Scrappi&Monty

Hmm yes. Not to sure. Personally I'd never bother, but I am of course not a first time puppy owner. I know what dog behaviours I like/can deal with and which to avoid so therefore if I ever want another dog I'd just ask the breeder if I was thinking about a breed I didn't know much about yet, or ask the rescue about a particular dog. Tbh I love my vet, but I only go for health things, since of course that's her speciality. So I probably wouldn't ask a vet's advice on buying a pet to be honest. Bit of a waste of money (unless you're just popping in or going for an appointment already.) I suppose it's much better for newbies to do this than blindly purchase a $5000 "designer" breed that turns out to be a naughty, shedding, sickly dog that grows much bigger than expected...! I'd definitely encourage people who are thinking about getting their first dog to talk to all kinds of professionals; dog trainers, animal behaviourists, breeders, vets, pet shop people, dog savvy neighbours & friends, rescue groups/foster carers, vet nurses, and people at dog shows (like the dog lover's show or something)

That doesn't sound like it fits your pup quite right. Maybe take her to the shop you got it from to get them to check the fit on her. As PK said, the Ruffwear harnesses are AWESOME! Probably not a good idea for a growing pup as they are quite expensive (but very adjustable) but they're definitely great for fully grown dogs. I managed to score 2 for $20 each on Gumtree about a year ago which was a bargain! (RRP around $65) But they're good because they're sturdy and great quality, and they have that front clip and the back clip too, but they don't impede movement like the gentle leader types can. If you need a no-pull harness that won't impede movement, maybe try out a Sporn no pull harness... we had one for Scrappi and it worked well. I prefer the ruffwear ones though since they seem to be much more comfortable. Best of luck!

Some really lovely photos

I had a google... maybe this might help? http://www.poodleforum.com/5-poodle-talk/6191-bad-black-vs-blue-2.html#/topics/6191?page=1 The dog in question looks sort of similar to yours. http://arpeggiopoodles.tripod.com/poodlecoatcolorsblueandblack.html

I don't know much about poodles but I'd say that's either 'blue' or 'silver' or some other variant of a dilute black

The other day I saw a lady dragging a branch behind her and for a second I thought it was a dog hahaha. Once I saw an NRMA and I misread it as RSPCA for a second. Oops

I also use wait for all of those commands too haha. I'm so inconsistent oops! But they get what I mean so... edit: i also just realised I use stay for not going through the door, and stop for stopping at the curb before crossing. I'm so bad!! Eek

In our house: - Drop = drop whatever is in your mouth. Usually used in games. Scrappi is still terrible at this despite being 8yo. Monty is good at drop. - 'Leave it' turned into a number of things... I taught it my placing a treat on the ground, covering it with my hand and when they leave it, sit & look at you, mark & reward. Then uncover it for a bit, and increase time etc. Use high value treats and low value treats for the food on the floor at first, working your way up. I think I got the method off Zak George or Kikopup on YouTube. Sorry for terrible explanation! I don't use leave it for: * Leave food I've dropped in kitchen (if they are naughty & come in) * Wait/leave their dinner until I say okay. * Leave gross things on the footpath ("leave it" and keep briskly walking away) * Leave that person or dog alone if they are fascinated by them & trying to pull or something rude.

I have a book called What The Dog Knows, and it is about cadaver dogs and their handlers. The author bought a Shepherd puppy thinking it would be quiet like their old shepherd but it was full of drive so she had to get into sports and she took up cadaver, it was very interesting so far! I haven't finished it, I got a bit busy and side tracked

I can't remember but they've taken the ad off now. They didn't know DOL even existed and they didn't know they had those options so they were grateful for the info I'm always on the lookout to help dogs haha!

I did! Probably only really from watching "Send In The Dogs" though (the police dog show)

I sent them a message advising them to contact the breeder or to get in touch with a local rescue group where they can go into foster care until a forever home can be found.

I'm not sure if this particular breeder was a good idea they seemed to have a fair few dogs already? Not sure though.

Hi all, just saw an ad pop up from Gumtree, there is someone rehoming their staffy. Purebred ANKC registered etc. Owner is moving & rehoming dog and has put the kennel name on the listing (not sure if I should say it on here, am I allowed to??) Just thinking should I advise the owner to contact the breeder? I found the breeder on DOL and they breed staffords and French bulldogs. Owners are giving it away for free, and I know the general advice that DOLers give to those needing to rehome is to contact the breeder, but I'm not sure if the breeder is a particularly good option?

check out the Instagram here: (the really sensitive images are covered unless you click on them) @animalhopeandwellness

If you can bear it, here's the thing regarding Yulin/Dog meat trade that I was trying to find the other day. They are asking for volunteers to foster the tormented little souls which they managed to rescue from Yulin. I think it's in the USA though. I'm not sure if I could.... I want to help, but I'm not sure if I'd want to/be able to bear it. But is that extremely selfish? I don't know. Anyway, this man named Marc has sacrificed his life. He goes undercover to dog meat farms and secretly assesses the situation while pretending to be a rich buyer. He risks his life and tries to save at least as many dogs as he can get away with. This man has seen it all, I haven't been keeping up with it because it makes me so upset (is it awful to turn a blind eye?) but he has witnessed the torture, not able to do anything about it for fear of blowing his cover, he has rescued newborn dying puppies from drowning in mud, he has seen dogs that were tortured in awful awful ways. He is definitely not in a healthy way mentally, from what I've read he has extremely bad depression, can't sleep properly, and doesn't get to spend time with his family because he is sacrificing his life to shut down the dog meat trade. It's too late to turn back now, I'm not sure if he could... The group along with Chinese activists recenty intercepted a truck filled with cramped cages, there were approx 1300 dogs on that truck and they managed to save them. "Chinese activists intercepted a truck carrying over 1200-1300 dogs yesterday in Guangzhou. The truck was spotted on the highway and the intercept made. Hundreds of activists stormed the truck after the intercept with police arriving and taking custody of the dogs. After a ten hour stand off, the police allowed the truck to be taken in and off loaded at a shelter in Guangzhou. These dogs were headed to Yulin, where this year thousands have already been killed, with more on their way into the city for the "festival." We honour and thank the Chinese activists and people, who are standing up everyday to fight for these animals. They freed these dogs from bondage. And in the end, it is they that need to push for legislation in order to change things. For people who want to support these dogs the donations should be made directly to the rescuers with local shelters themselves - who are taking in the dogs. Not to international groups now claiming to be involved in the rescue but were not. Currently these dogs are at a shelter in Guangzhou, where they are being released from slaughter cages. Being given food and water, and will be divided amoungst local groups with shelters to make caring for the liberated possible"

