Pretty Miss Emma

Feel better Sonny! A couple of natural things that have anti-inflammatory properties are apple cider vinegar and parsley, you could try to feed him up on that in the mean time!! I also think it sounds like it will probably be a rest plus anti-inflam treatment.

same here. I wish I cared as much about my own diet as I do for my whippets me three Same here... sigh...

Great job!!!!

I have 2 dogs, and I would struggle to have any less than 2 these days. But the things that pop in to my mind... -It needs to be you wanting another dog for you, not for your dog. The new dog needs to be primarily for you and secondarily as a playmate for your existing dog. -What if they don't like each other and don't want a bar of each other? My 2 love each other now, but for the first few weeks Kenzie kept trying to convince me to return the puppy as she didn't want another dog!! -Having 2 that are very similar in age... well unfortunately that often means that you may loose both of them at a similar time. In my perfect world I would have around 3 years difference in age between my dogs (I currently have 2.5yrs) because that will hopefully mean I don't loose them at similar times, and now while they are younger it does mean training is lots easier as one already has quite a bit of training so I can give the other a bit more focus on manners. -My 2 do play together, but they currently only spend 1 or 2 days together, the rest of the time they are apart during the day and only see each other in the evening. I think that makes them so much more excited to see each other when they are back together!! That's just my experience! I'm hoping in a few years to get a 3rd dog (when the 2 I have are a bit older and have had some more training), so no doubt will be going through similar thought processes to you!!!

I know, sometimes it feels like it was all just yesterday other times it feels like it was ages ago. But yes, 2 years. I don't think anyone who knew her will ever forget her!

Today marks 2 years since beautiful Emma left us. She is still missed every day. Today Kenzie was doing one of the things Emma loved doing - working with kids and teaching them how to be really nice to dogs and why it's great to work with animals. As Hamish is growing I"m seeing more little bits of Emma popping up in his mannerisms (they share some common ancestry) - he's taken to sleeping in the bathroom doorway when I have a shower, he always chooses to sleep on the tiles no matter how many beds he has (unless it's really really cold!), he snaps his jaws when he wants something from me, and he's just all around gorgeous! No dog can ever take the place of my most beautiful first dog. But it is nice having two really wonderful dogs with me that make it that bit easier, they give me the happy reminders but also show me everything else that they have to offer. Big hugs to all the precious dogs out there and I hope that Miss Emma is still looking after the other dogs that have gone to the rainbow bridge too early.

I would just get a basket muzzle. The other good thing about a basket muzzle as compared to the link you providd is you can keep feeding them treats while they wear it. I've tried a basket muzzle on my girl (just because it was there and I wanted to see how she'd cope if she had to wear one) and she didn't really care that much because I kept giving her bits of roast chicken while she wore it!!

Don't forget to talk to your dog!!! And don't forget that you can do a re-try if you get a station wrong (I forget how many you get, 2 or 3). We did our first Rally's at Geelong and it was a really lovely supportive environment. We didn't pass the first couple, all my fault because I forgot to talk to my dog!! But just enjoy yourself, a pass is a bonus if you've had a great day with your dog regardless!!

I feel like someone told me that Pawpaw cream was good for this problem.

My Kenzie will occasionally do things such as mentioned here. I just won't run her in ANKC agility, the environment is not yet right for her. I'm not prepared to run the risk of something going wrong. It is so rare for her to do such things, but it's a scary concept for me especially seeing as though I've worked so hard with her; I just don't ant her practising the behaviour. The couple of times it has happened I've immediately grabbed her and walked her out of the ring, I don't want her having any reward (and any bit of agility is self rewarding to her) whatsoever for that behaviour. I saw my first ANKC trial a few months ago, and I'm just not sure that we will ever be able to do one. I found that so many people were inconsiderate of dogs in the ring - playing with their dog right beside a piece of equipment or at the exit/entrance, etc, etc. i know you are supposed to have control over your dog (obviously!) but I also thought it would be nice for people to show some consideration to those who were in the ring, which I didn't really see. It's great to hear a success story though, I wish I had opportunity to practise the environment so that maybe one day we will get there! For now we will just focus on a bundle of different activities!! Oh and training to try to get the behaviour under control - consistently!!

