Rysup

I always give a "general" price range for my breed, and am never offended when a puppy enquirer asks the price. If you dont ask, you dont find out do you? Most of the breeders try to keep the pet prices on par with each other. I would have no clue on show prices though, they could be anything! For those who dismiss a person because they ask how much, Im sorry, thats just ridiculous. I too am on a limited income, and buying a dog is a BIG purchase for many. They need to know how much so they can save that money up, or to find out if your breed is totally out of the question. I think thats just plain discrimination. Turn them down on tangible reasons such as no fences or they want to breed. And yep I will get people saying, if they cant afford the dog they cant afford the vet bills, but sorry thats also a crock. My dogs never go without the care they need, they get quality food, grooming etc etc, but to ME the purchase price is still something I would have to save up for. It's not like you can buy a dog on a credit card. Well from a reputable breeder anyway!

I dont know if its different in SA as opposed to here in NSW, but I can give you a contact email for the people instrumental in starting the Tibetan Terrier Association. They just held their inaugural show at Easter.

I think a lot of breeders will charge more for show puppies (and yes I theoretically do, though have never actually done it! I tend to sell mine for less to encourage people into the ring) because you send them out with some basic guarantees. And if they fail to meet certain standards I would feel obliged to replace that puppy with another. So the extra cost probably covers that risk. In my own puppies the difference is about $200. But when we bought our Amstaff, for example, the difference between show and pet price is $1000. That is a LOT of money! I have a set price that is in line with other breeders. We generally confer, and have the same prices so no one is underselling the others. I think a breeder who cannot quote a price is doing it for the wrong reasons. Rare colours and all that are easy to accomodate - you just say, any XXXX colour or markings will cost XXXX much. Just like in years gone past, bitches cost more than dogs. Anyway thats just my two cents worth.

Interesting seeing what everyone prefers! For me there will never be a breed better than the Keeshond. They are just such great dogs. I've owned and do own an Amstaff, but they just are not my thing. They are OH's interest. And I adore my Lhasa Apsos. I will always have one of these too. Other breeds that really catch my eye - Griffon Bruxellois Japanese Spitz Boston Terrier Chow Chow Chinese Crested Shiba Inu Thats about it I think..........

There was a gold cocker in all that footage, however I do not know if Jed had more than just Magnus or not?

I have a tent fly (tarp would do) that fits neatly on the roof of my trailer, and I just tie it on. Its on at home, and only comes off for travel. I'd put it back on if I camped and it was wet.

Oh no I can barely imagine the terribly grief she is feeling. Get well soon Jed. RIP to the lost loved ones. I cannot afford a donation right now, but will try to when I get paid next.

Errm Amstaffs should not be bigger than an APBT Standard says 18-19 inches, I am sure. Most of the Amstaffs in the show ring are WAY over that standard, but yeah....... My current boy is 19 inches tall and weighs about 30kgs. Compare that to my Keeshonds who are 18 inches tall and weigh about 15kgs.......

How big is big? I was going to order some for my boy, but I dont want them huge!

Troy here too. I dont worm as often as they recommend, but I do worm babies. You would sometimes be shocked at what you get!

That's the argument I have with the Amstaff mob......they also wont admit that the breed is from fighting origins. They wont admit that there is DA in the breed. They go along merrily until one dog kills another and then scratch their heads and wonder why. My Amstaffs have (except one) been lovely, lovely dogs with people. But I would not trust them with another dog as far as I could throw them. Because I know that the possibility is there, for them to cause harm, and I am not prepared to put anyone in that situation. Sadly I do think that the APBT is a lost cause, and I think the Amstaff is hot on their heels. Whether you consider them the same breed is your own choice

I agree with Rebanne. It's what works for you and your dogs. Everyone is different!

It already costs more to Lifetime register entire dogs in NSW. Yes breeders (that is members of Dogs NSW or the two cat societies) get a special price too, but for your average pet owner, its a BIG difference between entire price vs desexed price. And working dogs & greyhounds are exempt from having to be lifetime registered too.

My boy has allergies to chicken & wheat, which manifest as liquid stools. I tried him on Eagle Pack Hollistic, both the fish and the duck one. He liked them both, but was always starving, and lost weight. If I gave him more, it would go straight through him Then I tried him on Artemis. Similar results to Eagle Pack. And he got so thin it was scary. Then I was given a small bag of Nutro Lamb & Rice. Like magic!!! He likes it, and his stools are solid. I also found during my testing of foods, that if I add some beef mince to his dry, it makes his stools solid too. So now this boy is on Nutro Lamb & Rice with about 3/4 cup of beef mince.

It's a hard one.......I agree with Scarlet - the general public are "generally" not very good with dog management, and could not cope with entire animals in season. Of course we are generalising, but most of you who argue against this idea, are of course, dog nuts on a dog forum, and I would expect you all to be able to manage your entire dogs. The whole idea of compulsory desexing is a tricky one. I would not want to have early desexing, I dont agree with that. And you would need an arm load of exceptions. But in general, I do think that "pets" should be desexed yes. All dogs leaving here for a pet home, are desexed. All my pet puppies need to be desexed. They can wait until the dog has finished growing, thats perfectly acceptable. But once that is reached, I expect them to be spayed or neutered.

I think it would depend on your litter size (and their age), but with my last litter I could get two days out of my dry bed before I had to change it. Yes it gets much softer, but it cleans really well so no worries there.

Poor boys, wishing them a speedy recovery. While it looks really bad now, they will recover. I've had a couple of dogs cop attacks over the years and they generally bounce back. On the subject of getting an attacking dog away - with Pitbulls/Amstaffs and probably most of the bull breeds, their pain threshold is incredibly high, and all your kicking and punching would be to no avail. They would not feel it at the time. One of my dogs was attacked by a bull breed I wont name, at the vets, and the vet had to physically collapse this dogs windpipe, so it gasped for air, to get it off my dog. And one of our Amstaffs tried to attack one of my Kees and my OH kicked him in the head with his steel capped boots, and the dog did not even blink an eyelid. I think the citronella spray idea is a worthwhile one, or pepper spray, but you would really need to use it before an attacked started.

Keith Martin would make them. Also possibly OKS ?

Well done!!

I find a lot of people who deal with these small breeds just dont understand their body language and cannot read the dog. I have Lhasa's and I have a grumpy 14 year old, but I know how to read them and have never been bitten and I dont need muzzles. But having said that, I have groomed some very nasty Lhasa's and Maltese in my time, and they can be a pain, but with careful use of the muzzle and harnesses to hold them still, it can be done. Most vets dont waste time trying to appease a cranky dog, so will just resort to drugs. The only dog that bit me while I was grooming was a mixed breed mastiff type, about 3 seconds after the male owner assured me they dont bite!! And I'd not asked either.

I would worm first, then bland. I find mucous comes in pups with worms too.

There are neuter classes at Hills Dist (Sydney) on the 15th May. Entries are open till the 5th if anyone wants to get one in!

Geez how harsh! My 14 year old Lhasa is pretty much totally blind and he still gets around just fine. He has only slowed down due to age, not his vision. I have a 13 year old Keeshond who is totally deaf now, should I put her down for that too?

Can you use it without the heater? My element burnt out and I just dont use it anymore. The bath itself is a zillion years old and Ive had it fixed many times, but as I only use it at home I dont bother now. I just bucket hot water in.

I have a dog who is very thin too. I think you should go to a better quality dry food. I have been using Artemis, but after winning some Nutro (Lamb & Rice) I have been using that on my boy, he LOVES it. Also try things like Lamb Flaps. That is what I am trying at the moment.