zeebie

When you say western suburbs what area roughly and what breed of dog? When do you need the care done?

There was an absolute furor in the media when the partner of the PM gave her this dog as a present. As there was when the Obama family got their's (PWD). However the response at the time from the Australian PM was they were supporting a particular "dog shelter" in a rehoming program. The press release from the US President was similar while the PWD is a full pedigree dog it had gone to a family who were uanble to keep it so was suggested to the President by a former president who is involved with pedigree dog rescue situations. Lead by example is my motto

We use to keep massive goannas on our property which did excellent job of deterring/removing any other reptile. Also keep an area of property with an artificially created (fenced off to keep dogs other livestock out but haven for reptiles)provide small dug out area place heavy duty plastic create mini fish pond/dam, plant lots of shrubbery natives etc, put in stumps rocks etc we even buried open ended pipes (no PVC available back then)but it worked really well as attracted insects and mice and other juicy snake food, also provided home and water and snakes would naturally gravitate to this NO GO for human and dogs area. We also kept poultry sited well away from main house area and while the goanna family were more of a problem to the eggs, never ever had snakes any where near the coop only foxes/dingoes and goanna. a small second fine wire enclosure on outskirts of inner pen with a electric current fed to this effectively prevented many attacks. Have used rubber snakes to train my dogs to "leave it" and have had 100% success with this process on rubber cane toads as well. Neither dog (different breeds) will stay anywhere in vicinity of any reptile they come across if out walking or around yard area.

I have researched from all the various pet wholesalers/ vets and online and by far the cheapest products are from http://www.pawsforlife.com.au/ with to most places $6.95 postage, and if you sign up for regular renewal of product you get them cheaper again. :D

They do put it up online post event so you can re watch then unless you really want to watch the action as it happens. Drats I had to work

Is the vehicle a high base or sedan? firstly go back to square one, just put ramp flat on ground and do lots and lots of 'fun' with dog and ball if that is favourite item around the ramp not necessarily on it, just leave in hall way inside if necessary where dog can become use to it as an everyday object, then move to next step of placing it close to a wall on one side and you sit on floor on other and just get dog to sit or drop on ramp while it is flat, when dog completely comfortable go to next step of walking across it either freely or with dog on lead with ball as reward being rolled on flat surface so dog gets to chase once exercise complete, just a few minutes 3 - 4 times a day, then next step raise one end onto solid besser block get dog use to walking across with incline, i know if I held a chicken neck in my hand my dog would go across so fast so maybe try this high level treat. Took me around 4 weeks to finally get my new pup comfortable with using ramp to go up into 4wd boot area, I had added advantage of older dog also just walking up and she eventually followed. Now both dogs have learnt to jump into well area in front of rear seats and from there onto seat for harnessing they do in reverse to get out of vehicle. the ramp I have completely folds up as a box type item with carry handle so I can also use as a step for them to get down onto and from it to ground. If using as ramp don't make gradiant to steep and put some gripping fabric on it so dog does not slip I got some pyramid matting from clark rubber, you can also get cheaper product with similar grip from cheapy stores and used as bathroom matting or drawer liners. Other alternative would be to get a set of those little steps which you could store in boot of vehicle. http://www.dealsdirect.com.au/plush-pet-steps-30-5cm-35-5cm-46cm/?gclid=CPewrP3k57UCFWhNpgod81wAsQ http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320942150194&clk_rvr_id=456328360266&item=320942150194&lgeo=1&vectorid=229515

For all the doggie show people and others interested this W/e Cruffts is on being live streamed. this is the website for all the action -> http://www.channel4.com/programmes/crufts/pictures In addition to watching daily Crufts shows on More 4 at 6.30pm, Thursday 7 March - Saturday 9 March, followed by Best in Show on Sunday 10 March at 5.3-pm, you can tune in to the YouTube live stream. The Crufts live stream: www.youtube.com/crufts Streaming from Crufts 2013 will be available at the following times: 9.00 - 19.55 (GMT) Thursday 7 March 8.30 - 19.50 (GMT) Friday 8 March 8.30 - 20.40 (GMT) Saturday 9 March 8.45 - 20.00 (GMT) Sunday 10 March Broadcasting all the live events including agility, flyball and Heelwork to Music, you can also see Group Judging. To find out exactly what's happening each day at the Crufts arena visit: The Crufts 2013 Schedule: www.crufts.org.uk/whats-on

Have you put info onto Facebook site for ACT lost and found pets they have had great results reuniting lost animals :) https://www.facebook.com/#!/actlostpets?fref=pb

Dr harry is no longer practicing as such and has moved from his property in Tasmania to a retreat in Northern NSW, he is still involved with doing the TV show and some public engagements. there is a facebook page but while many ask questions there is never any reply's and it does state it is only a fan page still people seem to think they will get a personal reply. http://womansday.ninemsn.com.au/celebrityheadlines/8432559/dr-harry-coopers-marriage-breakdown

Mei Li my beautiful Princess poodle pronounced May Lee means beautiful in Chinese :) she gets Mei Li ac (as in Maniac) for her totally wild behaviour at times mostly Mei Mei. Tai Zah my little 'Taz man' Shih tzu X Silky means 'big dog' in chinese pronounced Tie sar so named for his big personality in such a small body when he first came home.

