Dory the Doted One

I shall be there with Dory. I have to work till about 12.30pm and will swing past after work. Hopefully there wont be so many people having BBQ's and I get let the little Hag off lead.

I teach mine "Shoosh". If I have a barky dog, I teach them to bark on command first and then I start throwing Shoosh in. But they weren't Dory. :D Dory: Bark bark bark bark bark (Always AT something...someone going past, someone at the door she stops when she knows who it is) Me: DORY! SHOOSH. Dory Bark bark bark bark bark Me: DORY! SHUT UP. Dory: Bark bark bark bark bark Me: DORY!...Ah...Whatever.

From a Vet Nurse perspective...I'd say there is a good proportion of people that don't follow their breeders recommendations on feeding. From what I have seen in clinic, people who stick to the breeders recommendations are the minority rather than a majority. But then again a large proportion of clients didn't purchase from ANKC breeders and have petshop puppies or oodly-shitz from backyard hobby breeders. And sometimes in those cases I think the change of diet has been a good thing.

I'm yet to see anyone who's missed the assumed point of the article; only people who think the point isn't valid or think it hasn't been made by that article. still standing by your statement ML? Did I not get something? If I didn't, it's because I wasn't really that into it. I did skim it. Bad me.

I would prefer to be on a united front with a breeder that tested stock for testable health defects, fed, watered, managed and cleaned the dogs and their environments to a standard that was both mentally, physically and emotionally optimum for the development of healthy dogs and healthy puppies. I would also hope that they responsibly homed their puppies to households that would observe the same ethics. ie. Fed, watered, cleaned, managed, socialized etc for optimum mental, physical and emotional health. Ensuring that their dogs did not become annoying or menancing to the general public. I'm not going to over analyze and pick to pieces the article. It's an article. Someone elses opinion. I read my own interpretation of that article based on my own set of beliefs, experiences and judgements. I happen to agree with the sentiment that there are many breeders who I believe meet my ideal of a breeder, that pick to death, judge and rag on other breeders who happen to meet my ideal of a breeder. And that this does nothing to ensure the longetivity of a rapidly dying hobby/interest. Which only opens the way for puppymills and unregistered backyarders making a quick buck from people too frustrated from dealing with overzealous and protective breeders.

In my mind this statement would have room to include health testing. Doesn't optimizing chances of good health mean..."I've done all that I can". Which would mean..."I have health tested"? Or is that just me? It's all getting way too complicated for me. I read the article to mean people of equal values, bagging on others of equal values. ie. Registered Breeders doing the right thing, bagging on other registered breeders doing the right thing. It never entered my head to include puppy mills into the mix. But then I've had personal experiences of breeders who are all doing the right things, slagging off another breeder/dog based on heresy or personal opinion. And not on the facts of the matter. Very interesting knowing two breeders at loggerheads, both doing the right thing, but neither one willing to concede it. So I would assume that is way my head went that way with the article. And I would have to agree. Breeders really need to start standing on a united front. Not telling anyone who stands still long enough what the other breeder is doing all wrong. Educate the public on the right way of doing things without using other breeders as test cases. And then let them make up their minds who they are comfortable buying a dog from. !, no where did I say not to do recommend health testing, what I said was that was ot enough, meaning there was more that should be done. I am not going to talk about this now as have to go somewhere. 2, What is more important is how what I said was used and I mean used. There was no reason to assume I meant to not do health testing, but if you had to assume anything, why would you assume that? Why not assume I meant to do health testing as well as other things and calrifiy that thought. But no, the assumption is always to the negative, always to make the other person look bad and and always meant to bash the other while building yourself up. What kind of way is this for breeders to be treating each and for not justafiable reason. Exactly a perfect example of what this thread it about. Now your move, bash some more eh? I am sure you can think of something. Ummmm....I wasn't seeing your statement in the negative Shortstep. I actually thought your statement had the intent of including health testing. Sorry if it came off wrong, but I had no actual problem with the highlighted statement. I just couldn't understand why other people couldn't see it had room to include health testing. The rest was just all my own random rantings about the article, and not anything you had particularly said through out the thread. Cos to be perfectly honest, I haven't read all of the responses. It was starting to make my head hurt.

In my mind this statement would have room to include health testing. Doesn't optimizing chances of good health mean..."I've done all that I can". Which would mean..."I have health tested"? Or is that just me? It's all getting way too complicated for me. I read the article to mean people of equal values, bagging on others of equal values. ie. Registered Breeders doing the right thing, bagging on other registered breeders doing the right thing. It never entered my head to include puppy mills into the mix. But then I've had personal experiences of breeders who are all doing the right things, slagging off another breeder/dog based on heresy or personal opinion. And not on the facts of the matter. Very interesting knowing two breeders at loggerheads, both doing the right thing, but neither one willing to concede it. So I would assume that is way my head went that way with the article. And I would have to agree. Breeders really need to start standing on a united front. Not telling anyone who stands still long enough what the other breeder is doing all wrong. Educate the public on the right way of doing things without using other breeders as test cases. And then let them make up their minds who they are comfortable buying a dog from.

