Souff

How about this one Souffy? Or this one? Both will do just fine! One for the newspaper. One for Ms White. thanks PF Souff

Yes, that is what the RSPCA and pounds are there for.... aren't they ..... to care for the unwanted? And a dog can quickly become unwanted when the vet bills are looming large. Gosh, my vet got $90 last week because one of the old dogs here had a stomach bug. All fixed now ... until next time. In a year that one old dog has cost me around $1000 in vet bills for just minor things, but you wont be reading about it in the papers. Souff

Twenty years purebred pups could be bought for $200. Rescue and RSPCA dogs cost about $50-$80 because they had been vaccinated by a vet who donated their services. People gave away pups from accidental litters of all types "Free to a Good Home" Ms White would have earned about one quarter of what she can earn today. Had Ms White been on welfare benefits she would have found it difficult to be able to afford to feed a medium/large dog, feeding the family was often done with the help of others if you were on benefits. Wonder if Ms White will desex the cheap crossbred mutt that she got from Facebook, or will she go on to breed litters of mongrel bred pups and sell them at today's prices as "cute puppies"? She probably wont be able to pay for desexing ...... not at today's prices. Troy you need a big thumbs down icon, just for people like Ms White. Souff

It is little consolation for the owner of the JRT but it is a damned fine message to send to EVERY DOG OWNER who takes their dog out in public: Take precautions! Play fair - keep other dogs safe from your dog, and in doing so you will be keeping your dog safe from being PTS. Souff

No.1 is an excellent solution.

Shame because the K9 ones I saw were excellent. Hope an ingenious Aussie company will catch on soon. I have worked it out that the cost of a double unit which lasted for say 5 years and stayed in the back of the wagon would not be much more than the 2 crates that I replace every couple of years because they get banged around, left out in the weather, etc. Souff

Double post removed.

Was just talking to a friend last night. Due to an over protective female owner who would not allow the men of the house to correct a developing pup when it was out of line, and gave it a regime of weak discipline, mixed messages over boundaries, etc, the world now has another "problem dog". ;) Of course later this "bad dog" had to be re-homed as it "could not be trusted near men". Friend has taken the dog in and the rehab process has started and the dog was going really well, building a good rapport with 2 sensible males who understand animals. Unfortunately, a male visitor arrived the other day and, unannounced, went into the dog's area and for his trouble got bitten. Seems some "Keep Out" signs might now be needed. Yet, this was a pup that was bred from the calmest and gentlest of lines, and the litter mates and parents and other rellies are known for their beautiful temperament. Asal, what I guess I am saying is that when 'it happens', "it" is often the fault of humans who neglect to give a pup the discipline it would have got in a pack. Certainly was in this case and good advice that was given early was ignored. Souff

Well then, by Australian media standards, it must be a very well written piece.

When your little dog is attacked, you will scream too. Two dogs = 1 pack. Natural pack behaviour includes chasing and attacking smaller animals. It has happened before and will happen again because humans allow it to happen. Souff

Dasha, Times have changed and chiropractry is not "blind" as you describe. Our chiropracter has x-ray equipment on site. Others send out for x-rays first. Souff

All receptionists must go to "saint school" first. They are always expected to produce the impossible on a daily basis, and from time to time enact a miracle. It is not written in the job description, it is an unwritten creed. Somebody mentioned in this thread about them overbooking patients. Well, I am here to tell you that in the medical world sometimes receptionists are TOLD by the boss to double book and then when somebody fails to appear for their appointment, the medico doesn't lose any income, and there are probably vets who give the same instruction. SO you have to wait? Tough! You are in the waiting room of a busy practice! HOWEVER ...... when a vet receptionist tells Souff something that smacks of animal rights crap, a dirty big cloud forms on the horizon. Souff speaks to the vet at the very first opportunity and tells vet that all bets are off. Will go elsewhere and so will all the referrals. To all receptionists out there ... vets, doctors, dentists, or whatever, Souff salutes you for doing your job well. But do NOT ..... ever ever ever ...... start talking about dew claws, tail length, or that all dogs should be desexed. Souff

Have you looked in the section where it says that you can't sell to pet shops if they are not the PIAA type of pet shops ? Or have I got the wrong state ....

We had a rescue dog like that once that would lie across the bowl and guard it, so we stopped putting food in a bowl and instead we scattered it around on a big piece of plastic, or on some sheets of newspaper. That kept him very busy going between the various patches of food and scoffing them down before any of the others could be perceived as a threat to him. We couldn't give him bones either, as he would guard those later. Drove me crackers.

