Podengo

Check out the kikopup youtube channel - Clicker dog training. She makes some awesome dog training videos and has some little rescue dogs including a chi and a chi X :)

I don't even trust the people I live with to look after my dog for a weekend when I am away...

Still think your Labrador Retriever is safe? Think again! I recently released this picture of our Niki. Niki is an ”SS” dog if you believe our local SPCA, who informed me five years ago that they felt she was a “pit bull” and as such was subject to BSL. Niki weighs in at 108 lbs. currently. Yes, before you all start screaming at me I KNOW she is overweight we are working on it and to date she has lost four pounds. However Niki’s weight is not what I wish to speak about today. When BSL was introduced in Ontario in August of 2005, I did not worry for my dogs. After all none of them were “pit bulls”, so we weren’t affected directly by this heinous legislation. Our dogs were safe, or so we thought. But that was back when we didn’t really know what BSL would mean for Ontario dog owners. We could not have been more wrong! The first time someone told me that Niki could be in danger because of her looks I scoffed at the notion. “That’s ridiculous!” I replied. “Niki is NOT a “pit bull”, she’s a husky/lab cross.” I put it down to that person being an alarmist and thought no more about it. A few months went by, and we continued on as we always had, walking Niki sans muzzle like the docile mutt we knew she was. Then, disaster struck in the form of a five foot two blue haired old lady! Niki and I were calmly walking along the beachfront when we heard “Why isn’t that “pit bull” muzzled?” I turned to find little Ms. Bluehair staring hard at Niki and pointing. “My dog?” I asked innocently. “Ma’am my dog is not a “pit bull”, she is a husky/lab cross breed.” “I know a “pit bull” when I see one young lady!” was the old lady’s reply. “I have already called the pound, and the SPCA is coming to get your dog. You people can’t be keeping these vicious beasts around innocent citizens! Your dog will be taken from you! Good thing too, no one has any business owning one of these dogs! I’ll fix you!” She waved her cell phone at me. “Good Lord!” I thought, “this poor woman needs glasses!” Thinking nothing more of her threats I continued my walk. About fifteen minutes or so later I looked up to find an SPCA truck driving slowly alongside me. The passenger side window was rolled down and I heard “Excuse me, but can we talk to you about your dog?” I stopped, put Niki in a down stay position and turned toward the source of the voice. “Can I ask why your “pit bull” is not muzzled?” came the question from the SPCA investigator. “Because she isn’t a “pit bull” I replied. “Ma’am, I know dogs, and that is CLEARLY a “pit bull”. You are of course aware of the BSL legislation recently passed in Ontario?” “Yes, I am.” I replied becoming just a little worried. “But Niki is a husky/lab cross, and not a “pit bull”. She is far too big to be mistaken for one.” “Can you prove that?” asked the SPCA officer. “Is she registered as such?” I looked at him wondering how he expected my cross breed dog to be “registered” as anything, she was after all for lack of a better term, a mutt. To the best of my knowledge there is no registry for mutts. “Um?. . .if you mean is she licensed with the city as her true breed mix of course she is! Her breed mix is also noted with her veterinarian.” “Ma’am, we are telling you that this is a “pit bull” dog, and as such is subject to BSL. I will not take your dog today, as it is clear to me that you were not aware that she is a “pit bull” however, if I see her without a muzzle again I will take her from you!” Suddenly, just like that, our dog and our family were subject to BSL, and life for Niki changed drastically. Gone were the trips to the dog park to play with other dogs. Niki had been labeled “pit bull” and “pit bulls” are not allowed in off leash parks. Gone was the freedom of walking down the street sans muzzle to meet and greet people and dogs. Niki, up until that point had been my advocacy dog. She had traveled with me to promote animal interaction education for children, and explain why spay and neuter is so important. Now I couldn’t take her with me in my advocacy work. With that Hannibal Lecter mask they insisted she must wear she scared everyone. No one wanted to be near the “vicious pit bull.” On several occasions Niki was actually assaulted by rocks thrown at her and shouts of “get rid of that vicious thing!” It was the muzzle that changed things. No one had ever been afraid of Niki before, they would see her smiley face headed for them, and a smile would break out on their face. She is just that kind of dog, she loves everyone, and up until she was forced to wear the muzzle everyone loved her. Niki doesn’t understand why people avoid her now. She doesn’t understand why people throw things at her or yell out nasty names. You can actually SEE the hurt in her eyes when someone doesn’t like her. Her world has changed because one person with authority doesn’t know a “pit bull” when they see one. Still think your Labrador Retriever is safe? Think again! Until Next Time Remember, Peace, Love & Freedom for Pit Bulls

Awesome! I love meeting and chatting to older handlers - there is an awesome lady in her 80's running a very energetic heading dog in agility here!

