mita

My tibbie girls, Gracie & Angel, had a police record for finding a burglar. He'd broken into a few homes in the block, one night, but the tibs were the only ones to discover him as he was coming into this house. He took off & they tracked him as he jumped the fence & walked down the driveway next door. Straight under a streetlight, so I got a good description to give the police. Worried older residents of a nearby townhouse block asked the police to come & talk to them about safety. The police told them about the 'little gold dogs' that'd found the burglar & sent him off. So house-guarding is what tibbies do well, when they're not being valium on 4 legs.

That's it, too. They spoke to a German lady on that TV program, who said it started in Germany. The dogs they showed in that sport varied in size... there was even a smallish terrier. There was a brief look at how they start training the dogs.

He's the one! Thanks, Rebanne. The actual event I saw on TV was on the Gold Coast & written up in the Brisbane newspaper. I was hoping I could find some video. There was another sport at the same event, where the dogs had to nose a huge ball into a goal. But the dock diving was the best to watch! ADDED: Someone just told me it was at the Gold Coast Pet & Animal Expo.

Yes, the dock diving I saw on TV was Australian. Came from the Gold Coast, I think (?). A bloke associated with the event seemed to be that fellow... Farmer Something or Other.... who was once on Big Brother. I tried to find video of it, but couldn't. Looked absolutely fantastic & the best spectator sport of all the dog sports IMO. Dogs love it! I bet your dogs would, too.

I saw dock diving, a newish dog sport on TV & it's addictive to watch. The dogs have a great time. They fly off a platform & into a pool, chasing a ball. Longest distance (out of 3 goes, I think), is the winner:

I have to be careful about heat stroke & hyperthermia with our small, short-nosed breed. I've learned it's not just the hot temperature of a day... it can also be about how the extent of exercise affects that particular dog by raising the body heat, on any day. I've also found the vulnerability increases with age. Maybe have a word with your vet about your whippet's situation. The PetMed site has good information: http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/cardiovascular/c_dg_heat_stroke#.Uq0Uuhw_-yM

The pic with your son is adorable. And her park picture is exquisite... took my breath away, given I think shelties are the most beautiful of dogs. Bonnie's not only turning into a poster girl for rescue from harsh circumstances.... but also for the the Sheltie breed.

The tibbie girls are so relaxed with their Buddhist calm & sweet nature. It's like living with the Dalai Llama ... big smiles & all. No need for valium at this place. 'Yep, doing my job well, boss.' says this tib. (click, enlarge).

It all depends on the individual circumstances. I adopted Danny who would've been my first foster. Later I could foster a tibbie because that tended to be short-term. But you've got to tick off pro's & con's for your situation. So good to hear Princess Bonnie did a bit of 'exploring' around the dishwasher. :) She must be feeling very relaxed.

Denise at PAWS always has such lovely little dogs. There's often maltese & maltese crosses. Of, if the gentleman might consider another small breed .... ? PAWS gives really informative descriptions about their dogs, too. http://www.paws.com.au/

Here's the good folk at Lort Smith in action. Episode 3 of the TV series. I just googled Lort Smith television series & this came up ... also on that page other episodes were listed, too. Great viewing:

I needed that. Our greyhound neighbours of many years, moved to NSW this week. Those beautiful greys are much missed. Thanks.

Like chalk & cheese, aren't they.. Bonnie's sensible like Danny. The UQ eye-specialist vet used to call him, 'a fine young Scot'. Shelley was known as the lunatic. We thought we might put a pole in the middle of the yard, with an audio tape that said, every 10 minutes, 'Shut up, Shelley!'. But she'd have barked at the pole because it was obviously sent to kill her. When she was the only dog, she stayed at the kennels while we were away. When we went to pick her up, the kennel attendant, said she''d put Shelley in with a a shy, retiring sheltie boy whose family were overseas for 3 months. 'To cheer him up.' That poor little sheltie... away from his home & someone puts a lunatic in with him! So there are other sweet shelties out there... you've got your Bonnie.

Danny the rescue sheltie came with flea allergy. For the itchy feeling the vet told us to give him Polaramine (the human allergy pills). I can't remember the dose, tho'. It helped him tremendously. He used to rub his back under chairs, too. Shelley who came from the breeder... with no experience of the outside world... was the same as Bonnie. Even a couple of steps outside was frightening for her. But, like persephone said, it was a case of baby steps. Just one or two steps.... & a liver treat or two. Then same next day...until she could take a third step, & so on. Going like that, Shelley eventually was fine outdoors. Took a while, but it happened.

