whiskedaway

I worry that they're bored, or destroying something, or barking and pissing off the neighbours. I used to worry that Akira was lonely, but I don't worry about that anymore now that we have Halo. Other than that, I don't worry about something happening to them though - I don't want to worry about things like that because otherwise my life would be taken up by worry.

I use Dogsoft for show entries (http://www.lottobreakers.com.au/dogsoft/) and that's a software program where you can save all your details. Pretty easy to use.

On the first and third Thursday of the month, the Rottweiler club holds show training at 8:15pm. It's held in the city just off North Terrace. There's a map on their website: http://www.rottweilerclubsa.com.au/index.php?id=60#details That's the one that we go to, and the next session is this Thursday. It only costs $3 and you just need to bring your vaccination papers when you start (so I'm assuming you'd have to come to the one on the 7th of April seeing as she's not fully vaccinated yet). There's a huge range of big and small dogs that go - I have a Lapphund who's 15 weeks, and the last class we had a Dalmatian, a St Bernard, a Shiba Inu and a Lhasa Apso (I think that's what she was, I can't really remember).

I have a Kodak Z1012IS - essentially a P&S and I can set it to auto, however it also has all the manual settings and a great macro function. You can also buy extra lenses on eBay. I paid $500 for it when it was new, but I'm sure you can pick it up (or something close) for much less than that now because it's 3 years old.

I reckon everyone forgot it was Sunday yesterday.

DogNerd, if the crate is 36" then it should be fine unless he's huge.

Yep, Teekay, you were right. We get stopped a fair bit. Some people want to know about Akira (I think she still gets the majority of the comments) but there are a lot of people who think Halo is a cutie. Halo loves people too so she's more than happy to say hi. Okay, some updated pics Halo's first show - no real good photos seeing as OH didn't know how to zoom. And in her show trolley Halo at 15 weeks Halo and Akira in the front yard this evening

By about 12 weeks Halo was sleeping until at least 5:30, sometimes even 6-6:30. We get up at 6:30, so 5:30 isn't too bad. She's now 15 weeks and wakes up when she hears the alarm go off. On weekends she normally wakes around 6:30-7:30, I take her to the toilet and then put her back to bed and if she's still tired she sleeps until 8 or 9.

Oh sleep deprivation. I'm so glad Halo is sleeping through the night now, though she had a crappy night on Monday and woke up twice through the night needing to pee. This morning I woke up with a Husky sitting on my legs - little cow has only once before gotten up on the bed during the night (the day she was desexed) and she did it twice last night because I know I kicked her off around midnight. Cheeky bugger. I'm amazed Halo didn't get upset knowing that Akira was on the bed like she normally does.

At the moment its Rumour and Breeze. We are leaning more towards Rumour because a pup from the breeders previous litter was called Breeze. I really like Rumour.

I agree with Rebus. Such a cutie!!!

They are best friends. Halo has her times when she wants to get away from Akira, and vice versa, but they adore each other and they love to play together. And she went quite well. Was really well behaved in breed and was a good girl, though was a total wiggle bum who just wanted to play in group. We both had fun though. Some people do spend their entire weekend at shows, but others don't. We don't, because before we even got Halo it was agreed that Sundays would stay Akira's day. So we only show on Fridays (if there's a night show) and Saturdays unless it's a long weekend (there are one or two exceptions if there's a specialty, but that's rare), and Sundays both girls go to obedience. Akira also goes to agility on Friday nights. Every second or third weekend we won't show at all and the girls will go with me to watch OH's footy match. In the winter, we won't show much at all because we're planning on starting sledding this year now that Akira's a year old.

So excited for you guys! Can't wait to see pics! Here's a cute puppy picture to tide everyone who's after puppy pics over until Friday. Halo was getting towel dried after her bath before her first show last Friday.