Stupid yachtie. Hope they throw the book at him. The locals dogs usually get the blame for penguin deaths. It is a good thing that this story brings to the public's awareness that sometimes the dogs do COME BY BOAT. Souff

I couldn't agree more with Shazzapug. Kyles, if we all didn't pay any breeder registration fees like you, and just kept "pets" and bred from them every now and then, like you, just as "pets", then we would have no more registration of dogs pedigrees (family history) and very little health testing of the dogs. The forbears of your dogs had their pedigrees recorded so people later could know what was in their bloodlines, and this is very important. The pups you have bred and sold have not had their pedigrees recorded and so in years to come when you are no longer around, nobody will know what is behind those pups. The world is at a disadvantage because you didnt bother to register their pedigrees - it was going to cost you money after all. Why should you not pay any fees for the privilege of breeding your dogs? Why is it that it is OK for all of the registered breeders to pay their fees, and for you not to pay? Can you tell me why you should be treated any differently to any other person who is breeding from their dogs? Souff

I am waiting for somebody to set up a website that is about the recycling of used dog carriers. Many people who get a crate with the puppy, then the crate spends most of its time in the garage or the shed gathering dust because the pup has outgrown it, and finally gets tossed out .... and I find out later ... grrrrrr The puppy crates for medium and large breeds are ideal travel crates for the smaller dogs and the top quality ones (Vari) have a long life and it is almost criminal seeing them gathering dust or used for the wrong things. Some get donated to orgs, but many get tossed out, or are lying around the farm being used for something else .... sigh. Many have only been used a couple of times. Souff

Send them an email. They might have an Australian distributor.

That is them! :D The ones I saw up close were hard moulded plastic and fitted very snugly into the back of a wagon. Very stylish too. They do not move anywhere, cannot tip, and best of all the dogs LOVE them! The Brits are the best with their dogs, and no, I have not seen anything like them in Australia yet, but must say that I havent been specifically looking either. I would not suggest that they are cheap but hey, they would be a lot cheaper than vet bills for impact injuries and without the trauma and pain! Souff

Peter Schofield is at Mulgoa - not a big drive for them and he is an excellent chiropracter with the canines. Sorry I don't have his phone number here but he should not be too hard to find. Anyone?

Crates are actually safe havens for dogs, try to think of them that way. However, there are rules for crates. Do not use a crate that has clips - they will spring open on impact. Totally useless in an accident. Also, do not use metal folding crates. Use AIRLINE APPROVED PLASTIC CRATES - these are crates that are screwed together and cannot spring open on impact. If you have a wagon, the best place for crates is behind the back seat. If you have a sedan, the best place is being placed across the rear seat. Never place a crate with the door at the front, i.e. do not have the crate door facing the same way as the car is going. The dog or puppy can be smashed against a steel door! On the back seat the usual seat belts hold the crates in place well, but do not thread the belts through the handles of the crates. Crates come in many sizes and 2 smallish westies should be quite OK in the correct sized crate. Practice at home first with toys and food and practice sleeps. I suspect that the main reason that crates are safer than harnesses on impact is because the dogs are lying down and relaxed and literally roll off the sides of the crate after impact. They are not restrained with great force, and as most dogs usually have a nice comfy mattress in their crate, and/or blankies, the impact is absorbed better. The dogs joints, particularly shoulders, and ribs, neck, spine, etc , is not taking a great shock. Harnesses have their place and many of the bigger dogs simply wont fit in a crate, a crate that will fit in a small sedan anyway. I was in the UK recently and was very impressed with the snazzy"boxes" that fit in to the back of wagons. I think they are called "Trans K9" or something like that. Come in many sizes and they can be very roomy for the bigger dogs. btw, you are talking to somebody who used to drive with small dog on lap (!!!!!!) :D Sooooooo bad, and of course it is now illegal. And with very good reason! After seeing first hand the damage done to dogs by impact injuries, and having seen for myself what a determined dog can do to a harness with a set of teeth (while all the time I was blissfully listening to music as I drove) I can only recommend crates for safety. They can save your dogs life, and save him/her from serious injury. As that article points out, there is another very good reason for having your dog in a crate in the vehicle. When the ambos need to help you or injured passengers, an angry dog (who does not understand that ambos are there to help) is far better to be in a crate than lashing out at them from a harness. I sincerely hope that nobody and their dogs are involved in an accident, but it is best to plan to avoid/minimise disaster whenever you can. Please don't add them to the list of casualties. Souff

I think that is why I was so very angry when I read this. Swans are amongst the most beautiful, graceful and peaceful of birds. To me, they are a symbol of serenity. For any creature to be deliberately mown down by a young moronic masochist on a jet ski is just insane ... :D

Have posted this in the other thread but I think it is important to be here as well. Please think very carefully about impact damage before buying any travel gear for your dog. At some stage we all have to hit the brakes hard and you might be horribly surprised by some of the awful permanent damage that can occur to our beloved dogs on impact. Being restrained in the different outfits is one thing, maximising your dog's safety can be quite another. Remember that your dog's body was travelling at the same speed that your car was travelling at, before it is slammed to a stop. Impact damage should be considered before an accident, it is too late after the accident. Automobile Safety for Dogs The safest way for a dog to travel is in a secure crate. If you are involved in an accident, [b]your pup is much safer in a crate than loose or even in a safety harness[/b]. The crate, especially a plastic airline crate, will protect your dog from injuries on impact and keep the dog secure in the aftermath. More than one dog has survived a car accident and then been killed on the road when he slips out an open car door. If you are injured in an accident, emergency personnel won't have to worry about getting past your dog to help you if he's crated. Never let your dog ride in the front seat of a vehicle with air bags. Dogs, like small children, can be killed or injured by deploying air bags. A doggy seatbelt—a harness arrangement that fastens to the car's seatbelt—is a reasonably good alternative to a crate, although it won't provide as much protection. http://life.familyeducation.com/dogs/travel/45672.html Souff

