Smartypaws

We met a fellow BSD owner on our walk yesterday and they supply these. I would post a link if I knew how (yes, I am one of the technically inept), but they are on facebook - search for "Dog Transport Boxes". They are located in Brisbane.

See you there jasonmac! I joined on the 30th December, so am just starting out, and don't have access to much yet. Poppy's Mum, did you end up joining Puppy Peaks too?

I'm so jealous! I really wanted to sign up to Recallers but was without internet access when the notifcations for 3.0 hit my inbox! I got my access back just in time to see that I had missed the closing time by 24 hours . Have just signed up to Puppy Peaks instead (something I have thought of doing for months ). Will have to wait untill next time for Recallers, but look forward to hearing from you all on how you find it.

I did the Robert Ullrey podcasts too....you'll love it! And so will Kuma..... :D .

This is my fifth dog, and it is early days yet, but if the relationship I have built with this pup in the short time I have had him is anything to go by, then I think I may have finally found "my breed". I had shortlisted 3 medium-large, medium-high drive, loyal, affectionate, smart, active (I run and do dog sports), low shedding, minimal regular grooming (a once/twice a year strip is OK for me) breeds and been researching them over many years...until I was ready to add another dog to the family. The potential for health issues and limited breeder choice in the breed I thought was number one on my list made me pay closer attention to the number two breed, and after meeting a couple of Belgian Laekenois 18 mths ago, and then a number of malinois too, I decided that a Laekenois might be the dog for me. Then the lines/breeder research began.....until I found the 'right' puppy for me....and he couldn't be more right :D . I know, early days, but I couldn't love this pup more if I tried!

Or you can borrow Akira - she'll drag you the whole way too though. Yeah, thanks girls! That won't increase Kuma's fitness now, will it?? :D Thanks for the other replies. Looks like I will be downloading the podcasts tonight and we can start in the morning. Wonder if they factor in poo stops? KumaAkita, Are you doing the Couch to 5K challenge? I did that with my Husky a year and a half ago, and at almost 9 years old, he now happily runs 5-8kms 4 times a week (out in front all of the way ;) )! As someone else said, it is great improving your fitness at the same time as your dog. I find it strange to run without a dog now .

Thanks Cindy, but coincidently I just recieved my rejection letter ;). Looks like I will have to wait until next time....again .

Hi Cindy I have tried emailing and calling the club with the email bouncing back ......I have left a message on the phone. I just want to know if we will be advised in some way (email/mail) that we managed to secure a place? My cheque has not been banked yet and I realise you have asked us to be patient, but I am really looking forward to (hopefully) going to this event. Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask .

I adore Malinois <3 <3 <3! But I have 99.9% sure they would just be way to much dog for me! Are the show lines any different to the WL? They are just beautiful dogs, and the way they move brilliant to watch. Show lines are different to working lines.....but as with all breeds, within any litter you will get a range of puppies too. So in a working litter there will be very drivey dogs (which wouldn't work for me either :D ), and those that are less so. And in a show litter, there will be more drivey pups and those that are less so. IMO, a good, experienced breeder, who knows their lines, works their own dogs, aptitude tests their puppies and is open and honest will be able to help you find the right mal pup (if that's what you are looking for). Like you, I had long thought that a belgian might be "too much dog" for me too...hence my years of research . I decided on a laekenois. My guy has a massive personality, and out of all the dogs I have owned and trained, I have never been as impressed with a puppy of this age (he's only a baby at 16 weeks) as I am with him. He is loving, smart, obedient, has a reliable tug and 'out' already, chases and retrieves to hand and has fitted into a busy household with two other dogs and two young kids. It's early days, but he is showing a lot of promise. We start agility training next week (puppy basics), so I'll keep you posted on how we go :D . Here he is....

What about a Belgian Shepherd? Smart, agile, fast and super loyal. And if you prefer less coat, a malinois or laekenois could be the ticket. Or maybe I am just biased :D. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_2cA7iq_Pk Of course, as with all breeds, the caveat of research on lines, type and breeder is important, to ensure you get the best pup for your situation .

This sounds like my situation! I raised my last few puppies pre-children (and with limited use of a crate, ie.at shows for my second dog), but my latest (15 weeks now) is being raised in a busy household with two young children and two older dogs. The crate has been invaluable! It allows me to teach the kids that the crate is the pups space, and when he is in there he is to be left alone. It also allows me to cook dinner, bath children, hang out washing etc, without risk of the puppy damaging the house (he does like the taste of plasterboard! ;)), mouthing the children (who inevitably offer a great reward of screaming and running when he does), pestering the other dogs, or otherwise getting up to mischief when I can't be watching him properly. This has helped me keep my sanity too! Our pup loves the crate - sleeps in one without a sound for 8 hours a night, travels in one, goes to shows in one, goes to training in one.

He has been really great . Fantastic with the kids, calm, unphased by anything he has encountered (yet) and very smart.....we are conquering some training basics already. Last night he slept 10pm till 5am! The previous two nights were 4am and 2.30am. He then goes toilet and has a short play and then back to sleep, although he is not keen to go back in his crate at that time....crate training is a work in progress :D . He has not got the concept of weeing outside though, and no matter how long we spend outside waiting for him to "go", he waits until we are back inside and then promptly squats....that said, number 2's have all been outside. He is only 8 weeks old today...so we are cutting him some slack .

