Two Best Dogs!

Purple it is! :) Fun fact, it was my first "fancy" collar I bought her :laugh: Must be just over a year now.

Whatever has most at midnight wins. Looks like it might be purple!

Wow.

XD I am too lazy to change every day let alone every hour! These three not been worn in awhile and I'm hoping good happy snaps. But oh the decisions!!! Green and purple are neck and neck XD my poor neglected redorange lol

She hasn't worn these 3 collars in awhile. Which one to choose for this weekend??? Weekend plans include: Cleaning Street walking Abandoned lot heeling Mountain exploring Nightly cuddle sessions Photos likely to be taken at all options. Dog is currently naked Please help me choose the style for her this weekend! (Enabling: Collar #1. Collar #2 and #3)

I do what bridgie does when a trainer rotates around who is truely at odds with what I do. I have put my foot down firmly once and went to another trainer for back up. That was the man handling for stand for exam and less than 2 weeks later we finally started progressing with it. I rarely man handle into position, it's confuses and scares my dog and makes her resist. So I lure or shape instead at class. I don't take my clicker simply because some of the other dogs are clicker trained so I don't want to distract them. I stick to verbal then and if anyone asks I clarify we use a clicker usually for new commands. For other things I am at odds with I continue our way. I think the trainers are realising we are a "special" case where some things can not be done some ways. Thankfully all mine seem willing to ask questions and encourage doing what works best! Edit. To clarify. I can manhandle my dog, but when it comes to position changing it usually confuses her so she doesn't make the connection that I want her in a specific pose! And my corrections are simply a verbal "try again" marker or a loud oi. I try not to do collar corrections and would never do it with a head halter. But I admit I have gotten frustrated and tried that way in the moment. Much better I walk us off to cool down and try again as when I am considering that she is too far gone (excite or scared) to listen anyway. Edit 2: my class is no where near so bad as to be upsetting to be in in regards to watching others or teachers. There is a preference for praise over corrections and corrections to only be used occasionally. To my relief.

When I was googling yesterday, the chi club page I landed on (it was a contacts list?) did say Heather was the Secretary (and I remember feeling angry that her name was still on it/I couldn't see anything addressing the issue). Could be when people googled the name they also found that (presumably old/not updated then) page? When did Heather stop being the Secretary? Was it when the 2010 information came out? If Chi club enlightens that they did boot her out because of that, it would be awesome. If she had stepped down or switched out for another reason... I'm not sure how breed clubs breeders work, is Heather still a member? Are they (the club) only responding because the media has exploded? If they were proactive and she's not actually a member that's awesome, but if they're just being reactive and only dealing with it because the media is horrified...:/ Well. When the puppy farm is a registered breeder/shower etc. and of this scale, unfortunately those she works with and share the community are going to be tarred with the same brush. I reckon the best thing the real responsible breeders can do right now (from my upset POV, so what would make me feel better personally about breeders involved) is a) condemn the actions of Heather, b) acknowledge that somewhere something went wrong to let this go on so long in their own registrees/councils/clubs/whatever else Heather is a member of c) let people know how they can spot bad breeders who tick the "responsible" boxes and report bad ones*. Certainly not anything that smacks the side of blame shifting/distancing/it's a conspiracy against breeders (hyperbole example) Hoping my meaning makes sense. *in an ideal world this would work, but considering the amount of complaints about Heather I can see why people went to the liberation front to get something done.

Not much good for the dog if they're supposedly "sound" of body but not of mind. Not that many of them seem in good health and the long haired ones where you need to factor in grooming. Those dogs are matted Have they ever been brushed in their life? 4 dead dogs on site?! I don't understand how Dogs Vic or the Chi club were supposedly unaware of all this. This lady has been watched since 2010. I am also mad that it took years for the raid to happen in the first place and that the council she is registered with did nothing after all the complaints. How many times do all these clubs, councils and people need to fail these dogs? How many times does the RSPCA need to visit a breeder before Dogs Vic and Breed club's kick them off the list? This is horrible for all these dogs and all those poor dogs who have come out of it with such a shitty start to life. I hope soon those who can will be set up with new families who can give them the time and patience they need to undo all this person's damage to them. Better lives ahead for them i hope. Here's a new article popping up,article link I hope this person gets all of the bolded. She deserves to be fined and doesn't deserve any future animals Waiting for the full extent of this animal cruelty and irresponsibility to come out, but it will just make me more mad.

