spottychick

And Dylan doing a lovely "drop"

I don't know about "bog training". I live in the country so it's not usually a big deal for me to pick up poo and drop it in the nearest bin - there's not a lot of people wandering about to worry about how I look carrying a small bag of doggy poo - but I wouldn't care anyway. Might be different in the city. I dunno - I dont want to live in a city. I have enough to do training these critters with other things. I'm really not fussed about dogs doing what comes naturally. As long as it's not going into waterways or lying around for people to walk in etc I don't have a problem with it.

LMAO What a hilarious thread. My dogs go when they gotta go. Usually it's NOT when walking around footpaths etc but even if it is - I have plastic bags and their poo is generally healthy firm etc so very easy to pick up. But really, apart from the odd rushing the dog on a lead to get them away from somewhere totally unsuitable - say, a cafe LMAO I've never really worried about it. As long as it's picked up so what?

Me too!!! Just too much for my vertigo!!!

Dear Diary THings are as mad as ever around here. Tango is getting a little better with the pup but is still inclined to suddenly attack him and make him scream. I woke up the other morning and could feel two dogs on the bed scrunched up together and against my legs. I expected it to be Pepper and Dylan. Imagine my surprise to see it was Tango and Pepper! Like they've been BFFs for years. It was a delightful sight - but I bet Dylan wasn't too pleased. He was in one of the dog beds hee hee Dylan is still learning quickly - he now has sit, stay, drop, drop stay and come. He doesn't move towards his dinner until I say so (gazes adoringly into my eyes) and stays with me off-lead. Yesterday as we were nearing our back gate with Pepper and Dylan off-lead I noticed the neighbours goat was hanging around near my gate. I don't trust goats (sorry goat lovers but I've never met a goat I like and they certainly cant be trusted around dogs ) so I quickly called Pepper and Dylan - Dylan came straight to me!!!! (So did Pep but she always does). Anyway, my neighbour (who owned the goat) came over and shooed the goat away so then I let Dylan back off the lead and went towards the gate. Dylan just followed me and came inside the yard without even being told to. Ah if only I could get Tango to behave like that..... Pepper has become more puppy-ish in her behaviour - even a neighbour commented on it Poor old thing, she's really a lover not a fighter and since she's started playing with the puppy he wont leave her alone. He's just constantly doing the "play with me play with me" thing, biting her round the neck, pulling her leg, biting her ears etc.... SHe generally just lets him and I've actually had to intervene on occassion when I can see she just wants to lie down and rest a while. Dylans good tho, once he listens and gets it that I want him to settle - he does! The true nature of Pepper has emerged and she lets him get away with anything. She is a sweetheart. Today there was a noise at the front door and all the dogs rushed up the hall barking like fiends. Suddenly I hear Dylan scream and yelp and he kept whimpering - it sounded a bit serious. I dashed out to see what had happened and just as I got to the whimpering puppy (Dylan was sitting down whining and looking vaguely hurt) Pepper pushed me out of the way and stuck her nose all over Dylan - she was trying to see what was wrong!!! What an absolute dear she is - Pepper's definitely taken on the "mum" role with him. Dylan had hurt his back leg but it was all better after a bit of a sook and lots of kisses from me and Pepper. I suspect Tango shoved him into the wall (accidentally) but Tango clearly didn't care about the crying puppy. He just stood near the fridge tap dancing in the hopes of getting a treat. Here's some pics - look at how much bigger Dylan is - he's almost as tall as Tango!!! Note that Tango doesn't really look that wierd - it's the angle of the picture And the lovely Pepper with Tango - this is more to show how much weight Mr Tango has put on. He sure has filled out!!!

Juice I've had two dalmatians that are as near to perfect as you could want. My old girl was like yours - she was even friendly with birds and cats and my cat DJ used to sleep curled up with her (sometimes on her head). She once attacked an intruder and was a fantastic guard dog but otherwise the most gentle dog you would ever meet. She was the top dog, even when she was 18 years old and doddery and an incredibly brave but sensible dog. She had perfect recall and manners. Never stole stuff, got into bins etc. I could call her back from anything and she would stop on a dime if I told her to. She had absolute trust in me and would do anything I asked of her. She was my heart dog and I don't think there'll ever be another like her. But altho I took her to training classes in her younger years, I don't think that was why she was so good. SHe was just one of those dogs. Pepper tho, is also pretty much perfect. Apart from being something of a chatter box (which annoys other people more than it does me) I can't think of anything I'd want to change in this girl. SHe was a snap to train from when she was a tiny puppy and I think I've only ever had to growl at her, I mean like seriously growl and give her a slight smack, once - and that was recently when she went OTT with the puppy. Since then she's been great with him and I forgave her that anyway because I've asked an awful lot of her in the last year or so. Pepper, I have to say, learnt a lot from my heart dog.

I probably would. But I'd definitely stop lending them money.

These dogs have been living wild for a long time. The people involved rescued their pups a few weeks earlier but couldnt get near the adults who were acting like wild dogs, apparently. The male dog has been providing food for the mother and pups (when they arrived). He has scars all over his muzzle, infected ears, infected eyes and entropian eyelids. His skin was pretty bad too due to massive flea infestation. He may have been in dog fights or might have just got all the scars from a previous bad owner or from living tough on the streets. The dog was in a fair bit of pain they said. The female was also covered in fleas but otherwise okay. The point was that these dogs could easily have been vicious when they were quite the opposite. It was not a "news" story as such - it's a video that was made to help promote the rescue group that were involved in rescuing this family of dogs. And was also a promo for pittys. I thought it was a fantastic video.

