sheena

There's this one on Ebay for $1550 but it might be the one you have already looked at. S S Bath

I actually think thats not a bad idea, kind of like a public liability policy. I would have thought that this girl would have legal grounds to sue the owners of the dogs regardless of whether they have insurance. I know on the farm, if one of our cows causes an accident or mauls someone then we would get sued pretty damn quick...that's why we have farm insurance. Why is it different for dog owners I would have thought that it might even come under the dog owners household insurance public liability.

It sounds to me, like whoever sells one of their pups to you, it is going to be one hell of a lucky pup :) Not sure what state you are in, but if you contact your state canine body (ours is Dogs NSW), then in the back is a Breeder Directory. Ours has contact numbers for the WM Club of NSW & contact numbers for 5 breeders. You may even be able to access it over the internet. ETA Just noticed you are from the Gold Coast. You can visit the website of WM club of NSW at WM Club NSW Breeders Link

How will they do this homework if they can't ask?? There aren't published lists etc out there for dogs, they're not like cars. Can't contacting and asking breeders be a part of the research? I didn't say it wasn't...to me that would all be part of the "homework"...talk or communicate with as many breeders as possible, go to shows & talk to breeders, talk to people who already have these dogs, get here on the internet & ask questions. When did I ever say they shouldn't talk to a breeder.

That's great news & you sound like a person that has not gone into this lightly. Here is a link to a past thread about someone who thought they might have asked the wrong or too many questions Breeder questions When I bought my pups I didn't have to ask the price, the breeders volunteered the information. Personally, my self, I much prefer to contact by email....I hate using the phone. No-one ever answers it any more, you just get an answering machine, & I find I can express myself much better in an email, than what I can over the phone, plus I have a record of the conversation, which I feel is important if you are buying something for big bickies. But that is probably just me & something to do with "old age" :D

I think that is probably more what I meant :) I am not a breeder, but I am pretty sure I would be turned off someone if the first question I was asked is "how much"...but that's just me. People who ask "how much" in the first instant are usually after a bargain compared to good quality & I wouldn't sell to someone who's priority was money over quality. If someone has done their homework in choosing which breed is right for them & which breeders, then they should have a bit of an idea of the price range anyway.

I guess WA doesn't sell as much BH and we're probably an order behind the East Coast. I am a good friend of Wendy, Maybe Ososwift doesn't get her stock from Wendy. I know Wendy gets a new pallet every week or two. Sheena was the one who said a sample should be sent of to Sherel for a test. I was only agreeing that the product had changed but I too have no issues, and was only offering my opinion on some facts I know as to why it may have changed appearance. To me it is still the same good BH. Yep I do and my last order was basically direct from Black Hawk, as in the pallet was forwarded straight to me. That was around 6 weeks ago or less, can't remember. But I buy it a pallet at a time these days. Ososwift...I have sent you a PM :)

What breed are you after???? Often to get the pup you want, you will have to go on a waiting list as responsible breeders are not breeding all the time. Have you contacted the breeders advertising on DOL? I would be interested to know what breed you are looking for. A good idea when approaching breeders Is not to ask "how much" in your first conversation...it is a real "turn off". Get to know all you can about the pups first before you approach this question....JMO. :)

As others have said there are a couple of main register BC's jumping 600 in Vic. Have also seen one in NSW last time I competed at Wagga that I am pretty sure is a main register dog and it(he?) has been to a couple of seminars in Vic. as well. Compared to other countries in the world, our jump heights are so low that I don't think it's a concern at all for a dog with a build like a BC to be jumping 600. (I totally understand with some other breeds though why people are hoping for the lower measurement.) I am actually disappointed that the rule changed where you can't jump up a height by choice any more, my 500 BC (well and truly a 500 dog) jumps so much better at 600 whereas at 500 she flattens out and pulls bars - never drops one at 600 and her jump style looks so much nicer.) One of my kelpies jumps 600 - measures 550 at shoulder so just missed out. He has no problems with it either but I do cringe when I see some of the heavier breeds that have just missed out. I'm not a fan of NADAC agility, but one thing I think they got right is the breed exemption for particular jump heights, where for dogs with a particular body type their actual measurement is irrelevant and they are able to jump at a lower height. That's interesting...I didn't know they changed the rules about being able to choose to jump higher. In Strategic Pairs one dog is allowed to jump below it's height. I don't think it will worry Cricket one bit if he has to jump 600, although at this stage I would be reluctant to practice him on that height. We do most of our daily training on about 300 & he only jumps 500 when he goes to class once a week. As Kavik pointed out, there are less dogs in 600, so more chance of a prize. No confusion with ADAA...he is definately a Maxi (Regular).Interesting KC that your big BC jumps better at 600. :)