How come this person was still registered, and a club secretary and running a kennel when there is public evidence (admittedly hard to findbut I am baffled that it wasn't acted on by the clubs at least) that they're basically a puppy mill? How are you meant to tell good breeders from bad breeders when the bad breeders are Secretarys of clubs and winning shows? Are leaders of clubs not evaluated? Was no-one warning people off buying this person's dogs? This is so incredibly frustrating. I would like to get a second dog in the next year or two, and I am considering some specific breeds, but it's like a minefield to navigate and find true responsible, honest and good breeders! Then there's stuff like this happens and it really damages my trust in the breed clubs that I am getting truthful information on breeders, pedigrees, the breeds. :banghead:

I had to ask a trainer at obedience to do something about a dog that was following along growling and mock lunging at us this Sunday just gone. It was offlead and my dog onlead as we walked around multiuse park practicing heeling. She kept heeling but the dog was getting closer. It was growling barking and fake lunging. It is a multiuse area I was in, not a dog park, but controlled dogs allowed off lead. My trainer managed to chase the dog off but it took a lot of clapping and yelling - it was a determined dog! and the stupid owner was all "dog will be dogs"! That is not an excuse to let his dog follow us and harassing mine! It is incredibly unfair and dangerous for an aggressive dog to make threatening gestures at a constrained dog. If it had gotten closer I would have given it a solid kick in the side. Because you know it will be my dog that gets in trouble if she responds. I will not kick gently either. the cyclist is irresponsible and in the wrong like my stupid irresponsible person. You were right to call them out on it. Just because it's the reality that some ppl disobey rules doesn't mean you should "suck it up". If cyclist doesn't want people being unhappy with their dog they should control it. Especially when they have been asked to recall it and it's acting aggressively. Don't let that cyclist bully you Edit that was meant to be a cranky face for you > : ( Edit 2. And I'm a fan of reporting these types of things. Shitty owners won't learn without rules being enforced. They're the selfish kind to do what they want and damned be others. Places like ovals, multiuse parks, the streets - everyone deserves to enjoy it and not have it monopolised by someone with a rude or aggressive dog. I don't mind the odd mistake or misjudgement (frustrating as it can be to be on receiving end) but when the owners are wilfully irresponsible and continue after bad behaviour is pointed out - they deserve the consequences of a fine or warning or people pointed out to them etc. Edit 3. I have run into offlead dogs in multiuse parks in the city! The mind boggles, no fence, road, strict on lead area. I have hopes to one day take my dog to parks in the city but I am incredibly disheartened by all the lazy and irresponsible people who think they have right to flout rules and make other places unwelcome. If I want to take risks with meeting offleash dogs I go to off leash dog parks or beaches where there is space, both dogs offleash etc. (still cranky for you, in agreement, hours later!)

Khawla Zwida and Michelle Anne Kutzle, "Non- Reproductive Long - Term Health Complications of Gonad Removal in Dogs as Well as Possible Causal Relationships with Post - Gonadectomy Elevated Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Concentrations”. Journal of Etiology and Animal Health (March 2016) Link to article On mobile, too hard to quote abstract. It's in the link.

He's such a gorgeous little man! With his little floppy ears and stylish eyeliner! I'm hoping your weekly diary and reviews will be very helpful

I'm glad you're feeling better! How is the little man? Did you two enjoy your short break? I'm feeling the need for more photos... ;)

This thread has some handy resources! Planning to take my dog there when the snow falls :) http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/258013-snow-day-trip-for-melbourne-dolers/ The poster provided a map further down in the posts.