I used ALDI plain yoghart mixed into breakfast meal and also got the lactose free clacium enriched milk from Aldi as well which she did very nicely on beautiful teeth and good soild bones now :D As for meat if you intend to feed be very careful not to overload initially or your pup will get the runs (not nice), I used the pre packed satchet barf formular which although it recommended on box a whole satchet I worked on age and size of my dog and gave a quarter four times a day until 6 months mixed with the yogart. she had milk and dry food which was the Royal Canin specific for her breed, also tried Ekunubra which the puppy kibble was way to small for her, so then went to advance and she has done well on this. got some free samples to trial first. Available online as well as at all major pet store stockists, shop around for best price anddon't buy big quantitiy until you are sure dog will eat it. Now at 14 months she has dry food at night, chicken neck in morning along with vitamised steamed spinanch/broccili/cauliflower and carrot some shreded cheese mixed through, a squirt of fish oil and cooked rice all stirred together and add a little bit of chicken cooked or mince and it has made such a difference to her weight and her coat :) There is a spanial forum on this site under the sub breeds also on facebook and if you google you will find many around your state.

For all the sensible people who did not even bother to drive in the torrential rain to Durack (gun dog show due to start at 4pm)this afternoon and just in case you might be still planning on going don't worry it has now officially been postponed due to flooded roads, judges uable to get there and ankle deep water in the rings The 70klm drive there was a bit of a nightmare but hey what else to do on a wet Saturday afternoon but take the dogs out for a car ride and do a drive through on way home to buy them their favourite treat chicken nuggets. :D

Have you thought about having someone come in and stay at your home and look after your dog or alternatively there are in home pet sitters who do one on one dog sitting in their homes, not sure about in your particular area but we have several here in Brisbane.

Looking for a home for an awesome 2yr old KelpieX who has already started some basic agility training -> this was a rescue dog currently in a multi dog foster home and urgently needs to be placed. fantastic temperament. http://youtu.be/grKn2FbXOqY http://www.petrescue.com.au/listings/216484

Obviously they are barking out of pure frustration and seeking attention, can you offer to walk them for her or let them have run around with your dogs? Possibly a downstairs inside area to confine them to although if they are barkers this won't stop them just reduce the noise for neighbour. Yes antibark collars if she is agreeable but these won't stop the barking just reduce it and still an annoyance.

1. always have a frozen stockpile of marrow bones also some smacko chunk and chews in cupboard. 2. have long hallway so sit on lounge and roll balls and toys down for around 10 mins after which I produce the 'prize' bone and dogs happy to take away to knaw on. 3. sit outside have huge backyard and use ball thrower or frisbee if feeling up to it just throw and they retrieve for 5 mins or so then they will come inside and go to bed with me. Last resort has been play showday into trolley with pen surround and they just settle and wait for next thing on agenda giving me some time out If I run the bath tap they both disappear thinking they will get bathed :laugh:

Do the different exercises always happen in the same order for every trial? If so, backchaining would be possible. I've been wondering about that. No they are varied. Yes Rally O is fun and beginning you do it on lead just have to know all the stations and movements etc. will PM re training place. :)

No you can be a stand alone competitor at trials and yes you do not have to nominate a club for points the organising obedience club will just absorb your points into their club and be grateful LOL There are quite a few very good obedience clubs around which use positive re enforcement for teaching dogs the basics etc. Just send me a PM and I can direct you to one in your area that may be suitable. Most of the info on dogs QLD link as shown above is concerned with the show ring, unfortuneatly Obedience and agility are 2nd cousins to the main purpose which is Showing dogs. That is why it is the obedience clubs themselves where you wll learn the ropes for trialling. The main thing after working your way through the paper trail is learning the routine for the obedience ring and this is quite complex if you have not done it before. For CCD trial The dog is worked on lead and there is a set routine you need to master for the judge, bear in mind the judge will be moving parrallel to you at all times in the ring giving you instruction on what they want you to do while all the time judging you and your dog as a complete team.. You will do commands at each pace (walk, slow pace/fast pace)sit, down your dog, stand your dog, right turn, left turn, U turn, about turn etc,figure eight with 2 human posts to work around and during this exercise you will be asked to stop and start your dog at heel with dog sitting when you stop etc, you must know correct entry and exit. Then there is the stand for exam in which you leave your dog at end of lead while it stands completely still allowing judge to go over dog, recall and return to heel, follow on from all of this if your dog gets appropriate score you come back for group exercise where all dogs in group come into ring together and do a sit stay for 1 minute and a down stay for 2 minutes while you are out in front of dog. If your dog moves or breaks you are dismissed from ring by steward. Not wanting to put yu off trialling just an explanation of all you need to know for basic beginner level. Best idea is go along to a trial and watch the CCD class etc to get an idea of how it all works. This is where being in a club is helpful as you will find once your dog has mastered all the sequences and you progress up to the trialling class you will be doing more interesting work and getting rewards for it. Unfortuneately this constant heeling and having dog moving correctly is very important basic step. My older dog did basic classes for 2 years until he was good enough to trial, it was hard but I just kept looking forward towards the ultimate goal. :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zztcd0wCFo This is a you tube video showing a senior level dog working off lead and this handler is an excellent example of the team effort.

