persephone

Not gross - a d o g :)

I didn't say that Mark says that they can't be on the couch or have pats, only what you said about it all being to by invitation only and not initiated by the dog. I'm not sure why it's considered bad manners for a dog to approach you and want to cuddle or to sit on the couch with you, provided they listen when you say no or when you've had enough and want them to get down? I don't make the friends and family in my life wait to be invited to give me a hug or kiss and don't think it's bad manners when they do initiate affection with me. I might think it's bad manners if a stranger does it though. And yes, I know dogs aren't people, I just fail to see what's rude or disrespectful about my dog jumping on the couch and putting his head on my lap fo let me know he'd like some affection, or leaning on me or sitting on my lap when he's frightened or upset? Back when we had the consultation when I was told about the no leaning, asking for pats, getting on furniture etc I was a novice dog owner and still thought Cesar Millan was something to aspire to, so implemented what I was told to do and it wasn't enjoyable for either of us. Sure, my dog stopped approaching me, stopped getting on the furniture, stopped walking through doorways ahead of me and stopped moving ahead of me on walks, but the cost was an unhappy human, an unhappy dog and a somewhat damaged relationship. :) I can understand how awful that would have been for both of you .... you are so good for each other . Not that I enforce it at all times ..but guess it resonates with me as it's basically what I've been taught for a half century , * old habits die hard* ? :) I love cuddles from dogs & cat etc , just that it's usually my decision as to when & where . Obviously, a frightened /injured dog is a very different scenario :)

:) slightly OT - do have any videos of Em working ?

yeah - it's an interesting discussion ... I do agree with the personal space thing , and from the bits I've read from mark Singer .. cuddles/being on furniture etc are all fine , provided the initiation comes from the human , not the dog. isn't it just 'good manners' ?

Hopefully one day it will be all green again ..... I DO love the reds though Thankyou.

The Conni pads are amazingly absorbent , and i would never be without some of them handy :)

Just at the back of our house this morning . iPhone pano .

Hope this week sees a happy Amber :)

What a happy 'accident'

:) isn't that wonderful ?

he knows he has you trained :)

:) Go, Amber!

She certainly does!! Geoff answers to both Geoffrey and LEGS ! :) The Boss walks around saying "Where my Legs ? I can't find my Legs ...." Droll ;)

from Mark Singer's FB page >

The pouncer ....and the pouncee.Molly & Geoffrey ( AKA LEGS) he has , it seems, extra long, and out of control legs ....

Smoke , AKA master puke .. is sort of working . He has his father's awful habit of going way off track in zero seconds - but The Boss is persevering , Smoke's enjoying himself ..so ...

oh - that must be very disappointing news

What a worry Hoping the new AB's will do the trick . Luckily it is an open pyo ...

bugga . Sending thoughts ..and hopes for good news.

Walking on sand/footpaths etc regularly will naturally dry out and toughen his pads :) for sure short term he will ouch a bit ... he will also learn very quickly where to walk , and how to remove stuff from his feet . Dogs are far more adept at this sort of adaptation then we are ;)

Our pups quickly learn to pull out their own prickles ..and their pads toughen up quickly :)

guess it depends on where you'll be living, and what areas you will be taking your dog :) I would not imagine most ovals/parks to be a prickle worry ..nor made footpaths or beaches ... I live inland, rural , and the ground is covered with several different prickly things . Luckily the dogs grow up with them ..get thick tough pads fairly quickly , & just stop to pull out prickles when they need to ;)

and ... SMOKE :)

Don dog looking gorgeous :) ( even tho the foto's phuzzy ) This morning's "let's get ASH" party