Isabel964

Katey, I lost my eus who was 13 years old to cancer in August. It feels like it was only yersterday. His breathing got weird at 4am on a Sunday morning and I sat with him until 6am when he died in my arms. God it was heartwrenching and heartbreaking. I thought I would break into two. I miss him very much. He had a mate. A female kelpie and to cut a bit of a long story short, for her good I needed to bring another dog into the home. I got Jindi and it was the best thing for our Kelpie girl and for us. She does not replace Zeus in anyway, but she diverts our attention from grief into laughter and other positive things. Maybe you can go to a few sessions of grief counselling. Its not silly and it will likely be really helpful. Our dogs are part of our family, often they are like children to us, and though they are only expected to live that long, we still feel so incredibly cheated when they are gone. It sound simple, but its not....but I think you also can try to find some way to move on, and not to cling on. Us humans can get very clingy sometimes. To find a way to move on, takes alot of courage. For me, I focus on the life we had together - that it was good and it was special and I take comfort in the fact that Zeus always knew I loved him so very him. Maya knows you loved him and he is an angel right there with you. He wants to you to be happy because you deserve it for all that you gave him over those treasured precious 15 years you had together. Another I idea I have is that maybe you could make something which is like a tribute to Maya. So that might be a special collection of photos in a large frame, or a quilt, or maybe find a tree and grow it...whatever works for you. Then once you have done that, it reflects your love for Maya, your committment to him, and your commitement to being ok - and it will forever be a tribute to Maya. I don't know if I have helped but I wish you well.

Hi Wayne. I think you must be the Wayne I met last Saturday at the Herding Workshop. I was the one with the smokey coloured Kelpie and the baby Westie. Glad to see you have joined us here, and thanks for all your help on Saturday.

Yes its at the same place. Its run by a very nice lady and it is a boarding kennel place. But its huge and there is lots of space. As David has mentioned, he is working on making it a really cool place....a doggy fun park with a fully accredited Agility course there and all sorts of things in the near future. It is right next to Tullamarine airport, though its easy to imagine you are in the middle of rural Victoria.

David I do have some video footage. Not much, but a few bits. I just have no idea how to post that. If anyone knows please PM me. In the meantime, I'll find out how to send it you via email

You know I couldn't believe it was so beautiful near the airport. While herding we could see the planes come and go....we were right near the border of the back of the airport. YHet it was so beautiful. I am the sort of person who loves nature. I live the city rat race life in computers/I.T and if I don't see an ocean, a valley or a lake every three months I start to get a bit looney :D As I drove to the herding workshop I marvelled at the cows...not in square bare tree-less paddocks, but in sloping tree filled areas that went on forever with streams running through them. I saw cows chasing each other, having fun...'living'. Even at the property we were herding at the cows came through there in the middle of the day. I have to admit that I'm a bit of a dag and I stopped the car, wound down the window and took those shots as I left the property....I couldn't help myself I thought it might give some peopel a 'feeling' of what it was like too...especially people not from Melbourne or surrounds.

I'm sure your dog would be fine. You need not worry because David will be able to tell if your dog will be ok. good example is Jyra. She was pretty full on, but mostly David said she had wolf instincts that were very strong. She looked like she was going eat the lot of them. She did nip a bit which they shouldn't do but not badly and in the big paddock Jyra tended to pick off one sheep and single it out......like a wolf. But David said Jyra had really great potential and she just needs to be well controlled. She sure loved it. Anyway, I say its worth a try.

