betsy

Wuffles you must of had some indication from that photo what mischief you were in for with gorgeous Ava!

KTB - what a great read. Especially about dogs being teachers... Niques - James is sooooooo cute. Good work with the new camera (which one did you get again? Think I may look around for a Canon DSLR after Xmas in sales). And glad to see TV stardom has not stopped you visiting the forums

Wuffles, glad to hear Ava is getting better. Must have been pretty scary. Hope Satch doesn't get sick.

Hi All. Loving the photos. Thought I would add one of my very deprived dog sleeping..... KTB and Wuffles - good luck with the obedience. I was reading in another thread about the 9months, no brain thing, and think Ziggy is still at that stage. It will be nice when he finally gets some focus. Love Hoover's ears. KA travel sounds horrendous. I am in Sydney for 2 days, left on the red eye this morning so a bit tired. I have imported my mum to housesit/dogsit/catsit for a few days. Apparently my little doggy cried for 30minutes when I left this morning (and my cat went "oh good, the bedroom door is open and that bed recently vacated is warm so i'll pop in there). Clastic, hope that paint comes out. Have you had any comments out in public?? lilli_star that is seriously impressive work. Reminds me of the weekend I had to work, Ziggy had destroyed his outside bed (millions of pieces of foam in the backyard, some of which I am still cleaning up this day) and one of the neighbours was concerned that something terrible had happened because of the mess in the backyard and the dog was barking a bit! Obviously not a dog owner!

Wuffles - glad to hear its not just my aussie that hasn't read that bit of the standard! I too make sure we steer clear of any kids in the multi use areas, and generally don't have him off lead there. Unfortunately these people were ages past us (all the while I had him on lead) and then obviously they caught his eye whilst I was picking up poop and he was off. Quite unexpectedly. His nature is very friendly, he is not DA or HA as far as I can tell. However, he is a working breed and this is the only true off lead at all times/parts area and really the best place to get great exercise. The lament of the dog owner!

After another child incident at the only dog off lead park in town (nothing serious, be assured, just a child scared of a dog), I was feeling a little jaded. However I then met a couple of lovely dogs and their owners. Our dogs had a great time chasing each other around, and we had some wonderful general dog chatter. I was telling them what happened and they were of the same opinion - why do these people come to the off lead dog park????? Anyone, one of the dogs was a lovely kelpie border collie cross. Not as handsome as Elbie but looked very much like him. They had great fun herding each other at top speed then jumping in the river. A good ending at least. Now the boy has been washed and brushed and smells much better!

Minxy your sig looks great - did you do it yourself? Just wondering what type of cameras everyone is using for their photos? I have a point and shoot but considering buying a DSLR.. Horrible and rainy here today. I'm happy to report Ziggy seems to be coping with being inside. Currently munching his antler in the crate (thanks DOL!)

Go with the breeder's pick but be very honest and open with exactly your circumstances/lifestyle and expectations for the puppy. I remember feeling bad many years ago picking up our pup because it was the breeder's youngest daughters favourite! She was a great dog for our family for many years.

Such an obliging model - he looks like he's been before a camera all his life!

I think Hoover's eyes are quite adorable KA I feel your pain regarding lost objects. This year I have lost my wallet (walking dog on beach) and last night my mobile phone (at dog training/dog park). Thankfully my wonderful secretary secured me a new phone I was at work today and had a lovely patient with a guide dog. The doggy (10yo) had to stay out during a procedure. So the lovely nurses took the doggy out to toilet, made sure she had a drink of water, and fed her 2 sweet biscuits Her owner thought she was being spoilt! No photos at the mo (although I did have some on the phone I lost last night ) How long is everyone taking of for the big de-sexing? I will definitely have to organise early in the new year. Completely think Elbie and Hoover are the perfect match

