Purpley

Its a 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR Lens. I really don't want 2 lenses, as I am lazy and hate having to change them all the time for different things.

Its $1200, but I am sure its cheaper elsewhere. Only just started looking.

I am looking at a Nikon D60, and wondered if anyone had any feedback on them?? Comes with 18-200mm lens.

I sometimes use leftover silverside as training treats, cut in small pieces, but wouldn't give it as a meal due to the high salt content. I second the silverside jerky - Shoemonster makes the best.

Haha nah the local McDonalds sign on their roof caught on fire, our house seemed to be the roundabout for the police chopper.

I couldn't choose between the 2, so here tis.

There is a few changes that will impact on boarding kennels if something happens, just by changing the wording to 'handler' instead of owner. VCA do have a voice, they just always seem to late to use it.

Yep Erny there is - it was having its 3rd reading last friday I think. It will be passed and again certain places did nothing about it.

I have used green beans - my dog went nuts for then. I also use Kabana (my butcher makes cheese and chicken kabana), and Devon also.

There are currently amendments being passed through at the moment in regards to the Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Act. and it will be passed. Again the proper departments that are there to protect us and our animals didn't realise until it was too late. I will grab my copy of the changes and see whether this clause has been ammended, but I think it still stands. I was told of Steve Austins comment too, by someone that went to the Vic seminar.

He has retired.

The same stuff that they are fed on now. I wouldn't change the meat mix I make up, they thrive on it, and look fantastic.

I use photobucket and picasa - not happy with the fact that photobucket keeps changing things tho, I am not a fan of change.

Stafford 5mths old - 52 secs Stafford 5yrs old - 34 secs (baby cried and she looked away)

Debbie Hall does Bowen on a thursday at Devon Meadows pool, I highly recommend her.

Whereabouts in melb are you??

Will she fetch a beer from the fridge for Mr Shoemonster yet??? She is doing ace hun, you both are :D

Its all very interesting everyones different takes on it all. I am going to continue with as positive as I can, also using the tone of voice, as this seems to be working for him at the moment. He has learnt to not take food off the older 2 kids (4 and 8yrs old), I think that with bubs he is more at his height, so it makes it more enticing. So its going to take a little longer for him to get it. It all takes time. I haven't had puppies before, as I have a rescue, and Bronson was a show reject so I got him at 7.5 mths, so this is a rather steep learning curve for me, but I am loving the challenge. I really appreciate everyones imput.

That's pretty much what we are doing at the moment Leopuppy04. He responds to the 'ah ah' and leave and then comes to me, where I make him sit or drop etc and then I release when I am ready. So basically the initial 'ah ah' is to take his attention away from the food involved.

Pos R reinforces behaviour by adding good - Pos P decreases behaviour and Neg R takes away to reinforce behaviour. Is that right??

Cosmolo - Nah its just an option I was looking at and the book that I am reading basically says it has to be purely positive, and that's is why I have asked. I am all new to this, so am at that 'confused' stage at the moment, as to what is considered which.

Cosmolo - Not take the food. Tonymc - I do tend to agree with you and am wondering if positive can be used in conjunction - or does it have to be purely positive for it to work. Its all new to me. I have always been of the old school, and trained this way. At the moment puppy responds greatly to tone of voice, and I don't really see this as a punishment as such.

Hi there, I am thinking that I am going to train my pup is as positive way as I can. I am currently reading a book and I have a couple of questions and need some advise. My question relates mainly to tone of voice. Now as I see it - its punishment and positive depending on how it is used. And that I should possibly replace the bad tone of voice with negative punishment (so ignoring or witholding reward) but how do you do this is a scenario such as: **Puppy is stalking my 14mth old son for food that he is carrying around. I would normally in a gruff voice say 'Ah Ah' and puppy would retreat. I would then drop or sit puppy until my son has finished the food and then release him, with heaps of praise etc. So how do I do this in a purely positive way?? 14mth old can't do it, as he is too little, and usually I am a distance away? Thanks in advance, Suz

I have recently lost my Stafford male, and can fully understand how you are feeling. My decision was made for me with him, but my previous dog had cancer and I had to make the call. Believe me, you will know when the time is right. There is just something in the way that they look at you that makes your heart break, but lets you know that the time has come to let them go and that they are ready to leave you. As far as your kids go, I am not sure of the ages. I have a 8yr old, 4yr old and 1 yr old. The 8yr old understands to an extent, the 4yr old I thought was understanding and then on the weekend he asked me when Bronson was coming home. So you will need to prepare yourself for questions, as they will come out with things like that. As far as the little one goes, I know he realises his mate is gone, but too little to explain it to him. There is a book I was given when Bronson passed that talks about the circle of life, and my 8yr old read it, and I think it helped. Your other dog will struggle, but you need to try and keep things as normal as possible. It is easy to over compensate, but it is in the best interest for your other dog to keep things normal. I believe your other dog should be given the chance to see your dog after it has passed, I think this is important in them understanding. Also, you can have some rescue remedy on standby just to take the edge off any anxiety. Please feel free to contact me if you want to talk at all. Its a hard time for all of you and I fully sympathise.