tlc

Not neccessarily - if caught early enough then sometimes they pull through with minimal symptoms. Wishful thinking on my part for young Zoe, sending more positive vibes from us.

Great news, hope she continues to improve! So no vomiting or diarrhea? Is there a chance the made a wrong diagnosis?

Great shots guys, I am really missing posting my pic a day, I'm taking photos but no way to post till I get home. But keep coming in here to see your shots!

Thanks so much, the etsy ones are fantastic and I do love the dog tag art ones, one of my girls has a custom one. Gila does Spencer have a RC? What kind is it?

Will defiantley let you know JJ, the more the merrier and I'm sure your kids and Tarni would love it too, lots of dogs all different shapes and sizes, they were all very well behaved last year! At this stage I will more than likely be doing it in Warrnambool.

Does anyone that has a Ruthless collar for their dog have an name tag attached and if so what sort? I would love to get a nice one to go with Coopers ( Lone Ranger, brown with aged brass hardware) collar. I'd like something a bit different that suits the collar without drawing to much attention to the tag if that makes sense. Just thought someone might have some recommendations or web sites I could visit I have looked on eBay but most of the tags there are the usual run of the mill, colorful ones which are great but I think his new collar deserves something a little different! Thanks for any suggestions you may have. Just wanted to add for anyone who hasn't seen Ruthless collars go here http://www.ruthlessleather.com/index.php?a...ts&cat=dogs

I am definatley doing it just not sure where? Would love to go to Melb but not sure I will be able to pull it off at this stage. Last year there was me and Sean, Janet and Andrew and Tim and Tanya, it was a good walk. It would be great if a few of us went again this year. Shan was in Scotland last year but she will be there this year.

Tez uses a clicker for her two and she has had great results, she hasn't been around for a while, hopefully she might pop in soon. I think I asked this earlier but not sure if anyone answered, is anyone doing the Million Paws Walk in town this year?

It's funny really how small the pieces are and yet my four all chew, at tea time it sounds like a horde of hungry beasts, crunch crunch crunch!!

I have one of those special "words" - used at the beach at rabbit time Something very very special - and they get one trial run every time we get there, just so they know I have them. With the hospital visits, it must give the residents so much pleasure being able to give treats to your dogs, so I do think that having them do little tricks (the pups not the residents) would give them pleasure too. I also think that getting treats on their visits without having to work for them is ok, as they are actually being rewarded for being good therapy dogs. Maybe if the hospital is the only place they get treats without work then it would be ok? Annie I meant to reply to your post earlier, so what is your "special" word?? You are so right about the hospital, the residents love to see the dogs do some tricks and also love to see them getting rewarded. The treats come in handy on occasion when you come across something out of the ordinary, such as last fortnight we came across a lady in a huge motorized wheel chair with a strange very close fitting helmet, (she may have had a head injury) she really wanted to say hello to Tully, now Tully was not to sure and had a little woof kind of under her breath if that makes sense. But she inched up to the chair and so nicely let the lady give her a pat. I gave the lady some treats to give her and it worked great. Last week we seen the same lady still wearing the helmet and Tully didn't bat an eye, she was fantastic, I was so proud of her!

I think people say things like that because they are secretly jealous. I have had people say it's ridiculous and not practical to take treats with you everywhere but I just say is it really?? how hard is it to grab a few pieces of kibble and put them in your pocket. Like I said earlier there is occasions that I don't take treats with me but I usually Have some kind of "treat" type food and if I'm in a hurry or run out a handfull of kibble works just as well.

you got banned, wow tough bunch!! Clover is adorable and she doesn't look any worse for wear!

ah the devastation!!

Like poodle fan says if your dog is receiving the right vet treatment there is every chance she can pull through. Fingers crossed for your girl. Have you spoken to your breeder to tell them, if she got it before she came to you there is every chance others in the litter may have it too.

He doesn't have dogs any more he is 71 now (my step dad) his dogs were always well trained but he never used positive methods to get the behaviors he wanted, he is very much from the old school and none of his training methods I would use on my dogs, however his dogs never seemed submissive, scared or timid and were always well rounded.