Thistle gets a B+ on dog beach etiquette! She was pretty excited of course, so right out of the bat she wanted to say hello to everyone so was a bit too intense for a couple of more submissive dogs. I'm never sure what to do then and I don't think she is either so she keeps trying to get them to play which upsets more. One she disengaged herself, the second I removed her using the handle on her harness and she was :confused: and the third she came back after a few calls because the ?puppy? big dog had gone to its owner and she's hmmmm no ppl pls. She also upset a cranky boston. Not sure who growled, they kind of ran at each other head on, someone growled, we helped (other owners and I) to help get them out of the stares and I clapped/oi'd when Thistle tried to follow after the dog. She has like no interest in golden retrievers or labs at the park at all? She likes the small fluffies (GENTLY thank god. She looked like a mountain with 3 or 4 white bichon poodle type things around her. It was hilarious to look at). Got on great with a young white bull arab girl. Who I got to pat, sooo soft and such a good dog. Also a very timid brindle staffie who she lured into chasies but then would not return to us as we kept moving away because new!!! friend!!! She tried and failed to lure various ball chasing BCs into play. You think she'd realise ball dogs don't want to play. She wrenched her own leg trying to tackle Didi and sooked a bit. BC owners laughed. I laughed. But mostly was a very good if slightly enthusiastic puppy who wants to RUN FOREVER. Will hopefully grow out of the need to play with all dogs XD as she is very intense about her approach and misses other dog's cues for personal space also, did not bark at anyone and went quite close to various people. I am trying not to be too harsh on her or lose my temper because these are skills she is late in developing. So i think she did quite well in trying to navigate doggie life :) Plot twist, I brought Cookie (my friend's old kelpie x) along! Cookie gets an A- because she doesn't really listen and potters along doing her own thing. Also she pooped TWICE. Didi and dididog get an A+ and two cookies for being amazing! Hoping one day Thistle can be as settled as Didi and I as calm as Dididog, even though we do not have as frequent dog socialising access (NO WAY would i let thistle loose in the dog parks around here. too many dogs and not enough space...) dididog took most of the photos so I'm waiting eagerly on all of them so here's a video of thistle and didi playing and Cookie thinking about it (she's not much of a rough and tumble girl but she loves to refereee!) ^Video link of all three chasing a ball *edit* Typing at the same time! Monday is soon, hopefully you and Justice can enjoy some chill out time together :) You both deserve a break!

This came out today so no direct link to the study yet. Genomic and archaeological evidence suggests a dual origin of domestic dogs. Science, 2016; 352 (6290): 1228 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaf3161 A link to a an article on the study 2 minutes later the site recommended this study to me :laugh: Cranial Shape and the Modularity of Hybridization in Dingoes and Dogs; Hybridization Does Not Spell the End for Native Morphology. Evolutionary Biology, 2016; DOI: 10.1007/s11692-016-9371-x Link to article, only published recently

Everyone please cross your fingers for Thistle tomorrow! Taking her to the beach again with TWO of her doggie friends as her good examples/leads/playmates

Your heefalumps have a bigger build and more mass I would think XD Thistle is misleadingly narrow. "Oh i'm getting pats and treats???" "HUP!" "I am hup???? oh look kangaroo sticks ok" *nibbles the treats* The power of food and ongoing verbal praise :laugh: Not something she will grow to love, but not a trauma or a concern either :laugh:

I got idea from a TV show on working dogs - they would do things like this to teach the dog to stay calm and just hang limply instead of freaking out. The show was search and rescue dogs strapped to ppl abseiling but I think the broader techniques can be applicable to anyone XD i remember when little my dads GSD X got stuck up a ledge while camping and they couldn't lift her down for some reason. They did eventually get her with a call out and ramps n stuff but I want to minimise things like that. Just making a weird thing less weird for the dog.

Maybe he needs to rotate his training days with not-so-training days? Here you guys go - I realise we are not the most graceful but better to be prepared in teaching her to tolerate random things like being picked up/pulled up etc (for vet, hiking, whatever life throws at us etc) :laugh: Different arms

Definitely! Pics or it didn't happen! Ok! Ok! Tonight!

FYI thistle is hip height and we still get bunny hops. Impatience for treats! ;) And I can carry her in one arm! (For small distances. Like 1 metre. Confidence building exercise XD)

his little floppy ears and worried brow crinkles. he's thinking hard!

Oh my god!!!!! I don't know how to do cheer emoticon on mobile soo 100 cheers! I amd sorry not responding much on this thread I like to give it the 100% attention and this is hard on mobile but 100 cheers!

oh my god, amazing shots!! Gives me ideas for next time Thistle and Didi play.... :laugh: