Lulu Loves

14/07/2023

Lulu.
Little Lulu.
Louie.
Louwig.
Wig.
The Wig.
Little Wig.
Wiggy.
Whiggy Wack.
Little Wack Job....

29/06/2023

I think a more disturbing issue with pet insurance is that if you ever claim for a condition, if you change insurer, they will not cover any pre-existing conditions!!!

We have zero ability to change insurance providers if we actually NEED the insurance meaning we are trapped in a policy that may not necessarily be the best policy for our dogs or our financial position.

ABC News

Organisations including the RSPCA and Guide Dogs, and big brands like Woolworths, Medibank and Petbarn, are ordered to stop selling pet insurance policies.

13/03/2023

Unless the roll in seal blubber - that DOES NOT WASH OUT. I had to cut that out... even then I couldn't get it all 🤮🤣

15/01/2023

𝙻𝚞𝚕𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝙽𝙾 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚛𝚊𝚋𝚋𝚒𝚝𝚜 𝚊𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚋𝚋𝚒𝚝 𝚃𝚊𝚒𝚕 𝙶𝚛𝚊𝚜𝚜...

We've been trying early walks to beat the heat ~ and to sniff out crumbs in the sand, left by beach-gowers from the day before.

Hu-mum still can't get over the fact I tried to pick up a snake [NOT snack] the other week. If you missed our blog post about 𝚂𝙽𝙰𝙺𝙴 𝚂𝙰𝙵𝙴𝚃𝚈, you'll find a link in our bio.

03/01/2023

So Lulu and I had a VERY close call yesterday - that prompted our latest newsletter. We have a link to our blog post about Snake Safety... it is "snake season" after all.

We kicked off the new year with a bit of a fright... Lulu found a snake on the walking path ahead of us and decided she needed to go in for a closer inspection. Do you know: what to do in this situation? how to treat a snake bite? how to identify if your dog might have been bitten by a snake? ...NO?...

13/10/2022

What do we do with our dogs when a hit's the East Coast? Scent Work!!!!

Scent Work classes are what all the cool kids [+ dogs] are doing - just check out this article: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2022/10/are-scent-work-classes-new-form-of.html

I started K9 Nose Work with Lulu in 2018 [I think!], with the amazing K9 Nose Fun. I had no clue as to what to expect! I signed up because a friend had seen a demo and said we'd love it. She was right [thanks Marina].

Since moving to Rosebud, I've popped along to classes with Crazy Canines + Helping Hounds [bless them both for putting up with me and my millions of questions]. There are a LOAD of other instructors in Vic + Aus - if you want to find one close to you, check back tonight... I'll add some tags + links.

Anyway, I became hooked. This sport is so fundamentally basic [takes something your dog was BORN TO DO and creates a fun + rewarding game out of it] and it requires ZERO training in anything to get started. But the further you get, the more there is to consider + learn - if you want! Me, I geeked out on it!! 🤓

In my down time this year [thanks to shoulder recon], I've been working on becoming a K9 Nose Work Instructor. I've got a little sniffing biz set up: The Sniffing Zone! I've passed my theoretical component [which involved being up and ready to start zoom classes at 3am in the morning for 9 hour sessions - US time zones 🤦🏼‍♀️]. I've run some dogs through my class structure as "product testers". I just need a few more practical hours to obtain Certified Nose Work Instructor [CNWI] status. But it's close!

The beauty of doing even only the Intro to K9 Nose Work course is that you then have an enrichment tool you can use / game you can play with your dog, on crappy days like this ⛈️

If you do want to learn a little more, I've got an 'about' section on my website - thesniffingzone.com - and a page of resources where you can learn more about how amazing your dog's are ♡

Training your dog to search for a scent isn't as hard as you might think--and it's great enrichment for your dog.

12/10/2022

Dog lovers + avid snap takers.... Fourandsons have put out an open call for pics that capture what it means to be a dog in modern life. 100 images will be selected for a feature!!

Get snapping 📸

09/09/2022

Anyone got space for a beagle in their home?

06/06/2022

I actually like Lulu more than my family 😂😉 - Ugly crying from me, just when I leave her home to go to the supermarket!

Many are embarrassed to publicly show too much grief over the death of a dog, but research has shown just how devastating the loss can be.

22/05/2022

You won't regret it!

Vacancies!

Due to last minute cancellations I have one spot available in each of the following courses:
Intro to K9 Nose Work® commencing Donvale 28 May.
Intro to K9 Nose Work® commencing Murrumbeena 28 May.
PM for more info or to book.

04/05/2022

Lulu 😂

28/04/2022

Lulu needs a LOOOOOOOOT of space, on leash, most of the time. Especially in her 'hood.

