Kavik

Stainless steel here too :) I go pretty basic with mine :) http://www.vetnpetdirect.com.au/KM7720#.VutSG3xf2zk Have had some of mine for over 12 years, still perfect. Also very cheap. Just had a peek at the Durapet ones while I was there - very nice! May get that next time

I only watched a smidge of this. dont they teach dogs to walk at heel anymore? I think some of them were very young/green dogs, barely more than puppies really

Compare to the GSDs in the Crufts Police dog display

German Shepherds are supposed to be a WORKING breed, capable of herding sheep, police work, etc. Since the dog at Crufts looks like it can hardly walk, let alone work sheep or chase and bring down a felon, it is a more obvious difference than the Peke which is a companion dog (plus all the hair on the Peke makes it harder to see its structure where the GSD has less hair)

What a message it would have sent though if the judge had chosen not to put anyone up!

Even if all the dogs were like that, I think she could choose not to award

If I get another GSD (unlikely at this point, but Diesel is OH's favourite so there is always a possibility I guess :laugh: ) I will be looking for something like this (and this one happens to look a lot like Diesel lol)

Here is a short video from Crufts best of breed for German Shepherds.

What breeds are the dogs? I agree with Willem in that some breeds are more easily excited than others, and that you can to some extent influence this, some of this is how they are. I have 2 Kelpies and a GSD. My GSD has always been a very laid back dog despite living with Kelpies his whole life, and the Kelpies are very excitable, despite my current ones always having lived with the GSD. It is just how they are! If you are getting a breed that is laid back generally, it will be easier for you to keep your dog gentle and relaxed despite the other dog, whereas if you are getting a breed that is naturally easily excitable and energetic, you will have more difficulty keeping it relaxed.

All I am going to suggest is to maybe look into a small/medium breed that is fairly gentle rather than a bully type breed, just because bully type breeds can be a bit bulldozer like, very friendly but barge into things and people. To build your daughter's confidence a gentle breed may be better

No, not all of the colours are ANKC recognised

I think I've been asked every time I take Nitro to the vet :laugh: From vaccinations, to when I had his retained baby tooth removed ( I was asked multiple times then, by more than one person!), and I got a reminder in the mail. They just assume you will get it done. Nitro is still entire :)

Your local vet should be able to give you a price guide for desexing. Price varies practice to practice depending on lots of things such as location of practice, type of anaesthetic used, weight of dog etc.

Running agility is fun! What a buzz when it all goes well! A great social aspect as well, catching up with friends, walking and analysing courses and deciding how to tackle them, watching some truly spectacular runs (as well as those that didn't go quite to plan!) and congratulating (or commiserating) with each other afterwards. Really looking forward to getting out in the ring again with my youngster! Missing it already lol.

I would go see a professional if your dog has now escalated to barking/growling/lunging at people. You don't want that to get worse This is my 'go to' for reactivity - Look at That https://clickerleash.wordpress.com/2009/08/23/look-at-that-a-counterintuitive-approach-to-dealing-with-reactive-dogs/ I am also going to get this DVD for my dog who is easily overaroused (but very friendly), it also looks like it should have some great ideas for dogs that are reactive https://nbn.absolute-dogs.com/n86ypq7 Here is an example of some of their ideas - this is a precursor for teaching your dog to be comfortable wearing a muzzle https://game.absolute-dogs.com/muzzle-love6fpimq5e

mine get fed separately, food bowls removed straight away. That way I know how much everyone is getting, and they also get different food

Same as most of the others, adult size and didn't section off

We are still struggling with a lot of things Overarousal, barking and bouncing, especially in stays and around equipment, running off, zoomies, takes off with toys etc So we've taken a break from equipment training, working on focus around the equipment and other dogs at training, crate games, tugging games, shaping, body awareness I've ordered the Naughty but Nice DVD, so hopefully that will give me more ideas. Hopefully we will get into the ring sometime in his lifetime

I have the narrowest Syn Tek long lead, and I find it great! Only thing I have found is it is a bit slippery when wet but other than that it is great, feels lovely. My dog is only a Kelpie so not sure if the smallest is up to a larger dog, huski should be able to help there.

While the Bull Breeds are not going to be a 'guard dog' as most love people, they would be a deterrent, when my OH had a Bull Terrier when we met, people were terrified of her and would cross the road to avoid her

No border collies are much better So people would like to think :D

And Kelpies are not Border Collies with short hair :laugh:

As Podengo said, Yard work is done in smaller spaces of the yard, through the races, sometimes backing the sheep. Paddock work is done in the larger spaces of the paddock, where stock may be a longer distance away and possibly spread out. Some dogs do better at one or the other, some dogs do both. Thinking about the environment, a dog working in a yard would have to be OK in tight spaces close to the stock, and a dog working in the paddock would have to be good at locating stock in a large area and go a distance away from the handler. I'd say temperament of parents and the pup itself as well as the dedication of the owner to give the dog a physical and mental outlet rather than yard or paddock type would be more important for how well the dog would adjust to being a pet/living in suburbia.

Something else to consider is to teach your dog to retrieve objects to you that he picks up instead of running away with them. Easier said than done I know, I am training this at the moment with my young dog who likes to play keep away with items :laugh: