Gayle.

May I suggest that you relax and enjoy your puppy while he is still a puppy, and stop trying to over-analyse every single whimper and cry?

Maureen, I started to watch your video and couldn't continue, I was a blubbering mess after a few seconds. The grief here is still very raw and just below the surface. I'd love to do something like that for my boy but I know I'd never get past the first picture. I have been thinking about you all weekend, i hope you are feeling a bit less heartsick by now.

Mango

The dog I have that likes to lift it's leg higher than every other animal and mark is a 5yo female who was desexed at 8 weeks of age. My 16 month old entire male doesn't really mark, although he lifts his leg to pee. My 3 yo entire female doesn't lift her leg but squats to mark over other dogs but not often. Generally only if she's in a new place and a bit unsure of herself.Does it come down to their babymaking status? I've come to doubt it, especially since having Shae (the 5 yo dominant bitch) who came to us earlier this year. She turns all those myths and assumptions on their head. I would probably just get something to remove the cat pee smell (but good luck with that, it tends to stick around for ages) and keep a close eye on the dog and not let him mark over anything.

Oh Maureen, my heart goes out to you. It's so, so hard when they go on ahead of you. Sleep peacefully, Gizmo. Your mummy sure loved her little man.

Akita: Kyojin, Kuma American Staffordshire Terrier: Tua, Max, Juno Australian Shepherd: Banjo, Archie, Lottie, Dusty, Isaak, Shae, Ripley Australian terrier: Bailey, Brandy, Jasper Australian Kelpie: Revan, Abby, Bluey, Cahill, Franky, Izzy, Spfyre, Milky, Kinta, Banjo Australian Kelpie X:Toby Bearded Collie: Charlie, Bonnie, Bailie Belgian Shepherd (Groenendael): Fleming, Ivy Border Collie: Roy, Molly, Kirra, Rory, Rumor, Diesel Borzoi: Oberon Boxer: Bruno, Nelsson Brittany: Zora Bull Terrier: Bonnerville Cane Corso: Ali Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: Bree, Ingrid, Jersey, Lacey, Fern, Floyd, Indy, Arnie, Joey, Renae Chihuahua: Chelsea and Pansy, Heidi, Bertie, Moose, Archi,Pepe, Squirt, Limpet Cocker Spaniel : Maggie Dalmatian: Appollo Dogue De Bordeaux: Moose & Chevy English Setter: Spartan, James Finnish Lapphund:Halo, Vienna, Jaana,Magnus,Aurora-Rose,Niina,Paddington,Maximus, Ahsoka, Fable, Demi,Varda, Asha, Boots French Bulldog: Lola, FeeBee German Coolie: FlashBazil, Latte German Shepherd: Java, Odin, Tlaloc, Rebus, Indi, Uno German Shorthaired Pointer: Pip, Coco, Polo Golden Retriever: Onslow, Matilda-Rose, Chester, Genie, Ella, Rosie, Bruce Great Dane: Sparkles, Whitney Greyhound: Harry, Kiff, Sally Griffon Bruxellois: Mocha Hungarian Vizsla: Flynn, Rogan Japanese Spitz: Emmy Keeshond: Jedi Labrador Retriever: Lestat, Bailey, Tia, Mieka, James Miniature Long Haired Dachshund: Mini, Rover Newfoundland dogs: Annabelle, Katy, Lukey Norwegian Elkhound: Odin Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriver: Nova, Darcy, Jovi Papillon: Blaze, Minka, Portia, Tyson, Coco, Tonka Pointer : Kite Audrey Poppin konrad, Badger Poodle (Toy): Chilli Poodle (Standard) Merry & Pippin, Poppy & babies. Pug: Lotus Rhodesian Ridgeback: Meisha, Bakari, Boss Rottweiler: Roxy, Feonix, Radar, Neo, Abby Samoyed: Mistral, Alchemy, Yngvie, Dante, Bundy, Kamikaze, Fergus, Kato Schnauzer (minature): Maximus, Coconut,Betty,Jigga Shih Tzu : Gizmo Siberian Husky: Akira, Tikaani,Romeo,Baby.Riddick,Indie, Esky Staffordshire Bull Terrier: Kiara, Zola, Diesel SWF: Zoe Rescue Bitsa: Keely, Fred & Ginger, Ozzie, Tess, Maverick, Bosco, Kyah, Charlie, Astrid, Mala, Bella, Tiny Tim, Jen Jen White German Shepherd: Casper White Swiss Shepherd: Rakim, Whippet: Herbie, Buzz Weimaraner: Ariane, Lulu, Louie West Highland White Terrier: Penny, Mac, Daisy

PWDs and Lagottos are both rare breeds, a cross is highly unlikely. I still think it'sa Lagotto, it doesn't look big enough for a PWD although pics can be decieving. Also the colour and markings are more Lagotto-like.

Check out the Lagottos here, they aren't show dogs so aren't clipped and groomed formally as they would be for a show, and they look very much like the dog in the pic. He's very much a Lagotto colour too. http://www.hevnsent.net/

Other people don't discipline my dogs, and other people don't come and go as they please in my home. I couldn't stand to live like that.

Lagotto?

I also use a Mac but haven't found anything else to use. I just kept my old desktop set up for entering dog shows.

Do you generally stay in the same room as a sleeping child? I never did.

My indoor Burmese cat has escaped the house twice this week and both times he's arrived home dragging a freshly dead wild rabbit, then laid it proudly on the front doorstep. He does this "war dance" around it and tosses it up in the air, then hides it in the woodpile. He partially ate the second one (he started with the head) before hiding it, then my husband disposed of it. My husband has taken to calling him Elmer Fudd (cos he's out hunting wabbits).

