Pretty Miss Emma

Love the undercoat rake!!! I brushed Kenzie with that today and got another "puppy" out of her!! It seems if they are dropping any coat the undercoat rake will find it! I also have a $6 human hair brush from K-mart (pin style) and both my BC's love it - it is their favourite brush to be brushed with. The only use I now have for a furminator style brush is to get the dead hair fluff out from the ears (I'm not confident trimming it! And I can't bring myself to pluck it!!). I got a rotating tooth comb (have a collie comb but my 2 find it a bit harsh), and combing is now soooo easy. We also have a slicker and a bristle brush (they don't get as much of a work out as the others!!). Shampoos - I think you just need to figure out what works for your dogs coat. At the moment I'm using Ruddick's Soft n Silky, followed by Plush Puppy Whitening and Ruddicks Black shampoo (I have black and white BC's!). My 2 are looking spectacular with this combination!!! Every single person who meets Hamish comments on how great his coat is - I refer to him often as my "Wella Balsam commercial" he has that beautiful silky, fall in to place hair you see on shampoo commercials!!!

Thanks showdog! The last show I was at the steward said very little to me, thus I worked on assumptions!! She actually even forgot us for group, we were supposed to be there and she realised that when almost everyone was in (not that we really had a chance but it's my practice time and who knows one day maybe it will be us!!) so in we went!!! Other shows I've been to the the judge will say go to the first place post or the steward announces what we are. It's just been recently this hasn't happened and so becomes confusing for a newbie like me who is already stressed trying to remember what to do and make my dog look good in a really short period of time!!!

How do you teach a dog not to bark? I have one or two thoughts on it, but I'd like to know what others do (especially as trainers at my club have asked about this!! We want a bigger toolbox on this one!). My 2 bark less when we're away, I'm guessing it's an unfamiliar territory thing with them. Plus Kenz usually only barks if there is something to bark at (which for her is helicopters or light aircraft over the backyard and people walking dogs past the house, or on scooters going past the house).

I'd just like to be able to access a handlers course!!! Everything listed in the above posts says what I need!! The only thing I would add on is information for new people just about how the whole system works. What is a challenge line-up, how are points calculated, how do you know if the judge has "passed" (don't know the correct terminology!) your dog if you are the only one in your class, etc. That last bit I'm finding confusing as we are the only one in our class at the moment frequently and the judges often just look at my dog and say "ok, thanks". So I'm assuming that means we have won first in the class and go to challenge line-up and usually then to group line-up (as we literally are usually the only one in the class!!). But it would be nice for judges to actually tell us that we are moving up. What do they say if they don't award you the place? I think it would be nice if there were some sort of class, information, whatever that just helps new people who have had no exposure at all to dog showing what all these things are about!!

If you are having any doubts then you shouldn't get the dog. After my Emma died I worried about getting another dog because Kenzie had always lived with another dog and I didn't want her being lonely. But the couple of litters I heard of that were remotely of interest I kept going away thinking "hmm, I don't know". Also met some lovely rescue dogs that would have been great for some of the activities I want to dop, but still wasn't sure. So I went with my gut and didn't get a puppy just because I was worried about Kenz. When Hamish's litter came along I knew immediately that I wanted and was ready for a pup, there was no doubt or question. And so obviously, he came home!!! If it's the right pup and the right time you will know!

Having had a dog go through double cataract surgery and every complication under the sun I would now say very strongly consider having the eye out. I don't know if I would do things differently if I had my time over. But it sounds like it is a low chance of having vision. I know a dog that had his eye removed quite young and he does really well (he chased a motorbike and came off second best). In your situation if it were my dog I think I probably would go for removal of the eye.

The thing I'm realising more and more at the moment is you need a really good connection and focus. Kenz and I have a good connection but not the focus, so until I have that I'm going to work on other things (that will help build the focus!). I have found RallyO to be a great way to ease in to trialling and obedience as well.

This is pretty much exactly what I'm dealing with on every walk at the moment!!

