flux

Fantastic! :D

Aw shucks thanks all Love the crap comment :D

Thanks Ivy! Love your pups - especially the Gr.. Gruen... Gruendoeal? Black Belgian ;) Some more pics from me. Bit of an overload Excited about my new camera :D

I would guess the rate of decomposition would depend on the type of soil and how many microbes n' stuff were living in it and helping to break all the organic matter down. I would have thought, if you wanted to hurry the process, to build a compost heap on top of the site (No disrespect intended here) and without digging about simply add on a few layers and worms. You could even put some sides up around it, make it neat and respectable. The compost should turn to rich soil, and would probably encourage the decomposition going on undernieth it. I know that the Australian Museum occasionally buries dead whales in the sand, and the entire corpse is stripped in about a year (!!) - but this is due to the little crabby critters and sea-licey things working hard at it. Again, I would say the better quality the soil, the faster the process. I thought though, contacting someone like Pets at Peace is a really good idea, they might have some answers and practical suggestions for you.

Hey awesome I have the same, good luck with it! Check out the picture modifying options (it is so not called that I have had a complete mental blank.) after you've taken the shot you can black and white them out like a newspaper article, or "toy camera" or fisheye them. You can also do black and white pre-shot for a clear image. Have fun! Faye

Beautiful!

So cool!

I just bought a Canon 600D, I'm very happy with it, having never had a DSLR before. I did have some old lenses though from a previous Film SLR, I think one is a standard 28-55mm, the other a pretty 80-300mm. So far with my lack of experience I've been sticking to the smaller lens. I have found reeeaaallllllyyyyyy quickly that even with auto mode if you don't know what your are doing with the actual camera itself, the lens isn't going to "help" in some magical way. I think I would be happy with just the new shiney camera and the one "average" lens to play with, by the time I get myself onto manual mode I am guessing I will have enough to get a macro lens - and probably understand a great deal more about it! You might already have a better idea about cameras than my fine self though. The other thing I was going to add was that from my research the 60D is selling for about $100 more than the 600D in some places. I think this is because of the 70D. We found Ted's Camera House was really good on prices, but we went to JB HI-FI in the end and talked and bargained them down. Cnet is a really good website for comparing cameras. Best of luck

Thank you! Going to try out my photo skills more and more It was only recently I realised what an f stop was - as I thought the iso controlled the light. It seems the iso plays a part (sensing the general atmosphere? Sunny/cloudy/indoor etc?), but yes my f stop is telling me how much or little I'm letting in, together with shutter speed. Hmm yes, back to my books (which really sucks). I learn much quicker being shown in person! Excellent photos, you've inspired me to go out to general spots now and just give it a go

Ok so first up - excellent photos, not just the photo, but the talent of the photographer evident within the shot. Seriously impressed! I have a retarded question. I'm a bit new to photography and I wanted to ask you about what you said you used: "DSO - 50mm 1.8 for everything, except the images taken of the showring/judging (I used the 105mm for those because I couldn't get close enough)." I get that the 50mm is a lens. First question would be, is this a fixed lens at 50mm? I have a 28 - 80mm zoom, does this mean if I have it "half way" I'm shooting on roughly 50mm too? Next question would be what on earth does the "1.8" refer too? Again, excellent photos, I'm about to check out your website. Sorry if I've distracted the thread slightly.

Hi everyone ;) I just got my paws on my new Canon 600D and have been playing about with it. Of course the dogs are the main focus. I don't know too much about manual mode, but am going to haunt this forum till I learn Please feel free to post more doggy photos in this thread ... Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Thanks guys, Off to the vet soon. No fleas or flea dirt I can spot, and no red bottom (he wiggles too much to tell thoroughly though) and just to be very clear, I was never intending on banishing this dog to the outside garden and ignoring the problem. I must have written it pretty badly, what I meant was I was considering banning him from our carpeted areas, pretty much indefinitely until a solution was found. I was pretty stressed at the time of typing. As I type now he is by my feet, nibbling away. He eats science diet and occaisional pro-peak, bones and fish heads. I am thinking it might be a shampoo or plant allergy thing - or I could be terrible at finding flea evidence - hence the vet. I more wondered if anyone knew of nibbling as a behavioural thing. I am starting to consider this might be another of Riley's obsessed/boredom things o_O. Trainer after the vet maybe.