Can you pick your dog up and snuggle with it and not feel itchy and irritated? If you do then you have a dog hair allergy, with newfie & Poodle "wool" it is totally different and not irritating at all. many 'wool' jumpers have something else in them as well like wool+man made fibre which is what causes irritation. have you ever sat on a pure wool sheepskin which has the natural wool fat in the fibres, so soft and no prickly feel. :)

Plenty of poodle wool and it spins really well just need a tad more before we can make something more then a pot holder. maybe we will start a new fashion craze, at least we don't need to kill our animals to get the animal product.

I have first day cover from 2010 when they did the Adopted adored series there was a westie variation on that one had a giggle when I saw where the post mark was from "Tailem Bend" SA. And yes despite the name it is a real town :laugh:

No Poodle either:( Wonder if they have them in other denomination or only 60c ones will check out tomorrow when I go to PO. :)

Congratulations on joining Dogs QLD with your new dogs. Yes it is all rather confusing when you first start out. Join a local obedience club and the instructors will help you get into the swing of obedience trialling if you are not already a member. The forms are used for both conformation and obedience I use to do obedience trials and am now doing confirmation, on the back of the entry forms you will see all the explanation for various show classes etc. You will recieve in the mail a Dogs QLD magazine each month packed full of lots of interesting information including all the upcoming shows and trials etc, so this will help you work out which ones to do etc. In the club name section you write the name of the club you are a mmeber of so they can be allocated points (unless this has changed from when I was doing it. With shows you write name of club running event such as Redcliffe show society. Trial type is on back of form but basically obedience/agility/Jumping/tracking/retrieving/utility etc. So if you are only doing obedience trial you can only enter those your dog is eligible for so to begin with you will enter CCd (community companion dog) and when your dog has accumulated enough points to acquire this title you move to next level etc. In the schedule of the trials which you get in the magazine all the information is there such as date, location, cost, type of trial etc I will attach one here as an example so you can see what it looks like. Not sure if you are north side or south side of Brisbane but here are couple links to clubs which may be able to help out with info. http://www.metrodogclub.com.au/index.htm http://www.qajdc.com/ http://www.logan-allbreeds-obedience-club.websyte.com.au/ http://www.odcb.org/ I have old style entry form booklet so mine does not have the MW & W/E on the left side of page so can't help you there You can also purchase from Dogs QLD the obedience/agility/jumpers rule books which are not expensive and contain an amazing amount of information.

Maybe she just used incorrect word for situation, her word "trained" may have meant for her a dog that has some past with another owner and just exposed to various situations, whereas she may want a dog that is 'uninfluenced' and therefore she can mould it to her way of doing things, be they formal training or just the whole 'dog led' approach :laugh: (This is the new age parenting style for children). I must say I had a foster dog some years back which had some terrible 'habits' which were very hard to eradicate and obviously due to lack of control by former owner, whereas my own dogs are 'guided' into respectful obedience through positive reinforcement and I know exactly how they will react in any given situation. So I definately believe that the handler/home situation will certainly be a primary influence on a developing dogs personality and behaviour.

I just used basics out walking lots of high reward treats handy in treat bag on waist and every time there is deviation from correct walk I gently correct, re focus and when she steps off normally reward. Or if she becomes geed up by sight of another dog or birds I say"sit" make her turn away from object first and then when she is looking at my eyes reward I then usually do some sit -> drop -> sit or circle work and refocus and then off we go again. After only a couple weeks we can calmly approach known stable dogs when walking to say hello and I always expect her to sit beside me and wait until I allow introductions, this way everything is always totally under control. We have a comfort flex slip collar which is padded and broader then normal but still gives total control they are currently on special at Clean run website and free shipping so great buy. http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=1772&ParentCat=449