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If it gets wet and sandy (rare, I always carry it and don't let it get wet with salt water if I can help it) I always rinse it in fresh water and let it dry properly. I've managed to not throw a lead out in 2.5 years so far, but I think that's more to do with my not letting it get salty than me rinsing it.

The DIY dog wash at my work has a dryer if decide that your hair dryer isn't doing it. I've seen the bath after a husky blowing coat was in there....it most definitely would work in the meantime until you get your own big one. My only problem is some dogs hate the sound (most are pet dogs that have not had regular exposure to that sort of loud noise, like my own girl, she HATES the dryer) $2 on Mondays :)

Oh and you'll definitely need that new car! We got an Xtrail for the dogs!

Awesome to hear you'll be showing!! I'm very disappointed in the Coffs Kennel Club's decision to not include neuters this year, I'm going to go along though anyway and ask them to include it for next year. There are more and more of us showing our neuters for fun, and I'd love a show in my actual home town! At this stage, Kempsey has been the closest show! Your post just made me check if my membership renewal had gone through (did it a month ago) and no money has left the credit card yet...so I can't be entering any until I know it's gone through. Off to email DogsNSW!!!

When I fed Holistic Select, just like now with the Earthborn Holistic, they are only small amounts. My dog is 20kgs, as a pup she was eating 1 barf patty + 1.5 cups of kibble (half a cup in the morning a cup at night). Only difference now is a bigger breakfast - one cup. Totally guessing that your pup is between 14 and 18kgs (maybe an overestimation) but even then, you'd be feeding 1 3/4 - 2 1/2 cups...not a lot really. Reducing that if any other food/treats are given. But I always use the guides as that - a guide. Always go off dog's condition, they all have differing metabolisms like us. Eg.I can eat maccas a few times a week and not see a difference, other members of my family cannot.

Petstock have just started selling them, whole and split.

I just saw your pic of Buddy, I will comment on there so you know who I am :) I'm Sarah L I've had a keen interest in breeding and genetics since I was young, we had a lab on a co-ownership where we had a litter for the breeder, and we showed her a little too. So that was my introduction to the world of dogs and breeding but I've done a lot more research now and know it's not for the faint of heart but I have such a desire to help eradicate the uric stone issue in dals that I'm keen to take it on. Luckily my husband is with me on this too! When I have pups, I'll have so many photos on my fb, which I'll share on that dally group so you'll be able to get a fix for sure! The other breeders share their pics too which is lovely (but makes me want my pup NOW! lol). Cleo is black spotted, but I really sort of hope the pup that is chosen for us next year is a liver! Because we'll either be getting the 2nd pick bitch or 1st pick dog it'll be down to conformation really. My husband prefers the black, but I love both!

Haha I always try to add photos and make them too big and photobucket doesn't like me resizing. They certainly are addictive! In the last 3 years I've gone from interested pet owner to showing to starting my own kennels up, my next pup is going to be my foundation dog or bitch (hoping for a girl!) If you want to join in with some other dally owners if you're on Facebook, we have a big group here --> https://www.facebook.com/groups/Dals.of.Aus.and.NZ/ so if you have dally specific Q's, it can be a good help, especially with the specific dally problems like stones! You'll find a lot more dally cousins on there!! I see those ads on gumtree as well I wish I could take them all in and rehome them with appropriate homes! One day when I get my dream property I want to fulfill that dream and help as many dogs as I can.

Lhok, I don't know which trainer's you've seen yet, but in case you haven't contacted her yet, Kyra from Bright Bessy might be another trainer to try? http://brightbessydogtraining.com.au/ I know that she has trained pets in the past to become assistance dogs, and she's worked with my dad some years ago so she's not new on the scene. I hope you find a trainer that can help Treb!

That's awesome - I can't imagine having a breeder so close! My current dal is from Tassie and my next is in Tamworth, a decent 3 hour drive from where I live (and up and over a horrible mountain). Haha, my workmates find it funny how casually I drop the word bitch now, as I use it in way like it's just another word like "girl" or "female"....which it is now for me. I find dog more confusing, it can mean a male or a whole species! It's so sad that your boy's previous owners didn't think a dally through properly, but sounds like he has a perfect home now. I hope my girl is close to my future children, she hasn't had much exposure to them being the dog of a young couple with no kids! But I take her to work so she's slowly meeting a few. Dalmatian are like potato chips, can't stop at one! I'm in this thread until mid next year waiting for my next one! Oh and I looked at the dogs of that breeder, and if your pup is a relative of the 3 on her DOL profile, we'll be dally cousins of a sort!

Oh another dally pup! Yay! Can I ask which breeder? (pm if you want) My girl is an Edinglen (she normally breeds Bearded Collies not dallies) but she has a lot of Paceaway behind her.

I got an older pug. Did anybody get a Dalmatian? I submitted a photo of Cleo :) if so, she's too bloody smart for her own good and extremely cheeky.

Yep, fingers crossed! It's hard enough seeing puppies in pet shops, even harder when it's a breed that left in the hands of the unknowing can become very sick and suffer in pain. Bring on the LUA dals!

Most, if not all of those are chicken based. Pro plan comes in chicken or lamb... Hard decision....really I would rate RC, Pro Plan, then bunch the others together. Pro Plan would rate first for me except my dog didn't like it and I didn't like the wheat content :) She loved RC when I got some cheap stuff though.

