Elbie, Hoover, Dodge & Friends!

[KumaAkita]

KA, sorry you had a bad day on Thursday - you really should come and join KTB and Clastic in my SUnday class - at least you know I think Kuma is a gorgeous big boofa! If you want a hand to run through some things, give me a yell, I'm more than happy to do some run throughs with you guys. In fact, after doing the Vicki Austin Instructor workshop today, I have some really interesting interesting ideas to try out!

Thanks... may take you up on that. We'll do this Thursday night, but if it's still craptacular we may just walk away.

That's great! They are so coordinated

Kyliegirl - I wouldn't worry too much about Echo's excitement at puppy class. Like KTB, our puppy classes were held at the vet clinic. Most of the time, Kuma would be just trying to play with Mumba the Shar Pei next to us... or just hanging out with the other puppies. We put in some extra time at home working on sit/down/stay, and eventually he got these commands in the high distraction enviroment of puppy class. We used puppy class mainly for socialisation and weren't too focussed on achieving perfection.

Oh, and Kuma is like Hoover and Elbie - Sir Lunge-A-Lot when we're heading into the BDOC grounds, but he will eventually calm for LLW.

[Clastic]

kyliegirl - Hide and seek is the best, I only just played that with my 2 last night it was so amusing! Sounds like Echo had a great time playing with you guys.

Echo will get 'stand' eventually, its just so natural for them to sit automatically because thats one of the first things we teach them. We got taught to treat a lot when they stand, in time Echo will get there.

Mars and Pepper also lunge at BDOC, KTB would have seen me getting my arm yanked out of its socket on Sunday morning. But yes, they both eventually settle down when classes actually start.

[koalathebear]

clastic: great photo! The synchronised bowing is great! I shouldn't laugh but I love how stoic Mars is: "I will endure all this gunk on my face because my human wants it so…." i.e. that he thinks the trick is endurance rather than swatting the object off of his face I have no other suggestions! You've tried everything I can think of. I suppose the only other thing is that Hoover was a bit stoic like Mars so sometimes I would tap my finger very lightly where the tape was so that he would be 'reminded' that something was there and that would make him swat.

Elbie bows very nicely – the trick for us is keeping him in the bow. Hoover bows naturally but we haven't tried to capture the behaviour yet – we should, but we have been a bit slack In the morning when they wake up, they sometimes stretch and play bow each other and sniff each other's faces – it looks a bit like a good morning kiss. Very cute.

kyliegirl: stand is incredibly difficult for a lot of dogs. We have only JUST got Elbie standing on command. He will stand from a drop or a sit. I'm still luring Hoover into a stand although he's heaps better at keeping the stand position for longer so that's progress. I am hoping that I can drop the lure soon. I think Echo's doing very well, especially given his age.

As for class #2 of this term's dog school. OH said Elbie went pretty well but as usual was very crap at heeling. He sat still for pats but moved his head. He's doing well with OH dropping the leash though which is good.

Hoover was still very excited before class but settled nicely during class. I was really happy with his controlled greetings – not a single lunge. During class his focus has been pretty good – sometimes another dog will move towards him so he gets excited and wants to say hi back – but he can be controlled with a 'leave it' or a 'go to your mat' cue so I was pretty happy about that. There's a Cavalier King Charles x Bichon Frise that has amazing focus – doesn't seem to take his eyes off of his owner! I don't think I'll ever get to that point but I am hoping Hoover's focus will just get better as he gets used to the distracting environment. One interesting thing was that he was really good on the first run of the loose-leash walking obstacle course – went around the traffic cones, ignored the toys, sat automatically, dropped on cue … but about 10 minutes later for the second run-through, he was very distracted. I think he suddenly noticed all the other doggies on the field (i.e. suddenly noticed the two beginner classes and the silver class) so he didn't want to sit at first.

[koalathebear]

I think that I have the right day. Happy First Birthday Ziggy!!! You are exactly one day older than Elborino! I hope that you and your human have a wonderful birthday!

[Clastic]

I think that I have the right day. Happy First Birthday Ziggy!!! You are exactly one day older than Elborino! I hope that you and your human have a wonderful birthday!

I believe you are quite right!!! Thank you for the reminder.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZIGGY!!!!

[KumaAkita]

OOooohhHh Happy Birfday Ziggy!!! Hope you're being spoilt rotten

*edited to add: anyone seen this thread. from a simple question to a full on debate... can anyone else say Kaboom?

Edited February 14, 2011 by KumaAkita

[Max#1]

KA: the link didn't work? Or its already been shut down? Or better not to know?

ZIGGY - HAPPY BIRTHDAY~ Gosh they grow up so fast! Elbie will be 1 tomorrow too? Wow. I still remember when he was so cute and little! Betsy and KTB - the occasion calls for cute puppy photos!

And now some photos of my own. These series of photos can be titled, 'Oh.... I've.....had.....the time of my life'....

Cause it was cold and rainy I took Max to the beach the other morning. I figured there'd be hardly any other dogs there (he's still supposed to be quarantined) and I was right. We managed to avoid everyone - the benefits of having a ball obsessed dog! And, we had a lovely time!