I'm oozing with envy. :)

I think you'd be right. In the program, urgent treatment & care always went straight to the animal in serious need. If I were in Melbourne & surrounds, I'd be more than happy to support them.

Yes, S'n'T, all that you said was shown in the series of TV programs about Lort Smith. Loads more done of huge help to both animals & people ... than the usual vet hospital.

I hope they don't move to Qld, Trina. :) This week long-term owner of house at the back has moved to NSW. He owned racing greyhounds that we all loved, including our small dogs and Dook, the American Bulldog pup on the other side. Terribly worried about who will move in... talk of it being rented. We saw a bloke there yesterday & he leaned over the fence and gave huge pats to Dook, who kept bringing him his ball. News went around the neighbourhood fast. If that's the new owner ... it's a good sign ... he likes dogs! :)

I thought the same, too, about editing the comment that confused Lort Smith with another. I got to know something about Lort Smith following the TV series about them. Was impressed & enjoyed it very much. It looked more than worthy of donations & support.

Princess Bonnie is very beautiful. Georgia's lovely, too.

I'll tell you a secret back. When Shelley was the only lunatic.... er, dog.... she had to be hauled out to the UQ behaviorist vet to be treated for ripping cushions when we were out & general carrying on. Soooo like Georgia. The funny thing was, the behaviourist started off by saying... 'Shelley is a sheltie, she's a very intelligent dog.' Our over- the- top, Drama Queen dog intelligent??? ('We're all going to die, if i don't bark'!). I honestly didn't believe her. I thought Shelley was born to be a lunatic. I reckon heaven sent us calm, sensible Danny to bring some sanity into Shelley's routine (& ours). She really thrived having a little brother, like him. Looks like heaven felt sorry for you, too.... & in comes Bonnie. Change is definitely possible.

Pretty sure doggy lust was closer to the mark with my girl, and she wasn't even close to being in season. She just fancied the poor soul on sight. It was embarassing ridiculous just really very funny. :laugh: I love it! Instant doggie lust. :laugh: We're missing out on this, with our desexed girls.

Don't know if this will help. But Shelley the sheltie came from a breeder at 7 months of age. Homed as a pet because grown too tall for showing. That breeder kept his dogs in kenneled accommodation with lots of green grass area for play & exercise. He told me she'd never been in a house, never been up stairs, never been out on a footpath. So I'd have to socialise her on those. Happy to do so. I did the softly, softly, little bit at a time each day.... with liver treats as motivators. Just like you've done with Bonnie & the crate. Shelley had a far more flighty (!), temperament than your sensible Bonnie. She was hugely reluctant at first.... dug her heels in & went immobile. But a treat got her to make one move. I persisted, tiny steps at her pace... & big appetite for the treats. :) She gradually got brave at walking up stairs & walking on a lead.... out on the footpath, too. Turned into a real adventure junkie... flew up stairs like a rocket & loved going out socialising on a lead.

I could well be incorrect - I'm good at that ;) A crush - usually a human adolescent thing - is , AFAIK , when a young person projects all sorts of things onto the object of their interest /desire . It is also a way to prepare for adult romantic love - a way to practice linking someone to fantasies .. a way to survive rejections and disinterest in a gentler way before adult relationships :) Persephone, I'm with you that I'm wary about applying human relationship words. But there's so many parallels in what dogs do... that's it's tempting! And they are social animals.... same as humans. And I don't have any other words. :) We've weaseled out of it by calling it the 'doggie politics' around here. (But that's just as human as 'crush' :laugh: ) Like, Lily the tibbie next door doesn't like other dogs.... unless they're a fellow tibbie. But when Boris, the shih tzu X came to stay for a week, she turned into a star-struck groupie. Followed him everywhere... he ignored her. And when our tibbie, Annie first came, the breeder said she didn't like big dogs. Well, Annie took one look at the greyhounds next door.... was a bit stunned.... soooo tall. Then she, too, turned into a groupie. First thing each morning, she waits at the fence until the greyhounds get out of bed. Maybe, as you've said, it's some kind of doggie 'respect'.

The local Arana Hills Vet Clinic just posted a link to 9 steps to calm your dog in thunder storms. Looks good. http://www.pethealth.com.au/Page/nine-steps-to-calm-your-dog-in-thunder-noise-fears