tangopatutti

We had two pups together (a gsd and a cattledog) 7.5 years ago and I swore blind that I would NEVER AGAIN have two pups together. Well they do say that time heals all wounds, (or perhaps as I grow older the pain has become fuzzier), because as of Friday just gone we have two new puppies :laugh: We are going great guns with toilet training so far (but I'm not getting too excited, it's only been a few days) and I am finding it very helpful to use word association - "Go Toilet" each and every time they go - we trained our older dogs to toilet on command with "do the business" and are endeavouring to do the same with the pups, but using "Go toilet" for the pups so we don't send the big dogs outside while the pups are in their pen and they hear the command and toilet in the pen. I think it works two-fold; it means you are training them for future toileting on command which can be very helpful, and it is also my opinion that the word association is helping with the training; once the brain has started to associate the word with the action, saying the word triggers the urge to toilet. Every time I take them outside I start repeating "go toilet" like a crazy lady and when they relieve themselves "Good Go Toilet" in a high squeaky voice and heaps of pats. For what it's worth I don't believe two pups together grow a stronger bond with each other than with you, the two dogs I raised together last time love me far more than each other - they slept together as pups, but only really tolerate each other now.

Both my GSD and Cattle Dog are obsessed with balls, they love, love, love fetch above anything else. But the GSD has a hard time giving up his "trophy" - especially if he thinks Charlie is going to end up with it. We solved the problem by using three balls for fetch - the first two we throw are Tango's, then the third one Charlie's. Then Tango is quite content to keep two balls in his mouth and run up and down beside Charlie who fetches the third ball and brings it back for another throw. Tango can't quite get three balls in his mouth at once, so he has a "swap" deal going on - when Charlie brings the ball back for another throw, Tango drops one of his balls and grabs the fresh one. We then throw the ball that Tango has dropped and the cycle begins again. Works well for us! At the same time we have a little squishy ball that our Pomeranian uses for fetch. It gets thrown in the other direction (out of the path of the two big dogs). She is brilliant at fetch. If she drops the ball too far away, you just have to say "Smudge, where's the ball?" and she'll go and grab it and bring it back to your feet. Pixie Lulubelle (our Chihuahua) thinks she is a princess and the rest of the dogs are crazy "Mum, if you throw that ball, you can just go and fetch it yourself!" And flounces off back into the house. :laugh:

"We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy Nooooooooo Yeeeeaaarrrrrr"

Poor doggie. Have signed and keeping my fingers crossed there is someone in charge who has a couple of braincells to rub together and throws this ridiculous charge straight out of court. Wish someone would come up with some sort of collar flag (i.e., a flag extending from the top of the dog's collar) so you could have a little notice on your dog when out walking - "Please do not approach my dog" or similar. Apparently Australia is now the second most litigious country after the USA - about time we all hardened up and took the attitude S*^&% Happens and took responsibility for ourselves.

Ditto this. We have four dogs (number five arives Friday ). Ten years ago we got the two older little dogs together and a few years later we got the two younger large dogs together (and I have finally learnt my lesson - only ONE pup at a time :laugh: ). For all four dogs I'm number one - I call them my entourage - where I am, they are, always. They get on okay together, but are definately more bonded with me than each other. Sorry, don't have any advice re the cats, our dogs have always been fine with the cats, chooks, pigs.... Our little chi adores the cats and wants to give them doggie kisses all the time (much to the cats' disgust), the rest of the dogs more or less completely ignore the cats - the dogs are more interested in the cats' dinner than the cats themselves.

I have no idea if this would help or not, but you can get doggy DNA kits to test your dogs DNA - I have never used one, have no idea how accurate they are, but perhaps you could do some research and see if a DNA test would be any use as evidence in court? Good luck.

Thanks Spyda. Two years ago my friend decided she wanted her first ever dog, so I managed to convince her to get one from a shelter. We went to the AWL Qld and found her a lovely pup (ridgeback/lab). He is the love of her life. The most amazing dog, even from a young pup has been very calm and well mannered - an excellent first dog. She named him after my (then) surname, and I am his godmummy. She's even written into her will that he is to go to no-one except me! I will most certainly give you a visit when we're ready to adopt in a few weeks' time. :)

Where do I find your dogs, Spyda? The only two websites I know to look at are adoptapet (which is RSPCA) and Petrescue. I've still got a couple of weeks before I can adopt, as we are waiting for our GS to completely heal up after his op before we introduce a pup/s.

Aw, he's a cutie. Unfortunately he's in Townsville and I'm just out of Toowoomba though. Also, I want to get a pup as young as possible - our existing dogs are fussy about other dogs, but are fine with young pups.

Our two big dogs have a harness each that clips into a seatbelt and our two little dogs share a doggie car seat - it is an elevated bed/basket contraption that is secured to either a front or back seat, it has two short tethers that are sewn into the basket which are then either snapped onto their harness or collars to secure the dogs to the basket. Just a word of warning for those restraining the dogs by their collars instead of a harness - in the event of an accident, the pressure on their neck can do serious damage - best to restrain with a harness instead of a collar, if possible.

Libby and her possum :D Awwww, now I want Libby AND her possum! :laugh: They're both gorgeous. We have two possums living in the roof of my home office, we call them Wodga and Pamela. Pamela is very shy, but Wodga comes out to the eaves to say hello, we give him a sliver of apple from time to time.

Awww, she sounds like a sweetheart... could I adopt her? :laugh:

Absolutely! Even hubby has nicknames (but not always nice ones :laugh: ) Dogs are Tango (GS) - Tangopatutti, Tutti, Toot toots, Tutti Putti Smudge (Pom) - Smudgie Woo, Monster, Munchkin, Moo Moo, Possum, Froggy Doggy, Monkey Dog Pixie (Chi) - started off Pixie, then became Pixie LuluBelle and now is almost exclusively called Lulu Charlie (Cattle Dog) - Charlie Boy, Charlie Warley (although Charlie's such a mischievous dog, I think he thinks his name might be "Charlie, No!") Cats Peanut - Nutter Butter, Butter Boy Willow - Willow Spileski Henry - Henry Pops, Pop pops Mr Kitty Pickles - Fatty Cat, Kitty Minipig Poppy Porkchop (usually just Poppy) - Miss Piggy, Little Piggy

runs off to google the breed... Nice looking dogs! What are they like as a family pet?

runs off to google the breed...