Little Gifts

Thank you Steve for informing me about the snake issue - never knew that. And to Jed for giving me something more to think about re water access. I guess I just have issues with water due to personal experiences and worry wartism.

Sorry Jed but no water to me is a bad thing, not just because I am in Qld and not just because the dog might get thirsty but I'm assuming dogs also need to drink like humans if their throat is tickly or something gets stuck in it, say like dust, fur or some bedding they chewed up? I don't so much have an issue with no bedding if it isn't a regular thing, but kennels should contain more than one source of water at all times anyway, just like most households and yards (that I personally know) do. Dogs knock water bowls over or might be extra thirsty so one is not enough in my opinion. But if you are running an actual kennel I don't think it is hard to routinely clean and fill numerous water bowls. Not saying this alone would/should warrant a charge but if it is regular then it is an indication to me that the owners may also not care about other, more worrying things. And like humans I'm assuming good water intake, particularly after eating would be needed to assist digestion and defecation? I'd hate to think they restricted water to minimise a dog peeing or pooing overnight, simply to reduce cleaning ups kennels too. Haven't watched the footage or followed the case but do know of two large breed dogs who died horribly from dehydration when they were left tethered on a property and knocked their one water bowl over, so I am particular about access to the very basics like water.

As a quick starting measure (before the fence is altered) perhaps get yourself a squirty bottle and squirt your dogs as soon as they rush to the fence and kick off so they get to understand that is a bad thing to do. If they simply go to the fence for a sniff and tail wag then obviously you don't squirt that good behaviour! My other suggestion is to see if the owners are willing to let your dogs and their dogs meet in a controlled way, off the properties so they at least know who is on the other side of the fence and will perhaps simply go over to say hello rather than get over excited? The only other thing I now use on our dogs (after meeting Martin McKenna) is a noise that apparently mother dogs make to tell their pups to be quiet. First when they bark we go and look (usually just from the window) and do the 'good dog' thing for alerting us to the commotion near our property. If they continue to bark we do a low and firm voiced 'enough!'. If they continue then you make a noise like coughing out of your nose while you have your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Our staffy immediately responds to this noise. The pei doesn't notice it but calms with distraction and the husky/shep girl usually stops barking after we do the first acknowledgement anyway.

I'm so happy for Roy! No dog needs to spend that long in a shelter environment. He was never going to find a home from behind wire.

I've been staying out with Ams the last couple of nights. Last night I was there on my own and one of her own pei and a blind rescue pei that she has had there for maybe 2 months both really felt her absence. I fed and cared for Blind Ronnie as he needed so it wasn't anything to do with his disability but instead of lying under her doona in his little corner of the bed he lay right in front of her screen door for most of the night waiting for her to come home. Then when he did get on to her bed he lay with his face staring at the bedroom doorway, still waiting. Nothing I did could really settle him as he usually would. When she came home this morning and he smelt her and heard her voice it was so sweet to see his little body wriggling with joy! Whatever emotion he experiences with her it is really about her and not having his basic needs met or her compensating for his disability. Perhaps there could be someone else out there that he will also feel like this about but he has formed this bond/connection quite quickly and under difficult circumstances so it was beautiful to see him so happy to be with her again this morning! It's nice to be a nobody to a dog under those circumstances!

I was staying out at Ams the last couple of nights. Last night I used nearly a whole roll of toilet paper picking up slightly sloppy puppy poo from various locations throughout. Only from one puppy but he is a big breed and likes to purge himself wherever he feels the need! Sleep, eat, pee and poo is pretty much his routine. Often puts his big boofy feet in it or just lies on top of it as well.

Yep Donatella and Ash, I am linked to the BFR page and saw Smudge on my page tonight! I lost my heart girl Stussy for only 2 hours last Sunday and I aged about 10 years. She had no collar on and it was her microchip that reunited us so quickly. I'm really feeling for you Ash. Hang in there!

I can't help out at present but if the situation is the same next winter I'd love to sew up a big batch of fleece coats for larger dogs and send them out at the beginning of winter as I collect fleece and tracksuit fabrics, as well as ribbing, from op shops throughout the year for this purpose. Our Peiradise babies have a good supply now so I'm happy to do a variety of really warm ones up for more rural and colder pounds or specific dogs in need. The same goes for any rescue group - if you ever need anything specific for an odd shaped dog or one who really feels the cold and needs a double coat or even onesies I'm happy to help, but unfortunately I am making other stuff right now as winter is kind of over for us up here in sunny QLD - 29 degrees today!

