Pretty Miss Emma

I have to say that I don't seem to have doggy smell and my dogs are pretty much smell free! Maybe I'm lucky! I even have people comment that they are suprised that my dogs don't smell!!! When old Emma was sick there was a smell in the house, but then after she died we figured out it was obviously the smell of her being unwell (she must have been emitting some sort of odour). I do make sure the windows are open when they can be though just to get air through the house. I'm hoping when I move that it might be to a place with more tiles or boards which will make cleaning easier and if there is smell will minimise it!

Agree with this. If you don't want her inside that's also ok, but to me that means you'd be committing to spending more time outside with her to give her the social interaction she needs. Mine are inside whenever I'm home, so while we may only gave about 5 hours or so if awake time together they get to spend usually 13+ hours together each day including sleep time.

I have 2 BC's and live in a unit. Most nights we walk for close to an hour. We go to training classes twice a week (some weeks there may be an additional evening). I train them a little bit each day. I have found a couple of places I'm happy to let them off lead, but we may only go there once a week. When I go to work (1 usually comes with me so the other is home alone) they are left with their food in kongs, boxes, etc and they get a chewy. Once it's routine none of this is that hard! Mine do fine if they have a night where a walk is missed, but it does mean we have to play games and do more training! Have you taught your dog to settle and to entertain himself? That was a priority of mine and I have to say my 2 are pretty good at it and that helps make life easier! I'm on my phone so can't see where you are. But can you figure out a series of road walks that will be long enough? If you walk far enough there's bound to be a few parks, etc you can walk through for a bit of variety!

One of the most interesting things I found out about when I was at the Ian Dunbar seminar on Saturday was about this!! And yes the end answer was - training!! But it was interesting, he is a big believer in the placebo affect of desexing (as in because dog has been castrated owner has a renewed expectation of the dogs behaviour and often trains them more effectively because "desexed dogs are easier to manage") - it was really really interesting!!! How old is the Malt x JRT? Maybe it just doesn't want to deal with puppy crap!! I know Kenz (who is only 3) generally spends the first day growling and flattening puppies if they do things she doesn't like and then after that she will generally play with them like no tomorrow! Young dogs need to learn from old dogs that they don't always get what they want when they want and from the sounds of it that is what the Malt x was saying!

I had to retire Emma just before she turned 12 but only because she went blind within about 3-4 weeks. I think she would have still happily done it if she had been physically able (other than her eyes she was in good shape at that time).

Happy to send you my notes, although no guarantee of coherance!! I was very good with my budgetting, managed to talk myself out of many items!!

I use one of these to transport 2 wire crates plus a wooden top, just need occy straps to hold everything in place! Has made life so much easier!

I went to this today in melb and really enjoyed it! Wish I could have done all 3 days, but 1 is better than none! It was great to hear lots of what I've been doing with Kenz is good stuff. And it was also nice to see half the people in the room had reactive dogs, it's not just us!!! I wish someone here ran GROWL classes, I think they would do a world of good for us! The other bonus was that Kenz and Hamish got new clothes (collar and leads) because blackdog were there! I can't wait for their new treat pouch to be released, I want one!!!!

I use metal bowls and they have blue rubber embedded on the bottom. Don't know what brand though, but most let supply places sell them.

I do my own dogs. Once you know how it isn't difficult unless there is an infection (and for one of mine expressing them every so often prevents this from happening). But increasing bulk in food helps (I add chopped vege's, bran and psyllium husk to my dogs food to do this), I've also stated making sure they have 1-2 decent bones each week and that seems to be helping. The other thing that seems to have helped is that we have just recently started seeing a chiropractor. Since having treatments with her I've only had to do the anal glands once, and it was much easier and more as a preventative rather than me seeing signs that they needed doing. So it may be worth telling your sister to find a good dog chiro, as that should certainly be cheaper than what it sounds like she's paying her vet to express the glands!!! I think my chiro costs about $70-ish and they get a 45 min treatment. But if she does want to pay someone just to keep doing it then she really shouldn't be paying more than about $20-25. My vet will just do it for me during a vacc consultation or whatnot, and if I book in separately we see a vet nurse and then it costs around $18 I think (since i've learnt what to do I haven't booked in anymore!).

There are some listed in the classifieds, but they are for a Mazda Tribute - not sure if they would fit an X-trail (mine were made for a Ford Explorer but I have a Tribute and they fit fine!).

We use larges!

I don't think it has anything at all to do with "culture", it just has to do with ignorance, stupidity and lack of exposure. The other week I walked my 2 and was horrified by the way some kids acted around my dogs. Thank goodness they were well behaved - the dogs that is! But these kids were running back adn forth and screaming and even ran out on to the road. And I was doing my footpath crossintg to avoid even having to come in contact with them. The parents said and did nothing about any of this behaviour!! I now fully understand why kids get bitten. Parents need to take a bit more responsibility in educating their children.

Border Collies were always registered as their correct colour and the breed standard still does not have any disqualifying faults except for missing testicles. It does list certain colours and any other colour was regarded as a "show" fault, like pricked ears or a blue eye or whatever. As the cosmetic colour did not affect the dog in any way the coloured dogs could still be bred and shown but not shown with any degree of success. In fact new colours used to be added to the standard as people started to show them more. About 10 years ago the ANKC, for some stupid reason known only to them, brought in a blanket rule for all breeds that only the colours listed in the breed standards could be put on main register. So now if you ask any of the member bodies what to register a puppy as they advise using the closest listed colour if you want then on main register. The whole thing is a complete farce. That makes sense, not good normal sense but I understand! I hope that they change it one day to allow all colours. To me a good dog is a good dog, the colour doesn't make it a good dog!

