Sash

After reading this thread, I realise my dog (if he understood) would have a huuuuuge ego. I'm always saying things like "Who's a gorgeous boy?" and when he looks at himself in the mirror in my bedroom "mirror mirror on the wall, who is the cutest whippet of them all?". :laugh: He also has about a dozen nicknames (name is Astro... gets called Roo, Rooey, Roose, Smidgey, Whippy, Whippety Dippity, etc etc etc). Some people who know me from the dog park thought his actual name was Roo for a while.

Hilarious! :laugh: On related note -

I found something a bit off or unnerving about this video. Looks like he's tied to the table behind him and is straining against the leash to stand up.

Awww! She's adorable! Congrats on the new addition! :)

You own dogs that have committed a sustained attack on a child who did nothing more than walk in the front gate of your property. You had to beat them off. It took time to do it. The child has sustained over 20 punctures to chest, arms, legs and buttocks. He had to be evacuated to hospital in Sydney for surgery and is in a serious condition. This child belongs to one of your neighbours. And you think that putting dogs to sleep that you struggled to get off this child was "idiotic"? What sort of a future would these dogs have? And what sort of life would you have wondering when the next child might be attacked? And I do mean "when" because for these dogs, it wasn't speculation that they could and would maim a child. They'd done it. I adore my dogs. But if they'd done this, they'd not see another day. Couldn't agree more with this post, HW. I love dogs dearly but human safety comes first and I don't think I'd be able to relax knowing I had a dog capable of that level of aggression.

This is fantastic! :laugh: Maybe the people who bought ferrets thinking they were poodles would be interested in one? http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/home/ferrets-on-steroids-sold-as-poodles/story-fngwib2y-1226615046465

What a beauty!

Queensland Veterinary Specialists - http://www.qldvetspecialists.com.au/ They're just around the corner from where I live. Perhaps their local vet in central Qld can get in contact with them and maybe review the dogs case?

Terribly cruel! ;) Sometimes when it's cold I try to lure Astro into sleeping on my bed with me... unsuccessfully. He happily pops himself into his snuggly bed in his crate and won't budge.

Every single dog my dad has ever owned is apparently the smartest dog that ever lived... :laugh:

Hasn't this topic been done to death already? It depends entirely on the owners and how much work and time they invest in the dog when they're not working. It's just offensive to the people (like myself) who do work full time and who have happy/healthy/well adjusted dogs and love them to bits. I was in the fortunate situation of living with family when Astro was tiny so he got to hang out with my mum and her dog during the day while I worked. But even if that wasn't the case, I certainly don't think that just because I work full time I shouldn't have a dog. Yes, for 40 hours a week, I'm not with him but the majority of the rest of my time, he's by my side. We walk in the morning every day, go to the park for at least an hour everyday in the afternoon, we work on obedience training every day, we go to obedience training every weekend, and often do things like go to the beach/bushwalking.

Sad to hear this. From personal experience, make sure you give yourself time to grief your relationship and losing Vinnie from your life before you get another dog, relationship breakups make life chaotic and unpredictable at the best of times and aren't always the best times to be making big decisions (canine or otherwise).

My vote is for Mason too. :)

Will definitely bookmark this to share with friends and family deciding where to purchase or adopt a dog from. Thanks for sharing!

Surely you can explain (especially given it's a family member) that it is not in the puppies best interests to be removed from its sibling and mother during such a critical developmental period and that they can take it at eight weeks or older? And if they've got an issue with that, I'd be a little concerned about them not putting the dogs needs first.

I've had my whippet puppy around 5 months now and have spent a lot by comparison to some others it would seem! From memory (and I'm sure I'll forget a few things) - Crate $80 Bed $100 Pollar fleece blankets $15 Toys $150ish Puppy collar $25 Adult collar $30 Leashes $40 Food and water bowls $25 Two winter coats $80 Six months worth of flea/tick/worming products $130 Vaccinations / vet visits $180 Puppy preschool $110 8 week obedience class $155 Council registration $40/year Food $250 maybe? I feed a mix of dry kibble, veggies and raw meat/bones so really have no idea exactly how much he costs to feed. I know I probably spoil him in the material sense (he's a whippet of luxury! :D), but I honestly think I enjoy shopping for him more than I do for myself. All that said, the most important thing is the investment of time put into training and socialisation with a puppy. I was fully prepared for the financial side of owning a puppy but the time investment to raise him right was something I definitely underestimated.

I found the hardest bit not being able to stay home and play with him all day! Working and having a puppy is heartbreaking when they're really little. And teaching a crazy, bouncy, mouthy adolescent whippet manners when he gets overexcited... is my current work in progress! :laugh:

Biggest bit of advice I can give is to be patient and consistent. 14 weeks is still very young and I promise you in a few months time you'll have a house trained dog if you just persevere with it for now.

Has anyone seen either in pet stores or online coats/jumpers to suit the size and body shape of a whippet that aren't totally bland and/or homemade looking? There are so many cute and quirky designed hoodies and coats available at local pet stores and online for "standard" shaped dogs but I'm really struggling to find something to fit Astro. He already has the normal polar fleece type coats which he wears about the house and to sleep in but we want something fun for when we're out and about! Doesn't need to be particularly warm - we live in Brisbane. Thanks in advance! :)

Sounds 100% normal for a 12 week old puppy to me. :laugh:

Aw, she's gorgeous. If only I had space in my life for another dog at the moment...

Horrible. Hope she suffers as little as possible. I really do think in too many scenarios like this, people act selfishly to 'rescue' animals when the most humane thing would be to euthanise them. Dogs don't exactly advertise or communicate their discomfort or pain so when are they going to draw the line and say enough is enough for this poor dog?

This sort of thing makes me so sad and frustrated too. A (now ex) boyfriend of mine bought a Border Collie puppy without the slightest consideration for it's mental wellbeing or the responsibility involved in dog ownership. He works 60 hours a week in the city as well as playing sport, going out drinking and having his child part time. Eg, he had zero time to put into proper training or socialisation of the dog. As a result, it's a yapping overexcited nightmare to take anywhere and he ended up getting a "military dog training expert" (see: lots of shouting, leash yanking and intimidation as "training" methods) to try and fix the dog. Just makes my blood boil talking about it a year later. I think people are either too selfish or too stupid to consider the animals needs when getting a pet. Makes me want to say to them, "Dogs aren't accessories or a part time thing, and if you can't commit to giving them a happy, stable and loved life, you have no business owning one, end of story."

Wouldn't permit dogs on the bed if it wasn't allowed. He sleeps in a crate anyway though.