Good on you Boronia!

Let's hope that Ms Devine comes back as a dog in her next life. I'm not sure what breed but I would like her to live a long and only semi-pampered life so she gets a full insight into the canine world.

Mum has this problem. For many years there has been a tiny stray cat living on their block that we have named Irish. Many neighbours with traps have tried to catch it (including mum) without success. It still breeds around 4 times a year but is down to only 1 or 2 kittens from each litter. Even if no-one fed this cat there is a huge school across the road and an equally large nursing home and she would have no problem raiding bins to survive. We have been able to pat her from time to time while she is eating but despite multiple efforts to grab or trap her inside (she comes in the cat hole to eat mum's cat's food) she is the ultimate Houdini. So we tend to only catch the kittens she leaves behind at mum's (she has taken a liking to having her kitties under a house around the corner) using the cat trap and if they are feral and too hold they go to the pound and if they are young and can be socialised they go to a local cat group. It is very sad as we all wish we could get her and desex her and simply let her live out her years as the street's cat. It has been a long time since anyone saw evidence of her catching birds but she definitely keeps the mouse and rat populations down. Our biggest problem is a pet hater who traps everyone's pet cats trying to catch her or her kittens. It doesn't matter how many times the problem has been explained to him he keeps at it and yes, council have inspected mum numerous times because of all the supposed stray cats she 'owns'. The most help they will give is to leave her with a cat trap. It is a vicious cycle. We feed to try and trap, not to tame or become cat hoarders. It is really hard because we are all really fond of little Irish and when we see her pregnant again everyone stays on watch for when she disappears to have her kittens and then turns up again with a flat belly and hungry stomach. While we don't want her having more kittens we do want her and the kittens to have a healthy pregnancy and trouble free birth as we know it hasn't always been that way. She might be a stray but it is hard to think she might die painfully in child birth one day due to malnourishment or that her kittens die for the same reason. Strangely none of the kittens we catch have flea or other burdens and since Kirty told us about it all meals have L-lysine on them (I think that's the name of it?) so no cat flu in any of them either. I'm sure there will be people who think we are doing the wrong thing but we have been trying in numerous ways to catch this cat for years. I would really like to put a sedative in her food and catch her that way but council and our vet say not an option and too risky for the cat. What other practical options do we have?

And again, where is the RSPCA in all this? Why is it not the peak body demanding tougher sentences on owners whose dogs attack and kill? After all it is the dogs who attack pay the ultimate price with their lives. Surely that is also cruelty if an owner knows the risks their dogs pose and still lets it happen????

I've always wanted to experience owning a frenchie, a dane and a greyhound (but not in the same dog). But sadly I was enabled by Ams to adore shar pei. I love a dog that is a bit naughty, funny, smoochy and part sloth and you get that and more with a pei!

I think this is more what we are experiencing with Tempeh because she is never more content than when all her human and canine family are home. Maybe it was because of the age she came here that she developed this or maybe there was space or a place for her in our pack that she felt comfortable to fill?

Actually that's a good point Megan. That is one thing I don't have to worry about here given my sister and I share dog caring duties and it really is a load off my mind to be able to be away for periods of time without coming home to a forlorn dog. I'd like to think I was missed but

I wonder who will get Rosie in the divorce?

You may as well have said that the thread was stupid and that anybody who offered an opinion based on personal experience that it might exist is even stupider. There are all kinds of ponderings that go on in DOL. I like the diversity and that not everyone agrees or has the same experiences. I even love that there are actual experts on certain topics who are willing to share their knowledge. But how is a discussion about whether something that we humans feel or have experienced with our dogs, anthropomorphism? I'm not saying dogs have the same emotional abilities as humans. I'm asking is it possible that strong connections can be instigated by dogs for reasons unknown to us humans and has anyone else experienced something of this nature? Some have and some haven't. I've had this issue with you before where you have been dismissive of me discussing a personal experience. Just because my experiences may be different to yours does not make mine untrue, incorrect, impossible or wrong. It is simply different and it would be nice if it could be respected as such.

Have you already started at the surgery? I was there about 5.30pm last Sunday picking up Stussy but the receptionist was so busy I didn't get time to ask if you had started yet. Glad you have settled in. Can't help with the agility or obedience info but hopefully someone else will!