Well the vets are doing well out of you lot lately..... Hope all the patients are recovering and back to their 'normal' selves KA - looks like Kuma had a lovely birthday. I've always wondered about the birthday hat thing on dogs. Pretty sure my boy wouldn't let me do that to him. Re the 'cocking of leg'. Ziggy has done a sort of squat with one leg off ground since he was about 5 months. He now mostly does this, but I think the direction of the stream is still downward. On the beach he likes to squat over piles of seaweed, in preference to squatting directly on sand. :D I have also seen him sequentially raise one back leg then the other We had training tonight. The usual short attention span and easily distracted by other dogs . One week we will get there. At this point I don't think there has been much progress at all. He is now in his usual state of post training exhaustion (some peace and quiet for me). Unfortunately I think I lost my phone at training :p Will have to have a good look in the car tomorrow but maybe in for a replacement.

Happy Birthday Kuma! Good to see this is *ahem* a more appropriate photo without the lipstick!

Just ducking in quickly to post this link Apologies if you've already seen it Now going out to play some soccer with the doggy.

Some really interesting comments here, obviously lots of people thinking and contributing. Thinking about this recently, I do think that education and marketing are what needs to happen. It however does take time for a cultural/societal change! There is certainly a demand from the public for pets, be it dog, cat, whatever. The general public needs to be re-informed/informed of the ethical way of choosing such a pet - ie from an ethical breeder or rescue organisation. It needs to be made very socially unacceptable to source a puppy from a pet-shop or puppy farm. How exactly to achieve this I'm not sure, but doesn't necessarily involve legal aspects. Some of the suggestions of documentaries, school education, media campaigns are great. Great brainstorming!

Awwww Hoover is the perfect little brother for Elbie

Max - I think we could have a poo-off here. Ziggy is a bit of a machine..... KTB - Hoover just looks like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth! Lilli_star and Niques I think you have the most gorgeous black labs. We often going walking with a lovely black lab named Lilly who is a few months older than my boy. Just read lilli_star's post. Goodness - sounds busy there! Hope little Roo is ok. I'm sure she's missing you! Raven - that door opening cat sounds like hard work. Lucky mine has never figured that out, although she does have a knack of running into a newly opened cupboard then getting trapped there because she was so quick no-one saw the little brown flash! Well, here is the end result of the treasure hunt! And a few from the beach escapade (escape) last week Treasure hunt was quite good. Met some other lovely people from dog club. Walked about 2 k on the lead around the big garden (with a lot of lunging!) At the end we thought we might let off our 3 puppies together. Ziggy immediately went to hump Ollie Lucky his owner wasn't freaked out and I just stopped him. So Ziggy got to have a mad run with a springer spaniel and lagotto and loved it. Recall was so-so but I was able to get him back. And at the end we exchanged numbers so we can try and meet up at the off lead park some time. So lovely seeing the doggies have a play and run.

Niques - how funny is your wet doggie. Mine doesn't mind a towel down when wet. But what he really loves is wiping his face all over my pants/the good couch/ the not so good couch/his bed (in that order!) He goes Crazy. Wuffles - Good luck with keeping Miss Ava quiet post-op! I am thinking of desexing around the 12 month mark - will try to time with being home! Instead of traditional training tonight our club is having a walk and treasure hunt. Hope it is fun and Ziggy does not disgrace himself. He is currently looking at me with a very dirty nose. I think there has been some strategic digging up and re-burying of bones. For what purpose only a dog could know

he he he. I have a bit of a lover here too. Must be always on guard or he'll vertical jump up for a kiss! KTB - you do such a great job with the rescue vids. I find that I can only look at the rescue threads every now and then as it makes me too sad Max1 - I too dream of a 2 furkid family and love seeing pics of those with their two doggies. I guess the only concern would be the circumstance where the two dogs really don't get along. And thanks to all for the kind words regarding my parents BC. I have spoken to my mum a couple of times. She is heartbroken but grateful to the very kind vets who made the whole thing very easy - gave her a sedative tablet to give beforehand etc. I really hope that they decide to get another dog in the not too distant future. Big hugs to everyones doggies Does anyone have a dog who can catch a frisbee? We are still at the stage of it hitting the ground before Ziggy will collect it. Although he looks like he's trying to catch it in the air.

