Hello

[Katie]

Hi I am new here and just thought I would say hi from me and Ruff.

Ruff is an F1b phantom labradoodle, and is a very poodly doodle! He is almost 6 months old and is a dream dog. He was clean and dry in the house by 10 weeks and he's so easy to train. The only problem we have is jumping up.

We live in Christchurch New Zealand where we have had a very difficult year. However Ruff is such a comfort to us all, and he is good in quakes!

So I am looking forward to meeting you all and being able to chat about our wonderful dogs.

From Katie and ruff.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Welcome to DK!  I have always wanted to visit New Zealand - maybe someday.  Ruff is just as cute as can be!!!

[Elizabeth & *Kosci*.]

Welcome, it's wonderful to hear from another so close and down under, glad that Ruff is good in quakes, as you poor things have had so many after shocks , Elizabeth and Kosci , from Australia,

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Welcome, we are all NZ mad at the moment as the Rugby World Cup has us all glued to our seats in Ireland.  Your Doodle is gorgeous, I love the colouring.

[Elizabeth & Cosmo]

Hi, Katie!

Welcome to Doodlekisses! I'm sorry about the difficult year you all have had in New Zealand, but I know Ruff has made things a bit brighter! He is such a good dog, and so beautiful, too. I love the phantom coloring!

I don't know if you are working with a trainer, but here is what our trainer taught us about jumping up--and it has been pretty effective with Cosmo. It helps if you can do it with multiple people in succession (as in a class situation), but it works one-on-one. You approach the dog, and, if he jumps up, you immediately turn your back on him--totally ignore him--until he sits down. Then you pet and praise him (and give him a treat).

We do this with Cosmo and advise others to do it, too, and Cosmo gets the message right away. Even my 6-year-old nephew could do it and get Cosmo to respond appropriately!

Best wishes!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Glad you joined! Welcome!!

[Robyn, Greg and Snickers]

Welcome to DK we went to NZ for our honeymoon such a beautiful country I was so sad to hear of the earthquake devastation glad you are coping as best as you can. Ruff is beautiful and certainly looks doodely!

[Sue, Lola, Pongo & Hubby]

Welcome to DK, Katie and Ruff!!! You'll learn lots from all the knowledgeable doodle owners here, and you'll definitely find some good laughs, too!!! Glad you're doing well in NZ, you did have a rough year!

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Welcome to you both!!  Ruff sure is a cutie!

[Lorraine Bromley]

Hi There! Ruff is adorable! You will learn alot here and enjoy yourself!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Welcome!!!  Ruff is so cute!  Glad Ruff is good in quakes...let's hope he doesn't have to deal with that again anytime soon :)

[Katie]

Thank you for your kind welcome.

 

We will give your technique to stop jumping up a go, Elizabeth. Thank you for the tip.

 

I looked up the quake number this morning. We have had 7649 quakes since September 4th 2010! There have been 27 in the last week....BUT none in the last 24 hours!

Just in case you are wondering, the scientists say we are having "an unusually rich aftershock sequence".....

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Welcome to DK.  I love Ruff's two color coat and his eyebrows really add to his cute doodly look.  We have been to Christchurch.  It is so lovely there.  We could have stayed much longer.  Everyone was kind and friendly and such a charming town.  Your earthquake was horrible.  We have lived through many "small" quakes and two bad ones here in southern California.  The first took out the Santa Monica freeway and the second did terrific damage in Northridge.  Fortunately, our neighborhood sustained only very minor damage, cracks in walls, tiles etc.  It was so scary.  I jumped at the slightest thing for a more that a year afterward. 

 

The two dogs had at the time of the Whittier quake knew something was wrong a full minute before the huge explosion type noise and the shaking. slamming and bouncing and rumbling started.

 

I am glad to hear that Ruff is such a good dog and is helping you feel better.    My two doodles Roo, 4, and Tigger, 3, still have a very hard time keeping "four on the floor" for good friends and family members.  They are much better with less well known people.   This seems to be a very common problem with doodles.  Just keep at it. I should have been much firmer when they were young like Ruff.  They are just so darn cute though, aren't they?