Scottsmum

I assume you mean close the backfoor for the night? When ever I was heading to bed with a "last call" kind of offer. If it was cold & the door was shut - similar - offer of a wee last thing. Scottie was a bit more regimented in dinner times than my previous dogs needing at least 1 hour between dinner & meds. So meds were usually given at walk time (between 4 and 6) and dinner *usually* btw 5 and 7. With close in time between 9pm and Midnight

Gosh, how do you drag yourself out of bed in the morning ;)

They're all lovely TK. You've got such a beautiful family too - both children of the fur, and not fur variety.

Hey, Just saw this. They don't have a website - they're old school Just a phone number.

LOL... What you might not know about me is I'm not actually a university educated woman in her 30's but rather a 12 year old boy who delights in fart and dick jokes. I giggled the rest of the way into the office and ....I don't actually have a better photo for the week... so there you go.

Nose work is a great idea too - missed that one when I read through the post earlier. Most really well run NW classes ensure dogs have zero interaction with each other so they should be a nice safe environment for him. Instructors can stay clear-ish too if needs be.

Some good advice up above. Just wanted to add that he's lucky to have found you. :heart: Another possibility (not a VB) could be to call and have a chat to the team at K9 Pro on the outskirts of Sydney - not an all too unrealistic drive if you blat up the M7 and skirt around Sydney over to the general Richmond area. I don't have personal experience with Steve and his team but from what I've seen they do good work. Good luck with him!

Week 20. This bee-u-ti-ful flower caught my eye on the walk into work this morning.

Thanks SG & Mrs RB. Both well said. I wish I'd clued in earlier & been more consistent.

I was pet sitting for a while (have recently stopped) but I agree and disagree with that last part. It really depends on the sitter. My agreement was based on one or two visits a day. 2 visits included 15 minutes/ a quick lap around the block in the AM and a longer walk (40 minutes) in the evening. Complete check over - brush & hands all over, check ears etc, for every dog every second day. One visit a day also included the 40 minute walk. I once even took all the bedding home and washed and cleaned and mopped the doggy areas once - the house was really ponging! I also found that I felt guilty for my "longer term" pooches and would, if I could, take a coffee and just hang out with them (I did 3 weeks for one family including a public holiday - so sats, suns and one Mon we'd just hang out for as long as I could spare). I was lucky - that set of clients were cool with me taking my own dog (and I had permission) so I'd take Scottie for evening visits, we'd go for a huge walk and hang out as much as possible, then he'd wait in the car while I did evening feeds & settled them in for the night. Same with cats - on the days when Kitty clients wanted to know me - I'd sit and hang out for as long as possible. Other days I wouldn't set eyes on them. Cat's also usually mean a vacuum every day! All that said, I don't think I'd personally pick it for my pet. I felt really guilty for dogs who we're left for basically 22-23 hours a day and often had to remind myself that the owners were happy with that so I needed to be too. I even declined a job once based on that - and told them to use a kennel as it was unfair to leave 2 dogs in a house for that long with no access to a yard (during summer too). I'd much prefer someone who lived in and had made an agreement that they'd be there most evenings and would stick to our established routine. I had a sitter come in for Scottie occasionally - she'd spend the day and walk, feed and do evening meds. I paid her a day's worth of "care" plus for the walk - it was expensive, but worked for me - as I was going 12 hour days and had almost no other choice. I've had other experiences - family members who've had live in's that went fantastically and my parents who got someone in once when I wasn't available and she managed to ruin the bathroom (flooded it!) and then claimed she had no idea what they were talking about or what could have possibly happened. Anyhow - getting really off topic here - but my point is, house sitters can be a great choice or a terrible disaster - but you've really got to dig and find someone you feel happy with. I personally think $35 is reasonable - especially for a lab - either for a sitter or kennel situation - but then I am used to Sydney prices. The last place we used for boarding (here in NZ) was $15 a day for a much smaller dog.

You could try Casaloma kennels in Dundas. Not sure if they're still open & certainly not Sydney City but worth a try. Ive never used them but they come highly recommended. (I never used a kennel in the time i lived in Sydney thanks to my wonderful parents)

I haven't dealt with a puppy in an age, but my last dog was anxious & one thing that helped was a program / philosophy called "nothing in life is free" (or NILF). I resisted for ages because I thought it sounded harsh & mean, but when i really put effort into it it was great. Its worth looking at. (& please note NOT saying that your dog is anxious. Just that sometimes new training ideas can seem "not quite right" - i discounted a few that I wish I'd tried earlier. ) Good luck!

Some places will give a discount for longer times (over 10 days, over a month). An in home sitter *might* cost less, but might not mean not better. Realistically that's 35 a day which seems reasonable. 8 weeks is a long time & kennels are probably a good choice if you dont have family or a friend to help. If you do have a family member or friend who can take him or move in & keep up his routine then its worth asking them if they're willing. Good luck!

Oh Tassie I'm so sorry, It sounds as peaceful for everyone as it could have possibly been. And no - I honestly have no issues with anyone jumping in here. If you need it - please use it. I hope to not need it again for a very very very very long time.

I did that when we moved a good 40 minutes away (without traffic) - It was crazy hard but worth it. I even took Scottie out to our old vet for a "pre-purchase" check up with a vet I trusted. To the OP - Changing can be hard - but at the same time you have to feel comfortable.

He really is, and a happy one at that!

Love these updates.

Fair call. Doesn't hurt to have some hope...

And by "waits in his crate" you mean you have to pry him out with a stick at other times Dear little man. He's so lovely. Thanks for the update.

@Steve was here not too long ago. Inbox might be full.

Thanks @teekay - You've had HEAPS on your plate lately & one little post is easy to miss. Hope things at home settle into their new normal as soon as possible.

Head lamp is the first thing that comes to mind - I got one from Wollies years ago (two actually) just cheap kids ones - and they're still going strong. Reason I say head lamp over torch is that it leaves both hands free. Light for the dogs collar - not necessary but again- gives some light off. Always have your phone on you and fully charged. Don't go into seedy places, but if you feel the need vary your route. There's another thread on here at the moment about a dog scratching at a door - with some good suggestions for making "outside more fun". Good on you for being proactive. It might not even be your dog - sound - especially howls travel strangely sometimes. Maybe check around with your neighbours and let them know you're trying to resolve the problem (if there really is one) but for them to please text you immediately if they have concerns about your dog howling & obviously give them your number.

"Just like the dogs taught me Mum"

You're welcome to "take" as much as you need. Anything that helps you over the coming time. I know you've probably done this more times than you care to remember but its never easy. Love to you and your little iggy/whippy family.