Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

  Oh Jane, I'm so sorry the taxman spoilt your excitment over your new bear  :hug:  :hug:   Give it some time, I'm sure you'll be happy with it and forget about the added costs.   

:crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:   Soooo, I wasn't the only one in need of chocolate last night?       :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:

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I've never seen this one before ~ but its brilliant!!!!  Can't quit laughing!!!  Not very friendly...imagine that!      :crackup:  :crackup:

:crackup:   Good thing no neighbors, eh?  But a clever idea     

Actually when a dog's in a hunting mode, the brain really does seem to slip out the left ear.  You can kiss off calling to it at that point.  Science will back me ( discovered this whilst dog grooming for a profession), dogs can turn off their aural nerves.  Meaning that 'brainless barking'?  really IS brainless barking...and you're hearing it, but the dog's not at all!      

The Halti is a wonderful invention in my books.     Babies might be a bit confused (but they are about everything), and Joe Public will want to know why your dog's wearing a 'muzzle', but Halti's work on the same principle as a horse's halter....where the head goes, the rest will follow...and might be easier for her to learn.

One thing I will NOT recommend at this point is some form of harnessing.  I know this seems gentler at this stage, but Berners were originally used as drafting dogs.  The last thing you want to teach her is to pull against you at this point.  She needs to learn be it a slip/choke collar, or the Halti. 

Pinch collars can also be used to great affect, but after seeing pics of your girl, I know she's large, but I don't feel you'll get the best result from that collar with her.  They are intended for very large, very insensitve to their handler type dogs....and she's nowhere near there yet. 

I know its hard, but really, she is only a baby yet.  Give her time, forgive her mistakes, reward when it seems she's trying what you'd like...you've so much time together.  I know the first year is really hard for everybody, but once she's a well adjusted member of the family, you'll look back and have a hard time remembering it otherwise.  She'll really be worth it   

   I felt so sad about his mum, but was elated they've managed to save the little tyke.  He looks like a strong one     Thanks for sharing the story Tami!!  :hug:

   Best of luck with your contest!!!  :hug:

  It killed so many of our dogs and cats here in the US, before melamine (normally used in plastics, and as fertilizer) was discovered in the dog and cat foods. And I might add, it was found from high dollar 'quality' vet certified foods right through the bargain brands.

It would seem that China did not learn its lesson. And neither did the world. The corporations who need to dump this stuff simply slipped it into the dairy products. Surfacing first in infant formula (can you imagine?!      How can these people sleep at night?!) Now candys utilizing the milk products are coming up tainted as well.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081001/ap_ … y_melamine

I realize it may or may not have reached the UK/Europe yet, but please take care. Tainted candy has reached the US, and in Asia...I'd be watchful in Oz as well.  Nestle and Cadbury both have been admant its not in their products, but they are having people coming forth and saying otherwise. Better to be safe than sorry!

Seek your sweettooths from something made in your own country for the time being.   As for me, I'll pass on my chocs for awhile.      I have enough kidney troubles as it is!

When you do the pop and release method, its just that... a pop and then the chain slips back open.  Are you sure you have it on correctly?  (I don't mean to make it sound like you haven't a clue, but some people don't know).  With the dog sitting facing you, make a loop with the choke chain in the shape of a P, then slip it over her head.  This way when you walk with her on your lefthand side, the collar will slip properly, and not get stuck.

Also be sure that the choker is of the correct size to slip.  She's young, so she does not need the clunky big links (in fact, I totally dislike those, as it messes up the 'slip' of a real choker).  Even though she's a pup and has finer hair, as she gets older, she'll need a strong but finer link in order to snake through that hair properly.

Lastly, she's only young yet.  I realize you want to nip this in the bud, though.  I HIGHLY recommend puppy classes!!  And instead of popping her as she forges ahead of you, do a sharp left turn.  I hated this one, but it taught my Irish setter when nothing else would, and stopped a lot of the forging habits she suddenly developed as a teen.  They begin to realize they have to watch you (and no talking from you either....when you're training, you give the command ONCE, then carry on.  Do as many corrections as you need, but only give the command the once after their name). 

