poodlefan

Jodielass it seems to me that the only opinions that should hold significant weight on this issue are your vet's, your breeding mentor (if you have one) and yours.

And yet you ARE the person who seems to have embraced the Gardener's politically motivated attack without question and you trot it out here often enough. I'd never suggest for a moment the issue is of no concern (a point that you seem completely unable to grasp) but I'd certainly suggest some balanced, factual reporting wouldn't go astray. Once again I"ll make the point. Rome isn't burning. A few house fires, even a few suburbs on fire is not a city. Less hysteria and more facts would do more to tackle the issue that wide sweeps of hands and ill founded statements about widespread genetic health issues in purebred dogs. And every other pedigreed animal by the way. Every Thoroughbred racehorse in the world is descended from one of three (or is it 4) sires. Don Burke must wonder how the poor things stand up, let alone run. ;) The issue is NOT limited gene pools for most breeds but breeding for exaggerated characteristics and the identification of genetic conditions are are ONLY identifiable in a limited gene pool. If you want to talk about the problem, identify what the issues are for particular breeds and stop suggesting that a dog, by virtue of its purebred status, must inevitably suffer from health issues. That view is what's prompted the charity's policy and that view is fundamentally wrong. Right now all I see from you is generalised breed bashing and not a lot of substance. If you want to talk specific issues in specific breeds, I'll happily join in the discourse. In the meantime, please explain to me how opening the stud books of a breed with tens of thousands of animals world wide, when it has few, if any identified health issues, will benefit the animals. What would you cross Whippets with to "improve" them? And while we're at it, you might want to talk to the Saluki people about their dogs, who while being the oldest recognised purebred with the longest closed gene pool are among the healthiest purebred dogs around. Lets see Mr Burke explain that too.

I think after only a week, you should be able to return her to her breeder.

Ok I get it. A total ban on all the whole issue. No problem, I have to go now to see the TV show on inbreeding and kennel club dogs, opps there I go talking about those things we are not to perpetuate. Geeze, over reaction much. I hope you can grasp the difference between "some" and "all" at some point. No one's denying there are issues. No one's suggesting a ban on discussion of them. But your constant assertion that the sky is falling for the health of all purebred dogs is simply untrue. I think these issues do need to be discussed but it would be nice to lose the hysteria and misinformation perpetrated by shows such as the one you're referring to and actually focus on the facts. Here's one to absorb.. there is no data gathering that I know of on the health issues of CROSSBRED DOGs. Yet, strangely, most of the dogs I know with HD, with patella issues ARE crossbred. Strangely this issues are rarely attributed to their genes. Go figure. With the exception of a handful of poodle cross labrador breeders, I've yet to here of any crossbred dogs having health tested parents, Why is that issue never discussed.

Huh? If her size is one third of a Lab's and she weighs 25kg, she must be extremely fat. A full size Lab rarely weighs much more than 30-35kg. I think the best person to ask about the long term prognosis for your dog is your vet. None of us know what poison she ate, how much she ate and how severe the poisoning was. In the meantime, please refer to your dog as a Lab X. She's only 50% Labrador at best.

What can the breeder or owner of a responsibly bred dog that has had all available health tests or that has no identified inheritable issues do about other breeders or breeds? How do breed bans or kennel club shut downs impact on the myriad of people who breed without health tests or don't bother to register with kennel clubs. And why should breeds and breeders who aren't part of the problem suffer because of issues outside their own breed. This issue needs to be addressed one health issue prone breed and one irresponsible breeder at a time. The people in the best position to that are those WITHIN a breed. In the meantime, we need to stop perpetuating the myth that all purebred dogs have health issues. As I see it, that's what you're suggesting.

Everyone can't say "not my breed". But facts are that the notion that a dog, by virtue of its purebred status alone, is automatically prone to inherited health issues is simply untrue. And anyone who doesn't resist that notion plays right into the hands of those who'd see purebred dogs become extinct.

What problem? If there isn't a problem in every breed then there simply isn't an all breed issue to address. What is the problem that requires all breeders to acknowledge that all breeders have to do something? You're not making yourself very clear. Whippet breeders can't do anything about the breed standard or practices for other breeds. What is it that you would have them accept blame for and take action on??? Sorry but you're not making a whole lot of sense to me.

And a rather confusing thought. I hate this "all pure breeds have issues" crap. And it IS crap. What inheritable conditions do Whippets have? Where are the legions of this breed that suffer from inherited health problems and cost their owners a motza in health bills?? Beats the hell out of me. Why ARE poodles so long lived if they are plagued by health issues??? I hate generalisations when they are inaccurate. The idea that all breeders should "own up" to the notion that the dogs they breed are walking congenital disaster areas is a nonsense. And the sooner people stop lumping all breeds together on this issue, the better.

