angelsun

They are saying the weather is supposed to fine up....won't hold my breath....but I won't be there til Sunday as I have a shop to run and classes to teach on Saturday. Kezzzza-*raspberry* ;)

I just groomed a dog that would give that lab a run for its money. Pound for pound based on height and what would be considered to be normal, I groomed a shitzhu/cairn mix that weighed 15kilos. It could barely stand or walk and I didn't realize it was a male til I went under to groom the tummy because when I picked it up to put it on the table, I couldn't feel anything other than fat rolls. This dog was no more than 26cm at the shoulder. The owners didn't see any issues with the dog.

any body part exposed, I am in there assisting to get it out as quickly as possible. By that time, I figure the mom has done her share, now it's my turn.

Dr R J Rawlinson BVSc DVR(Lond.) MACVSc FACVSC PO Box 1626 Mt. Barker SA 5251 Phone 08 83910079 Mobile 0418 477588 E-Mail [email protected]

I've got semen coming in from Spain within the next month if all goes as planned. Am using Ice Age Breeding to handle thing. Thought I'd toss it out there to see if anyone needed or wanted to share a cannister to help cut costs. I've been waiting a long time for this shipment so although I"m all for cutting costs, I'll be bringing this over regardless. (multiple breedings coming from this one dog) Drop me a note if you need to move semen from Spain to Oz so that I can get things moving.

We are using Rawlinson in SA and are very pleased (as recommended by Dr.Weyburn's wife) We have had results within the week of him getting the digital exray. We're getting another dog done next week.

PennHip is a good system in many ways, however without adequate breed numbers, you don't get a true percentile to really judge. When we first started PennHip with German Pinschers, their percentile was against ALL other breeds, because there weren't enough to form their base line. When we got those numbers, the percentile was changed on all PennHip certificates because now we had enough to make a rating based solely on our breed only. Big difference! There are some that didn't get the numbers they wanted and went on to OFA as well, pulling out 'fair' and going with that for their breeding. We have a few quite shocking PennHip scores and yet, these animals are being bred from, because the owner is determined that the system is faulty (which turns around six months prior the statements that it was far better than traditional exray system....funny how that happens when suddenly there was a failure in the mix!) Overall, I appreciate PennHip more, but until it becomes more affordable, I'll have to stick with my old fashioned method. I'm happy to say that I have a couple of the best percentile rated Gp's currently around through PennHip, keeping that benchmark and average up where it should be (the equivalent of 0/0 or Excellant ratings done via exray) A number of people in the states did use both methods for a while to compare, but in truth, it's apples and oranges and people need to remember that scores are based on different things for each system, so it's not fair really to compare them, however good percentile and low hip score does give people lots of information on the dog in question but as we know as breeders, doesn't guarantee that a problem won't show up in offspring.

Yes, it's a hard pill but there are no guarantees with it. It is not you or your stud dogs fault if the bitch is not impregnated at the correct time, or for whatever reason can't or doesn't concieve. If the semen is correct quality, motility etc, you have done your job (well, your dog has!) I agree that to cover all bases if possible, acquire two breedings worth. Some stud owners will insist on payment for both, or just for one and see how it goes. You would have to pay to have both shipped and stored and if used of course, compensate the stud owner. I have two dogs on ice, both single breeding units...it's nerve wracking to know I have one shot with either and can't get any more. This is when I appreciate the talents of my vet.

We feed our GSD's frames about twice a week. We use chicken mince (with the bone) the other days, along with a homemade pasta/veggie thing. They thrive on it. We've been totally raw now for almost two years, and the last few litters were gestated on raw and fed only raw as babies. First frames were at about 9 weeks or age or so. No issues getting them chewed up.

Re: short tail. we had a pup from the last litter with a broken tail. Broken at birth or while in utero. We simply pointed out the tail to the new owner, and gave them a chance to refuse the pup. No discount was offered. The new owner never blinked and called his girl 'unique' and has never looked at the tail as a fault on any level. We as breeders, know a pups faults. Most pet owners could care less. If it doesn't impact the dogs life directly, they don't care. Pets are desexed anyway so no worries about passing anything along. As for discounting the hernia, no...I would get it fixed at my expense, end of subject. The only dog I gave to a home was one that had one eye because its mother was a jerk and tossed it around as a newborn and injured it. The pup is now about 10 years of age or something and never figured out it had only one eye. The owners don't care and tried to pay for the pup but I refused as at the time, I didn't know if there would be surgery involved and was not prepared to make them have that expense as well as it was a to die for home. This was not just a fault from the standard, this was a physical deformity....one that could have directly impacted the dogs longevity. (it hasn't) I've had dogs with mismarks (white flashes on the chest) and dogs missing some toes...(they could walk, run, move etc) it never occured to me to offer a discount in these cases, nor would I now with many more litters and years under my belt.

No and I would get the hernia fixed prior to leaving for a new home. Bite is a non issue. naturally, full disclosure on these issues is given, but no discounts. If that starts, the flood gates open..discount for too big, too small, wrong/undesirable colour, undesirable gender? Where does it end, and it turns into a flea market mentality about haggling for the price of a pup that is registered, purebred and well thought out prior to its birth, cared for by a registered breeder....consider that the puppy mills are getting four times what we often sell purebreds for, for a mixed breed out of unhealth tested parents...and people PAY it!

