SarahofSydney

Hi, My partner and I are very much into weekends away and want to continue this practice when we get a pup in October. Could anyone suggest reasonably priced ($100 or less/night) camping sites or cabins in NSW, preferably in a beach/lake area which are dog friendly? I've done a few searches on stays and turu but everything seems to state dogs are to stay outside of a cabin which isnt much help with a whippet. Thanks in advance, Sarah.

Thank you. This sounds like good advice.

As part of the no crate minority . . . I see no reason to introduce crate training here. If your pup is non-destructive and relaxed with freedom of the place, he or she will be fine in the car without confinement, and more comfortable unconfined in the apartment than confined. If you're worried about safety travelling, you can work on things with straps and / or barriers, or simple training to keep the dog in the back for times the car is in motion. Crates are a PITA. They make it hard to vacuum or mop floors. They take up space. My dogs are much happier on the couch, where they can snuggle up and get their butts scratched! Thank you for the input. I have to use a crate for the car as it is part of the rules of the carshare I am with. We are also likely to stay at friends or relatives a few times a year and I'm wondering if having a familiar 'bed' in the crate would be more relaxing, especially around other dogs? If I didn't need a crate for the car I don't think I would even consider it? I think I've answered my own question AND totally confused myself :p

I am really fascinated by the crate no crate debate. Of my 3 previous dogs I never thought to use a crate as we lived in largish houses with access to outdoors. My first a sheltie took about 6 weeks to toilet train and proceeded to train our new border collie pup when she arrived, who has then trained a rough collie pup many years later. They all still ocassionally had accidents but nothing I would consider to be an issue. We also made specific travel hammocks so they never used crates in the car. http://www.instructables.com/id/Dog-Travel-Hammock/ I am now living in an appartment without a backyard, though we have a nice park next door. I will also be borrowing a car when needed so no chance of a permananet dog set up. So I am considering a crate? I cannot say I am a fan of the idea so far, but would like my pup to be happy and relaxed should we need to travel in the crate in the car or stay away from home. Could anyone offer suggestions for the most appropriate way of crate training if it is mostly being used for travel and safe space away from home? Or any other pros/cons to the whole debate. Sarah.

I'm sure this has been asked before... Boy or girl? My partner and I are looking at getting a puppy later this year and weren't sure whether to get a boy or girl? We have both had dogs before, he has always had desexed boys (lab x) and I've always had desexed girls (shelties, border collies and rough collies). Neither of us mind the social/personal aspects of having a boy or girl but aren't sure which may be more suited to our living arrangements. We live in an apparetment and one or both of us are around for a good chunk of the day, but in reality there will be times when the dog will be home alone without us. Probably for a max of 4-5 hours at the longest on 2-3 days a week? We have a few good parks very close so walks twice a day with the opportunity for a good run at least one of those times is fine. I will also on occasion (1-2 times a month) be able to bring the dog with me to work. We are very social and spend a lot of time out and about walking and at dog friendly places and want to include our new family member in as much of what we do as possible. In this case would a boy or girl be more happy with this? I've read that boys can be more clingy while girls more independant and wanted to ask? Thank you in advance for your replies and experiences. Sarah.