Roova

That Tiger stare!! I would be quaking if that gaze was turned on me I think lol Lovely portrait of the dingo too, just beautiful. Perse what a great gatherine to stumble over or is that something you see all the time?

Awww sweet!

Those poor dogs!

My primulas are starting to flower now, I have them scattered everywhere and I always wish I'd planted more. I love their cheery little faces DSC_4296 by Rachel Wallis, on Flickr

Gorgeous shots TK!

I read she had been injured in the past breaking up dog fights so possibly they redirected on her?

Looks serene!

That's a lovely photo! I like how the corrugated iron bring out the colours in the pidgeon! Are they the ones which clap their wings together when they take off? Sticking with the animal theme, here's a local fly hanging around while I was taking photos Sorry for how huge the photo is if you're on a computer. I'm using Flickr now that Photobucket is out of my reach. Does anyone know how to make the photo display smaller without it going blurry? fly1 by Rachel Wallis, on Flickr

Please, that would be lovely!

I think they're Doe's? Your comment made me giggle, such a cute looking photo until you read the comment lol

I'm so jealous you have something like that available!

These are great when we toilet at night. You've had great wear from yours!

Lovely photo, the dogs are being very obliging. Riding a bike on sand seems like very hard work though!

It's a worry alright. Vets are so damn expensive though if something goes wrong insurance feels like something you have to have. I just wish insurance companies provided a discount if you bought your dog from health tested parents. It might at least be an incentive which carries through to healthier dogs. They'll be no one with insurance if they keep going this way though..

Looks early and cold!

My photo this week is of morning dew on nasturtium leaves. When the sun hits the drops in the morning it looks like masses of tiny diamonds, I love it.

What cuties!

Good quality toys are awesome but you tend to not want to see them get destroyed lol. The destroying bit is often what dogs (especially pups) love to do so to give you more options for rotating toys it pays to make your own free or cheap things. If you're looking for mental enrichment anything which keeps them occupied and out of trouble is great! A big meaty bone (non weight bearing), an empty milk container with a handful of kibble inside, meals stuffed in a kongs, nylabones, antlers (every now and then), puzzle toys, hiding food so they have to sniff it out, scent games, a cardboard box taped up with treats a toy or a chew item inside, scattering kibble in grass to be found, 2nd hand soft toys for ripping up and destroying, a tub full of balls with treats dropped in, a sandpit for digging with chew items buried etc. Generally the things you see your dog get enjoyment from are what you try and provide, some like digging, some eating, some chewing or ripping etc. Something like a fleece tug or similar is especially handy to keep close when pup is in the playing\biting stage so you can redirect from skin or clothes straight to this. You can start to teach the beginning of self control with games too, like sit and then the tug toy gets wiggled. Watch how fast they learn a sit means the game continues! There's heaps of ideas of things to make and do on the internet too. Here's one to get you started.. http://www.awlqld.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/3-Fun-Backyards-Enrichment-for-Dogs-Jan-2009.pdf

He is gorgeous! If you want him to sit quitely can you offer him a stuffed kong or some other item he can be kept occupied with? Unless they're tired or sleepy a forced 'chill' may not work for long if the animal is bored. If he's finding something to do like chewing a bit of carpet you can probably judge he's not really enjoying sitting doing nothing. Don't forget to regularly walk over and praise \ treat him if he's sitting nicely - it makes it more worth his while to sit there uncomplainingly

