Where on earth has this year gone?  I can’t believe it has been so long since I updated this blog, so much has happened since my last post, I can’t even begin to remember all of it…the last few months of last year were filled with firstly our new baby (Taj a Border Collie), then the remainder was pretty much taken over with numerous hospital trips, docotrs visits and multiple surgeries for my poor hubby who suffered a severe injury and then re-currence of his medical conditions (he was home for Christmas which was a relief!)  And 2008, well so far its gone past in a blur of activity, ongoing illness and the unexpected addition of another bundle of fluff (yup another Border Collie, Trinity).

As a result of other commitments and general stress of life, I managed very little art until just recently, and I am trying to get the last few commissions finished as soon as possible.  Then I will be taking on fewer commissions for at least the short term future, I feel that I really need to focus on my own artwork for a while, as well as complete more piece in my Best of Breed series.  Unfortunately, like many pet portrait artists, many commissions that I have done are for pets that have past away, and the reference photos are really not suitable to create my style of highly detailed artwork, so I am looking forward to doing more work (including pet portraits) using my own reference material.

As I have started using mediums other than pencil in the last few years (pastels, acrylic and now oil paints), as well as photography, pencilportraits as a domain name is no longer completely relevant to my artwork, so I am (well my hubby is) in the process of re-designing a new website which will become my main website at http://michellewrighton.com

I don’t know about others, but when I get overwhelmed by the number of things that I have to do, I kind of go into meltdown and can’t achieve anything:(  So to cut down on maintenance time so that I can actually achieve some goals, I will be streamlining my web presence into the main website and have imported my blog over there.  This blog will remain here as there are many links and blog directory listings pointed to it, but this will be the last post here.

The new website is still under major construction, but please update your bookmarks, blogrolls and feeds - I do have a number of new artwork to show over the next few weeks, and I’d love to know what everyone thinks of the new site (bearing in mind it is still under construction!).

Cheers

Michelle

Responsible dog ownership starts BEFORE you purchase or adopt your new dog. You should spend as much time as possible researching the different breeds to find which is most suitable to you and your lifestyle, as well as individual breeders before deciding on one that will provide you with a healthy, happy puppy, and as much after sales assistance as you require.

Here are a few other things to keep in mind:

By following the simple suggestions above will help you be a responsible dog owner. And remember, as with most things a little common sense goes a long way!

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Picking a Puppy - Things to Think About Before Purchasing a Dog

Well dear readers, as you know from reading my previous post Adopting a Rescue Dog we will be adding a new dog to our family sometime in the hopefully not to distant future. Although the time is not right just yet, I can’t help myself and I have been looking at different dog rescue websites and doing a bit of a dog training ‘refresher’ course (gotta be prepared - and yes I would have made a good boy scout. If I was a boy;).

It really saddens me that there are just so many dogs (and other animals) in rescue because they have been treated as if they are ‘disposable’ possessions. I know there are exceptions and some people have legitimate reasons for surrendering an animal (and that is of course a better option that dumping the poor creature somewhere), but many animals end up in rescue because their owners made irresponsible decisions before and after obtaining the animal.

How To Pick a Puppy is the first of several articles that I wrote in 1996 (which are just as relevant today) relating to responsible dog ownership, choices and behaviour that I am going to post on my blog, and I hope that they will help my readers who might also be considering a new addition to the family. If there is any important point you think I have missed, please let me know and I will add it in!

Picking a Puppy

I am a dog lover not a Dog expert, but from a number of years research, reading books, speaking to dog breeders and dog owners I believe that the following will assist you in your selection. I will make NO attempt to suggest suitable breeds, my aim is to help the prospective buyer understand that just because you like the look of a particular breed DOES NOT make it a suitable because there are many variables that need to be considered other than just the appearance of the breed.

Owning a dog is a LIFELONG commitment and there are a number of things that you should think about BEFORE you start looking to make sure you choose the breed of dog that is the right one for you. There may be MANY breeds that are not suitable for your lifestyle, and if you put a little thought into the decision you may save yourself a lot of heartache, not to mention the effects that a wrong decision may have on the poor dog. I believe that if more people thought before they bought we would not have anywhere near the number of abandoned dogs that we do. So, ask yourself these questions…..

WHY DO YOU WANT A DOG?

You need to think about the reasons that you are considering getting a dog. Do you want a companion only, a lap dog, a friend for the kids or a guard dog? What do you want to do with the dog - show, obedience training, hiking, bring in the cows for milking etc? Not all breeds are suitable for every activity.

HOW MUCH TIME PER WEEK DO YOU HAVE TO DONATE TO A DOG?

