SpikesPuppy

Aww she is beautiful I hate the idea of surgically altering the dog's mouth because you don't like drool- it's part of the breed. If you don't like it, there are hundreds of other breeds to choose from. Have seen a few pups bred with tight mouths, and I don't like this either- they need the looseness to help them grip & breathe when working in water. So yes people, they drool for a reason

Oooh you got him!!! So exciting I can't wait to meet the little guy

I am using the compost cages to make my puppy run, they are about $25 for a set of 4 panels. I will be supporting them by using cable ties to attach them to star pickets

I have been explaining to each potential puppy buyer that they are welcome to share their preferences based on photos I send out (and on visiting the litter as they grow), but at the end of the day, we will be making the decision about which puppy they get. Some people have been very clear about the gender they want, and that is fine, but the people who are at the top of my list right now are those who are open to gender/color but specific about what kind of personality they want (although I also explain that how the pup is raised is extremely important). A few enquiries have been based very specifically on wanting a certain color & sex with little information on what kind of lifestyle they live etc. I have responded with more questions but if they don't know then I really don't know how I can sell them a puppy. I haven't got any current requests for a show or breeding pup (had one earlier who's circumstances changed), so IMO for a family pet temperament is 100 times more important than sex or color.

I have spoken to *some* breeders, not always dodgy, who use the term 'with papers' to refer to pups on Main Register and 'without papers' are those on Limit.

We be expecting 7 mini Ziva's possibly an eighth hiding behind another but 7 will do me just fine Last night I slept in the spare-turned-whelping room with Ziva, to make sure she is comfy enough and also to protect my bed LOL. She spent some of the night in the whelping box and some of it on the stretcher with me. She is just so happy at the moment- her tail will not stop wagging Look at Willow's belly Best wishes to you, Addicted2Gold! Have attached some photos of Ziva taken today, day 59. Poor girl lol. Stripped (and clipped) some of the hair around her belly... hence the funny appearance

Just about to take Ziva down for her xray YAY Nikki! Hugs to Pippa from us please :eek:

I rang up our vet to make an appointment for Ziva as she had conjunctivitis, this was the vet I could get to via public transport (as I don't drive). She was a month 'overdue' for her vaccination (after already having had her booster.. and the last vacc. I'm giving her at least for 3 years), and they called me out on this (over the phone) and wanted me to get her vaccinated at the same appt. I (lied because I knew they wouldn't shut up) told them she'd been done at a different vet (which, if I were getting her done I wouldn've gone to anyway- about half the price and our old vet who we've used for 10 years), so they wanted me to bring in the Vacc. certificate as proof so they could update their records I cancelled the eye appointment and informed them that we had moved permanently to another clinic (which is true anyway). Ended up going to our 'old' vet, a 20 minute train journey but it was worth it- Ziva enjoyed the ride Also they forced mum into getting Ness her 3rd vaccine (long story that one...) and wont stop sending out desexing reminders... people, we are registered breeders and they are SHOW DOGS Some vets are ridiculous and I;m still umming and ahhing over what I will tell my puppy buyers... I have already advised people to wait until the dog is physically mature before desexing (as I want most of my limited reg. pups desexed), and not to fall for the early desexing crap. I am also a little worried what some vets will make of CECS- ie: I don't want it to be misdiagnosed in a non-affected puppy, nor do I want it misdiagnosed in an affected puppy (god forbid there is one). As for vaccines... I will be explaining why I don't do the yearly heartworm vaccine or yearly booster vaccines and only c3 when it is done. At the end of the day though, people buying the pups are adults and the dogs are theres to do with as they wish.....

http://www.wyndhamvet.com.au/ You may also want to contact Dr Watts, a reproduction specialist.

If you don't see any value in it or don't wanna pay for it- don't I think it's a great idea. I know some dogs who did very well as youngsters (class wins, maybe even a BIG or RUBIG here and there etc), but by the time they hit 12 months, went downhill and only scraped through on their 100 points (or further 25) before being desexed and pet homed or used at stud/as a brood bitch, all the while being advertised as a prolific winner and Aus champion etc. Not saying people shouldn't do that (and yes some dogs will gain these awards purely on 6 pointers) but it's a way to officially recognise a dog that is consistently awarded the challenge (giving the benefit of the doubt and assujming the judges really do think the exhibit worthy ).

Definitely sounds like Nessa and Bronte need to meet. Bronte will play with any dog she can, but likes to chase and run best. She struggles a little with the Staffy types as she finds them a little rough, but holds her own. Does Bronte 'push' things with her bum??? Nessa likes to push the Borders around backwards??? She loves other dogs but her best doggy friend atm is Bilbo Baggins' white Sheppie, Zarah. They are so funny to watch We will definitely get Bronte and Nessa too meet... I will tell mum to organise something LOL.

What a rude, stupid woman!!! What if you had picked up her child and thrown it over the fence into the dog area??? Some people seem to think that a dog is public property :shakehead:

Noooooooo mine are the same!! My Borders LOVE other Borders, they 'speak Border' (can sound like a growl but other Borders recognise it as a greeting), and they have ways of running, jumping and wrestling that only Borders seem to do... They both play with Nessa, but she doesn't understand Border play and sometimes, they don't appreciate it when she plays 'like a Collie'.