Not available in Aus asked the rep and he said there isn't enough of a market (but its full of filler anyway). and sorry, pet peeve - DalmatiAn not dalmatiON ;)

That's so sad. I had to report the local pet shop when I went in there and they had dallies. They were on display and selling them with Kennel Cough (they had a sign stating so). I would also mention about the deafness issue. Deaf dogs could easily end up in the pound if the new owners think it's purely "untrainable". There is also a Dalmatians of Aus and NZ group on FB that is very helpful (they won't be happy about pups in a shop though). A lot of the male dogs on there have had stones and there is a wealth of information that has been accrued. The group can be found here http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/sydney-region/other-pet-services/dalmatians-of-australia-new-zealand/1025688720 (the group admin has started to get the group out there a bit more) I personally feed Earthborn holistic and BARF but for most dally owners to keep it simple I'd recommend protein sources such as chicken. I feed lamb as well but probably wouldn't if I had a boy. Biggest thing is probably to tell the store that liver treats are a huge no no.

3rd one in this thread with a dally that couldn't swim. I think the fact that we got Cleo home at the beginning of winter didn't help - too cold to take a pup swimming, even though we have a beach and river really close by. By the first summer, she was hopeless, would run through the waves at the beach but hated the river and creeks. Got her a lifejacket and it helped, she used to freeze and sink if her ears got wet, now she's a bit better and will take herself out deeper. She's no water baby though!

on the subject of bully sticks...today at work my workmate was suggesting some treats for a customer...we have roo tendons, bully sticks and bikkies on the counter. L, my workmate did not know what the bully sticks were called, I told her "bully sticks, bull penis, pizzle sticks". She sort of squealed and put it back in the container and asked if I was serious....she's been with us 4 months and hasn't realized what they are! The customer said she didn't want her girl to eat that. Sort of brightened my very painful day :laugh: My girl loves it! I ask her if she wants some boys bits, she LOVES it!

haha not a prob :) I'm sorta lurking too, jumping in when I can....my pup isn't til next year as well, this is an exercise of patience! I am not usually a patient person, I always do everything quickly, be it doing an exam at school, doing a task at work or doing something at home, and I like the world to keep pace with me and it doesn't! So I just look at the puppies for sale every now and again for a dose of cuteness :) Exciting day for you Brooke - I was a bit daunted at the arrival of Cleo as well - it was something I had organized all by myself and she was my first dog as an adult. Looking back now, I wish I had cherished her puppy hood more, it really goes so fast. Lessen the pressure on yourself, the fact that you have concern says a lot about the sort of owner you will be. Enjoy your new pup! I'm envious!

Just sorta got given it by my boss in December StaffnToller. I have just been a retail assistant and then new bosses took over in October '12 and it just sort of happened....they asked if I wanted to learn how to order items and I said yes and now it's evolved to nearly the whole back of house that I control. My bosses are awesome and have given me so many opportunities. The only other industry I've worked in was animal training/tourism at a marine park where I was a café worker, photographer and then animal trainer, so had no foundation for what I do now at all! I love what I do now though, never knew I had a mind for it! :)

Bugger nothing until next year still.

I certainly hope it's a 4 month wait now, rather than the 11 months I've been counting down. I couldn't sleep very well last night...I got too excited :) also had some very exciting developments re. a LUA dal possibly being imported...we've just gotta come up with the $10k :) lol. I want to contribute but I feel that the possible $500 - all I could afford to spare right now - wouldn't go very far!

We've sold the Kramar brand one, it's one that slides into itself. It was fairly lightweight considering the weight it can hold (one of the ladies that bought it stipulated that it had to be light) She had her big GSD use it, and they're also used for labs. We sold them for $250 but you can probably get it cheaper off the net where they don't have rent to pay lol. --> obviously this one isn't much cheaper but this is the ramp http://store.cityfarmers.com.au/kramar-extendable-pet-ramp.html

OMG excitement! On my FB my breeder just posted a comment about J (male) not being interested despite P (bitch) being in season! (note: they are half siblings not the intended pairing). I've had to ask if this means what I think it means! She wasn't due to come into season until January!! oh I hope I have exciting news soon!!!!!

There are heaps of interesting things to study in Animal Science. I started it by distance this year but had to drop out as the first two subjects were Chem and Bio. Bio I can cope with but the Chem was too hard and fast and I was not coping at all mentally! But if I could bypass chem and go straight to the stuff that got me interested in the course in the first place, Im sure I would have loved it I was really looking forward to the reproductive stuff and the genetics. Dot, have you considered doing just 1 unit at a time while you get through those ones you find most difficult? Sure it will take longer, but you can focus all your energy on just one to try and understand it, and maybe find a tutor? Then you can look at increasing the workload as you progress and move onto the more interesting units. I know you were most bummed to drop out, but if you really want to be there, maybe this might work for you? I think I might one day. I've re-evaluated life since April when I fell apart and I think I'll try to study once we have our own house only because trying to save money (work a lot) AND studying wasn't working. And it wasn't a course I was doing for the outcome of a career either. I'd happily work the rest of my days in my little pet shop and just using my knowledge to help customers. I'm on a similar wage to a vet anyway it seems lol.