All testing is done and passed as this vet has collected for Australia before. That doesn't seem to be the problem. For whatever reason, I'm having problems getting the import permit paperwork done, as it appears that AQIS wants a broker not an individual to handle this.

it could be the case of using a word incorrectly. Many who don't know, beleive that straw and vial are the same thing when in fact, they are very different. Not a blame game, just lack of knowledge that does that sort of thing.

Thanks, I'll give them a ring this week and have a chat with them.

Straws are diffent than vials. vials contain pellets. Straws..well they look like skinny drinking straws. Depending on the motility and sperm count, will depend on how many of either is considered a breeding unit. Vials do come in different sizes making for different numbers fitting on the 'cane' that is suspended in the liquid nitrogen canister. The small to medium vials are the more common used and I think the small means 8 on a cane or something like that (am trying to remember what mine used to be using the ICSB method of vials/pellets) Once semen is frozen, regardless of the format, it's not a good idea to thaw and refreeze to a different format because there is always some fatality in the semen everytime this is done, and a low motility to begin with, can mean no motility if this sort of transfer is done. Ideally, thaw and implant only.

In the case of both vial and straw. One item isn't always a breeding unit. In the years I've been collecting, depending on the male used, it may take more material to constitute a breeding unit. I have had dogs with lower sperm counts need two vials chockers full of pellets for a viable breeding unit, and some terriers way back in the dark ages, that required four straws to be considered a breeding unit. This is what makes this import stuff very tricky. When sourcing a male that has been frozen, be sure to ask how many containers (straws or vials) of that collection, are considered a breeding unit. This will help down the track during transport. I'm still trying to figure out how to get sperm from Spain. It's ready to go, but the paperwork for import permits has me scratching my head a bit. Am more than happy to hand this one over to someone with a clearer brain....still looking for suggestions of transport/broker I could use. I'm hoping to bring in four breeding units (8 vials) from the one male.

On their way to you. This copy may have a few tweeks to be sure the wording is correct and not contradicting, but it's basically a done deal.

Where is the 'like' button on that last comment!

double post (again) grrrr...not liking this format on here at the moment!

I've seen just as many big dogs be morons towards little dogs as the other way around. The shepherds don't want to go NEAR a trolley for fear of some nasty snappy thing screaching at them on the way past and it's often ignored..but if the shoe were on the other foot..... I don't like to see Joe Public at shows with their dogs, mutt or not, because simply most have no idea how to control said dog/mutt and most aren't socialized correctly and incidents happen. Besides...many of the dogs/mutts I've seen at shows, are walked along and are filthy, ungroomed and probably flea infested and who knows what other yuckies lingering!! (including kennel cough which we as showies are always slammed for being the ones that are spreading it amongst ourselves when in fact, we often aren't!) Can I ask: Does the aggressive dog rule apply to an unentered/Joe Public sort of dog/mutt?

Does anyone know if Sires On Ice can handle transport of semen from Spain to Australia? Any other suggestions of a broker or shipper to use? I'd do it myself but I just don't have time to sort out the paperwork and permits. (Semen complies with AQIS rules so that part is complete)

Does anyone know if Sires On Ice can handle transport of semen from Spain to Australia? Any other suggestions of a broker or shipper to use? I'd do it myself but I just don't have time to sort out the paperwork and permits. (Semen complies with AQIS rules so that part is complete)

Hump chain all the time with the girls and that includes any sheppies that happen to be out front if the little ones are in season. My girls aren't breed prejudice! As they believe, any hump is a good hump!

Truly scrumptious Dream come tru(e) Truly Mysterious Truly Amazing Beyond Truth Truth or Dare I had a bitch named True and these were some of the names I was going to use on a litter.

I don't have a large gene pool in my breed so every decent dog/bitch out there must be considered as we (as a breed) fell close to extinction in the mid 50's. However, I can not agree with the ideal that because I prefer black and tan as my colour of choice and it sells more (in some areas) easier than others, that I would pay more for this colour than a red (or dilute) I look at the dog first, the colour is always second, however I draw the line with dilutes. In my breed, they are bred without consideration as to breed type, specific improvements or other such considerations. They are sought for their colour because there are breeders who know that they can get THREE times the price for them. That is the ONLY reason they are being produced. In Canada, they can not be shown. In some European countries although eligible, no one of any reputation will show them as they are considered a severe fault. We are allowed to show them here...has anyone out there seen one in the show ring? to my knowledge and research, there has never been one exhibited in this country. We do genetic testing to eliminate the possiblity of having dilutes. Some would say "who cares...get one or two, make more money!" We care...those of us that hold our breed close. We also know that the dilutes have lots of health issues the non dilutes do not. We also realize that purchasing a dog based on colour alone is usually not something that will result in a happy ending. We do not wish to see our breed degraded by breeders that cash in on an uncommon or unhealthy colour, call it RARE and rake in money off unsuspecting buyers. I have my prefered colour of my breed but I will also breed or own reds if they are good enough. I will not however breed dilutes or breed for dilutes. I also will not promote my prefered colour as the ONLY correct colour or the colour that MOST people go for....do they? I personally don't have any facts or data to support such a statement. I let people know straight up that I have my preferred....but I also do not diminish the other main colour in my breed simply because it doesn't tug at my heart strings like my B/T's do. I would not consider selling reds at a lower price, implying they inferior to my b/t's either.