Little Gifts

I never used to talk to dogs much until Tempeh came along. Sure I used to sing to my foster dogs, was into "good boy/girl" and random nicknames but Tempeh constantly asks lots of questions and has to know what is happening all the time and talking back seems to calm her. Last year I noticed myself regularly saying "Tempeh, look at mummy" before going on to explain to her what was happening that day. She seemed to pay attention and understand. And she got the nickname Doodle Bug which she is now called more than her real name. But this year things have gotten worse. "What's wrong my love?" "Does Doodlie-Bug want a cud-cud (cuddle)?" "Give mummy kisses!" are all falling out of my mouth! It's embarrassing! And I whip out my phone at every opportunity to show other dog lovers my 'kids'. I've turned into the kind of owner that used to make me cringe! Has anyone else developed this disease? Is there a cure?

I miss mine terribly after the first week but by then I've also remembered what it's like to not share a bed with them. It's a double edged sword. My younger sister lives with me so I have a built in dog carer.

I think dogs allow soldiers to show emotion during what must be terrifying and overwhelming times of needing to remain in full control. A pat, a scruff on the neck, little things can enable a small connection to another living thing. There are plenty of stories of soldiers all fussing, spoiling or worrying over a canine mascot in a way that may not be cool to do with a fellow soldier. You may not make sure your mate has water on a hot day because you'd come across a bit of a wuss but you can bet you'd make sure a hot dog had a drink. A good dog is also very reliable and of course always living in the moment so imagine in chaos being able to cling on to something so grounding and real. I'm sure some of those soldiers couldn't even put into words how important those dogs were to their emotional survival. My two previous rescue sbt's (now deceased due to old age) got help for me when I lived on acreage and fell down my front stairs and knocked myself unconscious. Those same two dogs protected me from harm during a home invasion too. My current sbt is my heart girl and I am so full of love for that cheeky monkey that I do think I love her like I would a child. She is very intuitive and recently she has been staying up very late with my sister (who has insomnia) and going to bed with her rather than coming to bed early with me. She has not been getting into bed with me till maybe an hour or two after my sister falls asleep. I actually think she feels my sister needs her company at present as she is going through a funk. So yep, I've got a hero!

Well he's a good looking chap! I hope he finds a wonderful home for his cuddly personality. Can't beat shar pei kisses!

I'd want those arseholes to be forced to watch and listen to video clips of dogs dying from poison over and over and over again until they begged for it to stop. I'd want the cries of those poor animals to be etched in their brains.

I just buy the cheap shop ones. If I need to double bag I just double bag - we have large and medium dogs but none of them is an extreme pooer so I usually have no problem. Our dogs have lovely poo bag holders made by another DOLer so I just stick the cheap roll of poo bags inside that and pull them out the bottom as needed!

Looks good Ranga! What a goober I am - I should've mentioned you can make them any shape you want! We like the round ones to snuggle into so I'm used to seeing round. And if you have don't have any old pillows or doonas, check out your local op shop for big old but slightly grotty looking pillows. You can get them cheap, give the whole thing a wash, open it up after it's dry and retrieve the nice clean stuffing. I normally re-shred stuffing after a wash to fluff it up again before I stuff any new beds with it though.

Dougal's probably already sent word out that there is a cool home needing a new pair of whiskers....

You can also use bum bags and fishing waist tackle bags. I have an expensive doggy one and I also have a couple of the fishing ones that I got from Aldi for a quarter of the price and the Aldi ones get used more frequently. You can get bum bags a lot cheaper in bulk, in different configurations, sizes (for big bellies)and colours. The ones I have linked to are under $10 each and you can also get printing done on them. http://www.promotionalbags.com.au/travel-bags/team-fanny-pack.htm

I have a soft spot for the Ginga Ninjas. I had an old boy called Alby who had the same colouring and personality. Some cats just have the best personalities and Dougal is one of them. Rest easy Dougal and love life at the Rainbow Bridge as much as you did here.

