poodlemum

:rofl: I was going to comment on the legs, too - she is just gorgeous, whatever mix she is!

Good point, Gayle! I've always worked full time. When my ex & I had only 1 dog he would often take her to work but when we got the GSP we used to leave both of them at home together & they were fine. I would not be too happy about someone who worked full time & was just going to leave the dog alone in the backyard, however.

Fair enough. I just cant answer your question because I dont know. eta I probably can answer as a puppy buyer. What would I do if a breeder said I wasnt suitable for one of his/her pups? Find another breeder Make myself suitable Realise the breeder was right and I wasnt suitable Would i go to a byb or petshop with my knickers in a twist that the first breeder was being 'prejudiced'? Nup. Ah, but that's YOU - someone who is fairly knowledgeable about dogs, not just your average Joe Public, who most likely would then think that breeders were all snobs & source from a petshop or BYB so what, why should we sell our dogs to people we consider unfit for whatever reason Not saying you should, just stating what someone not familiar with the purebred dog world might think - no need to get YOUR knickers in a knot :rolleyes:

Fair enough. I just cant answer your question because I dont know. eta I probably can answer as a puppy buyer. What would I do if a breeder said I wasnt suitable for one of his/her pups? Find another breeder Make myself suitable Realise the breeder was right and I wasnt suitable Would i go to a byb or petshop with my knickers in a twist that the first breeder was being 'prejudiced'? Nup. Ah, but that's YOU - someone who is fairly knowledgeable about dogs, not just your average Joe Public, who most likely would then think that breeders were all snobs & source from a petshop or BYB

Wings, my GSP was the biggest couch potato you've ever seen - he made the Poodles look hyperactive

maybe It is the breeders right to say who gets one of their precious pups, no one else's. True - but I would rather sell a puppy to someone in an apartment who would commit to exercising the puppy regularly, than to someone with a big backyard who just dumped the puppy in the backyard & ignored it. I've had BOTH these situations occur, and it was the puppy (by then, dog) in the backyard whom I had to re-home, not the inner-city one! My ex & I lived in Prahran (inner-city Melbourne) in a one bedroom house with a tiny yard for 14 years. We had 2 Standard Poodles & 1 GSP who were all walked twice a day (and I'm talking 1 hour in the morning, up to 2 1/2 hours in the evening) and lived inside during the day - they were perfectly happy and well-adjusted dogs!

My ex & I had 2 Standard Poodles & a GSP in a small house with a tiny yard in Prahran (inner-city Melbourne). Like Tashnchief, out dogs were inside during the day. They had an hour's walk in the morning before I went to work and in the evening my ex or myself, or both of us, would take them to the local off-lead park for a good 2-2 1/2 hour romp & play with their friends - I don't think it was too bad a life! When we bought the place at Yarrambat, with 2+ acres from them to run around in, they were usually lying out in the sun sleeping, or begging to come inside & sleep.

This is why we need to be commenting on Facebook, in letters to the papers, ANYWHERE we can get the message out there that purebred dogs are great pets. If we could also address the ridiculous idea that SOME people on this forum have that breeders who sell their puppies mainly for pets are no better than BYBs it would also go a long way towards eradicating the idea that registered breeders are "elitist"

Exactly - all we can do is keep plugging away & eventually the message will sink in!

OMG - don't say that! You know there are people on here who get their jollies believing the worst of people - how upset will they be if this is true?

I have had my dogs on the ProHart injection since it was forst available - no ill effects. I used to find it hard remembering to give them the monthly treatment. To the OP - I used to go to Diamond Creek Veterinary Clinic when I lived in Yarrambat - it's not TOO horrendously far from you & Anthony Gross is a very nice, caring & knowledgeable Vet.

Thank you SO much for posting this - I am not planning any litters in the very near future, but have bookmarked this thread - chock-full of useful information which I couldn't have put better!

