Inka3095

LOL! I don't know if it's common but it made me laugh - thanks!

Thank you all so much for the replies I was expecting worse stories than this! *getting a little bit excited* So onto the next stage of questions.... What should I do now? I'd love to see/meet a few dogs and owners/breeders at a show, but wouldn't know where on earth to start. I turned up to a dog show at KCC park a few years ago to have a look around (no specific breeds were in mind then) but really didn't find it a friendly environment. No one really wanted to chat, even the ones who weren't busy. Is there a secret?! I can't find a breed club for Shibas in Victoria, I think there may have been one, once upon a time, but it no longer exists? I have never been involved in the show world as I've always been into Rescue/fostering, so despite being on this forum for longer than I can remember, this is all new >_< Again, all help gratefully received ps: your boys are beautiful Che!

When I made a 30th birthday party on Saturday night super awkward by ranting about petshop puppies and BYB for much longer than necessary instead of simply answering the question that was directed at me "hey, do you know where I can get a chocolate lab puppy'... they changed the topic pretty quickly

My partner and I are slowly looking into getting a Pure Bred dog in the future. We're in no hurry and we're waiting until our finances and living situation are suitable, but doing some research now so there's no need to rush into anything when the time is right. I've done a bit of fostering for the last few years as we rent and I'm at uni full-time so we have not been a perfect forever home previously. If things work out as planned, we'll be in a better situation to own a dog within the next year or so. My bf has his heart set on a Shiba Inu. A good friend of mine has a young boy and he's such a lovely dog that my bf has decided that's the breed for him. I, however, have my doubts and where else to turn but the DOL world eh? =D I have a feeling my friend's Shiba is an exception rather than the rule, as he is super laid back, relaxed, easy to train, affectionate but not clingy and never barks/screams/howls etc unless he's being asked to, or playing around. He is also left alone in a backyard for 10 hours a day with no issues. However, after doing some reading, I've learned that they're more known for their - stubbornness - their noise (barking/screaming) - dislike of being alone for a long period - dislike of leads/restraints - difficulty to train - close to impossible perfect recall ability - etc Does anyone have any experience with these dogs? Regarding availability, as far as I can see, there's not even a 'Dogs 101' thread for them yet, which isn't a good sign! There are 19 breeders listed in Australia and at least one in Victoria I really like the look of, but as I have never purchased a purebred before, I know little about how it all works. We would have a medium backyard, and the dog would get a walk every day, would live inside with us when we're home and sleep inside/outside depending on whatever the dog wanted, but we are both out of the house for at least 7-8 hours each day and during this time, the dog would be alone. I'm more than willing to put in time with puppy socialisation, on-going training etc, but I am just concerned that these aren't 'easy-going' dogs who can handle keeping themselves occupied during the week. I've fostered a beagle who disliked being alone intensely and destroyed whatever she could when we were out; would prefer to avoid such things in the future lol. Additionally, we live in a suburban house with close neighbours.. a distressed, bored, barking dog isn't going to be a popular member of the community, and I don't really want to add a dog to my family just to see it become miserable. I am aware it's impossible to say a dog will/won't be ok with the above scenario based 100% on the breed, however, some breeds are known for certain behaviours and my reading is giving me conflicting advice. Some articles say they are independent and don't mind being alone, others say they can't cope. Some say they're impossible to train and others say they're smart and quick to learn. Any advice would be greatly appreciated - thanks

I'm so sorry to hear this Gayle RIP beautiful boy Fly free

Rest in Peace Cordelia

Oh wow SO CUTE!!!!

I didn't know it was possible not to bond with a dog - I can fall in love with one from 50 paces lol... A couple of years ago I fostered a male pointer x, and had the experience of being indifferent about a dog. I didn't dislike him, I just didn't like him (even though he was gorgeous and my Mum fell in love with him almost immediately lol) - he was a foster though, so I thought my subconscious self was just awesome and preventing the sadness when he was rehomed... Sadly I was wrong - I still think about the little beagle girl I fostered last year for 5 months almost every day - I fell in love with her sooo fast it was stupid - and she was a LOT more work than the pointer So now I think it's possible to never click with a dog

I love this thread! TerraNik, I'm not sure if you're just a great photographer, or if your dogs are super expressive but they're awesome photos lol!!

I saw a very cute SBT being walked one day and spoke to her owner about where he bought her - he said she was an 'English Stafford' from a breeder in the middle of Victoria somewhere. I liked how she was small, compact and has a very feminine face with a shorter nose than I was used to seeing on staffords. I went googling and that's how I discovered DOL (many years ago) because I asked about where I would find a nice english staffy and was politely put in my place. Everyone was very nice about it though I was told at the time that there are different 'versions' (if you like) of stafford, the 'bull' type with the broad tanky bodies and big wide faces and the 'terrier' type with shorter faces and less stocky bodies - I have no idea if that's still deemed to be correct, but it made sense at the time lol. Perhaps the 'English' staffords are more like the 'terrier type' in some people's eyes and they're just looking for a way to distinguish them

That's very true, my beagle was affectionate but only on her terms. Everything was on her terms! She loved food, but smells and scents trumped everything. Once I almost got turned into a human knot at the local park when she discovered something that smelled good. I've never seen a dog move so fast and change directions so rapidly. My arm was almost wrenched out of its socket trying to keep up with her and she was only little lol. I've owned kelpies, BCs, pointers and fostered a staffy/kelpie - all those dogs wanted to please humans first, and acted accordingly, the beagle wanted to please herself, and IF that also made me happy, then it was a bonus, but if it didn't, then that didn't bother her too much lol. It took a lot of getting used to.

