kelpiecuddles

That Labrador puppy got me too, sat there staring at it and would never have picked it as a lab! The only other one I missed there was the bichon but I ran out of time thanks to that stoopid lab...

Otherwise the Doog waist bands could be worn in the same way. :)

Wet dogs smell like wet dogs, the only thing you could maybe do is get a dog fragrance type spray to see if you can mask it and just try to get the dog dry as fast as possible

That blog is awesome PME, know what I'm reading tonight :D To the OP, I got a kelpie when my children were small. I don't think it's a total no go BUT I spent A LOT of time in the first 6-12 months or so and just trained the hell out of her, first thing being an off switch. Now that she's older and well trained the time she needs from me is much, much less and it's more enjoyable because it's less training and more just having fun but if she can't commit that time in the first 12 months then I wouldn't go for any working breed.

Makes me glad to have my vet, tells me my options and which ones are necessary and which ones are optional and then leaves me to use my own brain as to which ones are important to me.

You can buy the nail polish online, do you know someone dog savvy who would be your 'nail technician' for the day? Seems it dries faster than human nail polish, might have to get some for me, I'm hopeless at wrecking my fresh polish LOL http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_from=R40&_nkw=dog+nail+polish&_sop=15

I nibble my nails... What is the difference between human and dog nail polish?

Maybe they were all piled in to a bed area Anne.

First aussie litter for Tatras born now MUP, there is only one Tatra in Aus and it's imported semen https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/puppies/tatra-shepherd-dog.asp?state=

Poochmad if your current person falls through and you are still looking for a home for them in a month I'll be travelling through Goulburn just before Christmas and I'm happy to pick them up and transport them down the highway, will be heading to Melbourne on the 23/24th December.

I'm sure there would be something similar available at Bunnings, might go have a look later in the week!

Almost look like the neighbour might have been a cat :laugh:

^My previous post :)

Well I just checked and your estimate is pretty close to the feeding guide Hockz :) So I'll follow it to start with and see how they go and tweak things over the next few weeks.

Thanks :) When my brain is functional I'll try out that formula and make sure I get the same result so I know how to do it myself in future :)

Fatty McFatterson kelpie is about 17kg(she's not THAT fat in normal persons terms but to me she's fatter than I'd like) and my basset is 23kg. Kelpie's activity level has declined a bit with age and she doesn't need much food at all and she gets fat, basset has always been hard to keep the weight on...

Thanks Alyosha, I think I'll go the recommended for the fatty and maybe the recommended plus a little for my basset who doesn't hold the weight as well. Which variety were you using?

um... I know I went to university and all but I really have no idea what you just said :laugh: I tend to just base the amount I feed on whether their weight is going up or down at the time(based on whether I can see my preferred last rib or two), but obviously with a new food there's an unknown starting point.

Interesting, might be good for my fatty then!

The girls are getting their first meal of black hawk for breakfast in the morning and I'm just wondering whether people find they need to feed the full amount recommended in the feeding guide? I know a lot of people find that many of the feed guides on SD and other brands are a little high. I'm sure i'll get a feel for it once I see their condition after a week or so but I'd like a starting point.

Mystiqview that statement was in response to a specific comment/question about MY area, not a sweeping statement about all areas

I suspect I'll get one down the track, I do find it hard to bend down far enough to wash under the belly of the basset and because I don't have a handheld hose it can be fiddly(thankfully she's used to me lifting her front half to wash her tum LOL). Would be lovely to be able to stand up to wash her. Might even go and look in to one since I have the perfect spot to put one with reasonably close hot water access... Unfortunately bassets do have a distinctive houndy smell, it's not a bad smell but it is obvious if you aren't used to it

Yep well I must admit that I just do the girls in the shower at the moment, me and both dogs in one shower LOL. They hate it but now they begrudgingly walk in without me having to drag them :p

I'd just like a shower and handheld outside like that last one, might add that to the list for when we build, I can put a frame around it and a shadecloth top on it and then I don't even have to come inside to get clean after yard work.

Interesting post JRG. My kelpie really chose me in this way. I wanted a quieter kelpie that would be smart and responsive but still have a good off switch. While all her brothers were tearing circles around the yard Sascha came and sat next to me and looked up at me as if to say, "OK, what next?". I love Sascha's colouring(she's a red and tan whereas all the others were black and tan) however if another pup had chosen me that way either colour would have been ok.