alpha bet

Flat Out No - wether they ask or not People have to accept that life can be a lottery... sometimes thing fall in our favour sometimes it does... Breeders cannot and should not be seen as responsible for problems that cannot be forseen... Otherwise no one will end up taking the risk of breeding in future.

Alpha Canine Professionals - and Alpha Dog Training and Alpha Dog Training Centre - are all run under the same. It can be difficult to get a recommendation from a forum - after all you don't really know who the people are nor what they expected in the first place. Unless someone has first hand experience they can give you very little actual feedback.. and often things can just be here say.... which in effect may never be accurate as it will usually start with...." I wouldn't trust someone with a business name like ####" or "a friend of my friend did here training there and..." or even worse just a vague "Oh I hear that they do blah blah blah" There a many people running courses now and and I hear good and bad about most of them... just the same as you will get about individual trainers.... On a forum line Dogzonline if you are not in the "clique" then the powers that be will not recommend another trainer and worse still they may be critical of such trainers.... Your best course of action would be to take a day and go down to their training facility at Macceslfield or Knoxfield - you can see what is happening for yourself and chat to people who are being trained and see what they think. Just to be clear.... I have no connection to this company - my nickname here is to do with the alphabet as my name is Anne Zelvys - not about being alpha.... just my recommendation after 25 years of operating as a professional trainer...... Good luck.

We are getting more and more places that are now banning dogs from their areas because of reports like these. Either dogs hurt or killed by roaming dogs and even people hurt or killed by roaming dogs. As a kid we had dogs wandering around... never remember there being any major issues, but then most of the dogs around were kelpies, labs, borders and mixes of these... The worst you usually had to deal with were the odd ACD that would have a grab at your ankle if you were riding your bike. I know I will be 'hounded' by many here, but generally the cases we have problems with are of the bully breeds and their crosses.... Problems based around these breeds - from 25 years experience running training groups for family dogs and dealing with behaviour issues. * often people who are attracted to these breed are not aware nor equipped on how to deal with the bully breeds. * these are breeds who are not generally good at mixing with unknown dogs. * when these breeds bite they bite hard and generally go for the face * often huge strong dogs with hard bodies that are hard to pull off when they do attack * many of these breeds have a low tolerance to any perceived sign of aggression from other dogs.... * many of these breeds are difficult to house in normal fencing... they climb/scramble easily and will burrow and pull panels down. The issues seem to be getting worse, but I have to question if this is due to the increase in the number of these breeds / cross breeds in the average family home. I run a small boarding kennel and now find I don't take these breeds over the xmas or easter holidays unless I know and understand the dog in question. They are often just too hard to deal with. I was told once that we only regret things that have changed in the last 30 years. Unfortunately I worry that it is likely in 30 years from now (when I am dead and gone).... this will be a world where there will be no dogs.

Victoria bowed to the welfare groups and introduced the Domestic Animal Business Registration... has made no difference except making more work for council staff who don't bother (nor have the time) following up the existing laws . Once again the breeders trainers and boarding kennels who do the right thing are just left filing out more paperwork and having to deal with the council officers who have little if ay understanding of the regulations. The frustration I have is seeing dog businesses (of varied types) freely operating in my council area and yet I believe I am the Only one who has completed the necessary forms under the DAB Registrations. Hence I don't see the benefit of other states following in Victoria misguided direction.

Obviously the judges don't know what they should be looking for... although it really comes down to they can only judge what is put in front of them.... and judges don't have the balls to with hold a CC

I am the same as Cha... many years, many dogs and never paid out for insurance. I deposit $200 a month into a bank account - in the last 8 years that came to over $24,000. Just consider all the people here who have stated how much their insurance companies have paid out for claims goes to show how many people are paying for insurance they haven't used. After all Insurance companies are not going to provide insurance if they don't make a profit. Personally feel that the vets are the big winners here and certainly the person who said they paid $24,000 for their dogs antivenin treatment is OUTRAGEOUS - the absolute most I have hear for a large dog treatment was just under $5,000. Vet prices seem to be increasing but I have to question is this because they think they can encourage people to take out insurance to cover these increases.

As she is in Alaska... she should look up Wendy Volhard.... they have a raw diet muesli very similar to the VAN we have in Australia..... Wendy Volhard has her own website and she can have bloods done to ensure that the diet is adjusted to suit.... loads of information out there from one of the major experts.