Children - love them the polite ones who are well behaved. Did not love the ones who were kicking a soccer ball to each other in the ring next to ours (that group had finished earlier than ours) on Saturday!!!!! Before I started showing I had no idea what to expect. I did take my dogs to an indoor show, but it was with the purpose of one of them seeing her breeder for the first time in about 10 years and I had someone who could help manage the other. Plus I was very very aware of what was going on and making sure my dogs stayed out of the way, and was happy for them to go back in the car if needs be. But when researching breeders I also went dog-less and it was much easier to talk to people that way. Don't be upset if people refuse to talk to you, hopefully they are hust polite about it (in my experience some are and some aren't!). When I went trying to find breeders to chat to with the intent of getting a dog at some point there were heaps that wouldn't talk to me. Their loss as I wouldn't look at their dogs (and probably still won't), but the people who did speak to me I got recommendations off and I still now have a good relationship with several of them. Of course keeping in mind when you choose to speak to them!! When they are getting their dogs ready or waiting to go in the ring, stay away! But outside of this time I would hope that most people are friendly to those wanting to find out more about their breed. you will probably have to initiate conversation. Personally I love talking about my dogs (is there really anyone here who doesn't!!) and love talking to people who are coming to find out information at shows. I show, I don't breed, so if they are looking at getting a puppy I'll point them in the direction of others there that they should chat to about that. I think shows can be pretty unfriendly to many members of the public unless they have the confidence to just go and start talking to people. And I agree the advertising about them is aimed purely at people who are going to show, I'd love to see friendly advertising (that is easy to find) to the public to encourage them to come along and see some beautiful pedigree dogs! And maybe even some guidelines with it so the questions you've asked everyone knows an answer to upfront!

Thank you for putting this up SnT!! I haven't had internet access!!!

I bought one off ebay not long ago for around $80. Have used it a few times and it is great!! I'm sure a more expensive one would be better and maybe a little quieter. But with 1 show dog and 1 pet dog this one does everything I need and like you say it was too cheap not to try it!!

My dogs go to see Jen at Moonee Valley Animal Hospital (Keilor Rd). Even though I've just moved to the other side of town I'm hoping that we can still manage to see her when we go to dog club. Absolutely love the clinic and everyone there. Haven't found that they particularly push any type of feeding unless it is necessary (ie special diet required for an issue, or if you really have no clue at all what your animal should eat!). I don't feed raw but from my experiences with them if you have a healthy animal they tend to just be supportive of what you are doing unless you ask for other options.

Hi Annie, What was the prognosis? My old dog went blind within around a month. She coped much better than I did and she was an 11.5 year old border collie who was running agility a month before her diagnosis. If you look up some of my threads you'll see some back ground on her and her issues. But I think dogs deal with these things much better than we do. And if you are prepared to put the effort in to making sure she has a good quality of life well, I think that says all that needs to be said!! I hope it is all working itself out.

When I got Kenzie I had the moment of should I take her back because I thought that my Emma hated her - she was really put out there was a pup in the house! Within 2 weeks she was fine about it and then after about 6 months she was happier to see Kenzie than me!! I think it's pretty normal. Taj has gone from the world revolving around him to now having to share it, of course he's upset. everyone else has given you good advice re space, alone time, etc. that stuff is really important. When I got Hamish, Kenz came to work with me and we did special things so that when I got home Hamish could have some me time and we could all have some together time. Again she hated him for the first 2 days he was home and flattened him every opportunity she got. After 2 days she decided he could stay because he played tug with her, but he wasn't allowed to look at me! Then after a week she figured he was pretty cool and was allowed to be a permanent fixture! now they absolutely adore each other!!! they still love having alone time with me, but they just love spending time together!

