Tapua

I am a Nutro fan and feed a muxture of kibble and fresh raw including raw vegies, cerlery, carrot, beetroot. I like Nutro beasue it doesnt use cereals and nor does it use 'meat by-products' my critters and puppies have done well on it. All Australian recipe and made by Mars which make Advanced also. I like Royal Canin 4800 the breed specific types dont hold their condition well for me. Havent used Black Hawk yet but getting the hint that maybe I should. Dont drive yourself nuts over the food thing - the premium stuff is all pretty good and anything you add in moderation is OK if it is raw - generally.

OK Dragon Fly - day 18 just to tease you

Hi guys You may not be aware that the moon is on a lunar cycle that brings it very close to the earth - hense the wet weather on the coast I believe - so here is the moon rising over Woodstock Central West NSW. The yellow is my street light the white is the moon!

Fantastic results and a big thankyou to Julie and Leslie for all the work they put into the evening and for the MDBA & PACERS

After I have talked to them and I'm satisfied they will be suitable forever parent(s) I take a deposit I make it clear that it is a mutual committment (IMHO) to take a pup and me to make sure they get a pup. That includes once there is a deposit loads of emails about feeding, dangerous plants in their yard, crate training and a weekly photo of the whole litter. I am certainly prepared to return the deposit if they say they will not take the pup but that hasnt happened ... yet. The deposit allows me to put aside money for vaccinations and microchipping which always helps me. I do have a waiting list but from experience only about 1/3rd ever follow through and get a pup from a waiting list.

I have a couple of Labs and a Border Collie who would love to be in my lap while I drive NOT!!!! Glad to see an Eastern Suburbs princess get held accountable for doing stupid!

I will I will post a photo once a week I think - the little fatty's are growing well - they are alert and calm - I have them in the lounge room and they have to deal with the vacuum cleaner, lights, TV, Radio the other dogs coming in and out ( my bitches are very tollerant of each other after the first week) I think this is one of the nicest litters I have bred. I am very impressed with them so far.

Getting bigger!

Now thats a good idea - my darling god-daughter is here tomorrow - I will get her to take some pics soon.

Mum gets Palastart - powdered goats milk to help her milk supply - I suppliment the pups with a chicken mince gruell very wet which they suck up. When they start lapping (about 3-5 days) I add soaked Nutro puppy - soaked in Palastart. - raised a litter of 12 mum had dropped the bundle when the pups were about 18 days old.

Palastart - powdered baby goat & lamb milk You can get it from rural supply stores - lactose free of course comes in a 10kg bag for about $40 - I keep it in am airtight container - it has seem me through 2 litters and is brilliant for lactating bitches and the babies of course. Brilliant stuff - more cost effective than liquid goats milk.

It was the worst and the best - About 8 years ago I was in the back yard watching the kids do hoonies and zoomies and spare wheels when one of the Kelpies crashed into my shin - I nearly passed out with the pain. But is passed - I went to the Doc and after various test I was diagnosed with an obscure bone tumour that I would never had know was on my shin if the pup had't crashed into it - following major life saving bone surgery, 20 months in a wheelchair and endless bone CTS I am .. touch wood - cancer free - 'they' the academic boffins - say I would have been dead in 3 years if I didnt have the surgery when I did. Good dog that one! Aint dead yet!

Still following the Celtic theme I found some interseting meaning words but totally unpronouncable - so stayed generic - so we have the 2 girls are Celtic Dream & Celtic Charm Boys: Celtic Warrior, Celtic Noble, Caltic Sorcerer, & O/h unpronouncible Celtic Amhran - which means song :D why he wasnt keen on Celtic Song I dont know anyway the rest I like! The little fatty's are all about 1100grams+ this morning!

In the remote chance we win a trophy bring it home with you!

I appreciate that RSPCA do a great job - but I wonder when any govt will prioritise money for mental health, hospitals and human welfare.

Wow you should put that phot in a magazine or something - that is just quality!

Whelped on the 4 March these guys are 9 days old today (2 girls & 4 boys) - they have commenced their neurological training and are conformation wise just beautiful - in my very biased opinion - I am a proud mum.

Sid is THE MAN!

Ah 40kg Lab on the lap has never been a great experience:) I can totally relate!

Thanks everyone I will research the options - I have a rather round sleeping Labrador on the couch with a temp of 36-7 and dropping. Should be about 24-36 hours away. Whelping box all ready and the all the whelping stuff within hands reach. Sleeping Lara and the geriatric Kelpie being 'supportive' in sleep.

Hey thats really cool - I spoke to Nads the other day he and Dimples aka Sapper are like two pees in a pod and great mates. I love Sapper he has the most beautiful temperament - unfortunately you could saddle the big lug and ride him Nads will be the best dad for Sapper.

Hi all - I am totally braindead about names and need inspiration please - we have a litter due this Fri/Sat and 7 pups according to the Xray are expected. So of course I cannot think of anything. O/H and I have agreed on a Celtic theme since the last litter had a Maori theme, which is his ancestry, so this litter has a Celtic theme, which is my ancestry. Any bright ideas would be appreciated.

They respond to all of them but Dixie the - rotund Kelpie gets Oh Rotund one!, Barge Arse, Princess Bat Features, Lard Arse, love chops and sung to ... would you believe! she glares at all of them! Croftie the Border X gets STEPHEN!!, Dickie Dock, Baby Boy ... and sung to -he answers to all of them and is very clever :D Tua the Lab gets - OI! Lights Out!, Hoot hoot, Dumbo ... and sung to - she blinks and looks confussed regardless of the name - but we love her! ;) Lara the Lab gets - Lara Lara tomboy girl, Lara puppy and sung to - she answers to all of them Mia the Lab gets - Mia May, Mumma Mia, stop that! and sung to Heeni Te Anna the 5 month old Lab gets Heeni & Scrappy doo and sung to - of course! My husband sings to all the dogs and they go nuts over him - go figure

Hi and welcome

Very true - but I think like most training with dogs the training tends to be reduced to the lowest common denominator - and thats often the skill of the handler not the dog necessarily. With regard to breeder selection I consider the understanding of Early Neurological Stimulation is also a major factor in selection of a service dog- as well as the working ability of the sire and dam IMHO. Whether early neurological stimulation occured or not and the enriched environment prior to the pup going to their new home/handler. I currently breed with service dogs in mind (Labradors) in past I have bred & trained to 12 months old GSD's and Kelpies which went to Europe as SAR dogs (Kelpies) and NSW Police (GSD). I no longer have the physical ability to train as well as I like due to bone cancer so I prioritise the ENT in my breeding program. I still believe the breeders who have proven working lines and also have an understanding of the value of Early Neurological Stimuation should be sought out and prioritised as a selection a critera for a service dog.