BlaznHotAussies

I've brought him a playmate while her owners are away Tundra & Delta

We stayed at Dunalan Cottages on the Vic/SA border with our dog & two horses - fantastic :D gorgeous cottage, lovely people & so easy. We had Tundra in the kitchen and he stayed in there for the night as understandably they didn't want him in the lounge room (new cream carpet). If we weren't exhausted we could have gotten his crate out of the float luckily he was ok. We also stayed at Madura pass with the dog & there were signs saying no pets allowed but I think because we asked nicely (and it was 8pm and we were sick of dodging roos by then ) In Bendigo there's also the Entry Motel (or something like that) and they let us have Tundra in the building with us. There's a little courtyard for dogs to do their business that's completely fenced. We had Tundra in the crate inside with us - he was a flipping champ, not a peep (even after being cooped up in the car all day!).

My dog is crated at night (I still don't quite trust him inside overnight). And if he comes inside with wet & dirty feet he goes in the crate to dry off a bit. He also gets fed either in there or in his outside run. During the day if we have to go somewhere that's not dog-friendly he'll go in his run so he can't rearrange the horses' rugs (i.e. drag them all over the place).

Do it!! Puppy will be fine. I got Tundra in the later half of December & we went away for a week in Feb - he was fine! I sent him to my SIL who set me up with him in the first place & he had a fantastic time. Great socialisation for him - she put him in with each of her dogs & they got along well :) also good for him to get used to different places, the kids, etc.

Well they're so cruisy!! They're happy to sleep on the couch all day, or give cuddles, or just sleep on the couch, or play in the yard but not for too long I love them, don't get me wrong!! I'd totally get one if the husband would let me. They're so smoochy & I love when they snuffle their snout on my hand for a pat

Maybe a plush toy? A dog is a dog. If you can't deal with a bit of hair or drool (my dog doesn't drool but he drinks water then comes & drips on our laps), you probably aren't really able to put up with having a dog. The closest thing to not a dog that might suit them could be a Greyhound or even a Whippet? They do shed a bit but I'm sure a wipe with a rubber mitt every other day would probably reduce that.

I would like to suggest Australian Shepherd as they would suit having one walk a day (would depend on the lines of the dog but I've owned an Aussie who was perfectly happy lounging about all day!), easy to care for, very pretty, great with kids, don't tend to feel like escaping (and if they do they end up sitting at the front door wanting to be let back in), would be great in agility & obedience :) Awesome dogs :)

Wait... Not sure how merle dogs with the single merle gene are less healthy & set up for sight & hearing issues?? As long as there is pigment (i.e. not too much white = mismarks) they're generally ok. In "my" breed (Australian Shepherds) the merles are just as healthy & fun-loving as their solid coloured breed mates. Double merles are more likely to have the health issues as they often have WAY too much white

I know you're wanting a shorter haired breed...but honestly an Aussie Shepherd would love your life!!!!!

yes, they're terrifying.

This is really disturbing to me... I'm interested in what diseases we don't have that other countries have & that we need to keep out. I know rabies is one, but are there others? I can't believe that NOBODY did the research in his crew. I mean it's hard enough taking horse hay across Australia to feed them on the road. Let alone even harder bringing dogs into the country from the US!! It's ridiculous how they're just flaunting their ignorance really. It's so disappointing that a pilot or the pilot's crew isn't educated/up-to-date on how to ensure the aircraft is safe to enter ANY country as necessary. That is absolutely ridiculous. I know that pilots already have to do so much studying but if you want to be flying people around the countryside I think biosecurity is a very important part of that.

I would also second the car option if you were going to take your Annie. I took Tundra to footy (local town game, dogs are allowed, great for socialising!) and we stayed for dinner. I wasn't sure how he'd go in the car but every single time I checked on him he was happy We even had some friends go up to the car and pat him through the gap in the window & he was happy when they went by :) Sadly his crate doesn't fit in the car (Chrysler sedan) but he had toys & treats & water. I figure the car is just like a big crate. I think in your situation it's great that staying home will be your plan :) you'll get a chance to feel better & you don't have to stress about your dog at the party which is probably a bit stressful anyway (unless that's just me, organising things!?!? ) Best of luck & congrats to your partner on coming out :)

I have to say OES is the dumbest breed I've ever encountered. That said the dogs I know are unruly dogs anyway with crappy training. But just getting their attention (even using treats!!) is impossible - just mental. Yeah sorry, just no interest coming from me. I do not see the attraction.

Makes me wonder if they've just automatically decided that as Aussies generally want to please they mustn't be that smart. But really, they ain't dumb. They decide who they'll listen to & if you're full of it they'll just say "meh, toodles" and nick off. Very easy dogs to live with but very trainable - not sure why that's taken as unintelligent.

I think it's hilarious that they've put Aussies as unintelligent.

So would it be similar to Advantage? Guessing it wouldn't provide protection against mange

If you like Aussies & want to own one & feel like you can cope with the lifestyle, why not? Any dog is a commitment and I think if you mention your situation to a breeder they could probably suggest a suitable puppy. Not all Aussies are the same - even by the same sire!! My two Aussies I've had, while very similar are different in many ways.

My little mutt (Maltese x Silky terrier) had fantastic teeth last time I visited when she was 15 a bit yellow & stumpy but pretty impressive for her age

Greyhounds are great on farms! Not all of them have a terrible recall. Except when there's something oh-so-exciting!! Last week I went out for a bush walk with my SIL & her greyhound we also had her 2yo daughter with us and the Grey was walking along letting the little one hold her arm over her back for support. I'm sure a Grey could learn to jump on a ute or at least be helped on & off. IMO a farm is a great place for the right Greyhound!

So sorry to hear Huski

I love the greyhounds too, my SIL has a couple that she adopted after racing, one of them is her new couch buddy and the other lets my niece paint her toenails!! Lovely, sweet, friendly dogs. We're still careful about puppies around them but it's more a precaution than anything. I have friends who really really dislike them, for ridiculous reasons such as "they can't even sit properly" and they "don't have brains" and "they aren't even like a real dog" (one of the oldest dog breeds...? Really?). But I think the one greyhound they had experience with was one that wasn't house trained & was a bit neurotic I've been looking after my SIL's greyhounds and I love their pointy little noses snuffling at me when I've got their food and their silly yips of excitement. So cute and goofy.

Oh so glad it turned out!! Trying to find a place with a dog is so much more difficult than it should be it's always the lowest common denominator that makes it difficult for the rest of us. Well done getting your doggie family back together

Oh yeah, having a serious conversation with someone then they crack up laughing at your dog's "lipstick" hanging out Great for their comedic timing.

I'd be wary of taking my young dog out anywhere until it's 12 weeks old personally, after those main vaccinations are up to date. Before that I'd be too worried about them catching something. Personally I'm extra careful now not to upset my dog's immunity as I live on a farm where there are the odd mangey foxes so if my dog isn't in tip top health he's more susceptible. Having recently lost a dog to a horrific reaction to Revolution (selamectin) I'm not touching any of those medications with a 10 foot pole, so basically all I can do is keep my current puppy in the best health possible & out of the bush as much as possible (difficult when you want to go on walks around the paddocks) to prevent him from getting mange.

I actually thought it was quite funny made me snigger. It's obviously a parody & I lost it at the peanut butter shot