betsy

That sounds like a very stressful and unbelievably sad story.

At least he had someone who cared with him when he passed.

You guys crack me up!

I am pretty lucky at work, a lot of my colleagues have young dogs, so we often talk about things (doggy behaviour etc).

I was asking one guy about his pup who is a heinz blend rescue (lab, kelpie, BC perhaps). He said he had been naughty because he had stolen 5 uncooked steaks from the bench of the BBQ . I just asked him what he thought would happen leaving a dog unsupervised (he went inside to get tongs) with that level of temptation Dog looked appropriately sheepish when told off, so he said.

Luckily they had some back up sausages on the go .

What's a picky eater?

If its animal, vegetable or mineral my dog will eat it. He even sucked on a lemon quarter one day he stole off the bench.

Minxy - hope you get better soon. Sounds a bit painful.

lilli_star - I saw the destructo photo you posted in the other thread. I remember you posting it here but it is very impressive!

Clastic - you will have to post photos of your new house (if you want :D)

wuffles - I'm sure miss Ava will blizt the obedience trial.

KA - sounds like Kuma is training you well

It has been raining alot here (geelong), some minor flooding etc, but doesn't really affect me. I took Ziggy out to the off lead park today however, hardly anyone around. The park is located where two rivers meet. It was majorly flooded. One water loving doggy had a fantastic time. He doesn't swim as such, but he loves 'deep wading', and running through the water. Unfortunately I do not trust him off lead with distractions around currently (people, other dogs) so had to put him on the lead a couple of times and it was a real effort to get him out of the water to recall!

I should have taken some photos but I was concentrating on watching for approaching distractions!

At Hoover's modeling!

Niques - have been thinking about you and James and hope all ok!

The rain here has been constant, obviously no where near as bad as Qld, but it is hard to get out for a walk when it is this heavy. We did manage the beach yesterday, and although it started raining when we were there, it was so warm and humid I didn't mind getting a bit wet.

So I resorted to a bit of training with cold sausage. I am working on desensitising Ziggy to the cat, "shy" and walking backwards, oh, and stays and waits. For an aussie, my dog is a bit slow sometimes (I'm sure Ava and wuffles had this all covered ages ago). But he did enjoy his training. Can't wait until we start back in Feb. I think we are doing level 2b - more of the same good manners type stuff.

Silly me left the babygate open when I put Ziggy inside when I was taking out bins ;) . I didn't realise until I went to go back inside and he wasn't standing at the door waiting for me. I then saw baby gate open and though oh s*$t, poor cat in other part of house . Lucky he came running back when I called him and poor cat was under my bed. Obviously my boofer doesn't fit under there! It did scare me a bit, he could do some damage to the cat, and she is just so not dog savvy.

Unforunately I have to go away soon for work, but managed to convince my mum to come and housesit for me, so don't have to use the kennels again

I really hope all in Qld are safe and there is a bit of a reprieve in the weather soon.

our sheep came inside too!!

Monah - love the piccies of the happy sheepie! We loved our sheep too, but boy she packed a mean headbutt.

This thread reminded me of when I was a kid. We had a dog, cat and pet sheep on a large block in a small rural town.

The dog and sheep were basically about the same age, and had been brought up together. The cat was a tough old tom cat.

Dog and cat were both allowed inside, but my mum drew the line when the sheep tried to follow the dog in one day! Talk about identity crisis.

I love the way DOL gives you the opportunity to see a broad spectrum of experiences and opinions!

BTW, my dog is outside when I am at work, but can be in or out as he pleases when I am home. I think he just prefers to be where I am whether that is inside or out! He is not allowed in the bedrooms as the cat needs a safety zone!

I think the Q originally stood for Queensland, but because of the negative connotations, it was changed to Q, then Query fever. (There was a recent article about illness named after places in the Medical Journal of Australia).