I clicked 'other' for whether it bothered me or not. I've never smoked and I find it highly irritating to my nose and breathing when people do smoke around me. Not to mention smelling like an ashtray for the rest of the day...blerch. I figure if they are smoking near my pets, then they are probably smoking around me. Therefore, it bothers me. Now if I'm in their home. That's a different story. It's THEIR home. If I don't like it, I can change rooms, go outside or choose not to visit.

Boxers seem to have this thing for Dory. It is not reciprocated. The only tarting she does is to people for treats. And that she is quite shameless and embarrassing about. But with other dogs. She is not that kind of girl. I often wonder if she might be a bit...you know....ummm Butch. But then she's not keen on girl dogs who get a bit frisky with her either! My Avatar pretty much is what she is like with me.

A Unique of Dory. (There is only one like her that I know of).

I used to breed, quite a long time ago. My desire was to not just better a breed, but to ensure it would continue on and ensure it had diversity etc. I gave up because it got too expensive and I'm way too soft. I absolutely hated screening prospective buyers. I hated accepting money for the puppies and sending them off. Because I am way too soft, I wanted to keep them all. I disliked some of the attitudes of people looking for puppies. And I especially hated it when I misjudged a person. I would punish myself badly for my mistakes. I did LOVE having the puppies. Taking care of them and the bitch. Playing with them, socialising them etc. Just hated the grungy business side of it. And as that IS a part of the deal, I do not breed anymore. And I am unlikely to breed in the future. This would only happen if I had a bitch on breeders terms, and only if I got to whelp her myself, raise the puppies until the breeder could take them or they were ready for their new homes....as screened etc by breeder. I would just be the poo, food and play chick.

Oh...I forgot about the Siberian Malamutt.

How about..... Oi. Very Yellable....One Sylable....Gets their attention. I use it all the time.

Gert.

Purebred Maltese sheshitzu, West Highlander (this one drives me batty)...geez I can't remember anymore of them so many. The ones I love/loathe are the clients that proudly tell you their dogs breed like you are an idiot who knows nothing, and then they stuff up the pronunciation and breed origin anyway. (OMG...the crap some 'breeders' tell people).

I think they should engage a Behaviourist that can come and look at the situation, and then gauge the owners willingness to work with what they have. If they can't or won't or don't have the ability to, THEN the question of rehoming should come up.

I used to take my DA GSD out when I was 11yrs old. It was the only way I could get him to Obedience Training. Had no parental supervision either. We never run amok, even when stupid headed idiots had their dogs roaming and hassling us, he was always under effective control.

I love the puppy nortiness. Am I the only one? Puppies just seem to have that real joy in life, and they are like little sponges taking everything in. But then I don't have any expensive clothes or furniture that I would be peeved about losing to puppy teeth. I take it as a given that I have the potential to lose something. It's so much fun to channel all that energy into learning through fun and play.

I also like to carry them around so they can forget what legs are for. At least until they get too heavy that is. Then there is the puppy breath. Then there is the biting your toes and stealing your socks. The constant trips outside for pee time. (note to self...get a summer puppy). The excuse to buy all new toys and cool stuff. What's not to love?

I've had plenty of Recycled Adults and all of them were just as bonded (if not more so) than any of the dogs from puppies, I've had. Dory is so bonded that she chucks a Sulk if I even leave her at home with my Daughter (the photographic evidence taken by my daugther is classic stuff. ). Our next dog will hopefully be a puppy. All our pets are recycled and we want to spoil ourselves by moulding our next dog into something that will consistantly listen to us. (I admit, we do indulge Dory a bit...I'm not blaming her. I blame me! But that Terrier Tude! OMG. And to think once upon a time I was a serious obdedienc trialler).

If you work with animals long enough, and get a few good scares, it's not that hard to understand where some of the fear comes from. My Boss nearly had his face chewed off by a Golden Retriever, a dog he had treated for many years without a problem. Even the owner was shocked when the dog, with no apparent warning, lashed out. It was in for a routine vaccination. So you constantly have to walk a fine line between being relaxed and cautious without appearing suspicious to a nervous animal, all the while trying to remember not to ever get complacent. Doubley hard when you want to give the animals a chance to be good or you dont' want to stress them unduly with too firm handling right from the get go. And often animals appear to be quite relaxed and ok with what you are doing, only to very quickly change in an instant. If it happens enough, you do sometimes get quite a bit jumpy at the slightest twitch when you are in a vulnerable possie. I hope never to get to that point!

Sounds like I missed all the good stuff. I got caught up when I went to pick up my Daughter, so didn't get to make it back. Look forward to another get together...hopefully one not so crowded or with too many people that are scared of dogs.

I've had a few older boys desexed. Never regretted a single one of them. The only changes to personality were very positive ones (less interested in the girls, that kind of thing). As far as the weight thing is concerned, I just fed them less.

I rent with pets. Definately do a Doggy Resume if you can and references from a previous landlord gets you a looooong way. I wouldn't say it was easy, I found it very frustrating to find a good place (ie a place that wasn't a stinky hovel and at a good rate), but they are out there. You just have to be persistant. Some Real Estate Agents are better than others with pets. I'm with Remaxx in Mount Barker, I find their property manager to be awesome. Very understanding of pets and realistic about inspection reports.

Dory is very very good with the littlies. She does Puppy PreSchool with me. She's also good with the BigUn's too. She's a very nifty dog to take places. This means I'm going to have to pluck her...she looks a little bit dishevelled at the moment.