whiskedaway

Our (fake) Christmas tree went up on Saturday and my worry was Akira breaking/stealing the decorations and presents. So far she's raced underneath it and made a heck of a racket, but she doesn't seem interested in it other than that. Cousins always have a real tree and they've never had a problem with their Cocker Spaniel and it.

Or you can get on eBay and get custom made clothes (haven't seen suits, but I'm sure they're there) made for you by Asian sellers. I had a dress made that way - absolutely gorgeous, and only cost me $50.

It's the first Sunday of the month. So unless there's any changes, next year the first two will be Sunday 2 January and Sunday 6 February.

Agreed with that. Our house was originally an investment property and OH had said no pets on advice from his agent. When we moved in and got our puppy, Akira totally DESTROYED the backyard with digging and pulling up pipes, and since we've renovated the backyard our house is completely bomb proof for dogs. One day when we get something bigger we'll be able to rent it out again as a dog-friendly rental. I think for us, having a young dog has really helped us to understand what people go through to have a dog and how hard it can be to find accomodation with them.

Agreed. My obedience club is fantastic for me because I want to trial one day, but I know of a few people who find it boring because they're not interested in that and just want a well behaved dog. We're lucky because in our area there are a few council run classes that do cater for that.

Also in SA, on the first and third Thursday of the month at 8:15pm (which therefore means this Thursday night), there's show handler training at the Rottweiler Club of SA in Adelaide. And it's cheap, only $3 a lesson. Make sure you bring your vacc certificate (I forgot mine and need to bring it the next time we go, doh!) http://www.rottweilerclubsa.com.au/index.php?id=60#details

Akira - Hopefully get Akira to walk on a loose leash 100% of the time, rather than 90% some days and 20% other days - Get to grade 4 in obedience (on days when Akira concentrates, this is entirely possible and hopefully now that she's starting to listen more might be doable) - Get Akira to concentrate in distracting environments (training in drive will hopefully help this) - Work towards trialling in agility - Hopefully start training in flyball Halo - Have fun with her being a puppy - Train an extremely solid stand before starting work on obedience Me - Have fun and hopefully become a better handler

I agree the law is a good one, however there are some instances where a dog could be declared "menacing" when it is not really. For example, my puppy gets extremely excited on a walk and we're currently working on getting her to walk calmly past other people and dogs. However, average Joe isn't going to realise that my Husky puppy that is jumping around, whining and pulling on her lead is excited rather than menacing, especially when she looks like a fully grown adult. The thing I'd be most worried about would be someone who hates dogs making a complaint and a perfectly fine, though possibly excitable dog getting labeled as "menacing".

If anyone's interested, I have a white skirt suit that would be suitable for showing that would fit a size 6-8. Info here

Lift off in 3.......2.............1..... Haha, I didn't even think of her looking like a rocket. I just saw the no ears and cracked up laughing.

Akira is almost nine months old and I've noticed her switching off at obedience too. Luckily next Sunday (the day she is actually nine months old) is our last day of training for the year until February next year, so hopefully we'll miss those two months you're talking about.

I have a couple that make me giggle.

I feel that street photography can still be something that can be candid, however I believe that photographers should take the photo and then ask permission. Most subjects will state it's fine to use the photo once they've seen it and found out what it's for, and it will only be the odd person that says no. Studying film at uni we had to get a release from all talent we used, so why shouldn't photographers be the same? After all, if the photograph was published and the subject saw the photographer making money from that photograph, I would not put it past some people to sue, or try to get some compensation.

Agreed. That was where I lost a lot of points - because we give heartworm as a tablet, not an injection. And there's a good reason for that - Akira doesn't LIKE injections, but she is very happy to take her tablet, so we give her that instead.

We have something similar, the Purina Total Care Treat Ball (http://www.purina.com.au/totalcare/productrange/toys/). We give Akira her breakfast in it and keeps her occupied throughout the day. I found it better than a kong because food doesn't fall out of it as fast.

Fantastic news, CWEW!

I agree any long coated dog would be the same, My girls today rolled in horse poo, home for a quick tub under the dryer for 5 mins good as new!! :D it just part of owning a long coated breed or cross breed as the case may be. Each to thier own I guess, I love the fact that I have no dog hair on my clothes or furntiure or carpet or anywhere really apart from a little in the hair brush from ears and face occasionally. eta: I was fully aware of the coat my guys would have when I got each one. Unless they're a long coated Spitz breed - Lappie/Husky/Mal/Jap Spitz/etc. Their coats are Teflon and I never have to bath Akira after she's been in the mud, unless she's rolled in something smelly because it dries and falls out.

That is so cute! I was reminded of something funny that Akira does with Dentasticks this afternoon. They're her FAVOURITE so she gets made to sit and do a trick for them and she's so excited she's wiggling all over the place normally. Once she's finally done what we've asked, we give her the stick and she races all over the backyard with it, drops it a few times, jumps over it, pounces on it, picks it up, etc and when she's done she finally settles down to eat it. I managed to catch the tail end of it tonight though unfortunately missed the start. Sorry it's bad quality, it's from my phone:

Wow, it's steadily going down, isn't it?

Her sitting up there is the reason why she ended up destroying the bonnet of OH's car, so it's something he regrets teaching her to do. :rolleyes: However, it's more like "Yep, this is MY truck!" because every time it's in the back yard, she's up there quicker than you can blink.

Agreed with TerraNik. While nowhere NEAR well-trained yet, Akira earned me a compliment on how well she behaved at obedience last week (until she decided to go hunting for food, anyway). She is the naughtiest dog in the world the rest of the time. :rolleyes:

Oh it would be sooooooooo nice to get a pic of Akira where her tongue ISN'T hanging out her mouth! :rolleyes: ETA: Yes, I see my sig, and see that it is a possibility, but it's DAMN HARD!

Lovely photo of Ella! I promised I'd have some more Esky and Akira

Akira is funniest when it's bedtime. She's normally outside where it's nice and cool and she rolls over onto her back for belly rubs. Then we tell her its bedtime and walk over to her kennel, and she follows us and heads to bed, giving us a kiss goodnight. It's very cute.

Same here! I've been asked when Akira is wearing her halti "she's wearing a muzzle, is she dangerous?" and my reply is always "if you don't like being licked to death, then yes she's dangerous".