Tapua

I am sorry if you pup is in pain and I hope she can be treated successfully.Of course you should neuter her if there is a genetic link and let the problem finish. As a breeder we are damned if we do and damned if we dont test for everything and despite all tests many conditions can occur even after a long long history healthy progeny. Plus there are many conditions where there is not test available. I am glad you are consulting with a specialist - it will cost a whack to see him/her but worth the second opinion. If your current vet is so insecure as to get defensive about you seeking a second opinion - get another vet. I am lucky that my vets of 15 years are highly experienced in Canine and Equine orthopaedics but do not hesitate to get a second opinion.Your vets concern should be your dogs well-being. Most knee, lameness or swelling cannot be diagnosed correctly without an arthroscopy something a GP vet cannot do. Your dream of becoming a breeder may involve this steep learning curve. IMO good dog breeders research thoroughly do all their homework about health issues and undertand and accept that despite all the effort health issues occur. We offer pups to people in good faith and pray when someone says they want to be a breeder that the pup grow up to forfill your expectations. I dont believe your breeder has any financial responsibilty to your pups surgery - you might however be offered a free replacement as a sign of good will, if you handle the contact with your breeder rationally and in a non accusatory manor. Your breeder will require probably ask for proof from the specialist for her own benefit and her breeding program I hope by now you have informed your breeder of your situation.

Everyone knows Labradors - I usually get ' I thought they were fatter than that' to which I reply 'only if you fall sucker to their big brown 'feed me' eyes'

Yep you missed - prog should be rising about day 10 11 - be hot to trot day 12/13 and you have missed by day 14 - though I would have thought you might have got a couple of pups from a day 14 mating. Mind you the girls can be ready as early as day 10 and late as day 21. Annoyingly the books are based on an average of 100+ assessed bitches - any given individual can be different. If I had to I would prog test from day 11 - 15 daily.

Re Service fee :- depends on the arrangement you have with the stud dog owner - generally Lab people allow a return mating to same or a different approved bitch. I think getting the money back is unlikely - but they can owe you a stud at a later time get it in writing though. Repo specialist - why havent you tried a natural tie or a direct transfer? There is no real reason a healthy male cant perform I think there is way too much interferance in reproduction - if he cant perform then try a direct transfer. What was your prog level at the time of mating? Bitches may have released the ovum into the uterus but it wont mature for 48 hours however the male sperm can last 5 days if he is strong and viril, its also the reason why people mate a dog to a bitch 24/36 hours apart. A check by the vet can assess the motility of the sperm. I breed bitches anytime after 2 years old or on their third season whichever comes first. I generally stop breeding by about 5year old. IMO ( and this is only my opinion) ovum degenerates in fertility & quality after 6 years old in large breeds. 8 months between cycles is normal enough for Labs.

My beloved Kelpie Biddy passed away after I was on my feet following cancer treatment. I always felt she waited to leave only when she knew I was safe - Biddy and I had been though so much together - even homelessness at one point. I also felt she wouldnt leave until I was in a safe relationship with my wonderful husband Peter. Then out of the blue we had a Biddy granddaughter returned to us at 7 years old - Dixie whos loyalty and mannerisms was so much like her grandmother I always felt that Bid was around too and that comforted me. Dixie adored my husband and I know that when she passed Pete was heartbroken. Often he says he feels her beside his bed staring at him and nudging him.Trippy trapping up the hallway trying to make him get her one more bickie bone in the middle of the night. I believe heart dogs are a gift from God they heal and renew and bring the purest love and acceptance. And while it is gut wrenching when they go and after the pain has soothed - the memory of them is comforting. :)

Hi Labby people - my girl Daphne is 13 months now and has just come into season. I was wondering how long after her season can I get her hips/elbows done - should I leave it 1 or 2 months or longer?

