AussieGTA

lillysmum, If the racing industry are not to blame because the doggers clean up the mess, then by the same logic the RSPCA is to blame not BYB and puppy mills. As for the practice of paying over inflated prices after the sale because you don't want to bid, more fool them they obviously have more money than brains. Can we get back to the topic now?

As was stated above the "3yr vax" is not a new vax, its a new protocol. Its the same injection they have always had, just less regular. Attached is a link to the AAHA outlining the study proformed and the new protocol that came out of it. Studies have shown that over Vaxing your dog can cause health problems. It was partly due to the increase in immune problems seen in some dogs that this study was carried out. http://www.aahanet.org/About_aaha/vaccine_guidelines06.pdf Yes, even in the new protocol guidlines from the AAHA still recommend every year for KC. As far as using it as an excuse to bring dogs in for an annual check up, I'm sure if the owners were responsible enough to bring them in for the annual injections, then they will still be responsible enough to bring them in for an annual check up. Other than that its a money making exercise and a danger to the dog (some breeds especially). Some breeders I have talked to have actually been doing this for some time, its only now that the word is getting out amonst the wider community.

I hate coming into a topic like this so late, you never know if anyone is bothering to read it anymore First I would like to say to all the rescue people out there Hats off to you. Hopefully in the future I will be in a position to help (rescue or at least foster) There have been many different views posted on here about this subject, and the debate seems to change from anti-desexing to anti-early desexing. My comments will be on the later. I am in favour of desexing, but not early desexing in reg. pedigree dogs, rescues I believe are in a different class. Why I hear you say, not for the same exact reason as mentioned earlier. If I went to buy a rescue I fully understand why a rescue org would want the dog desexed before it leaves. I DO understand your logic and fully support you. When I go to a reg. breeder however I am buying a pup that I expect will give little problems during its life. Other than the fact that I am forking out well over 1K for the pup I do not want to be spending even more money in 8yrs time dealing with bad hips etc. The fact is once the breeder has sold the pup any health problems down the road will be my responsibilty not theirs, and I would like a say in the future health of my dog. There are people on here saying that millions of pups are desexed early with no problems, what you seem to be missing is we are not talking about problems from the procedure only, we are talking about problems later in life due to hormone problems early in life. The below link is a very good article dealing with this issue. Unlike another link on here it is not based on emotion or the pushing of a cause, it is a scientific study done over a couple of year and states the breeds, ages, percentages effected etc etc. Please take the time to read it and understand the anti-early desex point of view. http://www.caninesports.com/EarlySpayConsiderations.pdf

Yes I agree with above, but please keep reading. Please don't misunderstand the people on here. Owners of any breed, Mals included love there breed and we will do anything to help a new owner and the breed itself. "Mal" my wife above is very passionate about our belovered boy and his breed (as I am) and I can tell you that anything she is trying to say is purely to help you and your future Mal. A few posts ago I directed you to a Mal only web site where the people are exceptionally friendly and experienced with the breed. The site is full of so much information that you will suffer from information overload on everything form grooming to annual injections and the good and bad points of owning a Mal. Most of it is very funny with the different stories from around the world of what Mals will do, you quickly learn that no matter where they live in the world they are the same the world over. A use of the search function on that board, and this one to an extent you will learn more, and more quickly than you will by asking individual questions on here when you think of a subject you think is important. On a side note the use of seach function on a board will prevent you form asking questions that give the indication that you may not have done the research that we (as owners) believe is required to understand the breed. This is a really easy way to avoid the "do more research" statement that you have learnt to hate. Research is more than asking questions it also involves using the "search" feature on the boards involved and doing your own reading. As "Mal" said, even when you get him/her you will never stop learning and reseraching. Both of us, as stated are still learning. I honestly believe we will never stop learning, even when you know the breed the medical side of things always changes. You only need to look at the changes in annual injections, and training techniques to see that in the last few years.

As Mal has indicated it really is suprising how much they DON'T eat. Due to their origins they where designed to live off little food because of the harshness of the artic. This enviroment allowed them to develop a slow matabilism allowing them to get the most out of there food. Thus they don't need a lot to be happy, healthy and full of life. Boy are they full of life

The second link I posted adresses the early stage altering. and Sydney

Hey how are you going. So you want to own a Mal, first question I have is ARE YOU SURE. They are not the easiest of breeds so I do ask that you know exactly what you are in for, research research research, and I don't mean just talking to one or two people that have had them before buying a pup. Well thats enough of the usual interigation, now onto the helpful stuff. Intact males are no more or less loving or affectionate than doctored males, I know I have one. He is the biggest sook known to man. In saying that he will be altered when we return to Australia. I chose to wait until he was fully mature before I had him altered due to some new information coming to light about early altering of dogs. In saying that there is a lot of info saying early alter is in no way harmful it is a personal choice. However waiting does come with responsibility. Annual shots is another issue currently under review around the western world. Do a search on here about shots and annual heartworm shots you will find a lot of really helpful information. Personally I would say if you get offered the annual heartworm shot REFUSE. As far as breeding goes........Very touchy subject amongst a lot of people, mainly due to the dog over population we have. I am not a believer in saying "just leave it to the breeders" because if no one else starts then in 20yrs there will be now breeders because they will all be dieing of old age. HOWEVER, I do ask that you wait for at least 3-5 yrs and become very aquanted with the Mals. Karen and myself have had Kane for 3yrs and we are still learning about the breed every day. The two links below are from another site I am involved in that offer really good articles on the benefits of early and late desexing. http://www.wildpaw.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=62 http://www.wildpaw.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=5895 Hope this helps.

Karen and myself battled this for about a month with Kane when we first got him. Ended up he was alergic to beef protien, which we found out is not uncommon for a Malamute. Keep an eye on him and see if you can find a pattern to when it happens. Thats how we tracked Kanes down, when ever beef was involved it would run the next day.

My job is Adult Education and Training Developement. I could give you some real horror stories of people in this postion. The sad fact is knowing your subject matter does not make you good at teaching. Being a good instructor is more about your personality, people skills and communication skills than it is about how good you are at your job and how much you know. The first thing you must do is bulid trust and a bond with students. If they don't respect you there is no point in going on, the No.1 rule this guy forgot.

Is that before or after the officer gives you back your golf club from having his go. :D

1 hour, don't go to a board over here in North America and say that, you will get flamed like you wouldn't believe. YOu are not allowed to spend more than 1 hour AWAY from your dog according to most over here. :D Question for the breeders with clauses about training. I have always trained my own dogs, all GSD's up until Kane our Mal. They where socialized with my friends dogs since the day I recieved them. They have all been well behaved and followed basic obidence, ie: sit, stay, down, leave, give ect. and lead manners. Would you force me and people like me to go to a training class so I can have one of your pups? I'm sorry if someone else has bought this up, but 12 pages is alot to read, and this part of the conversation seemed to drop off after page 5 anyway.

So I'm not the only one that had that thought then :D Something else you may want to put in there, an old, just warn shirt of yours. It will help with the bonding thing.

Dentol will take them out with-in a minute or two. But I'm affraid of what this new weapon will do to QLD up and coming cricket and golf stars. What will they do to practice now :D