angelsun

BTW, the last time I was told in my shop (about a month or so ago)Cavalier/poodle crosses (won't use the name they try to pawn them off as) were $600....pretty sad when you think you can buy a purebred registered and health tested dog for LESS than a mutt off a puppy farmer! I beleive the local going rate for maltese/shihtzu mutts is between 700 and 800 dollars. Bloody hell!

Yes, was great to see Newfs do this (and do it well!) We'll be trying to get something more sorted for Vic soon.

I understand the concerns of GA....my breed doesn't handle it well either and my old vet used to do hips without it. (I was also permitted in the xray room with my own lead apron to hold/position) however we have good GA compared to years ago, and when gased down properly without sedation narcotic, the dogs handle it much better. As to what to test....I started doing thyroid when I saw some symptomes that I thought might be an issue...then just kept doing it. I did hips because I simply assumed everyone did because as all dogs have femeral heads and sockets, theoretically they can all have a problem and I don't have exray eyes. I kept doing it. I got eyes checked on a breed that generally hasn't got any problems because it wasn't expensive, easy to do and non evasive and gave me peace of mind that there wasn't something hiding in there....I kept doing it when I changed to my current breed and am glad, as there IS a problem in my breed....good to know what I"m dealing with.

Stud costs here are double what they were in North America for the most part...I was totally the first time I looked into it! I had a BIS, fully health cleared stud dog that had many many Ch. to his credit getting WAY less than what the average stud dog here is going for. It used to be a hundred bucks less than the cost of the pups..have NO idea how they have come up with the pricing on stud dogs now...maybe I"m out of the loop having had my own boys and not having to worry about looking for stud dogs outside my own 'yard'. I paid through the nose for the semen (thankfully it was here in Oz so I didn't have to ship it other than to my vet and that wasn't cheap either!) but as I'm getting back up again after my immigration here, I dont' have a lot of choices, so I hold my breath and find the money and hope for the best!

I dunno..when I used to show GSD's at the national and regional specialty events, the men wore suits and ties and the women wore skirts....and that was either rain and sleet or 30c+ temps.

And how do we know that there is a condition inherent in the breed, unless we test? A lame or limping dog, does not mean dysplasia...a dog that is blind or partially blind does not mean there is an eye problem....in the above, there there could problems that do not show by physical symptoms and without testing, we simply are using an ostrich mentality and leaving our heads in the sand and hope it goes away if we can't see it.

I know of some moved without the owners knowledge....a twist of fate and good chance meant they FOUND the semen that had been shifted elsewhere. some of this was semen no longer available, from deceased dogs...not on!

8 weeks here because it's simply the law first and foremost and secondly because although they are weaned off mom by six weeks, they need time to sort out other things, needed before they leave and I need to ensure that their six week shots kick in and they get an extra dose or two of wormer. I used to let my cresteds go at 12 weeks because they simply needed more time to mature. They were never ready to deal with new homes at 8 weeks.

My breed seems to be between 1500 and 2000 here, although in the states, they can go up to 3500 on breeders terms I've been told to charge more because my breedings will be frozen implant for the next while...but I find that a bit hard to take, as it's not the pet owners fault that I have made the choice to do matings this way, why should they pay for it? I breed for me.

The CD is in the mail as of yesterday to you. Should come today or tomorrow. All files are PDF and print to A4 (check your settings before printing)

Well done Angelsun . You broke my record Mr Leo picked up the Neuter in Show on the Friday and Saturday at Albury - which made it 5 Neuter in Shows from 5 All breeds Neuter shows :D This now places Leo at the 1/2 way mark! Yee Har! Just wish they got points for beating the dogs at the 'in show' level rather than just the breed... then my boy would already be there! Miss Angel is over the hump as well...just wish there were more opportunities out there! (and hoping for drier ones in the future!)

It was challenging to say the least. I'm proud to say that my little Angel picked up Neuter in Show on the sunday, in spite of the muck and cold!

