dancinbcs

Try this one. http://www.worldpedigrees.com/

I agree with this. My OH pup is 12 weeks and sits, drops and shakes paw and I am impressed, 8 weeks is very impressive. I teach all my BC puppies all that and more by 8 weeks. They are much easier to train from 5 weeks than when they are older but most breeders don't bother with training at this age. If they did new owners would find coping with their new baby a lot easier. I have no idea if you can train other breeds this early but it would be worth trying. Of course no puppy performs consistantly at 8 weeks but they know what all the commands mean. Mine all learn stand, watch, come, sit, drop, heel and shake hands and they are just starting to get the idea of stay, all by 8 weeks. They are also about 75% house trained by this age as well.

Lying like a frog means nothing. Lots of dogs do it no matter what their hips are like. Sitting up with the legs still in the same frog position behind them, means they have no hip joints. Pat Hastings showed photos of a dog like this at her seminar.

Check for deafness first but after that it is probably just a temperament that you are not used to and may not be able to live with. We see this sort of temperament occasionally in Border Collies and they are usually very active puppies as well. All they want to do is work and no amount of attention and normal training will make them want to be family dogs. They do however make outstanding detection dogs that will happily work all day and I know of several that have been donated to Corrective Services for use as drug detection dogs. They thrive on really high energy physical training with trainers who are very active in their interaction with the dogs.

Many vets know bugger all about raising puppies other than what the pet food companies brain wash them into thinking. Ask your breeder exactly what to do and follow their advice.

Personally I would put her down. A dog like that has no place in society and they are the ones that gives Staffies a bad name. I would not tolerate that behaviour in any dog of any breed. As you know there are plenty of Staffies with wonderful temperaments, dozens of which are put down in pounds and shelters every week. Cut your losses with this one before you invest any more emotional time and money, and find a more suitable friend for Astro. I know this sounds harsh but people spend so much time and money trying to rehabilitate dogs with bad temperaments when so many healthy dogs with good temperaments are euthanased every week. Just doesn't make sense to me. Some are dogs are damaged from abuse but some are just born with crappy temperaments.

A collie comb (with wide spaced teeth), a really good quality bristle and nylon brush, soft slicker and if he is desexed a small Mars coat king for removing really thick tangles. Get your breeder to show you how to groom with which tools. I always use a Mason Pearson brush but Plush Puppy make a pretty good cheaper version. Always brush from the tips of the hair first working up the hair in layers towards the skin. Most tangles can be removed by gently pulling a few hairs at a time out of the tangle towards the dog until it starts to unravel.

Everyone I know is now using Rawlinson in SA and have been happy with the service and results so far.

Forgot to mention that a puppy with genetically good joints can still develop OCD if it injures a growing joint at a crucial stage of development. If they tear the cartledge on the end of the bone it causes the joint to wear away inside. Sometimes complete crate rest allows it to heal, otherwise surgery is needed with 6 weeks strict crate rest to follow.

Don't know how many kennels there are in Yass, but a friend's 10 month old puppy bitch was killed by other dogs in the exercise yard at a kennel somewhere near Yass about a year or so ago. This was only a weekend stay but be very careful with any of them at Christmas when they tend to double up dogs and run groups together. I would never use a kennel that allows dogs from different homes out together.

It's nice to be able to support Australian owned companies but the bigger issue is the ingredients. I try not to buy anything for myself or the dogs that is not all Australian ingredients, because you have no idea how they are produced or if they are contaminated overseas. Anything that is not really produced here is fine but I prefer to support our Aussie farmers and feel safer knowing they comply with high safety standards. I don't have a big issue with imported rice because this country is really not cut out for a crop like that. Such a water demanding crop is doesn't suit our dry climate. I read every label now in the supermarket and go out of my way to not buy any imported product that is traditionally produced here. Canned and frozen and fresh veges, canned fish, sauces, etc are now mostly from imported ingredients and a lot are from Thailand and China. You really have to hunt to find anything produced here any more.