Too sad for all concerned. A hard lesson learned, but learned too late. A young pup's shoulder was mangled when slammed forward inside a car. Another had serious neck and spinal injuries and later had to be put down. Impact injuries are real and a harness is not the total answer. When you need to hit the anchors hard, if your dog is in a crate that is secured by a seat belt it is reassuring to know that a crate will minimise the impact damage to your dog's body, better than a harness. When your car is travelling at 80kph, and you brake suddenly, your dog's body is still travelling forward, until slammed to a sudden stop by a harness, or a hard object (if loose). Sure, a harness will hold your dog in place .... but ask your vet about the sort of damage that can be done to a young dog's skeleton when the pressure of the harness hits, in the event of an accident. Automobile Safety for Dogs The safest way for a dog to travel is in a secure crate. If you are involved in an accident, your pup is much safer in a crate than loose or even in a safety harness. The crate, especially a plastic airline crate, will protect your dog from injuries on impact and keep the dog secure in the aftermath. More than one dog has survived a car accident and then been killed on the road when he slips out an open car door. If you are injured in an accident, emergency personnel won't have to worry about getting past your dog to help you if he's crated. Never let your dog ride in the front seat of a vehicle with air bags. Dogs, like small children, can be killed or injured by deploying air bags. A doggy seatbelt—a harness arrangement that fastens to the car's seatbelt—is a reasonably good alternative to a crate, although it won't provide as much protection. http://life.familyeducation.com/dogs/travel/45672.html Souff

I have a belief that "Promotion of their Product" is something that most of the purebred dog world fails miserably at ...... in an age where EVERYTHING is promoted. We have generations of people who have been brought up by promotions and the advertising world .... since birth. We left the post war era behind some time back - customers have a far greater range of options than what they did back then and most of the customers will no longer automatically come to you, simply because you have been breeding "XXX" breed of dog for many years and have a wall full of show ribbons. The Royals only happen once a year and in amongst watching the equestrian events and being hurled around on supersonic rides, inspecting the cakes and flowers, and eating too many hot dogs, yes, people do take time out to look at your dogs. Once a year. Most of those people do not go to the dog shows where you exhibit your dogs. We live in a commercial world. We compete with pet shops and puppy farms in the commercial world. We need to PROMOTE PUREBRED DOGS. While promoting your dogs, you can also promote the fact that they are raised as part of the family, well socialised with other dogs since eyes were open, or whatever it is that you want to tell people ..... to set yourself well apart from those horrible conditions that are so often promoted by well meaning animal libbers. What have the public seen most of in say the last 2 years on their television screens? Puppy farms and horrible conditions. RSPCA officers wading through some muck where animals are housed inappropriately. Have the public seen a happy litter of pups romping on a suburban lawn? Have they seen a contented bitch with her pups, teaching them the things that only mothers can teach? Have they seen the conditions that the stud dog sleeps in, in the lounge room, or sprawled across your bed? Have they seen both the stud dog tearing up the dirt at lure coursing events, or hurtling through flyball activities? In Australia the general public are unlikely to have seen any of those things on their telly .... some still have the belief that only bad news sells. Balderdash! Look what happens when a car company use a Jack Russell or a Border Collie or an ACD in their ads, or that paint company uses a gorgeous OES, or the Labrador pup unrolls yet another toilet roll. Everyone in the room sighs ....... "aaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!" ..... and they all want a dog "just like that one!" Good dogs are well promoted when they are selling somebody else's product!!!! Good dogs, when they are well promoted, sell the purebred dog world to people! The internet is one of the best things that has happened to dog breeders, in terms of being able to promote the breeding of purebred dogs inexpensively, and yet sometimes I see people writing that they want the use of the internet banned !!!!!! What sort of loopy thinking is that? Mght as well say "ban the TV!" TV can be used for good stuff as well as bad, and likewise the internet can also. Good breeders don't need a shop front in a Westfield complex, but make no mistake, a lot of people walk past those places and can be easily convinced that they should step inside to see the puppies ..... GUILTY! :p The internet is the most obvious PROMOTION tool that we have! The world is just beyond the keyboard! BUT, do we need different metatags out there, to get to those PET buyers FIRST? ..... Before they stop off at Westfield? I believe that any dog breeder putting together a website needs to think very carefully about the pet buyers market and ensure that the right words are in those metatags. Be a pet buyer for a few minutes ..... what words come into your head as you are thinking that you might add a puppy to your household? Pup .... puppy .... cute .... pet .... cheeky .....? Purebred and healthy might be there somewhere with a few buyers too, but not the majority I suspect. "Well bred " maybe. Promotion works well when it is used, and when it is targeted to the people you need. Souff