Different breeds have different time requirements in regards to exercise, grooming and training, and in a lot of breeds, skimping on time spent on the dog can have disastrous effects, for the dog, for yourself and for your possessions.

HOW BIG IS YOUR YARD AND HOW HIGH ARE YOUR FENCES?

This will determine the size of dog you should be looking at. You need to make sure that your dog is not going to be able to get out of your yard and possibly hit by a car, picked up by the pound/ranger or mauled by another dog. Don’t forget that some small breeds of dogs can jump very well. I know of several small Terriers who are able to scale six foot fences, but alternatively, some very large breeds of dogs are not very active and may do well in a small yard.

DO YOU WANT AN INSIDE OR AN OUTSIDE DOG?

This will determine not only the breed, but also the size of the dog you get. If you want an inside dog, consider the size of your house - will a large breed take up every available inch of space? Is a small but very boisterous dog likely to knock over your priceless China collection? Looks and size can be deceiving, many small breeds are not suitable for apartment living due to their activity level, while some of the larger breeds can be excellent for small houses or apartments because they are real couch potatoes.

Other breeds need human companionship and are not suitable for leaving outside all the time, neither are breeds that are not suitable for your environment due to coat length, or susceptability to heat exhaustion.

DO YOU OR ARE YOU PLANNING TO HAVE CHILDREN?

Some breeds are not recommended for young children particularly, and this is a very important question to consider. The wrong choice could permanently disfigure your child for life and result in your dog being destroyed. Unfortunately, there will always be exceptions in every breed and quite often children are not aware of the implications of fulling a dogs ears or tail, so I feel that no matter how much you may trust your dog, never leave children unsupervised with ANY dog until they are old enough to effectively command the dog - I would suggest until the early teens - depending on the child. I know many people would probably disagree with me on this point, but I personally do not think that it is worth the risk to either child or dog.

DO YOU HAVE OTHER PETS?

To avoid bloodshed of dearly loved family pets this is a good point to consider when determining which breed of dog is right for you. Some breeds get on very well with other species, but a lot DON’T so ask the breeder before you buy.

WHAT SORT OF CLIMATE DO YOU LIVE IN?

This is an important consideration for the sake of the dog and really is just common sense. Most breeds that originate in cold climates have very thick coats and will suffer terribly in very hot conditions. Likewise, breeds that have very thin coats, or in the case of some breeds that have very little body hair at all, may be particularly susceptible to the cold - they may also be susceptible to sunburn and skin cancers. If you have a climate controlled house or kennel where the dog will spend most of its time, this may not be such a problem.

HOW MUCH MONEY ARE YOU PREPARED TO REGULARLY SPEND?

Some breeds have a higher maintenance level for food, veterinary assistance, medical tests, grooming and equipment. Every dog requires food, worming, nail clipping, some level of grooming, vaccinations, hopefully sterilization unless you plan to show or breed, and every dog is at risk of unexpected illness and injury. I am not suggesting that only rich people should have dogs, but if you don’t have or are not prepared to spend a great deal of money, then maybe a long haired breed that requires clipping every six weeks and may be susceptible to ear and eye infections because of the long hair, may not be the most suitable breed for you.

WHAT TEMPERAMENT DO YOU WANT?

As with people, dogs have different temperaments, and although no dog will ever match a breed standard 100%, most characteristics, including temperament tend to appear reliably in pure bred dogs. This includes independence - some breeds are very dependant on human company and affection, while others are very independent.

HOW MUCH EXPERIENCE HAVE YOU HAD WITH DOGS?

Some breeds of dogs are very dominant and are not usually recommended for first time dog owners. This is because unless you are able to establish dominance early in puppy hood you and your dog will forever be at odds with each other (and this is NOT achieved by physical abuse). Being able to establish dominance is dependant on your understanding that dogs are pack animals and have a very strong hierarchy, and it is important to understand ‘pack logic’ from the dog’s point of view. Many interesting books and articles have been written on this topic, and it is a great idea to read a few, regardless of which breed you purchase, as they will help you to understand some of your dogs behaviour.

Once you have thought about the above points and anything else that is relevant to you and your family, you should be able to narrow your choices down by doing a bit of research. Surf through the net looking for individual breed pages and FAQ’s, read some books and contact registered Dog Breeders for information.

If you have done all of the above, here are some points when it comes to picking your puppy:

* NEVER BUY ON A WHIM!!!!!!

* NEVER Buy and animal as an unexpected gift or Christmas Present!!!

* DON’T BUY FROM A PET SHOP, PUPPY MILL OR UNREGISTERED BREEDER.

