dog geek

Saw a news report of an attack in Redfern (last night?) and the dog looked more like a hound-type...

http://www.theage.com.au/national/getting-the-lowdown-on-the-sausage-dog-trend-20140117-310gu.html OMG, kill me know.... this was what a VET had to say (apparently): " Dr Nicole Hoskin, from Prahran Veterinary Hospital, said...They are quite a popular apartment or family dog because of their smaller size. They do tend to cope quite well in smaller living arrangements, such as higher-density city living. They don't need too much exercise, some like to, but they are quite happy to cuddle on your lap... all pure-bred dogs carried the risk of hereditary diseases, so people should go to the pound and get a mix special." That little gem particularly caught my attention - fortunately, the article did, indeed, also have *sensible* advice from Dogs Vic... right down at the end of the article... The article in full: Every dog has its day, and if 2012 was the year of the cavoodle then 2014 could be the dachshund's time in the sun. Pet lovers are spending thousands of dollars for a pure-bred sausage dog, although the spike in popularity isn't all good news, according to some experts. Dr Nicole Hoskin, from Prahran Veterinary Hospital, said dachshunds were ''friendly and effervescent dogs'' that were becoming quite popular with inner-city residents. ''They are quite a popular apartment or family dog because of their smaller size. Advertisement ''They do tend to cope quite well in smaller living arrangements, such as higher-density city living. ''They don't need too much exercise, some like to, but they are quite happy to cuddle on your lap,'' Dr Hoskin said. When Damien Kirby, 21, was shopping for a pet, he wanted a dog that would grab people's attention. ''I didn't want to get a fluffy dog. I wanted a dog that turned people's heads around and Mojo did that,'' he said. ''Lots of people stop and stare, especially the ladies. So you get a lot of attention that way.'' Mr Kirby now has two dachshunds, having bought a companion for Mojo, called Ares, for $1800. Now dachshunds are in high demand, he is intending to breed Mojo and Ares, once she reaches maturity. ''Lots of my friends want little dachshunds, so once Ares is old enough I will breed them,'' he said. But a spokeswoman for Dogs Victoria had some concerns about a rise in ''backyard breeders'' once a dog breed became popular. She said this increased the risk of the spread of hereditary diseases that were often not picked up by inexperienced breeders. Dr Hoskin said all pure-bred dogs carried the risk of hereditary diseases, ''so people should go to the pound and get a mix special''. ''Owners need to be careful as dachshunds are known to have elbow and joint problems. ''We know that they have disc problems, they often need surgery, which can cost more than $6000 in medical bills, and they also have a predisposition to dental problems, particularly with their upper canine teeth. ''We see dogs on a monthly basis, with spinal injuries and some ongoing injuries with some nerves that haven't recovered after surgery.'' The Dogs Victoria spokeswoman said people needed to carefully consider whether a dachshund suited their lifestyle. ''People think dachshund dogs don't need much space, when in fact they are a miniature with the brain of a hound,'' she said. ''They are not apartment dogs and need room to play.'' Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/national/getting-the-lowdown-on-the-sausage-dog-trend-20140117-310gu.html#ixzz2qj8SqTVr

Heard on the grapevine that a close family member of the salon owners is starting up a doggie day care... as I said, grapevine, but still - surely not!!!!

Would you all recommend manual stimulation of the bitches' nipples from the onset of labour? I remember this as a homebirther's trick to stimulate production of of oxytocin and prolactin... and do it for all my bitches.

I try to follow the advice of the several authors of the breeding/whelping books I have - I only step in with bitches if I observe: * labouring/pushing for longer than half an hour with no pup being born (feet first, breech, big - I have had all these) * the bitch not seeming too interested in stimulating the first breath * signs that the bitch is too gung ho with the umbilical cord or with cleaning the new whelp That said... I have Toy breed bitches who seem Extremely Determined that I am Very Closely Involved in their whelping process... they all seem to get stressed if I try to encourage them to whelp in their boxes, and so far every litter HAS TO make its entrance into the world in my lap (with me sitting on the floor). So really, I might as well get in and help, they seem to expect it from me.