Great photos. My dog just does happy and asleep

Shell - I really love Zero he is gorgeous

But everytime I see your signature, I think in the last photo he has underpants on his head :)

Easy access from the front of the house to the back so wet, muddy, sandy dogs etc can be put in the backyard straight from the car

Agree on the separate bedroom area - the baby gate works wonders!

I would like more storage in my laundry.

Another thing, if you have inside cats (like I do), think of where you want to put them and their kitty litter away from dog living areas. Mine is in the second bathroom after I had to move it out of the laundry when the dog arrived and took over that part of the house. It is a PITA when people come to stay as I have to move it into my bedroom/ensuite. I would like two laundries!

Very Scary

Hope you remain safe and relatively dry, and that the floods do not go on for too long (or get much higher)

I have an 11mo dog. He doesn't bark much at all. I am not sure if it is just him, or the fact I tried to ignore him when he was little and making a noise.

He will bark if he is playing a noisy game outside, or bark once when the water bowl is empty!

Hi All

Niques & Lilli_star- know how you feel. Poor Ziggy was in the kennels over the weekend. He was initially excited upon hearing the doggies, but not so excited to be confined. Apparently he was 'too boisterous' to play with the other doggies there so only had play time by himself . I have spoilt him with cuddles and raw bones since he has been home. I felt so bad about leaving him...I feel like I should get him a playmate, just so he isn't by himself in the kennels....(Minxy!)

KA and wuffles - poor doglets hurting their paws! Hope they are better soon.

Traveling with doggies sounds like a bit of hard work. Are they allowed in rental caravans/campervans I wonder?

Ravenau - hope Astrid is on the mend!

wuffles - congrats on Ava becoming a half -sister (I think?)

I have been swapping dog stories with people at work (nice to know I'm not the only dog crazy one there!) One of my work colleagues has a gorgeous choc lab, and her OH made her a photo book of the dog for Xmas which she bought in for me to look at!

Just some quick shots of my boy. He is hard to capture in full action mode!

he isn't enjoying the heat today though!

Notice the "den" he has under the trees

Great photos of Lottie. Like the second one! Which lens where you using?

Hi All

Happy Birthday James!

Poor Satchmo, must be a bit over all this playing! Normally he does not look quite so, well, animated in photos

wuffles - I find it interesting that your dogs have been ok playing with so many new doggies. Did you do anything special to help with the meeting?

Minxy - sounds like you had quite a scare. Silly Kyojin running out the yard.

New Years went quite well. It was 42 degrees here, so I popped Ziggy in the soft crate inside where the aircon was on. He was very well behaved. My friends were staying with there 2 year old. She was both fascinated and a little alarmed by the dog (and the cat!). She kept her distance, but occasionally would walk past the crate, turn around, see the dog, and get a scare (poor Ziggy was really just sitting there doing nothing!). Fireworks were a bit of a non event.

We have major shedding here too! I need to vacuum tonight (hate vacuuming, despite dyson). I bathed Ziggy yesterday, and managed to use the blow drier a little bit more than usual (still requiring steady stream of treats from one hand), but he did not turn around and snap at it like he normally does. Small victory there :D Another problem with the long coat is all the buzzies that seem to be attracted to it. I took him to the off lead park (prior to the bath), which he loves, but there is obviously a lot of debris that can attach to a dog coat. I spent the night brushing and trying to pick out the buzzies, check paws for grass seeds etc.....

I loved the vids of wuffles and dandybrush pooches. Looks like they had fun. I always find it interesting to watch how rough some dogs are when playing. My boy can be very rough but not all dogs are like that! Boy Satch is big!

What is everyone planning to do tomorrow night? I have friends coming to stay. I am hoping I can successfully pop Ziggy in his soft crate (one of my visitors is not a dog fan). Planning a big walk in the morning to tire him out before work. Then I think the heat will zap the rest of his energy.

Ravenau - I think it will take me ages to work out the camera. But at least there are a number of automatic settings! I haven't had it out today as I was re-oiling the deck in between working.