This is what I'd put in the craft thread, although I have since purchased and used McCalls pattern M5410 (because it was easier to cut out a pattern than crawl around the floor measuring out all those ties!). In the craft thread I've also added info on a pattern for no sew dog coats so if anyone gets hold of some cheap fleece blankets at the winter sales or op shops they should get two coats out of a normal sized blanket to suit a medium sized dog. There are always sales on patterns at Spotlight. I think I got all my doggy patterns for $2.50 each. If anyone is looking for a fantastically fun, no sew dog bed then check this thread and tute out! www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=236744.0 Edited to add the no sew coat pattern info from the craft thread - Someone has given me Kwik Sew Pattern 3357 which includes 2 styles of no sew fleece dog coats in sizes XS, S, M, L and XL. Basically it looks like a massive babies bib with long ties - you end up with a coat shape that covers the back that has two long straps which go round the neck and cross over the front chest, loop back around the armpits and tie on the back. It's a great idea for people who can't sew and you would get 2 coats out of the length of fabric you required so also fairly cheap. I did a google and it looks like the pattern is still current/available to buy.

We are in Brissie too. My sbt thinks she needs a dog coat but as you can see she really doesn't. Like her mother she just hates missing out! These beds are still their faves as they can burrow in and they can also be refilled. It's quite big (150cm diam) and cost me $6 to make a couple of years back - 2 x $3 kid blankets from Kmart at the end of winter and stuffed with the contents of murdered pillows and doonas (I chop the chewed doonas into squares). If you own a pair of scissors you can make one! They just wash in the washing machine.

She's a really beautiful girl. Please tell me her coat is as soft as it looks!

I love Woolies 4 Woofers! Wish I could knit pics - I'm not that clever!

Check!

Thanks Nina.

Thanks Rozzie - it is freezing here in sunny QLD (3 degrees!!!!!) so I hate to think what it is like in rural areas.

Westiemum I knit jumpers that have a kind of slight V neckline. They look daggy off but they work on the dog! I only use 100% wool for the main body area because if it gets wet on the grass it wont make the dog cold and wet. I knit a new coat or two each week to sell on my market stall but also knit to order (currently knitting a double coat for a little shi-chon). I don't have them up on my FB page because they don't look that appealing but I have repeat customers on the stall so I know they work for the dogs. For Mac's size coats are $17.50 and I have different wools to choose from if someone needed one knitted to size. I usually do a different colour or fluffy edging on the collar edge and bottom.

Keep them separated by secure doors or gates and out of eye sight until you get this sorted. You and your dogs don't need to be dealing with fights and vet visits. And also feed the dogs in order of dominance in the pack to reinforce that. Google Gesture Eating too and give that a try in the interim. In a pack situation the Alphas (that's you) eat first and they eat as much as they want. They then decide who eats next (in order of heirachy) and how much they get so gesture eating is designed to reinforce that there is no competition for food between the lower dogs, that food comes only from the alpha so there is no point scrapping amongst themselves for food. It is simple and quick to do. Others with the right knowledge will be able to tell you why this might be happening but you now have three dogs - two of them are males and the older male doesn't know the younger male is going to a new home and he just might be letting this young one know he is top dog and not to bother trying anything. Edited to add - even though your male has fought with your female this could still be linked to him feeling potentially challenged by another male and wanting to give both dogs the idea he is still the strongest after the alpha.

How bizarre but to Digby, after all his recent adventures, he probably thought it was quite expected! I love that he lives on in all these stories and pictures, so thank you for sharing with us Raineth. XXX

The good thing about being an adult is that you don't have to move that bowl if you don't want to. I am several years down the track and I still have bits and pieces of my old girl still lying around in full view. So what. Hugs to you Kirty.

How are you doing Kirty?

I'm just wondering how you are going Raineth?

Ive got kids and people coming and going all the time and they bark to let me know Ive got a visitor but as long as they know them or their car etc its not bailing them up. Mine know that normally if I like you I will let you onto my front porch once you are on the porch with me their isnt a sound. Its about what they are used to - your sister's dog clearly wasnt used to people coming and going but if its normal from day one the dog sees it as normal. That's true Steve - my sister could be the only one on the farm for days. The dogs would've been used to her kids and grandkids given the frequency of their visits but it was the first time she had ever set eyes on me. The dog was fine if my sister was with me. Sorry if I gave the wrong impression of the breed - like most dogs it still comes down to what each dog is trained to do or accustomed to. For instance one maremma was a yard dog used to focussing on the safety of one person and the house while the other stayed with the goats because that is what they were being kept for.

Can I get an update on any rural pounds who might be needing more fleece coats to see them through? I can make up some double sided ones with longer necks of any size and put them in the post. Looks like I have some free time next week to do this (already have the patterns and spare fabrics). Thank you! PS If people just want to give me the names of the pounds (ie what council and suburb they are in) I'd be happy to call myself and check and get postal details. You guys are busy enough saving furry lives!