... oops - my bad, I failed to relay some relevant back-story. Lady in question and I are acquaintances through children having gone to the same school at the same time, we have lived on the same street for ten-plus years, she was so proud when she bought this little guy from the RSPCA and I have multiple Poms so she knew I would love to hear about him, we are both organic gardeners, etc etc etc. So, it is not quite as aggressive as randomly screeching to a halt in the street to accost her. Hmmm.... I am meditating on your various suggestions (except the ones that seem unnecessarily rude) and thank you all for your efforts to help. Further contributions eagerly awaited. :)

I am in considerable anguish over a little Pom in my area - about eight months ago I noticed he was 'bunny hopping' quite badly on his daily (his owner is so wonderful, cares for him beautifully, hence my quandary) walks. After about a month, I could no longer stand seeing him in such discomfort, so pulled over one day when driving past them, and asked his owner (after the basic social necessities of hello how are you etc) if she was aware that he was bunny-hopping quite badly. "Oh, yes he does that when he goes up the stairs at home..." No, I explained - I mean, he does walk beautifully at heel with you, I thought perhaps since he was not in your line of sight that you might not be aware that he bunny hops when you are walking him... and it is a sign of a problem with his patellas or his hips - what did your vet say last time he saw him?? "oh, no, vet has not mentioned anything about them... I am sure it is just he is getting a little old." She clearly was not interested in hearing her dog had a problem, and was definitely annoyed that I was interfering... Now, the poor little dog is still being walked regularly - and the condition has clearly progressed, he now gimps along gamely, back is now very hunched as he walks, stumbling along after his owner... It KILLS me to see it, any suggestions as to how to approach his owner again would be gratefully received!!!

Possibly...? Certainly I will link it to the others looking for info! Cheers DG

Help - once again I demonstrate how uselss I am at using this site's search function

A table to groom on, a groomer's arm, and a groomer's blast dryer!!!

Greytmate, the chocolate parti is the one with the 'clown face' and definitely has a chocolate nose... the orange parti has a 'snow nose' happening, but is not ee because she was sabled as a puppy, and does have some black whiskers. She does throw cream puppies, though... so she is Ee. The blue and tan has a blue nose...

Creme Parti and Blue and Tan:

Chocolate Parti and Orange Parti:

Oooookay... rare colours, recognised but not to be awarded if there is an equally correct but solid Pom in the class with them - solid get the class over parti. Chocolate: Chocolate and Tan:

I just can't get my pics to load... I used to be able to, using photobucket, that has changed too and I am having Senior's Technopobia now!

I found a site that says chocolate was one of the 4 main colours a century back. Then got 'killed off' (whatever that means) in favour of orange in popularity. But says choc's coming back in the showring. Must have been a colour preference issue, not change in what's acceptable. http://www.cantonpom...lates-are-sweet It is rare to get a whole litter of chocolate in a breed like that. You would normally only get a 25% chance of a rare chocolate pup (bb) if you used non-chocolate parents (Bb x Bb) . Breeding chocolate to chocolate will guarantee a whole litter of chocolate, so if people are doing that, the colour won't stay very rare. Hey - that is me!!! Actually, Greytmate - the percentages relate to each individual pup, not to the litter as a whole... ie: each pup will have a 25% chance of being chocolate. This particular litter is dual sired; one sire is the sire of the other sire. The older boy is black and white parti - carries 'and tan' (?a/t) and chocolate (Bb). His son -the other sire - is chocolate and white parti. The dam is blue and tan - her sire is black and tan, her dam is chocolate sable. Of five pups, one is chocolate and tan; one is solid black; and three are solid chocolate. All have one or more white toes, and small amounts of white on their toes. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.407973929284989.99216.100002171553957&type=3 I am not having any luck loading pictures onto DOL. You could browse my FB album, if you wish.

Hiya No-one else has posted, so although I am still abit of a novice, I thought you might like at least some response :D What are the main signs you see when whelping is near? I always notice changes in behaviour - and so far, have always had a drop of at least a degree in the 12 hours previously. The sorts of behaviours I see are: looking slightly "unhappy" and mournful being unsettled - changing position or location frequently wanting to be very near me These behaviours then evolve into (I am reading from my birthing notes for you) (and please bear in mind I breed Poms, they are a toy breed): 23:19 small whimpers and panting 23:23 small cry - contraction (? tummy is tight to touch) 23:32 small cry 00:03 small cry, panting, restless, contraction? Colostrum with stimulation 00:13 samll cry, panting, restless, contraction? 00:23 internal exam = not dilated 00:29 contraction 00:34 internal exam = some dilation, first pup breech, pushing 00:39 contraction 00:44 contraction 00:47 contraction - feel feet + legs oo:49 contraction 00:51 internal exam = pup retreated 00:56 contraction - legs 01:01 contraction; birth sac broken 01:13 contraction; feet extruding 01:21 contraction NB: feet retreat when she stops pushing 01:21 big drink of water 01:27 contraction; lifted bitch up and supported her with left arm under head and chest, introduced two finger into birth passage and hooked them around pup's neck, then gently pulled him out with contraction 01:28 first pup male; breech; 139g; breathing within 10 seconds; bitch attending; after 60-90 seconds I squeezed cord contents towards pup and cut it as bitch eager to chew on it; placenta expelled within ten minutes 01:45 internal exam = puppy? 01:50 colostrum with stimulation and pup latched on 01:55 contraction and internal = birth sac 01:59 contraction 02:05 contraction and birthsac; after contraction birth sac retreated 02:16 contraction; NB: I raised bitch with left arm with each contraction from here on 02:19 contraction; internal = I broke waters 02:26 contraction 02:29 contraction; used two fingers to hook pup around hips and extracted; normal position male; 144g; needed rubbing for twenty seconds before first breath; put first pup on to suckle and after minute/two minutes squeezed cord contents towards pup and cut, placenta expelled as I did so; put pup on with some difficulty, couldn't suckle for first ten minutes, then managed on own. Hope this is useful, previous whlepings have been very similar :) Will the one alone be bigger? Might be bigger, since it would be receiving lots of nutrition in that horn - but it may just be the way the horns of the uterus are lying that makes it feel as though one pup is on its own? Should I be worried about this? I havent had an xray just an u/s? Would not be able to advise you on this... or the other questions.