The Gold coast is being used as a pilot and there you have to have your premises inspected in order to be able to own an entire dog . When that came in we had one person who owns a large breed dog. She doesnt want to breed her dog yet [for at least 18 months] and when she does will be in a different premises. She was told she could not breed dogs on her current property - that meant she had to have her dog desexed. She moved to another shire. If you hunt back through this forum there is someone telling us animal rights in Victoria intended to wait until breeder permits went in and then raid them because in the wait time for approval they are illegal. We also had one last week[ not one of our members] who has 7 small dogs and council have rejected their application so they now have 10 days to get the dogs which are not desexed off their property. As you look at this you are assessing as a person who owns acres and who has the ability to address such things if they are put on you but there are many small breeders who would not have those luxuries. You also have to remember they want to inspect you every year for you to be able to renew your licence so at some point its inspecting you after the approval. Fair enough I guess if an organisation or council have an agenda for a particular area or particular person or breed in their area they will manipulate the rules to achieve their own agenda.

Ditto - I am not afraid of any inspection or legislation I know I am doing the right thing by my dogs. Though the detail of no:6 is concerning. If you have nothing to hide then you have nothing to hide!!!!!!! I do think they are making pure-bred dog breeding unfairly complicated but I doubt I need to change anything I am doing to comply. I have the appropriate kennels its just that my Labs spend much of their life on our lounge and the current litter, as all litter we whelp, are whelped in the lounge because that is where the niose,activitye and general temperament stimualtion occurs and I spend many broken sleep nights ensuring the dam and pups are safe, warm and comfortable - no legislation will change my whelping practices.

So I was wondering with this proposal do ANKC members get inspected prior to being granted a licence. Or do you pay an upfront fee, get a licence first based on already being a member of ANKC and then you might be inspected - following a complaint? Personally I would rather be inspected first - if issues were raised a provisional licence be offered which will give the breeder time to address them - then following compliance be granted a licence. That would allow legitimate breeders the chance to evaluate their current standards if needed and to validate those that have a good set-up.

Yep just about to say the same thing - I know a number of people who feed only in the morning and I tend to feed my guys no later than 6pm in the evening - they go for a run before I go to bed and then generally no poblems until I am up which is still ealry about 6am.

Thats conformation enough for me So where are you Pav? What sort of critters are you into?

A Bob-a-lot interesting and self entertaining :)

Hey Love-me-sideways That is so cool really like you dogs focus and his absolute pleasure to please you.

Just wondering I have a litter and I generally worm fortnightly until 12 weeks whcih my vet recommends to in a cool climate but I have a friend who breeds locally and she claims the regime for worming has changed to weekly. Can anyone confirm what the go is? I wormed the dam after she whelped of course. I would think they should be OK. Everyone is healthy and I have no issues with their heath just curious about the current practices among breeders.

There you go we made the Cowra Guardian front page ... not much happening in Cowra this week obviously http://www.cowraguardian.com.au/news/local/news/general/pick-of-the-litter/2511238.aspx

Really? I've never heard of them called gold (in the UK) how long ago was this? Only ever known them as yellows - I think people avoid using Gold to diferentiate between the Yellow Lab and the Golden Retriever ... maybe?

8 beautiful baby Labs - 3 boys (1 black 2 yellow) 5 girls 3 black 2 yellow. Mother and pups doing fine - all feeding well - I am an exhausted tired owner who is going to bed.

Baby Labs whelping now - 1 boy 2 girls all yellow - 4 or 5 more to come :) Mum and pups doing well - pups are strong and feeding well

Beautiful! Yes well what can I say - its all in how you wear the Tiara girls

Due tomorrow or Wed lara look at her breaky this morning / looked at me then wolfed it all down - well atleast she hesitated for a sec - :laugh: so still waiting ....waiting ....waiting

Congrats Heidi Meanwhile mine are due Tuesday/Wedsneday and I am waiting... waiting ..waiting - Lara is a big fat buddha and looks decidedly uncomfortable and eats every morsel of food in the house - given the opportunity.

Sending possitive thoughts to you and Reggie so he is found soon :)

Interesting isnt it :)

It was wonderful to hear and see the warmth and integrity and genuine friendship of the DOLer's at the MDBA Awards. I have made friends and some training buddies as well from DOL and they all enrich my life. Its just too easy to give the negative ones all the power to ruin you day, friendships, passion or life - focussing on what is genuinely good balances and over-ride the negative. Thankyou for reminding us of this Steve. Oh and Troy without you non of this would be possible. Group hug for everyone

I wonder if he can take 30kg off me and make me look about 20 years younger - might take a bit more than air brushing lol