The Chillout Zone (Off-Topic Thread)

Cherry Blossom

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ppink

well i am all intrigued now as to what you have been up to;)....surely didnt come from API anyways.
some people need to get a life, if they have a problem then spit it out or hush up:rolleyes:

toadfly

adrenalinjunkie wrote: »

You can report PMs too

I didn't know that, ta

ppink wrote: »

surely didnt come from API anyways.some people need to get a life, if they have a problem then spit it out or hush up:rolleyes:

Wasn't a, as Hellraiser would say, regular API poster but they have posted here.

That's exactly my point, if she had something to say then say it. Hate that crap.

The Sweeper

Gotta share this:

At training on Sunday with Gus. The trainer had overbooked the class a little, with six dogs total instead of her usual limit of 5.

So there's my Gus (mongrel ), who doesn't bark.
There's a Kelpie who barks like it's going out of fashion.
There's a wee whippet who yips quite adorably.
There's a boxer bitch with a big bark.
There's a small black collie cross and she's not saying much either.

So we're all in the shed awaiting the start of class and trying to get our dogs to settle, against a cacophany of barking, and the trainer says 'Okay, now John's going to bring in Kotip, and Kotip is a bit big, he's an Ovcharka, they're a guardian breed, so for that reason please don't approach Kotip or John without permission, and keep your dogs back during today's training too.

I got all excited - never thought I'd see an Ovcharka. Thought it might be a Caucasian Ovcharka, trainer confirms he's a Central Asian Ovcharka, and then, in the manner of Jurassic Park, all we hear outside the shed, is:

WOOF

Everyone stops. The dogs shut up. Then again:

WOOF

Now all eyes are on the door in the corner, the dogs are suddenly silent, and in comes John with Kotip, who's about 80kgs. Seriously impressive dog.

For those who've never seen or heard of one, they're a livestock and property guard dog that come in a variety of colours, but this guy looked like someone had taken a St Bernard and stretched him over a Great Dane frame - just in terms of height and shape, but then colouring and coat more like the St Bernard.

Most of the dogs in the room weren't too interested, and all Gus wanted to do was play with him. Nice idea, but even at his reasonable medium size, Gus'd be a snack to this fella and he wasn't really getting good vibes in response to his wiggling overtures, so I had to drag him away from his potential new friend, at least at this early stage.

Whispered

The Sweeper wrote: »

his wiggling overtures

I am claiming this and using it as my own. Perfectly describes what happens every time Harley gets excited.

Wiggling overtures heh.:D

Just googled Central Asian Ovcharka, there are a few different types of pic. All gorgeous though.

belongtojazz

Well it looks like my Springers theivery (sp) is coming back to haunt him (and me) he has had a bit of a dodgy tummy for a couple of days but when I went downstairs this morning it looked like he had exploded all over my carpet. It has taken me an hour of scrubbing and it's still not fully cleared up.

Don't you love dogs :rolleyes:

lrushe

A big happy birthday to my boy Ben who is 10 today, we don't think you look a day over 5

Here's to many more years ahead!!!

Ben - Before.JPG

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dan_d

Just found this thread...Can I post here?!:o

Well, I will anyway. Picked our 2 cats up from the cattery today, after we were away for the weekend. It's easier to keep them there, rather than worry about whether they've been brought in for the night etc,etc by family and neighbours who might take care of them.

They are not the best travellers. In fact, they hate being in the car. I was given a seriously cold feline shoulder by both of them when they got home. I'm not sure they've quite forgiven me yet, but they stretched to a low-grade rumble of a purr about an hour ago, when their heads were scratched:rolleyes:. Hopefully I'll be forgiven by tomorrow morning - I've nobody else to talk to during the day!!!

Whispered

Do they hate the cattery?

Mine only ever went to the cattery once, and the whole way back home, my boy, flicked pee at us with his paw through the gate on his carrier.