BIS was a pug RUBOB was a sheltie (i think, but in my head I also have curly coat retriever) Baby puppy in show was an aussie shepherd MInor was a curly coat retriever (me and the little rough collie I handle got a good look in but then got pipped at the post!). And then I don't know! I think the bis was a junior and RUBOB was aus bred.

I may endeavour to come visit (if I remeber through the tired haze!!), if you're near group 5 people's I'll be the one with the goofy border collie and also a gorgeous blue merle rough collie!! Oh and several people and a few other dogs! Hoping to leave within the hour to head up!

Thanks for that! I've packed my new fancy gumboots!! So, I'm guessing from what you've said is it on the left and near the main road, not so far as the footy oval? It looks like it will be a trip to swan hill for dinner then!

I'm just wondering, the Swan Hill/Lake Boga shows this weekend... we are camping at the grounds (wish us luck in the cold!!) and as I can't leave til I finish work we will be arriving in the dark. When I look at Google Maps, are the grounds the ones that look like the football oval? I'm figuring that's where we are heading, but having never been there before would love some confirmation of that before trying to find my way in the dark!!! And in Lake Boga, what is there (this is us being lazy and not wanting to carry food with us!!)?

Kenzie was with me when Emma was PTS. She was distinctly depressed for a few weeks after. She had only known life with Em. She was just flat, she'd lie on my bed just stating out the window for hours and became a bit clingy for a while. She picked up after a while, my aunt moved in with us with her dog and that certainly helped her heaps!

I think that sounds good! Good luck!!

Dogs at work can work, but before you go to the powers that be make sure you have thought out all possibilities and have contingenies for everything. The things I would be wanting to present would be: -how dogs will be contained/restrained -how noise will be dealt with -how disagreements between dogs will be dealt with -how space will be allocated so that dogs have enough space without interfering with other dogs -how cleaning/smell will be dealt with -how supervision of dogs will be maintained (we have a policy that dogs must be supervised 100% of the time, so if you have to go to the toilet you must have someone who can supervise your dog during that time - this is just to prevent problems) -how will interactions with other people be dealt with -how will space be managed around people who do not want dogs near them -will the be no go zones for dogs (eg eating areas, around phone rooms, etc) -managing entering and exiting the building so no confrontations occur -managing people who have no idea how to behave around dogs, what instructions will be given -managing the handing out of treats (I often find everyone wants to give the dogs a treat!! Which can equal fat stinky dogs!!) -toileting areas and cleaning up mess -will there be a limit on the number of dogs that can attend -how will the temperament of the dogs be known before they attend (it's nice to think that people can be objective about this but some people don't really know and don't know that their dog will/won't be suitable in the workplace) -health statuses of animals (vacc's, etc up to date) -what if an emergency vet visit is required for whatever reason A lot of dogs find it really exciting to go to work, and can be a bit on the hyper side when they get there so that is something also that needs to be considered. I really do think dogs in the workplace can be ok but it just needs a lot more planning than people sometimes think. Maybe some possible ways around some of this might be trying to organise a week of days where you can limit the number attending each day but everyone who wants a go can have one if their dog is suitable. Or maybe people could work half days in the office and half at home so the dogs aren't overwhelmed by a full day there. But I do think if you go in with a well though out plan and have addressed every contingency you can think of then your chances will be hugely increased as compared tojust going in and saying it would be a nice idea! I hope your chat goes well, I'd be interested to ehar how you go!! good luck!!

I'm sort of glad to hear it's inside! I haven't had to show in horrible rain yet and am happy to keep delaying that!

Hi, The Westernport ET unfortunately is not going ahead. I think they had a few internal issues that could not be sorted. A shame. I think the GSDCV may still be taking entries. Go to gsdcv.org and contact the trial secretary. M I'm not sure I can make that date, plus I'm a bit uneasy about running her at altona. I've heard there can be some less than considerate locals that I'd be very nervous about running her around! Plus there's a bit more time til gippsland so I can see if she's fit enough!