House Rules... kind of

Going coastal

We're in the midst of planning a coastal wedding for October this year which has meant many a roadtrip down South with our faithful fur-babies in tow.

 

A few weekends ago we were off again with a full itinerary of appointments and a Jeep loaded up with two excited cattle dogs.

 

 

 

Our first stop was in Ulladulla, NSW at a lovely coffee shop called Boardwalk Cafe, from the outside it looked like a normal sidewalk cafe - nice but normal... However they also have a back entrance which opens up onto a courtyard that overlooks the water.. it is also dog friendly!!!! We had a lovely time, met the establishment dog who came over straight away to greet our two, and another beagle who was enjoying the morning sunshine! (We felt very special as we'd been told that he usually ignores the other dogs and let's them come to him!!) Belle tried to convince us she was human and jumped onto the bench, but she was quickly removed!

 

 

 

the resident dog... what looked like a blue heeler cross

After this the dogs went for a walk along Mollymook Beach whilst we were in our first meeting (with their paternal grandparents, not alone don't worry!!), then into the Jeep and onto Milton.

 

It was a brief stop at our cake makers home, where we met her border collie and our pups enjoyed the country surrounds of fresh air and serenity before our final pit stop in Lake Conjola. Here they met another friend, a chi/maltese/poodle who had a big personality and wanted to have a good play with the big dogs.

 

After all this the pups were ready to call it a day with just one more visit to the beach on the way home.. and this time a swim was not to be escaped!!!

 

On the Sunday morning we went for a long bush walk around Malua Bay, before one more quick frolic on the beach and then onwards to home.

 

The dogs were so exhausted but had had a lovely time meeting new friends and finding new dog friendly places along the way.

 

Don't let a pet stop you traveling - in our experience they love coming along!!

 

Forever love your dog,
Emma

The Fetch Fiends

As has been previously mentioned here on the blog our two working dogs are fetch mad. To the point where Occa can turn anything into a fetch toy. Husband to be took off his socks last night after work and Occa started carting them around dropping them at our feet, he's even used a toy spanner as a fetch toy before...
 

With all this it is safe to say that as a family we need to have a constant supply of appropriate fetch items for playtime. Our Kong Flyer is great (reviewed previously), but we've started really getting into combination walks where we as humans also get some exercise, so having a smaller fetch toy has become more important. Enter the 'high bounce Spalding ball.'

 

 

A ball intended for things such as handball and general horseplay it's not one you'd immediately think of when searching for a dog toy. Well it is fabulous. It's hard rubber surface, which makes it a great bouncer, also gives it a strong defense against blue heeler teeth whilst being soft enough not to knock any of them out. It's also easier to fit into a standard ball thrower, lighter so it goes further and seems to hurt less when it accidently hits them!
 

It's also an amazing price at only a few dollars per ball from your local sports store. 

 

The only problem we've had with them is losing them down drains, in long grass or at sea..

 

 

Definitely one for a fetch fiend.

Forever love your dog,
Emma

Tackling Mt Taylor



Being practically born and bred Canberran the bush has long been my backyard. One of my favourite childhood haunts which has no become a favourite exercise regime in my adult years is the infamous (for Canberra anyway) Mount Taylor Reserve.

 

Mount Taylor is Canberra's second highest peak at an impressive 856 metres and is one of the most well known mountains in the Canberra region. A popular walking mecca for families, horse-riders, hikers, exercise enthusiaists and of course my dog lover comrades it is always a good place to meet like minded folks and socialize your pup of and weekend morning. Note - if you're not feeling up to and by sort of socialization I would avoid this area due to its popularity! !! 

There are several different routes up the mountain depending on which suburb you are keen to start from. I regularly take the curving path from Chifley, or the steep path from Torrens. Only a couple of times have I taken the fire truck path from Chifley as it is killer!!!! 

A few weekends ago we went out with the family and started walking from the Chifley suburbs, took the curving path and headed on up. We then went back down the curving path and went back via Chifley Shops for a coffee and some ball time. 

The path features a few break points which are great photo opportunities, and we also met the friendly neighborhood dog water carrier on the way up. A lovely gentlemen who carries 2L of water on his back to keep the bowl on the top of the mountain full!! The world needs more selfless people like him - he's a hoot! 

  

At the top, taking a well deserved break.

Belle basking in the warmth of the sun.

The dog bowl at the top which is refilled regularly by a friendly neighbor. 

Towards the end of the walk Belle trod on a thorn and decided she needed to be fireman carried for a little while. Her daddy happily obliged. 

