Crisovar

I have had bitch lines that 18 months of age was the norm for a first season. The other behaviour wouldn't worry me either, but yep I'd bet she'll be in very soon.

I have both and most probably always will, cats have their own charm, probably what I like about them is what turns others off them. I do not dislike any animal, they are all fascinating. Even the ones I would not choose to share my home with. People that really dislike cats, well, I usually find there is something about them that I don't like. I see the most avid cat haters in action regularly, not people I would choose to spend time with.

I think that the majority of owners who bring matted dogs to be groomed really haven't given the process any thought at all. They want to collect a finished product and I am sure most think that groomers achieve this by waving a wand. When you explain that the fluffy style they request is not going to be possible with the degree of matting that their dog has they just blink at you. Some matting can be removed, it really does depend on the type of coat and the dog itself has to tolerate it. Many dogs will not, and many owners will just return with the dog in the same state repeatedly, so a straight clip off will win there. I am more inclined to persevere with regular clients who have had a one off coat disaster but again it depends on the coat and the dog.

Finding good grooming clients is not easy either, just because you pay someone it doesn't make it ok to rock up with filthy dogs, infested with fleas and/or ticks, ears that are almost rotting off the dogs head, dogs matted to the extent that they cannot freely move limbs, have ears so matted that they audibly thud onto the table when shaved off. They do this and expect to take home a film star. This is the life of a Groomer. We have invented breeds who are now apparently meant to have "breed clips" spoilt, bad tempered, untrained dogs, dogs who are not toileted before arriving, dog so untrained to accept any grooming, handling of feet, ears etc that they are overly nervous sometimes almost unmanageable. Dogs that hate baths, hate dryers, hate scissors, hate brushes, hate other dogs and dogs that bark and cry constantly. Dogs with overgrown uncared for coats with skin conditions, untreated hotspots which when uncovered by the necessity to clip off are then the fault of the Groomer. Owners who throw tantrums because they cannot get an appointment now, and it is of course the Groomers fault because the dog is overgrown, matted and stinks when it does get one. Owners who try every Groomer in the district and bad mouth them all to each new one they try, because no one can perform that miracle or do it cheap enough, or fast enough on demand. Then we have the owners who simply cannot understand that their dog cannot be turned into something it isn't or has a coat that cannot carry whatever clip they find in a book. Owners who do simply expect you to perform miracles. I try every day to send home happy clients with well groomed, happy dogs that are comfortable and smart looking, I want the dogs to look good when they leave me, I want the owners to be happy and be proud to have a well groomed dog on the end of their lead. I am happy when I have achieved this a the end of the day, and most days succeed, so I suppose I am like many other Groomers who get a tad defensive about the often unwarranted vents about our profession.

I wouldn't shave one leg, I'd send them elsewhere. If I brought my dog to you for a bath, blow dry, ear, feet and hock trim (which is standard on my breed) and you saw the big shaved patch on her side, would you take it upon yourself to shave the rest of her to match? Even if I didn't point it out to you (and it's not obvious at some angles and now that she has a covering of short black hair there), it stands to reason that if I didn't ask for the dog to be clipped, then I don't want the dog to be clipped. If you felt that the dog couldn't possibly leave your salon with what I'd requested and a big chink of hair missing from her side, then shouldn't you say so before taking to any part of the dog with clippers? A standard poodle with a partially matted leg from wearing a bandage over an injury shouldn't need all four legs clipped. And the customer didn't ask for all four legs to be clipped, so why does everyone feel the need to defend an unknown and obviously not very good groomer for not following instructions? There is a big difference between a MATTED leg and a shaved patch from injury, a dog with one shaved leg looks bloody ridiculous and no groomer wants something like that leaving the premises. What I read here in this thread is an owner who really doesn't understand poodle terminology taking a matted dog to a groomer who may or may not have understood that they wanted socks( poms, bracelets?? or maybe feet clipped way up high who knows)who clipped off a matted dog. The OP also didn't want the head trimmed?? so we have a bob marley dog with one shaved leg, sounds like every Groomers nightmare.

I wouldn't shave one leg, I'd send them elsewhere.

It is hard to win as a Groomer, when a dog is matted you are faced with either trying to dematt (if possible) without causing the dog great discomfort, or clipping off. Last weeks challenge was a mini that hadn't been clipped for 11 months that had a matted fleece and owner wanted it to go home with a dutch clip for xmas. Not possible, owner not happy with possibility of clip off so toddled off to find someone with poodle experience. Gotta love that.

There are many reason why people choose to feed more than one meal a day. Breeds prone to GDV, dogs on medication, dogs that simply do better with their daily ration split into smaller meals. Whatever works is best surely. Where is it written on stone that adult dogs only get one meal per day?

Wow....I would have told the SDO to shove it, sounds like he has tickets on himself and his dog. You don't need the angst of dealing with arrogance like that, and for what end? He gets a usable pup and you get pets! Let him buy a bitch and breed his own. There are no shortage of nice well bred Whippets in the country, and I am sure if you wished to you could find one with no strings attached. I once had a SDO owner approach me a little known breeder from the sticks a service by their dog for an exorbitant sum to help me along and they would take a pup as well, yeah right! How generous!

