poodlefan

Saw a whole bunch of wrecks at Bairnsdale last Sunday after the high winds. Peg them by the feet AND two guy ropes per leg (brace them diagonally) and they last a lot longer. Anyone who pegs feet only is begging for disaster.

And then they buy a Lab/Standard poodle cross and end up with a dog larger than a Lab. I'd not mind $10 for every Lab/poodle cross owner who's said "gee he grew bigger than we thought he would".

Sandra: I find when you question folk about why they think they want one of these dogs they: * have rarely met an adult one * believe the hype the dodgy breeders promote * basically want all the advantages of a poodle without having to confess to owing one. * have bought into the stereotype of the Lab and the Poodle and think they'll get all the best parts but none of the worst in a cross. Given a range of other options, most can make a decision from amongst the recognised breeds. I've never met a "Labradoodle" that wasn't an F1 cross. I'm happy to promote the idea of buying ANY pup from an ethical breeder but I can't recommend what I've never met. ETA: And while folk continue to promote a *breed* with a name that is a composite of two other breeds, I'm not sure I want to.

Keisha: Those involved in the ALA are not breeding Labradors to Poodles. They are way beyond doing F1 crosses. Crossing two separate breeds: * does not guaranteee that the offspring will have any one particular feature of either of them. Low shedding coats, size, temperament.. all a big question mark * Does not eliminate the health issues in either of the parent breeds. Labradors and poodles carry identical genes for PRA.. HD etc also exists in both breeds * does not create a breed when breeders do not move beyond F1 crosses Your average "Labradoodle" breeder makes a range of outrageous unsupportable claims about what the pups will grow up to be, uses less than the best quality breeding stock, markets them at ridiculous prices to people who are novices in the dog world, doesn't health test and has zero interest in the pups unless they retain breeding rights. That's what pisses me off about the DD generators. :

aussielover: Pro groomers tell me that the worst of the poodle cross coats are far more challenging to maintain than the poodle's.

Hasn't your girl had shoulder/front end issues?

Thanks for the update Robbi - sounds very positive.

It's a small price to pay for owning a brilliant dog. No one seems to ask this about the black ones by the way.

Awwww crap. Thinking positive thoughts for Yogi.

I think dogs can recognise our moods and to some degree our feelings. However, I don't think dogs necessarily try hard to please because we love them. Developing an eagerness to please may be part genetic and part conditioning. I can think of a few doted on dogs that are more likely to give their owners the finger than try to please them.

I am so over discussing DDs. If the *dog breed in the making* folk can get it to breed true, do all the health testing and get it recognised, then more power to them. Just change the bloody name to make it do more than just trade on two of its component breeds. And keep it OUT of Group 3!

Ever thought about doing formal obedience training with her Deelee? There are ways of reinforcing your leadership role that build trust and cooperation through training. Frankly I think getting involved in dog sport of some kind would be a lot more fun than feeling like you have to deprive your dog of affection. She's a Golden Retriever. Her breed was developed to work under direction in the field all day. She needs a job. The one she's chosen (guard dog) needs to be replaced with something YOU choose. I'd also be looking at her recall. She can't charge at a 'threat' if she's coming back to you!

I'm home safe - it was basically clear skies all the way home. I could see a lot of weather off to the west though. Bilbo Baggins for helping me pack up - I dont think my gazebo top and sides have ever been packed so neatly! Gee we were lucky with the weather! Nice to meet you Weisnjac.

it should be an "interesting" show here in Bairnsdale

Cash & sash is always my preference for prizes. Even $5 is more useful to me than most prizes offered.

I'd recommend clipping at a maximum of every 2 months. I think every 6 weeks is better. You can learn to do it yourself. The gear isn't cheap to get but its less expensive in the long run than paying someone else to do it. Best to start pups off with a professional though - a pup and a learner groomer isn't a great combination. The head poms are scissored by the way. But if you'd even consider a poodle, there are probably lower maintenance dogs with some sort of coat. Poodles do best with plenty of exercise - even the Toys will walk your legs off given a chance. High exercise, how would it cope if taken for 3-4 huge walk weekly? Or is it a daily requirement? Would a backpack with a bit of weight help(to double up their exercises?)? Poodles aren't up to weight bearing. They're simply not built for it. Personally I'm no fan of back packs on any dog. What smart dogs like is variety - they get bored with the same walks. Mix it up, add some training, some ball games etc and they'd cope with that many walks. They just do better with more. If you got a poodle, what size would you aim for. I'd not go larger than a mini with the exercise you're proposing.

I'd recommend clipping at a maximum of every 2 months. I think every 6 weeks is better. You can learn to do it yourself. The gear isn't cheap to get but its less expensive in the long run than paying someone else to do it. Best to start pups off with a professional though - a pup and a learner groomer isn't a great combination. The head poms are scissored by the way. But if you'd even consider a poodle, there are probably lower maintenance dogs with some sort of coat. Poodles do best with plenty of exercise - even the Toys will walk your legs off given a chance.

Poodles don't care how they are clipped - the clipping/primping is for humans poodles treated like dogs, puppy clipped or whatever, are great dogs!They are very resilient and can adapt . I have known several who lived in the country- chased rabbits, pretended to be sheepdogs in the sheepyards, rode on tractors/motorbikes ... terrific with kids and other animals and they didn't care what sort of job the groomer did You mean this kind of poodle? The dogs don't care how they are clipped. Personally I love a good poodle in sporting clip (no ear fringe, no tail pom - just a head pom and short all over)

Provided the fungal issues in the hot spot are resolved the honey will help with the healing.

I hope there's plenty of civil suits that give folk their money back too.

To paraphrase Henry Mencken "No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the Australian public." People breed them to fill a demand. There's been plenty of information encouraging puppy buyers to think that DDs combine only the best of two breeds, will not shed but have low maintenance coats, are born obedient and don't need exercise or grooming. That has created a demand that's regularly fuelled by folk with an axe to grind against purebred dog organisations (hi Don ) or with a profit margin to maintain. Sadly for the dogs, little of what is published about the benefits of DDs is true. :D

Not necessarily. Its a bit like stab wounds. In the movies, you see people covered in blood after a stabbing. In reality (info gleaned from forensics folk I know) much of the bleeding from an invasive puncture may be internal. A person can be fatally stabbed and have virtually no external bleeding. They can bleed out internally.

Ooops double post

Kate if you're thinking that short coated dogs will shed less hair in the house, think again. Short coated dogs shed more hair than any others. I figure you can usually choose between brushing the hair while its on the dog or brushing it out of your clothes, carpets etc. :D

My guess is that its cow (but male of course) penis.