Cougar

Thanks for those pictures. They're better than I had expected :) I'm surprised to hear you say that the 50mm doesn't work that well on the 7d though, that's not great news for me. I like my 50mm! Thanks snook, I read your threads about making the brand switch and the low light performance on your camera is just excellent. I guess the full frame body plus lenses makes it quite $$$, whether it was canon or nikon. And tlc, i do not need to hear that you'd already like a 5d!! It does just make me wonder whether it is better to save longer, be patient and wait. Not really any closer to any decisions but I appreciate your responses. Be nice if photography wasn't such an expensive hobby!

And this is where it all turns into swings and roundabouts for me! The sigma 17-70 is what I shoot with most, also use the 50mm 1.8 and the kit 55-250mm. So I have considered new lenses but then is it worth it if I do want a full frame in the future? Considering its really just a hobby, the full frame prices are a bit high for funsies. The upshot is I want new things! Like all of us I suspect ;)

Thanks for your replies so far :) ideally what I want is the low light performance of the 5dii (well actually the nikon that huga and snook have!! So awesome) but with the speed and autofocus of the 7d - 5diii is just not an option due to price. I guess I feel like I've outgrown my current body and am looking to make the next step. Too many good choices out there! Canon are not making this an easy choice... How high have you pushed the iso on yours tlc, before it starts getting too grainy? Just out of curiosity :)

I know a few of you have the 7d, I was just wondering how you find it in low light? I am hoping to upgrade at some point in the future and think this is what I'd like. I know its super fast and has an excellent auto focus system but wasn't sure of its low light capabilities. I'd be coming from a 500d , if that is helpful :)

I have sort of considered re-homing but he's not a young dog, he's unpredictable around little dogs and clearly not cat-safe, plus there's so many of them already needing homes that I don't know if I could even try. Look, he's not that unhappy - he's great with my son and he does make us laugh when he's hooning around in the yard with our other dog. And he can look miserable even when he's happy - must be the long face! I guess I never expected the ambivalence thing. It would be easier to understand if there had been some sort of incident (like the ones that some of you have very kindly shared with me), its been more of a gradual decline - which you don't notice for a while. Still not entirely sure what to make of it all. And please don't think i treat him worse because of all this, he still does all the stuff that we do, there's just an added layer of complexity. I could never mistreat an animal for any reason, least of all when the problem is mine. Thanks to everyone, I am glad I asked - you've all been great and given me some things to think about.

OP here. Thanks for sharing, I really appreciate it. And just to clarify - I would never dump an animal at a pound. The dog in question is still very much looked after, fed, walked, comes inside and all the things you do with a dog. Its just that as Sandra777 said, there are some dogs that you don't/wouldn't miss and I sadly think the one of my current dogs is in that category. Am considering the possibility that maybe we've never really bonded? Which is something I hadn't really considered. Let me see if I can tell this in a sensible fashion. So Dog A is a sighthound and comes with sighthound limitations. He did kill one of my cats a number of years ago - didn't really hold that against him back then, he has a strong prey drive - so we've kept dogs and cats separate for years now, it's pain in the bum but you do what you have to. He's stubborn and barks til he gets what he wants. I never did quite figure out how to manage that aspect of his behaviour - growling at him never had any effect. He's a funny bugger - its' like I can't make him happy? We go to the beach, he's cold (even with a coat on), can't run with the other dogs and generally looks miserable. But I leave him at home and he carries on like a beast. I can't win - and that makes me feel like crap. Dog B comes into the picture - she is quite frankly the most perfect, wonderful, amazing dog I've ever had. Recalls like a dream, super temperament and people love her. Consequently we're able to do things like go to the beach, let her off lead and do normal dog things that people do with their dogs. We take them camping, she just cruises around camp, comes back when you ask her to and we keep dog A tethered or on lead (which again he looks miserable about). Part of the problem is that the amazingness of dog B is really showing us the limitations of Dog A - which I guess is why I feel so incredibly crap about my lack of feeling towards dog A. Dog B could be easily trained out of cat issues, then I can reintegrate cats and dogs and relieve the stress of running 2 separate sets of animals (and I also have a nearly 4 year old son, so yes that too). But its not the dog's fault - he basically is what he's always been, its other stuff that has changed and I just feel so horrid about it all. I hate that I think, hmmm one day when you die, life will be quite different and easier for me. It's just so wrong and I feel like absolute crap when I love dogs and don't view them as a disposable commodity and yet I have such ambivalance towards one of my own. I don't know whether I've failed him or myself or both. So yeah - you can now condemn me if you choose, but realistically you can't call me anything I haven't called myself. Thanks for reading.

Oh yes, I know! The fire proof might be in the wash today - but I had a need to ask the question anyway, before I chickened out.

Hi all. Was just contemplating some things recently and got wondering if anyone has ever 'unbonded' (yes, made up word!) or grown indifferent to a dog that they've owned? Be that through circumstance, life events, anything really. So just though I'd ask the question and see. Quite clearly there's a back story but I'm not entirely sure how fire proof my underwear is today!

Love the pink poodle and the rainbow tail - great work I always thought my rotti would have looked flash with a red mohawk style stripe, would have been great with his black coat :D

Not sure if someone has posted this already but I had to share! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2184796/A-cut-Photographer-crosses-America-record-weird-woolly-winners-dog-grooming-pageants.html I know some will think its cruel and distressing for the dogs, but I laughed (a lot) and was amazed at the sheer creativity and technical skill needed to do that work. As well as being generally flabbergasted :laugh: Hope some appreciate the amusing side of it all!