That eggshell foam sounds great - must remember it. I usually used newspaper, but also put towels over it so the puppies have something to grip. (Plus the towels are easily washed & replaced)

Thanks to everyone who posted in here - I hope that any breeder who has a "swimmer" will look at this thread first, rather than seeking advice elsewhere (I was told emphatically on another forum that "swimmers" NEVER develop properly & it would be kinder to have him PTS)

She may be a bit aloof- that is just a behaviour carry over as you haven't been around for a while ..it's not 'punishing you ' . 4 weeks is nothing really! Gosh - I have had dog friends who remember me after months/years :D It is when your normally affectionate OTT Poodle does it!

Ah yes, the "Flourescent" poodle - especially bred to infiltrate 70's concert audiences What actually happens with the ignore button anyway?? I have never pressed it but am dying to know. ooppss Sorry if I have gone off topic The "ignore" button stops one getting steamed up when reading a particularly idiotic or offensive comment & posting something equally as idiotic or offensive in reply (usually after a couple of wines :D ). Very useful in preventing one being sent on a "DOLiday"

She will certainly remember you! I've met up with dogs I've bred after 2 years & they remembered me. Depending on her nature, she may be a little "standoffish" with you at first (to punish you for leaving her ) or she may just be totally overjoyed to see you right away.

Forum rule no 4: No promotion of cross breeds / designer dogs This site has nothing against cross breeds (most of us have had one at some stage in our life), however we are against the promotion of them as being superior to the purebred dog and people cashing in on the 'designer dog' craze. We also ask that you refrain from unnecessary designer dog discussion. (ie discussion that has no real purpose other than to express dismay at the latest 'cross breed' you saw (or read about)). Sure, we all know they are out there, but we prefer to concentrate on discussing the pure bred dog (ANKC recognised breeds). IMO, saying you "don't have a problem" with BYB's is tantamount to promoting crossbreeds. I can assure you that those of us who take the time & trouble to be registered breeders and raise & sell our puppies in an ethical manner most certainly DO have a problem with BYBs

Perhaps before you post this sort of GARBAGE you should read the Forum rules, in particular Rule no 4

If by Breed snobs you mean people who hate to see wonderful dog breeds being bred and 'created' then sold for more money then necessary. Or do you mean people who are strongly opposed to backyard breeders who sell lies to unsuspecting people ''xxx is healthier then x because the breeding rules them out'' etc. So yes on a Purebred forum we do like to discuss purebred dogs ( and cross bred dogs are referred to as cross bred rather then a fancy name). Although that said, I think a fair few of us growing up would have owned a cross breed dog. Heck the dog which inspired my love of German Shepherds was a GSD x Kelpie my parents rescued from a pound before I was born. So just because we own pure bred dogs and advocate purchasing purebred dogs from reputable breeders does not mean we have not loved a cross bred dog. I think the main issue comes from people selling these cross breed dogs with a fancy name and false promises for higher prices then they are worth. My friend has a Labrador x Kelpie x Curly Coat Retriever..it was an oops litter and he paid $50 for the dog. The dog is a wonderful dog, well trained, and for the love she has brought him is invaluable. However...she is not one breed, and calling her a fancy name in order to sell her for a higher price would have been wrong in my opinion. ;) x2 'breed snob' and proud Happily plead guilty to being a "breed snob"

Lucky you! Unfortunately, in Victoria he's all over the place like a nasty rash!

I suppose it depends if you've been on the receiving end of some of this stuff. hmmm, yes

Same here

Not EXACTLY about me, but a very well-known breeder of Standard Poodles (also into Agility) used to call me, putting on a fake accent, to tell me that my husband was having an affair with a woman at the local park. I nearly kacked myself and told her that is she was going to put on a fake middle European accent, she should get rid of her American accent first :D I see her at shows occasionally & we studiously avoid each other.

I agree with others - never feed mine tinned food. I have, however, given the occasional tin of Nature's Gift puppy to my puppies. You only have to look at the difference in viscosity between NG & PAL to see that PAL is cr*p