My old Emma had diabetes. But she had mellitus. From all my research and what I discussed with my vet insipidus is a bit more difficult to manage. If you want to know anything about the management of my old girls diabetes PM me because I can talk about it for hours!!!! The most important thing was your life is no longer your own, you are ruled by the clock in terms of feeding and medication schedules, that was a bit hard to adjus to but I found it managable until she died. She lived for 18 months after diagnosis, and it was kidney faliure that got her in the end.

My Kenz doesn't generally like brachy breeds. She has issues with the squashy face and the noise. And then she also can't stand dogs that are over excited and will tell them exactly where they can go. I should mention she can't bear any dog that is excessively noisy with their breathing (often it is dogs that are pulling on their lead and choking themselves that set her off the most). So I think maybe poor Roxy is just sending out signals that other dogs find rude or annoying. She will find someone to play with one day I'm sure!

I don't know if it's a question of fair, it probably just is what it is! I think for yours and your dogs safety it sounds like it might be a good idea. If you train him to wear a muzzle then it shouldn't be a big issue. Someone else who has done that can probably give you advice on the best way to go about it. Are you reporting to the council each time you are being rused by off leash dogs (assuming they are in on leash areas and well from the sounds of it theya ren't under control). If it is happening that often and it is on regular walking routs I would be reporting it.

May I ask who you are insured with now & why? The whole insurance thing & which one to choose is very confusing atm as I would like, what most want, value for money. Feel free to PM me if that suits you, thanks :) I changed to Petplan. Just before Hamish came home I did a bundle of research (as between signing Kenz up and getting Hamish was when they did the policy change). As you'd know with old Emma's medical history I'm a bit scared of not having insurance, and for those who don't know - in her last 6 months of life I spent about $10,000 all of which would have been covered by insurance if she had been insured (too old when I got her)!!! So Kenzie was with 1300Insurance, but they did the swap from 100% cover to 75% cover, premium went up, more research made me realise that they only cover things for the first 12 months they have the problem then it counts as a chronic condition which is pre-existing and they won't cover it any more. Changed to Petplan because the premium was the same as what I was paying, the payouts would be similar to what I would have gotten with 1300 or better, excess was less, and they cover conditions for life. After having a diabetic dog that's really important to me!

Can't shed light on medibank, but I just left my old insurer for a new one as they did the same thing (and the line was it was in keeping with the rest of the industry). Glad I did change as I'm on an overall better deal now, but I think it's sneaky and sly to change the policy like this as it isn't what was signed up to.

I don't know what state you're in (I'm on my phone!)... But, buy my place!!! It's about to go on the market soon! Really though, I specifically bought this place because I would be able to have the animals. I'm one of 6 units, but we have no common land, all have street frontage, no strata at all! It's great! So I have the size/maintenance of a townhouse/unit but it's treated like an independent house.

So, I bought a fit ball & the dogs love it! I still need to fins out more about how to use it, but we're doing basic stuff! I've also been trying to teach Hamish to walk backwards, mixed success! And I found a plank to try and get him walking on that, and then I slightly unbalanced it with little phone books. Oh and still working with the "box" (ie phone books!). Thanks for suggestions, will keep working my way through them. And any handy tips always welcome!

Most people have said it all. But the one thing I really want to see (that I have found missing from many breeders websites) are the registered names and pedigrees of dogs. If I'm researching for a puppy and I have particular lines I'm interested in I want to be able to find that information. To be honest when I started thinking about getting a new pup before Hamish came along, I completely disregarded any breeder that didn't include registered names and pedigrees. it felt like "what are they trying to hide" by not including that information. Plus I don't really want to waste my time or that of others if the lineage of the dogs is not of interest to me.

I thought I'd stick this topic in here for now seeing as though I'm asking the question in terms of follow up exercises after visiting the chiro yesterday. What rear end awareness exercises have you done with your dog and what equipment have you used to do them? I need to spend the least amount of money possible on equipment at the moment so am looking for the options that don't cost a fortune. I know that you can do work with fit balls. Can anyone please explain a couple of exercises for me???? I know ladder work will be good. I'm going to see if I can get my hands on a wobble board (I was also told using a mini-tramp can be an ok substitute too!). And I'm going to try to do some work with a box and getting the rear feet moving around that. What else is there? what other things can I be doing? Any advice welcomed!! We're going back to the chiro in a few weeks, so I will chat to her more about this then but just want a few things to get the ball rolling!!