McDonalds KFC etc... love to display their nutrient values of their products... however remember that these are calculated PRIOR to cooking... anyone with any basic understanding of chemistry will accept that the minute we cook the foods we change the food. Hence the idea of a raw diet is that the nutrients DONT change. The same applies to EVERY dry dog kibble... what is written on the packaging... is PRIOR TO cooking..... hence these nutrients are changed and in some cases even cooked out... and even if the packaging says "no artificial colours or preservatives" that doesn't mean they haven't added so called natural colours or preservatives.... sugar and its many forms along with salt are forms of preservative. The biggest advantage about using a raw diet... (such as Vets All Natural) ... is there is NO cooking, hence what it says is in the food is what is in the food. Consider also that dogs who have a natural diet with raw meats etc...(even without bones) are building healthy saliva and this aids to keep the teeth clean... whereas the salts and sugars etc from the dry foods do not help with the saliva. I have seen MANY dogs who are on dry kibble with shocking teeth, but generally when a raw diet is used the dogs display clean teeth and healthy gums. 40 years of having a dog and i have NEVER had to clean any of my dogs teeth.... nor have I have I had any gum or teeth issues....

Just consider from the breeders point of view : When I have a litter advertised then I get emails, a lot of emails... sometimes 2 to 4 PER DAY.... usually try to send a response within a week and now have a standard initial enquiry email set to send. I actually hate getting emails that are one liners that people dash out on their phones or emails that ask how much are your puppies? ... I always feel like they are not really interested if they don't send me some details about themselves. I know other breeders have often mentioned that as well. I also hate it when I do send my initial enquiry email and then I get bombarded with email questions which in truth had already been answered in my initial response - hence they haven't bothered to properly read the email. Recently had one woman who sent 4 very short emails AFTER my initial response of which I answered each but reminding her that I had already sent the info... hence she cracked the shits with me and said she wouldn't buy a box of tissues from me..... ?????? (so if the person is reading this you know who you are). Personally I loathe text messages.... It seems so impersonal and if I am going to home a dog or puppy I want someone who is making an effort. My advice is send an email with information, wait about 3 days and send another asking if she would prefer email or phone contact. Don't bombard with emails or texts. If no reply after a couple more days then I would ring the mobile..... most people are probably more receptive in the morning or early evening Goodluck.

You might think that Choc is the most loveable dog... but you can't trust him with other dogs so you have some serious issues.... (Personally, I wouldn't think of him as loveable....) but your obligation is to provide Choc with a good life so you need to keep him, obviously no one else would want to take him on with those issues....but can't risk the pups life so you should get the pup a new home immediately. So you have two options, either: 1. Ensure that Choc is kept away from dogs 2. See a trainer and see if you can improve the problem

You stated you would help out if anything happened..... which implies if there is a problem.... that is a great idea but perhaps you did not explain this clearly to her and boundaries should be in place. Going on holidays is not a problem it is a choice.... she can afford to go on a holiday for 6 weeks she should be adding the cost of the dog going into a kennel as part of the holiday cost.... she can afford cruises twice a year for a month or so she can definitely afford to pay for her dog. Expecting you to drive a 3 hour round trip is ridiculous. You are being abused by this woman..... she is not respecting you nor is she taking responsibility for her dog.... pass the buck back to her and set clear boundaries in future homes.

Charcole canl make the poo quite green... i always have to remind people when they pick the dogs up from the kennel that the biscuits will make their poo green or dark black Good for their gut.

You want River Sand... not too fine or it will get into everything... go to the local garden supply and check out the different sands. river sand is usually white or just off white, is clean to handle and when wet can compact a little but fall apart when dry. Just like you get at the beach. Avoid sands that seem very yellow as these are builders sand and having a clay content... they are used for packing sands.....

Don't really know much about the actual story... however I run a small boarding kennel..... Have learnt over the years that if you work with animals long enough you will come across all sorts of problems.....So consider this: We have large paddocks where the dogs can go out to play.... 1800mm high cyclone fence paddocks with a skirt on the ground so dogs can't dig out.... we also have a further fence again 1800mm high cyclone fence which surrounds the kennel complex of about 2 acres... All of this sites within a 10 acre paddock which has another 1800mm high cyclone fence..... The kennel block sits in the middle of all these fenced areas - the the pens which are 2mx6m have 1800mm high pens with a further 600mm 45degree angle in top at the front pen and the three back pens have roofs as these are for dogs who are a problem with climbing... All of this fencing costs thousands of dollars.... and I am lucky because my partner builds security fencing so we haven't paid full price. Over the years we have had dogs climb or jump fencing - The main culprits we have had: German Shorthaired Pointers.... Minature Fox Terriers.... English Staffies.... JRT......some have actually got in the corner and shimmy up like a commando..... and even force their way thru a 6" gap between the roof ties of the overhead roof wire that have loosened off over time. I walked out in the paddock one day to find a GSP standing on a top cross rail of a 1800mm gate just balanced there looking to see where I was.... This xmas I had Rhodesian Ridgeback X who scaled 4 x 1800mm fences without a run-up in the space of less than 15 minutes.... we got her straight away and she spent the next week locked in one of our Houdini Pens......and NO chance to get out and have some fun. We wish to provide the dogs with the chance to be out and behave the way dogs like - i.e. run in a paddock, roll in grass, jump in a bath or lie under a tree - much the same as what they might do at home in their own backyard... yet our fencing is far superior to your household. If you have a real fear of any threat to your dog then the alternative is to place your dog in a Business Zone - in a concrete factory building, multi storied - pens 4.5 sqm made of concrete and vinyl with a drain in the floor and recycled air pumped thru, your dog won't be able to see anything other than the walls of his cell and if they are lucky they might get 10 min a day to frolic on plastic grass in a glass room. For this you will pay twice the price of staying with me. There is a duty of care that is taken... but it is a reasonable duty of care... owners also need to be honest about their dogs abilities and also to prepare their dogs for a stay away from home.... Just the same as with kids... we can't wrap everything up in bubblewrap.......

