TerraNik

'A Month of Medicine'

Jedi passed his test last week at our obedience club to go up to the Advanced class (pre-trialling)! Woo hoo! He was one of only two dogs to pass and he nailed everything! He is so much more focused these days around other dogs (thanks to a certain operation!) and is heeling nicely now! We still have a little way to go with his heelwork duration-wise, but he'd be able to pass everything else at a CD level. I think I'm going to have to change my goals - maybe we'll get into the ring by the end of the year!?

We bought a Petstages cuddle pal for Jedi when he was a pup. We never used it though!! It's got a velcro opening so you can take the heat pad out, but also you can use it to put treats in it to train retrieves. Otherwise my pups just love it as a normal toy!

They do need lots of exercise, you aren't wrong there, but it has to be developmentally appropriate. Your hubby can go to town with the exercise once she is fully matured!! Maybe even consider doing an endurance trial with her!?

LOL! They'll be pros by the time the month is over, tlc!! They'll know exactly what you want them to do!

I have a little pool for the dogs which they love and a sandpit. I often hide treats or toys in the sandpit for them to find as well. Aside from that - toilet rolls, empty drink bottles, boxes, tissue boxes with treats inside (minus the tissues!), ice cubes... The dogs and I play lots of games - hide and seek, tug, chasies, fetch, psycho time (running around being silly) and we do LOTS and LOTS of training (obedience and tricks). My guys get SUPER excited when I say "want to do some training?!" They adore that time with me. And then I usually follow it by with some games.

I agree with the others... 4km per day is WAY too much for a puppy (of any age, regardless of breed)... I even wouldn't be walking my 1 year old dog that much without training him up gradually over a long period of time. If she's 'going spare', as you say - have you tried doing some mentally draining tasks? They are just as effective, if not MORE effective in using up a dog's energy because they have to think about what they're doing. Otherwise just some backyard play of tug or chasies or whatever it is that your dog likes to do. Walks at the age of 5 months should really only be for socialisation, not for 'exercise'. If you want to get some specific advice from husky owners, feel free to ask in the Spitz thread. We have husky and mal breeders and owners there. edit - woops, it's a 'she'!

I just LOVE the last shot, tlc!!!!!

Awesome CM!!!

Roc - Well lucky he's so hairy then! He's actually quite naked at the moment! I'm waiting for his new undercoat to come through. The poor boy has a part down the centre of his back! Meanwhile, I have been inspired to try using textures... I thought it would compliment this photo well and I have to say I'm pretty impressed - it completely transformed the image. "A Month of Medicine" Overwhelmed

For indoor shots I tend to use my speedlite and bounce light off the walls to make sure I don't get shadows or too much glare in the face. I don't know how you can do that with the built-in flash though.

Ahsoka is really food driven and chopped up carrot works well for her - she is a little chubby too! Jedi gets dried liver and other 'special' treats (cookies, cheese, meats)

Rijbiz - I had a look at some reviews of the specific pet dremel and the general consensus was that you may as well buy a normal dremel. Something to do with it being all plastic and poorer quality compared to the usual dremels. But I guess you would guess that considering the price comparison.

And don't forget to enter your bitch in the bitch class which has the number followed by 'A' E.g. 1A or 2A or 3A, etc.

I agree with the others... For new behaviours I spend a MAX of 5 minutes, but come back to it multiple times during the day. If they're not getting it then, I leave it for a week or two and then try again. Make sure your criteria is really low to begin with - don't make it too hard. For example, if you're trying to get the dog to target a post-it note, but they won't even acknowledge its presence, click for a look towards the post it... Then a quick touch with their nose... Then a longer touch... etc (over several sessions) If you're still not sure, I live near Strathfield and I'm happy to help you out.

tlc - yeah, the precordial thump *sometimes* works... The evidence for it isn't very strong, but hey, it's worth a shot. I'm so sorry to hear they weren't able to revive your pop. :D I'm a medical student, hence all the medical training photos! I've been made the 'official photographer' for our med school, so I always have my camera at the ready (usually for events, but clinical skills are fun to capture!!) CM I love the perspective in that photo...

:D I was expecting to see a real person, what was I thinking would have liked to see the big needle!! Alright, just for you... Arterial Blood Gas (OUCH!) - again, on a plastic model that just happens to have a pulse and circulation... Don't you love technology!? Don't laugh - a precordial thump (a fist to the chest VERY hard - like you're slamming your chest on the table) sometimes reverts people back to sinus rhythm (normal heart beat) in a witnessed cardiac arrest (i.e. you saw the ECG monitor go from sinus rhythm to ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation).

LOL!!!!!!! He's pretending to 'bag' the patient (squeezing the air into the patient's lungs)

tlc - I've decided I love your guys in sepia!! Really suits them! EDT - Here is my photo for today of my "Month of Medicine" Cardiac Arrest

I've already taken mine for the day... It's either defibrillation of a person in cardiac arrest or taking arterial blood gases (big needles into the wrist)... decisions, decisions!

Yup I just got my new dremel from bunnings last week. It's fantastic!! I got the cordless dremel stylus (I talked OH into paying half! "you want it... you know you do!!")

LOL AM! I love the hair in the vacuum chamber!!!!!

lea, great shot!!!!! The PP really makes it look tense and scary!! Clover - what a cute shot!!!!

Thanks tlc. Spitz breeds in general don't require much upkeep in terms of keeping them clean. If my guys get filthy with mud, all I have to do is wait for it to dry and it just falls out! It's brilliant! Jedi gets a 30-45 minute groom each week (including nails) and Soaks is shown almost every weekend, so she gets a full groom. Doesn't take long though, 45 minutes including bath, blow dry and brush.

Ooh I love the second shot, tlc!!! I love that you couldn't decide which dog to base it on and decided to base it on them all!! Looking forward to your photos!