Geez Anne, it was just a hypothetical question - none of us are offering up scientific studies to back up what we may have experienced. And the same could be said about people identifying a dog as their heart dog. They are just personal feelings and beliefs. I'm sure the dog doesn't have a clue about the depths of our feelings towards them. I doubt they understand love but they certainly exhibit signs of loyalty and protection and they certainly bond with some people far more than others. I have no idea why - hence the thread. Given we talk about dogs as companion animals there must be some emotional connection they make with us or they would exhibit the same behaviours with everyone who fed or patted them and we have all seen evidence that isn't the case. I am certainly not alone in ending up with a dog in my life that was never meant to be for me, but certainly seems to be the right thing for the dog. I was simply exploring that idea the same way we often explore the concept of heart dogs. Doesn't make scientific sense, but it may just exist!

I've done Peicasso's with some of our foster pei but the idea started when I was at a rescue auction event and paid $70 for a framed piece of art work by a foster dog. I just loved it! Still have it and have also had all my dogs do art work as well! There are some tips to it. First off you need to get the flat hard canvasses as the ones with the backing frames can get punctured by toenails. Obviously you will use non-toxic paint (like you would with kids). You don't need much on each canvas - I'd let the owners pick the colours they'd like - you put little dots of it on the canvas and then 'encourage' the dog to walk on it or touch it. We used treats to get them to walk back and forward. If the dogs are ok about it lightly lift and tap their paws on the canvas as another suggestion to get 'art'. I doubt you will get any to hold a paint brush in their mouthes and do it that way but you could also take some paint brushes with you! They will need to dry so don't put the paint on too thickly or it can take hours! Also right the dog's name and the date on the back before you start so the art work doesn't get mixed up. My plan was to have canvasses in three sizes - the cheapest selling for $5 then $7.50 and $10. You could also sell those little plastic stands on the day as well (upselling!). You can buy these items as well as the paint at those $2 shops pretty cheap. You really don't need big bottles of paint and I'd suggest getting some of the glittery or metallic types (silver, copper, etc) as kids like it and you can always squirt smidges on a piece to bling up what the dog has done if they weren't cooperating! The original petcasso kits say to put clear plastic over the canvas so the dogs don't get paint on their feet. You can simply buy some cheap paint drop clothes from Bunnings for this. OR. You can get into the spirit of things and have a bucket and some towels on hand and clean up the dog afterwards. It is really up to you. We have had a furry butt sit on a canvas, which took some cleaning up but mess and fun go together for me. Maybe you offer both options? Do you need any photos of what I've bought or prices or even examples of some doggy art? Let me know and I can take some snaps and add here. The good thing about this idea is that it is fairly original and lots of fun - you will end up with lots of spectators, which means more people want to try. My other idea (which was unsuccessful) was a Doggy Kissing Booth. I found a cardboard cubby house set up and added our colours to it and some curtains but it was such a windy day it kept blowing off the table. I'll see if I have a famous pic from it though to add to this post (it sums up the success of the kissing booth that day!).

Wow! They have done an amazing job for so many years if they are not for profit! That blows me away! Next time go into the gift shop and see what their postcards look like. Maybe you can do a fundraising calendar for them for 2014? I also think it's great you met other regular snappers there. It could be something very soothing to do - just like some people like to go and lie on the beach it would be amazing to just go and stand in front of say the giraffes and watch them do their thing!

Oh I wish I had a smidge of photography talent like you. But thank goodness you are a sharer so I still get to see all these wonderful photos. I couldn't even have a favourite - they are all so amazing!

Oh T you have some pictures here that the zoo should be buying off you for their postcards! I particularly love any photo where you can see individual hairs and whiskers. Like the elephant one - so beautiful. I love the three giraffes all having a chat. So jealous. We have nothing zoo like close by. We do have Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo but there is something about the place I can't stand and it is several hours north of me anyway. It has been 20 years since I went to Taronga but we used to go regularly as kids and I can remember we'd catch the ferry across and come into this big round, stone building down near the water that had these big open fish tanks. They were huge and I can't remember if there was glass panelling down below or whether they belonged to the zoo or were just sea life that used to hang out there for food. I'm talking about back in the late 60s, early 70s. Does anyone else remember it? Is it still there? I don't recall seeing it 20 years ago is all and I'm pretty sure I caught the ferry over that day too.

Some lovely stuff there. ENABLER!!!!!!

Run free beautiful boy. XXX