And 3....wow just realised how dirty our floor looks under the flash!! Meh, we're dog people :D .

And 2....

How exciting Cassie!! If it makes you feel better, we were waiting another year or two for our latest edition, but when the pups were 4 weeks old we decided we couldn't turn down the opportunity of a pup from this litter....so technically our wait was only 4 weeks ;). Lucious.....too exciting!!! So close now! Can't wait to hear about his arrival and your first big hugs! RiverStar-Aura - congratulations to you....the time will fly ;). And Loki and Rupert are just way too cute! This will probably be my last post here as I am not waiting anymore . But I though you might like to share a couple of photos of Scout's first night with us....

Hang in there eventingpony. You will indeed get your perfect pup....probably when you least expect it ;) . We hadn't planned on a puppy just yet, we were going to wait until we were down to 2 dogs, but this litter was irresistable, and yes, our puppy does appear to be the perfect one for us .

Thanks for all the comments about my gorgeous boy :D .....and his name ;). I am hoping this little guy has the makings of a SAR dog, so thought Scout was a fitting name. There are a few of us now getting pretty close!! Yay lucious!!! Not long until you get to snuggle your new baby! Chihuahualover has only got 2 more sleeps until Romeo arrives! 16 days Anna...that's nothing ;)! And a puppy visit Ambrosia...hopefully that will tide you over until your puppy comes home . Scout will be here with us this time tomorrow! The breeder is heading into town tomorrow afternoon and is going to deliver him for me! We were going to wait until Saturday, but it is looking like a coordination nightmare between the two of us, with shows and other commitments. I actually think it might be nice, bring him home, settle him, hope for not too difficult a night , and then have a whole weekend at home with him. I am working from home for the next couple of weeks too, so that will be nice for us to settle into some sort of routine. I can't wait! Just remind me of that after a few sleepless nights won't you all ;) ;) .

My two older dogs have been on Black Hawk for about 5 months now and we couldn't be happier!! They are thriving, they eat less than they did of their previous premium kibble, and produce less waste too. I am actually picking up some more tomorrow and will start my new puppy on the puppy food.

Thanks Ambrosia....you have no idea how happy I am right now ! I do feel extraordinarily lucky. We get to pick him up on Saturday.....I can't wait! 3 more sleeps!!

Number 3....

Number 2....

Chihuahualover, Diego looks like he was a sweetheart, and I agree with Ambrosia, he was lucky to have spent his last moments with someone who cared about him like you did. Have you thought of a name for your next Chi? We have a friend with one named Taco . Well.....drum roll please......I just got an email from my breeder and we are getting the baby we had already fallen in love with!! We are calling him Scout! He blitzed his aptitude test and, as I mentioned, is the show pick. There was some competition for this special puppy, and I feel so grateful that the breeder decided that we were the best home for this gorgeous little guy! So I guess you want to see a picture.....I'll send a couple more in additional posts..

Brittany puppies!!! Very cute Rally Valley. Zora is a cool name too . Kasoo - We were the same with the pics....it was only those darned coloured collars that gave things away ;). Seriously though, I didn't have a favourite until visiting, and actually today, as I have thought about the other puppy, I have come up with a whole heap of reasons why he would actually be the better puppy for us......so I think I will be OK either way now :D. That said, my breeder isn't answering her phone....probably out enjoying the football game! At least I hope she is and that everything is OK ..... Now I have started to think of horrible things that could have gone wrong, either in the breeders life or with the puppies.....there's that neurosis again . In any case, I left a message and can only hope to hear from her soon..... so the wait continues .

Aww Ambrosia, she is gorgeous!! It would be nice having a face for your puppy that you can fantasise about. And Chihuahualover....too cute! I read about what happened with your last puppy, just devastating . I am glad to see that you are now in a position to offer another chi baby a home . Kasoo, your potential boys are way cute too! Do you have a favourite? Even though you don't want to have a favourite ;)? While I do have a favourite, both the boys are suitable for us and each has different strengths. Both have lovely temperaments (in fact the entire litter have lovely temps) and interacted well with us and our kids at the visit. I'll keep you all posted!

Thanks Anna and Ambrosia. I emailed the breeder on Monday night.....but she works full-time and is busy, so I don't exepct an immediate reply, and don't want to bug her with phone calls. But I did hope that by today I might have gotten a reply . My OH says I need a lesson in patience! It's just that on Sunday I felt like our favourite puppy might have been the one chosen for us, but as the days pass by I am less certain. He was the show pick, and while I will show if that puppy comes our way, I was not after a show puppy....and there were others on the wait list who were . That said, the other puppy has great drive for what I want to do with him and was also very sweet......it was just something about that first pup, a softness about him.....he stuck close to us the whole time we were there and was great with our kids (2 and 5). I will ring tonight I think.... Or maybe there will be a reply waiting for me when I get home and my neurosis will have been for nothing ;) .