Aleksandra 157

I would love to know the brushes ,combs etc you recommend for my three long haired spitz.I get them professionally groomed 6 weekly ,but need to brush every second day to keep on top of it.i have various brushes but most need replacing,so would love to hear what you've had success with, thanks .Alex.

I used to breed Birman cats ,Gretel ,my favourite was a male called Mishka...hence the name :)

Thank you so much for the lovely comments! Yes, she really was worth waiting for .

I just read this thread ,or I would have replied earlier .I do the online training programme with DD.I have belonged for over a year and like his methods.Pack leader system with backing of the SPCA.

Last Friday I was so excited to get our new 10 week Keeshond . This makes three ,Lulu ,6yrs Ollie 7 months .I have always loved the Keeshond breed ,and have waited 5 years to get another from the same Kennels as my beloved Katie ,who passed 5 yrs ago. So far she has settled beautifully, I have moved for a few days to the spare bedroom and have her crate beside me.Ollie is in a pen and Lulu sleeps with us . Neither Ollie or Mishka woke until 7.30 am ,. She has picked up toilet training really well ,so hope it continues....Will now try to post a photo .

Happy Birthday Odie ,you are adorable!!

I will PM you ,D .They are not a Toy breed ,,but Lulu is more the size of a Pom ,although she is purebred . :)

Thank you for all the help ,I have ordered collar and harness online.Dancinbcs ,I should have said collapsing trachea .It is congenital and all toy dogs are prone to it ,especially Yorkies .My older JS didn't have it but Lulu got " the honking" cough at about a year.Apart from that Lulu is very healthy.I have heard of other JS over here with it.I can't find the excellent link I read about it but Web MD have an SPCA article on it under collapsing trachea.Hope this helps ,I'm sure the Martingale collar will be great. :)

Great suggestions, thank you .I will take her into town tomorrow and get one fitted .Fortunately she gets plenty of exercise being on acres ,but I like to have them lead walk as well. :)

Lulu is a very small 6yr old Japanese Spitz .She has always loved lead walks ,however every now and again will slip her collar .I have it as tight as is safe ,but shakes her head and off it comes! She did it recently on a busy intersection and fortunately I was able to pick her up or could have had disaster .I am reluctant to use a slip lead ,as the breed is susceptible to larynx problems ,and she shows some early signs of this occasionally .Quacks like a duck when she runs fast. I have used a harness but she can shake that off as well.Now I have Ollie as well I'm reluctant to walk them together.Any suggestions would be so helpful ,thanks . No 3 a 10 week Keeshond arrives on Friday....Really think she will be the last....long story. :)

Beautiful ,uplifting photos :)

What a Treasure!I'm late 60s so can relate... :)

Lulu is very much a one-person dog...that person being OH.They are inseparable ,his is the only knee she will sit on etc.However ,when I go out to get shopping etc ,both dogs just sit at the gate waiting for me to return.Then they go crazy..barking etc as if they haven't seen me for a month ,when it's only been an hour! Ollie loves both of us ,very affectionate to both. Love ? Definitely :)

These are all seriously beautiful photos! Great to see dogs so full of joy and energy .Jesse used to do that ,especially chasing a car on the other side of the fence! The small Spitz don't seem to though ,although Lulu might if she thought there was food involved. :)

I have a Japanese Spitz and a German Spitz ,if you decide in future to get another ,it is worth knowing that they are quite different in nature ,even though they look similar .Lulu is very aloof ,as was my last JS and definitely a one person dog,adores my husband.Ollie has a more outgoing nature and is every bodies friend .They are almost identical at present as Ollie is only 8 months,,but will grow a few inches taller than Lulu . :)

Jesse my Rough Collie ,24 kg played very well with Lulu ,my 5kg Japanese Spitz .Although so small she very definitely was in charge and he was very gentle with her.However ,we never left them together if we went out ,there was always the potential for an accidental bite etc.My sisters Standard Poodle plays well with our two little ones ,again only together when supervised ! :)

In my original post I was referring to a particular case ,where I live ,when a guy leaves his dog in the heat for several hours while he drinks with his mates .Dog was dead within 30 mins ,he reappeared 5 hours later.I was in no way judging anybody who has absent brain moment .I am forever being told how forgetful I am so sorry if anyone was offended by the post.

I am so sorry,too ,Kirty .there are none of us that can truthfully say we've never made a mistake with our animals .

That is so sad ,OsoSwift ,Yes accidents do happen the poor owner would be distraught.The dog in the news here was left for over 4 hours in the car with windows all up .I live in a area where people come from many cooler places for the heat and sun. for their holidays .It really is a huge problem here . I got a rego no announced over the supermarket loudspeaker after I saw a small dog in distress just last week.

Considering the area this happened ,this low life would have been in drinking with his mates! Makes me sick....

No didn't get fined as police thought "he'd learned a good lesson" . Yeah Right !!

So sad when I read this morning that a Border Collie died after being left locked in the car for hours ,while owner "forgot him" while visiting his mates .This happened not far from where I live .SPCA have been called out 5 times in 4 days to break into cars ,left in heat .Sad ,some people never learn.

I always feed twice a day ,agree with cavNrot that it is too long for a toy breed to go with no food . I don't feed until midday ,then again about 5pm .I like them to have plenty of time to run around before bed ,so not sleeping on a full stomach. :)

Wishing you all a Happy ,safe and Peaceful 2015 From Alex ,Lulu and Ollie :)

Likewise ,gentle hugs from me.You are having more than your share at present ,with Feathers problems etc. The photo of him is just so beautiful ,all tucked up with his heat pad .Hope tomorrow shows some improvement :)