Two Best Dogs!

Such a gorgeous and set up for life dog. I'm sure you'll hunt him out a great home!

A good ol traditional scruffy terrier mix! I like that bit of white on the chest, it promises some fun tummy rubbings

That's the Green Thistle collar from The Hound Haberdashery on etsy! I had to get it ????????

I forgot my map... (may have gone around in circles a bit) I would say we did about 2/3 of the botanic gardens in about 2.5 hours. I plan to split it up over a few days anyway, also want to check out the Queens gardens, alexandra gardens, shrine etc. We did the glasshouse last, which I'm glad for because it was really muggy and squishy in there! Lots of cool plants and pools with fish in them. I'm glad dogs can go into it. A lovely variety of dogs in the park from fat little pugs to old old cavs to doodles and poodles to what looked identical to a fat JRT...only the size of a labrador! All very well behaved :)

That's good to hear! Have mostly plotted out our route, fingers crossed the weather is kind to us for the rest of the park.

I'll be playing it a lot by ear! My thinking is, since she can handle bunnings and the crowded pet market well enough (edgy at start then quietly curious), the botanic gardens and edges of the city should be feasible :) but we would be going off or crossing the tan most time. Gardens also so big I might spread it out over a few days so we don't get tired? I really like looking at plants and small ecosystems and will be sad to miss something. Circling governers house on our map...

A bit of a general query I expect I'll answer myself very soon I know they're to be on lead, and in my past visits it seems the nearly all of other dog walkers obey this. Barring two irresponsible people on each a separate occasion (way to make all dog owners look bad, you dipshits) but one of them got caught out by a ?ranger? (good). I know the children's garden/play area is strictly no dogs. As with the gift shop and inside of the cafes. Fair enough. I was wondering if dogs are allowed in the Tropical Glasshouse? I couldn't find anything online and nobody answered the phone. and if there are any particularly scenic places in the gardens people would like to suggest as well? I'm thinking many sniffing opportunities, many photo opportunities and perhaps might even take her to a quiet city street if she seems up for it.

Great find!

Scottsmum we have converted another! :D In all seriousness though, I am so excited for Thistle! I have seen some amazing transformations in shy or anxious dogs when they start nosework. :) Haha I have a few other ulterior reasons in addition to a happy thistle but the suggestions in my activity thread were the final straw and since I want to do the different activity of tracking in the long run anyway (and just find detector dog studies in the whole to be incredibly fascinating), might as well do noseworks. Just needed to ponder it for a bit ????

I'm just stunned by how big they are already! And all so gorgeous!!

Thistle made a new dog friend today! He's been in class a couple of weeks now, and she's be sniffing curiously and calmly in his direction. He seems a real solid and calm kind of dog. She reaaaaaalllllyyyy likes him, got very waggy and silly when we let them say hello. She also surprised us all by making friends with a strange man so fast, I didn't even have time to ask him to ignore her and not lean down to pat. She went straight into his hand for pats! She did bark at him a little later in surprise when he went to lean over for another pat but she recovered from her surprise and went back to canoodling for help. He ended up being my distraction for the day. She kept wanting to say hello to this kind stranger* *well, Ralph the dog's owner's brother. :) and joining the noseworks lot. haven't had a quiet moment yet, but i'll be starting her on birch this week. hopefully i can embedded in her that it is such a positive smell that when we go to a practical workshop she might be willing to approach a stranger holding it while we work on recognising her body language and indicator. She's been a lot calmer of later, settling in to her own. Be it training or maturity, I am happy to see her calmer.

Whatever she prefers! We did the preference tests awhile ago, probably time to do it again since faves may change ;) Was reminded about that today. But it ranges from kibble, devon, chicken, beef, wet dog food, chicken nuggets, potato chips, bread, peas, bacon coated kibble etc etc if she'll eat it and it's not too bad for her it gets used! Current week of rewards has been kibble, potato chips, dried roo strips and duck wing (bonus reward!)

Hey everybody... Just got home from a noseworks theory workshop. I think I would very much like to do this! So much so, I bought the 3 scent kit so we can get started on recognising the first scent. Looking forward to the practical and they even said a private session could happen. Happy to wait for a a whole class though so I can meet people though, unless the next one isn't until 2017 ;) My head hurts. So much information! Very nice bunch of people though. An activity to do with my dog that builds confidence and thinking with a non-uber-competitive-atmosphere?