A Abbey Addie AJ Ajanta Akira Alera Ali x 2 Alice x2 Alika Alchemy Amber Amelia Amy x 2 Anais Andie (Andromeda) Aneira Annie x 2 Anastacia (Annie) Angel X 6 Angelina Anishinaabe Annabelle Annabella Anouk April April RIP x 2 Ari Arizona Arki Arya Asante sana Asha Ashka Askari Ashleigh Astrid Astro Athena Aubrey Audrey Aura Aurora Ayla B Baba Babe Margaret Hoolihan Baci Bailey Basha Beanie Beans Becky Bella x 5 Billie Bianca Bibi Bit Blaize Bloss Blossom Blush Bonny x 5 (Bonnie) Bonita Boss Bow wow Bracken Brandi Brandy x 2 Breagh Bree x 3 Brianna Bridie Bronte Bubbles Buffy Buttercup C Calico Cally Cara Casey Cassie Casper CC Cedar Chapparelle (pronounced Shapparelle, and shortened to Chappa (Shappa)) Chalice aka 'Chali' Chelsea x 2 Cherrie Chevy x 2 Chloe x 3 Charley Chanel Charli Charlie Charlie-May Charlotte Cherry Chiko Chilli Choo Choo Chops Ciara Cider Cinders Cindy Cinta CJ x 2 Claire Claudia Clover x 3 Cleo Cleoparta Coco x5 CocoNut Colour (for a greyhound who's not grey!) Cookie Cossette Cossi Courtney Cricket x2 Crystal Cristie x 2 Crupi D Daenerys Daisy x 3 Daisy-Mae Dallas Dancer Danika x2 Darla Delilah Delta Demi Dempsie Dexta Diazz Didge Dinky Dixie Diva x 2 Dizzy Durham Dusty Dyzney E Ebony Echo x 2 Electra Elizabeth Ella x2 Elley Ellie x3 Elsa x 2 Elsie x2 Emily Emilly Emma Emmy Enya Erin Esky Evie F Faith Fame Fanta Feather Feonix Finta Flame Flash Fleur Flossy Flute Frenchie Froggy G Gabbie Gabby Gael Galadriel(Gala) Gemma x 5 Genie (not exactly a girly name but I thought it suited my goldy) Genevieve George Georgea Gertrude Ginger Ginny Gina Gita Glitter Goldie Gooby Grace x 2 Griffin x 2 GT Gypsy x 7 Gyrle H HambleRIP Hannah Halo Harlow Havarna Hayley x2 Heather Heddy Heidi x2 Holly x 7 Honeyx4 Honour Hope I Imme Imogen - Imy Indi India x 2 Indigo Georgia Ingrid Iris Isabella Issie J Jade Jag Jamie Lee Jane Jasmine x2 Jaxx Jay Jay Jazz Jazzman Jedda RIP Jelly Bean Jenna x 2 Jersey Jess x2 Jessi Jesie Jessica Jessie x 4 Jeune Jezebel x 2 Jicin Jindi Jinxy Jodie x 2 JoJo Jovi Joy Juliet Juno K Kamikaze Kara X 2 Kari Karma Karmen Kaos Kassy Katie x 3 Katy Kayla X2 KC Keeta Keilani Keira Keirra Keisha x 2 Kelli Kelly Kelsey Kenzie Kibah Kiesha Kimba Kira Kirah -- pronounced "Ki-RAH" (the"Ki" sounding like that in "kid") Kiri Kiri-Lu Kirra (agility name Kiz) Kishka (called Kish most of the time) Kisses Kitty Kizzey Krissy Kuean - (Queen) L Lacey x 2 Latte Lady Layla x 2 Lea (lele) Leader Leia Leila Lexi x 4 Lexie Lia Libby x 2 Lily x 4 Lizzy Lobo Logan Lola x 3 Lolly Lotta (as in Li'l Lotta) Lottie x2 Lucia Lucky (yes, a bit tacky, but I loved her) Lucy x6 Lucinda Luka Lulu Luna x2 Luuka M Mable Mac Maddie x2 Maddison Maeby Magali Maggie x3 Magic x2 Maia Mallee Marie Claudette Marina Mary Marlo Matilda Matilda-Rose Max Maya Meeka Meg x 2 Meisha Meggz Merrique Mia X 3 Midge Miekah Migaloo Mika Milky Milla Millie x5 (Milli) Mimi Mindy x 2 Minky Minnie x 2 (Mynni) Minouche Mischa Mishchief Mischka Misha Missy Missie Mistletoe Misty Mitzi Molly x 9 Molly Coddle Monet Moochie Mung Bean Mya N Nala Nandi Narla x2 Natasha Nellie Nena Ness Nora Nyima O Olivia Ollie P Pagan x 3 Panda x 2 Paris Paxy Pchelka Pearl Pebbles Peggie Penelope Penny x 3 Pennylane Pepper x 4 Perry Phoebe x 2 Phoenix Pink Pip x 2 Pippin Piper x 2 Pixie Polly x 2 Poochie Popcorn Poppy x 2 Porridge Porscha Possum Poung Prada Priah Q Quince Quinn x 2 R Rani Razzle Reba Rebel Reggie (Regina) Reno Rhoda Riki Ricky River Rizzi Rogue Rommi Rose Rosey Rosie O'Grady (sweet rosie O to her friends) Rosie x 2 Roxie Roxy x 4 Ruby x 7 Rilla Rumour S Sabine Sabrina Sachi Sadie Saffron Safire Sahli Sally x4 Sarah x 2 Sarah Jane Sari Sascha x 2 Sasha x3 Sarsha Satu Savannah Scandal Scarlet Scruffy Serena Seven Sha Shae Shandy Shannon Sharnie Sharon Sharna Sheba Shelby Shimmer Shine Shishka Shona Siann or Cyan Sinta Sienna X 3 Skye x 3 SkySnow Snotty Dotty Sola Sonya Sooki Sooty Sophie x2 Sophia Sparkles Springy Sputnik Spook Stella x2 Stimpy X2 Storm Stussy Sue x 2 Summa Suzie x 2 Sybill Sydney T Tait Tamar Tameeka Tango Tara x 3 Tasha Tashi Tassie (with an s sound NOT a z) Taya Tayla Teegan X 2 Tempe Tess x 6 Tessa Texas The Divine miss Sophie Thea-Rose Tia x 2 Tieke Tikaani Tilba Tilli Tilly x3 Tinka Tinny (tin tin) x2 Toot Tori Tully Tyche Tyra Tyneal U Ulla Ursula V Vada Vicki Vienna Viviane Voodoo W Wandy White Whitey Whitney (reg'd) Whitneigh) Winnie Winona Winter Wilhelmina Willow x 2 Wolf X Xena Xanthe Y Z Zara Zahli Zillah Zippedeedoodah Ziva x 3 Zena Zoe x 4 Zora