The seminar in Vic is to be on september 25th but I will say, that it's geared to those that have the basics of the sport down. I was asked to go and help clarify a few things, in regards to stations and ring proceedures, so for the beginner, it probably isn't the best way to go. I had a great chat with Murve tonight and perhaps we will be able to organize the beginner two day seminar in Vic if we can get the response (need at least ten to make this work properly) I"ll be sending Murve the outline via email and we'll see how that goes. Thanks Tassie...you guys are so awesome about this Rally stuff...can't wait to get over there in January for the trials. Shell, I'm not sure that non judges will be eligible for the seminar in October....I will be looking for volunteers though, so stay in touch, cause perhaps I can get you involved on a slightly different level if you would be willing to be one of my guinea pigs (for the run throughs) trust me, you will still learn lots even though you will not be at the lecture part. :D

I have a seminar to do in Vic in September. I've done a two day seminar in Shepparton back a year or so ago and other than the early seminar in Geelong over two years ago...I can't seem to break through in Victoria. I've been to other states, multiple times and it's discouraging to not be able to help out clubs in the state I live in! I'm off to NSW to give the obedience judges their seminar in October. For those looking at starting, email me for draft rules and printable signs (the file is huge so it's actually easier to send a CD in the mail) If you are starting at the basement, it might be worth considering the two day seminar, which covers all rules, signs and courses as well as judging sheet template etc. email any enquiries to [email protected]

I'll dunk Angel in the tub and break out the polish cloth on her! Tony's taking her in on Friday and Saturday as I will be working, but will get to show her on the Sunday (if he lets me!)

I know of cases where dam injury has raised a problem later on when it comes to scoring, however in many cases it's easily sorted out and clear as to the cause. As for addressing other comments. Testing is up to the individual breeder who's ethics compel them to do what they can to override what mother nature might ask, and selectively breed for certain traits. Left in the paddock, hormones do whatever they want and dogs breed. We see that all the time....we as humans who call ourselves breeders, have set goals for our chosen breeds to ensure that they are healthy and long lived. We manipulate mother nature everytime we do a mating. Part of the manipulation is selecting dogs without or with few faults and genetic problems as possible. Many problems are deeply hidden and do not emerge for many years. It doesn't mean they do not exist. This is why many Cavalier breeders wait and do not breed their dogs until they are five or so to see if they have the heart problem that can occur. It's called responsible. They can see their dogs play and eat and want to mate...but they intervene and use the testing to help ensure that a problem that left unchallenged, could in fact end in extinction of a breed. Stating that a dog acts outwardly as a healthy dog and lives to a certain age, does not indicate that there is not an issue that although may not directly affect them, but bred to another with the same issue, will not cause a more elevated stage of that condition in the offspring, and the circle then continues. Breeders test, but not just because they can....it's because they feel that it gives them more information to make better choices. Breeders test for things they feel based on history or experience, they need to keep an eye on. I don't test for heart defects routinely, nor thyroid simply because although we do have incidents of them, we have not had enough in my breed to make me believe at this stage, we have issues. I know the pedigrees with the incidents in them and breed accordingly. I do vWD testing....if or when I have breeding stock that is all genetically clear, I won't have to test, however the minute I decide to use a 'carrier' I will test again to ensure that I do not breed a carrier to a carrier and possibly produce an 'affected'. We have only started to test for this....we have been lucky to not have a big affected problem as some breeds have with this, that is unseen....you can't tell by looking at the dog outside doing its job...it's healthy looking, works, plays, eats, and breeds...but suddenly can bleed out and be dead. It's something that you need a test to know what the status is, so you can manage it properly....the same as HD. We test for vWD so we know and we act accordinly....we can't cure it, or give a tablet and make it go away...we are armed only with knowledge and we must then use that to the betterment of the future of the breed. The same with HD testing. It's in many cases not seen....you can't tell you have a problem until suddenly, the dog steps off the couch where its been sleeping, and a bit of disintigrating bone lets go, the socket doesn't hold correctly and the dog can't walk. She was eight years of age and never showed a moments hesitation on any level. Hiding behind the 'I don't have a problem, so don't have to test' doesn't cut it. I don't have HD in my line to date..I have never had a GP with HD.....do I stop testing? It's not mandatory...no one forces me to do it, and by not testing, I could save a ton of money....but I test....because if there ever is a problem, I want to be the one to know first and base the breeding future of the dogs, on that information. And yes in answer to your question Lilli.....there are breeders out there that only care about the outward appearance and if the cheque will clear the bank on that puppy that just left. They aren't always puppy farmers either....show/performance breeders can be guilty of it as well....just because they register the pups, doesn't make them good breeders....money often sways many to the dark side of this game...and the dogs are the ones that suffer. I have been testing for years....when I have not been forced to, and I mentor others to do the same. I raise the bar on myself and hope others will as well for the benefit to their chosen breeds. I use science to help with my decisions and embrace it, but I do not let it fully dictate to me....I use my experiences of the past, and my many litters and how they have lived and what they have died from, to help what I will do in the future. Testing is not looking for problems, it's helping prevent them.