And again...she's only young yet.  So many things, try to correct her as gently as you can.  Place your hand on her chest as you're walking forwards, or again, do the left turns ...she'll catch on.  Keep things short and end on a good note     I found with my Setter, we sailed through the 'terrible teens' because we were doing so much obedience work and teamwork stuff.  We skipped the whole dominance thing because daily I was asking her to do stuff with me and for me, and it was natural that she took me for Alpha.  I highly recommend the gentle walks and obedience/puppy socializations.   :clap:

:clap:   Too cool!!!!  Get that camera out!!!  :photo: 

My thoughts exactly Lynette!      I know going through the 'guilt' is part of working through the stages, but honestly, be glad you were at Hugglets instead of at home.  There's nothing that says they wouldn't have stopped.  And I for one am happy you and your family were safe  :hug:  Things can be replaced....its so much harder when people get hurt...and in this case, no one was.   :hug:

So no, not one kick up the bum ~ unless its to get you started on your next bear     And kudos to your hubby      His heart's in the right place.     :clap:

:crackup:   You stinker!  You had me up all last night looking at pics of Berner puppies!  Naughty!!! 

Repeat after me...I cannot have another critter, I cannot have another critter, I cannot have another critter      :crackup:

:clap:  :clap:   How lovely!!!  Easy to navigate, and very inviting too.  I'm so glad she's sailing forwards in her teddy bear dreams!    :clap:

:crackup:   Little bear....I know exactly how you feel 

:crackup:  :crackup:   Go Kathy Go!!!  I ADORE your Pandora!!!  Oooh, I'm so tempted to just swoop over and bid on her...     What a statement!!  And what a gorgeous, gorgeous bear  :clap:  :clap:  :clap: 

Ooooh, I just SO want to kiss him right on the bridge of the nose     What a gorgeous boy!!!  And you're doing a fantastic job keeping him healthy and happy at his age  :clap:   Its a lot harder on the bigger ones, but he looks wonderful 

Oooh, oooh!!!  If we do Monkey World ~ I wanna be an orangutan!!!!      :dance:   

Dearest Jane, block this person's emails if you can, and listen to your friends on here.  I think someone's trolling at this point...and they are taking up your valuable energies and love.   :hug:  :hug:  :hug:   Ignore them and put a smile on your face.  Hug n kiss your doggies and know you make all of us happy with your 'parties'    :bday:  :dance:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

  I've always wanted a Bernese Mountain Dog!!!     Dakota is such a cute little girlie!!!     Well, she's soon to be a big girlie, but I'm sure she'll always be 'your little girl' 

Daphne, its the quality of life you go by.      It Tucker says its still all good, then its most definitely all good.  LOL, glad to hear the drugs are slowing down some of his hyper for you    :hug:

...Phew!!!... REALLY REALLY pleased you've both come through it unscathed!!!  :dance:  :hug:  :hug:   

Talk about timing, though!  Congratulations for your first Ebay auction, and only too happy your power wasn't out too terribly long  :hug:

  Oh bless his heart!!!  But its for his own good, just keep telling yourself that each time you have to do it.  He'll be better in notime  :hug:

I've been voting for Kellissa each and every day     Keep up the reminders for us!!   :clap:   I've passed along her link to my small circle of friends.  They tend to be small, but very tenacious when it comes to votes like this  :crackup: 

Awwhhh...that little one can follow me home anyday! 

Hold on tightly!!!  :hug:   I just saw the weather forecasts for Hurricane Kyle.  I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that it remains mild and delivers only a touch of rain.   :hug:

Lovely!!!  :clap:   We had some lilies pop up the other day.  Much like yours they were 'naked', but no where near as pretty as yours.

:crackup:  Can you imagine him in baggage??  A boy's true dream getting to see all the mechanics of a plane firsthand     Looks like he's had loads of fun on his planetrip.   

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The amazing thing is ....these sea otters are HUGE!!!    I never realized til I went to visit one at an exhibit.      His head was larger than mine!  And he was almost taller than me at over 5 feet long!