Bisart Dobes

We do this with all of our litters and I believe that it does work to develop better dogs in the long term. I only have our original dogs to compare to ofcourse who didnt' receive this as babies but response times, learning ability, desire to please, desire to work, ability to cope with stresses in general, social skills - all are vastly improved on generation to generation. It is really interesting to see each litter develop and see their achievements in life (and I am not just talking ankc titles etc etc). I love to do this also because it helps you to understand each puppy alot better as it shows up behaviour traits as you go along (even at day 1 actually) and these are consistently providing an excellent guide to each dogs temperament later in life. We also socialise (safely) from 4 weeks and to back this up we hold our own weekly puppy classes from 8 to 16 weeks for our puppy owners (if they wish to attend ) as a part of our 'puppy pac ' in which we go over all the basic good behaviour training, obedience training and socialisation (& tracking, showing & anything else they are interested in). The studies on this are very interesting, however I couldn't bring myself to exclude say 3 puppies from a litter from this program for the sake of comparison - I believe in it too much to gamble the future of one of our dogs. I believe in giving them every chance to fulfill their genetic potential and with this I can give them the best start. I have given this to alot of breeders for interest sake but don't think that any of them have taken it up with any consistency if at all .

Couldn't have said it better myself.

And here we were concerned about the new regulation in regards to showing mated bitches When did Hugh Wurth become the CEO of the VCA ??????????

Go Indi - Well done to Vivien & Indi on Best In Show - a great example of our breed. Well done to all the other winners as well.

Veterans This beautiful post was on the UK list (with permission to cross-post) - WELL worth a read and something to think about. You'd have to be made of stone if this doesn't bring a tear .... "I see that the *Smiths* have entered their dog in the Veterans Class. Apparently there is no one in this Club who knows that it is customary to Offer a round of applause for those that are entered. Six months ago, at This same show, I entered my Veteran Dog in this same class. Not one person applauded. Not one person came up and said anything. Not one Person came over to give him a kind word or a pat. Not one person made him Feel he belonged again. He was no threat to anyone. He wasn't going to beat anyone, take any points, Or win anything. He was just an old dog who thought he was special again - Back in the ring for the first time in many years. Maybe he even recalled His "Glory Days". He would have loved to have met anyone there. He would Have welcomed you like an old friend. You didn't have to say anything nice About him if you didn't want to. But just in case you can't think of Anything to say about a Veteran Dog, here are some suggestions: "It was nice To see him out there". Or go up to him and tell him he's a "Good Boy". Or Tell his owner that you are glad that they brought him. Those aren't exactly Compliments, but they will please his owner and make him glad that they Brought him. I don't think that's asking too much. One day, all too soon, All your beautiful young dogs will be old dogs too. Maybe one day you'll Enter them in a Veterans Class. And I hope that you do. Or, like many of us, You remember that old friend, now gone, and wish you still had the chance. They deserve it. It may be their final time in the sun - their last time out In front of people. Their last time to ever be in the ring. My old dog is a Fool. He thought he was wonderful that day. He thought he belonged. Instead, He was ignored. I have thought about this for 6 months now, and wasn't going To say anything. But on his behalf, and that of any other Veteran, I hope That something like this never occurs again. As a Club of (Breed) Fanciers, You should feel ashamed. Even if you dislike the dog or his owner, at least Show Good Sportsmanship and do the Right Thing. Show others that you have Respect for your breed. Make that Veteran Dog feel wanted and special again. Let him know that you are glad to see him. It will make his day. You may Never get the chance again. Thank you." As Lynda began reading it, the hush that fell over the room was incredible. Bless her heart, my friend Lynda broke into tears as she struggled through Reading this. EVERYONE in the room lowered their heads, and many of them Began to cry also, including the President (who is a man). I tried my best To hold my head up and refrain from tears, again. The President strode over To where I was sitting and in a broken voice said "Terry...... .I am SO Sorry. He is such a wonderful dog. There is no excuse for what happened to You. And to him." As I started to say that I "wasn't going to say anything" Again, the room nearly burst with everyone trying to talk at once. The Discussion that followed was both eye-opening and of valuable purpose. Many Came up to me in tears, with hugs and apologies. I am a very private and shy Person, not given to sharing my deepest feelings easily. This had been an Incredibly difficult thing for me to do, but in honor of my Veteran and all The others out there, I felt it must be done. Was it worth it? When *Mr. Smith* took his lovely 12 1/2 year old dog (neutered due to Testicular cancer) into the ring, our entire membership remained - and Applauded and "whooped and hollered" him with every move. The Judge moved to The center of the ring on his final go round and applauded, as did her ring Stewards. Others nearby, watching other breeds, came over and remarked on How wonderful it was to see a Veteran being treated like that. Many (including me) asked to take his picture. Everyone complimented him and his Owners. If only my old dog had enjoyed such a day... Was it worth it? You Tell me... Sorry for the length of this, but so many in other breeds who Heard about what happened have already asked me for a copy of my written Paper that I thought perhaps it was something that needed to be shared. Amazing how quickly word spreads amongst us dog people. It's often said "You Can't teach an old dog new tricks". But I know one old dog who taught something of great value." Complete permission to post. Terry Russo.

We disinfect the whole whelping room - walls, box, bedding, toys etc etc and the room is in lockdown a couple of weeks out from whelping and once its done. (no other dogs allowed in). All bedding is washed in bleach and disinfectant, box cleaned out once or twice daily dependant on how clean mum is. No shows for first 4 weeks - longer if there is word of anything lurking - parvo,KC etc The usual. I do usually like to get puppies out (safely/carried) at 4 weeks but haven't this time due to alot of parvo being around - have even restricted their time outside so far (not hard when its this freezing cold). But as soon as they are vacced and covered we will be tripping them out to socialise - its sooooooooo important for developing and maintain that great temperament.