I would be going back to basics with him, its sounds like a few ground rules were missed when he was a pup? These are all just behaviours which need a bit of management on your behalf for a great outcome. With future pups its worth having a think about what behaviour you want to see in your adult dog because you need to start training toward this from day one of pup coming home. Like children, dogs don't just know how to behave, you have too teach them and continually reward behaviour you want to see again. If I were to offer you one tip it would be 'what gets rewarded gets repeated'. These are some of my thoughts about your problems... Counter surfing - now the problem exists the best solution for breaking the habit is to deny the opportunity. So no tempting food left on the bench, possibly a baby gate to deny access to the kitchen or maybe pop him on lead and attached to you when he's inside (at least for a while). I would have teeny tiny treats chopped up and always on you so you're ready to capture and reward behaviour you like. You want to praise and reward within a couple of seconds of a behaviour occuring though. Think of an opposite behaviour you'd like to see and aim to 'create' it. For example you could have a mat at the entrance to the kitchen and regularly treat for being on there. This keeps him out from under your feet, he can still watch whats going on, but its worth his while staying on the mat because of random treats and praise coming his way. Grabbing your todders toys: This one is difficult. I think its wrong to expect him to know this isn't allowed so best to keep toddler on the other side of an exercise pen \ baby gates when he or she is playing with their toys. Anything you don't want your dog chewing or accessing needs to be kept out of reach and instead supply things you DO want him to chew, rip play or be occupied with. General training: You've chosen a very smart dog breed there. Smart dogs left to their own devices can often develop what we see as behavioural issues like barking, running laps, jumping, digging, chewing inappropriately or other issues etc. You can keep his brain active by regular brain training and enrichment activities with simple obedience or trick training. Even something like a flirt pole can teach great self control whilst providing physical enrichment. Everything an adult can do, so can a puppy but in short fun training sessions. Don't wait until you have a naughty dog, but start today and it helps to have a plan what you’re going to achieve each week so the task isn’t too big. A dog like this will thrive on being trained so maybe you could consider joining a dog club which might lead to dog sports like agility, fly ball, dock diving, herding and so on. Its good for you both to have a purpose. Buying a dog to keep a bored dog company is a recipe for two bored dogs. Before doing this maybe consider what you're doing for your current dog? How often is he offered a big meaty bone (non weight bearing), an empty milk container with a handful of kibble inside, his meal stuffed in a kong, nylabones, antlers (every now and then), puzzle toys, treats hidden around the place for him to find or other scent games, a cardboard box taped up with treats a toy or a chew item inside, 2nd hand soft toys for ripping up and destroying, a tub full of balls with treats dropped in, a sandpit for digging with chew items buried to be found etc. Remember predictability leads to boredom so rotate toys and things you offer him. Generally the things you see your dog get enjoyment from are what you try and provide. Some like digging, some eating, some chewing or ripping etc. Pottering around the house calmly: you don't have to wait years for him to mature and slow down to see this. You can train the calm behaviour you want to see right now. The capturing calmness video supplied earlier can have this a reality for you I promise! It definitely works because I used it for my own pup and adult dog I had at the time. I now have a mat at the entrance to the kitchen which my dog lies on with head on paws waiting for the random treat coming her way. There is also a mat in the entrance to the hall as she can't go in the bedrooms. Whenever I come out of a room and she's lying on the mat I 100% of the time give her a scritch and tell her she's a good girl. When she was learning this I kept treats at the entrance to the hall so I always had a some handy to place between her front legs when I passed her. You have to reward the behaviour you like if you want to see it continue. Crates - why not buy a bigger one, an exercise pen with taller sides or use baby gates to block access? (Its less of an expense to buy adult size beds and crates when you purchase a pup as they don't stay pups long). A crate should always be a place of enjoyment for your dog though, not a punishment or a place they have to spend hours of boredom. Be careful to carry out crate training in a way which means you dog doesn't bark, chew on the wire or get anxious when in there. If he is already like that some tips are here. Good luck

This is a great article on the work involved with two puppies. If you're up for the task kudos to you! https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/13_1/features/Problems-Adopting-Two-Puppies-At-Once_16190-1.html

Wow that's gorgeous!

My photo this week is of a bubba pumpkin growing wild in my yard. I let vines grow often but never get pumpkins growing. Recently I noticed two different types of flowers on the plant so I wiggled my finger in both and ....I think I made a baby pumpkin!

I'm just piping up to pass on a great app which might give you some extra ideas too? Its called First Aid for Pets (Australia) and covers Dogs and Cats. You tap which animal and then get a big list of problems such as Birthing/Reproductive, Bites & Stings, Breathing problems, Eye problems, Poisons\Toxins and so on. Under each heading are sub headings where necessary and then clear steps how to deal with the problem as well as causes, clinical signs, and reference material. You can also link your vet surgery so can easily see numbers and a link to their website along with a GPS map to them. Its pretty cool!