Tapua

Yup had an dominant Kelpie bitch who did the classic sit away and above the other girls no problems with her pack since the other girls were daughters or grand daughters.... it was like parting of the red seas when she walked between the girls and pups - everyone froze and looked away. The old bag would return to position very satisfied she had established her power.

However when a brought a outside bitch in for use as an outcross the two eyed off under the table and my old Kelpie tore the flesh of the other ones scalp. I missed the initial signals because they eye-balled and carried on like pork chops under the dining table. An expensive and terrifying experience.

My Lab girls also have a leader though Tua is not particularly dominant and generally only pushes and huffs at the others if she feels the need to be in charge. Never had any problems with outside bitches visiting either ... thank god! So far so good!

Ours are all house trained too though about to start again with a baby we are keeping from this litter. We try to keep the grass short so the search and find routine each day is easy. Though occassionally the grass gets away from us ... lets just say its one thing when you cant find the do-do in the grass ... another all together when you cant see the dog doing it!!!

My Labs will eat a brick if they could my BC cross is the most painfull eater in the world - he likes to take his time and eat each bickie 1 at a time, and gaze about - whata life - even with 3 Labs sitting infront of him drooling in hope he wont finish. generally he takes about 20min to finish a feed - the Labs take about 20 seconds! Kids !!!!!

I feed Nutro + raw beef or roo with frozen or raw vegie. Alternatively chicken carcass, raw fish, necks(chook or turkey) + meaty bones. They wont starve - even Mr fussy pants doesnt starve. Mind you he is the leanest of everyone!

Join the lost clicker club!!!! I buy 5 at a time and every so often I find them...Jackpot!!!

Only two clickers - I have 6 that I know where they are and about 25 that are around here somewhere!

My place is 'Valley of the lost clicker' I am sure my guys sneek them outside and bury them!!!!!!!!

As for the article - sounds like he has some unresolved issues. I dont know many trainers who dont use a 'tool-box' of methods and styles - what works for one dog often doenst work well for the next one. I am the one who had to change and adapt to my dogs personality and drive. Clickers work sometimes, food, growl, play, toys whatever - each dog - like humans are individuals. Good luck to the trainer who doesnt get that one!

Seeing you're keen on native plants, have you contacted your local landcare, you may be able to oversow with a native grass? They may be able to suggest something that will work in your local area that meets your and your doggie needs, and won't become a weed in your area, match natural rain levels etc.

Good point - I will ask a friend locally.

Hi Everyone

We own 1 acre and finally we are getting to clear and level the top paddock 1/2 acre. It currently has native grass, onion grass, weeds and goats head burr it had sheep on it before we bought it about 18months ago.. We are going to clear and level and I was wondering what to oversow with good grass seed and crowd out the weeds. One thread suggested that Bunnings has a dog friendly (low allergy) lawn seed and I wonder if anyone has used it. Or can recommend anything better?

You cant see well in this picture but the whole perimiter is planted with natives - it will look great in a couple of years.

Thanks muchly D4Dogs & KJ much relieved!!!!!!! We have tall steel tree guards around our establishing tree - one of our girls has horticultural tendencies - the tree guards help heaps. Thanks again.

Hi People

OH brought home a Manchurian Pear tree and planted it in the dog yard - grows quickly great shade and colour PLUS it has berry like fruit. Now need to find out if the berries are poisonous to dogs. Google is contradictory anything from mildly to not at all for humans - to anything with berries is poisonous to dogs would like to know asap. I have Labradors - they would eat a brick if they could! so its a give they would hoover the berries.

OK I know someone offers Pet Insurance - you know the free 6 week one? J just cant remember who it is - ;)

Well as a Lab breeder who used to breed bench Kelpies for 19 years I think the Kelpie X Lab would be the most intelligent and lovable mutt . The best of both good and bad at times, but I would say as long as the owner is prepared to have the dog be part of everything life life has to offer - living with a kelpie x Lab would be grest fun.

Definately for an active family or individual and the dog will definately benefit from any form of training. Enjoy your bundla joy Bella Donna

Our babies were 4 weeks on Saturday past - today they are going out into the puppy yard for a few hours.

cute eh!

...... Army, Navy or Air Force they and their families give up more than most of us realise.

Too true We can only thank God that they choose to do what we for wahtever reason cannot.

On a brighter note 'The Boys' are hitting the beach at Coffs Harbour tonight - on the way to Brisbane.

Andrew has been in Afganistan for 8 months - he is a queit shy young man - whilst he knows about DOL but he is a bit shy - give him some time to settle. He will be joining QCCC and he may be seen in the obedience and gundog areas in time.

Well they left this morning and Dimples is now called 'SAPPER'. The two boys are happy and Pete and I are crying.

He arrives tonight - I will introduce him to you tomorrow morning! When we have sobered-up

Hey Dust Angel I got the same email on Tuesday ... I cried - true or not the sentiment is wonderful. However this isa true Dinki Di story. Gotta give the big lug Dimples a bath

Tiny Terror - no he hasnt thought of a name yet - though 'Hero' was the one he was leaning towards a couple of months ago. He has to meet Dimps first I think to get a good name.

Just thought this would be a story some of you might be interested in

We have a litter due of Labs and of course there are numerous enquiries - a couple of weeks ago we were emailed about from a soldier who said he was in Afganistan called Andrew wanting a pup from this litter. My husband & I were a tad dubious about it all but we emailed back asking if he could confirm more details about who he was and what he wanted. Back came name, rank and that he would be calling in a couple of days. Which he did...Amazing conversation! :D Anyway the short story is his X- fiance took off whilst he has been over there and worst for him SHE TOOK THE DOG! So he really wants a companion to come home to when he is back in October.