Can often be excitement related - my parents Dobe humps their other dog, but only when they first get in the car. Such chaos, trying to get organized to go somewhere and Libby slumps in the corner making sad faces while Lottie goes to town humping with a crazed expression on her face. She stops once the car stops moving.

HAPPPPYYYY!

Steve is a girl? Ooops..

All of the dog forums I am on have more women than men... Actually from what I have seen there are more women than men in agility, obedience, working trials, showing... Men are like gold in our agility clubs LOL they are so useful for shifting all that heavy gear!!

Gross that poor dog, bet he feels heaps better now!

If you choose to keep a sickly puppy that cannot be vaccinated. - Keep it at home and keep other dogs right away. Immunisation works because of herd immunity. Because most people do the right thing. In areas where increasing numbers of people are being sucked in by pseudo-scientific anti-vacc claims, the deadly diseases are returning. People are dying because of this disgusting anti-vacc attitude, not just dogs. I have zero respect for people that choose to put other people and dogs at risk because of ridiculous rubbish they "researched" on the net. Having an "open mind" seems to leave some people prone to believing some outrageously stupid and dangerous crap. Keeping my mind safely closed on this, I will listen to those who are experts and who provide evidence of their claims.

I just put up with having crusty bits of cheese and sausage in my pockets :laugh:

I don't think so. When we travelled overseas for a year our friends looked after our GSD, while a different friend looked after our cat. When we got back we took both animals home and they sniffed noses, and were just like they had been a year earlier when they left... This was a dog that was a really bad cat chaser too.