Hi all, I've noticed that when Riley, our 8 month old Bord.Coll. x Goldn.Ret. gets to finally sit with us quietly in the loungeroom - the first thing he does is what seems like initiation of a massive groom. It makes some sense to me, after winding down after a big day in comfy surrounds to be on a soft mat to start "preening", but Riley seems to take it a step further. Whenever he gets let through to the loungeroom, or even gets the priviledge of a cuddle, or sits on a new towel etc the grooming starts. I mean butt nibbling, leg nibbling, bits licking, feet investigating. Seems to go one for quiet a while too. Our other dog of course grooms herself but does not attack it with such ferocity and is a little more "normal" about it, and grooming won't necessarily start when on comfy/fresh grounds. I seem to remember an old family pet that was possibly the same cross having the same tendancy. Can anyone shed some light on this? I'm going to give him a bath soon in skin sensitive shampoo to see if his skin was just irritated by the fabrics. It's just a bit gross, I don't mind some settling down, but he's noisy and stinky about it all. We've had an anal gland pop (just my expression, not literally) before which was just foul and has made us re-consider if he should be intergrated into more of a kitchen and outside dog. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated as always

Glad my post helped. Our quick visit by the behavourist cost us about $50 (Advertised at about $80 for a brief one-hour session, he was a nice guy!) and was worth about $250. I highly recommend it. They will probably help sort out what's going on exactly (in ways a forum simply can't) - if this is serious stuff, or an easy fix. Riley our rowdy pup was very different, he also is not the type to calm down "on his own" but interestingly, you clap your hands at him and grumble "oi you, settle down." and he responds. Our other dog would have just taken this as "YAY I GOT ATTENTION NOW I'LL NEVER STOP!!" - this is where the behavourist really helped point out different ways of dealing with the situation depending on the situation. (ha ha as well as offering tips to getting Riley to learn to calm down while he's on his own!). Good luck

Edited - someone already mentioned it was "what-not" as in "all that jazz" sorry to repeat!

What if it was a decent course taught by people with the experience? Do you think the implications of a mandatory grooming "degree" would perhaps weed out some people who are not "serious"? Who otherwise would simply buy a franchise and start cutting away? I can see both points. Study is good for theoretical training and stopping backyard folk from doing backyard jobs. But study alone does not provide experience, and it would seem this is an area where a wealth of experience is needed. I would take the "Study" route except I think sadly, experienced people don't tend to be the ones that resign themselves to the class room to teach - or if they do it's very rare. I've studied before (not grooming) and I find it to be very true that the folks who love the books tend to be the teachers, the ones who love to be hands on tend to get out there and either do the work or research. Still though I know of some people who are brilliant teachers because they share their passion with others and they manage to do both the experiencing and teaching, they are just rarer. Still though, putting a license onto grooming, demanding that there are qualifications could only improve things, leaving it open to everyone can only allow those who have no experience to groom dogs.

This happened a bit between my two dogs, one a young pup the other just over a year old. Surprisingly it was the young pup who was far too rough on the older one. At first I thought it was the older dog being tolerant of the pup and just thought that "letting nature takes it's course" would sort the pecking order out. We got a behavourist in for some help with the new pup on a different issue and mentioned the "rough play". Best advice ever - If YOU don't like it, stop it. It doesn't matter if it's actually quite a simple reason as in "I don't like to hear teeth clacking together" at the end of the day your house, your rules! This "clicked" for me and I realised (I smiled when I read your post, I was the same!) that my own instincts going "oo ahh isn't that a bit too rough? They don't seem hurt but.." were probably very correct and are predicting a subtle escalation in behaviour that would inevitably lead to someone getting hurt. So, with this wisdom, If I felt concerned, I don't care if the dogs are fine and not hurt and maybe just a little hyper, I break it up right away. It is brilliant your lab calms down right away after, he clearly gets the message. More of this and dogs will soon learn that there is a limit to play roughness - set by yourself. Obviously too, walking, toys and bones help wear them out and avoid intense play

