this household....its the most awesome place on earth and highly valued. Psychological injury would likely be more prevalent in a dog forced to be crated for an injury and has not been shown the value/love for it. Each to their own. my two are crated overnight and have access to the back yard during the day while Im at work. if Im home they are inside with me. :-)

Congratulations, thats awesome.

I usually play a game before class to engage my dog and get his focus onto me instead of the other dogs etc. the games are usually hand touches or getting quick responses to sit, down, back etc. I never let my dog play with other dogs. I want his focus and value to be with me. I often do similar games between turns during training too. If Im not in a class etc my dog is either crated or in the car.

At least they feed raw :rolleyes: they must care. poor dogs. 'we breed for demand'.... grrrrrrr

Gawler dog training club is great too. Bit further out than Para districts but worth the drive in my opinion. Very positive helpful club.

I found initially my boy had no interest in kongs but then i started mixing it up a bit. I put tuna, sardines or other smelly fish in them and my dogs go NUTS for them now. I began with it loosely packed in so every time the tongue went in he got the food out easily. Now i freeze them with all sorts of goodies in them and they spend ages licking and biting and dropping them trying to get the goodies out. Another idea is to buy a good quality wet food and put that in the kong. Again i started with it straight from the can and then froze it. yoghurt is another good trick as well as cream cheese (although not too much as some get upset tummys) treat balls are another good toy. My guys spend hours rolling theirs around waiting for the surprise treat to pop out of them :) Bottles are also a big hit here although my guys now manage to chew through them and break little pieces off so they are strictly an inside monitored toy now for us. Toilet rolls, cardboard boxes, even teddies (minus any plastic eyes/noses etc that can be choked on) with a small hole in them that the dog can pull stuffing out of in small pieces can also be a hit but the clean up can also be a bit tiresome hehe.

HHmmm thanks guys. I would be using it with the back seats up so would be used to stop them jumping from the back into the back seats eg. block the space above the back seats. might be worth giving a go for the price. My two are generally good in the car and i think the visual barrier could be enough to stop them. thanks again.

Has anyone used one of those removable pet barriers. Similar to a cargo barrier but the adjustable bars etc. do they stay put? I prefer the idea of a solid cargo barrier however there are times i think being able to easily utilise the full back of the station wagon might be handy, hence wondering about these removable ones. I know they won't be as solid as the perminant ones but would they keep dogs contained on trips?

Thanks guys. given me some things to consider :-)

Ok. after deciding not to get a trailer Im now stuck deciding on the best vehicle to suit my needs. only getting a bigger car for the dogs so looking for economy and space. Options Im tossing up. Ford falcon on dedicated LPG with tow bar and cargo barrier. OR Dual cab turbo diesel 4x2 (or 4x4) ute with canopy that has sliding side windows (plan to put pop up vents in roof so basically becomes like a trailer but attached to vehicle.) Has anyone got either of these vehicles that can shed some light on positives and negatives. Many thanks.