Brandiandwe

Try Mountain Designs clearance outlets. Some fantastic hiking boots and shoes for 50-70% off. I wear hiking boots. I don't mind walking in any weather, but my feet must be dry!

We had a a Forrester but when we looked at the new model (had an 09 and were looking at a 2013), we found that the boot had actually decreased in useful space. They made it deeper so there was more height, but it had less floor room so we couldn't fit our then two greys in it.

I keep a close eye on Benny to make sure he's still fine. Given he's out in front for most of our walks, I think he is, but we alternate long walks with short ones each day now to keep everyone comfortable. The time will come that he'll get a special walk with one of the others and we walk at his pace. I've been known to pull my car over in peak hour traffic just to tell someone that I loved seeing their senior standard poodle out for his stroll. Moving slowly, but clearly happy and very loved.

Given the discussions about greyhound walks, I'm part of a group who meet regularly at Parramatta Park to walk our greys. We've also welcomed along whippets, a particularly fluffy husky and whoever else is interested. All we ask is that people be mindful of the fact that some greys are breed snobs so to make sure all introductions are appropriate, and that all greys are muzzled or green collared, and leashed appropriately (actually all dogs to be leashed appropriately, but you know what I mean). If anyone would like to come along, our next one is on the 14th of March starting at 8 am (early to miss the heat. Looking forward to later starts in winter). We're on the Hills Hounds FB page.

A little different, but I'm in contact with Paige's breeder and trainer every few months. Paige never raced, so was a nice expensive waste as far as racing was concerned, but her trainer still loves hearing about her, loves the photos and hearing about all of Paige's little adventures. She also made the effort to travel to Sydney to meet me and see Paige when we were at an adoption event. I've been in contact with Hermon's last trainer once - she cried when she found out that H-Dude had made it home, and was sitting on the sofa beside DH watching Top Gear - but there has been no further contact. I tend to let the trainer/ breeder guide me - I got no further emails or responses to phone calls, so I think they're happy Hermon is home and let it e. They know where we are if they want to contact us again. I'm delighted Paige's old one still wants to hear about her. She's always asking questions, and thanks me for the photos and the updates. If she didn't want to hear, I think she'd tell me, but it heartens me that a little black failure is still important enough to her to enjoy hearing about over three years later.

Last week Benny turned 10. In between a whole lot of personal stuff going on and a very stressful last week, we only got to mark it today with a stroll around Parramatta Park. He did well given he hasn't walked much due to the heat - he really doesn't cope well, so summer has been very lazy for him. But managed about 2.5 km today with the others, watched the ducks with interest, had a good sniffandpee session, before coming home to a good breakfast and a snooze. We went to eh vet last week for a 6 month check up, and he's looking good. He's put on some weight, his teeth are good and he's muscled up a little. The vet's happy. So for his birthday, we're starting the process of getting his Green Collar. He's also the dog who manages to wangle his way onto our bed more often than the others, still loves his snuggles on the couch and is quite a good watch dog - he's the one sounding the alarm when people come through the gate. We love him! Happy birthday Buttons! And one of my view from my bed. This is a not uncommon sight when I wake up in the morning and Benny has decided he needs snuggles at night.

Cheering here!

Yes, of course. But the question is how widespread? And how many people do I know personally, who I have seen as caring and loving their dogs, who have shared their knowledge and time with me, are involved? This week has been a perfect storm in many ways, with questions being raised about many things which I will not air on a public forum. Suffice to say that I am not sleeping and am trying to work out who, among people I have trusted to be working in the best interests of this breed, have and are acting in direct opposition to it, and in ways which are simply depraved and inhumane.

In the US, greyhound adoption is huge. They also have a much bigger population and also shift dogs to Canada. That said, many dogs were also sold to coyote hunters.... I couldn't watch the programme and have spent most of the day caught between tears and vomiting. It's definitely possible to train dogs without this, and the damage being done to the breed is devastating. It's also sad that I went out very early walking this morning while it was still dark and will be checking to see if I am still welcome to take one along to our scheduled pet therapy visit this week. All the work done, and I'm feeling very ambivalent now about racing as a whole. So much needs to change. Breeding needs to be controlled, higher levels of supervision by independent bodies, serious penalties, and very serious work done on assessing dogs as pets.

I work quite closely with GAP. I prefer their approach because they work with owners and trainers to think of a career for their dogs post-racing, be that as a puppy or a dog who's won tens or hundreds of dollars. I'm in touch with one of my dogs' trainers/ breeders. Paige never raced, but this trainer loves seeing the pictures and reading the updates of Paige's life as Ruler Of The Universe. My own view of greyhound racing is that the breeding must be contained and controlled - limiting the number of people who can breed, and controlling the dogs who are bred from. This is done with other breeds and with many horse breeds, but the number of greys bred needs to be reduced. I've also used bark muzzles for training. It's easier to get treats into the mouths with them at classes but I don't exercise them in them and never in the heat.

