Joan of Arc

That's pretty natural, after all you are the leader of his/her pack and they are waiting for you to come and play. Even at 6 yrs, our boy will sleep if I am busy inside but as soon as we go out the door they all have a toy to bring to me to play with.

I've had scans done using both methods and have had positive and accurate results (including predicted numbers) from both methods. I have had some corker of phantoms as well - just like Mikelli explained - right down to the "look quick I'm in labour" actions. So much so that I actually took her to the vets and said "are you sure she's not pregnant?"

As someone who just recently went through the process of selecting a new lab puppy I can say I have seen this happening in the advertisements here on DOL. Right now just looking at ads from NSW only, there is a bitch for sale on mains register who "can be transferred to the limited register on request for a greatly reduced price." There is also an ad for an upcoming litter which states that all puppies will be sold on the main register. They have not even been born yet! Yet another ad states "The pups are priced at $1000.00 Limited Registration as Pets. Main Registration is available upon negotiation to responsible parties." We can only hope the negotiation only applies to pups suitable for main registration but it doesn't necessarily read that way. Going back to what was said earlier about breeding for colour, there is also an ad for puppies in which the chocolate puppies are priced $200 higher than the yellow puppies. These are the ads that NSW lab puppy buyers are looking at right now! You have to wonder what this is going to do to the breed over time. Absolutely correct Macka - happens in every State and Territory right around Australia. Are these individual "breeders" breaking any Controlling Body rule - often times not. There are no rules which dictate that breeders must be open and honest in their dealings with puppy buyers. Similarly - there are no written rules that guard against inexperience, or misinterpretation or just plain downright stupidity. Nor are there any rules (or training programmes) which teaches the novice how to choose & assess the quality of individual puppies. All of that comes with skill and experience and an intimate understanding of bloodlines and the breed itself. Bring on an ANKC endorsed, Sate Controlled Breeder Accreditation scheme IMO. Picture a system that "appraises" the skill of individual breeders based on: - years of experience - customer feedback - level of visible hereditary defect testing - performance of dogs bred in chosen fields of endeavour. Picture a system that allocates a Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platnum status to individual breeders. Picture a system that requires that a beginner must receive endorsement from a Gold/Platnum breeder in a mentoring role. Only then will the current "minefield" confronting puppy buyers be able to be negotiated with some degree of confidence. Some form of accreditation scheme is long overdue, I think a lot of the problem with some beginning breeders is just plain ignorance of the facts. I am all for mentoring new breeders, I myself was very fortunate to have a long standing breeder as my mentor and I still rely on her advice and knowledge. I am forever grateful that I was lucky enough to be taken under her wing....this person is now one of my dearest friends.....that we could all be so lucky.... Macka, my guess would be that those yellow puppies could possibly have chocolate points hence the smaller price tag.....quite possible in a chocolate/yellow litter..... "Gold" Labradors!! One of my pet hates. Blackdog while I absolutely agree with you 100%, a hierarchial system such as you suggest would be ideal, give breeders something to strive for etc. However, human nature being such as it is, even that system would be open to corruption. There is no absolute answer. But nevertheless, bring it on.

I agree with Erny about not watching those big brown eyes... If Bella has a nice waist, then I should think you are doing ok, but I would like to know which dry biscuit you are feeding. COme and visit us again in the Lab thread.

So we are not the only ones! We often say good morning or good night & OH evens tells her how much he misses her. Its early days and I thought that those actions might diminish as time passes but reading your posts - perhaps not. Doesnt worry me, we loved her dearly

We had our beautiful Cassie cremated. It was all coordinated between them and and our vets. She was collected by the cremation people from our vets and returned two days later. She is in a beautiful rosewood box with a plaque with her name, dates etc and a small verse. We paid $350

Cremation Had friends who were renting 9 years ago and buried thier loved pooch inour backyard because we owned our house. We sold and moved. We have recently lost our beautiful Cassie and although we own our house here we decided on cremation and she is on the mantle in our family room where she spent every other night with us and her mates. Cremation all the way.

Blackdog this is an extensive post, I would like to respond to most of it but it needs some digestion before doing so. Therefore I will respond to some of it and later to the balance.

Suen, Lab puppies are highly intelligent and I agree with the others, he is training you. Macka has given you some good advice - keep your pup occupied when he is outside, toys, kongs, a bone etc. You MUST make going outside as attractive as being inside. If you would like him to be inside and would like to know more about crate training there are ample threads on DOL about this topice. I would also encourage you to visit the Labrador thread in the Breeds forums where you can talk to several people who have Lab pups the same age.

I'll start the ball rolling with one simple suggestion and let others make one each. ANKC/State controlling bodies need to create public education programs - in consultation with breed bodies. Its not the only answer but it one suggestion

Nice to read someone else agrees with me that Labs are not destructive devils - mine have never destroyed anything. Its all about training and boundaries and keeping them occupied. And yes training a lab to be well behaved and then owning a well trained Lab is a very rewarding experience