Lilli-star - Miss Roo is certainly a social butterfly. I was feeling a bit envious of her in the pool though - nice pool!

Hope all those in wet areas are ok!

Oh, and an early Happy New Year for tomorrow night. (I think I will be busy cleaning the house and cooking for my guests tomorrow - may only get to lurk!)

Thanks

Have just started reading it and definitely aimed at my level! Explains the basics well.

(I just bought the Canon 60D)

My reluctant model....

(from my new camera)

Think I might have to start using the cat

He is now out in the garden carrying around a very dead looking bird he found there last night . I suspect it died of natural causes or one of the neighbourhood cats took it out. He is very pleased with it.

Ravenau - you are so clever with making the collar and lead!

Lilli_star you sound like you have been in the wars!

wizzle - what does that dream mean

Well, I have had a productive few days in the sales. I went to the petstore and bought Ziggy a new hammock bed for outside, some pork twist things (pack of 25!) a couple of dried roo tails, and an undercoat rake. Oh, and a big container for the dried food.

I also went shopping for myself and bought a new DSLR camera. I have been inspired by many DOLers. I am quite pleased with the purchase (Canon 60D), and I have two lenses. Now just to read the manual (which I am hoping to get around to tonight). I have a friends wedding in a couple of weekends and I am hoping that I will be able to take some half decent photos then. So I better get practising.

KTB - what a great Xmas video. Is the bubble maker for the dogs????

Lilli_star - I also had a tooth out during the week - have just started back on solid food!

Glad to hear everyone had a great Xmas and doggies have been well behaved with visitors.

I had a pretty quiet Xmas, my family live quite a distance away - and I had decided I didn't want to leave my dog for his first Xmas.

My friends came around for dinner, but Ziggy was left outside with a bone. I have a terrible cold that I just can't shake, been up most nights coughing etc so I was glad that Xmas day was a bit relaxed!. I am actually enjoying being at home and have today and tomorrow off as well. I have been out trying to get some big gardening done (with my 'helper' LOL).

The Petstock has 20% off so I might head in to get some belated Xmas present for the dog. (They also sent me a giftcard for Xmas so I obviously spend too much there!)

;) :rofl:

Merry Christmas. Hope you all have safe and fun holidays!

betsy and Ziggy

Hey wuffles those photos of Ava (in the Aussie section) are great!

Lilli_star I loved the ecard, soooooo cute.

here I was feeling very smug that Ziggy has not tried to steal any christmas fare. Until now.

He did the 'ol go to back door, have my "look to get outside face", then double back to the fruit mince pie on the table that mum has half eaten

I managed to retrieve most of it (and throw it away ) it was a really nice one too (and expensive!)

Hi All

Wizzle - I think you have summed it up well. to KTB

Max#1 - I think it sounds like you have a teenager there! Not much help with the barking thing. I have generally tried to ignore any barking, but Ziggy certainly has a loud one. I have also been a bit unwell lately, that combined with bad weather has meant slightly less walks, and a smidge more barking.

KA - Poor Kuma! And his sore widdle toe. Hope it gets better soon. Glad it wasn't something more serious (like the knee!)

And :D to all those norty doggies sneaking their Xmas presents early! Although I am a bad dog mum and haven't bought anything for Ziggy (although my mum did!)

Despite the lack of walking lately, I think we achieved about a 60-75% LLW tonight All the training seems to be working. My only issue to work on now is the waking at 5.40am and insisting that I should be awake as well! Bring on the shorter days.....

Oh, just so you realise he is not deprived of a constant supply of new toys... (excuse the blurriness!)

KTB - I'm in awe of all your amazing doggy Christmas photos! There was a lot of work put into them I can see. Hard to know whether I like the more "formal" shots, or a few of the more "relaxed" ones (a bit like Kate and Wills recent photos shoot ).

I have had no luck so far with any Santa hat wearing