Yup - way tooooooo cold for diseases to live in Tassie. (Just joking b4 you all jump down my throat and I grew up there ).

How can you blame / expect / request the admin of a commercial site to monitor or to make that judgement. The only thing they could do would be to ban a breeder once a certain amount of complaints were proven against them. Anyway it is not the onus of a site such as this to do that. Even breed clubs don't take any responsibility for the puppies / temperaments / health etc etc that breeders list / advertise with them. Perhaps they could set up a review section in each breed for people who have dealt with breeders from that breed. BUT who then takes responsibilty for the really bad reviews that are placed there - in all fairness they would have to be left for all to view. I know of one breeder in our breed who would never sell another puppy if this were the case !

- No wonder he was blase !! Seriously though "LUCKY YOUR WITH AAMI" - what a great job with the fence etc - good luck with the rest of it.

Peanut butter or Yoghurt are our dogs favs

Now - that is a GREAT photo ;)

So very sorry to hear about your boy. Another one here who never uses Rimadyl - our first dog had severe stomach ulcers from it and really never recovered in that he cannot process beef and fatty foods. There are warnings on these drugs and they are on every packet the vets dispense from - sadly I don't think that enough vets go through the side effects in enough detail (or any) and they should have to. I know of several people showing their dogs who have their dogs on this drug permanently so that they can win - soooooo bad and it doesn't actually fix whats wrong !!!! For future reference - Vit E is the most powerful anti-inflamatory you can use and natural (though always check your breeds health issues and look for contradictions. We use Vit E and / or arnica for inflamation.

Several generations of breeders in our family & all say its a nutritional deficiency during development - have had several vets state the same thing.

Yeah but she hates having her picture taken :D - you can take one of the big dog playing with his new toy, he loves posing for the camera :D

Yah - my dogs luv those tugs - they will be happy. Funny enough I only win prizes with the Dane Club Raffles (never any others !!) - fantastic they have great prizes. Great you won 1st Kerry - well done. Will pick our prize up off you next Sat - thanks to the donators as well. Bernadette.

WOW - must say I have never heard of it and though our oldest litter is only 4 1/2 yrs old, my parents bred for 30+ years and I have 3 aunties and one of my sisters who all breed and exhibit and have done for years. Hope your miracle baby survives - have you thought of possibly a different sire and earlier mating ???

I find that placing them in a crate or quiet place for about 1/2 and hour before you feed them helps also. They calm down away from the other dogs and it takes away any competition eating that they may have. Ours always eat alone now, I find its just alot more relaxing for them.

That puppies tend to be frightened of new things, regardless of whether they came from a responsible breeder or not. A well socialised and well rounded puppy that has been prepared for the big bad world properly will not be scared of new things - they may startle at weird things but they recover and investigate rapidly. Our 2 yr old boy had the open dogs at shows grumbling at him when he was 16 weeks old because he was so full of himself and so confident. I know for a fact that a properly raised puppy will be a confident bold puppy - one that isn't hasn't been socialised and / or is genetically fear based - either is highly undesirable.

I make mine watch SBS Multi-lingual - is that why staffies talk like that

The reason we have a tv in the whelping room (and it gives me something to watch when I can't sleep ). They react to the light and shade changes and the audio at 3 weeks and are far more aware and able to focus by 4 weeks - kids programs are more visually exciting to them but the exposure to normal world noises is very valuable I believe. Still doesn't replace good old socialisation . . .

Havent' been over there for a while but I book one kennel because then you park your car on that level which is ventilated and have the dog tag in your car. Have never travelled my dogs in the kennels they have always been in the car or trailer and we have never had an issue apart from sea sickness once. I book one kennel to ensure we are on the ventilated level and that level is the first to get off the boat as well . Have a great trip and good luck.

Having just caught up with this thread I just wanted to say a huge kudos to the breeder in this situation They have sold 1st puppy obviously with health guarentee etc - replaced 1st puppy with 2nd puppy when owner gave up on the 1st puppy and signed over to the vets and now is taking back the 2nd puppy and has it a new home. . I know most of us would do this without thinking but there are alot who wouldn't. Can't say this person would ever see another puppy from me, that door would be firmly shut. Poor puppies - I hope they both have wonderful forever homes.

Our older two share the bed with us. The rest are c-crated inside spare room / extra lounge overnight - they have dense foam mattresses and dry bed or mink blankets to sleep on - when its really cold they have polar fleece coats on bar one who chews them off so he gets tucked in (sometimes he is still snug as a bug tucked in when I get up at 4am !!!) - they love their beds and they know which is theirs and they certainly don't like anyone else being put in their crate (but then they know which berth is theirs in the trailer as well and the same applies).

Whelped in back spare room, heated whelping box, no other dogs around our girls - they are a bit protective . They have their own radio and TV for those much needed noises (radio on from whelp for the bitch as it drowns out the extra external noises that upset them sometimes - TV on when they start responding to visual and verbal). They have an oil heater in there as central heating is too dry for babies I find so it is closed off when pups are in there (or aircon in summer). I lay a cheap lino over the carpet as well - not slippery and tossed when litter has used it. They have a puppy pen set up around the box which they have access to when they need that extra room. I put a puppy training pad into the puppy pen when they are around 3 1/2 wks (yes they actually work :rolleyes:). They stay there until around 4 weeks - when they start their time outside (weather dependant (not in this freezing weather !) puppy proof grass run and the heated box can go into the puppy 'kennel' if its too cold) and they sleep in the living room with one of the big dogs in a c-crate next to theirs and their puppy pen. I have no luck uploading pics !!! They are all to big . . .