ACTCDC! The narrabundah one! Oh wow, yes we will be there on Thurs (well, one of us will, Riley gets the chop on Thurs so one will stay behind to watch him.) I've got a slight British accent and in future weeks will have the fat-headed glutton black dog, OH will have the glorious rough collie I'm Faye BTW Edit - Oh wait you said Belconnen one lol. ah well I'm in weston creek area

Thank you everyone, I just read out your replies to OH and we are just about to fill out the local dog's club membership form. We never wanted bored dogs! So hopefully this will get our butts moving, and practising more things at home soon. Thanks for the wake up call!! Thank you to ofor all the hints and tips, I'm going to give tracking a whirl and will def check out little trainers to do at home Faye

Not nearly enough! They get left for most the day most days, days when one of us is around (I work part-time in terrible shift hours, OH full time) they tend to sleep as it's currently so hot. We are working on two walks each day (morning and evening), but I have been thinking to myself lately that this seems pretty under-stimulating (and its a work in progress, this isn't happening everyday). We try to razz it up with bike rides / walks where a frisbee gets thrown / normal on lead walks. We hardly do any training with them now, after coming back from work, making dinner and walking it's not high on the list. I did not join the dots that this was bordom. It makes a lot of sense. The backyard is large and has rotated toys and areas where they dig (lol not originally designated, more resigned) but I can see all these things as just objects unless there's some sort of interaction. My parents joined up to their local flyball club, this has put me off dog clubs a bit. But this evidence is all too compelling. I was thinking about getting Riley into tracking - does it have to be obidience or would any extra-curricular activity do? Any other tips on keeping them entertained? Never wanted to have bored dogs, very happy to make an effort. Thanks for your replies! Faye

Hi all, Riley is my 6 month old Golden Retriever X Border Collie. He is very food driven! I've noticed that when we give him a form of puzzle toy to eat from he will play with the toy, persevere with determination and successfully extract tasty treat or meal - but then keep going. For example, at this very moment he is chewing and licking at the puzzle toy long since (maybe 10-15mins?) the peanut butter was licked out and he is now starting to get white foam around his mouth. When this first happened (with a Kong with chicken necks stuffed in it, no it wasn't a black one) I kinda noticed he was "still at it" and went to see if I had made the kong a little too difficult for him, but no he was just chewing away at the lip of the kong. I took it away from him, worried that he'd either succeed and manage to eat a piece of kong, and/or harm his mouth. Now though I wonder if it's better for him to experience the discomfort (dry mouth, achy gums - no food reward anymore) so he learns by himself to call it quits? Especially now he is a bit older/smarter and certainly more robust (his new teeth are in). I am concerned however that he isn't "Thinking" anymore, because of such a high food drive/focus and won't actually learn anything - well not at least without more serious consequences perhaps to get through to him. Has anyone else had this kind of experience with a food driven pup or adult dog? Would love some words of advice. Faye

Well, mine bark more now I have two. Mine are brattier now I have two. - I thought getting a second dog would mean they would play together. Not really for me, they both get bored and act like naughty kids picking fights (not literally) with one another or both deciding to attack outside furniture when they are "bored". Jazz was 15 months old when we got Riley. In hindsight I would have waited a lot longer, perhaps nearer to two years old before getting the second pup. Poor jazz was not old enough to "cope" with the pup,and when she did learn to be alright with him (this involved A LOT of effort, supervision, correction, encouragment) she pretty much regressed to puppy again. We always say she decided that if Riley could jump up, then so could she - after being taught patiently that jumping up was a no. Now Riley is 6 months and the playing field is equalizing again, both dogs seem to "flow"more with their interactive behaviour. It really does seem to be true that it's "twice the trouble" I thought they would equal each other out, but they don't, they just double everything. I honestly have not seen a difference in being more "tired out" with them playing all day together, walks are still eagerly anticipated (I know that nothing substitutes a walk or two, I literally mean there is no less enthusiam, they don't seem more tired after a day together). I could not judge really if they are "happier" with each others company while us humans are out, first dog is still just as pleased to see us as she was when she was on her own. I believe that they are company for one another. But a good question is - Jazz on her own with her un-interuppted bone chewing, puzzle toy playing and peaceful snoozing - is this better or worse than Jazz now with puppy friend who keeps her busy in one sense, but we can't leave two bones alone with them, or food puzzle toys. Even a game of ball has altered to incorporate two dogs - is the competition more stress or more activity? So in short, no short answer! Benefits to both senarios, I thought someone summed it up nicely (sorry I don't remember your name!) with the comment that definately get the second dog for yourself, not for the benefit of the other dog/pup

