poodlefan

Ooh, I didn't know they came in long coat! Have you got a pic of one?

Mumsy: That's worrying.

Wow, book depository have good prices I'll be bookmarking that website.

Only one of the two Corgi breeds was routinely docked - the Pembroke. It might have been different then though. She might be a Cardigan after all! Although with a super thick coat, she might have been a Corgi mix.

Mumsy, I'd google "Vollhard Puppy Test" and ask if you can test the pups when they are 49 days old. You need a 'stranger' and a new place to do the test. Your backyard might be the go. It's a useful indicator of the future character of the dog.

Raised in the house is a positive. If you decide to take one of these pups, get it wormed and get it vaccinated and microchipped at 7 weeks.. even if just yours and your neighbours are done.

I'd say Pembroke.. but Aziah is the person you should probably PM. There's either something wrong with the pic or she's the fattest Corgi I've ever seen Was she docked?

Where are the pups being raised Mumsy? I really hope they aren't in a shed or garage?

That will probably get you the most socially dominant pup every time.. or the one that sat quietly while the others madly played and are now sleeping. This is where the breeder's knowledge is so important. 8 weeks of knowledgeable observation helps match pups to family. Little knowledge = another lottery.

Does that make it a fault of the breed or the buyers? Perhaps you should add "breeder" into that question, cos they should certainly be upfront to buyers about what to expect from the breed. But yes, the buyer should ultimately take responsibility. If they want to make a new law they really should make one against people dumping animals just because they are not 'convenient'. I would be willing to bet that many of these 'dumped' dogs are BYB or puppy shop buys. No Beagle breeder I know would miss out on telling people about the fact they can be unreliable offlead. Too many have heard the sad stories of pups killed by cars because owners failed to heed their advice.

Does that make it a fault of the breed or the buyers? dontchya know poody that if dem breeders didn't breed 'em with a nose then they wouldn't get dumped?! If people could only buy them from someone who told them the truth about the breed and vetted owner suitability, dumpage rates would plummet too.

One more thing.. if they want to sell you a pup aged six weeks, say no. What sort of diet have Mum and the pups been on. Have they been regularly wormed?

Does that make it a fault of the breed or the buyers?

What sort of advice were you after? You've got three gundog breeds is this mix. The mix is 50% Lab. The pups could take after any of the breeds but its likely (not definite) that Lab will predominate. The dominant breed and one of the others are prone to hip and elbow displaysia. Two of the breeds can suffer from heart issues. Basically, the pups are a bit of a lottery. I'd be looking hard at both parents in terms of temperament. I'd be looking hard at the temperament of the individual pup. Big breed gundog pups can be pretty boistrous and require a fair bit of training. How old are your kids? What's your primary interest in THIS litter?

KK: I want them to stay exactly as they are. Purebred. I don't think that crossbreeding is the be all and end all of solving society's issues with dogs. As you point out, WITHIN breeds it is possible to breed a degree of variety. WITHIN breeds it is possible to modify some traits. Why do we need to change that? And as for the Beagle issue, if managing a breed that may (repeat may) have some issues offlead will be a major headache, then don't bloody buy one!!

I just looked up what "responsible" means. Interesting So, a responsible dog owner is one who regards themselves as answerable for their dog and what it does. To whom? I'd argue to society generally and the owner's community specifically. What does that translate to in practical terms? In my view a responsible dog owner is one who: * selects a dog that is appropriate for the home it will have * socialises and trains it to be a good canine citizen * obeys the local laws with regard to keeping and exercising it * provides husbandry in accordance with the dogs needs * manages the dog to minimise any negative impact on other members of society. Lots of variables within those practices but ultimately IMO a responsible dog owner is one who doesn't make it more difficult for other people to own dogs or live in the community with theirs.

Sandgrubber: My guess is that some of them are poorly socialised, untrained and rarely leave the backyard. All too easy to pass the buck to the dog for its "issues" Sandgrubber rather than look at the environment it was raised and is kept in. If people want a dog without problems then they need to select, raise and keep it appropriately. Yep, there are still dogs with genuine behavioural issues but they are a lot rarer than some folk would have us believe.

What price do Amazon and Dogwise have it at. Here it is at Fishpond For the price of that book, you'd get free delivery.

I think as a breeder, choices to 'run on' allow the decision to be delayed. However, as a buyer, if a pup has a question mark on its testicles at 8 weeks, its a significant factor in its suitability as a show prospect. Conformation faults are one thing but one testicle is a show stopper - literally. Perhaps breed plays a part but given the issues in Whippet, my dog's breeder would not have sold him to me without two testicles and I was more than happy with that.

Having not seen your dog, nor being a professional in the field, I'd not go so far as to say it was "wrong". Perhaps not the best idea though for purely practical reasons.. it allows the other dog to get closer to yours. You're entirely reliant on the other dog's owner to control it - and that doesn't always happen. If your dog is worried by other dogs, an increased position of vulnerability and the approach of the other dog will amplify that concern. If your dog is highly aroused by other dogs, forcing him into a static position and the approach of the other dog can be challenging in terms of controlling his arousal. I'm no expert but I've never seen aggression diffused or managed in this manner.

ooh trickey Were they palpable? Did the pup's dam whelp any other pups with issues?

Peta if you took a toddler to a park and a bunch of big teenagers wanted to play footy with him, would you be happy with that? Boss is only 12 months old and doesnt play rough.. Do you think small dog owners who've never met him would know that?

Tyson is pacing. Rather than move two legs on the diagonal in a trot, he's moving both legs on the same side at once. That's why he appears to have such a waddle. It's not uncommon at a slow pace in dogs and not symptomatic of anything in particular. He may lack some front or rear angulation making his trot a bit uneven until he speeds up. My guess is he rarely trots very slowly? He's *cough* a good doer isn't he. Has he ever seen a chiropractor? My first impression is that he's a bit stiff. How old is he?

WTF??????????? Welcome to my world. Public dog parks... *shudders*

You. Are. Awesome. *goes to find nearest Artemis supplier* We sight houndees gotta help each other. If you're in Victoria (or indeed most places) Pookinuk will deliver as much as you want to your door for $5. That's where I get mine. I'm guessing you'll be getting through a bag faster than me though! (Please note: Poodlefan does not work for Pookinuk either ) I just remembered that Keshwar and SSM tried Artemis Power and it gave their dogs the squirts. It might be worth contacting Artemis for a sample first.