Steph M

I'll keep an eye out! Sat or Sun? We are leaning toward Sunday but depends on the weather.

Is anyine going/exhibiting? Would love to say hi to some people! I'm towing poor Brooke along. Poooor long suffering Brooke! Haha.

Oops. Link here! http://www.haaretz.com/mobile/1.588162

Pet ownership has been rising sharply in Turkey as the median income improves and attitudes change, and now Ankara has decided it's time to regulate. Amendments to the Animal Rights bill passed this week lay down the criteria to own animals, and set minimal conditions for the animal's comfort and wellbeing. More draconically, the amendments require that future pet owners undergo training first – and graduate wp in Turkey (and Brazil, China and Thailand) has been spiking. Pet ownership in Turkey rose 39% from 1998 to 2002, though it bears saying that dogs and cats were not particularly popular there – neither made it to the top 15 pets Turks kept during those years: smaller animals such as rabbits were more popular. The first criterion for owning a pet is having suitable accommodation that meets the pet's ethological needs, Hurriyet reports. The owner must also care for its health; presently the sub-committee dealing with animal rights is also discussing creating a requirement to take any animal hurt in a traffic accident for veterinary treatment. Abuse has been criminalized for the first time: torturing or ill-treating an animal can result in prison sentences, following the amendments. The penalties are not trivial, at least for homeowners: Get caught causing torture and you could face a 2,000-lira fire ($942 at today's exchange rate). Deliberate maltreatment of animals (that falls short of torture) will run you half that amount, and walking your dog without a leash and muzzle will set you back 500 liras, or $236. "Those who sell and own pets are obliged to participate in training programs," says the law, according to Hurriyet's translation. The Turkish lawmaker had an eye out for the people, too. While about it, anybody selling or adopting a pet must "take precautionary measures to prevent environmental pollution," and will have to pay compensation if the animal causes discomfort to others. Casual euthanasia is frowned upon, and animal experiments will require approval by ethics councils, the law says. Bestiality is another no-no – and that offense will lead to jail time, of up to two years, says Hurriyet. How the Turkish authorities mean to enforce the amendments remains to be seen. Also, one thing the committee has not regulated yet is animal sacrifice, which remains a not-uncommon practice. Following news of the amendment, surfers discussed this issue on Turkish Internet forums, in part vying to tell stories of the suffering the animals experience during inefficient sacrifice practices. Like in Israel, the streets in urban Turkey are thronged with strays. But in Israel the strays are mainly cats: Turkey has a huge problem with stray dogs, going back at least centuries, and Turks generally have evinced a horror of killing the animals for the sake of "population control" even though rabies is definitely a problem. Writing about fictional events in the late 16th century in his book "My name is Red," the Nobel-winning Turkish author Orhan Pamuk describes the distaste many Turks - as Muslims - traditionally felt for dogs, explaining that they were considered "unclean." However, attitudes do change. And if you feel like moving to Turkey with your personal pets anyway, keep this in mind: one person may take no more than two animals per entry into Turkey, be it cats or dogs or both. More than that and you're considered to be trafficking in pets. In Israel, the Knesset enacted the Animal Rights law in 1994, criminalizing abuse and handing down a sentence of up to three years' prison time for offenders. Even siccing one animal onto another is prohibited, so dog fights are out; abandoning the animal is also against the law. One effect the law has had was to end the cruel practice of force-feeding geese to cause liver bloat for the sake of making foie gras. Interesting idea, what do you all think? Containa some big steps forward for a previously not very animal saavy country.

Errrrr. No. I always assumed they were pretty much a joke. Haha. I can't understand it myself.

That's the concise version of what I was getting at. Always so eloquent HW!

Still interesting. I notice the change every few months almost. Interesting the breeds dejour are slightly different place to place.

What about strength tricks? Balancing on hind legs or a ball or board? Holding stretch positions?

You held it together more than I would. How dare she whinge that it cost so.much? Perhaps don't let your dropkick nasty dogs roam and you'll be fine. Sound like real charmers.

HAHA. Shouldn't laugh but sounds like she won obedience there! All the perks with minimal work. Love her style.

I disagree. As long as the breeder has taken the time to get to know you and you're confident they're what you're after I wouldn't have a problem buying a pup without meeting and picking them myself, we did in fact! As a breeder you're the one who knows the pups and has insights such as the following and knows which pup falls under which categories. Perhaps on the day someone comes to meet pup & pick one a typically outgoing pup could be having a bad day and look quiet, only someone who's spent almost 8 weeks with them would know that.

Isn't not having the heart to put him down when he'd diagnosed a spinal defect bad enough yo warrant euthanasia just as bad? What a fricking nutter!

Also, here's a few photos of Gus fetching on the first day we had him, less than 2 hours after hopping off the plane. Something he hadn't been taught to do in any way shape or form. (Bonus points for being totally adorable, too!)

We let our breeder pick for us too, sit down with them and tell them everything, your life, both good and bad bits, your house, routine, what you want to do (ie do you want to do further obedience, agility etc) and what you want in a dog and they should be able to match you very well. For what its worth our dog has been the perfect pick for us. Some.of his littermates are quieter, busier, more driven etc, which might not have been spot on for us, but Gus is perfect.

We let our breeder pick for us too, sit down with them and tell them everything, your life, both good and bad bits, your house, routine, what you want to do (ie do you want to do further obedience, agility etc) and what you want in a dog and they should be able to match you very well. For what its worth our dog has been the perfect pick for us. Some.of his littermates are quieter, busier, more driven etc, which might not have been spot on for us, but Gus is perfect.

