Hi there!

[jyc]

Greetings!

I'm Joyce. I live in Australia, but am originally from California.

I've been lurking as a guest on the forum over the past few days, mostly reading the stickied threads and generally learning more about puppy and dog behaviour, as well as how to train and what might be expected. I've learned a lot already :]

My husband and I are planning on getting a puppy once we've bought a house (with a reasonably-sized yard, for sure!), but realistically, that's probably at least a year from now. However, as this will be our first dog, I wanted to make sure I got into the research early, and did a really thorough job of it. Definitely want to be able to have a healthy, happy, well-behaved dog.

Not very good at talking about myself without prompts (I always feel like I blab too much!), so I'll just leave it there, but if anyone's curious, please feel free to message me or just post your questions here!

[kian]

Welcome Joyce!

We have a few members from Australia here. I to am originally from Cali now living in the Southwest U.S.
Your wise to do your research early on and we have had some join and chat with us until they got a pup.

How do you like living in Australia, I hope to get there one day to visit. I'm Kian and own two Australian Shepherds, Allie and Ice.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Hi Joyce! It's wonderful to meet a responsible person who actually plans for the arrival of their first pup! One does not need a puppy (or dog) to participate on this website, in any of the threads, they simply must love dogs, and clearly you do. Do you have an idea in mind as to what type of puppy you eventually wish to have?

We all become excited about new puppies and dogs coming home. You will have to keep us up to date on your plans and thoughts. I've been known to ramble on a bit myself, so don't worry about that. (We also appreciate it when posts are broken up into readable paragraphs, as yours is.)

Welcome to the Daily Puppy from Oliver & Henry (Cavaliers) and their Mum, (Deborah) in London, Ontario, Canada.

[jyc]

Thanks, Kian!

Your Aussies are so beautiful and look pretty snuggly, too!

I love Australia. Been here almost 4 years now. I actually went back to the States earlier on this year to see friends and family, and was surprised to find myself starting to miss Australia. I think what really gets me is the sheer amount of greenery and wildlife that's still out and about here in the suburbs. I was used to having to go significantly offroad to get this amount of interaction with all things nature!

It's a lovely place to live, and to visit. If you do, make sure you come out to Western Australia (the state where I live ;]), as well.

Hi OHM (not sure how you like your name abbreviated, hope that's okay ),
After much research and question asking (and a few emailed questions to a breeder), we're seriously considering getting a Bernese Mountain Dog when the time comes.

I will certainly keep everyone up-to-date on how we're going as far as puppy plans go. I might even ask some really silly questions! But everyone here seems pretty nice and forgiving of that sort of thing. Looking forward to getting to know everyone better :]

Thanks for the lovely welcome.

[Phyrie]

Hi Joyce, and welcome! A really good "beginner's" book is Dr. Ian Dunbar's "Before and After Getting Your Puppy". It's arguably the definitive puppy book.

Phyrie, and Kiba the Cav in BC, Canada. Oh, and no worries about talking too much. There's really no such thing around here! If you're worried about it, just start your own thread, then you can chat as much as you like! ;-D

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

I love BMD's and used to babysit one when they were neighbours years ago. They are such gentle giants!

By the way, just call me Deborah (or Deb)...everyone else does.

Phyrie, so true, so true!

[manitwo]

Hi to you also.
This is a wonderful forum,like being part of a family.You will learn alot here.I live here in Queensland with my little Lhasa Mimi.

[jyc]

Thanks, Phyrie! The book's already on my list of books to get as I saw it recommended by someone (very possibly you!) in a different thread.

Deb it is! Deb is also my mother-in-law's name (Debra, but she prefers Deb), but don't worry, no negative connotations there, she's one of the loveliest people I know! And yes, the fact that they're gentle giants is actually part of what really appeals to me about BMDs :]

Thanks for the welcome, mani! I'm located in Western Australia, myself :]

[RubyJeansMom]

Hi Joyce, Congrats on your prospective puppy, BMD's are such beautiful dogs and so sweet.

You will learn so much here by perusing the different threads. I've been a dog owner most of my life, and still learn things from this forum almost every single day. Like Deb said, please keep us updated, we all get so very excited about new puppies, our own or others!

Welcome to the DP from RJM, Ruby, Kessler and Gizzie in Michigan

[kian]

BMD's are wonderful dogs!

[cutiepants26]

Hi Joyce!

I'm Louise also from Australia but on the other side from where you are, in Queensland.
You must be really excited on planning to get a puppy. I have had 2 puppies in the last 8months approx. and your world will become more bright and cheerful.
Bernese Mountain Dogs have great temperaments and are lovely dogs.

My pups- Saffy & Pingu say hi!

[jyc]

Wow, thanks for all the welcomes guys!

I am pretty excited, but my husband thinks I'm being quite silly about the whole thing since we're still quite a ways away from getting a puppy (a year, at the least, and possibly more than that, depending on all sorts of circumstances).

Great to find a fellow Aussie on the boards (this timezone gets a bit lonely sometimes ;]). Congratulations on your new puppies as well, and hello to them, as well!