But seeing as how I've had the past week or so off, and Max has had noone to play with except me, I fear he's become unhealthily attached to me. This morning I had a little panic attack about what will happen when I start the new job, what if they want me to work long hours, what if I have to go away...... Please people tell me the puppy will survive. My OH is intending to leave his job (he works ridiculous hours) this year, so it'll only be a few months of bad, if it is bad. Max has never had to go in a kennel before. I'm quite sure he doesn't have separation anxiety, but I think I do! Help! (And I haven't even had to do anything yet!).

(And you can add him to the list of dogs that pull when approaching obedience classes. Actually, that's a lie. He doesn't pull. He zig zags, jumps, spins circles and is an utter lunatic at the end of his leash. He is the anti-thesis of LLW).

Edited February 14, 2011 by Max#1

[Clastic]

Love the last 2 pics Max#1, especially the last one. You need get that other pic printed and put in a frame too!

KA - Milk... snot... crazy people... *runs away*

[KumaAkita]

bummer about that link... I just checked it and it worked for me. Perhaps because it's in Off-Topic?? Someone asking what drinks other than tea/water are good for you. Then it went into meltdown about how bad milk is for the human body.

Oh, and Max is looking awesome! Those photos are great. Glad you could get out of the house for a little while. I have the same concerns about my job and my dog. I spend so much time away with work that I miss out on heaps with Kuma. Luckily Mr KumaAkita is home all the time, so he's always covered. But, I miss my boys so much when I'm away.

Edited February 14, 2011 by KumaAkita

[koalathebear]

Here's the dilemma for Max#1 - you need to have enough posts under your belt to be able to access off topic but posts to the Elbie thread don't count because posts to the Photo sub-forum don't count. You'll have to post madly outside the Cosy Corner and brave the Wrath of DOL ... survive the trial by fire to gain access to the Off Topic Sub Forum!

_{Also, I dare not post in that Goldenoodle thread but while I am not a defender of designer dogs or crossbreeds, I do not agree that anyone who buys a designer dog MUST be stupid and that all DDs are of bad temperament/ugly/stupid. The fundamental downside of a crossbreed is supposed to be that it's unpredictable, which means that there are no guarantees that a crossbreed will be of bad temperament/ugly/stupid. You're taking a risk yes but there are good and bad ones out there. On DOL alone, there are the owners of crossbreeds/designer dogs whose dogs are not ugly/stupid/of bad temperament ... I know a few people who own labrador x poodles, cavs x poodles, spaniel x poodle and I would not be so offensive as to say that they are stupid and that their dogs are ugly ... I do not approve of backyard breeders and puppy farms, but I can honestly say that there are registered breeders out there who are probably no better and certainly no nicer than some of the BYBs out there and that mere ownership of a pedigree dog does not make one better or even smarter than someone else ...}

[Max#1]

There's an off-topic?

Clastic - the problem with framing that photo is that Max has sand and snot and drool all over his nose.

[Clastic]

There's an off-topic?

Clastic - the problem with framing that photo is that Max has sand and snot and drool all over his nose.

There is indeedy, 150 posts Max#1 - you can do it!!! ;) Its got everything that is non-dog related on there, you also seem to find out a lot about peoples lives in Off-Topic.

Re: photo - But you would laugh at snot, sand and drool covered Max when you look at the photo. I had pink Mars as my phone wallpaper for a while, made me giggle everytime. I'm actually trying to decide what photos of the pups I want at work to keep me company.

ETA: OH found out today that his sweet goody two shoes little princess Pepper isn't so sweet and innocent after all.. I shall explain after grocery shopping and compiling the evidence together...

Edited February 14, 2011 by Clastic

[betsy]

Hi All and Ziggy says thanks for the birthday wishes Woof Woof. He would kiss you all if you were close enough!

I have been working the weekend and today, so not posting much, but skimming thru the thread to keep up ;)

Sounds like everyone is back into the full swing of doggy school again. Kyliegirl I think the others have given you good advice re dogschool. Ziggy is a lungeing fool when we are there - and I can't stand near a couple of dogs because my dog tries to start playing with them.

Max#1 Love the photos. The beach is such a great place for dogs.

KA - hope training gets a bit better. Not sure how anyone could be scared of Kuma, he always looks so cuddly

Well, think photobucket has uploaded, prepare for photo overload!!!!

First day home

Fluffly puppeh!

[betsy]

Growing... (moves into second bed)

Catching up with DOL

Third (and final) bed

And some photos from today - playing with the clamshell as I refilled it

[lilli_star]

Happy birthday Ziggy!

This is my favourite pic

Max looks like he had a lovely time at the beach I wonder what Roo would do if I took her to a beach??

You know how I told you a couple of weeks ago that Roo's best dog friend next door ended up breaking through the Tunnel of Love under the fence and got into my backyard? Yes. Well. His owner has not been well, and so Roo and best dog friend have not had a playdate in over a week. This afternoon I was cleaning up her yard (the wind had torn the tarp on her shed in half and Miss Roo worked out how to open her Bottle Buddy and take out the bottle today too Found the lid luckily) and Roo was playing bitey face under the fence. Then I looked up and she had 3 legs under the fence! Then she was under completely and gone! Luckily my next door neighbours were really good about it (I think he would like Ruby to visit more often ;) ) and when they eventually caught her, both doglets had a playdate in my backyard and had a great time.

