Sayly

Dalmatians need ground rules set down early and you need to be consistant. I have found from working with them they are high energy and just love a game. They love training if you make it interesting but are smart enough to think of ways around doing something you might want them to do. Lovely dogs though. My Aussie Shepherd gets about the level of exercise you are willing to give and is a happy dog. If you were really interested in Aussies I would suggest talking to a couple of breeders and when you put your name down for a pup make sure you ask to be matched with a calmer puppy. Although you sound keener on the gundogs, many of which sound suitable.

Australian Shepherd (currently own, will breed and think I will have them around for as long as I can look after them properly!) Irish Terrier (as above but Mum will breed them instead ) Bull Terrier (both sizes) Borzoi Pap Standard Poodle - white, to show (haha I'm CRAZY!) Dandie Dinmont Saluki Brittany Long Hair Dachie (either size) Also love Lowchens, Kerry Blues and Tibetan Spaniels! ETA: And I love the look of Pointers but know so little about them! Edited again: Oh poo! I forgot Lappies!

Thanks Jed. I don't think they expect her to be perfect within a couple of weeks but want to do what they can to help improve her life with them and do what they can to make her happier.

I think she wants to try and make her happier first, if it doesn't improve she will send her back.

I think they expect her to settle more, she is pacing less and less but the father issue hasn't improved, but I think he's been trying too hard (if that makes sense) but my friend has told him what Erny suggested. My friend has thought about sending her back and it is on the cards.

Under normal circumstances I would agree 100% with the issues with being a show prospect but the bitch is on loan to fill a hole in my friend's heart while she waits for her own puppy from an upcoming litter (which may well be months away) after tragedy with her previous dog (no one's fault just bad luck ). It's a long story but she does love having the girl there and hasn't been happier since her other dog passed. She is learning how to show while waiting for her pup. I know the breeder didn't expected her to be how she is at all, I've seen the bitch in the show ring before and hasn't had issues with judges of either sex, although she didn't like showing at the royal and the strange ground and atmosphere. The breeder is happy to take her back at any stage and my friend didn't pay anything for her. She's on loan so my friend can learn to show and have a dog around the place. If they clicked and it had all worked I think the bitch would have stayed with my friend, but she thinks a pup would be better for the whole family, as both her parents love having a dog around and her father is finding it a bit upsetting that he can't spend time with the bitch. Which is fair enough too, in her situation I think I would do the same thing. The bitch is happy inside when the father isn't around. She adored the man who looked after her before moving in with my friend, and while he's generally quiet his voice is pretty deep and gruff. She's been a shyer bitch than I have met in the breed before, even since she was a pup but at her breeder's there was alot of regularity and predictability and I wouldn't have said she was timid, but shy and not out going. Like you said corvus, my friend also picked up that the change in predictability is likely to be very upsetting for her. Thank you so much for all the help, it's very much appreciated.

If dad is within 5 to 10m the bitch will move away. If she's in her basket or bed she won't move and is usually better than when she isn't in these places. She used to live with a male and female couple who shared the dog-looking-after between them, and she adored both of them. She doesn't like my friend's boyfriend but he's not really doggy and I don't think he's overly interested in her. Will pass along you suggestions, thank you! ETA: My friend says thank you too.

A friend has recently gotten a young adult purebred from a breeder. The bitch is a show bitch so isn't desexed. She's recently come out of a phantom season (not particularly full blown phantom though). My friend has had the same breed before and adores the breed and understands their needs, but isn't especially dog savvy (yet, but she's learning very, very quickly)! The bitch is nervous around her Dad (she lives at home with her parents as she's studying) and literally cowers from him and runs away. He's never done anything to her that he could think of that could scare her. She paces around and around the yard to the point she's worn a track in the grass and she's only been there a couple of weeks. She also drools while doing this. She is relatively happy inside with my friend and her mum but stresses and runs away if close to her dad. She usually runs to her 'safe' places like her crate, my friend's bed or her basket. If my friend goes outside when the bitch is outside the bitch usually comes and sits with her and seems happier but my friend had some friends over Friday night and since then the pacing has gotten worse and it's harder to distract her from it. She isn't as nervous of strange people on walks and out and about compared to in the house/yard. She is an only dog and has come from kennels where she is often with another dog. I know this bitch pretty well and know the breeder and my friend and can honestly say I dont think anyone in her life has ever mistreated her. She's always been a more nervous bitch than normal for the breed but it seems worse after changing homes, which is understandable. So my questions are, how do they get her happier with being with her Dad? I suggested he feeds her and when the father is around the mum and friend don't pay her any attention. What can be done about her obvious stress when outside? She has plenty of toys and I suggested she starts rotating them so she doesn't get sick of them, but she doesn't play with toys much. She gets regular walks and happily eats her dinner (first few nights she didn't but is now eating everything, but won't eat with someone watching). My friend is willing to do almost anything to get her happy and settled, she's worried about the amount of stress the bitch is under.

