all that glitters

Shyla has a very sweet face.

Shyla says thanks woof! haha

* Old ladies with walking sticks

* My stainless steel work drink bottle

Thaaat's about it, she's a confident girl!

Yes we have a Homer, Winnie homers whenever the Doritos come out.. Hubby rattles the bag and Winnie starts 'homering' as we like to call it

Awwwww Winnie! :D

Oi! what are you still doing awake, don't you have work tomorrow? ;)

LOL Yes, yes I do!

Yes we have a Homer, Winnie homers whenever the Doritos come out.. Hubby rattles the bag and Winnie starts 'homering' as we like to call it

Awwwww Winnie!

Rain, hail or shine here. Heidi has a drizabone that we sometimes use, but when it's bucketing down, there is no point, especially if she is running free. On this particular day, it was pouring hard. When we got home, she wouldn't run to the front door from the garage..... incase she got wet! I don't particularly love the rainy days, but she appreciates it. Better off giving her a walk or free run, or else she is full of mischief for the entire day. Sometimes I go twice a day when it's wet. And I do love the fact that nobody is ever around on these days, so thats a bonus I guess.

LOL I love the head shake off pic!!!

In the time I have had Skye (9 mths) we have only had 2 days of teaming rain in which I refused to walk! Good ol WA weather

Love Shyla's coat - will have to invest in one for Skye as I normally walk every morning (we start in the dark at 6.30am) and

irrespective of weather. Getting colder here now - only 2deg this morning but a beautiful sunny day. :D

Ah we walk 45 minutes after you (around 7.15 til 8) so thank goodness it's light by the time we venture out LOL.

I think I need to stop being a wussy and walk the dog in the rain

LOL come onnnn it's fun (... sorta..)

I think in some states it's illegal, is that true?

Walked Shyla for half an hour in the rain today, we both wore jackets. Someone commented on 'wow she's a lucky dog, who walks in the rain!' and we didn't see any other walkers at all.

Who else sticks to their walking routine even when it's wet and horrible? I actually enjoyed it in the end!

Here's some pics

Not too wet yet

"I'm pretty drenched mum!"

"Take me in and dry me plz, woof!"

We don't have a routine of when Shyla is alone, but we do have a routine of HOW we leave her alone. I get my bag, place it on the ledge near the door, then we both run to the kitchen and I prepare her meal, put the radio on, and put her round bed down (the only time her round bed is put down is when we are leaving). I swear she even knows the cats have to get out of the room? Cos she runs at them all whiny and herds them out. Then she jumps on the roun bed waiting for her food. Then I put her bowl down say "back soon" and shut the door.

She's left at random times though, never just in the mornings, it varies.

If I was to just walk out without doing any of the above I'm sure she would get anxious and confused!

It's the only aspect she has shown a struggle in coping with when younger, being alone. She's a gem at everything else! (except she has a weird fear of my water bottle I take to work... go figure)

At night time when she hears my computer do its turning off jingle she gets up and goes to bed (under our bed)

I think she thrives on routine in some way or another

It frightens me that just any jo blo can get their hands on a dog, anyone. Including heartless souls who discard of their loyal dog of 11years just like this. Poor animals

I have no words. Honestly.

De-barking isn't as bad as it sounds If I Had a dog that would not stop barking and had tried every other avenue I would most certainly get it debarked. It's not done without anesthetic you know.. it's just a little operation. Desexing in my opinion sounds more full on!

I wouldn't feed my girl Science Diet if it were free!

She was itchy and dull coated on Royal Canin. We are back to Eagle Pack Holistic Duck Meal now and she's got a shiny coat and less itch

I've got no idea how they got the name everlasting.

Riley gets the treat thing out within 5 minutes, then won't even eat it! Just leaves it there and thats it, game over.

