Elbie, Hoover, Dodge & Friends!

[koalathebear]

ravenau1: I can't update posts from work alas, but it took a long time to teach Elbie the biscuit on the nose trick. Mainly because his snout isn't quite shaped for treats So ages back (5 months ago actually!) we started out with strips of ham. See

. Ignore his beseeching eyes ;) He was great with the ham. The dog treats kept falling off his nose but then all of a sudden this week, he kept super still and we found a little 'flat spot' on his nose where we could put a dog treat. He'll hold still for about 40 seconds. Sometimes, even after we release him he'll keep sitting there with the treat on his nose. I'm not sure how long it will take him to be able to throw it up and catch it. He can catch treats that we throw so I'm guessing he'll be able to do it soon.

Hoover's still a very excited little puppy so wriggles excitedly when there's a treat on his nose. He goes cross-eyed and then wriggles madly to try to get the treat. It's very funny. He still can't catch a treat thrown in the air - it tends to bounce off his head

[wuffles]

That sucks KA. I've had instructors I don't like as well but for me classes are more about socialisation (both dog and hooman!) and training with distractions so I try not to let it get to me too much. I would really love more one on one instruction too (especially at the moment) but I just remember that the instructors are all volunteers and don't necessarily have bunches of experience. I guess there's really no reason for them to be there other than wanting to help people train dogs... unless they just REALLY wanted to have the privilege of parking close to the door or having their dogs allowed in the clubhouse Maybe he was just overwhelmed at the number of dogs, or was having an off day, or had been bitten by a big dog the week before... I don't know ;)

Clastic: Pepper is so cute Ava sleeps like that all the time! Once I woke up at about 4am thinking there was a possum or something in the wall behind our bed. On further investigation, Ava was fast asleep under the bed, up against the wall, chasing bunnies in her sleep

I am going to the CDC obedience trial tonight to watch CleoJ and some others blitz the field!

[KumaAkita]

I completely understand that you guys are all volunteers... but if this was an isolated incident at the club, I don't think I'd have such an issue. Bit given this is a continued occurence, I'm beginning to rethink my choice of training club. I'm not seeking one-on-one indepth training, but having someone at least say "hey, everything ok? How are you finding xyz exercise" would be nice. Not someone giving me a wide berth and not approaching me or my dog and never seeking to help sucks. Kuma and I are never going pass bronze at this rate.

[koalathebear]

I predict kaboom here and here. Not sure why we needed another one let alone two threads on the contentious topic of breeder responsiveness, but hey ... I'm going to start a thread saying: "Hey, I just got my purebred Kelpidoberdoodle from a pet shop located in the backyard of a registered breeder who doesn't reply to emails. I am feeding my dog Evil Hills Science Diet rather than BARF (he should be fine because of hybrid vigour), I keep my dog outside all day and let it have the annual Prohart heartworm injection of Death. I don't walk my dogs every day but when I do, I use a check chain, a martingale and an e-collar all at the same time. Is this ok? Also - can anyone tell my dog really is a Kelpidoberdoodle or does it have Shih Tzu in it?"

[KumaAkita]

I predict kaboom here and here. Not sure why we needed another one let alone two threads on the contentious topic of breeder responsiveness, but hey ... I'm going to start a thread saying: "Hey, I just got my purebred Kelpidoberdoodle from a pet shop located in the backyard of a registered breeder who doesn't reply to emails. I am feeding my dog Evil Hills Science Diet rather than BARF (he should be fine because of hybrid vigour), I keep my dog outside all day and let it have the annual Prohart heartworm injection of Death. I don't walk my dogs every day but when I do, I use a check chain, a martingale and an e-collar all at the same time. Is this ok? Also - can anyone tell my dog really is a Kelpidoberdoodle or does it have Shih Tzu in it?"

and I thought you left Evil Koala at home today!

[wuffles]

I completely understand that you guys are all volunteers... but if this was an isolated incident at the club, I don't think I'd have such an issue. Bit given this is a continued occurence, I'm beginning to rethink my choice of training club. I'm not seeking one-on-one indepth training, but having someone at least say "hey, everything ok? How are you finding xyz exercise" would be nice. Not someone giving me a wide berth and not approaching me or my dog and never seeking to help sucks. Kuma and I are never going pass bronze at this rate.

Sent you a PM

Maybe we could get together a little training group every now and then and we can all help each other.

[KumaAkita]

I completely understand that you guys are all volunteers... but if this was an isolated incident at the club, I don't think I'd have such an issue. Bit given this is a continued occurence, I'm beginning to rethink my choice of training club. I'm not seeking one-on-one indepth training, but having someone at least say "hey, everything ok? How are you finding xyz exercise" would be nice. Not someone giving me a wide berth and not approaching me or my dog and never seeking to help sucks. Kuma and I are never going pass bronze at this rate.

