Steph M

Daily! We aim for an hour - 2 hours of free running and swimming and playing a day though I have to admit this week with the torrential rain has been less productive...I'll be making up for it this weekend.

Good Luck, Lhok! You've had a shitty shitty run and we're all barracking for you both

My little darlings have become murderers AGAIN! Another birdur, though I suspect an accident this time... Rosie was dancing around me with a smirk and a skink in her mouth today at breakfast time (not an accident) and last night poor Gus rescued a baby bird. Must have blown out of a tree and he's bought it in. I found it in his bed this morning, not chewed or anything, just very very flat... I feel bad for it, and I can’t help but laugh and feel a bit sad for them both at the image of Gus with this poor baby bird as his involuntary bedfellow. Our ancient English Setter used to do the same with kittens, take them off to bed and clean them til they were just little balls of soaking fur purring away. He and Casper, the cat we had as kids were firm friends until both died about a month apart. Lucky the kittens were more hardy than the bird! I feel awful, but if it's any consolation was another miner bird...

He's a total babe. His own independent critter. We can swap for a day or so, I admire Willow from afar. You wouldn't want Gus this week though. He's being a wiener. I can say that with all the love in the world, but he is. Last night at 3am wee time he refused to come in out of the rain, he does what we call the 'ghost dog' sometimes. He stands on the grass while you're on the deck at night and stands super still and looks right at you, it's like he thinks you can't see him. I left him to it and by the time I got back to bed he was whining at the door and came in to shake his soaking wet self all over me and the floor. Jerk.

You're just showing off now! Hahaha :laugh: Good luck!!!

Hooray! You will know us by the batty whippet x! I'll say hi if I spot two tollers. I could get that very wrong though :laugh:

We're doing the same. Might make a late night pilgrimage after work on Thurs! I know that feeling. Might leaving him with some access to a laundry or similar help? Some Rescue Remedy before it happens and a big big meaty bone to chew while you're out? It sucks! Especially at the moment, weather is sht in Melbourne and I'm wishing I could drop by home for lunch to check in on the creeps. Sigh.

Any chance of seeing some DOL-ers and DOL-dogs there? We’re trying Rosie out, she’s in full nutbag mode this week. Might take Gus for a laugh, doubt he’d be much of a participant though sadly!

Yes, they're both lovely. His dad was in his show crate throwing a soft toy around and having a blast. It was uncanny really! His mum is gorgeous though. I must email her new people and see how she is. Gus flew down with her and his sister who went to live together and we had some email back and forth before it all got too busy!

http://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/profile.asp?dog=49015 That's Gus's dad. I see a lot of him in Gus and having met him the other week I can see even more. Little terror! http://www.skyehavenflatcoats.com/Tango.htm And his mum, who I met briefly at the airport when picking him up (she was off to live on the beach in Balnarring, Lucky lady!) She was very sweet but was only very brief!

Well they all have to start somewhere! Haha. I can't say I'm too worried about the naughtiness, it's a very small part of day to day life, and most of the time it's a great laugh. Pair of total losers, my two! Haha.

She panics about the rain, and silly me forgot to leave the laundry open (never mind the covered deck, sofa bed, kennels and undercover carport she could have utilised or her many toys and bones and kongs to chew) so she showed her displeasure by molesting everything she could get her teeth on. That catcher is actually fab! Looks flimsy (obviously not designed for rain-phobic dogs) but it holds so much more and is fab to empty, Vale good catcher. We will meet again. Maybe pass your number on to your neighbours and ask if they could listen out and see if he's being a pest? It is a worry though, Fingers crossed for us both! I have to say our park is great too, everyone is in the same boat and can laugh it off. Nice people make all the difference!

Gus has taken to mouthing off too. Mainly down the park and for attention. It's shocking. I've got everyone just ignoring him and turning away. I set up a secret skype laptop in the kitchen on the windowsill to watch for barking and all I saw was Rosie shredding the catcher for the lawn mower. ARGH! It's a shitty time, but if that's the worst he's doing we're probably miles ahead. I'm seriously considering desexing him early next year. Not so much because of his own hormones but other dogs react so differently now. Socialising is almost unavoidable and I wouldn't want him to get snappy with other dogs, so far he just rolls over and gives when he gets a growl but I don't want to push it. I'll pop some photos on here for an update while I'm at it... She has a bad innocent face.... I wake up to a similar view at 6:15 on the dot every morning. No wind WIND

The last 2 pm's weren't that crash hot either. Totally true, but he just sets my teeth on edge.

I suppose we won't need to worry about the animals when we have no atmosphere or land that's left un-mined etc. God this all makes me so mad and so very sad. I hate him with a burning passion. I've never really hated a politician like I do him.

Start from the inside out! Lots of oily fish (within reason!) and good quality food. We use a soap free oatmeal shampoo I'm pretty happy with. Other than that, Gus went through a crappy coarse and dull stage as he was losing puppy fur and growing adult fur, I guess when that coincides with the change of season it might be pretty unavoidable?

I wouldn't worry about that, we had the same problem a few months ago. If he's in his healthy range, looks and feels well and is happy and healthy you're on the right track IMO.

How lovely! Kid sounded enthusiastic though, gotta wonder who was actually fearful.... Good on you all though!

I've noticed this in our area too. Bogans with big bull breed crosses walking down the street get totally overlooked but a woman playing fetch with a little terrier x in an entirely empty park is a gold mine. I actually saw the ranger walk past this dropkick with a jim beam in hand and dog weaving about the path sniffing to get to the old lady in the park across the road. Still, I can't say I blame him. I wouldn't have approached him either but surely then he should turn a blind eye to both? I'd have argued if I were the older lady.

A blessing, I bet...

Our house is about the same. Sad state of affairs when you're getting to the end of the pay month and eyeing off the dogs tinned salmon for a pasta. :D

Tinned tuna or salmon?

Oooh good idea! I would be prepared for some god awful farts though The price you pay! Hahaha.

What about yoghurt? Ours like certain dry foods more if there's sardines and a little oil mixed through. Perhaps pureed fruit if he loves it so much? It is a massive pain when they won't eat. Sure a dog won't let itself starve but they will let themselves get damn hungry! Haha. Rosie isn't big on the VAN either, and I have to admit mixing and weighing it all out and leaving it 24 hours is arduous as anything. I'm considering full raw but need a bigger freezer first. She will have days where she hoes in and days where she looks, sniffs and walks off looking sad. ETA a woman on here uses the sardines in tomato sauce and I've been known to mix shredded cheese in. Meals at our place are the total opposite of an elimination diet. HAHA. It's all about variety for us!