I had intended to come see you again on Sunday but as soon as the breed judging was done and Isaak got beaten in the run-offs, I was gone. I had two dogs to take home in the car, a 6 1/2 hour drive ahead of me, I was covered in mud from the knees down and covered in wet plastic from the knees up and all I wanted was to head for home. So sorry I didn't get to say goodbye, but it was lovely meeting you and now I know it's a reasonably easy drive and there's pet friendly accomodation in the area, I'll no doubt be up there again.

My computer is a relatively new MacBook Pro, with extra RAM, doesn't need defragging and runs as fast as anyhing I've ever used. It's the exchange, it's limited to ADSL1 and won't be upgraded. I'm on the fastest speed the ISP offers but it's not fast enough for video to run smoothly. Hopefuly the new NBN will address the issue but I won't hold my breath.

I have already fallen in love with him, that was the easiest thing ever! He is very relaxed here and he's been carrying around his new Cuz toys and playing with them. Him and Shae play tug with the rope toys and he showed us how he can throw them and catch them, which was hilarious. Oh, don't cry, you'll make me feel bad. I know this was hard for you, really hard, I can't imagine making a decision like that and it was one of the most selfless things I've ever seen. He is going to meet some sheep in a few weeks and if he shows promise, he'll be entered in the ASCV herding trial to have a try for a herding instinct certificate.

My most dominant dog is a 5yo bitch who was neutered at 8 weeks. She will posture over every dog she meets, front up to them, growl and generally make a big dick of herself being a tough girl. She pees by lifting her leg if there are other dogs around. She is my smallest dog by a long way but she thinks she's ten feet tall. The only dogs I've ever had problems with as far as fighting is her and a neutered boy (who has since died). The entire pair I have here are absolutely fine with each other, the two girls are brilliant, my two boys were fantastic, but I had to be really careful with the two neuters not to upset the applecart. A bit of kibble accidentally dropped on the floor near the two of them was enough to start a fight. I don't believe it's the gender mix, nor do I believe it's the entire/neuter state, it's simply the temperaments of the dogs involved. They might get along fine with every other dog they meet but that one just sets them right off.

I have ADSL1, it's all our little exchange supports, so You-Tube can be a frustrating experience for me too with the stops and starts. What I do is turn the sound off and let it run almost to the end, then rewind it to the start to play though with the sound. I don't even bother with TV programs.

I'd agree that Tibbies are different little dogs. My Tibbies are not like the ones you describe at the breeder you visited... they love to cuddle on laps & are not barkers. One's from Sweden & the other's from NSW. It would never occur to my tibs to get higher than my head if I'm sitting down. They like to be at my feet, at my side or on my lap. In fact, I just got back from the groomer who remarked how she loves how my tibbie cuddles in to her neck. Our first Tibbie, who came from Q'ld, was selected to be a therapy dog at a children's hospital because she, too, was cuddly & loved to be with people. The Tibbie next door came from Victoria & tends to bark (but not mindlessly), and is aloof with strangers. She has a different temperament from mine. I can honestly say that I didn't love them, although the breeder does. They weren't really my type of dog, but hers would suit lots of people, just not me. She had some babies there though and they were about the most adorable things I've ever seen.

That is so typical of Dusty......wet, covered in mud but still looking like a princess. And so much like an Aussie boy,,,,they are all just big cuddly, lovable goofballs.

Isaak was grumbling at him and pretending he had bigger balls til they hit the paddock, then Ripley showed him who can run faster and Isaak is now conceding defeat. Shae loves him, they have been playing with the Cuz toys my friend bought for him, and they have a little game where they steal each others toys then try and get them back. It's hilarious to watch. Dusty is Miss Mother and she tries to protect him from everything, and she loves that he can chase down a frisbee with her. She has missed that because Isaak and Shae don't "do" frisbees, they just chase tennis balls. Ripley is a non-denominational chaser....he doesn't care what he runs after! He has been throughly hugged and told how his other mothers love him and miss him, and his aunties too. He is settling in really well......for the first day, he hung back but now he's right in there up the front and middle of the pack and he's one of the gang. I just wish this goddamn rain would stop, I want my clean, dry dogs back!

That's not fair on me. I literally can't get over the fence myself. None of them. On my way out to town earlier I stopped to see if I could. Yes it's fair. You are doing nothing. Get a ladder, get someelse to go over the fence, make a hole in the fence to get through. Get the dog untangled and safe!

I can't believe there's even a discussion about it. Didn't someone call the RSPCA fencesitters earlier in the thread? Pot, kettle, black? SAVE THE POOR BLOODY DOG then worry about rverything else later. I can't believe someone is NOT helping a dog in distress all because they are concerned they might get a fine for trespassing.

If it were me, the dog would be untangled and safe by now. How despicable to stand by and do nothing all because there's a fence in the way.

You can get rescue dogs through breeders. I got Shae (Australian Shepherd) from a breeder, she is a rescue dog and was rehomed to me as such through the breed rescue service. Dogs are sometimes returned to breeders for various reasons.....in Shae's case she was returned twice, through no fault of her own. The breeders take them back and rehome, rather than the dog being dumped in a pound or shelter. She came with a main registered pedigree, the breeder was very familiar with her history and I knew what to expect when she came here. I would not get a rescue dog through a shelter or general rescue group, but I'd definitely rescue via a breeder again, it's been a very positive experience. As far as male or female, with a neuter it's pretty much a personal choice. I like both and my heart seems to be with the girls, but in all honesty the boys have better temperaments.