Starkehre

Lambo, I apologise that I presumed you were a woman

Hi Lambo, welcome aboard. May I say "well done" for putting in much time and thought over this very important decision, and seeking opinions of others. The time you spend away from home each week day is not going to be a reason for not getting a dog or ruling out the majority of breeds. It is all about what you plan to do with the dog during the time you are at home. I totally understand that owning a dog at this stage is not something you have done for a long time, this is also not a big issue. What jumped out at me in your opening post was this... all the traits (except for shedding) you want your dog to have are all about training, and some breeding too. Sure some breeds are more likely to have these traits than others, but not necessarily. Environment plays a huge roll in the adult dog your puppy will grow into. So, from the small picture I have been shown of your life, the things that red flag to me are that your OH is not fond of dogs and that you have kids. Before you take that the wrong way, please let me explain... kids and dogs are a beautiful thing, I have nothing against owning a dog when you have kids, but my concerns are that surely so much of your outside work time will be spent doing stuff with the kids. And then what is left of your time will no doubt be taken up with OH. What I am saying is that just because you are at home to ensure the dog is OK, won't much of your time be taken up with kids taxi, homework and all the other tasks mum's have to do. Now if OH is not a fan of dogs, is this likely to change. Is he going to be open to joining in with training and dog outings, or is this going to be something you will be left to do on your own. Can your family run and be happy with you spending as much time as possible per day on quality dog time. Your dog will require this time to ensure it has all the behaviours that you want it to have, ie great with kids, great with other dogs (you mentioned going to parks), not barking, remaining in certain areas of the house and so on and so forth. Of course the family can and should be included in the training of the puppy, and so to do this successfully, there will be much training of the family involved. Are the OH and kids ready to be told what to do and how to deal with puppy in all the different scenarios? And also just wanted to mention, are you aware how naughty puppies can be? They are a lot of work, and if left to their own devices can and will become out of control. The last thing I want to do is put you of getting a puppy, as I feel you are going to be a wonderful owner. But, please consider these things. Well behaved dogs don't just happen, they are created by dedicated owners. Best of luck with your breed selecting, and please note, all of the above is just my personal opinion. Oh and regarding breeds, I choose to opt out of advising here, as IMO just about anyone can own most breeds, but it really comes down to what they are prepared to put in, how much they are willing to learn and the practices they are willing to put into place. And judging anyone's dedication, committment and assertiveness etc on a forum is impossible and unfair. Once again, just my opinion.

I can never understand that reasoning Puppies are cute and enjoyable, but are also a pain in the bum. We embrace puppyhood and easily forget how much work they are, but when they become adults is when dog ownership becomes truly satisfying IMHO :D Agreed. Same. Puppies have their own appeal, but I love , no i ADORE older dogs ! Not a rescue situation, but i found out that one of my clients re homed their dog because they renovated their house and now the dog would have to walk across a carpeted area to get to its bed!!!!! One of our Chihuahua that we took from someone on the spur of the moment a year or so ago, because it bit their kid on the face and was 'Vicious' ......we found out later that the FOUR year old had climbed into the dogs kennel and cornered him there. We haven't had anything but kisses on the face from him. Just a reminder that ITS NEVER THE DOGS FAULT. It's humans that screw it up for the dog . Totally agreed. Puppies are cute, but a hell of a lot of work and very tiresome. Evey time I get one I tell myself, never again.... but i always line up again a few years later And as much as I love all my dogs, even when they are puppies, I really enjoy them so much more when they get to about 2 or 3 years old and from then on they are just Magic. Edited to say, DBT, your avatar nearly made me wet my pants. That is so funny, just gorgeous. Thank you.

Morning Jed and waiting room attendees. Another day is here. Another day closer to Jed getting well again. Bit of a brisk one this morning. mmmm, such a wonderful choice of hot drinks and snacks. Might enjoy a quick brekky here before I head off to the post office. I love croissants. Jed, I hope you have a good day. I will pop back in again tonight. Fresh candles have been lit.