Oh stop!! I don't know who Ambridge is but I take it that's a nice comparison! Hmmmm writing for fun AND profit? I must admit squillions sounds pretty attractive Might give it some thought.

Were they planning on adopting 4 more rescue dogs this month? I would've just paid the fine.

Tango considers it his duty to get blowflys. Quite happy to let him go for it. Unfortunately most of the time he just sort of squashes them and spits them out so I have to clean em up Still it beats having them buzzing around the house all the time. There sure are a lot around tho.

What a gorgeous pair of dogs!! Chester looks like a real character and Birdie is absolutely beautiful!! Great vid!

lol I do exactly that too Mrs Rusty - "Come on. In or out. Make up your mind. Right! Out it is! Bye then" Shut door! heehee

She clearly sees this as a fun game. Can you leave her out there???? Not for ages, just long enough for her to think it would be a good idea to go in when she's asked to? Dylan did something similar today when he'd followed me into the laundry and wouldn't leave when I was trying to close the door to the laundry. No matter how many times I tried to call him he started playing silly buggers and darting around in the laundry. So I shut the door on him and left him in there for about 15 minutes. LMAO Seems to have worked

When my dear little girl lost both her buddies within a year she was clearly distressed and sad. I DID give her lots of cuddles and more attention than usual - it wasn't a question of "rewarding" - she was sad and wasn't looking for rewards or approval. She was missing her companions and the interaction with them. So she was lonely for the company. I filled in a bit more for them so that she didn't feel so alone. So I approached it more like puppysniffer - but not ALL the time. She got attention sometimes and other times I just ignored her (like I normally do with dogs). She also got taken for walks and otherwise treated normally - but I had no problem with letting her be sad and express it. She got over it in her own time with the help of the arrival of the lunatic Tango hee hee and she now has two buddies in her life - she's actually starting to be more like her old self. The hardest thing for her I think is how she had to adjust to being sort of boss dog when she was always happy being the loved and protected "bottom" dog. She didn't scream at night or anything tho. I wouldn't have encouraged that. I'd just say a quick "It's okay Pepper" and let her alone. I also think the best thing in the early days was when I spent time with her on long walks. She would seem a lot happier and settle easier when we got home. Often I went with a friend and her dog so that helped too.

Oh my goodness - it brought tears to my eyes. What a fantastic dog - how could anyone have abused him!! And yes, I agree, the mother probably saw it all happen in seconds before she could get over there. I'm sure the snake wasn't hanging around looking at the baby for ages or anything

What the....????? No way!

Baxter - which news site is that on? I want to vote in the poll!

Exactly - well DERRRR!

I have a similar problem with my dally who is also a stone former so needs even more water!!! I have never come across a dog that didn't drink water before I met him!!! I do all of the things suggested. A little doggy milk/honey/broth etc in water, water in his dinner. I also give him rain water or filtered water not tap water.

It really is remarkable to watch how a dog can change just because he feels safe and a part of a "family" (however dogs percieve that!!). Tango found another dead thing today (road kill that had been put on the footpath) when I had him and Dylan on leads. I was distracted and didn't notice it or notice him snatch it up. It wasn't a very big thing tho and Dylan tried to grab hold of it. Much too close to Tangos mouth. Tango just growled and flicked his head away and I pulled Dylan away with the lead. I thought that was perfectly acceptable behaviour from Tango given that the "prize" was only a small one, he was on a short lead and felt a bit constrained and Dylan was leaping at his face. Dylan actually managed to get a bit of bone or something anyway and proudly carried it all the way home (like tango) and then promptly lost interest in it. I swapped Tango's revolting smelly whatever it was for a juicy bone when we got home so that was all sorted too.

LOL Jigsaw! At least he doesnt also roll in them. The ladylike elegant Pepper is more likely to do that!!

You're more than welcome sebastion - I love sharing them. I just hope people don't see me as one of those 'look at me posters" I've seen mentioned in dark disapproving tones now and again round these parts I just cant help but want to tell people stuff LOL

Dont worry too much MM - that "poor boy" seems to get his own way far too often LOL The boys names seem to be changing regularly - I've been calling them Tillen and Dango or Talon and Dingo. Dylan continues to amaze me, he's just such a fast learner. I finally convinced Pepper that Dylan was safe to play with and wont attack her like Tango does. 2 days ago they had a brief tentative play and now I can hardly get them to stop it. It's like a spotty whirling dervish all round the house with Pepper snarling and carryiing on and Dylan yipping and yapping (which is hilarious in such a big puppy) as they joyfully hurl themselves at each other. Their fave is to stand on their back legs and wrestle each others heads. Poor old Tango keeps alternating between getting distressed because he thinks it's a real fight and attacking one of them OR realising its a game, wanting to join in so he attacks them anyway LMAO His idea of "play" is really scarey and he bites without understanding the harm he does. I've been working with him to calm him and get him to leave them to play which he sometimes gets. I can see tango is tryiing to work out how to deal with it all. Today he was attacking them, I distracted him with treats and patted him. He watched them a while, went to attack but stopped when I looked at him. So he ran into the kitchen and came back to the doorway with Headless Teddy in his mouth then ran out the back door when everyone looked at him hahahahahaha It's a madhouse but we're getting it together.

Yes, we lost a beautiful dalmatian (my first one many years ago) because we didn't know any better and had her tied in the back of a truck with another dog. Her tie snapped as we went round a bend and she was catapulted out of the truck into a pole. She died and I was absolutely guilt-ridden and devastated. Since then I never EVER allow my dogs to travel in the back of a truck or ute or whatever. On one occassion in an emergency I had no choice so I SAT IN THE BACK WITH THEM and held on to their collars - this made certain the driver drove very carefully. The shelter etc issues are also a concern.