ozwildflower

I do it a bit differently and it seems to have worked well... I have had the pups micro-chipped from 8 weeks when their new homes are definite and then I have them chipped in the new owners name and give them the paperwork with the puppy pack when pup is collected. My vet suggested doing it that way and so far, so good.

All the very best. Will be watching for news.

Is the ad down already? I went looking for it but just started getting depressed at what is for sale there. I'm wondering if these people have followed this thread and removed the ad from gumtree.

I agree - not worth it. I used Advance for years because one fussy boy, with a delicate digestive system, seemed to well on it. Now I've changed brands he is actually powering ahead. Maybe they did me and my dogs a favour by treating me so shabbily.

I have been using Eagle Pack for a few years now and think it is great for my dogs. I feed my adults on Eagle Pack Power and have had the biggest, healthiest pups ever. I ordered my puppy packs and they arrived 3 days later. The packs are very good compared to some others I have seen. The person you email for the packs is wonderfull and very easy to get along with. They never ask any questions about how much of their product you are using or ask for proof. Leanne Thanks for that information and backing up what I had heard. I'm quite sure that none of us have time to deal with 'no service until you get upset' type customer service.

I've been told that Eagle put a good puppy pack together - but haven't tried it to date. I haven't tried the food I've changed to yet either (not as far as pups go). I'll be watching here with interest after the 'fun' I've had.

here is the email that I got a fast response from.... [email protected]

I rang the first time 18 months ago when my bitch got pregnant. My name etc was taken, was told it would be a few days ---nothing. Kept 'phoning and getting answering machines which I left messages on...nothing. Finally pups ready to go at 8 weeks and I made my own puppy packs. Had a litter 6 months ago. Tried contacting again from the day when my bitch 1st got mated.....nothing Talked to my pet supply store about it and they made contact for me...nothing. Pet supply store spoke to the actual rep. on more than one occassion...nothing. Made up my own puppy packs again. Finally found an email I could write to and expressed my total dissatisfaction and that I would now be changing allegiance - within an hour I had a reply offering me contracts and saying that there was no record of my having tried to contact the company. To me, the whole thing seems like false advertising. There is NO way that I would trust them to sign any contract with the company. They've lost me and my dogs are quite happy with the change of diet..hope pups will do as well with the change, but I'm sure they will and hopefully I will get support with the next litter. I do have that email address somewhere and can fish it out it you would like me to. I'll keep an eye on the thread.

I also use ric rac. You can get it in so many colours and different widths plus it doesn't unravel or undo. Have to change it fairly regularly with growing pups, but that's easy enough.

I figure if new technology helps give peace of mind - why not use it? Everyone who I have 'google earthed' knows I have done it - I haven't been underhanded as I don't expect buyers to be. I google earth for a couple of reasons - check the name against the address to make absolutely sure I'm not being led up the garden path, make sure it is okay for a standard poodle (though I have already questioned prospective buyers as to their knowledge of the breed and it's requirements for a happy and healthy life) and, because I love all my pups I like to be able to picture where they are, just as I like to be able to picture where my children and grandchildren live overseas (thank-you SKYPE). I can also think of an instance not so long ago that had experienced folk believing that a person lived on a property capable of housing various breeds for showing on lease arrangments. It ended up being a nightmare for more than one person and, if that property had beed google earthed, it would have been seen to be a small block on a main highway with no facilities. Anything up front and honest that helps make sure our pups are going to good homes can't be bad.

All very interesting. I'm in NSW and have had all pups micro-chipped, however, my understanding is that it is illegal to microchip under 8 weeks of age. Once I am 100% certain of the sale I have the pup chipped in the new owners name. So far, 3 litters, this has worked fine. I did have one instance where a pup went prior to having been microchipped and, that time, I got the name of their vet and paid their vet by DD as soon as the pup was chipped.

I use a either fido's flea and tick rinse (which also keeps other biting critters away) or another rinse that is sold by the Barf Shop which is good. If you don't bath your dogs regularaly, as I have to with my breed, you can put some in a spray bottle. Maybe you can find where they are breeding as well and get rid of the source.

Still not something that a "prospective" breeder should be taking on initially and most CERTAINLY not considering that the "prospective" breeder could cause Tuscamada untold issues if they aren't playing fair. And given the current climate, the past "Greyshaft" case and many other factors....in my eyes, placing it safe is the wisest course of action. I have been involved with the develpoment of DNA tests in my breed for over 15 years and also happen to be a close friend of the breeder involved in the Greyshaft case so know far more about DNA testing than most breeders. The breeder in the Greyshaft case won the court case eventually because at the time there was no DNA test available and she had no way of knowing the problem might exist. She was just very unlucky to sell a puppy to the most unreasonable person on the planet. Since then we have had a DNA test developed for TNS to make sure this never happens to another breeder. CEA is very rarely fatal, and is no big deal. The majority of affected dogs do not even have any sight defects but a very small proportion do. The Collie and Sheltie breeders are still breeding with affected dogs and doing carrier/carrier matings because they simply do not have enough clinically or DNA normal dogs to do otherwise. BCs have the highest DNA testing rate and for CEA approx 20% of the breed are carriers worldwide. Eliminating 20% of the gene pool would be ridiculous but we are lucky enough to be in a position to have the numbers that allow us to always breed with one parent DNA normal to avoid having any more affected puppies. I believe the Aussies probably have a similar percentage of carriers to the BCs. The Collies and Shelties are many years and generations away from being in this position. There is no problem with any prospective breeder taking on a "carrier" provided the fact that the dog is a carrier and what this entails is declared in writing. For me the bigger question here is why would the OP be getting rid of an otherwise lovely bitch just because she is a CEA carrier? The other person being me was just wanting to place her in a loving family home as that is what I do with my older girls once I have had litters from them as I believe they should have the chance on a one on one family situation instead of a kennel dog all there lives. Seems I have opened a can of worms here and that I might have to sell them her anyway if that is the law here in SA, the lady seems like a nice person when I talk to her. Would you not normally have an older girl, who has had her quota of pups, spayed? Did you tell the prospective buyers that you were selling them a whole bitch? If you never said anything about selling them a breeding bitch, but a 'pet only' - then there should be no problem. Get her de-sexed first, then place her.

I am always thrilled to get puppy updates and the occassional photo. I have felt it all worthwhile when I hear how happy people are with their new family member. As breeders we undertake to make sure, to the best of anyone's ability, that any puppies we breed have good lives. We want to know that there are no health or temperament issues because anything like that would give us valuable information for any further breeding. I think, also, we need the reassurance that we have made the right choice of home for our pups. We are often sleep deprived and exhausted by the time we are making final decisions and surely it is not asking too much for a new owner to write a short note of how pup has settled in and developing. I feel very sorry for the breeder of your pup; that you can find the time to complain here but not to write a short note to the person who worked hard so you could have the pup that you wanted, is a worry.

I don't have SWF, I have LBW (large black wooly) but, I use Fido's Rinse concentrate on pups and have had no problems at all - also no fleas and/or ticks. Do you have a good vet nurse you can check with?

I was advised by a Poodle Breeder not to use Leo Ear Cleaner as it can cause the ear to blister. But having said that I have just now ordered Milo as I have Poodle ears that I treat all the time. So I am going to try it. I have standard poodles plus have a friend who has been breeding standards for over 40years - always swore by Leo. Both of us have had problems with dogs allergic (or bad reaction anyway) to the EpiOtic so won't be using that again. I have just used the Bayer Clean Ear Solution on my boy who has a recurring ear problem and he seems to be coping with this one just fine. Do miss the Leo though.