Oh, well if you were in an offlead area that is completely different. The way you wrote your first post it sounded like you were walking your dogs somewhere where they shouldn't be offlead. In that case, they should have been there at all, supervised or not. Off-lead parks are not the place for aggressive dogs. Being an off-lead area changes nothing. The kids should not have been in charge of a dog they could not control and even in an offlead area your dog should be under sufficient control to prevent it approaching another dog unless invited. Doesn't matter if it is on or off lead, so both owners were at fault. One metre away is way too close. Offlead areas are not for the exclusive use of offlead dogs. Everyone has a right to use a public park and dog owners have responsibility to keep out of each others way and that of the general public.

Nutro is made here from all Australian ingredients except the rice but the company is not Australian owned. Anyone know if all the ingredients of any of the others made here are local or not ?

Ons beat me to it. I was also just about to suggest a crate in the house for her so she can be near you without knocking you or the toddler over. Once the baby is born it would be handy to have her crated near you for part of the day so when the babies are asleep you can take her out of the crate and do a few minutes training several times a day. You are much more likely to find the time if she is near you than if you have to go downstairs and outside. Then when the babies need your undivided attention, you could put her outside for a while. She doesn't need another dog, she needs you and some training.

Well done to all that manned the stalls, especially the BC one. So who was inside the costume ? Hope someone took some photos.

I was not able to go but would love to hear how it went from those that did get there.

Definitely a dog chiro and rest means in a crate or small room with walks on lead, not running around the yard. 4-5 months is the most likely time that an injury will result in OCD developing. Strict rest is a must if there is any possibility that a joint has been injured.

You cannot register merle to merle in Border Collies but I think it is the only breed with that rule. Strange it hasn't been applied to the other breeds. All the other colours in Border Collies have no bearing on health and are perfectly acceptable for showing and breeding everywhere else in the world, just not here. All the breed standards need overhauling by genetic experts in relation to what colours should and shouldn't be allowed. Any colour that affects health or is genetically impossible in a purebred dog of a particular breed, needs to a disqualifying colour. Other than that all colours should be allowed. Allowing breed committees with no understanding of colour genetics to just pick the colours they like is why we have this mess in the first place.

Ex show dogs make wonderful pets if they have been housetrained as puppies. Many are but some aren't so it is a question that needs to be asked up front. In some breeds like Labradors, a lot of breeders have waiting lists for young adult dogs from previous owners who want the breed again but not the hassles that go with raising a puppy. With young adults up to about 3 years, there is no reason that they should be cheaper than a puppy. You are still getting a young dog with all the benefits of the training and socialisation that has gone into them. So if a puppy is $2000 I think you should expect to pay the same for a 2 year old. Many show dogs are also obedience trained as well, so don't just assume that they can only run around a show ring. However, with a second baby due and then two under two years I think you are nuts to even consider another dog at the moment. Watching two kids around one dog is going to be a lot of work. Also if your girl was sold as a pet, then she needs to be desexed. Think again about another dog in about 3 years time. I also recommend spreading out the ages of dogs, especially giant breeds that don't live very long, or you could end up losing them very close together and that is tough.

For those in Sydney, Dogs NSW has their Dogs On Show day tomorrow Saturday 11th June at Luddenham Rd, Erskine Park. If you want to look at different breeds and talk to breeders about them, this is the place to go. "Dogs NSW are opening their gates to the general public on Saturday, June 11 between 9.00am to 5.00pm and inviting you to attend, ‘Dogs on Show’, not just a Championship Dog Show but a public Open Day, which will feature special events, activities and demonstrations. These events feature the many sports and the fun you can enjoy with your canine companion, highlighting the advantages of owning a purebred dog as well as the many responsibilities that comes with owning a dog."

You are definitely doing the right thing for you and this puppy by letting him go. You are not ready to raise a puppy and you have the wrong dog at the wrong time in your life. Puppy development is roughly equal to human babies at the rate of one one month to one year, so a 2 month old puppy is like taking on a two year old child. Some are more placid and easier to deal with than others and they definitely pick up on any anxiety in the house and act out like a child would. Don't rule out a cat or an older dog. One of them might suit you perfectly as a companion at this time in your life. One day you will be ready to raise another puppy but don't deprive yourself of company now just because raising a baby is too hard. Talk to the breeder of your puppy and ask if they know anyone with an adult they are looking to home. Sometimes breeders run on more than one in a litter and then choose between them when they mature. Those they don't keep are already trained, often been shown, sometimes had a litter and are therefore settled and easier to manage. A dog like that could be exactly what you need now, rather than a puppy.