Evening Jed. Glad to hear you had a good night last night. Kyla, you are doing a great job keeping the ponies happy. Well, yes the weather has definitely cooled of late, and today being the first day of Winter has us all preparing for the cold and wet weather to come. Today I did some tracking practice and tomorrow we are having a herding lesson, so keeping busy with the dogs. Business is busy and the nights come early now, but it is a lovely time of year. Jed, hopefully very soon you will be able to spend some time outside and soak up some nature and fresh air. Have a restful night, and I will pop back in tomorrow. Wazzat, the waiting room will magically grow to fit anyone and everyone that wishes to enter. It is our own very special waiting room. No limits or restrictions

Thanks for the update Toohey. Wonderful news that Jed is progressively getting better. I made too much lasagne for tonight's dinner, so I am leaving this big dish full here for anyone that would like it..... lots of bechamel.... mmmmmmm. Will leave plenty of bowls and cutlery too. Won't need them again. Please help yourselves. And for those of you that like it hot (like I like everything) there is the bottle of tobasco as well. Have a restful night Jed and feel beter tomorrow, ;)

As cowanbree says, learn to live with it. ;) I would also add, it helps to acquire a taste for it (with or without Tobasco Sauce ), purchase clothes, furniture and a car with an interior that matches the same color. Oh, and don't have visitors as it helps keep your stress levels lower.

ladyrita, this is very sad and unfortunate experience for you and your family. Not nice at all. However, I hope that in days/weeks to come when you have had time to reflect, you can see this experience as a learning one that did not result in too much mishap. We all get caught out at different times in our lives in a miriad of ways. As long as we learn from this, it can be turned into a positive. Just imagine how robust and healthy your next puppy will be and the fantastic relationship you will have with the breeder after now seeing what can go wrong. It is excellent that you and your family took a long time to decide on what breed to purchase. It is equally as important if not even more so to spend much time researching which breeder to purchase from. I totally understand that you did not realise that the breeder was not ethical or reputable, but you now know a few of the things to look out for. Others have not been so lucky. Take time to get over this experience, but please do not give up. There are many many wonderful, devoted and sincere breeders around. Allow a puppy waiting list to be your friend... ie. do not be in a hurry when you find the breeder you click with. Best of luck

Time for me to check in and see how Jed is going. This waiting room is resembling a camping ground My 7 yo neice stayed with me last night, and I told her all about Jed and her animals. She lit 2 virtual candles, one for Jed and one for her animals. And then this morning she asked me to check to see how Jed is. Very sweet of her to remember over night. Well, no news is good news I guess. Get well Jed, we miss you

Exactly Papers are better in the hand than chasing a breeder who's phone is disconnected I agree and from his papers we can see who his parents are and that they have been hip scored etc, if you are not given those papers you have no proof of who the parents are etc. Personally i would not leave with the puppy if I didnt have the papers. A GOOD breeder will have already given you a pedigree in lieu of the outstanding registration papers with a promise to forward the papers when they arrived from the controlling body. In addition, you would have had copies of parents hip scores and health testing ALREADY in a folder or booklet and THESE would have been given to a purchaser at the time the puppy left home. For example. My litter of 9 Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppies started leaving home at the age of 10 weeks. Their registration papers were not back from the Tas Canine Association BUT they left home with a 50 page folder full of dietary information, a TEN generation pedigree, photocopies of their parents health tests, their microchipping paperwork and assorted other information. Their papers were forwarded as soon as they arrived back. Does that make me a bad breeder? Or somebody who is deliberately withholding papers or do I hang onto the puppies until 13/14/15 weeks of age and THEN let them go to their new homes with their pedigree papers which are apparently THE most important thing about the puppy? I think not. Because if I hang onto my puppies for that long, the next thing you'll read is the new owner coming onto DOL (or similar forums) with behavioural problems because their puppy is no longer a malleable baby and they are having trouble trying to settle it into its new home. Damned if you do or damned if you don't. How long does it take for the papers to come back???. My puppy was registered on the 31st of March with Dogsvic and the papers were back by the 14th of April when collecting the puppy. That's 14 days on the outside, but you can't get it done in 10 weeks I chose NOT to get it done in 10 weeks. I register everything except what I keep for myself on Limited Registration. They are my puppies and I choose what I keep first. I am in no particular hurry to get it done and as I have already said, ANKC rules say that it can be done up to 18 months of age. Either a puppy purchaser trusts me, or they go somewhere else. Simple as that. Editing to add: And once again, as I have said from a previous thread. If you insist upon just selecting bits and pieces from people's responses, then please do them the courtesy of doing so in context rather than just selecting ONE sentence that appeals to you and ignoring the relevant information from around it. You are being deliberately obtuse and it is very little wonder that your responses receive very little respect from other posters. Argumentative for the sake of being argumentative. Many have already explained that they do not register til the pups are of an age to make a final decision on what they are keeping. So, I'm not the only one that whenever I see a post by BB, I roll my eyes?? .... and I don't mean you Bilbo Baggins

Just poking my nose inside the door quickly this morning. I hope Jed had a restful night and is feeling a little brighter this morning. Once again, thanks Toohey. Your updates keep us all going.

