SmoothieGirl

I had two picked, one for a tricolour and one for a sable. I'm still saving the name for a tri and I picked the name Ren back last Oct. I did dither a little with it the week before I brought him home because its quite unusual and didn't think it appealed to many, but at the end of the day decided it will suit him when he's a full grown dog. I wanted a short name that's easy for herding, and not a name ending in an 'e' or 'a' sound, because I already have a Bront'e' and a Lar'a' in the house. Bronte was always going to be Bronte, I'm a bit book and author obsessed.

I CANT WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hehe I will be there ! I love that kepala is on a sunday so no chance of me working!! Whereabouts in melb are you smoothiegirl?? I'm in Spotswood, where are you?

NESTING Thanks for the lovely comments everyone, I think both of my kids are pretty special jrm88 - I'm planning to be at Kepala in April, pending the show, obed and herding schedule, but if we are and you guys make it too our pups can play together.

Are you a member of your local breed club (if there is one)? Yep, Collie Club of Vic If you are a member, what kinds of activities take place that you are involved in? Not a lot to date as I only joined at the end of last year. But this weekend I'm off to a Collie Herding day, then a couple of weeks after that the Collie Fun Day and in 2012 I'm going enter the Collie National with the furkids. If you are not a member, why not? Didn't join previously simply because I was up to my eyeballs in work, let alone dog sports. What kinds of activities would you like to see more of in your local breed club? Promotion of the breed as a versatile working dog, as well as a beautiful and sweet natured house companion. Is your breed club involved in Breed rescue? I believe so. Well I know that some of the members also run Vic Collie Rescue, so in some way there is a connection.

That is so cute. I've never meet a smooth Collie before. hopefully I will one day They are a very well kept secret, but be careful, they can be addictive

Koemi how cute are they!!!! Looking foward to seeing them when they are a little older and more mobile. Kirsten I'm waiting waiting waiting for your news. And a week and a bit on, this is Bronte with her mini-me Ren who has grown heaps already.

Well with a 9 week old in the household I'm in seventh heaven because I LOVE the puppy stage, especially the baby puppy stage. Unless I take on any rescues/fosters in a few years time, I'd say I will always start with them at 8 weeks. This the most wonderous time to own a dog, they are so fresh and shiny, little sponges just ready to soak up everything you can offer them. Watching them blaze up the learning curves just amazes me. No new puppies for another 3-4 years for me though, I'm now all about focusing on these two for a while.

Phew.... I bet you are so relieved...this is much much better news and now you can all focus on healing and of course keeping the bandage on

I love so many of these butts, but this photo reminds me so much of that over the shoulder pose that Renee Zellweger always does. Classic!

Didn't make the Expo, but hope to be there next year, maybe even as a participant. Good to see people were getting exposed to many different breeds I do love Tank, he's such a lovely boy. Hope to see him again soon, maybe at herding training (hint wink nudge.)

Try and stick to the lean meat treats, like Roo or Venison. Happy Paws do both, they were my lifesaver when Bronte was on an elimination diet during skin treatment. She was on the Venison treats and thought they were pretty awesome. Also keep in mind that for dogs, its not about the size of the treat, its about the treat and sometimes the number of individually offered treats. A very small treat (M&M sized) is just as rewarding as a bigger treat and if he does something really good, a few little treats given one after another are even more thrilling than one big one.

Hugs and soft butterfly kisses to Daisy. I'm sure she is much happier being home now and you'll also be able to sleep tonight knowing she's feeling a bit better. I hope she continues to improve over the next few days. Is such a shame she's had to go through this, but lucky for her she is in the caring, loving hands of you and your mum. I love that your mum went out and bought the bed and sheepskin, I would have done exactly the same.

GREAT looking Labs. I think the thing here is that average Joe isn't used to seeing 'fit' dogs and they think dogs without filling (polite way to put it) are skinny. A friend of mine feeds her dogs a lot of fatty meat in an effort to get their coats soft, but they are both sighthound crosses and carrying too much weight. She prefers to see them happy, her words, rather than lean. Me, I prefer my dogs leanish, but then again I also expect my dogs, when they are adults, to be fit and very active. People have lost touch with the fact that most dogs, back in the day, used to be working dogs in some way or another. With our more sedentiary and convenience based lifestyles these days our dogs spend their time now mooching from the backyard to the couch with an occasional lap around the dog park and this simply doesn't cut it as far as effectively keeping a dog in working condition. Just shrug, smile to yourself and walk away next time, your furkids sound like a lovely weight.

Whooping cough is no laughing matter, but in that context it got me cackling

Thinking of you and Daisy, hoping everything will be ok. Next time I check back here, I'll be looking for some good news.

Not an excuse, but sometimes shock and extreme embarrassment make people do stupid stupid things. She may be mortified by what has happened, but unable to cope with it in an emotionally mature manner. Good to hear her husband is stepping up though. Hope the doggy victim recovers well and don't suffer any emotional scars himself.

Good thread, this is a question for me at the moment. If the OP doesn't mind, can I ask for those of you with multiple dogs, do they tend to want to share their kennels or prefer one each? I'm not sure if I get another or just get one big one? Also I have one of those kennels in the first photo and I have a split opinion of it. I love the offset door, the removable floor and the roof. However I its only two years old and both hinges have snapped off and nope the dog didn't bite them off. The wood is also exceptionally soft so I have one corner chewed off exposing nasty nails (which I have to recover regularly with padded protection) and many of the corner inside have been 'reduced', or should I say stripped. Same kennel in hardwood would be excellent.

Not particularly, but the internet is her friend in this situation. http://www.miniaturepoodleclub.org.uk/ OR http://kennels.co.uk/Utility/MiniaturePoodle.html I can probably only help with Norwich Terriers and they are a little ways off her mark. The return drive between Yorkshire and London would have taken a hellishly long time considering the actual distance, but there are bound to be many reputable breeders if not in the London area, within much closer neighbouring counties.

Congrats! That must be so exciting. We will definitely need some pics sooner rather than later. Wow! Ren sounds like an angel. 3 weeks to go for me. Not so long now! It's been decided we are getting black tri boy #1 link We have named him Archer. Although I will be calling him Archie. I think its all part of a cunning ploy Naomi, I have a feeling that his teenage stage is going to be 'interesting' he has a lot of sass, but he is clever and its certainly going to be an advantage during that time. Archer is lovely, I'm quite interested in Aussies, but I just couldn't go past another Smoothie this time round. Those three weeks will go fast, but at times it will still feel like too long before you get your bundle of fluffy energy.

Can't wait for the photos of this weekend's puppy pick ups. Ren has his first puppy school tomorrow, I'm really looking forward to it. Tonight he took himself outside to toilet three times and he put himself in his puppy play pen for a kip after his dinner and a play with Bronte - he's a clever pup.

Its easy, is quick and pups and dogs go nuts for them: Home roasted chicken breast or tenderloins. Bake with a little olive oil or safflower oil and then either chop up or tear bits off as you train. Bronte loves it and it sends Ren bananas.

Not being a voyeur, but can you post a pic, it might helps us.

This is now a two Collie household, here's some video of the new little man and his big sister (no relation). Ren's first training session. Bronte and Ren playing tug.

Awesome, what a great little worker she is!!!!! Thank for sharing, mind you, the quality of the work in the vid makes me think you need to remove the word 'novice' from the handler description :D

Kirst - Wow the whelping has come around quick. I've got everything crossed for you too. And just because I can...here's Bronte and her mini-me Ren.