We went and saw Kim Lim in Geelong today. She was lovely! Obviously can't tell immediately what the improvements are in the dogs (nature of small tweaky problems!). But the dogs really liked her and were very much at ease with their chiro & acupuncture treatment! I think if you Google "creature comforts" in Geelong you'll find her if interested. Now I wish she'd done my neck also, I think I have a pinched nerve!!

I saved the bonus money we got to get my first puppy in 2009! Although I don't know that I single-handedly changed the "business" of dogs!!

I took my 2 out pretty early (as in I got them at 8 weeks old and by the age of 9 weeks they were out and about wherever I could take them), there would be some people who wouldn't but I was concerned about making sure they had enough appropriate socialisation. That being said, I was careful about where I took them. I tried to avoid doggy areas when I could. And I carried them some places (and my 2 were probably bigger at that age than yours will be when fully grown!). If you're worried then carry him, I'm assuming he's pretty small. The beach is a place I tended to stay away from until well after they'd had their last vacc (Hamish hasn't actually been at all yet, but that's because of distance and time unfortnately!). But Hamish was way too big to be carried for too long!!

Another for "hotel for dogs". I haven't seen the while thing, but what I have was good. And being me, I love looking at the training that was obviously involved!

Well I had good intents for 2012 and they never eventuated! We got our RN though! So I'm going to resume and see if I can get Kenz organised for ET in 2013!

Agree with what Tassie said. I walk my 2 on easywalk harnesses, they walk nicely on their own but together I need the harnesses for them to not pull. I do the stop and wait with them, but I think I'm going to do some more of the directional changing. Shyness, I'd start doing a bit of LAT so she gets more confident and calm just being in the environment. The other thing I did with Kenz (who used to be quite shy) was used "touch" to my advantage. I taught her touch, and it became one of her favourite things. Then if we were out and about and came across something she was worried about first we would look at it, then get closer and then eventually I'd ask her to touch it. This increased her confidence drastically. With people and dogs I turned "touch" in to "say hello", just sounds nicer!! So when we meet someone if she is being shy I ask her to "go and say hello" (if I can see she will cope with it) and she goes up to the person and will target their knee and touch it! People think it's cute, but for us it's a great confidence and reassurance technique!!

Petplan, for the lifetime cover.

I work full time and currently have a nearly 9 month old Border Collie who I got at 8 weeks old, and I was at work doing full days when he'd been home about 5 days (and there were 3 half days there at the start). It is definitely possible to raise a pup when you work full time. BUT you need to think about it and plan it and be prepared that when you are home you need to prioritise the pup. In all honesty they do a lot of sleeping, but when they are awake they do need something to keep them entertained. I made sure that I had plenty of different ways of dispensing food and that seemed to keep Hamish entertained enough. But I did make a very big effort with his training and socialisation when I got home from work. Also weekends were taken up with puppy pre-school, social visits to many places, and socialisation with the "real world" that I wasn't able to give him after work. In saying all this, I did get an exceptionally easy going pup. He has been a delight to live with since day 1! The exact opposite of my older girl, I think she would have been a lot more trouble if I'd been working full days from the moment I got her (I was lucky I was on holidays when she came home). So if you were going to get a pup from a registered breeder I'd certainly be having a conversation with them about getting them to choose the right pup for you that would cope best coming in to a home where it will have significant time on it's own. And be prepared that there will be some breeders that will automatically say they won't sell you a pup because you won't be home with it, but there are also those out there that are willing to talk to you and help you through ways to manage your situation. I think getting a rescue you may also encounter some of the "leaving alone" problems initially. If you don't know the background of the dog you may end up with a dog that has never spent significant time alone and therefore there is a possibility of requiring a great deal of training to get it used to time alone. So it would depend on how you go about getting a rescue dog as to whether or not that would actually work out. Good luck whichever way you choose to go!