Max we also have a huge problem with bench surfing. Lucky my kitchen benches are a little bit higher than the norm, but boy his tongue is long and its amazing the reach he has! KTB I had to laugh that Elbie was banished from the nice manners class! On some sadder news, my parents are going to be taking their BC to the vet tmo for 'the big sleep'. She has cancer and has been declining at home quite quickly. I know it will be a sad day for them (and me ). I actually bought her for them as they were grieving over the last doggie loss. My mum is coming to visit soon and I expect she will get a lot of love from my furkids here.

anyone know a good dog-proof kitchen bin

Hi All KTB I have baby gates aswell. I'm sure that Ziggy could possibly jump over them but as yet has not. I will not be encouraging it (for the cat's sanity). Hope Hoover's hair grows back quickly. I'd also second wuffles recommendation of giving up the early am pitstop. My dog has better bladder control than me! KA It must have been interesting having the visit with Steve. I'm sure that if I could learn to train in drive Ziggy would be happier. He hates the repetitive stuff at training and I can see his interest waning quickly. I always find that the opinions Steve expresses on DOL are so rationale. lilli_star Good luck with confining your puppy. Ziggy is yet to have the snip. But he's a boy so in some ways not as messy. I am thinking I will wait til 12 months. I have this irrational thought that I would like to show him, just once (he has main papers), but not sure if I could actually groom and train him to that level, and most of the shows are >2hr away so really, methinks it won't happen. wuffles that fur. We have a bit of a battle on grooming here. Although he likes being on the 'grooming bench' getting treats, he's not soon keen on the actual grooming part and is a PITA to bath. No chance of blowdrying : Clastic Sounds like your dogs get heaps of yummy bones. I also give marrow bones every now and then but not sure if they are any better for back teeth. However I usually get my bones from supermarket and have been a bit of a stalker for the past week as they seem to have run out! ravenau Must be counting down the days. Although I do remember being a bit shellshocked on the first day as the reality hit! Good to see that you get lots of piccies to tide you over. We've had another sort of lazy day here. Sooo much rain lately makes it hard to get out. But there was a break in the weather and we braved the beach. Met a lovely Goldie there who was happy to have a bit of a romp with my boy so he was happy. On the way back I leashed him as we were going past the beach fisherman. I then let him off, thinking we were far enough away. But then he made a massive bolt back to the BAIT ESKY With Lid Off that he had pretended not to see (or smell) the first time. Thankfully I saved him from eating any bait. He is such a cheeky bugger at times. (he also managed 2 cuddles with strange men. Not shy my boy ) I've also recently bought a hula-hoop from Kmart so I'm trying to teach him to jump through that.

Dyson - not sure which model but has the pet filter I had my carpets cleaned at the rental I was leaving. They guy cleaning said I must of had a good vacuum - it wasn't dirty at all (he even showed me the 'dirty' water ) Didn't have my dog at the time but did have my inside Burmese cat. I love my Dyson

double post gremlins

Hi All - thought I would try and keep the thread moving as KA has pointed out that without KTB it has slowed..... Back from training, and after having 4 weeks off, it really shows! I had my usual hyperactive lungeing puppy. Lucky he is food driven otherwise I don;t think I'd get in the door. Soooo many other doggies to meet! A few new faces in the class - dalmation, lagotto ( ), big boofer (not sure what breed, but I picked the Lagotto!), and a English Springer Spaniel from our last class joining us. We at least seem to be doing some more stuff (heel and sit, heel and drop, loose lead) although my dog hates repetition, so I have to work out how to get through those parts of class. And he was pretty sloppy with a lot of his stuff. He is a teenage boy after all We are both a bit tired, as have been to the beach, had coffee, bathed the dog, bit of grooming and then some gardening before training. I was sort of on a work from home day and had the builders here this am so had to get out of the house.

But what do the humans use????