I have a code word incase of emergencys for very fast recall and it s TREATS in a really high pitched voice and it works well, I must admit now that mine are older I don't always take treats it depends on where we are going. :D I never call them treats - I give my dogs food and it is part of their diet (I don't give schmakos etc). I know people who feel that I spoil my dogs because they're getting food for working. I tell them that my dogs work for everything, I don't just plonk a bowl of food on the floor for them to eat it on 2 mins flat. Your friend would think I'm a monster. I say it makes for happy, balanced dogs. If they were working all day it would be different but as pets, unless an owner makes a real effort their lives can be very boring. You are so right! To me it just makes sense to get them to do something for thier food no matter how small, it does give structure and keeps them level headed.

I started to put across my point of view but knew it would be a waste of time, I like to listen to all points of view on a lot of different subjects and as staranais said different strokes for different folks. I find a lot of old school dog owners and trainers definatley haven't moved with the times or even try to understand how much dog training has changed.

Thanks Annie, I find it depends where I am when, I take the girls to the hospital lots want to give them a treat and most don't know about getting them to sit etc first, they just shove the treat in their mouth, I have to get in first and tell them to ask the dog to do something first at the very least a sit. I don't want them to expect food willy nilly especially while we are there on a mission, I had originally decided no treats at the hospital but had to rethink my stratagy as some patients want to give the dog a little treat especially if they do some tricks to entertain them. I find with having 4 if I am anywhere it really helps keep the peace especially if they are all being offered a treat together, I have taught them patience and to respect each others space while waiting for the food especially if it is coming from someone else, especially kids. My young nephew (9) has been doing trick training with my lot for a couple of years, just basic stuff but this has certainly helped with younger people giving treats.

I understand all that having grown up with with working dogs but also having pet dogs as well. I think I was a bit annoyed at the fact that with all his knowledge of dogs he didn't understand or agree with the principal of making a dog do something for its treat, to me it seems kind of black and white, but it did make me second guess what I do in terms of demoralizing the dog but when I though about it, especially with a dog begging, we know they are begging and to us beg is beg but to a dog begging is just another trick.

Just thought I'd put this up for discussion to see what others think. I had someone wanting to give my dogs a treat and that's fine, they asked and I said yes no worries but they must get them to do something first. My white girl Tully sits up and does a little beg trick before you even ask her to do it as she knows the treats coming, she is very eager to please and anticipates what you want her to do, usually I will get her to do a different trick each time she has a treat but for this occasion, the person with the treat ready to give seen her begging so she got the treat, then Lacys turn she got asked to sit and beg which she did and got the treat. The other person there at the time said he thought it was demoralizing to the dogs to get them to beg for the food. I just said they don't have to beg, they can do anything I ask them as long as they did something I didn't care what it was. He still didn't agree with it. I wasn't sure how to respond, I just said I use The nothing in life is free approach and they must work for thier food and treats. He still thought it was not the right thing to do. Now this is a man who has had dogs (working, cattle, sheep etc) and trained his dogs to do great things but he did not understand where I was coming from. Have things really changed that much? I just said my dogs do not go out in the paddock to work but they still need structure and guidance and what I do works or us! Has anyone else encountered this type of thing before? Just curious to see what others think and how they may have responded in the same situation.?

Lovely photos, he sure has grown!

Kesdar boxers are awesome! We spent some time with them at the last show and watched thier youngster get awarded something, can't remember what, I'm not up with show lingo. Will you have pups with your new girl? Much excitement getting a new puppy! Your boy sounds like he is from very prestigious lines!

That's strange Gretel, both bags we have had have been the same, nothing out of the ordinary, plus 2 friends both using the food also on thier second bags with nothing out of the ordinary?

Love it, also great shot to show off his cute butt swirls!!

Wow your boy looks huge! What's his name? How are you going with the showing? Were you at the last Warrnambool show? You may even know me? Do you shop at Bunnings? Did you by any chance get your boy from local boxer breeders? Edited cause my iPad cant spell