Thanks for the update He'll be good as gold in time, I think a lot of it comes with maturity and confidence, some dogs take longer than others to adjust to something (ie being alone) my girl literally took MONTHS. But we got there in the end Patience is the key, and keeping everything low key and calm.. come and go without excitement, don't greet or even look at the dog til it has calmed down when you get home etc.. all this makes the dog think "oh ok, mums not anxious about me being alone, maybe I don't have to"

My girl was a puller and I tried numerous non-pull devices, the one I used longest was the gentle leader. Now we're back to just a check chain and she's suddenly hardly pulling on walks... maturing maybe? not complaining

Nadine,

Since you grew up with German Shepherds and have found a breeder that has the temperament that you want, I'd recommend getting a German Shepherd. I have had Golden Retrievers for many years and they are a lovely family dog. But if you are used to German Shepherds, you may find the Goldens a bit too neurotic for you - they do require you to be patting them constantly. You can train this out of them, but it is hard work! If you get a Golden and expect it to behave like the German Shepherds you grew up with, I think that you will be disappointed.

TOTALLY my mums GR.... so obsessed with 'attention' it's crazy lol. That's all she wants in life, 100% of the time to a point where it's annoying Anyway interesting both the GRs we knew were like that!

I'm gonna join the Knox Society when I get my 550D

Don't wait S&S, waiting is a bit of a swan-song. There are people in Knox using point-and-shoot, there are people who only shoot film and process their own, and professionals. There is no pressure to enter competitions. Come this Wednesday, 23rd, no expectation that people join til they have been to a couple of meetings to decide.

Oh really! Ok that's a good point. Unfortunately Wednesday nights I'm not free Do they run on other nites?

Awww what a beautiful story, lucky boy!!!!

Far out that poor cat! Ouch ouch

I like the pale pale GR's My mum has a deep golden one and I always call her a hairy ranga

Re: GSD's Barking YES my girl is a barker, the one thing that has put me off getting another. Apart from that she's perfect ;)

Sleeping together:

Cuddles:

On my lap in the van, always lol:

I'm gonna join the Knox Society when I get my 550D

Either will make you happy for about 10-14 years, then inconsolable when gone. GSDs take a bit more effort and shed more, but if you love 'em, you love 'em.

Are you serious??? I have two GSD's (one longhair) and one GR and the GR on his own shed's TWICE as much hair as the other two combined!!! And both breeds require effort

The only comment I'd like to add (as someone who shares her home with both of these great breeds) is the attitude you will get from the 'general' public with regard to GSD's When I take my GR out I rarely come accross anyone who's fearful of him, however if I take either of my GSD's out people will often assume he/she's not friendly. I took my female to the Dermatologist at the specialist center last week (she's got a lovely friendly nature) and the other lady in the waiting room immediately picked up her 'small' dog and promised it she wouldn't let my dog bite it

Yes, you need to consider the response you get when out and about. Goldies are likely to increase your 'social contact' with the general public whereas you will have to deal with some people's perceptions of GSDs which may not always be positive.

A long haired GSD is on my list of dogs to own one day

Yay! I have to say I haven't experienced much fear in people with Shyla walking past, maybe cos she isn't that big and doesn't look as scary as some big shepherds can?

LOL!! So cheeky!

My shepherd took months to stop crying entirely when we left her, and I mean months! She would cry for ages in the first 5 weeks, but then it was about 5-10 minutes of whining and crying for months after that, and even though it wasn't much, it broke my heart and wrecked my days at work worrying about her! She was kept inside with a dog door but would run outside and bark bark bark. I started keeping her in the whole house only and suddenly the whining and carrying on stopped - so she stays indoors now when we are out and is 100% fine and displays no fear when we leave now. I can relax more too knowing she isn't barking and annoying neighbors or digging/escaping, she is safe in our house with a million toys, a radio on, 4 couches, 3 beds and a rabbit for company in his hutch. Different dogs like different things -- some won't be comfortable inside, it depends on the dog. My girl is an angel indoors and because she spends most of her time inside with us, when we leave she is happy to stay inside without us (in familiar surroundings). She hardly goes outside anyway even with her door open.

I found routine helps HEAPS.. I pick up my bag and place it near the front door, she knows that's a sign I'm going. Then I say "want breakfast?" and she runs into the kitchen and I put her round bed down and she jumps on it and sit on it (I used to ask her to do this to get her food) and I put the radio on. She gets her food and doesn't even look at me leaving.

I think a lot of it is just them maturing too and getting confidence in themselves. My girl is only 15 mths old.

Your dog will be fine in no time and You'll be looking back the same way a lot of us are

Food/yummy treats is good too -- they are so busy eating they don't freak over you leaving