sunny1shine

if you are going down that route, some cordage, duct tape wrapped around a pencil, some paper and a few caribiners

water purification tablets may be something to consider over bottled water, unless you are re bottling water every few days. can also store documents on a usb and keep that with your stuff in case internet goes down and you cant access anything on cloud storage.

I love my http://boldleaddesigns.com/shop/the-perfect-pace-no-pull-halter-leash/ its leash + head halter in one, very light weight and I barely notice I have a leash on my lab truck. also doesnt look like your dog has a muzzle on, in face wit ha dark brown dog and a brown leash, it doesnt look like she has anything on.

fantastic!

on the plus side, sounds like your neighbourhood is good enough that you don't suspect the humans. So you have that going for you!

Doctor Wash is also starting his own Practice. He specialises in canine ears, eyes, and butts. As an added service he offers lab-analysis on all substances(by way of a far-away look in his eyes whilst his teeth chatter for about 30 seconds whilst processing the data)

I'm relatively new to owning labs, 3 years in and have 2. I love the versatility of the breed and from what I've met I sway towards the more athletic, higher drive labs. I love that the breed is able to fill the role of high drive customs dogs and also guide dogs. I love breeders that know what role their dogs will excel at and ensure their dogs are paired with owners that want the same. It is interesting that the show line labs are referred to as English and the athletic ones as American especially as the nicest field type labs I've seen come from England - I need to meet an adderslot lab as I've not met one from American lines before and theirs look fantastic.

Love the media, they call a dog they have no picture of a 'pit bull' then show a photo of this womans sweet dog - which had the story been reversed, the media would have been calling a 'pit bull'. If it bites someone = 'pit bull' for any confused media- this is a 'pit bull' those things you are calling 'pit bulls' are just mixed breed dogs.

they have one near me and they have member nights / puppy school reunions where they've invited out flyball club to do some demo's at. haven't used the rest of the services, their VIP member programme doesn't have points accumulation which is the norm at other pet stores near me. But the VIP gets a better price on certain products (best price on kong products with the vip) their puppy school was the best value I found and used a dedicated room / dedicated facilitator, didn't push products on me (or I have learnt to just block that out really well) they regularly play Queen for their piped music, and some blues traveller. Which hurts me as I have a rule of if queen or barenaked ladies are playing I need to buy something from the store playing them - luckily I only ever go when I know I need to buy something.

she isn't trying hard enough, my little ripper managed to pull the stuffing out through the alien octos mouth in the time it took me to put the camera away! I havent thought of xmas gifts for the dogs yet, the snuffle mat looks like fun though!

$1600 is basically right on current price points. Both parents test results are important - breed guide is lower numbers for hip and elbow tests the better- also keeping the total of each below 12 - and that the scores are better being even ie: 5:4 (=9) better than a 7:1(=8) even though 8 is lower its not as even. See what the breeder does with their dogs- do they show or participate in a sport (you may end up finding a new hobby from it) Decent breeders will have an idea from the pairing what type of pups they are looking for- high drive, laid back - and then after pups born they should get an idea on individual pups temperament. work with the breeder for what you are after. -I have a chocolate girl that had blue eyes when born -breeder assured me the eyes would go the same colour as the mums -a hazel green. we asked for a high drive dog - we got one (and its awesome) -just got a yellow boy - asked for laid back -we got it- lazy boy wont move out of your way, but when there's treats or pats the most beautiful do anything for you personality. you could also ask the breeder on opinions on desexing -what do they prefer (current research is pointing towards much later desexing after dogs reach maturity)

not soft or with sides but big, cheap and washable http://www.ikea.com/aa/en/catalog/products/80213248/ I haven't tried it myself but an IKEA cot mattress, then a few of their mattress protectors. To cover it a cheap KMART single bed doona cover - or ikea sell http://www.ikea.com/aa/en/catalog/products/90122257/

agree on dogs are better off being lean than fattened up. Some dogs do self regulate and will only eat when hungry (or so I've heard, I own labs who have never met food they wont eat) Is she getting treats during the day that may be satisfying her hunger? Another thought is usually the suggested serving size on commercial dog food can often be double what dogs actually need. If you are concerned your dog isn't eating well enough, a small teaspoon of coconut oil and some warm water may get them interested, or there is fish meal topper available online as an appetiser.

please finish this sentence! (Frenchies are I breed I've been following for friends who are interested but I've never been able to wholeheartedly recommend the breed to them, low litter sizes, health issues, I would love the breed to thrive and not be such a novelty, but from what I've seen the high prices per pup are completely necessary for good breeders, but on the flip side are making $$ $$ flash in the wrong type of breeders eyes)

yes, that exact one, was up on a really high shelf, had to ask staff to get it down for me. wasnt on their display level shelves.

Thank you for starting this thread. I didn't realise there was an alternative to cutting the nails. Mine used to tolerate nail trims but the last time we went to the vet to get them done, the vet nurse took them away without me to trim them. When she bought them back she told me the youngest would need to be sedated next time and the oldest needed a muzzle. Dogs have never growled at a person before. Both dogs were highly distressed when they got back to me and have been hard to hold to trim nails since. Log story short after reading this thread I went to bunnings and bought an ozito. It's only taken 3 sessions for both dogs to tolerate the grinder happily. The flexible attachment has made it so much easier to use.

I think Potato is a lovely name. Po or Tay-ters for short! not very aussie though

from a chronic namer: both you and hubby make a list, give lists to eachother and circle names on eachothers list that you like, make new list. pick perfect name for pup then one year down the track realise you call the yellow lab- "lazy boy" or "stink bug" more than you call them their actual name! more name suggestions: Barry- Baz garry - Gaz

could always try contacting kong to let them know and also see if they have any old stock http://www.kongcompany.com/the-world-of-kong/contact-us/

All I see is free postage and now I HAVE to buy something from here Its not unreasonable for dogs to have a collar for every day of the week right?

wasnt many freebies at the Melbourne one this year, but one main chain pet stall did 50% off all stock there at the end on sunday. best time is had being in one of the breed stalls, even if joe public do ask if a labrador retriever is a new breed of a lab x golden retreiver.

certainly has me interested, and my dogs are barely out of either of our sights. This is the closest to what I would expect with current technology available and more - the lights are something I wouldn't have wanted but now they are on offer- yes!

I love the comfort flex style of martingale, has been very nice on my labs coat http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=1772&ParentCat=472

I couldnt work out how much bone is in the meals you linked. If your little one is always hungry perhaps try feeding a little more bone. One chicken wing for breakfast keeps my lab full* until dinner *lab full: will still eat any food given to her or left in an opportunistic spot, but will not stand at the treat cupboard barking

I also like to hang around out the front of supermarkets / shopping centres (put down a towel/blanket if not fully immunised). some days you wont get a look at, other days you'll get people who come up. I take some treats and if kids ask permission from their parents and me to pat, I'll ask the kids to hold their hand out and if the pup sits nicely let the pup take the food (training children to interact appropriately and the pup at the same time) even if no one pats the pup, I still give lots of treats when shopping trolleys are seen / weird things happen / pup sitting nicely / pup looking at me. socialisation doesn't need to be pats / cuddles, it can be as simple as being in the same environment as lots of people / noises / moving things.