You'll convert me yet ????

I just use it as a brain game to teach creative thinking - although sometimes to practice my shaping and thinking too :laugh:

101 things to do with a box! Flirt pole? There are guides to DIY one

AWw poor Malcolm! Hope he feels better soon

Oh yes if we are stationary or moving one or two steps is okay. But the longer the heeling duration the more wonky it gets. Some of it I think is extreme excitement over getting a reward too so I probably just need to dial the criteria back a bit. And use less exciting rewards. We were doing a bit last night with the rewsrd being fetch and she was a bit better. Did keep crabbing around and creeping forward st the start but smoothed out. I'll take a video tonight if not too dark!

I'm thinking that one too https://www.bunnings.com.au/fountain-products-880-x-880-x-220mm-green-deluxe-sandpit_p3321444

Nah - I kinda know - but you know the un-testable stuff - like my mums Grandmothers name... It could be beneficial in narrowing down an area you share close genes with (so could hypothetically go visiting with old photos, memories, names, stories and see if anyone recognises them - but a bit of a financial and time sink it would be with no guarantee of an answer!) Here, to tweak it back on topic a bit. It's nice to know what genetic markers your dog shares in common with labelled breeds and types. DNA is so important and tells a lot about a dog. I'm honestly impressed with how close they can get to the types of dogs with the DNA tests, it's on par with saying "this person has genetic markers for blond hair, long legs" etc! And it's cool because there's parentage, health testing, breed typing, hidden genetic traits (cryptic merles!), ensuring genetic diversity and so many more I can't think off the top of my head. And it's such a young bit of science too! Only about 10 years old, it's going to be great watching it expand and grow. It's why I want the embark so much, because unlike Wisdom Panel it's a "living" DNA test that will update with new research and discoveries! Unlike Wisdom which doesn't seem to have changed from 5 years ago (grumpy face), but it is a bit of fun. If only embark had been advertised well enough that I saw them and not the wisdom! Like this cool article that popped up on facebook a few weeks ago: Refining successful methods to detect breeds and types accurately! I hope Embark incorporates this method for further research, or has it as an option :) *breathes* I like genetics and DNA ;)

I could ???????? thistles treats are usually just her dinner or sometjing she really wants right then but this could make it extra special

There are various genealogical tests you can do scottsmum! Similar to the dog DNA tests, they select some of your genetic markers and compare the results to other known individuals and populations. Same as the dog, they're not for medical reasons - just curiosity about genealogical background. There's lots of different types and most give a nifty breakdown by ethnicity and region similarities. I've always wanted to do the mitochondrial one like Ernie did in DNA nation. DNA nation was an interesting 3 part documentary on genealogical history. Well worth the watch!

My rewards don't usually mean we are done working on something but in this case, she seems to think it does? I probably taught her it that way or something I don't rightly recall, but it is a pain to undo! Not competition levels, but the aim is it to be similar enough. For getting through crowds or tricky situations or anytime I fancy that extra focus where ignore all distraction and close up to me. Eventually. She doesn't need to be perfectly straight and even, but the understanding enough that I'm not knocking into her and she's not too wobbly on moving back and forwards. The position is good for stationary or when only going one or two steps. Seems to wobbly in and out when going more than a few metres (and sometimes so excited she offers sound ???????????????? the more excited the more the crookeds)

Thinking about heeling ???? Been slacking on it. The current challenge for us : 1. Staying in heel after receiving a reward 2. Crabbing behind me 3. Crabbing in front of me! No idea for 1 beyond repetition, but for 2 and 3 I will throw the reward out and to the side left. She likes to anticipate things so she drops back so head level reward but because going to the side it encourages the behind crabbing so sometimes I throw to the right in front of me. Balancing towards a happy straight medium! What tweaks and tips and small adjustments does everyone else do?

Thistle got close to head trainer again! Good job Thistle :) Also while I was gardening she was in a dropstay with the manners minder. This time on the grass (so 1m closer to the path than previously). I was mowing on the nature stripe, with the gate open, when I was surprised by a dog behind me! A very excited staffie type! I looked over at Thistle and she was only half broken from her drop, slightly raised! I pressed the dispense button frantically to dispense bonus treats hahahah! She very easily could have wandered over for a hello (or to tell him off for being so excited) because I left the gate open, but she didn't! (gate closed next time though, shame on me! What if the naughty offlead dogs were walking past?!) She's a good dog :)