Sayly

Gracie came to teach us how frustrating some dogs can be. How tough little terriers can be. That you can love a dog and do the right thing by them but never completely click with them. Poppy came to us to teach me so much, to never buy a petshop puppy, to appreciate good genetics, the importance of early socialisation, how training doesn't stop when the dog is no longer a pup, and to keep me on this earth when without her I wouldn't still be here. And to keep the bed warm. Ruby came to us to start my dream of showing (and hopefully breeding eventually) and to keep us laughing. And to help bring Holly into our lives. Holly came to me to make a dream come true. To make me happy. To help Poppy to keep me on this earth when without them I wouldn't still be here. To make me feel completely and utterly adored for simply being. To open doors and make new friends. And to never trust someone she doesn't like. ETA: And Holly taught me about soft dogs. I'd never had anything but terriers before her and she's such a soft girl. Very different in needs and training than the terriers and I love it. She's so easy.

Thanks for all the replies, I think we might go with 2 rubber backed and a normal one.

Did you find much difference between the two?

Thanks!

Thanks for the replies. Which one would that be?

Monah, check out this thread. http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=191403 I will be there the first Friday and Sunday with dogs and will probably go down Tuesday to handle and General Specials day to watch if I don't have anything to show.

I know vet bed has been done to death so just a quick question, what's the difference between the "Green Backed" and the Non-Slip "Rubber Backed"? Which do you prefer to use with your litters?

I work in a boarding kennels and recently got a job as a casual vet nurse. I got the boarding kennel job through a friend. We both show dogs and she was friends with the owner. Introduced me to the boss who also breeds and shows dogs and I think my dog showing interest/experience and being a vet student was a big part of getting the job. I love my job! It's cleaning more than anything else and you spend more time doing that than physically doing something with the dogs but I really enjoy working around dogs (and cats) and working with others who share how I feel. I also love my boss who is now a dog breeding mentor. The vet nursing job I got by applying to an advert at uni looking for a vet student for casual work at the clinic. That wouldn't have happened had I not been studying to be a vet. Still alot of cleaning. Working in both the kennels and the clinic requires good people skills too, you are often on the phone to them or dealing with them face to face. You will get dirty doing both, could you deal with a stinking, infected wound or putting your hand into a pile of dog poo accidently? Do you have the option of uni? An animal science degree might suit you? All very true! But for me the positives far out weigh the negatives.. cant wait to get this baby out of me and get back into it. It's a very hard (and severely underpaid) career but is super rewarding and I would do it over anything else. But just because you complete the vet nursing course doesn't mean you HAVE to be a vet nurse.. a few girls I know ended up in doggy day care, at kennels/boarding kennels, and other similar places. Even Cert 2 in Animal Care/studies would be a good place to start! Yes I'm not trying to put aside the positives, but just show what some of the down sides are. I find the role of a vet or a vet nurse or even a dog trainer has been severely romanticised by the general public into some happy fuzzy job where everything has a happy ending. I'm looking at studying Vet Nursing next year [if I remember to put my application in on time this time!]. Completely agree. ETA: And as everyone else has said, the pay sucks!

Yep, was on the Terrier Club stand last open day, looking at getting involved (or running if no one else is) the Aussie Shepherd stand for this one.

Google lethal merle genes. Now THAT'S a health issue caused solely by colour The gene itself is not actually lethal. A double up of the merle gene causes blindess and deafness in some/most pups. The name came about because and double merle pups were usually put to sleep at birth. And merle is a colour gene is it not? It's a gene that affects colour, yes. I don't see the point to the last question though? The blind/deafness is a health issue caused solely by colour (or lack of) but the gene it self does not cause pups to die, breeder's putting the pups to sleep due to the possible health problems cause them to die.

Google lethal merle genes. Now THAT'S a health issue caused solely by colour The gene itself is not actually lethal. A double up of the merle gene causes blindess and deafness in some/most pups. The name came about because and double merle pups were usually put to sleep at birth.

Rumour has it that mating of very white particoloured Whippets has seen deafness crop up in the breed. There is a definite link between black dogs and increased risk of some cancers and between black and tan dogs and susceptability to parvo. And of course the lethal white gene crops up in merle to merle matings.. in dogs and in paint horses. We covered something in a lecture today about black and tan dogs and a type of antibiotic use (sulphonamide);

I am just curious the colour implications for Staffords. Say I went crazy and started breeding from light goldens, no health testing etc. Down the track I would get dodgey dogs because I didnt health test but I guess the light colour is not causing the health problems and I assume an ethical golden breeder who happens to breed light goldens will have healthy ones as opposed to my dodgey ones. So am wondering if this is the case for Staffords or is there something wrong with the blue gene in the first place. Hope that makes sense! I am not a "science-y" person! Obviously, but I was directing it at your question/statement in your first post:

Colour (or lack of) sure can cause health issues, not just in Staffords. Too much white on the head of an Australian Shepherd (such as from merle to merle matings) can cause deafness and blindness. Which is why our standard is particular on the amount of pigment a dog needs.

What breed are you going with? Can't wait for baby pics!

Thanks Lyndsay, it is nice to hear from an Aussie person. Perhaps I would not find Banjo so difficult if I was a more knowledgable trainer - he is very smart and eager when in 'training mode'. You have done more than an 'average' person would do. I am no wonderful trainer either and would be majorly struggling with Banjo if he were mine. We had issues with Poppy as a pup/teenager and she is dog aggressive but thankfully doesn't react unless a dog comes right into her face, so is easy to manage. I'm just sad that your first Aussie has been such a challenge, your struggles with him alway sticks in my mind now when people are thinking about getting an Aussie or someone reccomends on in the "what breed" threads in general.

LM - as far as being a typical Aussie, I think he's one of the most difficult ones I have heard of. The ones I have been lucky enough to be involved with are generally easy dogs to be around. Even Beau, Banjo's brother wasn't as difficult as what Banjo sounds like. I have no words of wisdom, just some of these:

Ruby does! She LOVES the ball! Would play all day if she could, even if it's 40 degrees it's still ok to play ball, according to her. She has a special 'scream' that she keeps for when she's chasing the ball. But Irish don't suit as far as personalities go. They are very different to working dogs. EFS

Holly would be fine in the situation above as long as she got lots of balls thrown for her, but she is really a chilled out, easy (and somewhat 'simpler' ;) ) Aussie. I don't know any other Aussies who would cope well. And I think Holly would only cope with the family's situation if she wasn't an only dog. The RIGHT Aussie or BC might be suitable but it would be difficult to find the one in a puppy.

If he has a bob tail that could point him in the Aussie direction! More common to see bi colour merled BCs than Aussies (although there are bi colours around in the Aussies too, Lucy's Mama on here has a blue merle bi colour [ie no tan markings above the eyes, on the legs]).

There is no way the ones I have met would fit this family at all. A terrier's temp is nothing like a working dog's, nor should it be. I love both groups (obviously) but they are very different. If they like BCs I would not suggest a terrier. Others have suggested an Aussie Shepherd. Aussies can be heavier than your average BC and just as full on depending on the dog. I would be aiming for at least an hour of excercise a day and plenty of mental stimulation if leaning towards Aussies. It would be about finding the right dog. They drop coat something shocking when coming into season or doing their yearly drop but desexing does decrease this a bit.

Thanks everyone. He was gorgeous.

She's a cutie! Same! A bitch I co-own with her breeder and little sister to my girl Holly is called Maizie. I love the name.

Beat me to it Gayle. Great book and worth having if you are contemplating getting an Aussie.

What a great idea. I hope someone is able to help, I would be happy to but I doubt I have nearly enough knowledge to be of assistance.