There are in fact many dogs that live til they are 15 and have shitty hips....that's a fact...there are generations of dogs that we see in homes that are in fact structurally not correct, but because there are no comparisons, they are believed to be correct. Because a dog or dogs, appears to be happy, healthy etc wagging tail, eating and breeding....we can not say that the dog or dogs are in fact free of genetic issues. Long time breeders, although they did not have exrays (go back long before any of us were around and during the formation of many of the breeds we take for granted today) sorted out strong from weak. They watched the hops in the fields and knew what it meant. They watched for hitches in the gait, and they removed one way or another, these animals from the breeding program, because they knew in the long run, for the betterment of their breed, it was the correct thing to do. These breeders went on to mentor others after them, teaching their tricks of observation and instilling a hard line on what was acceptable to carry on. Castration occured more than spay, simply due to the times....it was their way of helping sort things out. Today, money is too much at the forefront....dog X cost $$ to import and raise, and by god..I'm getting a litter of it! Walks on three legs most days? No matter...it still walks...but boy, should you see it run!! It eats well and never cries out in pain, so clearly it's just fine....and it's ten now....so what's the problem? Sure, there have been a few of its pups that walk the same way, but they eat and play and don't yelp either....so they must be ok too. We can't test for everything....and to be honest, if we look hard enough, we will find something.....but to NOT look....is simply fooling ourselves....it goes back to my buggaboo about those that state they don't have a problem, therefore they don't have to test..... We never knew in my breed, that we have genetic cataract problem....our dogs average age is 15 years. We never knew that when the older dog went blind, it in fact had been mostly blind for years before but had adapted and we never noticed. They played, they bred....they did everything we expected of them....suddenly someone got suspicious and took some to the optomotrist vet....bam....punctate cataracts...PRA.....Micropapallia.....we had a problem....what we didn't realize was that a pile of pet owners, had blind dogs....accepted it, or had them put down and never told anyone.....suddenly all us special breeders that used the average age theory, got put in our place.....we forgot or refused to add in all those dogs that went blind and were PTS by 5 years of age...suddenly our breed age average plummetted....we pulled our fingers out and brought in eye testing as one of the things that needed to be done...test..then decide what to breed to what....don't necessarily throw that baby out with the bath water...but base future generations on firm factual information to ensure a healthy and long lived animal. Without testing, we are just shaking those dice and letting them go....testing loads the dice a bit....not a lot...but in some cases enough to make things a bit more predictable to get 7 or 11. The average pet owner, knows now, to ask about health testing...to ask to see the paperwork that comes along with it, and to question those that do not or don't believe in testing...or make claims that their dogs do NOT have any issues and never have...

Lilli, the point being, they are dogs....plain and simple..big or little..they are all built the same way when it comes to bone structure, ligiments, muscles etc...to believe that a chihuahua can not have HD simply because it weighs what it does, but a Great Dane can, simply because it weighs what it does, is hiding in the sand. It's all relative really...yes the toy breed can weigh 2kilo's, but the bones/muscles/ligaments etc reflect that and proportionately, they are the same as the giant breed weighing over a hundred kilos. Genetically, any dog can have a weakness. Some breeds are more predisposed to some things than other breeds. We hear of things like PRA in retrievers...but I have it in my breed too....sparingly, but it's there...why? Because all dogs have eyes... The same applies when it comes to hip or elbow deformity or weakness in structure. To believe that breed A or B does not have or can not have any problems, is simply ignoring pure science and anatomical facts.

My 45cm to 48cm and 13 to 17kg breed does not require HD and ED testing to be bred. I disagree with this, and it wouldn't be hard to bring it in, because to my knowledge there is not a breeder in this country that does NOT do these tests. Did you know, that some of the highest rates of HD occur in some of the smaller breeds such as Pekes? Did you know that the majority of dogs are not exrayed for this, because the breeders (and I"m talking long long time breeders) are convinced there is not a problem and therefore do not have to test, nor will they admit to having a problem inspite of documentation (many are quick to lay blame on the owner citing injury or dietary faults) Yup it's expensive to do hip/elbows.....cost of being a breeder....a breeder, not just someone that puts a dog and a bitch together and gets a litter.