All in all we did an 11km walk in two hours, which was enough to tire the pups out for the afternoon. Usually the route up the mountain only takes us an hour round trip.. but our stop at Chifley Shops was well worth the extra time.

 

Forever love your dog,

 

Emma

Rescued dogs or rescued humans..

This is our story. ♡

I have always had pets growing up and dogs were always a starring part in that cohort. I've loved animals since I can remember, but dogs have always held a special place in my heart because their capacity of emotion is remarkably similar to our own. They have good days, bad days, tired days and social days. They have friendship cliques and other dogs they dislike or mistrust, they understand minute differences in human emotion and movement and overwhelmingly come across rather human (despite the fur and lack of English).

Three years ago, I was desperate to add a little furry member to our family, and Husband (to be in October) whilst not immediately amenable to the plan was quite open to considering a written proposal. I think he only said this and never considered I would actually do it! But determined I was, and I came through on the written proposal for Occa. There were several reasons I cited for the merit of my idea, including the psychological links to reduced depression, greater happiness and overall increased healthiness.

Early on in our dog discussions, Husband had mentioned he wanted a dog that he could exercise with and be active with.. I had owned a border collie in my childhood and loved them, but we thought the fur would be too much maintenance for us and therefore had stumbled upon the breed of Australian Cattle Dog. The amount of research I did once deciding on the breed was insane.. I was a little like a woman possessed. I knew everything possible one could know about a breed of dog they didn't yet own (something that helped immensely once we brought Occa home!)which led me to stumbling across the Australian Cattle Dog Rescue based in Sydney, Australia.

We were lucky enough to have enquired at the same time as a pregnant bitch being rescued and after much convincing we put down our deposit for our little boy. 

After meeting the litter it was love at first sight with Occa. Once we saw him,  we could take no other pup. He was only 7 and a half weeks when he came home and he looked like a little bear cub.

The first few months were a little rocky.. we were just becoming new pup parents and it admittedly took us a while to comprehend how much the term 'velcro dog' applies to cattle dogs. We tried to have Occa sleep in the laundry but it was just too difficult. . Once we had him in our room we never ever looked back. We are a pack and our room is the pack den. Precisely how Occa always knew it should be.

Occa; the first day we met him! 

7 or 8 months after Occa came home, we saw Belle's face on the Pet Rescue Web page and she stole our hearts. We thought we were ready for another fur baby and that Occa was keen for a friend
... and luckily we were right!

Belle's picture from the Rescue website

We've had our ups and our downs (one being a time where Belle chewed the wiring loom of Husband's car the day before it was to be sold) but we're a family. Occa and Belle have made us a family and in a way that only a dog could, encourage us to be better people everyday. We exercise everyday because of their need and passion for a daily run, every time we fight Occa sits in front of us staring us with his big brown eyes willing us to stop and no matter how you feel after a long day they are always,  ALWAYS happy to see you. Their love is neverending,  all encompassing and unbelievably honest.

They are constantly giving, so remember; to you they are one part of your world,  but you are their entire world. Be deserving of that love and take that energy with you in all aspects of your life.

Forever love your dog,
Emma

Our beautiful goof-balls

Obsession. .

Do any of your dogs have a particular obsession?

Recently we were at my parents house and they'd bought a lovely snuggle rug for Lucy to use on the couch. It's beautiful, fluffy and so cozy.

I decided I wanted one for myself.. However unfortunately I was weak the first few times and allowed Occa to snuggle with me on this beauty of a snuggle rug.. and there started his obsession.

We tend to leave our things out of their reach while we're out at work, and usually they're so good and don't even bother to try and snaffle any items.. but this rug was too tempting. First day left alone,  I come home and the rug is splayed out on the ground.. 

I perservered though determined to keep this rug to myself..

The next night it was sitting on the human side of the couch (the dogs know the difference yes), but Occa just wouldn't settle. He kept pacing in front of the couch, staring at the snuggle rug and nudging it. Eventually,  partially from exasperation and party an experiment, I moved the rug to the dog side of the couch.. within mere seconds Occa was on the rug and asleep. I checked on him once through the night and he hadn't moved!!! It was at this point I decided to give my rug over to him.

So I bought a second rug, determined to keep this one for myself!

Thinking it would be safe in its wrapping it was accidentally left in the living room this week whilst we went to work and low and behold.. I come home to the rug packaging all over the house and the rug nestled in a nest shape on the ground. Perfect, unmarked, but definitely cuddled in. This was just too hilarious! 

