Leelaa17

Thanks so much for your opinions guys! I am thinking they will be fine without a coat!

I should also note - in you saying all of that... a maltese went for my nephews face because he clapped. I was in the same room, my nephew was not near the dog and Mia (the dog) went straight for him. She pulled back at the very last minute when I went crazy. I have never seen Max or Jenna react that way to anything or anyone. I would never trust Mia around kids...

I felt that as well. And I always remind my nephews to not run too quickly around Max because he thinks they are playing and will try and grab their shirts to pull them back (it's not an aggressive thing, that's just how he plays - he's gotten out of it now though thank God... he learnt that tugging on people's pants means a not-happy mummy!!) But he LOVES licking them. He just goes up and plants a big kiss up their entire face and then wanders off... I know - all the labs I've met are full of beans!! very funny to watch!! I completely agree. unfortunately it would only be a nightmare for the dogs shes not much of a dog person - more a reptile person... and she wont be getting a dog anytime soon. I think that is so important that kids and dogs learn to be around it each... for unseen circumstances, the more they know, the better they may handle the situation

My friend and I have been debating about dogs and doggie things. One thing she was saying to me is that she would NEVER have dogs around kids - no kind of dog at all... Now with Max and Jenna, I wouldn't even hesitate, I know what they're like around kids. Of course I would NEVER leave them unattended... but I wouldn't have a problem with my kids being around dogs... I would actually WANT my kids to be around dogs so they can learn how to treat them and behave around them... Also, she was saying that she would want a labrador because they have a much gentler and calmer temperament than other breeds... this got us into a debate with deed not breed stuff... She didn't actually say it but I felt like she was saying that other types of breeds (such a GSDs) would be more likely to turn... I don't know how to feel about this... what do you guys think about what she was saying?

I havent read the rest of this post but I am going to reply to this post. First of all, I am so so sorry to hear that this has happened. What a horrible and very hard time for you. Please try not to overwhelm yourself. A similar situation has happened to me and I got so overwhelmed with everything and I got extremely stressed and my health went downhill. What you need to do is you need to remember that you need to put all of this stuff in perspective. First of al - a lot of us work long hours like this, your two babies will entertain themselves until you get home. And it sucks to hear that you have to cook everything from scratch, but what you can consider doing is maybe doing the washing while you are cooking, and when you are waiting for something maybe do some cleaning while waiting. MAYBE (I don't know you're situation) but maybe instead of going to the gym you could walk your younger dog around the block a few times and then come home and paysome attention to your older one while waiting for things to cook... There are a lot of ways you can get around your situation... it really isn't as bad as you think. You are just overwhelmed with everything and all of these things that you want to do and they are all coming into your head as different things, but there are ways you can give yourself more free time. And as for family friends, maybe when you go see family or something you could take the dogs (if the family doesnt mind)... and if you go to see friends then maybe you could go somewhere that is dog friendly or go to a park and have a picnic (you obviously don't need to do this all the time but every now and again if you feel you haven't spent enough time with them)... There are always ways around these things. You can make it work, you just need to do a little bit of planning. This is just my opinion - these are things that I try and do to spend as much time with my babies as I can. Hope it all works out for the best.

record it! I love hearing funny dog noises!! At my boyfriends house they have a maltese and she absolutely HATES cats... she sits on the window sill and makes this really gutteral but quiet growl and she goes on for about half an hour... the entire time just growling really quietly. its so funny!! I'll have to record max and jenna tonight - jenna makes noises all the time. She is the most vocal dog I have ever come into contact with - yet she's not much of a barker!! When she gets kisses from me, she moans... when she gets pats from me, she moans... when max comes near me, she whines (then gently bites Max's face in a way to say 'no play with ME' and then they go off and play)... when she lies down, she sighs and moans, when she stretches, she moans, when she's playing, she moans, whines and growls... I really don't think there is a time when she DOESN'T make a noise! lol I will simply walk past her and she moans! hahahahaha Haha @ Jenna what a crack up. You will definitely have to catch that! Yeah Keira's play noises are actually scary if you don't know her haha. Phi sometimes will "talk" she is a big sooka though. I'll try and record her tonight to show you guys. There might be a few recordings though because I don't have editing software and she starts and stops all the time! lol haha it happens that way though doesnt it? Max always barks when he wants to play... but I know it as his 'play bark' but people get intimidated cause he stands there, staring at a dog, and just barks at them lol... but he's wagging his tail and (to me) looks very happy... but I always have to pull him away whilst explaining that's his 'play bark' lol And phi is beeeeautiful! Do you mind if I ask (and please, please don't be offended) but how long have you had Phoenix? She is absolutely gorgeous. Do you live in a part of Aus that allows PB? or is she a cross? Haha not offended I have had her almost 7 months now. She is 9 months old in a week. No I don't and she is an Amstaff x - IYKWIM ;) She is gorgeous (even if I do say so myself haha) inside and out she is just sweet, goofy and kooky. Love her to bits. Must say I wuv German Shepherds we have a few that go to our play group and I just love them, gorgeous doggies! Your two are beautiful. Oh good! hahaha I didn't want to offend! TBH she looks full IYKWIM... LOL but it's good that she is crossed! GSD are incredible dogs. I never considered having them until I met my boyfriend. And thank you. They are beautiful dogs. And they absolutely ADORE me. and I adore them!! I am getting a tattoo for them within the next couple of weeks so they will always be a part of me :D

record it! I love hearing funny dog noises!! At my boyfriends house they have a maltese and she absolutely HATES cats... she sits on the window sill and makes this really gutteral but quiet growl and she goes on for about half an hour... the entire time just growling really quietly. its so funny!! I'll have to record max and jenna tonight - jenna makes noises all the time. She is the most vocal dog I have ever come into contact with - yet she's not much of a barker!! When she gets kisses from me, she moans... when she gets pats from me, she moans... when max comes near me, she whines (then gently bites Max's face in a way to say 'no play with ME' and then they go off and play)... when she lies down, she sighs and moans, when she stretches, she moans, when she's playing, she moans, whines and growls... I really don't think there is a time when she DOESN'T make a noise! lol I will simply walk past her and she moans! hahahahaha Haha @ Jenna what a crack up. You will definitely have to catch that! Yeah Keira's play noises are actually scary if you don't know her haha. Phi sometimes will "talk" she is a big sooka though. I'll try and record her tonight to show you guys. There might be a few recordings though because I don't have editing software and she starts and stops all the time! lol haha it happens that way though doesnt it? Max always barks when he wants to play... but I know it as his 'play bark' but people get intimidated cause he stands there, staring at a dog, and just barks at them lol... but he's wagging his tail and (to me) looks very happy... but I always have to pull him away whilst explaining that's his 'play bark' lol And phi is beeeeautiful! Do you mind if I ask (and please, please don't be offended) but how long have you had Phoenix? She is absolutely gorgeous. Do you live in a part of Aus that allows PB? or is she a cross?

HAHAHAHAHAHA

record it! I love hearing funny dog noises!! At my boyfriends house they have a maltese and she absolutely HATES cats... she sits on the window sill and makes this really gutteral but quiet growl and she goes on for about half an hour... the entire time just growling really quietly. its so funny!! I'll have to record max and jenna tonight - jenna makes noises all the time. She is the most vocal dog I have ever come into contact with - yet she's not much of a barker!! When she gets kisses from me, she moans... when she gets pats from me, she moans... when max comes near me, she whines (then gently bites Max's face in a way to say 'no play with ME' and then they go off and play)... when she lies down, she sighs and moans, when she stretches, she moans, when she's playing, she moans, whines and growls... I really don't think there is a time when she DOESN'T make a noise! lol I will simply walk past her and she moans! hahahahaha

do they make noises as well? Max and Jenna grunt, growl, whine and all other noises you can think of, while they are playing!

love it! this is EXACTLY what max and jenna do!!!

lol Fair enough. They seem to be fine. Nothing out of the ordinary. I just want to make sure they are comfy that's all. Plus,l they sleep inside, in a very warm air con'ed house... lol so they've got it pretty good!

I've never been much of a dog coat person but in Sydney it is starting to get really blood cold. It's apparently recording breaking temperatures... I was sitting outside this morning and I was snug as a bug in a rug and I was STILL freezing.. and I was watching Max and Jenna and they were just wandering around in the wind on the cold grass seeming just fine. But I think if I have a million layers on and I am STILL cold then how can they be warm? I am not sure whether I should invest in some good quality water proof coats or whether they will be fine in this weather... what do you guys think??

That's really cool! How did you win that??

I'm so sorry to hear that! keep going the way you are goin though. Let us know how the vet trip goes todday.

Henrietta, I literally laughed out loud at that comment. Thank-you :D HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! You know what I think of your drawings dogsrawesome. Beautiful - again, I love how much emotion is in Max and Jenna's eyes. love them!@ The shar-pei is fantastic as well!!!

I think you would be unpleasantly surprised Skruffy!!! lol

I hope you have been to a doctor!! That hand wound will probably need some treatment .... tetanus jab and antibiotics spring to mind. Also - by going to a doctor ASAP and giving info- the bite is recorded should legal action be needed /taken at some stage .... This is completely OT, but if you get bitten by a dog and have had your regular 10-yearly tetnus shot, do you still need to go to the doctor and get anothet tetnus shot?

Glad that your doggie seems ok! One of my childhood dogs (passed away last yr at age 15) ate chocolate all throughout his life - NOT because we gave it to him. He just seemed to find it. He once ate an ENTIRE box of favourites... and then pooed out the wrappers!!!!!! He never got sick from eating chocolate. Doesn't mean that I leave chocolate lying around though - scares the crap out of me that my dogs will eat some and get sick!

I agree. Someone needs to be blamed but apparently blaming themselves is not an option.

I currently have an Irish Terrier and several Aussies (as well as a Border Terrier and a muttly). The Irish and Aussies are incredibly different to live with, different temperament, trainability and looks. But I love both breeds and certainly will have more of both in the future - they are my two 'main' breeds and my real loves in the dog world, and while there's a few other breeds I would like to own one day I can't see anything replacing the Irish or the Aussies. If I could only pick one breed it would be the Aussies because they are easier to live with/own/do things with, but I hopefully won't ever have to be in that situation and will have Irish to keep things lively and 'interesting' and to keep me laughing! They certainly not a breed that many people want or would enjoy living with but I just adore them. As long as they aren't picking based on looks alone and have done their research, I think people can love and want very different breeds quite easily. Agreed 100%

I disagree. I got my GSD's not knowing anything about them, my OH loved the breed. I have now changed my lifestyle to suit their needs. I think people on here are talking about breeds they WANT, not breeds they would ever get. I doubt I will have anything other than GSD's for the rest of my life. Doesn't mean I can't imagine what it would be like to have a dobe. And I know you said you can't fathom why people would WANT breeds with different temperement, trainability and looks, but I think that's what this topic is all about. There are so many different breeds and I think if we could all have a different breed for a day just to see what it was like it would be good. I don't think there is anything wrong with wanting all different kinds of breeds. There are any other breeds that I love to admire but have absolutely no desire to own one. - you said this... this is what we are all saying, I think.

