blacklabrador

You have referred to me twice but I don't think I'm who you actually are talking to???? No there is no point scolding a dog for anything you didn't see him do. It is counterproductive and very confusing for him - he'll have no association with what you're angry about. If he chews your plants while you're away there's nothing you can do about it except wait for him to grow out of it. He will grow out of it eventually. Really when you get any large breed pup you have to either fence of areas of the garden or expect to have it destroyed. It's part of the territory with the majority of pups in the first few years. However, never miss an opportunity to scold him if you see him chewing something forbidden in front of you.

You are generalising about the breed based on your one dog. Some labs are a real handful regardless of how well they are raised. It's VERY important that people know the potential of the breed before they decide to buy a puppy. Too many lab pups are rehomed because of their behaviour because people bought them thinking they were fat, lazy couch potatoes. Re: the lanky stage - it totally depends on the breeding of your lab. Some grow "together" so they just end up looking like minature adults until they reach full size, others seem to grow all different areas individually and end up leggy, bum high, long in the back etc until they are mature when they come back together again. Either way it's not really important. The finished dog is the most important thing and you may not see that until at least age 2 (even then they mature for another couple of years).

I just had an across the board rule that no pups went overseas, regardless of how genuine people seemed. I'd much prefer to sell pups as pets here than have them go overseas and never have a clue about their fate. The only circumstance in which I would do it is with an older puppy to a registered and reputable exhibitor or breeder who was well known by other people.

So sorry. What a beautiful cat!

Bugger the sage smudge stick, I have told MrsD that we need to get some Old Spice. Look at your dog, look at me, look at your dog, look at me ... I am on a horse Yeah well it worked for you to get Mrs D onto your side of the bed didn't it?

TD - that letterbox photo is unreal!! Love it!! Huga - great to see you enjoying your new camera!!

I'm confused about why your daughter is allergic to one dog but not another. You have a golden retriever too? Is that common for people to only react to one dog?

You should show that to Gweytmate. "Things that Bogan Greyhounds like"

You will know when you've got the love going on because one day soon you will see your puppy do something cute and your heart will just about melt.

LOL I love that "I'm looking at you but I'm not looking at you" expression. Eyeballs are watching but head turned away.

I'd better get to work on this pretty soon or I get the feeling that I'm going to get stuck on the letter "B".

I clearly remember my first week with a new puppy. I cried at the end of the week and put myself to bed. He was SO full on! It was like having a newborn and I was trying so hard to get everything exactly right. We survived, he is now 7 and my heart dog. We have the strongest bond and every day I tell him not to get old because I won't be able to live without him. It will get better and the bond will happen. No puppy has ever been as difficult, just because I had the knowledge of what to do after that.

A baby of a friend of mine. He's in special care nursery. I really wanted to do nothing more than capture his little features in ambient light.

Nicely captured Pointees!

I love the moon Kirislin - I didn't realise you could get such good pictures on normal photographic equipment. I must give it a go tonight!

Huga - third photo in - very special! Love the composition, the light falling on the babies face and his expression. Ripley those light photos are great. It looks like a very spectacular display.

I took this today. After having barely touched a camera since late last year I thought I'd better get back into it. OH has bought a new camera so I figured I'd better show my appreciation by doing something with it. I am totally in love with it too! I didn't have much time but I wanted to take a picture for a photo competition. Don't know if I'll enter this but it's the best of the few that I took today. My objective was to capture a moment from the life of somebody living in our multicultural Australia. In this case it's a lovely Sudanese refugee and his six month old son on their way home from church. I absolutely love the pinstripe suit jacket and gold watch! Gorgeous people! I think the eyes of the baby are a little bit dark - it's tough to get the skin tones correct when they are both so different.

I would be eliminating grains first (ie most forms of kibble) and putting the dog on fish oils or megaderm. Try one thing at a time. If you dog has dry, itchy skin then stop bathing him while you are working out whether it's food related or not. The build up of oils can only help and it will stop you confusing yourself while you work out what the cause is.

My labs have always gravitated towards other labs and goldies - it's like they speak the same language or something. Especially when they were younger and wanted to play. They socialise a bit more maturely these days. My pointer who looks like this (see photo below) seems to love playing with labs (for obvious reasons) but LOVE ridgebacks and vislas. It's almost as if he knows that they look like him or something? I dunno how - he doesn't have a mirror!

I am so glad this is happening. There will be uncollected ribbonrs/prizes etc for a while I'm sure. It will take time for this to become a normal part of shows and get a good participation. Probably a few years I'm guessing. It's been a long time coming.

That's a very good indication that he's not starving then. Well done - you've done the hard work with him now, you just have to maintain it.

Actually I'm sure I heard Alex say something about not being able to polish a turd? :laugh:

My side gate is key locked. No way I'd risk letting a kid or a tradesman or some weirdo letting my dogs out.

Paddy tells Mick He's thinking of buying a labrador. Fook off say's Mick, haven't you seen how many of their owners go blind.

*Nods* the man has a great eye - that's why he's a popular designer. :D Moselle - plenty of "white" golden retrievers at dog shows. At least light cream ones anyway. Here's a link to DOL breed pages of one http://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/profile.asp?dog=26220