My girls are both outside during the day with access to the laundry with a doggy door. We're so close to our neighbours though and they both check on the girls through the day and will keep a closer eye on them if we ask them to. Our back yard isn't accessible from the back (you'd have to climb over the shed) or from the front (you'd have to go through the neighbour's front yard and then over a locked gate) so I'm not worried about them being outside. Plus the fact that my older dog is a fully grown Husky does help because she tends to be a bit of a deterrant just because she'll bark at everyone who comes in the yard even though she'd be more scared of them than they are of her.

They shouldn't be judging a group unless they are properly educated in the breed standards for that group. ETA: Mind you, someone I know once put her dog on the table only to have the judge ask "Excuse me ma'am but what breed is this?" I have been told to be aware that there will be a few judges who have absolutely no clue what breed Halo is.

Yay Huga! That's great news!

Just be aware that some pups will climb the bunnings fences - lappies are notorious for it, and Halo climbed it stacks of times before we finally got rid of the pen and let her have free rein of the yard outside with Akira.

And with good reason, they are an awesome breed. But as popular as they are here, they are still relatively unknown to the general public. I can walk my dogs down a busy street or through a busy park and I invariably get stopped and asked about my "Border Collies". I have pics up at work of them and often get colleagues come by my desk to look at them and comment on how beautiful my Border Collies are. Last time I was at the dog wash, the girl in the other bay was washing a Border Collie and stopped by to look at our tri-coloured BC's. She had never heard of Australian Shepherds before, but was interested when I pointed out the very obvious differences. Even at the dog obedience club, I get asked what breed my dogs are. That's the same as the lappies. They're so popular on here and I think we all forget that there's still less than 400 in Australia. When I have Halo and Akira together, everyone always asks me if Halo is the same breed as Akira, and are quite surprised when I say what breed she is. The only person I've met so far who has known what breed she is is Akira's obedience trainer.

I suppose I'd be considered somewhat loyal. We didn't follow Akira's breeder's instructions at all - she got home and had dandruff, was itchy and was underweight being fed chicken frames, so we changed her over to Supercoat which she flourished on. We have since realised that she has a very sensitive gut so needs pretty bland food. However she had the smelliest farts, so we made the decision to switch her to Pro Plan which we knew that Halo's breeder recommended. So when Halo came home, we were already feeding what was recommended by the breeder, so we've stayed the same.

Last night was Halo's first show. I wasn't nervous when I got in there for breed OR group. Go figure! Halo was really good in breed - did a nice up and back and stood relatively still and let the judge check her teeth. She had a nap on Dad's chest for an hour before Group, and she then went to toilet, so when we were back in the ring she just wanted to play. So she would not stand still in her stack while the judge walked past and he commented on her naughtiness. Of course, the instant he walked past, she stood still and behaved herself. Had a good evening though and we both had fun which is the main thing.

For me I loved my Husky but really wanted a Lappie. Now that I have one, I can't think of another breed that I'd want instead. One day I might meet one that I really want, but until then I'm happy with my Husky and Lappie.

thanks that would be why i entered my girl in junior for these shows rofl thanks for the reminder :D No probs. It gets a little confusing around minor puppy/puppy/junior because they all cross over.

Unless Akira goes to doggy daycare 5 days a week, I'd argue your situation is quite different. In the earlier days, I was home one day a week (plus weekends of course) and she would come to work with me one day a week (this was the case up until January this year). She spent substantially more time with me as a pup (and still does now) yet she loves my OH in a way that she'll never love me. I know her being at home by herself those three days is different, but it's still a time where she's not bonding to either of us. I'm just saying that being with one person over another doesn't necessarily mean they'll bond to the one they're around all the time.

6-12 months for puppy.

I didnt' say anything about the socialisation benefits. I was concerned about the ability for the dog to bond with an owner who will only see it for a few hours a day and seemingly won't be involved in its training. If it's to be kept outside, it will almost be at the stage of a part-time resident. I do all of Akira's training and we both work fulltime so essentially our situation is the same. Yet Akira has bonded to my OH who she sees much less of, and she hasn't with me. It's definitely doable, though it really depends on the dog. I think an attention seeking dog would be more likely to not bond in that situation, but a more independent dog could easily bond.