RedFeather

I think funny was the wrong word to use in the situation...it just looked ridiculous, this tiny fluffy thing attacking a much bigger pup who was a working dog rescue. But I felt so sad for the poor little dog that it was so scared in what should have been a perfectly safe environment for her. She was overwhelmed more by the volume of people rather than the bigger dog. So my point was not 'funny haha' but 'funny ridiculous' and no one was laughing, we were more concerned for the dogs.

My baby arrives tomorrow afternoon. I am so excited. Can't wait to welcome Baskerville to his new home!

^ My breeder posted that same image in the group she has set up for owners and friends of her dogs. Made me giggle but also breathe a sigh of relief because obviously we passed!

My friend's maltese x shi-tzu tried to take on an 18 week old Border Collie x on the weekend. It was funny, but pretty sad to see such a badly socialised snappy little dog. It bit me, actually. I realise it was overwhelmed because there were a lot of new people around, but that's why we socialise dogs and teach bite inhibition, isn't it? sigh. If Jasper was fully grown and muscled, he could seriously hurt little Fred. Even Fred's owner admits she has 'little dog syndrome'.

I am so glad I was never that person. I have wanted a dog so long without being able to have one (renting etc) that I did a lot of reading and drooling over dogs online, and came across several good webpages guiding me in how to approach breeders, etc. I absolutely bent over backwards to explain how we had researched the breed, we loved basically everything about them including the way they would fit into our lifestyle. I worried occasionally that we would come across as trying too hard! I'm glad my situation forced me into that research and waiting though...if I had been able to get a dog when I originally wanted one, I would have probably gone out and ended up with a dog from a puppy farm. Now, I know so much more, and I'm glad (although of course sad that puppy farms exist) that I am educated, can help others to realise that pet stores and newspaper ads are usually a really bad idea. I can also say I know I have the right breed for me, especially to those who I know will probably get cross at me for 'buying' a dog from a breeder rather than adopting.

In just ten days we get out little Finnish Lapphund! It's been a bit of a wait for us, getting everything in place where we can welcome a furchild, but we're so excited!

It's thr $15,000-$20,000 blue or lilac 'exotic' Bulldogs that get me

There are all sorts of heat pads available. I saw these the other day and they're cute! http://www.k9pro.com.au/snuggle-puppy.html http://www.k9pro.com.au/heating-pad-by-warm-a-pet.html this is more of a plain heating mat

Tee hee big balls Sorry. I'm immature.

Found a toy yesterday with a honk, a crinkle and a squeaker. Will probably surgically remove the squeaker...

This may seem like an odd question, but are squeaky toys necessary for puppies? I have some anxiety problems, and something about squeakers really sets my teeth on edge. I'm fine with other noise making toys, like the crinkly ones or the plastic bottle type. Just...ugh. Squeaky toys! Should I cave in and allow the squeakers? Do puppies need them? Or is it a case of happy owner = happy puppy. I would hate to be anxious and for that to rub off on the puppy! I'm also wary of the ones that make duck-like sounds...because we plan to get ducks one day and I feel that would be a bad association if we want the ducks to live...

The stats aren't great. http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/nsw-inquiry-to-examine-greyhound-racing/story-e6frfku9-1226760420204 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-09/greyhound-racing-euthanasia-rates-slammed/4362442 http://kb.rspca.org.au/What-is-the-RSPCA-position-on-greyhound-racing_242.html

One of the rescue groups I follow on facebook frequently get nasty comments on how much they 'charge' for their rescue dogs. Somehow people think that they should be able to just have dogs for nothing because they are 'rescuing' them. I just hate to think what would happen if rescues gave the dogs away...what would the new owners do if they suddenly had to take their dog to a vet for treatment, that probably could have been prevented except they also didn't pay for vaccinations/worming/good food etc? My housemate once got a free kitten from a barn at a golf club. By the time she had it treated for the terrible ear mite infestation it had as well as wormed, vaccinated etc? Would have been MUCH CHEAPER to adopt a healthy kitty from a rescue group.

The OP said 'the show' - I read it to mean 'show' like the Royal Adelaide show or the Easter Show or whatever. Where there are rides and showbags and overpriced greasy delicious food. Here, at least (Adelaide) GAP and other rescue groups have stalls at The Show, where they usually have various animals that have been previously adopted or are available for adoption. GAPSA frequently have younger dogs available for adoption that aren't suitable for racing. I shudder to think how many don't make it to GAPSA though. Still, some people do the right thing and should be applauded.

I can see the benefits, removing all sex hormones (especially during a critical growth stage) will have potential effects on growth and maturation etc. Also, I'd imagine a tubal is a less invasive and easier surgery? It definitely is in humans but obviously humans aren't dogs!

Thanks everyone! We have a spare room we can have as a puppy no-go zone. We had looked into baby gates for at least one of our doorways and it sounds like the way to go, although I'm not sure our cat is smart enough just to leap over one...she has the ability for sure, just maybe not the intelligence! She's small though, so maybe we can find one she can squeeze through

In about 5 weeks we will be welcoming a puppy into our home! It is my first time owning a dog, hubs had dogs growing up, but I don't think he did much of the 'puppy' side of things - I think that was mostly handled by his mum. My biggest concern at the moment is our older fur baby, my 7 year old cat. She's a shy beastie and I'm really worried about how she'll respond. The current plan is crate training in the dining room, where there are tiles. So there'll be a crate and a play pen in there. It's adjacent to the kitchen where the cat currently gets fed, although I'm thinking of moving her feeding place up onto a bench in the laundry to prevent puppy from eating the cat food once he's released from the play pen. The dining room also joins onto the laundry, where the kitty litter box is. Should I change her feeding arrangements now? That way it's normal by the time puppy comes? And then just keep on as normal so she has to pass the puppy whenever she wants to eat, and also to get to her litter? Is that the best approach unless the really really doesn't want to go near the invader and refuses to eat and use her litter? I'm not too worried about dog/cat relations otherwise. I don't think puppy (a finnish lapphund) is going to hurt her when he's little, and Astrid (the cat) is old enough to know she's the boss (well, she's the boss and me and hubs lol). I'm pretty sure that so long as she doesn't just retreat behind the couch and stay there indefinitely, a few swipes to the nose and the dog will know where he stands. I'm just so anxious she's going to hate us for getting this puppy, and never speak to us again and stop eating and oh god I'm such an anxious fur mama! I can only assume that with the vast numbers of dog owners here someone has had a similar experience. Please, help!

Thanks for posting this! I've been looking for fun things to use in the backyard when I have to be away all day...it doesn't happen all the time but it does occasionally!

Finding a rescue that suits our needs is basically impossible. They always seems to be enormous mixes, highly active kelpies, or tiny terrier mixes. I would have happily opted to adopt a greyhound but husband doesn't like them so much. I worry that people will think we're shallow for caring so much about how a dog looks but hey, what can you do. We don't plan to show or breed so of course we'll desex, its in the contract with the breeder. #AdoptDon'tShop is great and all, but I feel it taints responsible breeders with the puppy farm brush, which is unfair.