That's us A friend is going to lend me some Sandra Davies DVD's so I can practice at home. I am teaching my girl to walk on her back legs ATM. The music I would like to dance to is Abba, especially Dancing Queen, but I can't imagine big old, large, me being dressed like Abba...maybe I could just dress the dog. :laugh: For Abba's Dancing Queen, What about just a sparkling top that goes just pass your bottom (like a mini skirt effect), pin it so that doesn't flick into your kids' face? Along with pinstriped pants. A headband with a flower on it And there you have your costume. Can you enlighten me on who Sandra Davies is? See told you I am new into this. What exercises are you doing to help strenghten your dog's muscles so that she can walk safely on her hind quarters? No I can't tell you who she is because I know very little about this too. I did google her & she has put out quite a few training DVD's & there are Youtubes on her dancing her dogs. Exercises for strengthening her back legs???? Nothing in particular, just rear end awareness exercises, daily swimming & agility...should I be doing something more specific ATM I only stand her for about 3 or 4 goes & for about 1 1/2 seconds each time, once a day.

When I had Bindi measured by ANKC judges, she was put down as 510, but when I had her measured at ADAA, they put her down as 498. I want Cricket to go into the right class, but would rather him not have to jump 600 if he is just below border line. Not that he wont be capable of jumping 600, but there are some BIG dogs in 600. I didn't know you had to be measured for obedience. Maybe that is what these people were having done on their 12 month olds & plus. On the subject of not having seen any registered BC's jumping 600 in the trials I go to.... a dog that is down as a BC & looks like a BC, but is on Associate Register, could be anything. I am sure they are out there, but I am havn't seen one yet at our trials. I have seen a lot of 400 BC's that look like they should be in 500. I think Cathy's Snazzy could be a 600 dog.

I was talking to someone who is a judge a while back & even he was confused. He thought the cut off point was 550 & anything above that was a 600 dog...it is so confusing. Yes, when we measured him at home, some months ago he was more than 545mm. I only go to about 12 trials a year, but I havn't yet seen a pure bred (registered) border collie jumping in the 600 category...so I still have my fingers crossed.

My almost 15 month old, border collie guy is going to be very close to being a 600 dog. For ANKC, what is the min. age I can have him measured & get his height card for Agility. I thought it was not before 18 months, but I have seen others get their cards at just over 12 months. Also what is the cut off point where they move from being a 500 to a 600 dog. He will be entering his first comp when he is 18 months & if I can't get him measured till the trial & I put him down as a 500 dog, will any "Q"s he gets (hoping) be disallowed if he then measures in the 600 range. Do I need to take along his registration when I get his height card done????

That's us A friend is going to lend me some Sandra Davies DVD's so I can practice at home. I am teaching my girl to walk on her back legs ATM. The music I would like to dance to is Abba, especially Dancing Queen, but I can't imagine big old, large, me being dressed like Abba...maybe I could just dress the dog. :laugh:

Beware...it's very addictive :laugh:

Does the agility trial start quite early? I only ask because I have a hens party to set up for, and a rehearsal dinner on Friday, a wedding on SAturday and a recovery day on Sunday. Thinking I might be able to quickly pop through on the way to dropping OH off at work. If so, I'll be after a 5kg bag =] NSCleo....Judging starts 8am Friday, 8.30am Saturday & 7am Sunday, but we will be there about 7 on Friday & will bring along 5 kilos for you. Is this your hens party

Basically, what you do, is hold a treat in your fist. The dog will do everything it its power to get the treat. You wait until the dog stops trying to get it, then you immediately click, open your hand & give the dog the treat WITH YOUR OTHER HAND. Repeat till the dog catches on. Then you extend this to having the treat on the flat palm of your hand, & as soon as the dog goes for it, you close your fist & wait till he backs off, then click & treat with your other hand. After the dog has learnt this trick, then put your dog in a down. Put the treat on the floor, just in front of him, when he goes to get it you quickly cover it with either your hand or your foot. Wait till he minds his manners, then click & either treat him with the treat on the floor or one out of your hand & sometimes you release him to the treat. This is a fun game which the dog will enjoy & it teaches them that patience pays. I assume your dog knows the value of the clicker, if not use a marker word instead, like, "yes". But I prefer to use the clicker as you can mark the exact precise behaviour that you want.