Sent you a PM

Maybe we could get together a little training group every now and then and we can all help each other.

You are beyond sweet. I think that would be awesome

[ravenau1]

I predict kaboom here and here. Not sure why we needed another one let alone two threads on the contentious topic of breeder responsiveness, but hey ... I'm going to start a thread saying: "Hey, I just got my purebred Kelpidoberdoodle from a pet shop located in the backyard of a registered breeder who doesn't reply to emails. I am feeding my dog Evil Hills Science Diet rather than BARF (he should be fine because of hybrid vigour), I keep my dog outside all day and let it have the annual Prohart heartworm injection of Death. I don't walk my dogs every day but when I do, I use a check chain, a martingale and an e-collar all at the same time. Is this ok? Also - can anyone tell my dog really is a Kelpidoberdoodle or does it have Shih Tzu in it?"

Coffee almost out of my nose there :D

[Clastic]

I predict kaboom here and here. Not sure why we needed another one let alone two threads on the contentious topic of breeder responsiveness, but hey ... I'm going to start a thread saying: "Hey, I just got my purebred Kelpidoberdoodle from a pet shop located in the backyard of a registered breeder who doesn't reply to emails. I am feeding my dog Evil Hills Science Diet rather than BARF (he should be fine because of hybrid vigour), I keep my dog outside all day and let it have the annual Prohart heartworm injection of Death. I don't walk my dogs every day but when I do, I use a check chain, a martingale and an e-collar all at the same time. Is this ok? Also - can anyone tell my dog really is a Kelpidoberdoodle or does it have Shih Tzu in it?"

:D Wow.. a Kelpidoberdoodle, gosh I'm just trying to imagine what it might look like. Slender body, kelpie ears with a dobe face and ofcourse the doodle curls.

KA - Sorry to hear that your class didn't go so well last night..

ravenau1 - Hope Astrid is better now, good to hear that the hives are pretty much gone. Have fun at Doggie School today!

Re: Pepper's photo - I'm not sure if she was running in her sleep, she might have just been kicking around to try and get comfy.. she likes to kick.... a lot.

[ravenau1]

ravenau1: I can't update posts from work alas, but it took a long time to teach Elbie the biscuit on the nose trick. Mainly because his snout isn't quite shaped for treats So ages back (5 months ago actually!) we started out with strips of ham. See

. Ignore his beseeching eyes He was great with the ham. The dog treats kept falling off his nose but then all of a sudden this week, he kept super still and we found a little 'flat spot' on his nose where we could put a dog treat. He'll hold still for about 40 seconds. Sometimes, even after we release him he'll keep sitting there with the treat on his nose. I'm not sure how long it will take him to be able to throw it up and catch it. He can catch treats that we throw so I'm guessing he'll be able to do it soon.

Hoover's still a very excited little puppy so wriggles excitedly when there's a treat on his nose. He goes cross-eyed and then wriggles madly to try to get the treat. It's very funny. He still can't catch a treat thrown in the air - it tends to bounce off his head ;)

Thanks so much! :D Ham worked brilliantly! Though she looked so funny I got the giggles at times OH will be thrilled when he gets home from work lol.

[KumaAkita]

You do realise Ravenau that this needs photographic evidence? How can we simply take your word for it? :D

[ravenau1]

You do realise Ravenau that this needs photographic evidence? How can we simply take your word for it? :D

[KumaAkita]

mwah ah ah ahhhhhha hah ha ... Butt Ham... :D That's awesome. She's looking so lovely.

[Max#1]

can anyone tell my dog really is a Kelpidoberdoodle or does it have Shih Tzu in it?"

I thought mine was a Kelpidoberdoodle? Do we have the SAME breeder?

That's hilarious. I kept hitting reply, then deleting it. Its just not worth it. Though I think its a really interesting question - I struggle to believe that all because your dog ISN'T purebred means you can have no idea what breeds are in it. And not just on looks - but on behavioural characteristics too - which, actually I would think would be more important for rehoming a rescue dog? Wouldn't it make sense to have a go at matching owner and dog? Even just a rough shot? Just a guess? And its not denigrating pure bred dogs when a lot of those characteristics are positive! _{Okay maybe this should go in the other thread... hmmm... but I'm not game...}

I've realised Max doesn't fetch (we've been playing A LOT of ball lately because its just me and him, sniff, sniff) but he's actually 'rounding up' the ball - he makes strategic moves across the field, and places the ball in strategic places - rather than bringing it back to me. Very interesting.

Also KA - I feel your pain with the obedience instructor. I've harped on about this before but there has to be a good relationship there, a certain trust that the instructor understands your dog. Anyway have fun training with Wuffles (so jealous wish I could come too).