But certain colours can't be put on mains register, unless the breeder lies about it, so therefor can't be bred from My argument exactly with the stupid colour rule introduced by the ANKC without any consultation with breeders. Idiotic to make our ONLY disqualification from main registration based on something as insignificant as coat colour. If the breeders ask what colour they can main register a puppy they are actually being told to register them as the closest listed colour. Absolutely stupid and just results in a whole lot of dogs being registered as the wrong colour. As every other country allows all colours it means that if you want to export a main register puppy it has to have the wrong colour registered, be exported and have the colour altered in the country it is going to.

Free puppies are rare and can be a whole lot of trouble if they aren't from health tested lines. On the other hand free adult dogs are reasonably common in large breeds. She might find someone who can't keep their dog for a legitimate reason, just looking to give it away free to a good home rather than put it through a rescue. This would be her best option to get a good dog where she can find out it's history.

I understand the concept - the part that doesn't sit well with me is that we as humans are doing the natural selection thing, we decide what is the best conformation not nature - who's to say we haven't ballsed up and the standard really isn't the best the dog could be. I hear all the time of standard changes and of breeds no longer representing what they should. anything a human has a hand in producing is just as likely to backfire if you ask me. My honest opinion is that some of the labs i've seen on the net that are meant to be show winners seem rather heavy boned/large set - I'm not sure how this would help a retrieving dog who needs to be fairly active. Again I'm a noob at it so could be completely wrong. Btw I have no interest in becoming a breeder I just find it a little sad we as humans decide which dogs are deemed 'worthy' of reproducing (exceptions for deformities and illnesses and the like - common sense). I agree with you. Dogs are being put on mains register & bred from, just because they have good confirmation etc in the show ring, but maybe those dogs have problems with giving birth naturally for example....a very important fact for natural survival. Also with my breed, Border Collies, certain colours are not accepted on the mains register anymore, or pricked ears, means you have no chance in the show ring, so what do these "faults" have to do with whether a dog is structurally sound & should or should not not be allowed on mains register???? Look what our years of selective breeding has done to the poor old King Charles Spaniel, or breeds with flat faces or GSD's that can't walk a straight line without wobbling on their back legs. I am not a breeder, just an observer from the sidelines. When you register a puppy you have no idea if it will have trouble whelping or not so it is something that cannot be assessed at that age. The colour problem does not only apply to BCs. It is because of a rule the ANKC brought in about 10 years ago and applies to all breeds. A lot of colours that are genetically possible have been overlooked in standards because the standards were written at a time when no one understood genetics and they have never been fixed. The BC breeders did not ask for colours to be restricted. Cosmetic points like colour, markings or ear carriage have no bearing on a dog's stucture. They may be considered as faults for the showring but would not be important when assessing breeding stock. Structure, soundness, temperament and health are what should decide if a dog is on main or limit register.

Google Pat Hastings Puppy Puzzle and try to get her video and books. She is the master of working out structure and assesses thousands of puppies every year of all breeds, for breeders in the states. Actually you should understand all this BEFORE you breed or have a really good mentor that can guide you in selecting breeding stock and assessing litters. This is what being a breeder is all about as opposed to just mating two dogs. Our dog chiropractors are also excellent at assessing puppies at 8 weeks for any structural problems. You also need to consider correct temperament for the breed, correct head type, breed type and finally ears, coat, colour and markings. Then you need to work out the nature of each puppy and what purpose or home will suit it best. Show, agility, obedience or spoilt pet. The only thing you cannot assess at 8 weeks is eventual size and substance or if you have a breed where the mouth may go off this can also happen as they grow. Other than those points what you have at 8 weeks is what the mature adult will be. They can grow in all sorts of weird ways along the way to maturity but they always end up a mature version of that 8 week old puppy.