Mine are still the same as they always have been the last 18 months. Doesn't sound like you have the same BH food there. Maybe contact whoever you got your last bag from? Happened here too when I bought bags about 2 weeks ago, was wondering why it's changed. Definately the proper product, bought from the same person as my other bags and who is still listed as a distributor and is in the new packaging. Maybe we need Sherel (Collies02) to come on to the thread & explain then. We got a new pallet delivered just this week, but I havn't taken much notice as we still have a few bags left of the previous one.

The Dogs NSW Northern Regional (coastal) Agility Trial is on at the Coffs Harbour showground next Friday, Saturday & Sunday. If anybody would like any of the Black Hawk Products brought to the trial, then email me at [email protected]. I will also have some samples with me of the Adult. There are 45 smaller bags of Black Hawk Adult being put up for prizes...so good luck

I have been feeding it now for two years & mine hasn't changed colour. Doesn't sound like you've got the genuine article there. Send a sample up to Sherel.

Good on you for posting the rule about no 'What's in my dog?' threads. But you're right about how important 'wotami' can be in rescue. Rescuers see so many dogs that come with no background information. It challenges them to know all sorts of breeds....and some dogs can be purebreds of a less common breed, or a purebred but not show quality, or an ungroomed example of a p/b. My own breed is vulnerable for being mislabeled...tibetan spaniels get called pekes, peke crosses, shih tzus, shih tzu crosses, cavalier crosses. I'm always grateful when an eagle-eyed DOLer queries if there's a mislabelling on a rescue list. 'Spotters' have never been wrong yet! One DOLer famously saved a p/b tibbie from being sold from a pound as a peke....while the owner was still searching for it (including phoning the pound). The pound had labelled it a peke. A DOLer spotted the error & the pound notified. Fortunately there was a day cooling-off period before the new purchaser could pick it up. Tib was returned to a very grateful owner. Wouldn't the pound be able to tell what sort of dog it is by it's microchip?? I thought all microchip registrations had to have down "breed type" & if it were a p/b tibbie, then wouldn't this be on it's microchip records. Maybe now that ALL puppies have to be microchipped before sale, then there will be no more guessing "what breed" if the dog ends up in rescue.

Tassie...you coming up to Queensland????? Don't forget that we are on the way & you are most welcome to pop in & even stay the night. We are about 4 to 4 1/2 hours south of the Gold Coast.

It can happen anywhere, but I have more trust in the high standards of Australian produced & manufactured food than ANY food that comes from overseas, where we all know that food & safety standards may not the same high quality. They have all sorts of exotic diseases overseas including Mad Cow disease, that is why pet food coming from overseas has to be irradiated or heat treated. As I say, if I couldn't get the food I wanted in Australia, then I would make my own. Another worry I would have with Diamond foods, is that if their hygiene is so slack, then imagine what condition of produce they select to make their foods.

No, but in exchange for no irridation go look up the AQIS heating requirements for the food. Its scary, not many biologcal compounds can survive those temps. Australian made all the way here! Is the analysis provided on the product incorrect then? Just wondering... I would love to feed an Australian made food but there is not one - kibble that is - that matches the quality of these others for what I want i.e. fish based, grain free, low fillers, moderate protein levels etc . I am happy to be advised to the contrary. I don't think Black Hawk makes anything other than lamb based does it? :D I would buy Aussie made in a second but to my knowledge there isn't a grain-free dry dog food made here. If I couldn't buy Aussie in whatever dry dog food I needed, then I would be feeding RAW. It's a shame that we can't do something in the way of salmon, seeing we have all those salmon farms in Tassie & all the Carp that get trapped & turned into fertilizer. I guess the market here in Oz is not big enough. BH are putting out a chicken one soon, ATM the only chicken they have is the Feline.

I have been told by my vet that Bindi may have a slight cruciate ligament injury. I think she probably did this a couple of months ago when Cricket rammed into her while playing soccer & she gave a yelp. Following that she was showing a bit of stiffness for a few seconds after resting, but has shown no symptoms now for about a month & still runs around like a lunatic & enjoys her agility & swimming without showing any signs of discomfort. When he manipulated the joint, he picked up a bit of tenderness. I have just read this thread & I was wondering if anybody has used this as a supplement for their dogs MSM Plus Powder