There are people that simply:

> ignore this request for space;
> ignore that fact my dog is showing ZERO interest in their dog;
> give a lame excuse as to why their dog is the exception; or
> are simply oblivious to their wandering dog on a long or retractable leash, when we are cornered, trying to avoid a confronting...

These people do my head in!! 🤯🤯

It's not a difficult or complicated request.

My dog doesn't want to say hi.

Period.

Full stop.

No, it doesn't matter that your dog is friendly.
No, we don't care that you've owned dogs your entire life.
No, I don't owe you an explanation for why he needs space.
No, I don't need to defend my dog's boundaries to satisfy you.

My dog needs space. That's a complete sentence. That's all you need to know.

It's your responsibility as a human to hear that and respect that. There could be 100 different reasons why I am making this request - those reasons don't matter.

Please respect our space. Respect our words. Respect our boundaries.

My dog doesn't want to say hi.

30/03/2022

Sorry, not sorry

13/03/2022

We think we found the most dog-friendly holiday spot in Victoria! Take a peek to see what Lulu got up to over summer....

Lulu and I were meant to head away to Stanley in Aug '21 for my birthday - I was going to take Lulu to the Dinner Plains to play in the snow - but Covid saw that trip postponed. Instead, we pushed it out to summer... fruit season in the Victorian High Country! Where is Stanley you ask? It is a 10min...

09/03/2022

...she turned her back on me + left in a huff, looking FABULOUS!

Newness has arrived and it's a whole lotta fun.

BioThane + Leather 'Put A Ring On It' in one colour... OR make it two contrasting colours, just like Ellie.

Follow the link in our bio to see what's **NEW**

20/01/2022

CURRENT STATUS: Still On Holiday... but holidays never kept a crafter from crafting!

Just before Xmas, I picked up some vintage ribbon. The pattern is fab! When we're back, expect to find this collar as a new product in our shop [38mm wide only!] as a traditional collar + martingale - limited edition folks!!

When we design our products, we consider the impact they have on this planet. Have you ever considered the impact of the products you buy?

■ The brass in this collar will last a lifetime - it can either be reused in a new product or taken to a metal recycler where it will ultimately be turned into new brass products.

■This leather is made with natural, vegetable dyes - it's chemical free [not all leather is created equal!!].
■This thread is linen.
■The ribbon is silk.
■These 3 materials will all compost, leaving nothing behind.

■Using vintage fabrics + ribbon reduces the need for manufacturing new items that are otherwise used in their place.

How does it make you feel knowing that in as little as 50 years after the end of its life, this collar could be nothing more than fertiliser in your garden? Your great grandchildren + grandchildren's dogs won't be cursing you for using products that are made with chemicals, pumped into the earth or that will take at least 200 years to break down into small pieces that may never disappear [vegan leather not looking so good now is it folks??!!].

I know it makes me feel better and that's why we carefully select the materials, natural + synthetic, we do use for our products.

We'll be aiming to create a few educational posts to help raise awareness around product selection and material manufacturing over the coming months [once we're back!!!].

07/01/2022

Melb dogs... check out the 2022 Nose Work course schedule with K9 Nose Fun!

K9 NOSE FUN NEWS

In case you missed it, courses are back (COVID-willing), bringing the joy of sniffing to more dogs and their humans.

The following Intro to K9 Nose Work® courses are coming up

Murrumbeena commenced 2 January BOOKED OUT
Murrumbeena commencing 15 January VACANCY
Donvale commencing 29 January BOOKED OUT
Murrumbeena commencing 12 February VACANCY
Murrumbeena commencing 12 March VACANCY
Donvale commencing 26 March VACANCY

The following Intro to Odour courses are coming up
Murrumbeena commencing 15 January BOOKED OUT.
Donvale commencing 26 February VACANCY
Murrumbeena commencing 12 March VACANCY

If the course you are interested in is booked out, you may ask to go on the emergency list. Otherwise, there will be plenty more courses coming up. Hopefully more venues will be added in the next quarter.
Are you on the mailing list for upcoming courses? Email or pm me if you’d like to be added to the list. Ensure you advise which level course you are interested in.
Thought you were already on the mailing list, and have not received anything from me - PLEASE CHECK YOUR JUNK/SPAM before contacting me.

Photo credit Baybark

22/12/2021

DOGS OF MELBOURNE!! K9 Nose Fun has announced Intro to K9 Nose Work classes in the new year 🎉🎉

Get in touch with Angela [Lulu's Chief Sniffing Guru] if you are interested in finding out more.

