Steph M

Update for you all, they bought a house with a strip or grass for a yard, no wider than a footpath and so I loaned her Gus for a weekend with instructions for a long walk a day and he does like to be with people where possible. He ate their new lemon tree when she missed his walk, jumped all over the glass sliding doors when she left him out to watch TV in peace (seats face the backyard, so he was really being a jerk), left hair all over their new apartment, snuck up on the bed to est a bone, drank from the loo, ate the cat poop and licked her OH awake for a wee at 3am and nominated a spot under the kitchen window for his toilet on a warm day. He was in peak teenage idiot mode, but that sure stopped her in her tracks. I pointed out that was just a weekend when she was home, and just because he does what you ask, IE; sits and drops doesn't make him easy to live with all the time. There's more to a puppy than commands. Course at home he spends the day napping in the sun andbeing a gem. Had to laugh really. They're thinking about a pug or an IG in about a year when they can take some leave and do some travel first and then commit some serious time to puppy raising.

What's one more?! Haha. ;) (That's the attitude that makes OH give me the evil eye these days) I feel your pain Steph. I sent Rick a link for a really cute golden cocker on pet rescue and his response was the following image... Rick and Brooke should be friends. I've just taken in another cat. My reasoning was he has 3 legs so its not even a whole cat! He just sighed and I took that to mean "okay darling, do what makes you happy" haha. Sorry. Totally OT.

What's once in a while? Doesn't sound great for a puppy. I'd be looking at a mature dog if anything.

What's one more?! Haha. ;) (That's the attitude that makes OH give me the evil eye these days)

Yeah. I don't think that's a great situation for any dog. Mine love their grass and the sun. Do you want to be cleaning up huge dog logs from your deck for 12 or so years? The smell of dog pee soaking into a hot deck and wafting through the house wouldn't bother you? Mine have a specific pee/poo corner and its far up the back corner, they don't like hanging around it any more than I do. Are you the only house on your block? What if the dog barks in boredom? Chews up the deck? Outdoor furniture/doors? They're big strong dogs and could do a lot of damage if they wanted to. Sorry but it just leaves me cold. It doesn't sound workable as is.

None of the RR puppies I've met are anything close to dozing dogs. Perhaps you'd be best looking at a mature adult, but even then leaving a big dog in a small yard (or courtyard? Inside would be really tempting fate imo) while you work (I assume) is kind of asking for trouble. Toys and walks only do so much, but a dog needs somewhere to toilet, laze in the sun and sniff about. They need stimulation or they find their own which is usually messy and destructive.

The dogs are MUCH cooler than us. Sounds great! We will totally mark it on the map and I'll pop you a message!

Lisa! For how long? Are you taking Master Nova? Will have to try have a coffee! Gus will be in overdrive. Trips anywhere are just about his favourite thing (but there's a long list of favourite things) You are a whiz, that's fan advice! Cowra sounds good and Wagga is a good idea! Coota is nice too, Mup. We used to go via Coota on the eternal train/bus ride up there. Coffee will definitely be needed and that's a good distance for another stop so keep an eye out for an overexcited flattie and a buzzing whippet x hanging out a tiny red car!

Hi guys. Taking a little adventure down to Bathurst this week to see Brooke's parents, decided on a crazy whim to pack the dogs and take them too. Given we are leaving early Thursday and will be a looking drive, any suggestions for good spots to stop and let them have a run/swim/frolic would be great. We don't have a route set yet, likely whatever is shortest but we can veer off for stops and things so we are easy. Anything else we shouldn't miss along the way? (Not likely!) General road trip hints? Thanks! Wish us luck!

That's an awesome name!

I'd probably change now and repeat some stuff rather than keep going backwards. Altona sound pretty average though! I'm surprised!

Have you tried werribee? We go to werribee and the instructors are great, they really work with everyone's individual needs and there's a few instructors per group. Our pup is an absolute banana at classes, but he gets the same amount of attention as everyone else, and people are free to move away or pull aside an instructor to get one on one help. They're also big on it being fun for people and dogs and throwing food at them for every little win. Might be worth dropping in to an induction and asking how they'd manage things?

Can you have a chat to the instructors and perhaps have her assessed to move up classes in private or quiet? Have a chat to them, I bet the older trainers have seen it all before and can give you some pointers?

I don't come in here much but just wanted to say Happy Birthday to my favourite FCR and ROFL @ poor Brooke Why thank you! He will be smug. I'm opting not to tell Brooke but rest assured its been a great laugh!

I have plates and probably some cutlery! Hadn't thought of cups though, if you have some that'd be awesome!

Oh Stan! What a trooper!

If we can all write letters for you or you need anything at all please let us know. I'd love to help out in some way, seems the council aren't!

Our English Setter loved our cats, we adopted a stray kitten once and couldn't find her for dinner, went into the bedroom and Perry the setter had the kitten between his paws, fast asleep purring and drenched in spit from the licking. He was an awesome surrogate mother.

Lovely! I'm working on a people cake now. Brooke definitely ate one of the doggy ones (vanilla cupcake and peanut butter, which would be fine if not for the dog bikkie on top....) We aren't telling him about that BTW. Poor guy....I just told him they were all people safe when he let on he ate one, then sat in the shower and laughed for about 15 mins.

Does anyone have any cake allergies? Nuts or anything? Just checking!

Yep, I used to do this too. Take the dogs home, tie them up and wash the poor things with a hose and sunlight soap :laugh: I also used to walk peoples dogs for them, I wouldn't have been more than 12. I had a regular GSD, Dally, Keeshonds etc. There is NO way I'd allow my daughter to do that. Times have certainly changed! :laugh: I think that's a part of it too. Most suburbs don't have that safety barrier of community that I remember from when I was young. Not saying things were fine and dandy then, but we knew our neighbours and they knew us. Everyone looked out for each other a bit and I think the lack of that makes it harder.

Our whippet x koolie is a bird, rabbit and other small critter killer but she is fine, if not scared of our big cat. He thinks he's a dog and has the balls (in a purely metaphorical sense) to stand up to her. She chased him once, he ran and then turned around and whacked her one and it hasn't happened again. Haha. I watch the one with no prey drive more as he's more likely to want to play and get pawsy with them, but the cats can look after themselves pretty well. I often come.home to a picture much like the above, 4 furry butts sharing warmth.

Someone must have loved him at some point in time to beso good about the house. Poor guy. Must have been dire ccircumstances if they were his original owners who left him. Poor guy indeed.

Hi guys! Just popping in quickly to say my puppies are all grown up! Haha, Rosie turned 1 the other day, and Gus is next on Friday. For those in Melbourne they're having a DOL/Birthday Kepala trip. The more the merrier, so we would looooove you all to come, if you'd like to come along please pop and RSVP here so I can work out how many doggy cupcakes/party bags we might need ;) So now a few gratuitous photos. Gus on his first day- And now- Rosie My view when we get home... Gus hanging out with a flattie pup on the weekend (I remember when he was that small!) Aaaand 5 mins ago... It's raining. They're growing into such gorgeous dogs. They've taught us both so much patience and about love and learning already.

I'm rounding up the last minute people, haha.