SmoothieGirl

Dallas =

Bel is just gorgeous, especially that photo of her flying over the jump where you can't see her feet - hilarious.

And as for Burn, what a handsome man. I haven't seen many Tollers, but they always strike me as having shorter legs that I would expect, but he looks like he has quite a bit of leg length. Have to check them out at a show so I can see what they should look like.

Thanks for sharing the pics!

Very cute baby Alouk.

Kirst, has puppy been picked out yet? Is it the one you wanted? Two more sleeps and she's home.

Ren is four months old today, it feels like he's been here for ages and he's fit it so well that I so easily forget he really is such a bubba. Are you entering the show in Geelong on 22nd May? Entries have to be in by the end of this week, will she be old enough to go in by then?

PA, Ren is my first show dog, although I don't handle him in the ring, his breeder does. I stick to dog sports as far as handling goes.

Bronte is very smart, but she is far far from show dog quality and is desexed. Little Ren has brains and looks luckily, so hopefully as well as dog sports we may also be able to get his Aust Ch., but we'll see how it goes, no issue if it doesn't happen.

My dogs sleep inside, but I wouldn't leave Ren and Bronte together unsupervised until Ren was big enough to look after himself. Just this week I have started to leave them together when I go to work, prior to that Ren was in an outside section of the backyard and Bronte had the house and the other half of the backyard. Oh, btw Ren is now 16 weeks, so HEAPS bigger and about two thirds the size of Bronte already, so he can now hold his own in their play.

For me, its a question of fragility of a puppy and a much bigger, stronger adult dog. If not supervised pup could easily be hurt.

Ah car sickness in puppies, I have plenty of experience here, but few answers. Bronte was terribly car sick until she was about 10 months. No cures worked at all, but things were a tiny bit less messy if she wasn't feed before going in the car and I'm talking about a 6-8 hour gap. I tried everything, including prescribed drugs - yep she was that bad. Consequently I didn't travel her much as a youngster, it was just too traumatic for her.

Basically the change in Bronte was two fold, firstly she VERY slowly started to grow out of it, secondly I changed my car. I used to drive a small manual and I think the combination of the gear changing and the engine noise set her off. She would go green sitting in the running car in the driveway even if we didn't go anywhere. Collies have super sensitive hearing, so she appeared highly reactive to the noise. I changed to an auto, much bigger AWD car, wider tyres and a very quiet ride. She has never ever drooled in this car, let alone been sick, it was an instant change. Mind you, changing your car isn't something we're all able to do.

Ren gets a bit drooly sometimes and has been sick if he has a bit in his tummy, but not often. One thing with Ren is that he appears to get car sick if its warmer weather, probably because puppies can't properly regulate their temperature. We all know how we feel if we are a bit off colour and its warm - yucky. He's getting better though and I now don't feed him at all before he travels. However if he goes training, he is pretty good at keeping his training treats down on the way home and hasn't been sick for a few weeks now.

I did have some success with ginger biscuits with him, but now he won't eat them, I think he associates the biscuits with feeling queasy.

I'd suggest really really short trips on an empty tummy (around the block), with a lovely play session at the end of the trip, so he believes he has something to look forward to when he gets in the car. You could try ginger biscuits, works for some, not for others. Consider travelling him in a crate, it can add security, especially if it is positioned long ways in alignment with the direction of travel. If it is engine noise you could also consider cotton wool in his ears and I have heard of a snood being used around the ears to deaden the noise. Either way, try not to make a fuss if puppy is sick. Don't over soothe him either as they can take this as a worry cue.

If it gets really bad and you have to travel, you could speak to the vet about some anti nausea drugs. You may have better success with them than I did with Bronte.

Good luck and I love everyone's photos by the way.

ok so i am finding out who is mine on Monday then she will come home on the Wednesday Very excited... need to get the house ready soon

Ill update soon with a stacked pic and her name which was registered today :)

Oh my god, eight weeks already? Boy, did that time fly or what. Looking forward to details :D

And happy in the household...

Looooook, sheepies...

Quick update from the Smooths household.

On the weekend Ren had his first show and won Best Baby Puppy in Show at the Collie Open Show. The very next day he had his first off lead session with sheep, just playing at this stage, but he showed heaps of instinct.

Few photos to show how he's settling - he takes everything in his stride.