That he was so careful to not rip the rug whilst removing it from the packaging reveals the true extent of his obsession. 

Now we've reached a stage where my rug is kept in a separate room and his is nestled on the couch.. but if his sister dare be on it she'll either be sat on (as caught below) or glared at... 

Aaaah the hilarity! 

Do any of your dogs have similar obsessions?

Forever love your dog,
Emma

Occa the Prince,  with his snuggle rug. ♡

Weekend Adventures

Whew! What a weekend we have just had! A real bonanza of canine adventures.

Saturday.

The pups and I went for a walk around Yarralumla with Mum, Dad & Lucy (Lucy & co. ). We started near CSIRO, walked around the Golf Course, then along the side of the lake and finally back through the streets of Yarralumla.

Yarralumla is  one of my favorite suburbs, with the tree lined streets and huge sidewalks it is a suburban dream. It also has one of the more under-utilised sides of the lake.. something that remains curious to me as it is beyond stunning and so peaceful.

The dogs loved having an explore through the woody terrain, and we even had a few moments of hide and seek between the front and back pack (Belle can lag at times..) This route was a relatively easy 5.5km;  even road and paved the majority of the way.

Yarralumla

Happy boy.. 

We were planning on stopping in at Yarralumla for coffee afterwards,  however we were too late and the crowds beat us! We still had a lovely session back at Lucy's house where she revealed her natural talent for stalking! As you can see below she well and truly has that kelpie eye and seemed determined to stare Occa and Belle into order. .. pity she was doing it to two more experienced working dogs who felt free to ignore her instinctual ways!!

Lucy; the stalker

Hey... what are you guys doing??

Sunday.

Occa and I were up bright and early and got straight to the Farmers Market.  Occa continues to impress me with his calm demeanor at the markets, he genuinely seems happy just to plod along, just to be involved in the morning activity. He doesn't mind the odd pat and cuddle that he receives every few steps either!!!

Then we were all back to school! Occa and Belle are currently enrolled in Obedience at the ACT Companion Dog Club out at Symonston. Our overall goal is to take Belle through Agility/Rally-O and Occa through Obedience.

It has always struck me how inclusive the club is. A community of dog lovers who will help one another out no matter the problem. Problem dogs are never turned away so long as the owner is dedicated to rehabilitation and training. They're also dedicated to teaching owners how to read dog body language to give owners a greater understanding of how we can communicate with our fur-babies. They are passionate about training the owner to train the dog, which is my great passion also. Dogs are so capable and intelligent, our role as human is to break down the communication barrier and understand what the dog is trying to articulate.

The dogs love going to class and it is helping hugely with Occa's emotion control (he can be exuberant..). In only a few classes he's realised it's okay not to play or jump on every dog he is within a metre of and can now happily sit next to another dog without forcing himself on it. A big win in the self control stakes!  But when it comes time for end of class he knows that means playtime! 

However, after yesterday's class we took the dogs for a bush walking adventure.  We met up with Lucy and co. and headed out to Woods Reserve (on the way to Corin Forrest out along Cotter Road).

Our initial goal was to find Gibraltar Falls, however we discovered quite quickly that the path, which had been damaged by floods a few years back, hadn't quite been repaired as yet.. so this meant that the journey became more important (and fun) than the original destination.

After a few minutes we let all three dogs off lead and they were off!! Leading us humans through the dense bush. . Every so often we would happen back on the creek and attempt a crossing to gain some height, however after about 2kms we couldn't go further and decided to turn back. 

Crossing the creek..

The dogs displayed their true working dog colours,  with continual check-ins on each member of the group and plenty of rounding from the front of the group all the way to the back. We figured that since they ran from the front to the back of the pack that they'd done about fives times the exercise we did!!

Whilst there was some initial fear during the first river crossing we used our basic training (wait, direction, come) to make sure they made it safely across.. Although it must be said that Occa chose to plunge himself in for a swim.. The true Blue Whale.

Now an experienced creek crosser.

Gibraltar Falls; the Holy Grail

After about an hour walk (it was pretty tough going at times so felt longer!!) We had a picnic lunch by the fire.. A great way to spend a winters day in Canberra.

If you are a keen walker, I'd definitely check out Woods Reserve. It's not for the faint hearted though so be prepared and don't wear clothes that you are worried about damaging!

We hope you all find an adventure to be had with your pup. The bond you create from experiencing, learning and challenging yourselves together is priceless and everlasting.

Forever love your dog,
Emma