Paige sleeps beside me on her bed. First sound of birds outside she starts staring at me, with little huffs. Then she stands up, puts her chin on the bed and continues staring and huffing. If I don't open my eyes, she then wuffs at me. These gradually increase in volume till I get up. Hubby sleeps through, although once when I was in the loo, I heard a yip, an explosion of bedclothes and swearing. Came out to find hubby sitting on the side of the bed looking confused and awake, and Paige standing at a distance watching him curiously. Apparently she decided he needed to be awoken, so she shoved her nose into his armpit then barked at him, which woke him from a deep sleep suddenly, with no idea what had woken him.

Lake Parramatta is fantastic....but a deceptively long walk. The particular bit I'm thinking of is where you can see the car park, but need to keep on walking..... A gentler option is Parramatta Regional Park. Gates there shut at 8pm.

I'd be thinking about what you you are planning to do in the next five years. How about ten years? Will you be moving out? Going to Uni? Locally? Studying what? Will you be working? How much time will you have for a dog, any dog? Because you're at an age when things are likely to change a great deal in the next ten years. If you move out, what are your chances of finding accommodation which will allow you to have a dog? Are your parents happy to have a dog living with them if not? If you're working full time (40 hours a week or more), will you be happy not socialising and coming home to spend time with the dog? If you're at Uni, how will you juggle study, work and a social life? You said you were originally planning to go overseas. Is that something you may want to do in the future? What about the dog then? Can your parents manage a large dog? An active dog? Are they prepared to? If so, what sort of dog? Are they prepared to pay the vet bills, food, boarding if you go on holidays? Will you or they get up to walk it before school, work or Uni? After work? In all weathers? I ask all of this because I work with Uni students. They have lives which are incredibly busy, changing, in flux. That's as it should be. But it's also a time when taking in a commitment like a dog isn't ideal without a great deal of support. Some people your age or a bit older do manage, but I think they are the exception rather than the rule. You may also be the exception, but I think you need to think through all if the above questions and talk about them with your parents. And to choose a dog which you all like. Or wait until you have the financial and social stability to support and manage a dog by yourself.

We feed twice a day because we otherwise get hunger vomiting. It seems to work.

You do good work! Very nice dogs!

I always need to say hi to Rolf and the others! Sweetpea is looking great too. But my favourite out there is Hunter. And Paige.

Benny is a DOL dog. We got him out of the pound on the first of June this year thanks to a coordinated effort of DOLers , and he came to us for fostering. We (DH and I) then decided that we could manage him and didn't want to risk rehoming him at the age of 9.5, so he now lives with three other greys. Apart from what might be termed benign neglect (no exercise, looooong nails and corns, and appalling teeth) he has come together again, though the feet and muscle tone are gone forever I fear, but I do feel answerable to the DOL collective! He's a poppet!

It's been over 6 months now, and Benny fits in here like he's always been here. He's got clean teeth and has put on a bit of weight, walks along happily with the others, and spends his time lying down or chasing lizards with the others. Our biggest concern in the corn on his left front paw. It's made him very lame over the past week, the core isn't coming out, and I'm thinking a therapaw boot might be the next stage for him. Looking at him, you can see the remodelling of his shoulder to compensate: drives me insane! A relatively easy thing to manage at the start (by keeping his nails short) is now something which impacts him in an ongoing fashion. Grrrr. That aside, he is a complete snugglebum and delight. Here are a few photos from Christmas when he took part in a greyhound Secret Santa. His Santa was in America and sent him some lovely things. Unfortunately, he was too warm to really enjoy them. In his lovely new collar. With all his loot! At our Christmas picnic for a walking group. Running with everyone. He's beside the brindle dog. Can't quite catch up or keep up with everyone, but does enjoy himself.

Loff loff loff them!

I'd love a Borzoi then a Rottie. But given a few small possible developments in the next while, I'm thinking a whippet might be on the cards.

Sigh. I so want one!

We've got habitual offenders here including the idiot who watched both of his dogs almost get run over as they raced across the road to get to mine. As small aggressive fluffies, my lot would have made mincemeat if them, muzzles or not. As it was, the car missed them by literally inches. But they still get walked unleashed, still charge at us, and now get sworn at as I manage my dogs and realise that my training has been out back another week as far as reactivity goes.

That's just gorgeous!

I've used peanut butter from a spoon. Give it to everyone else first then Poochie needing the pill is desperate not to miss out. Vegemite works too. Cheese. Tuna.

I have four greys. My biggest raced set 40 ish kilos as Big Block. He is Costco sized. On the other hand, my little Princess Paige is only 27 kilos and really is a medium sized dog. I don't know if greys would be right for you and it sounds like you're leaning towards a different breed, but there is a massive variety in shapes and sizes. That said, my big boy is definitely the most laid back of all of mine.