This has been around in clubs in NZ for a long time, but it's a blue ribbon :)

So clever!! Great pics Huga

CKCS?

Yup gotta carefully check these conflicts! On a Doberman board I am on there is always a bit of talk about IPO going on, and while it's very similar to Working Trials here in NZ, there are some differences. For example in IPO tracking they want the dog slow and precise with a very deep nose, a lot of people use a prong collar to keep the dog tracking this way, but in working trials we are after something quite different, and our tracks are a lot longer, so that precise, slow, deep nose tracking would mean your track would end up taking an hour to finish LOL. Another little thing I saw mentioned was fronts in obedience, in one venue the dogs are as close as possible (often with their chests sticking through handler's legs out the back!), in another they need to be 6 inches away... Little things to think about :)

Always had Dobes growing up, would love to own one again one day, but only if I can have an all natural, high drive red bitch who will take over the sports world with me and be the first dual or triple CH Dobe in NZ (a girl can dream right). Didn't get a Dobe this time around because I couldn't get in touch with the few breeders that fit my criteria (I have many) - maybe next time! What I look for in a dog breed is athletic build (love a whippet's build!), snuggly (like a dog that I can cuddle in bed!) and short hair preferably not a big shedder (could budge on this but shedder will not go in bed), and in the individual dog I want to know that the dog will be confident and well built enough to enjoy getting out and about participating in sports, isn't too soft (I don't use physical corrections, but dogs that melt when you look at them wrong can get annoying) and has the potential to go far in my chosen sports. The breeds I am interested in/researching for my next dog are Doberman, Malinois, NZ Heading dog (or short haired BC), Whippet, Portugese Podengo Pequeno. My current dog is a Jack Russell x Border Collie, she is built like a whippet (only shorter), smooth coat, barely drops any hair, lots of energy (can go all day!), loves her toys, loves her food, loves a cuddle, loves to wrestle (ok she will work HARD for anything), a big time snuggler, soft but not too soft... She is perfect :p

Elsie does agility, rally, obedience & tracking and doesn't get confused :)

If I could have another I would... Two dogs are great, as long as first is well behaved etc. when you bring the second in (so usually at least a year old is probably pretty good for a small breed).

"Royal" and "diamonds" kinda makes me think of cards, like "royal flush" (at least I think that's card related LOL). King of Diamonds Queen of Diamonds Royal Flush

Oh and for this part I'm curious as to what others expect from clubs in the way of things like merchandise, activities, membership offers, newsletters etc. I'm not too bothered! Cheap access to seminars is nice, but we don't really get them in post-quake CHCH anyway

What types of clubs do you belong to? One agility club, and one obedience club. If you are a member of a club, what do you think they could do better (specify club type)? I think my agility club could have more things to encourage club pride and get us together and bonding, I am on the committee and I realize why this is hard to do though! I would love if we could run more classes, and run more specialized classes but without enough willing, experienced instructors this is impossible. I think my obedience club does pretty well, again more club bonding would be nice! Also some instructors that are more clued up with modern techniques would be nice, agility is constantly evolving and aiming higher... Finding my obedience club isn't... what do you think they do well? My agility club has GREAT classes! The obedience training is good, but I don't have much to do with the club apart from the 1hr of class a week. Do your expectations vary between club types? (ie do you expect certain things from a specific breed club that you wouldn't want or need in a group or all breeds or obedience/agility club?) Absolutely. Agility club needs good gear that I can't access at home, as long as obedience has a good field and instructors I'm happy (agility needs those too!). Seeing as I am not too focused on achieving in obedience I guess my expectations are lower, I'm not as interested in achieving because frankly as a newbie to the sport I have not found it to be very fun, encouraging or helpful... People seem quite nasty to each other (and their dogs)... Not so much a club problem as a sport one I suppose. Does the club/s you belong to offer enough to benefit ALL members of that club (pet owners/show and dog sport competitors/breeders) I think so. Both are very pet owner friendly and aren't exclusively for competitive people. At agility the competitive people are often in the same foundation classes as the newbies and are pointed out and introduced, and newbies encouraged to ask them for advice. There are some clubs around that aren't as newbie friendly :)

Ghosts.... Elsie has been going through a phase of barking at dumb stuff over the past week or so, I just tell her enough and give her something else to do, like go sit on a mat, or go find your ball.