And Raven - you can't use treats or toys at obedience? Maybe they'd let you? And nice work with the ham on the nose - though I think you're cheating by having a dog with a long nose! :D

[wuffles]

OK guys, our very own 'Guess the Breed' competition

What breeds do you see in my gorgeous big mutt? The one thing I'll mention is that he's taller than he looks in photos. He's just over 70cm at the shoulder and weighs 36kg. He's obviously got many breeds in him so guess away!!!

[ravenau1]

KumaAkita: Thanks, we think she's turning into a beautiful dog and we love her to bits! She's the second best decision I ever made

Max#1: We can use food treats but not toys, though I will have a talk to them about it! And yeah, she's all snout

wuffles: Hmmm... I vote GSD, Great Dane, Lab and Jack-o-Lantern (the eyes ) but I am shocking at this!

[KumaAkita]

I dunno what Satch has in him... But I am as sure as sugar that I met his brother the other day in Aranda.

OH reckons he is a Santa Claus x Labrador because of satchs white beard... Apparently Santa had too much egg nog that year

[koalathebear]

*gasp*

I think that speculating like this is just too Dangerous. I feel like I am imperilling the rest of the world (move aside Large Hadron Collider) ...The guesses of the Profoundly Uninformed could bring about Armageddon and the End of days etc etc ... Just guessing could cause a tsunami of apocalyptic proportions!

What if I tell wuffles that Satch is part Cavalier King Charles and she tries to put him on her lap and is squashed to death? I'd never forgive myself Or worse, what if I tell wuffles that Satch is part poodle and she tries to clip his hair into a Continental Clip????

OK, feeling very brave and speculative, my guesses for Satch are Labrador and Great Dane and Giant Border Collie. OH suggests Mega-Kelpie.

Here are my guesses for my two monsters. Hoover's are entirely premised upon his ears.

On a serious note, though. Elbie despite being a cross-breed is actually quite reflective of the breeds of which he is comprised. Border collie/Kelpie isn't just a common cross for working dogs, but it's quite a close cross and Kelpies are in fact derived from the English collies and the earlier Kelpies like Bantry Girl are in fact border collie crosses. Furthermore, over the years, there have been a number of border collies crossed into the Kelpie lines. So while crossbreeds tend to be very uncertain and unpredictable, almost everyone who looks at Elbie identifies him as a Kelpie cross and sometimes a border collie cross. His temperament and personality are very much that of a high energy border collie or Kelpie. I know that one person on the forum has said that he probably has Other Breed in him, but to date all of his traits seem consistent with his two composite breeds.

ETA: Elbie sometimes looks and plays like a cat. He sounds like a goose or a monkey. When he puts his ears back, he looks like a seal.

ravenau1: I just saw the videos! So cute. Astrid is adorable and shiny - and I love how she's trying to toss the food in the air to catch it ... Basically after she gets used to the ham, you can move to kibble or treats.

The dogs try to eat the kibble off each other's noses though

Edited February 11, 2011 by koalathebear

[kyliegirl]

ROFL KTB thats hilarious, I could totally see Hoover being dobby.

Rav: adorable, looks like she wasnt impressed though lol!

Wuffles: hard to say, with the head in the last pic I would risk saying some labrador in there. Maybe mixed with collie?

Echo is outside when we arent home and we only let him in for certain amounts of time, unfortunately our lounge is small so its easy for him to go from the couch to the computers and back on his lead. We give him alot of attention though, esp when we are home, he also sleeps inside most nights in his crate, on a weekday I spend time with him in the morning before work, then when i get home I take him for a walk, then about an hr of play/training, then feeding, then about an hr or so after that we play for another hr or more, I constantly go out and play/train with him. On weekends he gets a tonne of attention, we dont go out so i am out with him alot, I tend to go inside for an hr, then outside for 30mins of play then repeat.

I started training him to walk on the treadmill this week, we have now gotten to the stage he will happily trot on the treadmill! It will be good to use to burn off excess energy at the end of the day or for rainy days, he is actually starting to enjoy the treadmill and you can really see him focusing, no signs of stress, when it stops he looks about with a look saying "hey! why is it slowing down?" he will also leap onto the treadmill in position when we go to it

Echo has really motivated me to move, I love it, I used to be very active when young so finally having an animal that challenges my own stamina is fun. I would say I absolutely love the challenge!

Edited February 11, 2011 by kyliegirl

[Max#1]

KTB - you are too funny, I find that diagram just delightful! Come on do Satch too!

I have even been doing research to try and figure it out. Here goes.... German Shepherd (size and eyes), I'm going out on a limb and saying there's some Lab in there (gentleness of heart), Kelpie (though not much, but the thin face), and that's where I run out!