Sayly

Your dog's prefix is Divineblue... makes me think your dog's breeder is only breeding for the blue colour? Sorry but Austin does NOT have a black nose.

Depends on the dog and owner. My girls won't tear my house down if they don't get a walk. They sleep all day and sleep all night! I was painting the other day from 4pm and they napped next to me. Woke them for dinner, were awake for about half an hour then took themselves off to bed. Didn't hear a peep out of them until the next morning. They get plenty of mental stimulation in the absense of physical stimulation if I can't take them out for a walk (ie. obedience training), so they are well balanced. Lazy when at home, but still have the motivation for go go go when I let them have an offlead run I can totally picture a Lab being "go go go" in a kennel environment, that's some pretty exciting stuff there! Mine would do the same. But at home, lazybones galore. My dad puppysits the dogs while I'm at work most days at the moment and he sends me photos of them to my phone daily, and every photo is of them curled up asleep on a blanket on the floor Anyway, no idea if a Lab suits the OP, but saw this and just wanted to put my 2 cents worth in based on my personal experience Most dogs of course are much more excitable in kennels but Labs seem to be especially so! I think the bolded bit above is so important though, alot of people get pet labs thinking they are big, lazy, sweet and easy breed, big, sweet and sometimes lazy maybe but they need mental stimulation as well as physical exercise, they are a working dog after all! I wouldn't call them easy by any means from my own experience but it has been minimal. :D And I know how much work you put into your two RubyStar!

I would not call a Lab low energy needs, all the labs I have met through working in a boarding kennel have been pretty go, go, go.

There isn't a whole lot of difference in size between Bostons and Pugs. Kudos for you for doing the right thing and researching a breed, sorry if any of my posts have come across rude tonight, not intended at all. Perhaps someone in WA can point you in the direction of a great rescue group who could set you up with a suitable dog.

If you like Bostons perhaps a Pug would be suitable?

A greyhound through a good adoption program should be able to match you with a grey that is good with cats, others with more greyhound experience should be able to fill you in more. Greys, Spitz breeds and Beagles don't have the best recall (generally of course). Would you be interested in going through a rescue org? They may be able to match you up with a pup or adult that suits your criteria, but I understand the desire of going through a reg breeder.

Do you want a dog who has a fairly reliable recall and can be let off lead or does this not worry you? Would you shy away from a rough coated breed? How secure is your yard? Alot of the breeds on your list aren't what are generally seen as easy or good for first timers, but I personally can't comment on any of them as I don't own any you have listed.

Congrats to all the winners, nice to see the lovely Beddie did so nicely!

Congratulations to Ben and Ana on group 2nd, I love love love their bitches! ;)

I agree with the above statement. I work in a kennel which I would happily board my dogs in. Some dogs are mixed in playgroups with supervision (with owners' permission only) but dogs are only put into kennels with dogs within their own family. Bitches in season are a real PIA. I couldn't imagine the issues of having one in during peak times. If the kennel has enough bookings to book themselves out during Christmas, why bother taking on a potentially difficult client? Even dogs that aren't mixed are kenneled next to other dogs, they have to be especially during peak periods, and for some kennels there are only strong mesh fencing, a male can mate an in season bitch through such fencing, thus making trying to juggle kennel allocations even more difficult with keeping males from in season bitches.

I was going to say Polish Lowland too. Gorgeous dogs!

Cute pictures. A DOLer friend is fostering a grey at the moment and I am hoping to meet him on the weekend! Oh and I love your rabbits!

We have two come into work, owned by the same family. One is 'apricot' and the other silver. One's the size of an Irish Terrier and the other is between that of a toy poodle and a chi. Ugly dogs, I honestly don't see the appeal.

Thanks Sway.

Looking forward to seeing Lowchen and Irish Terrier results.

11 BTs both days Bohunt.

Bohunt - I will check them after dinner for you. Bindii - we left pretty soon after group 5 was done on Monday, we had a rescue kitten with us and didn't want to stir any more dogs up than we already had, not like the little kitten cared!

Congrats! Nothing special for our lot yet but Maizie who is just out of baby has taken two RBCC with nice competition!

The vet has a right to refuse treating an animal, especially if they are asked to do it for free. As I said before, how does the vet know that the healthy dog in front of him isn't just being put down because the owner doesn't want him anymore? Or it's a dog stolen from an ex or neighbour? If the vet had PROOF the dog was dangerous then it would be different. If I was the vet and was put in the situation it would not be an easy decision to make. ETA: The owner obviously knew it was dangerous and yet it was still around his child! I feel so sorry for the poor girl.

Exactly stormie - why should the vet pay out of their own pocket for the owner's mistakes? Their mistakes in judgement and upbringing of the dog? ETA: Perhaps the vet had more compassion for the dog than the client? And had only the owner's word on it being dangerous? And didn't want to take the life of an otherwise healthy animal? An animal they had no proof of being dangerous, except the word of a man who couldn't afford the euth costs and was brutal enough to kill his own dog by stabbing it?

Stormie said pretty much what I was going to say. Why is it the vet's fault the dickhead father couldn't afford the vet bill to put it down? Not having enough money to look after your own dogs (including BASIC vet bills) does not mean others should foot the bill, just means you are an idiot. How does the vet know the dog was dangerous? And not some moron who didn't want the dog anymore and simply said it was dangerous, put it down? Or stole their neighbour's/ex's/enemy's dog and said here it's dangerous put it down? ETA: How do you know he didn't try work out a payment plan with the owners? And if they were that desperate perhaps they could have tried another vet? And 180 pounds, I have the equivalent (well more actually) saved just for vet fees for one dog (the rest are my parent's but they also have money saved).

I think breed would have little to do with it in most cases. Here's a true example: Two half sisters, one lives with me, my mum, dad, brother and boyfriend. She loves us all pretty equally, listens and responds to all of us, but she loves my boyfriend and I best. Happy to do anything for anyone. Her half sister who lives with her breeder but occasionally comes over for sleep overs, treated very similar to her 1/2 sister above, but she ADORES me and really likes my brother and Dad, but she seems to despise my mum and boyfriend! She won't go to them, doesn't like being with them, ignores them. She's similar with her breeder who she lives with most of the time. She sees me and goes silly though! No idea why, but her and I really clicked. I feel very strongly for the little girl, we just hit it off from day one, I think if she was mine she would be a really special dog in my life. THese two girls, while similar, have big differences in personalities. Same breed, same mother though. I think it's really just the dog! ETA: Mum even fed her when she was here to see if it would change it, nup. She doesn't mind Mum if it's only her around but if Dad, brother or I am around she just ignores her completely!

EF - we have the catalogue and I should be able to scan it for you at uni. Not 100% sure I can as I haven't used the scanners there before. Let me know if you still need this and I will take it in on Monday.

Marnie is such a cutie! If Miss Squish ever brings you to a dog show you will have to come and see me! :D Miss Squish knows who I am.

;) Thanks Amanda! Having a bitch who shows easily helps. I started showing in group 2 but you wouldn't know it.