That thread about drinks must have degenerated quickly today. I read the first few posts on the last page and then closed the window Gross.

As for the Groodle/Golden Noodle thread, meh. Cross breds are a part of life- we've all had them and I'm sure for the most part, have all been much loved family pets that are remembered fondly. Personally, apart from a Foxie that my mum bought for my grandfather that ended up living with us (probably backyard bred, but how else did you get puppies apart from an ad in the paper????), and my dad's Kelpie workdogs (definitely farm-yard bred), Ruby is the first "purebred" dog I've had. All of our other dogs when I was growing up were rescued/given to us and crossbred anyway. We had a dog called Angie who looked like an Ewok! I'll have to find a photo of her. Such a gorgeous doglet she was.

However. I find the whole DD craze beyond ridiculous. There's a difference between accidental crossings and purposeful ones to create a dog with a made up name to sell for squillions of dollars. My hairdresser told me once last year that her husband wanted a "Jug"- a Jack Russell X Pug- I said why??? Why not just a Jack Russell?? She didn't answer.

Anyway, KTB has a good point (as usual ). It is known that there are as many unscrupulous breeders as there are ethical breeders, some even that breed "Oodles" on the side (or so I read on DOL- therefore, must be true ;) ). And when a "breeder's" website advertises puppies at an almost constant rate, you have to wonder Of course, the one I'm thinking of charges different amounts according to the colour of the dog- that's ridiculous too in my opinion.

Okay. Leaving soapbox now ;)

[koalathebear]

ravenau1: OH noticed this photo:

It appears that you have the same LEGO Millennium Falcon that he has?

KumaAkita: that drinks post. :D My mind is boggling yet again. The Goldenoodle thread was bad enough.

Max#1:

But seeing as how I've had the past week or so off, and Max has had noone to play with except me, I fear he's become unhealthily attached to me. This morning I had a little panic attack about what will happen when I start the new job, what if they want me to work long hours, what if I have to go away...... Please people tell me the puppy will survive. My OH is intending to leave his job (he works ridiculous hours) this year, so it'll only be a few months of bad, if it is bad. Max has never had to go in a kennel before. I'm quite sure he doesn't have separation anxiety, but I think I do! Help! (And I haven't even had to do anything yet!).

Don't worry - I was extremely worried about Elbie, too. From the time he was 8 weeks until he was about 7 months, he had never really been left alone for long stretches of time. OH and I were both off work so were home most of the time. For the first few months we had him, because we were renting and couldn't let him in other rooms - we were with him almost all the time in the kitchen. Then even after I went to work, OH was still at home with him. When OH's grandmother died in September, he had to go back to Canada for 2 weeks and Elbie was left at home every day - some days as long as 12 hours because I was also going to the hospital because of my father. He certainly pined and spent a lot of time looking for my OH but in the end he was totally fine - although you should see the video of Elbie being reunited with my OH. Elbie was soooooooooooooo happy

Also, notwithstanding snot and drool, those photos are adorable and I would totally frame them.

clastic: we are still waiting for the evidence

betsy: great photos of Ziggy! He looked like such an ewok/teddy bear when he was wee

ETA: Lilli_star - clearly True Love cannot be thwarted!!

Edited February 14, 2011 by koalathebear

[koalathebear]

Today (15 February 2011) is Elbie's birthday. He is one year old. He arrived in our home on 4 April 2010 - naughty, mischievous, hyperactive and ridiculously clever. Despite his weird traits - he is such a little character - so quirky and filled with personality ... He has enriched our lives immeasurably since arriving and we both love him dearly. He's grown so much and we love him just as much as we ever did.

Sincere apologies for the awful cropping (and the hugeness of the images) ... - OH will be horrified and aghast - but here's a selection of photos of Elbie from his wee days, to present

Wee Elbie

Still wee

Not so wee

Fully grown (we think)

Happy Birthday darling, beloved Elbie.

Edited February 14, 2011 by koalathebear

[ravenau1]

Awwww! Happy Birthday to Ziggie and Elbie! They've both grown into such lovely looking dogs!

Koala, that's OH's Falcon, he's a Star Wars nut (our house is jam packed with SW stuff). And a Lego nut. I imagine it was the best day of his life when he found the first Lego Star Wars piece :D He likes the Collectors Series stuff, so we also have X-wing, Death Star, Imperial Star Destroyer, two different Tie fighters, an AT-ST and most recently the Tantive IV. We have nowhere to put them all now, and that's why the Falcon is on an old card table

[betsy]

Happy Birthday Elbie!

KTB - Elbie certainly seems to have stolen a big chunk of your heart. He is obviously a clever doggy, and good looking too! Where do we find the human version?

And thanks to Elbie we all have the cozy corner of DOL. :D

[minxy]

Oh wow, wee Elbie was sooooo cute!! I can't believe he's a year old already. Happy Birthday Elbster!!