* Telephone the breeders and ask about their breed. Most will be happy to answer any questions you might have, and will advise you of the suitability of their breed to your situation. Don’t be afraid to let the breeder know if you do not have a lot of experience with dogs.

* Go and have a look at several different breeds if you are still not sure which one is right for you. This can best be achieved by attending an All Breed dog show. This will help you decide which breed you like, as well as which breeder’s dogs you prefer.

* Decide if you want a pet or a show quality pup. This may determine how long you have to wait and how much you will have to pay - show or breeding quality pups usually being fewer in number and more expensive.

* Have a look at the health of the other dog’s in the kennel. Are they lively, alert and friendly. (Don’t forget, most kennelled dogs will bark at strangers and some breeds will very rarely look friendly, but you can get a general idea - dogs that look down right viscous might not be good parents for a dog that is going to be a family pet).

* Does the kennel look clean and sanitary?

* Do the dogs react happily to the owner/handler or do they cringe away, snap or growl?

* Puppies should be nicely rounded in shape, without being overly fat or skin and bones.

* Most healthy pups will have shiny, alert eyes and healthy looking coats.

* Check that the puppies are not infested with ticks and fleas.

* Ask to see both parents. It is common for breeders to use a stud dog that they do not own, but they may have photos of the dog. Quite often, the bitch will not look in ’show condition’ after whelping a litter. The reason for this is that whelping and feeding a litter places huge demands on the bitch, so she may be a little thin (but not skin and bones), and may ‘blow’ her coat (shed) due to the hormonal changes caused by pregnancy and milk production. She should however, still appear happy, lively, confident, interact well with the owner/breeder and show no signs of illness.

* Ask the breeder if they have any references from people who have bought their puppies in the past.

* Make sure that you see all appropriate paperwork including parents pedigrees, medical certificates for tests such as hip dysplasia if this is relevant to the breed, as well as the puppies pedigree papers and vet certificate confirming worming and vaccinations. Be very sceptical of any breeder who is not willing to show you paperwork - if you are unable to see the papers, the breeder may not actually have them! Many people are not concerned about having ‘papers’ for their pet, however, you do want to make sure that if you are paying the price for a pure bred dog, then that is what you are getting. Also, if the breed that you are buying are prone to certain medical conditions, you want to make sure that the parents have been ‘cleared’ by a vet, and the puppies checked (depending on the relevant condition) to ensure that there is the smallest chance possible that the pup you buy will develop the condition.

It is also a good idea to ask to see the membership card for the canine controlling body (Kennel Council) for the state/country that you are in.

REMEMBER: It is ultimately your responsibility to research the breeds you are interested in as well as the individual breeder that you finally purchase from. While it is your right to ask as many questions as possible, it is also the breeders right (and responsibility) to ask you questions as well, so don’t be offended if the breeder gives you the third degree!

Finally, if you do not want or cannot afford a pedigree dog from a registered breeder, there are many reputable dog rescue services that you can adopt from rather than obtaining a dog from a pet shop or backyard breeder. You can obtain a dog of any age from a rescue, (pure breed or mixed) and usually the people who run the rescue will be able to give you some information about each dog they have. If you adopt a dog from a rescue, you may well save it from being destroyed, particularly the older or not so ‘pretty and cute’ dogs which usually don’t get adopted quickly. If you would really like to make a difference to a rescue dog, you might also consider giving a dog that has been mistreated and abused a comfortable, loving home for the remainder of its days - you would be amazed at the love and devotion that you will receive in return.

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How exciting! I started considering to getting a second dog a couple of years ago, and decided about a year ago that it was the right thing to do, unfortunately it hasn’t been the right time, but hubby and I have been discussing it and I am hoping that we will be able to adopt a new dog into our family later this year! Personally I’d get one today, but being realistic, we do need to extend our fenced area first to make room for another dog (Tia spends very little outside by herself).

I am blogging about this because I know that if I put it in writing and send it out to the universe, the right dog will come along. Yes I maybe weird but I do believe in this like that;) As it is becoming closer to being a reality, I have started looking for information and reading up on different breeds because dog ownership is a lifetime commitment, and I believe it is critically important to research and find the right breed/dog to suit your lifestyle, environment and time commitments and not make spur of the moment decisions based on a pair of liquid brown eyes imploring you to take them home!

So I thought that if I blog about the process that I am going through to find our new family member, it might a) help someone else thinking of doing the same thing and b) I’d love suggestions of breeds (mixes) that I might not have considered.