This from a FB pal: "I hope someone's up, Widget is in so much pain from teething. We're tried iceblocks, frozen chew toys, peanut butter on gums...everything we've read to do. Poor girl is crying and can't get to sleep and is of course very cranky. Is there anything I can do to help her?" It would be on a Sunday, wouldn't it!! This is for a six-month old Pom - I am going to recommend she be taken to the vet as that does not sound normal to me... I would be having a look inside the mouth, too, in case there is something caught; any other advice??

Sorks, since you are brand-new to this forum, you are not aware of the background to the comments being made in response to this thread. You are accusing the wrong people of being reactive, ill-educated,and/or judgemental. The opinions of the majority of the posters on these fora are based on a great deal of individual experience, broadened by the sharing of information between the members both here and in real life. We categorically refuse to support the sale of puppies through pet shop-type situations, or markets, or even registered breeders who "have terrible ethics and poor breeding practices", as Stormie says. In fact, read Stormie's post again, and then read ~*Shell*~'a post again.

Just a thought - but if you have the extra in your budget get a cleaner in once a week to do the housework for your wife. While the cleaner is working in your house, your wife might like to walk the baby in the pram (don't make the taking the dogs a condition of your hiring a cleaner, btw, you might put your wife's back up) or drop the baby off in childcare for an hour or so to go for a swim/gym visit/hair cut/eyebrow renovation. Just my point of view, but I would have treasured such thoughtfulness from one of my (consecutive)husbands... if you can't afford a cleaner, do it yourself on the weekends - designate a couple of hours to cleaning while your wife has a sleep, or gets out of the house. Your description of your wife's behaviour just resonates resonates with me, is all... it might be just the trick, to make her feel truly valued and supported?

I have four Pomeranians, and two Afghan Hounds, and I try to change the combo all the time. Must say, walking four Poms together tends to polarise people... either I get looks like I have Contagious Dog Hoarding Disease, or people look delighted to see my Mini-husky Sled Team... Walking the Afghans with a Pom or two gets a range of comments too... but most people just look non-plussed, lol.

Love hearing of your enthusiasm and dedication, best wishes for the future with your lovely dog! Would you have any pictures of the "Pharoah Hound" in its indigenous form?? I would love to see what the Maltese have....

A dyslexic society?

My Afghans: Yes, they *are* Afghans, how clever of you to know! Yes, they are both Afghans, but you don't often see them in this grey colour. Actually, they are far too *smart* to do tricks, they believe it is demeaning... In fact, no, they can go a couple of weeks without seeing a brush when clipped off like this - although you do have to watch for change of seasons, you need to thoroughly brush them at least once a week. No, they eat very little, they are "good doers" and especially when you feed good quality dry food, it is amazingly cost efficient! Bye, no, not at all, I *love* sharing my dogs with people. To Children: Why, certainly you may pat my dogs, they *love* cuddles from children - and you are very clever to have asked me first. No, not a poodle/oodle - they are Afghan Hounds. Yes, they are big! But they love to cuddle on the lounge, they are like big fluffy cushions. Yes, they can do tricks: Bluey does Sit, and Speak, and Drop. Miffy does Stand There And Look Beautiful. No, I am afraid you may not take one for a walk, they are *very* strong and I would hate for you to get pulled off your feet. Bye, thankyou for having such lovely manners with my dogs, they really enjoyed meeting you.

Hmmm... I wonder if checking each class winner, and awarding/non-awarding at that level, might not be a more productive approach? I think I rather approve of the direction the KC is taking, although I view some their *tactical* moves as being appallingly *tactless*.