Sandra777

If they are dedicated exercise and training I would suggest having a look at the Portuguese Water Dog - they MUST be prepared to train the dog and keep it's mind occupied. Personally I would think a Dobe wouldd be too much for them, but if they like a smarter sort of dog but without the potential for problems a undertrained Dobe might bring (love the breed but they're too much dog for me) then a PWD might be OK. Unusual, low shedding, loves exercise when fully grown, fun, but they absolutely must exercise and train it. Not a dog for the faint hearted though!

To me it doesn't sound like you did anything wrong, and of course you'd want to take him straight to the vet. Just sounds to me like the breeder was either having a really bad day or reacting overdefensively at the thought of parvo (and there is a vaccination issue with black and tan dogs and parvo). Yes, you did right taking the pup to the vet immediately, no matter if the breeder just lived around the corner that would have been the best thing to do if you're worried. If it had been parvo you could have saved his life by acting quickly and not waiting for an over-the-phone opinion. Sounds like it all turned out OK in the end though. Perhaps now the pup is on the road to recovery you could phone the breeder back and let them know the pup is going to be fine. Ignore anything they say about the cost - that's entirely up to you and no business of their's if you decide to spend your money at the vet's or not - but stay calm and simply state that you were very upset about your puppy being sick and it upset you even more to be accused of doing something wrong to have caused it. There's lots of things I don't take my dogs to the vet for which novice owners certainly would, and I have been known to say that they needn't have wasted their time and money on a vet, but never when it's v & d in a young puppy and never when the owner is obviously upset by their dog being ill. If they remain aggressive and unhelpful then I'd chalk it up to experience and see if I couldn't find someone else to help with the inevitable problems that will come your way. Bad people skills don't make someone a bad breeder, any more than having being breeding for 25 years makes them a good one. Glad the little guy's better!

Not saying it's a universal truth, but the stud dogs I've had don't "have their penis out" to the extent that anyone would actually notice. They mount, trust and if they've got it right, enter and tie. Even novice dogs I've had experience with don't have their penis out of the sheath even when making multiple attempts to get their positoning right (at which point I frequently offer them a map and a compass) They don't tend to get their gear out and wave it about so to speak I'm assuming you aren't experienced? If so is there someone local with experience who could come around and have a look at what's going on (or not), or perhaps give you the number of a local studmaster?

You're right to be concerned for the welfare of the pup, but IMO there's not much point now about worrying about where the pup has come from. Personally I wouldn't be worming or flea treating a puppy (especially one so small and perhaps not well) so soon after it's had the major upheaval of changing homes. Vet check first, then take it from there. If he turns out to have issues "I told you so" isn't very helpful, if he turns out OK then saying how bad his breeder is just gives her a chance to say "I told you so". Sadly there's no law against stupid and gullible.

Nope - that's why God made animals with bones

I've posted this in the schnauzer sub forum too, but will put it here as well as that sub forum doesn't seem to attract much traffic (last post a week ago - like a desert after the Stafford sub forum ;)) A workmate wants to buy a mini Schnauzer puppy. She originally wanted a bitch, but saw a dog in PP yesterday and put a holding deposit on him. I gave her the rough side of my tongue today and she has cancelled that, but obviously sex is less important than availability She asked the PP people if the puppy came from a puppy farm and of course was told no, and was in tears when I showed her the links about why and how she had been lied to - so she knows puppy farms are bad and really doesn't want to support them but just didn't realise that PP would tell her whatever she wanted to hear. She did say "but if I don't buy him someone else will" and I avoided going up in flames but simply pointed out that it was her choice and her conscience she had to live with. Anyway.......... of all the Mini Schnauzer breeders listed on DOL in Qld are there any she should avoid? (PMs fine obviously!) Anyone know of someone maybe not even advertising on here having a litter soon which might have a limit register/pet pup still available? We didn't get into colours so I can't help with that sorry. She said the puppy in PP was cheaper than the ones at breeders to which I said that was very odd but it was probably because the puppy had been there a while, then explained why this was even worse for the pup. She's a nice person and I think would make a good owner. At the moment she & hubby are in a townhouse but they are having a house built on a couple of acres and should be in it by the end of November. She did say the Landlord had refused to allow her to have a puppy but then late this afternoon said he had changed his mind - either way I'm sure a good and sensible breeder could get her sorted out and pointed in the right direction if she could meet mum-to-be, see some other Schnauzers and have the promise of a "probably puppy" to look forward to. She's in her late 20's, 1 cat, no intention for children.

Big D - I would place my life in the paws and jaws of a PROPERLY bred Rottweiler, German Shepherd, American Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Brazilian Fila or Argentine Dogo miles before I would even enter the yard of a BADLY bred Golden Retriever, Labrador, Standard Poodle, Cocker Spaniel or any other "good" breed you care to mention. As for Golden Retrievers having rounded teeth, sorry that's just not even worth answering. Learn some dog anatomy please!

A lot of bitches still swell even though they don't discharge so any swelling of the vulva should be considered to mean something If it's a real season including ovulation, yes. Wow, could they come and tell that to my two bleeding 9 month old bitches! This is not what I have found to be true, and not something I've ever even heard of before. Silent heats in breeds I'm familiar with are extremely unusual.

