TerraNik

If a dog has the ability to smell, it can track. Tell your friend to give it a go!

What a bullshit generalisation Not every young adult or even teenager feels 'tied down' by the dog they love and have waited years for. I have had dogs of my own (either gifts or purchased myself) consistently since I was 11 & I'm now 25 and have not once felt burdoned or tied down by them. I know I am not alone in this. I agree. The OP sounds like she has and is, thinking long and hard about this decision and doing her research about what breed would be right for her. I'm sure she will have thought about the potential restrictions she might have on her life, such as travel, rental properties, etc and has decided to make her life fit dog-ownership rather than feeling like the dog is a burden. Personally, not once have I ever felt that my dogs have been 'holding me back' - quite the contrary actually.

A different style of obedience with a 'course' (like in agility). There are numbered signs that has instructions of what the dog and handler must perform (e.g. halt and sit, 360 degree turn, side step, fast pace, etc). Before the trial starts all the handlers are allowed to enter the ring and 'walk the course'. During the trial, if you screw up a particular sign you can re-do it. You are allowed to talk to your dog the whole way through, too. It's a lot of fun! When it's done properly it's almost like a dance.

You say you want a well trained dog.... Do you also want to do dog sports down the track, like agility, obedience, flyball, tracking, herding, etc? That's also something to keep in mind that might help with your decision.

Good on you for doing your research! In terms of the giant breeds, the other part to remember is transporting them. Particularly if you want a second dog down the track - do you have a car that is big enough? Or are you happy to buy a car to suit the size of the dog you end up getting. Just something to think about.

When we got our girl from interstate, I spoke to lots of breeders, spoke to this particular breeder on the phone, flew down and met her, all her dogs and the puppies and was in regular email contact the entire time. I was emailed copies of the parent's health testing results along with growing up photos of the pups. I will do the same for every future pup I get interstate and even if I get the pup/s from a breeder I've met before, I would always fly there to have a look at the pups. I know that's not always possible, but I figure in the scheme of things it's worth it.

Wow! Incredible weather for a show!

Too funny, Evolving!

Hahaha... Echo the shark!

They're not very funny... I don't think so anyway. *yawn*

I have no issue with luring - only when it's used forever. I agree with Vickie - the dog never actually learns the behaviour. I use luring quite a bit but I fade it out very quickly. I rarely use targeting to teach a new behaviour (no particular reason why). It's either luring or free shaping for me.

I feed turkey, lamb, beef, roo and goat (all with bones). We buy a whole goat from the butchers for $10/kg... Ends up being about $130 but it lasts a while when they only eats 200g of it a day! The other meats we used to just buy from Woolies or Coles but now that we have a deep freezer we could probably buy them in bulk too.

Thanks everyone! It's so nice to have some support.

all mine could advertise is beds

I think it's a great idea! Very practical prize!

Bawling my eyes out right now... You, and everyone else who admired Roc from afar will have your beautiful photography to remember him by. Sweet sleeps big guy. You will never be forgotten.

Reading this thread is like therapy for me... We're really struggling with Jedi at the moment. He has atopic dermatitis and had the ELISA and intradermal skin testing which both confirmed severe allergies to house dust, dust mites and food mites. The vet suspected food allergies as well because his atopic derm is so extreme but an elimination diet made no difference. By the time we saw the dermatologist (after trying EPO baths every 3-4 days, anti-histamines, supplements, etc etc) his scratching was so severe he had to wear a bucket and had to be physically restrained from scratching himself or he would chew himself and bleed and all his hair was falling out. So we started him on a short course of corticosteroids (day on, day off) while we waited for his immunotherapy to be made up. We're now up to Day 12 on the immunotherapy and we're really hoping it makes a difference... He has some really bad days still and has to have corticosteroids but we are avoiding them as much as we can. He looks awful at the moment though - quite nude. Thankfully being a Keeshond he had a lot of hair to start with so he has a few comb-overs

Great photos everyone! I don't have time to comment on them individually.

Great shots as usual!

Yep, of course! I agree with Vickie on this one - it's part of learning. I love training with other people or just simply watching others train. You can learn a LOT! I've done the same thing with various voice cues when I've handled other dogs, MonElite! Thankfully all the hand signals have been the same! My poor dogs must think I'm st00pid sometimes.

Yeah, Heather's a great trainer. She's done so much with Jesse!

Aussies can have tails though ;) I can tell them apart because of their different characteristics in the way they look and particularly the way they move. Aussies are more 'stocky' with different heads. Who knows with the Koolie though!

Oooh yay! Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with! Great start Huga and KS! I won't be doing this one as I have my own theme for this month but if any of my shots work with one of the 'words', I will put it in here.

That last shot is awesome, Evolving!

A Month of Jedi & I... Suggested by Serena.