And what is the gauge of this? To desex a dog and remove the possibility of breeding will not change that the dog has crappy hips, but it will hopefully prevent more generations of same. Because by doing our best to ensure the hip structure is as healthy as can be based on generational situations, we do our best to see that the average lifespan DOES in fact fit into those numbers. Dogs with HD, do not....so it DOES matter what the hip score is. so that the dogs CAN in fact jump and run and live out their lives, we need to know that we are not continuing to breed with less than the best possible. Without knowing for sure, we can not ensure that the dogs will be long lived and sound. I know a few that have stopped a line because there were too many dogs dying of bloat. They found that generations kept producing pups that had this problem, and after about four generations, realized there WAS in fact a problem....some breeders tack stomachs and keep going....some breeders cut bait and start again. This sort of situation is not that uncommon really when it comes to true protectors of a breed. Or how about the dogs with epilepsy....yes I know of a breeder that had all offspring desexed (most were as they were sold as pets anyway) when one bitch was positively diagnosed with this (seizure occuring during an MRI which was amazing for research and our breed) They contacted every owner, told them of the sibling with the condition..spayed the mother and the sister (show bitch) they kept and once again.....started over....the same has applied to people I know with dogs and cancer, or pancreatitis, or massive auto immune problems, or addisons, or cushings.....again, it's NOT uncommon for a good ethical breeder who truly cares about their chosen breed, to taks such drastic steps, even though they are not regulated to do so. Why not? In my breed...my national breed club (Canada) required hip exrays to be 'good' (OFA scheme) or better, or from OVC, the Ontario Vet College, to be 'clear of any signs of dysplasia' for breeding purposes. We needed vWD testing and no carrier/carrier were permitted to be bred together. We required annual eye testing. NO ONE in my breed questioned these requirements and all agreed it was in the breeds best interest to do our best to ensure healthy stock and the future of our beloved breed. I for one, applaud that the GSD club (although I disagree with some of their items) have put a maximum score on both hips and elbows. We here, have an average of about 5 total and 0/0 elbows, so we're not generally concerned about the number, but glad to see it in place. Pats on the backs to ANY breeder that does testing on ANY level to ensure healthy dogs, and is willing to remove something less than acceptable from their breeding program, because they KNOW that it is the right thing to do FOR THE BREED....yup...it sucks sometimes for the person.....but it's not about the people..it's about the dogs.

Our German Pinschers aren't required but we do it, because we know it's the right thing to do..however, we do have breeders in North America that although they get hips checked, breed with substandard anyway...the loop hole being, they checked...there is no rule (other than in Canada in association with the GPCC) that says what minimum is required for breeding. I'm all for bringing in set score scheme, such as the GSD's have. What gets me are those in breeds that say strongly, that they don't have to exray because they don't have a problem in the breed...how do you know when you don't exray? If there is a hip, a socket and ajoining structure...there can be a problem....I have a friend that found HD in her sheltie line, spay/neutered everything and started again....I really respect that sort of thing!

If you can train a dog for 50cm, it'll handle 60cm gaps easy. I"m not a fan of the 'add a pole' method of weaves, but set up six or twelve and just guide them through it (on lead) til you see their body learning to bend. Yes it takes a bit, but it works and works well. Have had many of my students over the years win weave comps with this method. (I never used the bendy guides either, or the poles that canter from side to side) Hence why PVC held in place by camping stakes has always worked for a cheap back yard alternative for poles.

Can be easily done....I did a similar 'focused' seminar in Tassie for advanced/excellent. Still a full days work and lots of brain strain but went over very well I think, to help people get confidence about the higher levels. A few reminders of basic rules discussed but it was a seminar geared for folks that had the basic understanding of the sport. Also helped those judges sort out a few problems with the higher levels and scoring.

RallyValley..whatever help you need...ask....maybe time for another 'kick up the bum' seminar? ;) NSW judges are getting their education seminar mid Spring and I"m looking forward to showing them the ropes of this. TCA held one a while back with mandatory attendance and inspite of the not so great weather (cold and windy) it went over very well I think. Hoping the NSW goes over as well, but so far, response is very good...nice to see the judges want clear instruction on hows and wherefors to go into this correctly.

No, we have an agreement with the folks at the Showgrounds (up by the golf course)