Willowlane

Unfortunately we also have a 14week old puppy who I need to accommodate and I don think she will hold her bladder for 5.5/6hrs other wise we have the perfect room we could turn into a dog room with toys, crates etc. We do have a safe fence we can enclose the pergola in and have 1 or 2 crates under with toys etc but I think she will still bark.

Im going to organise a phone consult with Steve :) best way to go I think

Yes the Aussie one hangs from a strong tree or pergola. The teather tug I have not been able to get onto them but have left a message asking for her to call me back. The info on the page says the medium one is 10-16kgs, Bully breeds of all sizes require XL. The info on the large says 'The Tether Tug Large is the bigger, stronger sibling of the original Tether Tug. Built with a stronger, thicker core, the Tether Tug Large is designed for dogs between 15-27kg and for strong pulling breeds less than 15kg (Bully breeds require an XL). The Large's knotted rope toy is set higher than the original Tether Tug, but still provides the same level of energetic play as the original. The Large comes with an in-ground base that allows the tug to spin and turn, as well as a quick connector to allow for toy changes.'

Thankyou, I found her number and am off too her show training class tonight :D

So Mapie barks and is getting much much better with the help of Steve from K9Pro's training but with me possibly getting a job in the near future...like in a week things will need to be sped up a bit. I will be at work for 5hours plus 1hrs travel and my husband will be home for 1.5hrs after I leave in the morning of that so she will only be alone for 5.5hrs. Could she hold her bladder for 5.5hrs in a crate? She doesn't bark in the crate, if I gave her water and some marrow bones plus under cover and shade or ideally inside. I finish at 12 and would be home by 12.30, 1 at the latest and she would have the rest of the afternoon outside. She would also spend 2hr outside in the morning. I really dont know what to do

Im thinking of buying one of these for my English Springer Spaniel who LOVES TUG. To be used primarily when we are away from home and she is at home alone and out in the yard with our other dog. Im hoping it will give her something to do and keep her amused. She is only 14weeks but is 10kgs already and has a good strong bite. Im aware of not wanting to put too much pressure on her teeth or body and joints especially yet so called both companies and asked what sizes I should get for her age and weight. The worry I have with the Aussie Dog Home Alone Bungie Toy is that she has to jump vertically, hang there, then drop vertically to play with it which is not good for her joints. Pro's are it is treat dispensing occasionally so rewarding, but the toy its self should be rewarding enough itself? This is the video it has a video in the lower right very bottom hand corner of how the lady said it should ideally be used: https://aussiedog.com.au/product/home-alone-medium-2/ The Teather Tug Original is tried and tested all over the world and gives a more tug like experience. This is the description 'The toy comes with a 140cm Tether Tug pole, an in-ground base that allows the tug to remain firmly in the ground and be removed when needed, and a knotted rope toy with a "quick connector" to allow for easy changing of toys when needed (three are 3 different toys you can choose from). Flexible construction allows toy to turn, bend, and stretch during play' This is the web address of the page it has a photo: http://www.politepaws.com.au/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1408 So does anyone have any experience with either of these toys or an opinion on which one might be best? Thankyou so much WL

Well we survived a freezing Canberra last weekend and I mean -6 degrees at night and when we lefts the show on the Sunday at 12pm it was still only 3 degrees!! My hands were so cold and purple I tried to stack Willow for one claass but couldn't feel my hands and had to apologise to the judge how embarassing Anyway my girl was a star and although at this show we had some issues with our running our stacking improved . We even got a second call out in the sweepstakes! She also won both baby puppy classes from the line up of her....cant wait till we have some competition, all good practice for me though and thats exactly what I need. I think the best bit of the weekend was when the sweepstakes judge pulled me aside after the judging and asked if I was new (I think he already knew this lol but was being polite) and said I have a really good puppy there but I just need to work on my confidence and lead work. Talk about a boost of motivation and drive to keep working even harder and push myself for more :D :D :D !! So now back into hospital where I have been for the last 2weeks. I got a weekend pass to compete at Canberra and will hopefully get a weekend pass to compete at Bungendore this weekend. It might take some pleading with my doctor but I really really want to go even if I do sleep for the next 24hrs straight lol So for now Bye to All WL

Hi everyone Im after a contact number for Pauline who runs the show training classes at Castle Hill. Can anyone help me, feel free to pm me if preferred. Cheers WL

They look super Huski! I wish I could find even a normal crate that would fit properly in a sedan car (in the back seat). To fit 2 dogs would be even better, one on either side with a partition in between. Anyone every seen anything like this before?