And short haired mid to large sized cross bred dogs are also common and popular - these are the very dogs labelled as "pit bulls" the second one should happen to bite. So it's to be expected that Labs, GSDs and ACDs are commonly represented in bite stats because they're common. It's NOT ''OK'' that other popular types which just so happen to be not to your personal liking to be similarly represented in bite stats. Personally I think the best solution is for EVERYONE who owns a dog to have to be able to prove they are capable of giving their dog the right sort of care. Some people are capable of controlling the biggest and most aggressive dog, others shouldn't be in charge of a dead Basset. I am a responsible owner of Staffordshire Bull Terriers. Why the hell should it cost ME more to own my chosen dogs than it costs my brain dead neighbour across the back who owns two Border Collies that do nothing but chase everything that passes their fence, fight with each other, bark all day and on the one occasion I have seen them out, were uncontrollable and menacing a small child on a bike (yes I did step in).

It's a pit bull of course First report I heard was a pitbull had mauled a child. Dog shown on TV looked to me like a very wrinkly Bullmastiff, about the right size and shape but too wrinkled to be pure bred.

:eek: And how do you feel when he licks his butt?

Random thought.... Is breeding dogs the only hobby where the more you practice it the less well regarded you tend to be?

No they don't - as it says in the article, this was abolished because only about 50% of owners ever bothered to pay it. I'd be interested to know the % in Australia - in NZ it used to be estimated about 40% of dogs were unregistered, not sure if they've changed their thinking on that, & I don't think it'd be much different here. Yet another tax for the responsible to pay and the irresponsible to avoid.

The NZ one is a bit different and is in stages, basic to gold, more like the UK system. Basic and Bronze in NZ I think would slot in about where the one here is. My girl got Silver but Gold required a retrieve (not formal obedience type) and she said if I wanted a retriever I should've bought a Labrador

for some it can work - but pounds, rescues and advertisements are full of those who dont. Yes, sorry, should have added but I don't recommend it

yes but did he just go out and buy one without giving consideration to the temperament, care requirements etc? That was my point I bought my first dog based entirely on a picture in a book. Nope, didn't give any consideration to the temperament, care etc. Worked out OK for me - happy Birthday Mr P - he'd be 32 years old today, my first Stafford

+1 +2

Wasn't me you were quoting :rolleyes:

Not sure that is a fair comment. Not even ALL registered breeders of current registered breeds would adhere to all the principles on the website. And people have plenty to say about the difference between an ethical ANKC breeder and an unethical one. No different. My point was, they can't expect "serious" dog people to take them seriously they need to push the difference between ethical and unethical in the same way ANKC breeders do.

IF every single Labrador x Poodle breeder adhered to the principles on the website you found then I doubt many people would have too much to say about them. Simple fact is - they don't. Simple fact is - creating a new breed requires long term committment and strict criteria. Grabbing two random dogs and mating them doesn't work. Multi-generational labrador x poodles certainly exist and I believe that somewhere there probably are a small number of people who sincerely do believe they are creating a new breed, and some of them even do adhere to the principles listed on that website, but if they want to be taken seriously they need to distance themselves completely from the puppy farm oodle AND change the name of their new breed - honestly how can you take something called a "Labradoodle" seriously

PWD are VERY smart and a lot less people orientated (or is that people pleasing?) than the Poodles I've known. Independent, not stubborn so much as free thinking, but very quick to learn and very amenable to shaping type training, they like to think about stuff and offer different solutions (sometimes very different LOL) The general consenus is that PWD pups are very challenging, but I didn't find mine to be - after Stafford puppies not much is . Personally I think anyone who likes the more independent nature of the terrier breeds but wants something more ''cute'' looking and perhaps just a touch easier to teach to focus would be suited to a PWD. Someone who wants a super obedient read your mind type dog would hate them I think. No, nothing like the drive of a Border Collie IME and quite a lot more lazy natured, happy with a mental workout rather than a physical one if that's what is on offer.

So you think it is better they are (potentially) sold to unsuitable homes where they may lead miserable lives at best and do serious damage to someone at worst??? Sorry, back to the do not post status of the thread

What the bare bottom Well the standard does say "normally" or "generally" or some such word in regards to the traditional trim so you could argue the point all day. When I had her in that trim she was doing agility and obedience and just went to one conformation show - which just so happened to be judged by someone who was actually interested in the breed (great rarity).

Exaggeration meybe? Pup is 13 weeks, I hope this means you've had him 5 weeks or less - and given the amount of time it takes to swop one dry food for another, numerous seems a bit um... dramatic OK, so if you stick him in a boring environment with his food, what happens? What did the breeder's diet sheet recommend. Personally I'd take the diet sheet of an experienced breeder over what any random vet might think any day of the week. How much does he eat? Is he a good weight, lively, happy and playful? If so, chances are he's getting all he needs. The quantities on dog food bags tends to be way over the top in most cases. If he genuinely isn't eating enough and is bad condition then of course do anything you can to encourage his appetite, but you say yourself that he looks very good, so maybe this is what you should be looking at more. Sardines or a raw egg (no reason or need to cook it) over his ration of dry food won't do any harm if you want to add them and it makes him eat more and eases your mind.

Unfortunately this one was raised with Staffords, so got the lazy Stafford sit! Someone who knew her said this was her intelligent look