tdierikx

Katdogs - Zeddy has healing powers in her tongue - all of the wounds of mine she has licked have healed quickly and not scarred... do you want her to come over and give you a kiss? Maybe Jodie or Stevie could kiss you better too? T.

, What defines 'pet quality'? My familie's mutt has achieved highly in both obedience and agility (she only just retired this year age 13). I know of many others who fit her mold. Yes she won't win a show (she can't enter) but is that the only condition? My sister and I have both chosen purebreds (from breeders we know and respect and in Qld i don't think you can run more than one cross in dog sports) but I would take a mutt in a second. Heck some mutt breeders have better ethics than some purebred breeders I know. There will be "good" and "bad" breeders of any type of dog - pure or mutt - that is a given... If you are wanting a specific type of dog with predictable guarantees of how it will develop, looks, size, health status, etc... then you are more likely to get those things with a purebred and pedigreed dog. Then again, the selection of a family pet should never be a spur of the moment thing either - one should do a little bit of research into what you want from that dog, then make an informed "purchase" based on the criteria that matter to you most. If you get a bad vibe from the breeder (ANY breeder, pure or mutt), or their dogs, then don't buy a dog from them - it's pretty simple really. Personally, I don't think that breeding of pets for the general populace should be restricted to only purebred/pedigreed animals - but I do believe that breeding healthy and temperamentally sound animals should be paramount for any breeder of any type of dog. T.

I'd report the wandering kids - and their propensity for trespassing and teasing your dog - to the Police. Make them take your statement in writing and file it. At least then you will have more leeway IF something does happen before you get your new fence up. T.

One Canon USB cable will be on it's way to you tomorrow by Express Post... happy to help... T.

Does the 7D use the same cable as most other Canon cameras do? If so, I have a couple of Canon USB cables that came with my various cameras (3x point and shoot jobbies and a 450D). If they are the same, then I'd happily send you one - I pull the card out and shove it into my card reader instead of using the USB cables anyways. Feel free to PM me if you'd like one of my spare cables, OK? T.

Jack is a very special little soul - and I think dogs can sense that in him and they behave accordingly. Have you noticed that Ellie is a bit like a larger version of Jasmine? Maybe Jack noticed... and that's why he didn't want to leave Ellie behind? dogmad - is there any way that the Homebush vet could call the vet clinic that noticed Ellie's previous vaccination reaction and find out what it was - and possibly try a different formula/brand C3 vaccination instead? Ellie is a big healthy girl, and could quite possibly be just fine with a C3 vaccination of a brand known for little or no side effects. Then again, a titre test may show that she only needs a Parvac shot anyways... Fingers crossed that Ellie has found herself a great forever family of her very own... T.

We only have Caleb available now - Ellie picked herself her very own forever family today... yay!!! We did have someone come to look at Caleb today, but they were first time new dog owners, and not too sure they would be able to manage a fast growing large breed puppy, so we showed them some smaller breed pups that were more suitable in that regard... and they have adopted little Herbie, who is a scruffy little white and tan fellow that will only grow to about ShihTzu size. We have been very lucky with the people coming to meet our "Caringbah 7" - most of them have been experienced dog owners and knew exactly what they were getting into with a large breed pup. Then again, we sort the wheat from the chaff when they phone up... they will only get an appointment to meet the dog in question after that phone interview. T.

Jasper, James, Maddie, Rory, and Dexter have all been adopted - only Caleb and Ellie are still available. T.

Run free and healthy Zedley. T.

There's a whole melting pot full of breeds and their crosses in this little fellow methinks... I think he's probably one of those extremely rare "Cuddle Hounds" myself... and not a bad representation of same... *grin* T.

Is the fawn boy the only one who's managed to get his ears up Frodo's mum? It's become a little less hectic around here today - 5 of the Lab X pups were adopted, as was the scruffy little guy - only have 2 Lab X and 3 fluffies now... so much less poopie around here tonight... *grin* Have you named any of the munchkins yet? ... and I know you are just teasing me with all of those gorgeous pictures of "my" fawn boy... lol! Feel free to keep them coming though - he's too cute for words... although the munchkin in that last photo is running a close second... T.

Speaking from a purely pet loving angle here... I'm probably one of those people who likes a bit of unpredictability in how their "mutt" turns out when grown up. I'm also more likely to want more crossbred dogs as pets during my lifetime. That said, however, I'm also highly likely to make sure that my "mutt" is given the best chance at having decent social skills as an adult via the use of training, and socialising it as a pup. I'm not talking obedience titles, but the ability to take the dog to a busy park and know that it's not going to do anything stupid, and come back immediately when I call it. As for health issues - so far the worst I've had is chronic arthritis manifesting in a 7 year old Rotti, and bone cancer in another 7 year old Rotti - the arthritic dog was managed with great vet care and made it to 11 before she had help to the Bridge. Both Rotti's were purebred from champion lines. So far I've been extremely lucky healthwise with my current "mutts" - a 12 year old Rotti/Pittie cross who looks and acts like she's 5, and a 6 year old Labrador (with possibly Dingo in her "lines") who made the infamous Marley look like a dream dog when she was younger, but can still be taken anywhere and knows how to behave herself in public. My 1 year old "camp dog" rescue girl came to me as a foster pup, and had a brain injury of unknown origin that means she walks funny (has coordination issues when walking) - her health in all other respects is exceptional - she has hit all milestones perfectly except for her gait... All of my dogs get brought up the same - food that maintains their good health, vet care when they need it, basic obedience and social skills instilled, and lots of love - it makes no iota of difference whether they have a pedigree or not. Don't get me wrong - I can see why many people may prefer a purebred dog - and even why some may "aspire" to have one or more in their lives... but I'm not necessarily one of them... and I'm not alone... *grin* T.