Hi Melissa I thought I would give you some info on my experiences on dogs as we (my family and I) have owned both crosses and purebreds over the last 27+ years. We had purebred Rotweilers when I was growing up, then a purebred Welsh Springer Spaniel (we got him for free from a breeder as he had grown over height and couldn't be shown anymore) and a purebred Golden Retriever. Next came another purebred Welsh Springer Spaniel (my first dog who I still have) and our first pet shop purchase a silky x maltese. Next was a Begalier (beagle x Cavalier King charles spaniel) but he is quiet big for a 'begalier' so I think he's been crossed with more a hound type dog and a Chihuahua x maltese x Silky, her two brothers were very Chihuahua with short coats, she is very very fluffy...just shows how different litters can be even thought they are from the exact same parents. Next dogs was sprocket a border collie who was full border collie but being a pet store purchase (even though not from a super market was not hip scored and he needed a full hip replacement by the age of 3! Mostly all purebred dogs with any questions regarding hip issues have their parents hip scores available for you to view. Then my dog Mapie a cocker spaniel, I know she is back yard bred as she is slightly bigger than your purebred cocker but she has all the same traits, looks (even cocker breeders have said she just a big cocker) lol I would never buy a pet store dog again after the trouble we had with the border collie and his hips but I adore my girl and everything she is. To me she is 100% perfect in every way. Last purchases have been Oaki a purebred Border Collie whose parents are all tested! and Willow a Purebred English Springer Spaniel who is just divine. Although we have owned both purebred and what I call derivatives (crosses) most of our crosses have deviations in their conformation, mostly slightly wonky legs etc but overall except the hip replacement everyone has been very healthy...purebred and derivative I would now only ever buy from a registered breeder, no more pet stores be it in a supermarket or out in a stand alone pet store. I found the border Collie and English Springer spaniel breeders on here under the breeders section, very reliable information.

Oh I love sales

Its probably been put up already but we stayed at the Mackellar Motel in Gunnedah 2 weekends ago and it was great. The dogs are allowed in the big rooms and a huge tiled bathroom with lots of room in the shower to wash your 4 legged friends. The heat lamps in the bathroom were great for drying them off and warming them off ready for the next days showing. Really friendly staff and a free continental breakfast every morning :). This weekend were off to Canberra and the next weekend Bungendore and are staying at the Grand Manor Motor Inn both times, again another hotel that allows dogs in the room. Hopefully it will be nice. Then there is some talk of going to Dubbo where we are booked in to stay at the Dubbo City Holiday Park where they have pet friendly cabins including your own fenced yard for your precious hounds :)

A long awaited update and so much has happened. In order of whats been happening First off was a lesson with Steve Courtney fro K9Pro, I have already touched on this in another post so wont write much but he has set me on a great path with her. She is obsessed with her prey/tug toy and we have a great time playing with this. She is also learning her restrained recalls really well with great enthusiasm. We then went off to our first show in Gunnedah (it was actually the Coonabarabran show but held at Gunnedah). Gunnedah present some gorgeous show grounds and we stayed at the near by Mackellar Hotel because of the expected cold nights. Willow turned 12weeks exactly on the first day of the show so we got to compete in all 3 days which made the trip very much worth the 6hr drive. She travelled amazingly, especially as we had a longer trip than expected on the way up as we had to go up the coast road so I had reception as I had a phone interview. She was the only baby puppy entered in the bitch class so 'won' all 3 classes, it would of been nice to have some competition but it was great experience for both of us. I learnt so much all weekend. She was very very playful and some classes she ran out superbly other she stacked superbly, some she leapt at the other puppies wanting to play others she tied to play with me but one thing for sure she loved the experience right until we left the show ground on Sunday afternoon with a tail wag to say goodbye. She even got a 2nd run out in her sweepstakes the first day, the placings ended up going to the older puppies but she was the youngest in the class and it was my first class ever so I was stoked!! This weekend were off to the ACT for our 2nd show which im super excited about. I will admit were staying in a hotel again....it will be brrr cold in Canberra and my Mum and Dad have the bike caravan in Mildura for a motorbike competition with my brother so no option but the hotel. Were in for the Sweepstakes and the Baby Puppy Bitch classes and I hope we will be ok and not last in every class especially her baby puppy class

Thankyou dogslife

Tossing up between doing Sutherland Shire at EP or Bungendore lol on the 11-12th of July. I cant decide and being new I have no idea which judges to go under.

