Little Gifts

Oh Caz there are so many times over the last couple of months I've gone to email you and see what's happening with you and the kids (skin and fur). Having lost my old girl last year I know all the little demands they make and quirks they have and how empty the place can feel when they are gone. She had such a long life and lived every minute of it with you. I'm glad you had two years with her and that her life was prolonged by simply coming to join your brood. In time you will be able to think about her without the tears. We just don't get them for as long as we'd like. Big hugs to you. Run free old girl! Alyson xxx

I was watching Judge Judy yesterday and a lady was suing a groomer for $5,000 for emotional damage after she groomed her Bichon Frise too short. Judge Judy told her to bugger off and said the dogs hair would grow back.

T I always do his massages when he is already lying down and sleepy and I can give him kisses and touch him anywhere. When I clean his face I stand to his side and he sits and lets me do what I need to. He is no longer concerned about the cloth in my hand either. If he is feeling playful he comes to me and we do the touch thing and he looks at me then without a problem. He will often come up to me now for a scratch, nudging me or giving me his paw. I can get him to leash walk if for instance he is outside late at night sniffing around and I want him to come in to bed. He is no problem to catch, I stand to the side, clip him on and he follows me straight in. But if it was just me and him and he wasn't distracted and I was wanting to do something specific with him then he freezes up. It is like a fear of the unknown rather than due to where I position myself, but I agree there are a lot of things I could teach him with me sitting down or more to the side so I will keep that in mind. I am going to try having all three dogs in the yard this afternoon when it is cooler and do some group training like it is a game. He may just follow what the other two are doing. We were going to do a joint walk yesterday arvo but of course had a massive storm. Clancy really needs some stimulation/exercise outside the house as well and that is hard until he is ok with the leash as I can't carry him too far! I'm sure it will just take time and some lamb puffs (which I pick up today!).

Just did a post and lost it! HonBun I will train him in 'look' but not yet as he finds direct looks up close a bit threatening. And I have lamb puffs ordered as the lamb treats, yoghurt drops and cheese have not inspired him. Today though I managed his mouthing by turning it into a 'touch' command. I use a closed fist held down low to the side and he hits it with his nose for reward cuddles. He's also been spending part of his nights in the open crate fast asleep, which I will take advantage of at some point to get him crate trained. He's a smart boy and will pick up things quickly but he is still fearful of foccused one on one stuff so I am trying to gain his trust and minimise his scared reactions (he can really freeze up). My sister is home with him tomorrow so she will be doing the same things I have. Oh and tonight he has discovered his bark. It is quite deep for his size. First time we've heard a peep out of him!

I love Stevie stories and pics - they fill my heart when I see how brave she is in facing new things and how wonderful Kirty is in coming up with ideas to stretch her experiences safely.

T he loves his cuddles - when he feels like it! He is very soft. Everyday I can see more of his personality come out. Today he has chewed on and dragged around anything he can lay his snout on. He and Stussy are currently rearranging the furniture with an active game of bitey face. Ams he does have some good traits - I am noting them in my head as I discover them so I can refer back to them when he starts pushing my buttons! So far it has all been much better than I expected. The biggest challenge is to get his focus and maintain it for more than a nano second so we can do some proper training. I know he has it in him but he really freezes up with one on one attention still. We are going to try group walking tonight and see if that helps him. I shall not give up!

Well look who is living at my house now! It's Young Master Clancy! He's only been here since Saturday arvo but he and my dogs have done so well, I'm very proud of all of them. This afternoon I got welcomed home from work by a very excited Clancy (after his first short spell alone with our other two). I think his personality is coming through a bit more everyday and he has slotted right in to house routines and even learnt stuff from the other dogs like to tap on the doors when he wants out. I am yet to find anything that motivates him to walk on a leash but wont give up! My sister and I massage him everyday to help him connect with us and realise that he can expect pleasure from us and not be scared. I'm hoping that will then help me to get him to focus on me so I can train him in all the areas he needs as well as stop him from worrying about hands. Mind you, he adores my mum (she visits him daily!) and I'm wondering if I could use her for leash walking bait????? I am not a great photographer but this is one of Clancy yesterday:

He's a lovely looking boy! He also seems very happy to be at your place!

