Stressmagnet

Yup. Just watched a woman let her large Bull Arab crap and then she looked at me across the oval and moved on. when I saw it, it was HUGE. I get pissed off to red zone about this. Ernie has had days where's he crapped 4 times on our walk, and I've picked up every time, swinging the four laden bags gaily around the oval. Poo bags are cheap. Stick a roll in your pocket - not just a bag or two. If you're too cheap to buy purpose made? Then Coles will happily supply you with bags when you shop. Own a dog, take responsibility for it. I even cleared the 'poo pickup' issue with my Onc before I got a dog. There is NO reason but sheer laziness. (Oops, there is ONE. When the dog has ingested so much sea water while swimming that you get what I call the 'brown waterfall'' . Impossible to pick up but soaks into the ground like magic :D) ETA: autocorrected. I never EVER mean 'carped'.

Thanks folks. Makes a lot more sense now. If GAP are ok, it is because all greyhound rescues are tarred with the same brush?

Could one of you who are posting so knowledgably - please help this idiot out with an explanation? I'm not up on the history. Why is GAP and the other greyhound rescues so mistrusted and hated by trainers and greyhound breeders??

Sorry to hear the woes are still ongoing. DDD. I just wish someone could work the little fella out.

I'd love a mature Cavvie. Ernie has one for a mate and I'm besotted with it.

I'm just sickened by the posturing and obvious lying and arse covering done by officials and those in the regulatory bodies. Just make it an amateur sport and don't allow betting. Oh wait, all those government talking heads wringing their hands WONT do this because of the revenues generated by gambling. Honestly, people make me want to vomit.

Get a labrador, people.

Me too.

Good words. Thanks for sharing. Looks like I didn't miss much regarding the Labradors. Guy Spagnolo's dogs won all over the place.

Sorry to derail but PLEASE do not hand me such good material... As in: ''Not so rare in my lifetime' :D

That's what rings serious alarm bells to me. Smells like BYB or Puppy Mill to me. Didn't realise Soringer Spaniels had been elevated to 'designer dogs'. Must be because they are so pretty. How awful for them.

First place I ever looked to buy a dog was Gumtree. It ended up directing me to looking up breeders. But that's just me. I honestly think breeders should be able to advertise wherever they want - the profit margin on most breeds (unless they are the RARE! RARE!! SILVER LABRADORS or the BLUE Staffies) is pretty low. And a first time dog owner without a clue is likely to check Gumtree first.

Aw I'm already teary today and you give me bunnies grieving.

Crossing fingers.

Awesome! Thank you! last Sunday 29th March was their day. Bit earlier this year I think. They should be there Tues/Wed on the Breed Stalls. :)

When are the Labradors up? I skimmed your attachment but missed the page, I think.

Bottle of wine. Next day. Sit her down and let her have a couple of glasses and debrief her holiday. Then gently tell her what happened, stressing it got handled. Suggest a trainer or if she can't afford that, talk about NILF and how she herself, is stressing the dog by forcing it into a leadership role. Suggest training books as a way to deepen the bond between her and her dog. You MUST tell her, but I DO THINK in this partcular case, that a soft approach is warranted.

Yes, Ernie may add more as he bulks up but a couple of kilos over this magical 30 dhouldnt matter if it's the right temperament. Don't think females get that big. There is a breed standard. "Size does matter" to an extent, with breeding animals. Females can get in the low 30s (yes fit, not fat). Derailing further.... Breed standard is 29-36kg for males. I guess Ernie's got some bulking up ahead of him then!

Yes, Ernie may add more as he bulks up but a couple of kilos over this magical 30 dhoukdnt matter if it's the right temperament. Don't think females get that big.

Really hideous gumboots bought at Kmart. They are under 'ugly' in the dictionary but they are knee high and let me squelch along with Ernie who only really enjoys squelchy places.

OI! My Ernie is fully grown and weighs a slim and healthy 24kgs. I'm 5'10" and he's just past my knee.

If you want a real giggle, type in 'chocplate labrador'. I do believe they have statues of a choccie wearing a raincoat selling for 275 POUNDS - and it's incredibly vile looking.

Not entirely accurate. The breeder puts the dog on limited because they don't want the dog to be bred from or shown for many reasons. My breed is the most in demand for puppy farmers, asian market & BYB's so they go with limited papers & desexed. Couple have gone to a trusted, long time breeder friend but many of the limited / desexed ones were certainly nice enough for show & breed. Unfortunately some dogs are on main register that shouldn't be shown or bred from. .... Thank you. Clears up the confusion I had when the breeder phoned to ask if I'd had him desexed yet as she was thinking of asking if I wanted to stud him. I was scratching my head because he was sold on Limit. Seriously, apart from his slight slight SLIGHT hocks (and that's my opinion as to his 'defect'), Ernie is a traffic stopper. I've had loads of people ask me where I got him. Sorry to derail.

Labrador all the way. Ernie can happily stay outside on his own or shadow me round. Great bark when he senses something out of the ordinary. Lets kids and puppies abuse him without complaint. Adores people, happy all the flipping time and as long as you give him a decent walk where he can sniff and explore and trot around --- won't dig or chew. And affectionate as all get out. Shedding? Well he's brown so I think it's less noticeable than the lighter ones but honestly, I give him a going over with a Furminator once a fortnight, brush him daily when he's at my feet watching tv with a coat rake and a slicker - and it's not too bad. Oh but he does get stinky when he's wet -- he does smell like a dog. I'm using a all natural coat spray on him though and he's quite personable. My car on the other hand... Smells of wet labrador.

Yes to crate in bedroom. Makes waking up and taking them out in the cold in your jammies that much easier!