Thanks for the update Toohey. Wonderful news. No pressure with personal details. Your general updates are most appreciated and we do very much respect Jed's privacy. Lovely poems guys.

Morning Jed and fellow waiting room occupants. Jed, Dyzney and Jag send you big sloppy doggie kisses. And I am still sending as much strength and positivity that I can muster. Souff, long time, no see. This must be such a shock for you. If you do read this entire thread, it will be tough. Hugs to you. Well, (rolls up sleeping bag from off the floor), I have to go do some work, but I will be back. You ladies are awesome, but if I so as much as look at another scone, bickie or chocolate, I will throw up. I have never eaten so much yummy food. Might have a boring salad today, just for something different. My head says I should not have had those sambuccas last night. Jed, hope your day is another forward step

Oh yeh, slippery nipple, yummy. Oh and it is Opal Nera, has to be, it's the best. these jacks are ones that the dogs can't see or smell, so they don't eat them. Clearly I have lost my jacks skills. More practise. Morning Jed, hope your night was restful and lots of healing was done. You are always not far from my thought if not totally in them.

yummo perse, cream with mine please, and lots of it. ta OK, who's for jacks. Anyone remember how to play it? We might have to keep our eye on the dogs though. We wouldn't want them eating them. Settles down on the floor to play. Haven't played for a while, so watch I don't throw them into your eyes. No hurry Jed. We ain't going anywhere. For Jed I love Jacks haven't played for a good 30 years but lets have a go.....Onies, Twoies, Threeies, Fouries......scatters (same again) Over the Bridge, Horses Stable.....Last being Knuckles OK, Bonduca and Georgie-boy, and anyone else that wants to play Jacks... here goes... over the line... over the jump... thread the needle... catching flies...... oops, grazes knuckles on the carpet. I love it in here at night. it is like a slumber party. Food, games and jarmies. And lots of warm and wonderfully loving people. Smuggled in my bottle of sambucca... anyone like a drink? Jed, wishing you well. Thinking of you. Miss you.

Thanks Dodo. Will check it out, when we get a definite go ahead from Steve.

I would love to do a square too. so if one of these smart crafty bunnies can tell us un crafty ones where to go, what to buy an what to do with it, that would be ace. Will await the final decisions on what the plan is. Oh, how exciting.

yummo perse, cream with mine please, and lots of it. ta OK, who's for jacks. Anyone remember how to play it? We might have to keep our eye on the dogs though. We wouldn't want them eating them. Settles down on the floor to play. Haven't played for a while, so watch I don't throw them into your eyes. No hurry Jed. We ain't going anywhere.

Awesome idea Steve. sorry, crafts are not my field. I am also happy to purchase and post some fabric if required. There is a Lincraft near here.

Baifra, I am so so very sorry to hear of what happened to Phoebe. You and your family must be devastated. It is not anyone's fault. Just an awful accident. RIP beautiful Phoebe.

I'm sorry to hear that Toohey. But it is only a set back. Hopefully nothing too serious. It must be very tough on her family and close friends. We have got plenty more positive wishes, no worries there and Jed can have as much time as she needs. Thanks for letting us know.

Just poking my head in again this morning before I go out on errands. I am still smiling from Toohey's brilliant news last night. Of course we all know that this doesn't suddenly mean Jed is up running marathons. But any good news is fantastic. Toohey, I know you said you were not going to post anymore updates, but please can you at least say, has they dropped the sedation to the point where Jed is awake yet? It sort of sounds that way, but I don't want to make assumptions.

Good point PF and possibly spot on. I actually also wondered about the weather component after I had posted my previous guess of reason.

OMG, that is fabulous news Toohey. You have given me goosebumps and tears. Jes can have as much time as she needs, but it will be just fantastic to hear from her again, whenever it is. A full recovery is the very best news. Jed, you go girl Oh, you have made my week. I am absolutely thrilled to hear this.....runs off to tell OH.

Morning guys. *Stretches and pulls some dog hair out of mouth* I had better go, have a trial today. Will pop back in later to see how Jed is doing. Loving the songs and all the fur babies to cuddle.