OSoSwift

Just easier to leave the dog at home and when any attempt is made at going down the dog training discussiion, say I am not going to discuss this as we are on totally different pages, stand up, grab a drink and go talk to someone else. If you do it every time he will get the message. I dont ake my dog/s anywhere unless specifically asked to or it is pre-organised and everyone is happy to have my dogs there. I have found crating doesn't work as there always has to be someone who thinks I am the evil dog mum for putting my dog in prison and they then have to sit there and feed it sausages or something! My brother also thinks I am mean as my dogs are apparently not just allowed to be dogs as I expect them to stay on their bed until asked to get on a lounge etc - especially when we have visitors - and they will go off and toilet on command when asked, not that I only allow them to toilet when given a command as he would have anyone who listened, believe. And don't get me started on the purebred versus cross bred "discussions" I have had prior to deciding not to engage.

This is the only reference I could find. I do use hand signals so in that case I guess I only want my hands to move when giving a signal as I like them as small as possible.

I totally agree, great to see happy working dogs but the crowding is an issue. and I'll get shot for this but I think the swinging arms are wrong that some people are doing. Its another signal to your dog when heeling, swinging arms move, still arms stop! The crowding there isn't an issue as that is what is expected and required. It is rare to see a dog trialling with no coat for that reason. Here yes it would be an issue. She has trained them to do that as its expected, I can't do the swinging arm thing either. Since I can remember I have been taught arms still, so to do arms now and try and to signals would end up very messy. I have never seen anyone in ANKC Heeling swinging there arms so I am not sure how it would be recieved.

Positions in motion look very cool when they are trained properly :D Geez how hard did that dog hit that sleeve! - Nice :)

I oowuld prefer to bomb a trial due to too much enthusiasm in my dogs heeling than to pass with dull not inspired or not animated heeling

Mary Ray is exceptionally good, however over here she would be pinged for a crowding dog - yes I know this is what is acceptable over there and any gap is penalised - In the slow pace the dogs legs were actually at an angle to the floor as he was pressing against her legs so hard. I do love the precision and animation all her dogs have, she is one talented lady and someone I aspire to

If food works whats the issue????? But no you can use whatever the dogs has a high reward value for. My dogs LOVEs a ball.

I would be looking at diet and possibly changing flea products. Royal canin can work really well for lots of dogs but there may be something that doesn't agree with yours. Dogs can be allergic to anything we are allergic to. IT isn't always something new as they have to be exposed to something to become allergic to it.

I would not buy a pup desexed as a juvenile. I would buy a pup that had had a vasectomy or Tubal ligation. I won't desex mine until they are over 14 months of age. My boys won't be desexed uinless medically necessary, my bitches are done at 14 months if not for breeding/showing or at around 5 to 6 years of age or if I do not want them to have a litter due to medical issue or age. I do believe early desexing is detrimental to a dogs health and growth.

If VAN works, use it. Much easier than doing all that research adn making your brain hurt :) I figure sometimes in life you just go with what works - obviously as long as it isn't a detrimental choice :)

How terrible, poor Blackie

Bloody hell, that is brazen! I hope Linc is found safe and well very soon

There are lots of us in the middle ground. I must be odd. In my now breed for my first dog I asked for a dog that was a solid colour with little white as we live in an area that the sun is very bitey and hot and the dogs go to the beach often and sunburn is a real concern. The colour it's self I didn't give a hoot about. I asked for a sound physically and mentally dog and would have prefered a girl - purely becasue that is what I had always had, but if one was not available I wasn't too fussed about that either. I had been speaking to the breeder for some time and knew what her dogs looked liked and knew what the parents of the litters looked like and was happy with what, I saw and had an idea what the pups would look like.

You do have every right to want certain things. It just means your wait will be longer quite often. You have the right to say no thank you, the breeder has the right to say no. Different people find out things in their own way. I don't do pointed questions but love a chat and find people generally tell me what I want to know in the course of conversation. People are different, you will get some who put you through intense interogation and some who hand a dog over for cash and everyone in between. Goodluck in your search.

All of my dogs have come to me after a relationship has developed. I once ended up getting a pup out of a litter when I was expecting I wouldn't be able to get one until a next litter. However I had already been in contact with that breeder for a good 6 months prior to that litter being born. None of my dogs have been bought from an existing litter. Some have been planned and agreed to up to a year before birth ( obviously they went as planned ).

Yep what Gruff said, I have also groomed many dogs who have luxated a kneecap while I have liftted a leg to clip/trim. I would consider another opinion if the problem continues and the vet doesn't find anything. Around 12 to 14 months is not an uncommon age for it to become a noticable issue. It is very typical for them to be walking/troting along, hold a back leg up and skip a stride - or more - put the foot down and continue to go along normally. Sometimes they may skip and put the foot down a few times until it goes back.

Aww Stan you are an individual that is for sure. Love his take on life :)

hahahaha thats gold. My kids going to bed only ever involves a cat or two and a few dogs :)

My short list was Pugs and Whippets - very different dogs - and I still want a Pug! Not helped at all by watching some very gorgeous ones a few weeks ago and one gorgeous lad in the obedience ring :)

My dogs are told to wait which means they can lay down, stand up, scratch but not move off their spot. I don't like the way this particular one was taught though

Excellent dog run. Well done :)

If a breeder wished to speak to my vet I would happiily give permission. I see no issue with asking questions/requesting photos. I would baulk at a photo of me as I hate having photos taken and don't share them on social media, however I do realise the potential reasons they may ask. The thing is, the breeder can ask you to provide what they like, its up to you if you wish to provide the information. The breeder chooses the ultimate home for that pup. Handing them over is not easy. I don't have a questionaire as such but fidn you learn a lot in general conversation with people. I may ask certain questions if they have not offered the answers. I have not had a house inspection of any of my puppies, but I have seen photos via facebook in two cases and met the other family prior to the purchase of the puppy and have visited their home since. I was looking at a different breed tot hat I have now. I was told flat out that one breeder would not sell me a dog as my children were under 10 years of age. My thing was they were well versed around dogs, well disiplined and knew what behaviour was acceptable around animals/puppies. The breeder was interestate and a friends grandson had been found jumping on a bed young pup in arms - a real recipe for a disaster - so she would no longer sell to people with young kids. the fact my kids never jumped on beds, were closely monitored and knew they were never allowed to pick a pup up didn't matter. at the end of the day that was her choice and her right and she did it becasue she cared about her babies and where they went. If someone asked me about what drives me and my passion I woudl believe that applied to my dog related activies such as agility/obedience etc etc etc

Mine have an on cue and a we are finished cue. If I ask them to lie down and wait they relax and wait. Or they get sent to a mat or bed, then they can flip flop around but we are not working. I ask them are you "ready??" cue dog is on!

I also have more than one breed I would potentially own, all very different. Before buying my first Whippet I had three very different breeds on my potential dog list. I also have owned some very different breeds to what I own now quite successfully. As a pet pup missing incisors are not an issue as long as there are no other issues as Wreck it already said. I would look at the whole picture and the temperament and go from there.

Quite often lipstick pops out when they sit/flop with a curved spine, if they sit up straight or lay down on their tummy you won't get it popping out as much :)