I would prefer to adopt a rescue dog rather than getting a puppy from a breeder. If I was getting a puppy from a breeder, I would make sure that it was from a reputable registered breeder that carried out any medical checks, eye testing, hip/elbow x-rays for hip dysplasia etc for any medical conditions that are prevalent in the breed. While that might not guarantee a healthy puppy, it at least indicates that the breeder is interested in the breed and in breeding healthy puppies rather than in the $ they will get for selling them.

This is why it is important to research breeds before you buy, so that you know what medical tests should be conducted on the parents BEFORE they are allowed to have puppies.

I would NEVER buy a puppy from a pet shop, no matter how sorry I felt for it, or how much I wanted to save it. That may sound terrible from someone who loves animals, but buying an animal from a pet shop is supporting and encouraging a purely profit driven industry of breeding companion animals under inhumane conditions in puppy farms and mills - and yes these atrocities do happen here in Australia. As far as I am concerned pet shops should only be allowed to sell pet supplies, not animals, and that topic deserves a future post all of its own, but in the mean time, if you would like to know more, please visit Say No To Animals in Petshops

Ok, I’ll hop of my soapbox now.

Back to my original topic, not making a spur of the moment decision has really given me plenty of time to consider the important things that will (or won’t) make an individual dog suitable for our family.

First and foremost, with children aged 6-12 years, one female, couch potato Shar-Pei and two cats (one is very timid, hates our other cat and both love our dog) and all three are inside pets. Therefore, our new family member *must* be kid and animal friendly. Gentle and well mannered. We have a lot of wildlife around and I’d like to get a couple of chooks next year as well, so we will definitely be looking at a dog without a prey drive.

That’s the not negotiable requirements.

Mixed breed or purebreed, either would be ok. I do have a slight preference for male dogs (from previous experience), but gender is not that important. I like big dogs (think mastiffs, dogue de bordeaux and Irish Wolfhounds), but medium size is definitely more appropriate. Short coat preferred, although feathering or medium length would be ok, I’m not sure I am up for daily grooming for a collie or old english sheepdog type coat.

House trained would be a big bonus, especially as I would prefer a young adult rather than a puppy. The kids would like a dog that likes water and plays fetch for hours with a ball - our dog Tia dosn’t think she is a dog, I think she would actually prefer to have been a cat and I am hoping that another dog in the house will allow her to discover her ‘doggy-ness’. It would be great to have a dog that likes going in the car to the beach (where I am sure Tia will sit on her towel and just watch!).
Exercise wise, we live in a very quite street on just over half an acre, so plenty of room to run around…although it is not all fenced so a dog that is happy to follow the kids as they play rather than being interested in exploring the neighborhood would be great. Ability for off lead excersize (bushwalking, dog beach) is a bit of a priority as well. Now I know that is a training issue, but in general, it does rule out many breeds such as sight hounds and many terriers. Daily walks are fine (at some stage I would like to start jogging again) but a high energy dog that requires five hours running a day would not be suitable due to time constraints.

I work from home, so the animals arn’t left for long periods of time, 5-6 hours occasionally is the maximum time I am away from home. This also means I have plenty of time for training, and I have experience with obedience training (trained my ACD to competition level although we never actually did competition). I would also attend obedience training if necessary, but feel quite capable of doing it myself.

Personality: Definitely looking for a gentle affectionate dog that is willing and eager to please rather than an independent thinker that needs 24 hour a day mental stimulation.

Border Collies have been a definite consideration, but this rules out many with true BC natures, so maybe a BC cross. I love Australian Cattle Dogs, although not all of them would fit the criteria unfortunately, but maybe an individual dog or a cross would. Kelpie or Kelpie cross is also on the list. I can see a pattern developing here. I think its the devotion that I have experienced and seen from working dog breeds I have owned or known.

Does anyone have any other suggestions? I would love to hear other peoples experiences (both good and bad) with adopting an older rescue dog into their family. And if you know of any good information websites, please let me know.

Cheers

Michelle

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Its’ tagging time! Johann The (Agility) Dog tagged me!

There are four simple rules:

1. Each player starts with seven random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog post with their seven things as well as these rules.
3. You need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog.
4. Remember to leave a comment for them letting them know they have been tagged and to read your blog.

Seven Random Facts About Me:

1. I hate peas and beans. Unless the peas are in Chinese Food.
2. I went to University.
3. I get seasick on yachts but not powerboats.
4. I am shark-a-phobic.
5. I have curly hair.
6. I just gave my dog a bath because she was stinky.
7. I would love to go trekking in Nepal.