I really wanted to make sure he gets a pup but given how many orders I offered him the option our 7 month old male ... who has morphed into a small horse and just way way over size. Anyway Andrew delighted to get Dimples our 7 month old since he will be about the same age as his pup that was taken by the X.

So the emails and pictures have been flying of Dimps and Andrew and some 'bonding at a distance' has been happening. Which is lovely. Then this morning we got an email that 2 of his friends were injured yesterday and he sounds scared. So this brings it home to me people not onlyabout our men and women serving in Afganistan but the importance of dogs as therapy. As dissapointed I am that Dimples wont make it as a stud for our kennel this adorable big lug has a purpose and I know he will do his job well.

Light a candle for the people serving overseas -things are hotting up over there especially in the area where Andrew is. He is just a kid he's about 20

Pauline Gill

Tapua Kennels

Labrador Retrievers

http://www.tapualabs.com

This is the original post in August - Andrew 'Nads' Naidu arrived back in Australia from Afganistan and will pick up his new mate 9 month old 'Dimples' Tapua Lt Commander this Saturday. I will get photos on the weekend.

We start ours on premium mince at the same age as yours are now. At about 4 1/2 weeks we introduce Nutro puppy food soaked with a little warm water to soften the biscuits, and our home made diet.

Can I ask what is in your home made diet - my guys end up on a maintainence mixture of Nutro and raw mince (beef or roo)+ raw vegies + brewers yeast. As well as the usual chicken necks. carcass, meaty bones etc.

My reply copied from another post on here.

I start mine at three weeks with mince in little balls then mixed with a little warm water to make a slurry to teach them to lap. Then gradually start adding puppy kibble to the slurry and adding less water. I don't substitute any milk until about 5 weeks if mum still has plenty then I start giving meat/kibble meals followed by a drink of milk substitute (usually divetelact) and start dropping mums food down. By 6 weeks they are on a variety of meat/protein sources including chicken wings to chew, dry puppy kibble, hard dog biscuits and milk drinks totalling 4 meals a day. I let the bitch decide when she wants to stop feeding and it is usually around 7 weeks.

Thanks for all that info - I ran with introducing chicken mince slurry and they wolfed it down. It makes sense that they are getting the calcium and are hydration from mum and the added protien compensates for the increased energy now they are on their feet and bip bopping about.

I had Kelpies before and they have cast iron guts and are crawling out of the whelping box at 3 weeks . Labs are much slower to mature and seem to have more delicate tummies. But they ate this well and hungrily and have happily fallen asleep - in the dish!

Thankyou everyone for you information.

I was just curious, I have a litter of 8 baby Labs about 3 1/2 weeks old doing well on mum. I will probably start them on softened puppy Nutro with goats milk today or tomorrow. I was wondering what others start their pups on?

I tend to introduce food slowly and let mum wean naturally as they become less of a damand on her. When do you intoroduce meat? I usually introduce them on human grade minced chicken in a few days depending on how they are doing on the Nutro.

Awww...lovely bubs. Are they all black?

No 3 black and 5 chocolate although the sire is a dominant choc I expected a yellow too and much to my surprise there was only 1 chocolate that I think is yuk in colour the others have chocolate pads, nose and a dark coat. All are going to lovely family homes and I am running on a black bitch.

OK I might start then on some mince this afternoon and see how things go thak guys - everything is worth a try.

I was just curious, I have a litter of 8 baby Labs about 3 1/2 weeks old doing well on mum. I will probably start them on softened puppy Nutro with goats milk today or tomorrow. I was wondering what others start their pups on?

I tend to introduce food slowly and let mum wean naturally as they become less of a damand on her. When do you intoroduce meat? I usually introduce them on human grade minced chicken in a few days depending on how they are doing on the Nutro.

Isnt it cool when you know the penny drops for the dog and they undestand the command. Not to mention its a relief when they MUST come for their safety. I was with my pack of four the otherday in the park off leash they are all well behaved - then someone came around the corner riding a horse ( I live in the country it happens sometimes) and I called my guys to heal - which they all did phew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Having donated my GSD to the NSW police some years ago I am familiar with the proceedure in 'deploying' the attack dog. The person that the dog wasl be released onto would have been 3 or 4 warnings before the dog was released. More fool him for choosing no to surrender and stand still. I have no sympathy for the guy!

Tapua,

I think the easiest way to find a trainer with experience in training guide dogs is to ring Guide Dogs Australia direct or get in touch with someone like Michael Tucker ..ex guide dog trainer who has, now and again , also trained guide dogs privately. He would be someone who could point you in the right direction .

Michael Tucker 03 9439 7577 . Email: [email protected]

Michael Tucker has been a dog trainer for over 50 years. His career started as a hobby. It led to training police dogs in the Royal Air Force, then 20 years training guide dogs for the blind in the U.K. and Australia,

Hi Tapferhund

Thanks for that information, two suitable trainers have been found 1 in Sydney and 1 in Newcastle. Micheal is directly linked with a Melbourne Guide Dog trainer who supports what he is doing and there is very experienced support. The Sydney trainer will probably be the accreditor. Michael is not only blind but is also physically disabled - he will eventually end up in a wheelchair (these details I didnt find out till the other day) so he doesnt fit the criterion as for a pre-tained Guide Dog or ADA dog. So the training will be unique and there is a definate need for the dog to be with him. As I have said in my previous posts I am just linking Michael with the trainer it is up to them to work out the details. But thanks for your information.

regards

Pauline

I have Labradors and they tend to keep each other entertained but when I only had one dog.

Frozen icecubes with a piece of meat or frozen with either vegimite,chicken stock, beef stock.

Various toys and a large soccerball. Puppies are kept in a large pen with various toys and kongs with bits stuffed in it.