I mentioned in an insta post that I've enrolled in the instructor course next year. When I was making sure that it was what I wanted to do, I *begged* Teach to let me sit through her Intro class. In the 3 weeks I attended the enrolled dogs blossomed into confident sniffing machines! You will watch shy and reserved dogs build confidence and independence skills through problem solving puzzles with rewards [food or toys].

It is a one on one activity so if your dog is anxious, it is might still something you can do in a safe environment, unlike a lot of other dog activities and training.

You may just want to learn for fun and use it as an enrichment game at home, you might just love taking your dog to regular classes for fun or, like Lulu and myself do, there are trials you can compete in.

Head to the K9 Nose Fun page for more info!!!

CHECK YOUR SPAM!!
Courses coming up early next year.
If you are on the 'interested in the foundation Introduction to K9 Nose Work course' mailing list, an email went out yesterday.
An email to those interested in Intro to Odour will go out later this week.
PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM!! AND RECHECK IT IN A DAY OR TWO!!
Contact me if you'd like to be added to either of the lists, or for more information.

06/10/2021

𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚒 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚎, 𝚒 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍⁠
⁠
Coming into summer, everyone needs a freckle or two. This combo - Pink with Raspberry - has been a popular choice [either freckles or hand painted edges]! My other fav colour to pair with Pink is Chili Red paint.⁠
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Red + Pink together was once considered a fashion faux pas... our opinion *ROCK IT | LOVE IT*⁠
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sports a Red + Pink harness. We discussed the colour combo with her and she told us "while red + pink are the colours of the Qantas uniform and Serena Williams wore a pink + red for the Australian Open this year, frankly, it will ALWAYS look better on a dog". And she is right. Fact.⁠
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⁠

04/10/2021

You're never fully dressed without a necklace!

25/09/2021

Spring Clean Sale: FOLLOW THE LINK IN OUR BIO!

Big news here... we've starting cleaning out a few things because we'll be moving to Tasmania, at some point in the next 12 months!!!

Inspired by incredibly cheap house prices, we picked up a 100+ year old cottage (with zero character - yet) right opposite the beach, with a gigantic work space and a massive yard - so I can build Lulu an enrichment garden.

What is an enrichment garden you ask? It is whatever you think your dog will love! Lulu's obviously will be full of berries she can forage and plants she can smell, a tunnel or 5, things she can climb (part time mountain goat).

20/09/2021

Our latest newsletter should be in your inbox now!

If you haven't subscribed to our newsletter, head to this page and follow the 'subscribe' tab: https://www.lululovesshop.com/links

SUMMER ONE DAY, WINTER THE NEXT We are late to the party, but we have a new product for the cooler days - which are still with us [got caught in a hail storm today!!]. Let us introduce our beautifully crafted, Dapper Dog Jacket. A classic styled jacket, featuring a vegetable tanned belt. We think yo...

30/07/2021

🅵🅰︎🅲🆃: 🄸🅃'🅂 🄿🄰🅁🅃🅈 🅃🄸🄼🄴

Lulu is feeling super inspired to put on her finest threads + party ...if she can peel herself off the couch¡

This is our *Sexy Beast* collar with the leopard print on the outside. A special request for some special puppers ♡

We adore the combo of this fab collar with the denim.

📸 pic cred: the FABULOUS

29/07/2021

Do you think this is related to sharing dinner?? I often find Lulu at my feet, wanting a bit of my food BUUUUUUT I never see her offering her dinner to me [or me lingering near her while she's eating for that fact] 🤣

I'd like to think Lulu does have altruistic tendencies 🙄

Domestic dogs show many adaptations to living closely with humans, but they do not seem to reciprocate food-giving, according to an Austrian study published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE.  Researchers […]

17/07/2021

Most of the leather we use for our collars/leads are from Tuscany ♡

16/07/2021

Today is the feast day of St. Roch- The Patron Saint of Dogs

St. Roch had the bubonic plague in the 1300s. As his condition worsened, a hunting dog discovered him and licked his wounds. Each time the dog did this, the wound healed more each time.
St .Roch is known as the saint for healing sick dogs.

*Image from St. Roch Church

13/07/2021

Pomeranian owners: your chance to contribute to breed health!

This is a fascinating little read and study.

It is research like this that contributes to the healthy breeding of future puppies ♡

University of Adelaide researchers are seeking Pomeranian dogs to participate in a new study to help identify how widespread a defective gene is in the breed’s Australian population. Veterinarians and scientists from […]

06/07/2021

"Looking this good was as simple as clicking a few buttons... [+ natural beauty]" ~ Lulu.

Our 'Block Party' Collar is a versatile little number... it can be designed by you as a by opting for one of the sizing suggestions on our website.

📸 pic cred: + Lulu ♡