Seven Blogs I have tagged:

1. Photography by KML
2. Tips for Moms
   
3. Annaig Art
4. Linda Watson
5. Glass Cat Jewels
6. Deefor Dog
7. Dogs Aye View

I painted this Orangutan in acrylics some time ago, but havn’t managed to get a very good photo of it yet, so I think I may have to have it professionally scanned before I can offer prints for sale to help support Orangutan conservation. I am planning on doing a few more portraits of these beautiful creatures for the same purpose when I locate suitable reference photos.

“Wise One”

18″x24″, Acrylics on Gallery wrapped canvas

Orangutan Information:

Orangutans are a critically endangered species that desperately need our help to stop poaching and to protect their rainforest habitats which are being destroyed for palm oil plantations - without major intervention Sumatran Orangutans will be extinct in the wild by 2010, and Bornean Orangutans will be extinct in the wild by 2015.

Orangutans are highly intelligent primates that are one of our closest relatives being 97% genetically identical to humans. The orangutan is the only great ape that comes from Asia (gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos all come from Africa). The two species of ornagutan are the Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) and the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus). Sumatra is the largest island in Indonesia and Borneo is the island above Java in central South East Asia and is divided between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.

Oranguatan’s have a lifespan in the wild of 35-40 years, although in captivity they can live into their fifty’s. They reach puberty at about 8 years of age, but females arn’t ready to reproduce until they are in their teens. Orangutans have the longest period of dependence on their mothers of any animal in the world and the babies nurse until they are about six years of age. In order to learn all the skills needed for their survival, males stay with their mothers for a few more years, but the females stay even longer so that they can learn the mothering skills by watching their mother raise their younger sibling.

Orangutans have the longest time between reproduction of any other mammal - only once every eight years which means that females will only have 4 or 5 babies in their lifetime. This is why wild orangutan populations will not recover from poaching and habitat destruction without major intervention.

When reproductions of this painting are available for purchase, a percentage of the profit from each sale will be donated to the Australian Orangutan Project, a non-partisan organization that supports many orangutan conservation organizations. The AOP is non-partisan and funds are distributed due to conservation needs only. There is only one part time administrator, but as no salaries are paid to the many volunteers who work for AOP, a very high percentage of donations go straight to the organisations that are involved in the active welfare of Orangutans habitat protection.

Australian Orangutan Project Website

Please support the Australian Orangutan Project either by making a donation, adopting and orangutan, becoming a member or purchasing some of the beautiful orangutan merchandise from the AOP shop including toys, books, greeting cards, t-shirts and more.

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I have just opened a Gallery on Imagekind, a US based print on demand service that allows you to purchase fine art prints from as little as $12.74US for prints which can be customized and ordered with millions of combinations of frames, museum quality papers, canvas types, and sizes.

Giclee Technology

Giclee is a form of fine art printing which is superior to any previous form of inkjet printing. Giclee is a French word that means a spray of liquid, which possibly derived from the word “gicleur” meaning “nozzle” or “to squirt.”

The giclee printing system allows a precise level of color representation and ImageKind offers eight different paper types and two different canvas types that are widely used in the visual art world for prints and paintings, look tremendous, and will last for years.

Examples of framed ImageKind prints:

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This is a small selection of the merchandise printed with my artwork and photography available in my giftshop at CafePress.

If you are commissioning a portrait of your favourite pet, the completed portrait can also be made available for purchase on the items in my GiftShop at CafePress at no extra charge.

Coffee Mugs and Tile Boxes

Mouse Mats and Throw Pillows

Framed Prints and Badges

Calenders and Wall Clocks

Journals and a variety of clothing styles

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A variety of wall art, greeting cards and t-shirts featuring my art and photography, is also available in my RedBubble Gallery. Purchases can be made in different currencies (USD, Euro, GBP, AUD) and shipped shipped worldwide.

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animal lover,

RedBubble now offers worldwide shipping and can handle different currencies - USD, Euro, GBP, AUD!

Currently RedBubble offers giftcards, wall art including laminated prints, mounted, canvas and framed to order prints, as well as high quality t-shirts. Here are a few examples of the items that can be purchased with my artwork and photography.

Gift Cards

Laminated Prints

Framed Prints in choice of colours and styles

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Click to return to my Pet Portraits & Wildlife Art Home

To purchase a variety of wall art, greeting cards and t-shirts featuring my art and photography, Please visit my RedBubble Gallery. Purchases can be made in different currencies (USD, Euro, GBP, AUD) and shipped shipped worldwide.

A variety of wall art, gift ware and apparel featuring my artwork is available in my
GiftShop at CafePress.