Yes please! I was trying to be patient but clearly I'm not!

Hello Charlie Brown!!!! I'm a bit jealous though - we are still waiting for a foster boy from Ams. Maybe she hasn't got any crazy and desperate enough for our household! I'm glad he has slotted in so well with your two girls as it will be the same for us here. Did you get them to meet off property? Have you dealt with pei's before? It will be a new breed for us.

And that guy was on the ground for so long and there were so many gawkers and people taking photos. Is that what happens when someone dies on the street over here? I thought the body would be moved as quickly as they had evidence and that the area would be cordoned off? Hopefully the man had family that the dog knew and it went to live with them. RIP unknown man.

What an awful experience for you Rysup. RIP Sarah, beautiful girl.

Capturing the essence of a dog in a pound environment is not an easy thing so thank you Jo for selflessly putting your skills to good use.

He looks like the happiest boy! I met someone at an AWDRI event that had 2 deaf ACD's. The oldest was called Stone so the new addition, a young pup, got called Pebbles!

In the second photo Thomas looks like he is practicing his stacks for the show circuit!

This is a problem in numerous Indigenous communities around Australia. I know here in QLD we've been using local council to remove dangerous and excess dogs and run vaccination and desexing program. The cross over health issues have been known for some time and the reality is councils weren't bothering to address canine control issues as they would in other suburban communities. It seems like such a small thing but in contained communities it is really important, not only for the people but for the dogs too.

My youngest destroyed two bean bag beds in the yard at the same time. I came home to find my mum vaccuuming the grass. Three years on and there are still beans seen here and there.

Which one was your neighbour - what animal did she have treated?

There was a man and his son who used to live across the road from me. The man was always screaming at the boy (around 5) because the boy was always on the street and usually way out of sight. I discovered that the boy was coming into my yard and opening up a small side gate and feeding his sandwiches to my dogs under the bigger locked fence and trying to poke sticks at them to get them to play or come closer. The dogs were not eating food from strangers - they are good like that, which is how I found out what was going on. I spoke to his father maybe half a dozen times, once in tears because I was terrified my dogs would bite off his son's fingers at some point. They have no issue with children but would consider things coming under the gate a threat as that gate is not normally used. The father just shrugged his shoulders and yelled at the boy yet another time. Thankfully they moved away after about 6 months. Imagine what would've happened to my dogs if they had've gotten hold of him and tried to drag the 'danger' under the gate to neutralise it. Despite the laws a child is still an innocent child in the eyes of your neighbours and the public regardless of what it did to provoke an attack.

Oh Dogmad I'm so terribly sorry. It breaks my heart that Taz had such a horrible life and that you got to spend so little time turning things around with her. Thank you for doing everything you could to make her life better. I'm not going to tell you she's in a better place because I too wish she was still here, beside you, getting the life she deserved. Thank you for being there with her till the end. I'm sending you hugs and sharing your tears. Alyson

Not true. No photographic evidence!

I've just been checking out the dogs on pet rescue and Clancy is mighty purdy!

Not sure if it is suitable to your friend but after I lost my girl of almost 17 last year I bought a load of collars and matching leashes and donated them to various rescue groups in honour of my girl who was originally a rescue dog herself.

I've just had a talk with my sister. Looks like we're in! I'll PM you to see where to from here. Alyson

I've actually thought about helping you out in some way for a while now Ams as I planned to go back to fostering once my old girl left us. Well she left last May and I've still not felt quite ready and the two remaining dogs have been doing so well together I was worried about upsetting that. So this thread is my prompt. I will talk to my sister tonight to see if she is up for it as she lives here with her dog and we'd share the care of any fosters. We'd also need boys ok with some boisturous play. In the almost 12 years I have been here and the 5 dogs of different sizes and breeds who have resided here we have never had an escape either!. I've also got a covered concreted area already protected on 3 sides that is waiting for some stored furniture to be removed before I can turn it into a quarantine/run/outdoor kennel area if I ever need it too. Both my sister and I work part time so there is only 1 or 2 days out of 7 that someone is not here. I'll talk to my sister tonight and let you know. Then you can check us out!