Sometimes you just have to accept that shit happens and move on. Sadly we can never guarantee perfection. One of the nicest pups I ever bred and probably the closest ever to being what I considered to be the total package for me, had to be desexed due to issues that had not surfaced in several generations, it was terribly disappointing, but you move on.

Whilst Pounds are at the end of the road and have to make that final choice for the animals that end up there, it is because as a society we demand that they fix the roaming dogs, fighting cats, starving strays. Irresponsible, ignorant choices by owners is what creates the mess the pounds clean up. Pound fees can be expensive, but so are the costs associated with Animal Control. We demand 24hour ranger response, we have to pay for it. Society is to blame and whilst we all moan and shake our heads at how the job is done it is a job we as a society have created.

It sounds like you have been given good advice and information, I hope it all works out for you and your pup. Some people choose not to put animals through the surgery and its recovery when faced with serious conditions. It is very much an individual choice. Financially many people would have to think very hard before committing to the cost. I don't consider your choice wrong, but it may not by the one I would make.

This is my understanding as well. Breeding dogs isn't like manufacturing a toaster either, sometimes when breeding, despite our best efforts, planning, hopes and dreams shit happens. Bad luck all round. When this defect happens with human babies they are called blue babies and we don't beat upon the parents for bringing them into the world.

How do you prevent sunburn?

Many debarked Showdogs are not problem barkers...the neighbours and society at large are the problem. Barking dogs are not tolerated, trying to live happily in suburbia with your dogs can be a challenge, many showies are afraid to allow their dogs to make a sound for fear of reprisal. It is the way of the world we live in. If there is a noise complaint in a neighbourhood the first person under suspicion will be the exhibitor/breeder with a multi dog license. To avoid the stress and the fear of losing ones dogs some choose to debark to prevent any issues.

Shelters and Pounds are not the same type of facility. To quickly answer a question why many animals turn up at either is ignorance on behalf of the pet buying public. Bad choices and unrealistic expectations and Irresponsible owners who allow animals to roam, irresponsible owners who enable random breedings.

to have its voice lowered - which is little more than a tonsils op - I have just had a tonsils op day 7 & its agony, kills. So hope its not like that or ouch poor dogs. Think I may have changed my mind or very, very last desperate decision. I have known quite a few dogs that have had ventriculocordectomy performed. All have been quite happy to to demand and devour their dinner. Keeping them quiet after the procedure is a challenge.

Thankyou, ive been trying to do this, but you would know how hard it is to convince a 12 week old and a 17 week old puppy of this~! That is why pups need to be accustomed to having their feet, mouths, ears handled daily from the start. From birth I handle pups and look in between toes, in their ears etc they lay on their backs on my lap and sleep for tick search etc. If you start with an older pup, do it during quiet time whilst they are sleeping next to you, sitting on your lap etc, every day, several times a day if they resist do one foot ear at a time then treat, until it is just a fact of life for them. I teach them to accept dosing with medication the same way, so much easier and no fights as they get older.

Variable here, some days up to 5 hours, others not alone at all. They have each other so are not without company. I don't believe that dogs and children need stimulation and interaction 24/7 so it is not a big deal here if they have 5 hours on their own just hanging out. They are happy to sleep a lot of the day unless there is something happening. They get training, exercise and plenty of games at other times.

Every dog/situation is different and needs to be handled to suit, however I do believe that dogs benefit from spending a good amount of time with access to sunshine, fresh air, grass, dirt and just hanging about doing doggy stuff. Mine all sleep inside at night but spend the majority of the day outside be it hanging out with us doing outside things or just doing dog stuff on their own. Crate training for everyone no exceptions, and crates/pens are used nightly for some.

I think the problem is not so much the Breed standard but how it is interpreted by some Breeders, there are and always have been typey sound healthy British Bulldogs.

Good to hear the surgery went well. Since Mojo is to have complete rest what I would do in your situation is crate him, and do the same with your new pup. Mojo will be safe from the pup, and confined as he needs to be for his healing and pup will be crate trained.

It is stressful when one of our pets are sick, accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, but now you need to focus on his recovery. You really need to get yourself together and not stress your dog out with your emotional state. Animals very quickly pick up on our emotions. Yes sadly your dog has a broken leg, he is fixable, you will not do him any favours by blubbering all over him when he needs to rest and recoup.

At least twice daily, early morning poo patrol whilst throwing the balls etc, then cleaning & refilling water bowls it is just a fact of life. If I am home during the day or come home for a bit then another patrol and check water or any time washing is being hung out or brought in. Late afternoon more games, some training, poo patrol and check or change waters. I can't imagine leaving it, the fly problem would be awesome.

No, you have a cat, cats are hunters, it is what they do if allowed to roam. Perfectly normal cat behaviour.