Smooth Collie sounds like it might be suitable.

Group 5 BIG was a Khayoz BC I think and RuBIG Puli.

Irish Terriers were used as messenger dogs in the first world war because of their courage and spirit. I think an "everyday" working dog on a farm is awesome and love watching them work.

Pixie - Finta sounds like my idea of a good JRT! Would love to meet her, she sounds hilarious!

The number of BYB Xbred "JRT" at work is amazing, very few well bred examples come in. Many small terrier xbreeds seem to be labelled as a Jack resulting in the whole breed having a negative name. I love the well bred ones with the great personalities!

Stubborn, full of themselves, prey driven! So much fun though! We have our 2nd Irish and a Border Terrier. Dad also grew up with an Irish Terrier (lived until she was over 18 years) and grew up with Bull Terriers. Pop is a Bull Terrier cross. Mum has just gotten her prefix to breed Irish and the first litter will hopefully hit the ground late this year! The Irish are clowns and think the world revolves around them. Some of the sweetest dogs on this planet are Irish Terriers. All terriers need excellent socialisation with other dogs from a young age or they may become dog aggressive. Great dogs with people though. Both Irish and Borders require hand stripping for the show ring. Pet Gracie the BT gets a good strip every so often but it's kept down with a coat king. Comparing the working dog (Holly) to the Terriers I've had, I think the main differences is the prey drive (Terriers will chase, catch and kill before you realise what they are doing), the ability to dig a hole in 2 seconds flat (Gracie), stubborn and if something catches their eye/attention that's their whole world for that period of time, the fire in their bellies (they might not start it but they will finish it), ask Ruby to sit and she will think about it... then if she doesn't have anything better to do, will sit. Holly I ask her to sit and she's already done it before the word leaves my mouth and is asking me what else I want from her. Terriers need alot of training for a good recall too. Terriers give the BEST dirty looks too. While I adore my working dogs I will always have a huge soft spot for terriers and will have them in my life in the future. Irish are the best of the terriers though, they are the hidden gem.

Holly did this to me at the Adelaide Royal in for SA Bred Bitch Sunday Specials class. Middle of the morning, large crowd, doing a triangle and Holly stopped and pooped. I'd let her out in the morning, walked her and walked her at the show and no poopies, she wanted an audience! Got lots of laughs and someone clapped. Holly still went on to get 3rd out of a class of 27 bitches at only 11 months old! She also took puppy bitch 3rd out of a class of 40 the same day with the same judge!

The hair isn't quite right (Airedales and Irish have different coats) and Irish shouldn't have the black present in the coat. Plus the head is a bit wide for the length to be an Irish.

And it is not pronounced sausage dog either! This annoys me and I don't even own the breed, just handle some gorgeous longhairs! Or Collies are Lassie Dogs, or Shelties are Mini-Lassies. Or weiner dogs, hot dogs or road trains. Not to be placed on the barbecue or eaten in a bun. I had one friend ask me if he got a bun long enough could he place my miniature in there for a laugh ... What about speed bumps? :rofl: A lady who shows them up here affectionately refers to hers as speed bumps. They are so cute though. I show a mini long who's show name is Speed Bumb! Speedy is his pet name.

I duno you did mention a swap on facebook! You just want the dumb, well behaved original version. Look at this face! She's an angel! Although... your cardboard won't be safe!

And it is not pronounced sausage dog either! This annoys me and I don't even own the breed, just handle some gorgeous longhairs! Or Collies are Lassie Dogs, or Shelties are Mini-Lassies.

Showing a table breed and I stacked him up right on the front corner of the table, dog leaned sideways the same time I picked his rear left leg up and he tumbled off the table. I managed to break his fall so he didn't hit the ground very hard but I felt terrible, especially that he's not my dog and his owner/breeder is one of the most lovely ladies ever. He was fine, thankfully! And the judge was lovely. I then had to take in other tabled breeds that day in the same group and I made sure not to stack up too close to the edge. I took a puppy in the other day that I don't normally handle, and had a dog behind me. It felt like my dog limped badly (as in not weight bearing on one leg) for the 1st half of the lap and I stopped, stuffing up the run of the dog behind me. Turns out the little monster was being a poo-brain and was fine. I felt terrible as the girl behind me is lovely and shows great sportsmanship! I made sure to appologise. She got it with her female anyway, so mustn't have stuffed her up too bad.

It does seem to happen a little Gayle, poor Dusty! She's not the only one I've seen like that.

Oh I know what you mean with the natural tails who aren't very neat or are a funny length Gayle! I was showing a dog with a NBT who was slightly longer once and the judge said to me "he has a natural bob tail, I can tell" I thought yeah, course he does what breeder would bother to dock to that length and not bother making it short! The funny length tails are kinda cute in a goofy way though!

You know if you ever want a less naughty household the ring leader is welcome here?

Definately an Airedale!

Nik - yep mine does the same thing!