It was a bloody nightmare. What could we do? It's not like we could stop the car, take him from the crate and clean it, as you would a dog. We had nothing to cover the carrier with, so we just had to turn him around and let him flick pee on the seats the car was never the same again. And he got his way, he was never brought to a cattery again. (and on every trip to the vet a cat blanket comes along just in case we need to cover the carrier)

EDIT: We went on our usual walk up the town today and met a lovely lady who stopped and took time out of her day to send a bit of love Harleys and Phoes way.
Down on her hunkers being slobbered all over by two big lumps. I did warn her that they would be "VERY friendly", but she said the cuddles were worth the paw prints on her (lovely suit) trousers.:o

Then she wished the three of us a nice day and told me it was nice meeting us, she won't remember me, but will remember "the two lovely fellas". Absolutely made my day. As I'm sure other owners of large or restricted dogs will understand.

dan_d

I'm not sure! I think it's more the car trip that they're traumatised by, they don't seem to have any major problems with the cattery.

There have been pee problems in transit aswell......:rolleyes:

They appear to have recovered however, and having spent the day in the back garden lounging in the sunshine, they're now asleep on our bed:rolleyes: (having had a major afternoon feed):D. So I'm guessing they're happy enough!!

ToniTuddle

The Sweeper wrote: »

he's an Ovcharka, they're a guardian breed,

Wow they are cool! Think of the cuddles they could give :pac:
This aint a central asian one but I like this one better, it's so flufffffy

dan_d

Argh!! What a big, fluffy mutt!!

Can't imagine you'd have much control over him as a owner though...I'm guessing that's a dog that does exactly what it wants.

On another note, this is one irritated Boardsie...just spotted a flea on one of the felines. Grr.They were treated a couple of weeks ago, and their beds are washed at high temps regularly. They were even at the vet a couple of weeks ago for something else and were checked for fleas - none.

The only culprit I can think of is the cattery. SO not impressed. Going off to buy flea powder to disinfect the bedroom and all soft furnishings (only place we have a carpet...)

imbroglio

Ah,my (sometimes) lovely cat is asleep on my feet, after bringing me home two little voles. They are tiny, is she trying to tell me I need to loose weight??

(Am I the only one who seriously thinks their cat has it in for them?...dons tinfoil hat...)

Devi

ToniTuddle wrote: »

Wow they are cool! Think of the cuddles they could give :pac:
This aint a central asian one but I like this one better, it's so flufffffy

Hold on, is that a dog? Looks like a lion or somthing.

tatabubbly

me and rebels are chillin out here on the couch....

Just came home from work with pigs ears, frisbee, rawhide bones and food for my gal..
she's delighted with me..

Cherry Blossom

Had a lovely bank holiday weekend in the sunshine . On Saturday we had a race round the beach and my water-phobic doggie even had a small splash about in the sea (the lure of a floating starfish was just too much temptation) followed by a walk through the forestry. Spring cleaned the ponies on Sunday morning, an easter egg/ lamb ribs/ carrot hunt in the field after dinner and went for a walk round a hill fort in the evening (although it was cut very short by some anti-social types so I thought it best to call it a day :mad:) Went for a walk in the woods today and herself found a set of keys while having a sniff around that managed to eventually find their way back to their owner.

And the best part - all it cost me was a bag of mini-eggs, a few carrots, a bottle of washing-up liquid and a bit of petrol . No idea how to fill next weekend now though .

Whispered

Sounds like a lovely BHW. Very busy! I would love to go to donegal with my boys. Do you know of any good camping spots up there (that would not cause hassle over the dogs?)

My BHW was not fantastic. I was working Friday night so slept most of the day saturday, went to a thing with my mother on Saturday night which was very boring. Because I came home from work, went to bed, jumped out of bed at the last min and went, I hadn't eaten in 24hrs. I thought there would be food available at the show, there wasn't. So I sat there feeling bored and sick with hunger, while the really loud lady in front of us kept turning around to "whisper" to us.

Then on Sunday we drove to cork with 2 dogs to their new foster home, which was great. But actually acquiring the dogs was horrible. Their owner dropped them to my house and was so upset that he had to rehome them. The dogs looked so upset and confused too. I held it together til the owner left and I bawled. It was just so sad.