Have a local woman make mine, she makes horse harness so uses good quality harness leather and brass fittings.... much better quality than most you can find. Your gear is only as good as the fittings and joinery... most of the ordinary gear as very poor clips.

Am fairly comfortable with computers - but need to get my pedigrees etc in better order Any advice for good programmes for an Apple Mac

Two mid size breeds I would highly recommend as delightful happy dogs who would not overpower your whippet... Tibetan Spaniel and the Lagotta..... Both harder to get perhaps but definitely worth the effort.

We feed raw - and the basic meat we use is kangaroo.... use it most of the time... with a variety of dogs from my own and sometimes with dogs in the Boarding Kennel.... Never had dogs that obsessed that they won't eat anything else.

I would also be interested... I am hoping to import semen from Germany

I was a member of GSDCV from the 1980 till about 2000 (whilst I had GSD) - it was great they run their own obedience, demo teams, showing as well as breed schemes and they are probably the ones who set up the hip/elbow scheme. Always things to get involved in, I was on the Shepherd News for 8 years as well as in the demo team... they had so much going on and where really helpful to get information about breeding etc. I joined the Aussies Club, but so far doesn't really work for me ... Biggest problem is that all their activities seem to be held down at the KCC park which is more than 2 hours from me, hence can't even attend a committee meeting unless I travel 350kms round trip and have about 6 hours to spare in the evening. I do now get the newsletter online but I guess I plan to stay a member in the chance the club will get bigger and perhaps some activities might happen up my side of the state.

We have a litter of Aussie Shepherds expected around xmas eve.....

We have been composting dog poo in our boarding kennel for 20 years..... we have a large mound of dirt and we place the poo on the top... let it dry in the sun and then it doesn't have any smell and breaks down very quickly. Once the poo is mostly dried we just mix it into the dirt....we just keep placing the fresh poo on a different area of the mound.....Usually poo dries within a week to 10 days, depending on how sunny etc. If you let the poo dry out before mixing into any compost it will also have little problem with worms etc. I agree with 'flame ryder' what you feed your dogs makes a difference... our own dogs are fed raw diet their poo is smaller and dries quicker. Whereas many in the kennels come in on a mix of dry food, can food etc... there poo is often light brown, squishy and large. We also use kitty litter that is recycled paper and can just be thrown on the compost heap and at times we add some old hay, straw or grass clippings. We then use the compost for garden beds around the kennels where we have planted trees... sometimes just spread some extra compost around the trees and haven't found any issue with smells. Works for us in the boarding kennel so a smaller version would also work for back yard dogs.

perhaps you should post a photo so that people can see what you mean.....

40 years with loads of dogs.... NEVER have I had to brush a dogs teeth.... a good raw diet stimulates healthy salvia which is a big factor in keeping teeth and gums healthy.... dogs can chew on bones, sticks, plastic to promote good strong jaws. Dry food has additives, even they they say no artificial anything doesn't mean that sugars etc are not added... there are plenty of sugars and starches that are naturally found in foods that don't fall into the category of 'artificial'. Just consider that something is added to the process to allow the dry food to sit in nice neat balls......!!!

Mrs Rusty Bucket..... Please note: I was not the one who was critical of anyone.... I was pointing out that we should not be trashing a business on a public forum... after all most people on here are under a nickname..... which is allowable under the rules of this forum. However then people need to realise that often the people giving advice or placing opinions or recommendations about products or services are also often anonymous... hence therefore difficult to take into account whether these comments are of any real worth... However it is important to note that a post here was asking if I was connected to the business being criticised. I was pointing out that I was not... and that in fact if they had bothered to check my profile to see for themselves, they would see that I am not - in fact I operate a training business that could be in direct competition.... And if you wish I shall give you my PAYPAL account and you may deposit any monies via there...... Best wishes.