I'm not a behaviourist, or vet, or breeder - I'm just average joe with two dogs, but I have an idea but possibly not the knowledge to execute it. Maybe someone with more experience can fill in my gaps. So why not treat the tail as another dog. Forgetting or ignoring what the dog thinks of it's tail, can we just respond to how it is reacting to it? If someone posted, "I have a young dog who resource guards with our other dog" what would the solution be? Can you treat the tail like another dog? I don't know how you would address resource guarding between two dogs so the following is a hypothetical: If the answer was to make sure the pup still ate the bone but was separate from the other dog, perhaps in a crate where it could see her but still eat the bone (just want to state again I've got no idea if this is indeed how you work with resource guarding - someone with knowledge needs to fill these gaps in). Then, could you separate the tail in a similar way? Maybe have the pup in a narrow run way where it can't turn around to bite it's tail but can see it while it eats? What do some more experienced people think to this general idea of treating the tail like another dog, how would you go about working on the problem in general? Best of luck! Faye

Thanks so much everyone! So she was tested as a pup for "collie eye anomaly" and was all clear, with vision in both eyes (Thank you breeder!!). And the most recent vet visit was because she had a bit of a weepy eye, which seemed to be some sort of passing allergy, so the vet did have a "good look" then. But thanks becks, he didn't do the whole drops to open up pupil thing. Poor Jazz Last night she didn't want to go out on the grass to pee before bed, and today she is exhausted, has slept all morning. I will definatly be organising a vet visit. Thank you so much for your stories and advice everyone. Does anybody think that maybe the thunderstorm and some association with the night/wet grass might be triggering it? Will still do the vet I think either way. Thanks again everyone and just because you mentioned it Tazelwurm - here's some more piccies. We think she's beautiful too!

Hi all, We are starting to notice a slight trend in Jazz, our 1 and a bit year old rough collie. She seems to act "funny" in dusk or low light. This evening was very interesting as she seemed to be lagging behind as we headed home, so I took her off her lead and decided to let her follow us (rather than us having to pull her on her lead) and to our surprise she stood stock still (panting, but we had also just been playing ball so couldn't determine if it was a fear pant) looking blank, then swiftly trotted off back the way we had come. This behaviour was so different, we both went after her, calling her encouragingly (although she probably did realise we responded with fear). We caught up with her, then my OH held her collar and walked her behind us ("us" is me and other pup on lead who was not bothered). He seemed to think that if he let her go she would go funny again, but seemed OK to move on with him touching her. We tried out best to be upbeat and encouraging, myself and other pup running and laughing ahead to encourage her, but she just looked lost. Once in the backyard she again just looked a bit disorientated, and "needed" our direction to get a drink etc. OH mentioned that when she was younger she always seemed more alert and uncomfortable on evening jogs and walks, although he tried not to encourage this and just "Get on with the jog". She had been to the vet recently and got the all clear on eyes and health (as in two months ago). I wondered if anyone else had a dog that struggled with night time or dusk in particular when the light is perhaps a little more confusing? Only other thing is that I myself have always been uncomfortable around thunderstorms, but she never has and we've been careful to remove me from the dog (and visa versa!) when thunder hits so I don't influence her, but just the other week she decided to become very frightened of them. No gradation, just literally "today I'm going to act terrified" - OH accused my vibes, but even taking this into account it was a very quick transition. Is she just going through another phase perhaps? Any advice, opinions or experience would be great. Especially tips on calming them without encouraging the fear. Jazz is 2 in July. Other pup is almost 6months old. Thanks