Sandra777

I was just pointing out that there are other explanations to people who might be reading this and not understand how it works. Sorry, I should have explained what I meant better. Low titre levels only indicates that the dog hasn't been in contact with the virus and has low levels of antibodies circulating in the blood. Again, only mentioning this for those that don't know

for the one which died. But you can't assume it is the drug company's fault - some dog's immune systems simply do not respond to vaccination in the "normal" way.

It says in the article that the neighbour retrieved the dog then phoned the RSPCA, then says the inspector arrived to find the dog with the chain around it's neck. So did the neighbour just retrieve the dog chain and all?

I wouldn't worry at all.

I've had a bitch come in every 4 months (pain in the butt that is ) but the fact that the bitch's seasons started to change BEFORE the vet started messing around with her suggests there is something not right, perhaps something "accidental" which can be fixed, perhaps not.

You said she was coming in season every 4 months, then started coming in every 3 months before you went to Monash. Before you started messing about with her? Ovarian cysts or similar come to mind but I would guess the repro specialist would have ruled that out to start with?

OK, all the veterinary advice aside - do you really want to found your breeding programme on a bitch with hormonal issues?

Hmm, yes :p I am currently talking to someone who wants to breed from a bitch I bred. I support what they are doing, have suggested a stud dog and made sure all their little birdies are in a row. I wrote a great long email detailing how the bitch should be fed during pregnancy (giving options of raw/commercial/mix) emphasising over and over and over about how they must not give her calcium supplements. They discussed this with their vet and came away with a bottle of calcium sandoz because bitches need calcium supplementation AND commercial puppy food when pregnant.

Wow, wish I hadn't googled that. Yuck! Sorry, can't help - job for a garden centre perhaps?

Would agree with that.

Good luck finding that blue breeder. There is NO way any ethical breeder can guarantee their pups will be free of all genetic faults as we only have DNA tests for two of them. A dodgy backend is as much a genetic fault as L2-HGA Yes of course it's possible, the condition affects dilute colours so of course it's possible

No harm in it - until they come inside with a huntsman spider attached to their face - and don't understand why I run away screaming at them to get outside

Saved me the typing Also ask the question why did I do this mating - as in what specific traits did I want to achieve and have I achieved these ie are these pups an improvement on their parents in the areas I wanted to improve.

X2 Call the police, you have been threatened with a weapon. Personally I would have drop kicked the mad woman and her dogs into the creek, but that of course would have made it worse (assault)

And a dog with a top line which isn't level doesn't correspond to the standard which calls for a level topline and a dog with straight stifles doesn't correspond with the standard which calls for well bent stifles. These are genetic flaws too - and are structural/functional faults which cause the dog to be unable to perform the task for which it was bred. Pricked ears, light toenails, light eyes, grey or brown nose are all cosmetic even though they too are genetic, they don't prevent the dog being healthy and live a full and active life. There is no dog which doesn't fail to correspond to the breed standard in some way - so they are ALL unacceptable? Which parts of the breed standard are more important than others - the bits that affect health or the bits which are purely cosmetic?

Could be the perfectly normal lubrication which is nothing to be concerned about or it could be a minor infection, which is also little to be concerned about. You could try syringing his sheath with a little plain saline (warm, not freezing cold ) but if it concerns you, it would be a vet jobby. Personally I wouldn't consider it in any way an emergency situation.

Google dilution alopecia. Dilute is dilute is dilute, the breed is irrelevant. IMO the biggest implication is that once you breed for the colour of the coat you are automatically relegating far more important points further down the list when choosing breeding stock. Important points such as general health issues (heart, allergies, demodex), correct conformation (which is important for the dog to live a normal life), good temperament, correct breed type (which is important only in so far as most people like their chosen breed to actually LOOK like their chosen breed). The biggest problem with the majority of blues is they are actually really poor examples of the breed and many of them are physically unsound. Yes, it is NOT bred from generations of blues. Skin issues - see above. Dilute Alopecia won't occur in non-dilutes. Ethical breeders don't breed from dogs with major skin issues so this is virtually eliminated buy dealing with an ethical breeder regardless of colour. Eye? Never heard of this one being directly related to blue. Hereditary Juvenile Cataract is a potential problem in all Staffords which haven't been DNA tested clear. PHPV & Distichiasis are also major issues in the breed and are potential problems in all Staffords full stop since there is no DNA test and no clear mode of inheritance has been proven. Of course, as is the case for any colour. Except for the simple fact that dilute alopecia is more likely to happen with dilutes actually bred from a line of dilutes. But how will you know? People who breed specifically for blue are well known in the breed to be,as a whole, not well versed on the breed standard or breeding in general. The vast majority of BYBs and/or new comers who have bought off BYBs. There are exceptions to EVERY rule No, they are all dilutes. You would be hard pressed to find a blue (champion or not) which has won under specialist judges or even in particularly strong competition. In many cases it reflects the basic truth that you can make up virtually any dog in Australia if you try hard enough and in other cases it reflects the fact that some judges, understanding the truth of genetics will reward a dog which is actually a good example of the breed but has a cosmetic fault. ALL dogs in the show ring deviate from the breed standard in some way.

Lurcher.. usually Whippet/BC mixes. Yep, pretty much confined to the UK. Huntaway. NZ Herding breed. Bergamasco.. that's a corded breed I think. So Lurchers are just mutts? Are the other 2 recognised breeds in their countries? Huntaways can be registered with the working sheepdog associations so could be considered a pure breed. Bergamascos are FCI I believe?

Had two lurchers stay at our kennels, they'd come from the UK with their owners and were "proper lurchers" whatever that means. Honestly if I'd met them on the street I would have wondered if they were Sibe x Greyhound x GSD so not sure how "proper" they were Huntaway - anything B&T and slightly longish haired in NZ gets labelled Huntaway - probably the same dogs in Australia would get labelled Rottweiler cross.

I always adored walking Tammy the Portuguese Water Dog in show clip, to be told that she can't be a Poodle because she is too big. (Like I was pretending she was a Poodle? ) No one ever guessed LabxPoodle except at a dog show where someone came up and deliberately walked around the back before proclaiming "well it can't be a Labradoodle in that clip" ETA: but they still weren't game enough to guess what she might be.

So all the brindles, reds, pieds that have a cosmetic flaw aren't Staffords either? All dogs have faults; NO Stafford "conforms to the standard"100%

The breed standard says nose black. Then the breed standard says faults to be judged according to severity. To me a dodgy backend, foul head or top line like a camel is worse than a DARK slate nose. Bad pigment is no more than a cosmetic fault, but the total lack of virtue in the majority of blues is the thing IMO we should be really be making a big fuss about. Pet owners don't seem to understand that correct conformation isn't just a show thing, it's pretty important for the dog's physical wellbeing!

Bunnings sell taps of all sizes

Yep - they can be standing that early. Progesterone testing would be the way to go so you know either way. Some bitches which display this sort of behaviour actually have hormonal issues, won't conceive and may end up with pyometra, hope your's isn't one of them

Was in the regulations. Told her if there was anything it would be in the rules & regs Thanks!