Ok as title says, I'd like some opinions on a Speedlite. I kind of need one (need being a relative term...) but would love some advice on which would be best for my situation. I currently have a 500D, sigma 17-70, canon kit 55-250 and the 50mmm 1.8. Apart from learning how to use a speedlite as a skill I'd like to have, low light performance on the 500 is not great and I'd like to be able to expand that range with good flash (not that hideous pop-up thing and I can't push the ISO too high, the noise is too bad). I'd really like to upgrade to a 7d at some point but its not on the cards for a while yet, so figured a proper flash would help me. So any advice would be greatly appreciated :) Thanks!

Can I still come even without a whippet? I'd love to do a bit of photo practice :)

Hilarious! Absolutely love it

Hi all Just a quick question - where do you go to print pics? I've just had a bad experience with a photo gifts thing from a large chain store (yeah shouldn't have gone there, but they had the gifty thing that i wanted....). I'm very seriously considering complaining, but in the meantime thought i'd ask for recommendations from here. I'm in suburban melbourne, if that makes a difference! Thanks.

Loving this thread!!

I've got a 5mdh - I can just jam in my 550d, sigma 17-70, canon kit 55-250 and the canon 50mm. It looked massive when I bought it, now I'm thinking its a little small! Maybe I need to take packing lessons from kja :D I'd be asking Myer to see if they can order a bigger one in for you. It can't be that hard surely? Though their customer service is pretty poor now. Or - see if you can sell the voucher to someone....

Hi all OP here! Thanks for all the constructive suggestions, I'm going to pass them on. I will say that maybe my post has give the wrong impression about the family, they are really excited about the prospect of having a dog. Circumstances have meant that they have never been able to do this before, this has changed and they are really keen. I believe they will put the time in to be good owners, its just that some breeds are easier to own first up i think. I understand that there are compromises in owning any breed, but I love looking at and learning about different breeds, others don't necessarily share this interest!! To be honest I'm just happy that they're willing to listen and take on some advice - they knew nothing of puppy farms etc so they've already learnt some stuff. That pic of the wire hair fox terrier is gorgeous! What a face :D With the size thing, the bigger dogs are out mostly because they're more expensive to feed and maintain. Curly coats come with clipping costs, so these are all things they are considering BEFORE buying, which has to be a good thing. As to the terrier debate - I love the look of some of the terriers but would be reluctant to own one myself, and the general feeling seems to be that they are really, really busy dogs. A lot of people aren't prepared for that - like me! I like my dogs big and kinda dopey :laugh: I know that a well bred Jack Russell is an awesome little dog, but geez I've met some shockers too... Anyway, I'm struggling now because their budget isn't really going to stretch to a purebred pup. Please don't flame me for that, its just how it is. I'd love to steer them to a breeder re-home or older rescue (like Ilvari she's gorgeous) but they really, really want a pup - understandable when they've not owned a dog before. So yeah, still stuck! Anyway, thanks heaps for the suggestions and discussion - its been really interesting. :)

Right, am back with more info! Will be an inside/outside dog, would prefer a shorter coat and not too curly (there goes the poodle!). Jack russells and chis are too small - they're thinking that a good size is cav or beagle size. Not considering either of those 2 breeds, one is too sedate and the other a bit trickier to own :laugh: Nothing too big headed or flat faced, and the whippets are too skinny. Does that help? I'm leaning towards a mixed breed rescue pup if I'm honest, and if we can find a suitable one. Will happily take more suggestions though! Thanks heaps for your ideas so far, much appreciated.

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Mum isn't keen on Cavs, we have talked about them. I was considering suggesting a poodle, due to the 'oodle' factor (oh and by the way Telida whippets - I'm glad you're still around, I was missing Poodlefan's remarkably sensible contributions around here :D ) I will pass on the suggestions, thanks. I had wondered about a corgi too - I just don't know much about them!

I 'think' short might be better for them myself, but I don't think they know. The daughter seems quite keen on fluffy pet shop puppies, I have explained the varying coat types and maintenance for them eg regular clipping etc

Ahh I knew I'd forget stuff - I don't know yet! Am waiting to hear back on some of those things, I have asked the questions though.

Hi all, So I have a family member who's looking to buy a dog soonish. Mum and 2 teenage kids, kids have never had a dog before - mum has but quite a long time ago. Forgive me for the vagueness of some of their criteria, I'm still looking to clarify their preferences in some areas - like coat type! They would like: a young puppy, smallish but not too small, not prone to lots of yapping/barking, playful, friendly, a good looking one (am trying to figure out what they think is good looking!!), they're quite active so dog will be walked often and played with, family members are at work and school - so will be alone 6-7 hrs, 5 days a week. The internet breed quizzes they are doing are only suggesting oodle types, I'm trying desperately to convince them not to go that way , they are quite receptive to my information so far. I've suggested rescue as well, so am keeping my eyes peeled for the right pup - just in case :) I'm running a bit of a blank, as I know more about the big breeds - so please, any suggestions??

No sorry, we got 2 mediums here as well - both dog print too! Do you think maybe they only had medium dog print left and lured us in with the hope of large blue or green :laugh:

Yeah, not so great for the bed destroyers! happily my dane and grey like their creature comforts so much they would never dream of such a thing :laugh: I've got 2 very, very old underdogs that have been great so couldn't refuse at that price.

Just thought I'd put this up here in case anyone is interested. http://www.catchoftheday.com.au/smallfish_info.php?products_id=44982 $10 each, $10 cap on shipping today - I bought 2. :D