Pippi I'm so sorry for calling Byron Bandit - At least I got the first letter correct Maybe he is mishievous and I picked up on that I wish I was like some of you who felt useless. I really want Punpun to get get into it. She is kelpie (mostly) and she is a very submissive insecure dog. If I didn't have her since 4 months of age I would swear she had been mistreated. But she is just sooky. We had a very strong male dog and the two got on beautifully. But since he went to the rainbow bridge she is starting to come out of her shell. I am really hoping that she will take to herding. On the day though she did ok in the first two session, after that she had no interest at all, none....NUDDA. So I will go again and spend time with David to see if he can bring out the 'drive' in her. It would be so good for her in so many ways. Huge thanks to David, the man with the patience of a saint and who put in so much effort....and to Geoff who was absolutely fantastic! You guys could double up herding days as a health farm day by training us to herd with Rosie and get fit :D

Finally got my photos sorted out, though there are some duplicates and I spelt Gambit incorrectly (Sorry Wendy I will edit that ASAP) Herding Photos From Saturday

Photobucket is not playing nice with me this evening. I'll try again tomorrow.

okok. I went out tonight, just got back....photos will up soon

Today some of us attended one of the Herding workshops where our dogs had opportunities to herd sheep. I chose the wording carefully, because all got the opportunity and all reacted differently. The people involved in running the day were all fantastic - what a great group of people. We saw real working dogs herd sheep, We got to understand some of how dogs think and behave in terms of their drives, we got an insight into what was behind it all and put it into practise. Most of us herded sheep ourselves and some even took turns at being the dog My kelpie surprised me at how interested she was in the morning sessions and she did pretty well.....really well. In the afternoon however she lost interest but I think she was totally kazonked by then. I plan to take her again to see if she was just tired or simply not interested. I really am hoping that she is interested as I would very much like her to be able to do it regulalry. Its such a great activity, both mentally and physically, ...and gives me a good workout too. Anyway it was also so great to meet other people from here and their absolutely beautiful dogs and I hope to see more of you in the future. Thanks to all involved for a unique and fantastic day. The dogs would say thanks too, but funnily enough they are fast asleep right now ;) Edited: I'll post a link to photos when I chance to upload them. My camera is only little so not sure about the quality of the photos...hopefully I have a few good ones.

I wonder if its too late to come. I have a left a voicemail with David this afternoon but haven't heard back. I think I filled in the form but didnt make payment yet. David are you here?

I actually came across Innova at Pets Paradise. I told the guy there that I was very impressed with the ingredients but I wanted to choose a product that was widely available as well as being good. He told me about the vet that has it or will be supplying it. I think I know the vet he was referring to. Its on High Street...Ashburton or Mt Waverley. I am pretty sure he said it was about to be distributed to vets and gave that one as an example. After reading your comments here, I will definitely look further into this. I should be abkle to find out more in about a week. If it is true and Innova is becoming available outside Pets Paradise, I will post a new topic so you can all see it clearly. Thanks for your comments. Is it ok to feed my 4.5 month old Innova as well as some rice and mince lamb or chicken? Of couirse I would reduce the amounjt of kibble she gets. Would that give her enough vitamins and minerals etc?

In Melbourne its also available in some vet clinics. I guess the qwuestion for you could be if it was available elsewhere for you, would you try it based on the ingredients?

I bought some Innova Puppy food (dry) after getting a very good sales pitch from a nice guy. I have a 4 month old Westie. The ingredients seemd good - to my limited knowledge, but I would really like the opinion of others. Here are the ingredients as they are listed on the packet: Turkey, Chicken, Chicken Meal, Barley, Brown Rice, Cottage Cheese, Tomatoes, Hemp Oil, Chicken Fat (Preserved with mixed tocopherois), Flaxseed, Potatoes, Herring, Apples, Carrots, ALfalfa SProuts, Eggs, Garlic, Taurine, Dicalcium Phosphate, dl-alpha Tocopherol, Sodium Ascorbate, Chicory Root Extract, Freeze-dried AEnteroccous faecium fermentation product, freeze-dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, freeze-dried lactobacillus casel fermentation product, freeze-dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, potassium chloride, choline chloride, calcium carbonate, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, carotene, niacin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, vitamin D3 supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Calcium Oidate, Biotin Guaranteed Analysis Crude Protein 26% Crude Fat 12% Crude Fibre 3.5% Moisture 10% Vit E 1000 IU/kg Vit C 500mg/kg Linoleic Acids (Omega6) 3.9% Fatty Acids (Omega 3) 1.3% Totak microorganisms 100,000,000CFU/LB 4000 kcal/kg 500kcal/cup