Very much believe nature has a lot to answer for, I keep in regular contact with two of Gus's siblings, and get the odd update from two others and they have very similar quirks and habits. Not just breed traits, but mannerisms. Its funny to hear stories of three dogs seperated at 8 weeks, living in 3 different states in very different households having the same mannerisms and having his breeder pop in and say 'yes, their father does that too' I'll work on some examples when I'm back at home. Quite funny!

Don't know if I've ever seen another PB in our suburb. Lots of terriers, Staffies and big mutts. Few suburbs over where it gets trendy there's a few Mals (much less than there used to be) kelpies and little fluffies, definitely more pugs and frenchies though.

I didn't know this, our pup had eggs since very early on, but he has a gut like a steel trap.

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2014/04/29/3994529.htm?site=tropic Horrible article, but good to see some publicity without breed bias and also mentioning that being 'friendly' doesn't make it OK. " Liz Symons loves walking with her guide dog Amber, but 'countless' dog attacks have left her too scared to leave the house alone. Mackay's only guide dog handler Liz Symons is pleading with people to be more responsible for their pets with a new survey showing 40 per cent of guide dogs have been attacked by another dog while working. (Laura Hegarty - ABC Multiplatform) They say dogs are mans' best friends but everyone has experienced that moment of fear when a free roaming, large dog approaches, growling and barking. Imagine experiencing that whilst blind. That fear is what has left Liz Symons house bound for the past year, not daring to walk anywhere without the company of husband Gary or a friend. Liz says she's lost count of how many times she and Amber have been attacked by off-lead dogs. "I hear the other dog stop growling and I can feel Amber stiffen up and it's usually only a matter of seconds warning," said Liz. "If it's a dog attack I have to let her go and she defends herself and I've got to try and stand still because I can't see anything anymore so as soon as I turn a bit, I'm disorientated and it's really dangerous if we're on the side of the road or on the road. "It's terrifying. It's a matter of having to yell for people to come and help me from the houses. "We haven't walked much in the last year because of the dog attacks we had early last year and 2012. We had quite a few just walking around the streets of Bucasia and that really has killed my confidence... so it's ruined my independence." Take the lead Liz lives in Bucasia in the northern beaches of Mackay. The area has an off-lead dog beach but the parks and streets are strictly lead only. Liz says people need to become more responsible for their dogs but instead, carelessness and therefore attacks are increasing. "It's just wrong, it shouldn't be happening. In 2014, people should be more enlightened, more caring, more responsible." And Bucasia isn't the only place where guide dogs are being attacked by other dogs. According to a new survey undertaken by Guide Dogs Australia on average three guide dogs a month were attacked by a pet dog while working during the past year. The survey also found that one in four guide dogs attacked sustained injuries, with two guide dogs retired as a result of the trauma. Off-lead pet dogs were the cause of most attacks. Liz says she's lucky Amber has been able to keep working despite the level of harassment she's experienced. Considering the cane Amber is now 10 years old and is soon due to retire. While Liz is on the list for a new dog, she's not sure she wants one. "In all good faith I could not bring a new dog home to Mackay in eight months time, a dog that costs over $30, 000 and have it destroyed, ruined because that would be the end of its working life," she said. She's instead considering taking up a white cane, but it's not a decision she'll make lightly. "Walking with a guide dog is so much more natural and graceful, there's nothing to compare to a cane I don't think," she said. "She [Amber] is like most pets times 100. She's part of our family, she goes everywhere with us, she sleeps in my bedroom she really is like one of the children." Friendly dogs still distracting Just because a dog is friendly and 'wouldn't hurt a fly' doesn't mean that it isn't a menace to Liz and Amber. Any contact with another animal while working and guide dogs can become easily distracted. "It only takes a second to distract if a dog runs up to Amber she might just turn her head to the left and take a couple more steps and walk me onto the road and off the side of the path into a hole. It becomes a dangerous situation," she said. "I'm sick of being put through the trauma of trying to explain on every walk I go on to people that they need to have their dog on a lead because they're disrupting everybody's life, not just mine, but it affects me a lot more than ordinary people.""

May 18! I'm.just making sure we will be about. More than likely!

Steph, Werribee ODC now is back to it's proper training time of Saturday afternoons :) and just in case you are wondering why I know this, its because I am a member there too So it is, we have missed the last few weeks due to travel. Doh! I'm sure you're at a mugh higher level than us. If you see a demented flat coat come say hi though! Haha.

They sure do, but you'd have to talk to them about an assessment, I'm.sure they'd be happy to move you up but would need to assess her I guess? Email them and ask, Sue has answered a few of.my emails and is a great help. Clickers are welcome, we got told to use whatever works.l be it toys, food or games. Its all positive, encouraged to treat for everything and the focus is on fun and having a good time. I've been caught out getting frustrated before and the instructors are great and will come up and have a laugh and make a suggestion or just laugh at your dog being a jerk, as mine sometimes does... there's also a social walk along the river before classes which might be good.for her, or you can go off and have a walk on your own before. Give them an.email.or pop.in on a Saturday morning for a chat perhaps. Let me know if you do, I'll.come say hi!

Our lease came with a specific provision that the cats were allowed inside, which was quite surprising.

I'd be bringing them in as well. I can't imagine mine would do well outside, mostly because we've always had them.in. I wouldn't cope either. Just do it, if the upstairs neighbours are going to spy they're invading your privacy, and would they rather they bark and whine all night? Methinks not.

If I had a bigger car I'd offer to pick up and drop you off at werribee, this guy sounds like a wanker! Sadly the Fiesta isn't built for more than two people!