Hmm. Not sure how I feel about that. Great that he's feeling better, but before that tbh I think it was cruel to keep him around in pain just sleeping most of the day away. I've been keeping updated about a foster puppy on Instagram, he was dumped after he got into his owner's stash of cannabis when he was only a few weeks old and got poisoned. Now he will suffer seizures for the rest of his life unless they figure out the correct medicine dosage. (I saw someone in the comments suggest cannabis oil.... that's what made him sick in the first place )

Just read this article about the Bassett hounds (working vs show) Quite interesting (and sad) (sorry basset owners but....) I think the working bassetts are nice looking dogs, I'd probably actually own one of those. The show ones are so sad looking, they just look uncomfortable in all aspects! http://pedigreedogsexposed.blogspot.com.au/2011/10/wrinkled-skin-no-legs-and-willies-that.html?m=1

True. we have a back lane and people tend to walk their dogs down there. Every 10mins it seems the dogs are rushing up the back to see the other dogs. It's funny though, some people/dogs they don't care about and just let them go past, others they get super excited for*, and others they get territorial and grumpy! They can tell who's coming before they're even in sight! *Off topic, but it's so cute. Monty is dog reactive on walks, but he never does the same thing when dogs are walking past his yard but there's a lovely lady who owns one of my dogs' best friends, she walks him with a muzzle on so I assume he's nervous/reactive with either humans or dogs too, I haven't ever had the chance to have a proper chat, but it's so sweet because the two dogs who are reactive and anxious normally are really calm and happy when they see one another!

Yes it alarmed me when I looked at some pics of some of the show rotties... some of them have such short muzzles! I'm not too knowledgeable on Rottweilers as although they are lovely they are way too big for me at the moment, so I thought they had reasonable length snouts. I know they have a big boofhead but I didn't know that people were breeding Rottweilers for shorter muzzles too

You're welcome re the books. I was accidentally pushed over and chased by the lovely little dog next door when I was a toddler. She was apparently a really sweet gentle thing but she didn't really know how to act around kids and I didn't know how to act around dogs. I think I instinctively ran, and she instinctively chased! Then got crash tackled haha. Left me with quite the fear when I was little. Parents were overly confident I think, they grew up around dogs their whole life. Dad told me the other day one day when he was only 4yo he was playing out on the street with his dog, another loose dog came by and they didn't like each other and had a bit of a tiff. He saw his best buddy being bitten by another dog so he just went in to help and of course got bitten too! Didn't phase him though haha!

I just read it... so heartbreaking!!

We feed usually chicken bones (drummies, wings, feet or something) as all the other bones I can get at my Woolworths and butchers seem way too hard & sharp and I don't trust my dogs not to try to eat the bone. Vet always says my dogs' teeth are good, last time "I think his are cleaner than mine!" Which I think is pretty good going for an 8yo. I need to buy some bones this week, they haven't had a bone for about a fortnight! (Oops) Maybe keep feeding the bones, but also get one of the dog toothbrushes and use that too?

When I was a little girl I was afraid of dogs, and was quite nervous around them til I was about 8yo. Which is weird because now I'm a crazy dog lover haha! I know you said she can be a little timid around them, and isn't too scared, but it still would be a good idea to get your little girl some picture books about dog body language and how to behave around dogs etc. So she can boost her confidence (and excitement) before your new dog comes home https://www.librarything.com/work/2774161 Probably a bit too grown up: https://www.dogwise.com/ItemDetails.cfm?ID=dtb1029 I haven't seen this one before but could be good. https://www.amazon.com/Childrens-book-Learn-Behavior-Collection-ebook/dp/B00BFYGAE0 I think a lab puppy would be too boisterous, our cousins just bought a lab puppy in January and he is exhaustingly boisterous, I'm not sure if most lab puppies are like this though. Perhaps you could contact some rescue groups who could find one of their dogs or pups that they know would be fitting, some of the foster carers have their own kids so they know whether or not the dogs are well behaved with kids. Someone mentioned a corgi... our corgi x was a great dog growing up! My Dad got a corgi x kelpie for his 2nd birthday (that was a while ago... not something I'd recommend) but he was so good with them apparently. They do like to herd though... if your daughter and her friends like running around and squealing, or if they try to run away in fright, a corgi will chase them. Terriers could be good too! Or a sweet laid back staffy, our boy is a big love bug with people. Whichever breed, it will need to have been tested with kids (or grow up with yours). You will need to teach it not to jump up or nip if it tries to. Also important to teach your girl not to share food with pup/drop food, and teach the dog not to steal food. (Also 'leave it') When you're little, you're a bit of a target for dogs snatching goodies right out of your hand

He was ok for a while, but the seizures came back today I saw on her Instagram