I know you responded on this comment to someone else and straight away acquiesced and said you might have been wrong then - so how the heck can you come out and state with authority that the lady is 100% correct? One minute you're stating you're inexperienced and then you're giving expert unsubstantiated advice? Crikey lady....if you are indeed on DOL to learn, then don't try and give expert advice if you're not experienced. Google 'breaking stick' - thats going to be something you can read up on for starters. ETA - that a breaking stick is just ONE technique that can be effective. Theres been a number of threads here on DOL over the years on that one subject along with seperating fighting dogs. That wouldn't worry some dogs at all. Not the ones I've had experience with. Definitely don't know a lot about Greyhounds though. I would like to get a Rescue 'grey' one day when we get a bit more room and I've had done a bit more reading on them. I reckon they're terrific dogs. LOL! Calm down. S**t a brick! I THOUGHT at the time it was 100% correct. I have been told on many occassion that the best way is to grab the dog by the back legs and try to separate them - me saying pull probably wasn't the best word. And then when I realised I wasn't right I completely took the statement back didn't I? I would be worried if I DIDN'T amend my statement and just left it like that. And I NEVER said I was an expert - people who have read my posts clearly KNOW I am not an expert and am just a dog owner. I thought I was 100% right and then corrected myself. It's not like the minute I said that someone was going to go out, see a dog fight, and try the technique I offered, were they? No. So everyone who has read this thread have seen that they SHOULDN'T go and pull on a dogs back legs. Gosh.

I'd effing disown him!!! lol. And i'm probably not joking either. I'd be the first person to ask the judge to put him in jail.

I never said you called all big dog owners idiots, just that all sizes and breeds of dogs can have idiot owners. We need to concentrate on the problem and instead of banning breeds which just makes them more attractive to the people who want tough, illegal dogs deal with the owners. Make it compulsory to do obedience courses, make it so instead of registration, dog owners have to go through a course and get a license. Regulate owners not dogs. And then if your dog attacks a human or another animal unprovoked you get charged and your license suspended until further notice. We need to be hard with the people who allow their dogs to do these things. Sorry,but I disagree. You are asking ALL dog owners to pay the price for those who are irresponsible and instead of BSL,we end up with all dogs ownership being restricted. and the "black market" extending to all dogs. Education in dog ownership and responsibilities is badly needed now.This is partly because dog and their care are already marginalised here in Aus. Peoples experiences with dogs is limited.Further restrictions on ownership would only be a self perpetuating cycle. The current laws should be enough if they were enforced properly.If thats not working,why would more legislation work. So can you tell me why RB owners are the only ones who have to pay the price for Irresponsible owners? bare In mind Irresponsible owners come attached with many 'other' dog breeds not affected by BSL Another case of I really don't care about RB owners as I don't own one and It doesn't concern me! Exactly. I am sick and tired of owners of other breeds brushing the issue off or coming up with answers like "why should I have to....." (mind you I know there are many people here who have nothing to do with RB breeds who are very against BSL, so please don't take offence if you are one of them ) It is all well and dandy when it isn't affecting you or your dogs right. Some body telling me the Pitbull has been banned from 1992 on the import with issue on is future, so if this true is 19 year ago, so why is people still dealing with this breed?. People keep buying the Pitbull or dogs looking like the Pit in cross genes and complain? Is common knowledge this type of dog is target so my thinking is to avoiding the knock to the door to put innocent dog at risk because of breed, get a breed with no target for this makes sense, yes? Maybe in bad area is good to carry gun in case you mugging victim on the street, but if guns illegal and getting caught with a gun you have trouble happening when is a law like the Pitbull. Doesnt matter if the law right or wrong, if is the law and you getting caught braking the law is only thing is cop it on the chin? Joe I understand exactly where you are coming from Joe... however I think the issue is that people who had Pitbull's BEFORE the illegalisation were exempt from the law, and those people might have kept breeding etc (I'm not sure?). I think the issue is with the fact that the breed is BANNED, not because it is 'wrong' to have them... The reason the breed is illegal is because the breed was seen as aggressive and uncontrollable (Please correct me if I'm wrong, I am making assumptions here) and that, I don't think is because of the breed, but because of the owners. Therefore the breed was made illegal. Let's remember that GSDs were illegal in Australia until the 60's (was it?)... but now they are back and are an extremely popular companion and show dog. ETA: Had a sentence that made absolutely NO sense.