That picture actually does make the crate look huge!! Its actually not that big as it looks to be honest and he only has about 15cms left if he spreads right out. Also when he soils the area from anxiety, he does it on the padded mattress . I actually did cover the front, but one time when he was especially whiney, we came back home 2hrs later with the front cardboard clawed away and a big pile of cardboard pieces all over the place (not to mention a pile of other worse stuff).. I might change it to wood or something. Oh, and he does get fluffy toys as he loves fluffy objects. We have a bag full of stuffed toys for him! I'd be more inclined to cover it with a blanket. Buddy1 raises the use of vet bed.. as its fully machine washable, it would be a good way to cover the padded matress and its nice and cosy. A couple of the el cheapo polar fleece blankets and his favourite cuddly toy will up the "nest" factor. Other than that, you just have to wait him out. Some puppys are real tanty chuckers and really work themselves up. All you can do is use blankets to help dampen the noise, make sure he's comfortable and ignore the screaming. I'd leave home for increasing periods of time.

I don't know anyone in the puppy carer program but I do have an aquaintance who's met the sharp end of one of the Amberley dogs. As a young airman some years ago, he missed curfew and tried to sneak in to the base the back way with his mate. He got caught out by a security patrol and decided to make a run for it. Ignoring the warnings about the dog, he bolted. BIG mistake..

These are not tests routinely carried out on Toy Poodles.

Without papers and testing for PRA, no responsible bitch owner would want to use him. You could not register pups from any litter he sired.

That crate is HUGE!!! Can I suggest you divide it in half for now and toss a few cheap polar fleece blankets or towels in there for him to scruff up and make a nest with. It's openness doesn't make it very den like. I'd also be covering all of the front except for the gate. I'd be tossing in a big fluffy toy too for 'company'.

I'm inclined to agree. As the Fila is a banned breed, its a moot point anyhow. But is it a moot point? Many people here say there should be no breed specific legislation, which to me implies lifting the bans? I'm one of them. Do I think we'll see import bans lifted anytime soon though? Nope.

I'm inclined to agree. As the Fila is a banned breed, its a moot point anyhow.

What place of comfort and safety does he have in the back yard. Is there a warm kennel? Can you post a pic of his current crate set up? I would be making a point of leaving him alone every day, and leaving the house. I'd be investigating boredom busting toys and other activities to keep him occupied.

How old is the puppy? If I wanted a good night's sleep, puppy would be in the bedroom in a crate. Laundries are heat sinks. Even if the heat does get in, the tiles would absorb much of it. I think there's every possiblity the pup is cold. I'd be putting a towel with your scent on it rather than his littermates. Chances are he'll never see them again.

IMO you're not taking him out often enough. Is he also taken out after when he wakes, eats, plays etc? Not if you value a good night's sleep it isn't. What I'm reading is a situation where the dog is rarely left alone and doesn't seem to spend any real time outside. Dogs have to learn to be bored and learn to be left. "Punishing" him for complaining about either of these things is not going to assist. For a start, you have to return to him to do it and that's rewarding the displays of behaviour. I would start to feed him outside, spend time with him outside and then work up to leaving him outside with a tasty bone or similar. I'd also be considering adding a dog door and teaching him to use it so that he's not dependent on you noticing to let him out. What's the long term plan for leaving him alone for hours? Where will that occur. If the answer is "outside" then you should be working towards that now. At least outside if he toilets while stressed its not a problem. What has this dog got to occupy himself other than you at the moment?

Yep. I thought he rocked. Doubt they'll see his equal again.

He sure was special.. and had a cult following. It was during Sam's reign that the competition became televised and followed round the world.

I read that when Sam first entered the WUD competition the other competitors knew they had lost and the judge recoiled when he was tabled. Mind you, I've never seen a trophy as big or a prize as $$$ at a normal dog show as you get for winning WUD! Sam did a calendar one year.. wish I had it. ;) I've seen his Christmas shot though. Here's a smiling one but I think Sam's "blue steel" was the snarly ones. In case you hadn't noticed, I was a Sam fan. In a world that tends to idolise beauty, its nice to see an ugly dog become a celebrity.

Jointguard.

Pet insurance won't cover a pre-existing condition. That's what the patella luxation now is. How fit is Ike? What's his muscle condition like? Lots of pups have loose kneecaps when they are babies. Grade 1 is not something I'd operate on unless Ike experiences a traumatic luxation. I'd be looking at building up the supporting muscles and feeding a joint supplement.

Sadly, what happens in a pup's early life stays with them for life. You can do a heck of a lot to overcome early lack of socialisation but it won't get back what she never had. Count your blessings. I'd rather have a pup with no history of being and toileting inside than one that's been allowed to do it. On that issue you're starting with a blank slate - that's a good thing IMO. You need to establish what effective praise FOR HER is and do that. If a quiet "good girl" works better than gushing that spooks her than that's what you need to do. I honestly doubt you're seeing stubbonness. I suspect you're seeing a pup who doesn't know what you want. I think you might also wish to consider that you've got a timid pup. I think she needs you to lower your expectations, to teach her to focus on you and reward her for small steps in confidence and obedience. Take her to good puppy classes and go on to a decent dog obedience club. You need to put enduring effort into building a bond of trust and friendship with her and training works well. You might also consider what some dog owners do and tether her to you by a lead when you are home. That way she goes where you go, you can closely supervise her toilet training and she will become accustomed to the sights and sounds of your every day life.