I took a foster beagle in for a few months. She was about 3 years old, I had never owned beagles before and I just about died when I got her home... She was the naughtiest, cheekiest, most stubborn, most curious, intractable dog I have EVER known. I had no success toilet training her in the months I had her even though I did every single toilet training method known to man and was super vigilant the entire time. I couldn't turn my back on her for 1 second, or she'd be eating, chewing, peeing, or destroying something else. She destroyed my back yard, was impossible to walk nicely (sniff sniff, change direction, pull tug, sniff sniff) and hated being in enclosed spaces so it was hard to know where to put her for any period of time without SOMETHING else being dismantled or destroyed (she chewed a door frame almost in 2 when I put her in the bathroom for an hour once while I was out). That being said... I have never fallen in love with a dog faster. I honestly will never forget her, her gorgeous little face, her mannerisms, her peaceful nature, how she loved everything and everyone (except enclosed spaces)... I loved how pretty she was, how sweet natured and she made me laugh just about every minute of each day. She would do anything for chicken, so she was surprisingly easy to train with all the usual stuff (sit, stay, roll over, shake etc), but toilet training? nooo never! First time owner? Mmmm I wouldn't recommend it... if I hadn't had the help of a VERY experienced beagle owner I honestly don't know what would have happened. I've owned dogs my entire life but have never experienced the tornado that was a beagle and would be careful about doing it again. I would LOVE to do it again, mind you, but I'd need a lot more time on my hands for it to be fair for such a full-on dog.

I didn't even know they issued fines (I thought pound release was it) until a foster jumped my fence about half an hour after we brought him home for the first time - ironically we were at the shops getting him a tag engraved with our details because the microchip information hadn't updated yet, as we'd only got him from the pound hours before. The fine was so much money it made my eyes water - I don't know if it's different in each state, but I don't know how people say they can't afford the pound release fee then leave their dogs in the pound, when a month or so later they'll HAVE to afford the fine which is many times more..

Thinking of you Gayle

Hey everyone Just wanted to let people know that a friend's purebred stafford was stolen from his backyard yesterday up near Port Hedland, WA - he lives in South Hedland He said 5 other similar breeds (mainly staffords) have been stolen from friends and neighbours and he has heard there a dogfighters in town stealing peoples dogs to rig dogfights against their own fighting dogs. I don't know if this is gospel, as I know nothing about dogfighting or WA, or how these things work - I just wanted to let people know, in case there's anyone up there, just to keep a close eye on your pets If it's true, it's beyond tragic

Hehe I was mortified to discover stitches can't be allowed to get wet after I picked my last foster beagle up from the vet, desexed from the pound without the opportunity to bathe her first. She STANK for 10 days and it was horrible! I ended up buying aloe-vera wipes from the supermarket just to get some of the gunk and smell out of her coat. She was still dirty, but it was bearable until I could give her a proper bath after the stitches came out. I thought it was a bit of a lax rule, but contacted my beagle guru about it and was told NO!!! NEVER GET STITCHES WET! EVER!!!

I would love a copy too if possible My last foster beagle had me at a complete loss.. exactly the same problem, she knew outside was GOOD for toilet but never worked out (I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt here) that inside was VERY BAD! [email protected] if you don't mind :D ps: CUTE photos!!!

Voted

Kirty!! Oh oh....

OOh thanks for the ideas Probably less likely to make it worse using those simpler househould things rather than more chemical sprays I am primarily concerned because it's a rental house... It doesn't smell, it's the stain that's the problem Will give these a go tomorrow

Evening everyone Looking for some advice on how to remove a really stubborn stain from our carpet here. We saw our doggy do it, soaked up all excess urine immediately until it was almost completely dry, then sprayed 'Urine Free' as per directions on the back. This product has worked quite well on all the other accident spots but this one isn't disappearing! The 'Urine Off' says 'do not use any other product' on the urine but we've followed all the instructions on how to remove older, stubborn stains with reapplication, however, it's just not working... Anyone have a magic solution? I have a 'Carpet Stain Remover for Dry Stains' here, but I'm scared to use other products in case it sets the stain forever... Thanks everyone <3

My beagle, bf, sister and I will be having devonshire tea at a little country town in Gippsland this afternoon - they have the BEST strawberry jam on earth! Can't wait!!!!

Great website :D I just wish my beagle wasn't a foster.... =( she would love all that stuff!!

My foster beagle whines when - she's really frustrated - she's really excited - when I go out to get her in the morning (probably related to the excited part) - when she wants your attention and nothing else is working I don't mind because she has the cutest whine on earth and she doesn't too it too much heheh :D

Thanks so much for the suggestions everyone! I think I enjoy watching her play more than she enjoys playing! Strange... Does the clamshell thing work? I'd be happy to provide her with one, but I as I'm not home to tell her it's NOT ok to dig in the place she's digging (she only does it during the day when she's alone and bored) I'd be worried I'd just be encouraging digging in general - that is, how is she to know the clamshell is ok, but the grass isn't? In the meantime, I'm going to try the poop idea!