I've never seen a white one, so adorable!

So, on the limit register any colour can be listed? But on the main register you have to choose from a select few allowed colours? (I have no idea, I just get the dogs that are right for me!!) And what happens if colour shows up as the dog matures? Eg. a friend of mine bought a dog as a black and white, but we think she is actually tri as she has had some markings show up as she has matured that lead us to believe she is actually tri. Hmm, so that would mean if someone is breeding with a colour that isn't allowed then that dogs colour has not been recorded accurately on it's pedigree? I guess if that is happening then that makes it difficult to know what is behind dogs and what might come up. Tricky, tricky!

Gorgeous!!!

This is slightly off the original topic, but when you register puppies that are not a recognised colour what do you do? I have BC's and for instance I know sable is not a recognised colour (even though it's gorgeous!). So with my 2 it's easy, they are listed as black and white because that's what they are and that's a recognised colour/s. But if it were a sable puppy, what are they listed as on their pedigree? I know they should be on the limit registry, I'm assuming though that there should also be some record of their colour. I also find the colour genetics most interesting - and also somewhat confusing!!!

Does anyone know when these classes start up this year? And is it just a show up sort of thing? Any information gratefully welcomed! I'm thinking that it may be useful for Hamish and I to get some pointers!!!

I think on a Hamish work day we both might have to have a visit!!!!! Hamish loves Aussies (well lets be honest, he loves everyone and every dog!)!

Spin (both directions). Wave Hi-10 Touch Target a disc Beg (short bursts) Go get/bring (whatever thing you like) Speak Look left, look right Bow Front feet on a step, back feet on a step Rear-end awareness so that the pup can stay beside you and turn circles with you in both directions Perching on a box Carry a basket Put toys away Nod your head Distance work of basic obedience behaviours Go around a post/stool/whatever! Paws up on something I might be able to come up with some more if I think!!! Now that I've written that list I probably should get started helping Hamish learn some of these!!! ETA - sleepy (which is lie on your side very still) Everything I teach my dogs I teach them to do with both paws, boths sides, whatever if it is only utilising one paw/side!

I was walking mine before they ate, but I have just recently thrown the routine on it's head to save my sanity pretty much. So now the moment I walk in the door we all eat dinner. Then probably about an hour later we go for a walk. Mine do get their food split over 2 meals so each meal isn't massive. I don't know if an hour-ish is long enough to wait but it seems to have been going ok so far. And it seems to be working better for me (they're ready to sleep when we get home, as am i!!!).

I'm going to guess at yes! I currently have my first male dog, he's nearly 10 months and we've had some of the hunping going on. He knows very clearly that humping is not allowed, I now only need to say "don't" and he will stop and walk away. Get on to training him not to hump as it is just really bad manners. And if he's cocking his leg to wee on the furniture you definitely need to get on to that, I know many many desexed dogs that still do that and I think it is likely because they weren't trained appropriately to not do it initially. Hamish has not dared do anything like that in the house, but even outdoors when I'm walking him I only allow him to cock his leg in places I choose mostly. He does get some freedom, but the freedom only extends to trees no man-made structures at all. I'd even contemplate taking a step back in your toilet training and escorting him outside on regular occasions. Does he wee on command, I don't know if that's helped with Hamish but I suspect it has contributed to life being a bit easier in this respect.

When my puppies come home they sleep in a crate in my room. Once they are toilet trained then they get a bed in my room. Mind you now that I have a dog door it's been less of an issue, I was lucky Hamish used the dog door from day 1 so he only had to sleep in the crate for the first few weeks until he could wake up and navigate himself. But my dogs now sleep almost wherever they choose. Kenzie always sleeps in her bed in room. Hamish sleeps either in the entrance hall, on the couch or in a bed in my room. I agree locking them out can lead to bad habits, but Kenz had to sleep outside (when I had old Emma) when I went away for 2 months and my housesitters didn't want the dogs sleeping in the house and they were fine over that time. If the puppy is going to sleep outside I think it depends on what the weather is like as to when you can expect them to sleep outside, my 2 will sometimes choose to sleep outside if it is warm. Something else that also enters my mind on this... even though you are sleeping for your dog it is still time spent with you. A lot of dogs spend a lot of time on their own because they end up being outdoor dogs. Just being near you is a good thing for some dogs. not saying every person must have their dog sleeping inside with them, but it's something I take in to consideration given how much time I spend away from home with work.

Can he not stay at home? I'm a big believer of dogs being taught that they are ok being on their own at times. Mine come to work with me 2 times a week each at the moment (I'm lucky, well maybe they're lucky compared to many other dogs!!), but they other 3 days they stay at home (1 day with other dog 2 days on their own). If he can come to work with you a couple of times a week he will be ok having alone time. If he's used to being entertained all the time either by people or other dogs he might develop a reliance on this. Which are of Melbourne would you be prepared to take him to? I actually don't know of any that I'd recommend as I haven't used any and the only ones I know of (through people who have worked there) I would only recommend to be shut down and no one leave their dog there. But other may know of some, but it might be helpful to know which regions.