I dont know if this will help but I have a 13wk old English Springer Spaniel puppy who I took for a lesson with Steve Courtney from K9Pro. The lesson was AMAZING but I purchased what I call a prey toy, im not sure what its really called sorry. Its a toy on a cord thats attached to a stick, the toy has a sheepskin top then dangling felt strips hanging down. My girl goes nuts for it, completely nuts. We play chase with it, allow her to eventually catch it, play a bit of tug (there is a bit of give in the pole) then get a release from her and then reward. I find it very interactive and great bonding between my girl and myself. We play the game for 5minutes a few times a day when I can or at least once a day when im busy. She is so with me after playing it, following me around, not taking her eyes off me. I was also taught the start of training recall which I do when ever I have a 2nd person to help me. I found a photo of the prey stick http://www.k9pro.com.au/prey-drive-on-a-stick.html

Yay im not the only dog crazy shopping person!! Today I was at a show and ended up bringing home a dog bed, gazebo mat, water bowl, poop bags x2, show squeekers x2 and also ordered a silk coat for my show puppy :D I also got to finally pick up my coat king and show lead I purchased at Sydney Royal. Yipeeeee shopping for 4 legged friends is so rewarding

How do I put photo's into my posts as big images instead of coming up as the little attachment box you click on? like in this post

westiemum I was slightly disappointed when Steve said Maple needed a martingale collar as they only came in black so they can only half match :laugh:

I think my dogs are more spoilts than I am lol but what have you bought for your dogs lately? I have bought a fair bit as I have a new puppy and am setting up for the show ring but a few things include - K9 SynTek fluro pink collar, 2x leads, a 5m long lead, prey toy, puppy harness and martingale collar - A few crates lol helps when your crate training 1 dog and a quickly growing puppy! - Toys galore So no more buying for me for a very long time!! What have you indulged in??

I have a K9 Syntek collar and lead for my puppy - bright pink lol she definitely stands out especially if she's also wearing her bright pink K9 puppy harness too! Its super, I LOVE it but I can image it would get slippery in the wet. I have just bought another pink lead for my other dog Maple so they match :D

I agree fully poocow! Thats the beauty of this game we play for 3-5mins with little 20sec breaks through out and our training/exercise session is done, no 1hr walks for us and she loves it :) win win situation in my mind.

I would love it RiverStar-Aura!! She goes nuts for them :D

An update for people interested in how things are going with my K9Pro Training Journey. I had my lesson with my 11 week old puppy Willow and again a wonderful settled and informative experience. We worked out no she was not at all interested in any form of food treat! so no food drive there. Steve said she was prey motivated and pulled out this awesome toy on a stick and Willows eyes went the size of saucers. He taught me some motivation/focus and recall games whilst all keeping it in within her age limit and making sure to not over push her. Everything came in a lot of help when we took her away for 4 days last week for our first show. When we would stop for a break during the 6hr drive there and back we would play a game getting her heart rate up and stretching her legs - and mine! Before the start of each of the days competitions I would also play a game with her to try expel some energy but because of the intensity of the game it would only take 5mins instead of a 1hr walk. After every game she's so focused and with me its great. We can be in a huge field like today at centennial park and if were playing the game she just follows me around and the games are so interactive for me too, we both experience them together.

With regard to being away with shows, we are going away this weekend and will be away for 4days and it will take us 6.5hrs on the road to get there but there are some competition runs you can do which have you away for 2-3weeks...I saw one that has you out western NSW around Condobolin/Parkes that looked to run for 2weeks+ Also most shows dont have neuter classes from what Iv'e seen or only a few do so desexing wouldn't be an option especially if he intends to use the dog for breeding still and a non-desexed male dog can at times be a lot more boisterous/dominating than a desexed dog from my experience. I cant help with anything else as im just a newbie to showing myself but just something to think about