Blackdog not sure if this is what you are after but here goes. If we put aside the bigger issues that we are already fully aware of - eyes and hips/elbows there are few issues that should be being addressed. 1.Firstly is the negative publicity that our beautiful breed seems to attract -yes even here on DOL there is a large amount of Lab bashing that some of us find extremely offensive and have chosen not to read anymore. The publicity seems always to include the topic of 'wild child' labradors who chew everything, destroy everything and are uncontrollable. 2. Here I completely agree with MM and MIkelli, this mannia for choc babies is becoming out of control. Locally I can buy any number of unregistered, 'vet checked', choc babies - the add always says good with kids great family dog etc. When you see them walking the streets they look less like a Lab than I do. 3. As for Mikelli's 'education' comment I totally agree. We need to undertake campaigns not just for Labs but for all breeds to show the public that purebreed registered dogs are sound healthy and of great temperament. I have even heard vets recommend cross breeds because they are "healthier animals". I know someone who was told this by thier vet, followed thier advice instead of mine and ended up with a Lab X that was blind and crippled at 4. I guess what I am saying that the three issues that face us today are definately intertwined with those of hips/elbows and eyes and it all boils down to a couple of things. Reputable and reliable breeders who are persistent in thier efforts - yes mentoring is an issue in any breed. And education about colour, health and diet etc etc etc.

Double post sorry

Oh Labsrule your tribute was heart breaking. I know you are devastated at losing your gorgeous boy but he is past pain now and is waiting at the bridge. RIP Fitzy Say hello to our beautiful Cassie - she will wait at the bridge with you.

She's teething so her mouth might be a bit sore and use something soft such as a feather or soft cloth. And make the reward / treat something very tasty that she loves but doesnt normally have - cheese or devon or frankfurt etc. Only try two or three times at each session and then try two or three times a day.

That is gold!!!!! Absolutely priceless :D :D

Hey they might have been the same people that wanted thier long haired Labrador trimmed

Matthew, come and visit us in the Lab thread, you will find that many of us are always posting about what to feed pups.

Hi Envy congratulations on your new Lab baby. And remember he is exactly that, a baby. I endorse the idea of crate training but acknowledge that it is not for every one. However if you had a crate, then he could sleep in the crate in the lounge room, study or your bedroom. My theory is that he will sleep better if he is near you - after all you are now the head of his family and he needs to know that he is safe and secure. Once he has settled in and has been a little better house trained then you can start to move the crate out of your bedroom or closer to the kitchen or laundry. Small steps slowly. I would also put something snuggly in the crate with him, a warm blanket or even a cuddly toy like a bear etc. This would emulate his litter mates and he wouldnt feel quite so lonely in his bed. You must also make going to bed (regardless of whether or not you use a crate) a positive experience. Again a crate will make this so much easier. You could put him to bed with a lamb shank bone, he will chew this for a little while and then probably go to sleep. He will then wake up later in the night to toilet, he will whine to go out. You can take him out with out playing, use a training word - I have heard some use 'quickly' others just say 'do wees' etc. As soon as he had achieved his goal, respond with 'yes good boy, back to bed'. Show him the bone again, and once he goes back to bed close the crate. Of course it can help to cover some of the crate, it replicates a 'den' environment and he will feel a little more secure. You must also come and visit us in the Labrador forum and of course the one thing we demand there is piccies, and more piccies.

I have refrained from commenting until now on this absolutely disgusting issue. Living as far south in NSW as I do there is very little I could do to assist - although those who need to will contact me when and if they need my assistance. However on the issue of early desexing I would just like to make this one comment. I totally support Blackdog and those who are against this practice. If for no other reason I am convinced that the practice of early desexing intefers with the maturing process of animals. Regardless of thier pet/show/trial suitability all animals should be afforded the opportunity to reach a natural maturity or close too. Blackdog you have figures I am sure about litter mates being desexed at different ages.

I have a treadmill here and I hardly ever use it _Surprise _ How exactly did you introduce your dog to it? Was it a case of just run it really slowly and put her on? Or did you let her sit on it first etc. A few people have had posts here before about treadmills and several have suggested that you box in the sides etc. Just wondering how others felt abou that because I have Labs and they could always do with more exercise

Thank you BLackdog for your informative post. YOur many years of experience and therefore expertise in this breed more than qualifies you to comment on these issues. I have just sat and typed a lengthy reply to your post and decided that I would not post it after all and deleted it. All I will say is that we strive to breed the best we can, we consult other breeders - whose lines are complementary to ours - before we make a decision for matings. WE place high priority on meeting the breed standards but we are also determined to breed companionable animals of sound temperament. OUr dogs are all rounders - we exhibit them all, we shoot over two of them and I trial the youngest in obedience. But our Labs are well mannered, not fat overweight slobs or skinny ribby kelpy lookalikes. They do what they were bred to do and we dont expect anything else of them. IF I want a dog for flyball or agility then I will get a thinner, leaner, more agile breed that is designed for jumping and running and twisting.

CONGRATULATIONS TO NEWFSIE SHE AND OF COURSE THE BEAUTIFUL ANNABELLE PASSED THEIR CCD ON SUNDAY :D :D ;)

AD I show my Labs (well OH handles them) and we also do obedience with them. I have been showing on and off for many years, with a 'children' break in the middle but this year is the first time I have ever trialled in obedience. I love it, my girl loves it and knows the difference between when we are trialling and when my son or OH have her in the ring.

Yes very common in Labs, none of mine have suffered thankfully but I went to a show last year and met a Lab friend there and she had bathed her dogs the night before, dried them off and put them in the trailer and driven for a few hours to the show. Got the dogs out next morining and all had very sad tails, and she told me they had 'wet bottom' (like Koalas) from sitting too long when they hadnt dried their tails properly. It was about 2 - 3 days befor ethose dogs could lift thier tails. Looked very uncomfortable and of course unusual for a Lab not to wag the tail