Wouldn't most male Samoyeds have testicles visible by about 8 weeks? T.

I have 7 nine week old Lab/GSD/Rotti pups, an 8 week old scruffy looking pup whose mum was Maltese/ShihTzu, and 3 seven week old fluffies whose mum was a Maltese. Mine are all cute - but yours are stunning! *grin* Seriously, if I didn't have 3 large dogs of my own and any number of fosters at any given time, I'd be applying to adopt your fawn boy... he's stolen my heart, and I don't even know him... lol! T.

May Zedley have an easy trip to the Bridge Loraine. Will be thinking of you tomorrow... and knowing that Zedley will be in some wonderful company when he gets to the Bridge, his wait for you will be spent happy and healthy there with all of his soon to be best friends who are also waiting for their beloved humans to cross the Bridge with. Remember that he will always live on in your heart. T.

You must admit that isn't a breed trait though. Sounds like yours is broken ;) Hahaha! Too funny... T.

Oh man!!! I have 11 foster pups here at the moment... but I'm getting really jealous about your chubby little munchkins... I'm falling more in love with the fawn boy each time you post a photo... he is truly stunning! You and Charm are doing an awesome job with them - look how perfect they all are... T.

I had a male Sibe turn up at my door early one morning - same thing, very well mannered and obviously someone's much loved pet. He was chipped, and was reunited with his owners later that morning... Hoping your girl is reunited with her family very soon. T.

When we look at the numbers of dogs owned in Australia compared to the numbers dumped or left unclaimed in pounds, it would seem that most people care something for their pets - the people who frequent DOL possibly even more so... *grin* However - the large numbers being euthanaised in pounds is definitely cause for concern, as they aren't dropping, but rising every year - despite the fact that more and more rescues are springing up all over the country and getting significant numbers out for a second chance... T.

My 7 babies all got a pig's ear each yesterday... and after the initial confusion about what they were supposed to do with them, they worked it out and had a great time chewing them up. Thank you Katdogs for the HUGE bag of yummy pig's ears - all of the furkids here reckon you are the bestest! T.

Zeddy - has been mummy's girl from day one - even though she was supposed to be the OH's dog - he's gone, and she stayed... *grin* Trouble - is just as naughty as I was as a kid - my mum always hoped I'd have a child like me when I grew up... this is her revenge... lol! Pickles - doesn't know she's supposed to be disabled - has the happiest outlook on life... makes one stop and smell the roses. T.

I just leave my back door open so my dogs can come and go as they please - they prefer lying around on the furniture or being with me, so it's just easier that way. If I close the door on them and make them stay outside, they whine and bark to be let back in. T.

All of my furkids got a pig's ear after dinner (kibble) - courtesy of my lovely neighbour who gave us a bag of 50 for Christmas... Had lunch at my cousin's place, and everyone was really good for not feeding her dog any "people food" - the dog got a few small bits of every leftover with her dinner kibble instead. T.

Squeeeaaallll! They is on the grass now! Simply stunning little munchkins! Merry Christmas little ones... and auntie and the rest of the pack of course... *grin* T.

I think I understand what you are trying to say mace... but I'm not entirely convinced of the argument behind your conclusion. I'm of the opinion that the average Joe looking for a pet for their family is generally looking for the "best price" for same - and in more than a few cases, when that cute and cheap pup is no longer cute and hasn't had much training, grooming costs hadn't been factored in, etc - the easy option of taking said dog to a pound or shelter is there to relieve them of their "problem"... The truth of the matter is that rescue go to the pounds and make selection of the dogs there based on a lot of factors - health and reasonable temperament are high on the list of which makes a dog "adoptable". We don't just grab whatever is there willy nilly. It's a crap job making those selections when you know exactly what is going to happen to those you can't take in. Then again, there are some dogs that really shouldn't be "saved" - and ethical rescue understand that too. As for pups in rescue - most are either surrenders from "oops" litters from Joe Public, or from dogs that have come into rescue heavily pregnant from pounds. We try to make sure that those pups get the very best socialisation and vet checking for any health issues that may arise, then select new homes for them VERY carefully. In many cases rescue will assist the owners of bitches whose pups we take in get desexed - sometimes paying for it ourselves, or helping them find a vet that will do subsidised desexing. BYB's survive and thrive due to the public's buying patterns - not because rescue are peddling their detritus. I'm currently fostering 11 rescue pups - 7 from an "oops" litter (the bitch is being desexed), and 4 born in rescue from a bitch that came in to us pregnant. I'm just happy that none of these pups were ready to go to new homes before Christmas - as fending off the "my kids want a pup for Christmas" enquiries is a huge headache... *sigh* May I also add that a pup from rescue has had quite a bit of socialisation, their current and future health needs have been identified, and prospective new families have been screened and fully appraised on what that pup will need from them over it's entire life - future socialisation, regular vet checks to make sure their pet will stay healthy, and/or grooming requirements if looking at a fluffy type, vaccinated, microchipped, desexed, etc. We show new owners how to check ears, eyes, teeth, feet, etc, the pups have been crate trained, partially toilet and obedience trained, etc. Your average BYB won't do that - they will happily sell to the first comer with the money... not to mention that rescue pups are generally cheaper to purchase than your average BYB pup - and we are happy to take the animal back if it's not a fit for the family for some unseen reason. The biggest difference between a pup from an ethical rescue as opposed to one from an ethical breeder is the pedigree - the ethical breeder has a better idea of how their pups should turn out physically and temperamentally, but there are no absolute guarantees there either when you factor in how a pup is raised. All that either "source" can do with regards to that factor is to screen prospective new homes to the best of their ability and hope that their screening process has covered all bases. T.