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Post by grizabella on Aug 23, 2012 0:33:59 GMT -5
I can't believe how quickly it arrived! I'll definitely be using that online shop again for my canine related online shopping.
I've just looked on the website and they're not selling them anymore... maybe Bella got the last one!
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Post by Gazinghound on Aug 28, 2012 0:33:00 GMT -5
Whew, that was incredibly lucky!! =D I love getting the last of something awesome...just like one of my rare Douglas brand plush Poodles. *hugs*
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Post by grizabella on Sept 3, 2012 23:30:24 GMT -5
   photo uploadBella's other harness arrived, and so far it seems to be reducing her pulling on the lead (yay!). It's all lovely and fleecy, it looks very comfy.  She had an interesting walk this morning, displaying her whole socially awkward repertoire. Upon getting to the grassy reserve (which often has several dogs around, so it usually requires a lot of encouragement to convince her to go over) she was unusually keen, and seemed to be enjoying herself. When another dog turned up (looked a lot like a Flat coated retriever, but also a bit spaniel-ish, very cute) she had a usual growl and grumble, until he rushed over to her in a friendly greeting, at which point Bella hid behind me cowering with her tail between her legs. She then spent the rest of the walk desperate to go over and play with the other dog. I think she desperately wants to make doggy friends, she's just rather shy and needs to refine her technique! |
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Post by Gazinghound on Sept 4, 2012 1:42:49 GMT -5
Oh my, that plus the new collar are the perfect combo! STYLIN'! She looks really pleased with it, too. =) Ahh, I knew a harness would be effective--I mean, if it can get Rusty to be a walkable dog who doesn't insist on strangling himself to death, then they can help any dog! XD
A Flattie/spaniel looks in my mind like a really cute combination. ^^
Bella sounds a little bit Fluttershy-like, poor girl. Aww. I'm sure she'll eventually improve her social skills and overcome it to the point where she can make friends more easily, as long as she wants to. Ullie doesn't like being rushed by strangers, either. Boisterous, jumpy ones get her dander up, and she tries to get as far away from them as possible. Unfortunately, that's just the way a lot of dogs are, and it's tough to stop them in a place where they're unrestrained...:/ Overly friendly. The Pinkie Pie Syndrome again. Say, maybe the Pinkie coat will impart greater social courage and friendliness to her, lol.
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Post by grizabella on Sept 4, 2012 5:42:16 GMT -5
Bella has improved a lot, to start with it was almost impossible to walk her at all because she was so nervous. Often we wouldn't get to the end of the street before I'd have to carry her home as she'd just freeze. Now, her only issue on walks is other dogs, and even in that respect she's improved. Here's a cool Saluki-ish link: www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/profiles/saluki.aspA lot of the Salukis showing in Australia are listed on here, Bella's sire and three sisters (the ones in Australia) have profiles on here, along with two of Bella's half-siblings and a few other rellies as well. I'll probably become a member and add Bella to the site at some point.  |
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Post by Gazinghound on Sept 4, 2012 20:33:48 GMT -5
Oh, good!--little by little, she's getting it. That's a really cool site! Hm, next time I see Ulla's "other family" I should ask them about adding our dogs to such a directory. |
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Post by grizabella on Sept 9, 2012 20:33:55 GMT -5
I recently acquired a beautiful Saluki figurine, it's from the 'Leonardo Collection' (UK), I think they can come in fawn as well. So pretty!  |
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Post by Gazinghound on Sept 10, 2012 1:54:09 GMT -5
It is glorious. I have a veeery similar figurine saved in my pics, but now that I look at it again, it's not exactly the same one. I don't even remember where I found it, heheh. Maybe it was just an image search or some such thing...
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Post by grizabella on Sept 13, 2012 7:39:17 GMT -5
Hellooooo!!!  upload photoBella the little ratbag has had a naughty few days, chewing on things she shouldn't (I have a holey toy cheetah to show for it) and digging lovely holes in the garden. It's a good thing I love her and have a good sense of humour! She's had some playdates booked in but they keep getting postponed.  I was rather annoyed as I couldn't go to the Royal Adelaide Show when the Salukis were on as I had work. I think I'll enter Bella next year, it's by far the biggest show in South Australia, it's over two weeks and is a benched show with international judges. I thought it would be a bit too much for her this year, but I think in a year's time we'll be ready. Good practice for if we ever decide to give Crufts a go if we're living in the UK! |
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Post by Gazinghound on Sept 15, 2012 21:33:25 GMT -5
Tsk, tsk, tsk--you sound like Jackie now, Bella! Together you two would cause mass destruction! All our pups sure are lucky we love them so much and that they're too adorable or pretty to stay angry at for too long.
Somepuppy was naughty by messing in the house twice over the past week, and we can't figure out whether it was Jack, Ulla, or both. Nopuppy would own up to it, so I guess we'll never know. -_o
For a day or two it seemed that Ullie was going to start the 'nesting' phase again, as she was following my mom and me around and acting uncharacteristically clingy, always standing next to or behind us. But now she seems to be more or less back to normal, so fingers crossed that it stays this way.
Wow, that show sounds awesome...I wonder why I've never heard of it! Two weeks? That's crazy cool--and long! (Although I figure that if the major kennel clubs continue to recognize a few new breeds each year, the average length of shows will eventually have to extend further and further, making almost all shows even bigger deals than they already are.) Westminster is the last benched show held in this country, I believe...which helps it retain its sense of being special, more formal and prestigious. I think it'll be amazing if my friends and I enter some of our dogs in it...I've never actually attended the show, and it miiiight be our last chance if we ended up spaying Ullie before the 2014 one. In which case we'd pretty much have to have decided to stop showing her at all. Anyway, sounds like it'll be an excellent experience--if a tad overwhelming! But yes, great practice for the mighty Crufts! ^o^
On another interesting doggie note, I spied a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog out for a walk today. He was on the same street in the same town where I’d found the Saluki last year (the only one I’ve ever seen just out walking randomly.) What a town for uncommon breeds! He was near a grooming salon with two fancy Greyhound statues in the window, too. :3
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Post by grizabella on Sept 16, 2012 2:45:56 GMT -5
Fingers crossed no more nesting for Ulla! I think most states in Australia have a Royal show, they're a bit like our version of a mini Crufts, there's other dog sports as well. They're a small part of big agricultural shows, which also have lots of rides and things as well. A lot of fun! www.theshow.com.au/showground/royal-adelaide-show/royal-adelaide-show-home.jspThat would be really super if you could do Westminster, what an experience it would be! How lovely, I don't think there are any Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs in Australia at all, are they quite rare in the US? Maybe you should hang around that town and go dog-spotting! We've just had a Keeshond move in next door, as yet I've been too shy to say hello, partially because I'm not 100% sure how the breed name is pronounced! I've also met some lovely Golden Retrievers recently, I do miss having GR cuddles. |
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Post by Gazinghound on Sept 17, 2012 0:26:57 GMT -5
Ooh, sounds just like a county fair! That would be so exciting! Looks fantastic. I also like the shows such as Crufts that combine many dog events into one. I wish Westminster were like that, actually. I understand that they're finally moving it out of Madison Square Garden after all these years, because the venue simply became too cramped for all of the dogs and people. So it'll be in some new building that's got more space for the benching areas. I think I'll check in with my friends and find out whether they're thinking about entering anyone there. Oh wow, none at all? Yeah, Swissies are definitely rare here, too. You may see the occasional Bernese Mountain Dog walking around, as their popularity has been on the rise (I saw one in NYC once)...but none of the other three Swiss mountain breeds are at all likely to be seen. I was going to shout out my window and ask, "Greater Swiss?" to confirm, but traffic was lousy, and they got away from me. Now I know Westfield's a great town for dog-hunting, though! ;D A Kees neighbor! That's awesome! I've never seen one of them outside of a show or Meet the Breeds, either. Our newest neighbors in Clark have a big German Shepherd, I think, although we've hardly seen him because their fence is so tall and opaque. I just hear him talking to Rusty sometimes, lol. Keeshond is pronounced like "KAYZ-und," btw. Hope you guys can get to know him/her. ^^ Aww, Goldens can be so huggly and sweet; there was one at the Harley-Davidson shop where I took a motorcycle safety course (the first one that I, er, didn't pass, heheh.) What a friendly CUTIE. He just wanted me to pet him all afternoon instead of practicing. |
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Post by grizabella on Sept 17, 2012 19:44:55 GMT -5
There were a couple of Goldens at Chimp Eden, and admittedly having GR cuddles over breakfast was almost as big a highlight as hanging out with the chimps! Just lovely dogs, I think I will have another one day.
Back on Salukis, Miss Stinker-Bel was a very good girl and slept right through last night, it's been a while since she's done that!
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Post by Gazinghound on Sept 18, 2012 0:17:31 GMT -5
;D Good thing Goldens are so popular! You get to see quite a bit of them. =D
Hooray!
Ulla's been kind of lethargic and puked a couple of times, but today the neighbors had a big noisy volleyball game in the backyard, and little Lady Belle was out there yapping and running...so she joined the boys out there all afternoon and they all tired themselves out. Guess she isn't feeling TOO bad. Almost time for another vet visit for everypuppy, too.
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Post by grizabella on Sept 23, 2012 21:43:24 GMT -5
I do hope Ulla's feeling better now, sounds like Lady Bella cheered her up at any rate. We have a little brag, on Saturday Bella entered two shows, both times the only bitch entered, and was awarded two 6 point Challenge Certificates!  The dog (a stunningly gorgeous fellow) won Best of Breed at both shows. Bella was such a good girl and she really seems to be starting to enjoy showing a lot. She's realized that it isn't actually all that scary. I've done a wee write up in my blog: salukibel.blogspot.com.au/ Bella by panGH, on Flickr I've ordered her a couple of new toys for her efforts (and because most of the ones she has now are getting to the point of needing replacing). So she's got a new Kong Snugga Wubba (she's had one before and LOVED it) and a Skinneez leopard- whoever invented these no-stuffing cuddly toys for dogs is a genius, they're such good fun and don't result in a fluffy stuffing snowstorm! I ordered her goodies from the same place I ordered her harness from, so expect it will arrive very quickly. |
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The dog (a stunningly gorgeous fellow) won Best of Breed at both shows. Bella was such a good girl and she really seems to be starting to enjoy showing a lot. She's realized that it isn't actually all that scary.