stonecutter

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Welcome drifter Temperament I would hold as key in addition to health Someone else mentioned that some labs are super chill and others just hyper! (same with Spitzes) Olivebaby - is she on the main register? Are you planning to show her as well? I have a pup on the main (our breeder is very ill and originally we were allocated a pup from another litter and Ziva was to be kept for breeding) and am feeling very apprehensive about breeding her and trying to keep her confined when she's in season.

Welcome Nalaridge What about using a long line? I've been advised not to let our pup off lead unless I am dead certain she will recall - so even in our yard (which is pretty huge), she goes on a 10m long line. The best place I found them was K9Pro online.

We had heaps of shedding about the 4.5 month mark, now it's tapered off - she still sheds a little each day - but she gets a brush most days - so our clothes don't look too bad! I've heard pups go through up to 4 coat changes before their full adult coat.

Welcome! Do you have plans to go to puppy pre-school or obedience? I agree about a midday meal as well - we go to work during the day - so I left lunch (often a chicken neck or kibble), frozen in ice so that pup didn't wolf it down as soon as we walked out the door.

If you have room for a laundry hamper on the floor somewhere - you should have room for a crate. Our pup was outside at 16 wks. We moved a few things around to accommodate crates and pens. Is this possible?

B-Q - do you keep those in the freezer? I chop everything up, flash freeze on sheets in the big freezer then bag. I do feel bad going through a few ziplock bags each week. I suppose I could wash them in soapy water for re-use - might give it a go.

I think people don't tend to pay as much attention to what their dog is doing in a fenced park - the attitude of some is "yeah the dog can't escape - I can turn my back"

Uh - don't look in my treat pouch then for the piece of banana that is saved for emergency recall if Ziva ever slips her lead! Ziva turns her nose up at frankfurst and cabanossi, but loves Aldi chicken & ham sandwich roll and tasty cheese. She also loves whatever Shell is dishing out to Zero at the time ;) (I think because she gets pieces the size of half a chopstick tip with me but Shell has Sibe-sized bits!) Oh - and I use a Premier treat bag (that has the snap open/shut top) - I didn't have any bum bags left over from the 80s/90s and it has a few pockets and split rings that are useful. I don't think Ziva is conditioned to the bag - all her food at home is training based - so we use a bowl, a cup, hands, frisbee lids. And I feed Ziva about half her dinner before training @ obedience club - otherwise she is so hungry that all she does is snap and nip at my hands.

Hi all - something this weekend sounds good - Doonside is right around the corner from us - I didn't even know there was a dog park there! (Ziva won't go off leash anyway - she's still a pup with spotty recall)

We took our pup from 12 weeks (2nd vacc) and she's been doing really well. We are in the west and travel to Hills Training and Kennel Club - Monday nights Castle Hill Showgrounds at 7pm (first week get there 6:30pm) http://www.hillskennelandtrainingclub.com/ I like the fact that it's not just puppy school - that once puppy reaches 20wks, you can join the all-age obedience class. We always get there 20-30 min earlier as well to allow Ziva to socialise. We have some dogs in our area that she sees on weekends, but Monday nights she knows she gets to meet all sorts of dogs. At first she was a bit skittish and barky - but now she takes it in her stride (after 8 wks) - imagine a 3.5kg puppy going up and nicely greeting a 30kg german sheppherd, BCs, greyhounds, oodles, staffies etc. This socialisation has improved her temperament - more so I believe than if she just met puppies at a puppy-only school (where she felt like the big dominant girl). ETA - I think CW EW went somewhere around Sydney Olympic Park - but I know we get people from the inner west (e.g. Gladesville etc) coming to Castle Hill.

Ziva got a harness straight away - I bought a basic one from Pet Barn in Small, though eventually she'll need a medium

bianca - I think you mean NILIF - Nothing In Life Is Free; TOT = Triangle of Temptation - both from the K9Pro website (or there is a TOT thread in the training area) We use both - basically Ziva doesn't get anything without doing something for it

Ziva has mastered her dog door, tunnel and ramp and when left alone yesterday for 5 hrs while I went into the office, she didn't eliminate on her newspaper and went outside Of course - we had friends from NYC over last night for dinner - they have 2 dogs back home and she could smell them on their clothes - got a little too excited and forgot to go outside to poop luckily our floor is tiled

OH felt exactly like this - Ziva spends most days with me and OH was treated like he didn't exist. We started using TOT (Triangle of Temptation) for her breakfast - and only OH does the feeding. This has created a really great bond between them. Even though previously we were both training her for breakfast and dinner - the TOT did the trick. ETA - it's worse because she's a Spitz - headstrong & independent!

I'm finally on this thread - sorry I've been a bit slow! Here are some pics: With her best mate Zero at the MPW (well, she loves him, he is a bit indifferent!) This morning on our walk

Little Z just followed big Z around all day - if she stopped to sniff something and Zero charged ahead - she'd get a worried look like "where is he?" He did almost sit on her a few times though

Ok - so I don't have a fancy camera - so these are more casual shots:

Was great to see everyone today at the MPW The DOL crew before the walk at the entrance - L to R: Zero, Kivi, Ziva, Mindy and Erik - Ziva is the only one not looking at Shell for food! Pair of Zs - Ziva and Zero Eating ice cream later one

Susan Garrett's Crate Games DVD I've found to be a useful resource as well - Ziva wasn't a fan of her crate at first but is slowly getting better using the games on the DVD.

I'm with Medibank and haven't had to make a claim yet. On their stalling tactics - can you go into a branch to make a claim?

Our puppy poops about 4-5 times - but I'm sure that's because she has a small colon! She is on Black Hawk (usually spread over 3 meals) and a chicken neck. Though today it's only been 2 poops (I was worried since she hadn't gone in 8 hrs - probably crazy first dog paranoia)

We've got secure parking on Figtree Drive and then walking over. 9.30ish sounds good! We'll be the tall white guy and the shorter asian chick with the super excited white spitz puppy!

At the vet we don't let pup roam around - she stays on our lap or in her crate. We have a JS, who can be wary of other dogs, so socialisation was worth the risk in terms of puppy school (we go to Hills Kennel Club)

I think a specific meeting spot would be good - but I don't know the area either.