Put Daisy in a heel and have her focus on you everytime you walk past this woman? Don't give Daisy the opportunity to be put in a position that *might* be seen as threatening. I have Caber do this every time we walk past someone on the street (unless it's someone we know or who obviously wants to meet him). We have lots of people around here who are clearly uncomfortable with dogs and it seems to work well. Some who we see on a regular basis (well, when I actually get Caber out to walk... scary neighbourhood so most exercise is done in the yard or driven somewhere), are impressed and over time their discomfort has become visibly less when they see he is under full control. Ziva however who has NO obedience skills whatsoever is usually picked up or taken across the street... I am aware of her behaviour (no way nasty or even enthusiastic like Caber is when greeting- she is actually VERY soft and submissive but she pulls like a steam engine) and although she is tiny, I understand that people still find her threatening and they have the right to their personal space. ETA I also find that talking to the dog in a happy voice, ie: "No, Cabes... they don't want to speak to you today" and things like that seems to put people at ease. Make it *obvious* that you care and are being a good owner...

Some people just don't want to take any form of responsibility, do they??? Once I was walking Caber (Border Terrier) when an off-leash Sheltie approached us ( btw this was just outside my old house, on a main road), Caber said hello and started wiggling his butt (he looooooooves fluffy dogs), but had all 4 feet on the ground. The Sheltie suddenly launched itself at him and bit him Caber did nothing, the big idiot just thought it was a game and playbowed- however the owner of the Sheltie started abusing ME and saying how nasty my dog was????? Caber was making some strange sounds- but they weren't growls, they were hellos in Border-speak (which, btw he didn't start until he became over excited after the bite). I tried to explain to her that her dog just bit mine and could she please put it on a leash etc. She wouldn't have a bar of it!! I ended up walking off without being able to get her details... I walked around the block instead of going straight home because I didn't want the old cow knowing where I lived (she also threatened to call the council on me etc). Caber was fine, just had a bruise on his neck and no broken skin but I was stunned. The reason I didn't keep walking immediately was because I was attempting to get her details in case my dog needed vet treatment... Poor Cabes, bless his cotton socks. There also used to be a little Pom who would spend time in his front yard with his owner... however there was no gate on said yard and anytime we walked past the dog would rush out and start harrassing us... the owner just laughed and half-heartedly kept calling the dog back before eventually picking it up (I always had to stop because if we kept walking, the dog didn't stop following... once went with us all the way to the shops!!). It never bit Caber and Caber thought it was great fun to play with but I always feared it would go fr the wrong dog Council couldn't care less, either. They only wanted to know about it if I "had it contained".

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that your dog didn't know how to get out was more of a reminder to others... alot of people I know just put out a clamshell full of water thinking the dog will 'work it out'... sometimes they don't. Is there a way to build some kind of step or ramp for her in the future??

Ziva looks very comfy. :D Soon as we brought it home she jumped right in No bedding or anything LOL. She is one clever girl!! One week to go

Wooo hooooooooooo go little Zigstar!!

Good luck, Leanne. Looking forward to seeing some sheppie bubs Not the best quality photo (got this with my phone and of course, when I went to get the camera- she moved LOL), but Ziva is quite comfy in the whelping box already! I have been feeding her in the front room (baby gate on the door) and just letting her spend some time in there, so she gets used to it. She is due next Wednesday

Oh gosh that would have been scary! Poor old dear. It's very important to teach the dogs how to get in and out of the pool- and I would never leave one with young puppies. Went out yesterday evening... the clamshell was set up under the carport with about 2 inches of water... was going to let Ziva have a paddle (helping her in and out as she's in whelp and a bit fat lol), but just was I walked over I heard buzzing and looked in and there were maybe a dozen bees drowned, plus another dozen or so 'attacking' the toy that was in the pool? It was bizarre and scary. Needless to say, Ziva did NOT get her swim!!! Finally starting to cool down here- strong winds though. Ick.

Poor guy Good luck with the rangers... if he ends up in Maribyrnong he'll have to be contained before they will do a thing about it...

Your wish is my command Awwwwwwwwww. Whippitgator?

I hate that too! It happens alot on the train... maybe half a dozen people in the carriage and someone has to sit practically ontop of you!! People are strange creatures.....

It was 34 at 10am where I am... 5 mins from the weather station too so I know it's accurate. We have the dogs crate-trained, although my terriers are usually crated when we are out, and the Collie is normally outside, on a day like today if I had to go out the collie would be crated. However in the past or on hot (not extreme) days, we have provided the outside dog/s with a clamshell, lots of water in various shade spots, frozen treat cubes (freeze and icecream bucket of water with stock or something for a doggy icy pole ), some damp towels and canvas sacks wet down and placed over the kennels. Kirislin- as bad as I feel for the wildlife, I also fear snakes so do not have any water in my yard at this time of year unless absolutely neccesarry.

So sorry to hear that, Cass