We were going to have a nice day out in cork (husband and I) but my shoe broke so I couldn't go walking anywhere, and so couldn't go to foto. We drove straight home.

Today/ Tonight I'm working.

Good news is - I have to work tonight/now, but I'm off then until next monday and have a lovely week planned. (so long as my shoes stay together!)

Cherry Blossom

Ah, the joys of working unsocial hours, I don't miss it at all. Funny I don't remember seeing an actual campsite anywhere in Donegal, I'm sure there must be some on the coast though! Donegal is most likely the most dog unfriendly county in Ireland, there isn't a park within an hour and a half of my house that allows dogs and around this time last year there was talk of the council bringing in a countywide ban of dogs on all public beaches. There are a few dog friendly tourist places but they are extremely spread out which means an awful lot of driving. I would't worry about the RB thing at all though, not with Staffies anyway. If you do head up here though watch out for other dogs, 90% are left wandering and socialised to whatever extent they have socialised themselves :rolleyes: We're a century behind the rest of the country in most ways

Whispered

We were talking about going to Donegal - and have had a change of plan. Instead of bringing the boys, we're going to head up for the Rory festival. So we wont have to worry about your unsocialised politicians and dogs. Can't wait!

toadfly

BF booked the two of us a night in Cork with tickets to a concert too. So excited cant wait!

I have now made it into a three night break and am bringing the dogs! YEA

Any recommendations for kennels in Cork? Need to put them in night we are in Cork at concert as it wouldnt be fair to leave them for so long. But other two nights we are staying in pet friendly places.

ISDW

Washed 10 dogs outside in the sunshine today, don't know if thats a waste of a day or not:D I got as wet as them, and as most of them are huskies, it took a long time to get their coats wet enough to put the shampoo on:rolleyes: But all done now for another few months

lrushe

I take the lazy way out when it comes to washing my dogs, both my bigger dogs love to swim so I bring them to the lakes, throw in the ball, soap them up when they come out and continue to throw the ball in until they are rinsed clear

ISDW

lrushe wrote: »

I take the lazy way out when it comes to washing my dogs, both my bigger dogs love to swim so I bring them to the lakes, throw in the ball, soap them up when they come out and continue to throw the ball in until they are rinsed clear

Might try that next time, except not many of mine would willingly jump into a lake:D

homerhop

There is a weir down the road from me and my last 2 springers used to run out onto it and lay in the flow of water. It was a great way of washing them and getting rid of loose hairs on them too.

belongtojazz

Talking of bathing your pets we realised today that our African grey parrot will only have his bath when his cage is clean and I'm hoovering the sitting room everytime I turn the Hoover off he stops bathing.... Random bird

homerhop

he is shy, doesn't want ya peeking at him

belongtojazz

Oh it's definitely not that, he"ll only bathe with an audience

He's like every other creature in this house.... Specially random

ISDW

homerhop wrote: »

There is a weir down the road from me and my last 2 springers used to run out onto it and lay in the flow of water. It was a great way of washing them and getting rid of loose hairs on them too.

Brilliant, clever dogs:D We have a stream at the bottom of our exercise field, but I've fenced it off as I've seen rats in it, such a shame.

belongtojazz wrote: »

Talking of bathing your pets we realised today that our African grey parrot will only have his bath when his cage is clean and I'm hoovering the sitting room everytime I turn the Hoover off he stops bathing.... Random bird

:pac::pac::pac:Very strange fella:D

Shanao

Dontcha just love it when the rain clears just enough that you say, "Right lads, walk time" and it lashes about five minutes out of the house and rains through the entire walk until you're about ten feet from home upon which it miraculously clears again. I'd swear... this bloody weather has it in for me.

belongtojazz

Rain??? Hhhmmm vaguely remember that stuff

Thankfully it hasn't rained here in ages... I'm loving the sunshine have even managed to leave some of jazz's agility set up in the garden