The cuteness level in this thread is just ridiculous, its off the radar. Scooter is divine. Good god, I'm trying to take dogs off my 'one day own breed list' not put them on.

Good luck with him PA.

I wouldn't know what I would do with one other than love it and watch it all the time while gushing, but I think Borzoi are one of the more beautiful dogs of this world and when they are in flight they are amazing. Great photos as usual Kirislin.

Tee hee hee, this is one reason we love herding. Such innocence, such joy.

16 weeks and KEEEEENNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kirst, most people weren't keen on Ren's name either, but my dog, my name and I think it suits him. You choose whatever you like best.

Can't wait to meet her. We really need to book a puppy Kepala day when she's a little bit older.

Digging and chewing grass sounds like a typical pup to me. Ren likes to play tug of war with my lawn - great. Maybe lay off the processed dog treats for a while until you know she's really better. Perhaps try very small amounts of natural treats, either meat you dry in the oven yourself or something like Happy Paws Treats.

Sounds like she's doing better though I'm really pleased for you, so good to see this turned out well.

Hey Crash

I'm in Spotswood and would highly recommend Hobson's Bay Vet Clinic in Newport on Melbourne Rd. They have looked after my four legged friends for the last three years and the animal's are always put before the $'s. They very quickly referred me to a dermo specialist when it was clear that Bronte's skin reactions weren't easily diagnosable, saving me lots of time and money that other vets may have had me spend while they fluffed around trying all sorts of hit and miss solutions, as a result she is now 100% diagnosed correctly, treated correctly and her skin is really manageable and we hardly notice the condition anymore.

Funny, I thought that I had a similar issue with one of my horses years ago. He just seemed to be disconnected from me, we worked well together, but I didn't find that emotional bond until about 18 months after I got him. It finally dawned on me that he had connected with me, but I hadn't with him. He was only just four when I got him, so young and if we were at shows or comps when he was a bit overwhelmed I realised that he actually stood next to me holding either my sleeve or a corner of my clothing near my shoulder in his teeth. Once I figured out how much he looked to me to lead the way and show him how things were meant to be I just melted and we sort of 'clicked' after that.

I was thinking the same as Max though, how do you imagine life would be without him? That might be your answer. Are you involved in any dog sports at all where you partner him and have to develop and understanding? That may also help, getting a kick out of that meeting of the minds.

I'm with you Tassie, I'm scratching my head on a foldback down from a sit - simply not possibly, that is if we have understood you corvus.

As well as/instead of a lure, a hand on the dogs shoulders (more forward than back) suggesting pressure down and back should help too. Oh, from a stand of course.

Just bumping this back up! I'm going to the herding clinic in Nyora on the 10th of April with my foster pup (maybe two foster pups). Anyone else going?

See you there Kirty. You can meet my new baby.

Beautiful picture of Archie, Naomi, I'd be framing that one.

She was at Rozate Kennels in Sth Gippsland. Kerry had been there for a herding clinic during the week and her new owners picked her up on Saturday. She was playing with two of their younger dogs and watching some of the herding. I was camping there over the weekend for the third and final herding clinic.

Call me crazy but I see Ridgi in that face.

Good news on Toby, I'm really pleased for you.

Cheeky Cindy! Don't you love how they always have a spanner handy to throw in the works. Are you trialing at CD now or was this a training run?

I have tiles in the hall and main living space and I have two good quality Persian handwoven rugs in this area. Well I do when I'm not toilet training a puppy. The rugs vaccum up a treat because they are single thread and not loop, so the hairs come off them perfectly. They are easy to clean if a dog has a chucky moment (Bronte is a frequent chucker) because they are wool and repel most moisture.

I haven't done it, but the guy at the store said that being wool if things go really pear shaped I could take them out and hose them off too, then line dry them. I expect they would take a heck of a long time to dry though, they are pretty thick and heavy.

Naomi, I think I saw one of Archie's litter mate on the weekend. A little blue merle female that had been brought to Vic for pick up. She was a cutie, but boy could she howl.

Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassssssssssssssssssseeeeeee

eeeeeeeee send me Tess Jakemon, I promise I'll look after her.

She is so keen, I love her trying and anticipation, you should try some shaping with her I reckon she'd get a real kick out of it and its such a magical training technique.