LizT

While "breeds" certainly give an idea of temperament and behaviour (compared to a Cross breed especially) the is still the factor of the 'individual'. I've know of some labradors and Golden Retrievers to be extremely destructive in their early years and then suddenly they "chill out". And this was with training and socialisation too. The German Shepherd I have now often brings from me the remark...."thank Dog you landed in this home and not a first time GSD persons or with a person who would "give up' and move a dog on..." He has been quite challenging in his first 5 years, in comparison to other GSD I have owned over the years. Sometimes I joke and say that he is 'ADHD" (a d**ckhead dog!). But really he just has a BIG personality and we love him to bits. The fact that you are putting a great deal of thought into this now is very encouraging for the 'future pets'. You're going to make some lucky puppy wonderful pack leaders.

I've seen this scenario a few times before. Just let your relationship evolve and enjoy YOUR dogs before you add any more to the mix. I've known too many people move in together, get a dog, and then go their separate ways. I realise no relationship comes with guarantees (I'm twice married myself) but take your time and let him become accustomed to dog ownership through your dogs first. See how things unfold from there. A "new child" can put demands on a relationship...oh and just because it is a country property doesn't mean the local council will allow 4 dogs...check this first. Enjoy getting to know each other in a new environment first.

I swear we had snow flakes hitting the windscreen as we drove through Ringwood at 5.30am to 6.00am approx. I couldn't believe it!! :D My older daughter who had to go to Melbourne via train texted me that there was snow at Heatherdale station! It belted rain the whole way there but stopped just as we approached Geelong. We were lucky with the rain easing on Saturday. We got a nice spot in the Pavillion, and an easy park (no trailer) which I was worried I would miss out on hence going early, but so many didn't go so that cover and room wasn't an issue on Saturday....but the grounds were sodden and muddy and could hold no more water. Fortunately it must have rained itself out, but it was very cold. I didn't bother with the trolley (it would have got bogged anyway LOL) but tucked Crystal up nice and warm in a small Softkrate on a tarp with vet bed in it. My admiration to all you people hefting the big dogs over the mud!!! Hope your backs are okay today. :D Didn't do any good in the ring (2nd out of two). My younger daughter went on a few rides, we had a bit of a wander around and went home.

I like that Oakway.

Sorry to hear that PP. I completly forgot about that. I was present when my best friend lost her standard poople to bloat, was devastating. I wonder if it would be worth doing that "stitch in place" procedure whilst desexing is carried out to try and reduce the risk of bloat? (talking out of my a*s, I know very little about the actual procedure, just a thought.) Hey, Julzjc...how ye Bonnie lass goin?

Yep, they vacuum AND dust as they go around!

Love it!!! T. OMG I just threatened him with exactly that just now!!! You should have seen his face when I told him what happened.....he came in the front door and the girls greeted him as usual and he said, Hello Bonnie, Hello Crystal how are my little girls today?" My reply, fine now...no thanks to you. His response..."Why?" I didn't do anything! So I told him..started with "You know how I ask you not to put chocolate in your bottom draw.... ;) ;) :p ;) ;)

He has ;) one in his :p wardrobe Although it's a larger keypad type one, maybe I will get him a small metal type, just big enough for say, two blocks of chocolate! Good Idea Poodlefan! ;) Make sure he keeps it padlocked though - those Cavvies are persistant critters. ;) Dumb question of the day - any reason the chocolate has to be stashed?? Ummm....could be something to do with me.....

I hate the stuff, it has it's place for horses with injuries but I have too many horsey friends who just use it because their horse is lame with an abcess or something! I get so mad when I see it overused. I have one friend who leased a horse that was on a daily dose for arthritis, surely there are better ways. As to your Grandmother, my daughter has a friend whose Grandmother does things with her dogs and never thinks to tell her, doubly annoying.

It wasn't easy getting the charcoal tablets down her throat after we got home either! Can't imagine what she's going to do next time a Judge tries to check her bite??!! "No sweetie I'm not going try pry your mouth open and shove disgusting tasting stuff down it, I only want to look at your teeth!"

He has ;) one in his :p wardrobe Although it's a larger keypad type one, maybe I will get him a small metal type, just big enough for say, two blocks of chocolate! Good Idea Poodlefan!

*COUGH* Its called Doric, its a Scottish language used in the North-East of Scotland. lol Believe it or not it has been very English-fied to make it easier for people to read Och aye, ye ken fit like eh. Bit en again, fit ken ya de? "Caw! Caw! Caw!" Said an aul' dane craw, As he dichtit his nib on a docken, "I'm wearin awa", Bit I carenae a stra, For I've tastet eh tatties o' Buchan. lol Can you tell Im a proud Doric lass? ETA- Caw caw caw, Said the old dying crow, As he wipped his beak on a leaf, Im wearing away, But I do not care, As I have tasted the potatoes of Buchan. lol Thought I better clear that very short poem up. Cool...it's actually easy to understand if you read FONETIKALEE

Okay, maybe not a fair title but I am fuming ATM. Just got back from the vets so all is okay but here's why I went....... Came in from feeding the horses this morning and on walking into my bedroom followed a trail of al-foil and then cardboard, Old Gold Rum 'n Raisin chocolate! OH stashes chocolate in his wardrobe and/or bottom draw and both were open! So which Cav ate the Chocolate...off to the Vets with both. I suspected Crystal as she is an inquisative naughty monkey but Bonnie has a voracious appetite ATM as she has four week old pups feeding and would probably drive Crystal away if she had something to eat??? So Lectric Soda Crystals down both their throats, why is there none in the house??? I used to have some for a foot soak ages ago but can't find any, must've used it up? Down Bonnies throat easily but Crystal puts up the biggest struggle...naughty monkey is fighting like heap big ape now! Bonnie starts up chucking, and up chucking, and...you get the picture. All breakfast and no chocolate. Meanwhile nothing from Crystal, probably not enough Soda crystals down her tummy, nurse goes off to get something else to make her vomit, there are two more Crystals on the floor outside where we are waiting so I talk to Crystal calmly and she lets me put them down her throat...sucess...foamy vomit with chocolate chips. So she's the culprit, poor Bonnie, yucky stuff for nothing, but no, not nothing as better to be safe. Back inside and Crystal heaves again...OMG it's like someone has poured chocolate pudding on the floor!! How much was in that package, I had tried calling OH to find out but it wasn't important in this case as there was no telling which dog had ate it or if both had anyway. Still he could answer his bloody phone so I can nah..abuse him! It must have been most of the block. I have asked and told him NOT TO HIDE CHOCOLATE WHERE THE DOGS CAN GET IT! And Dark Chocolate with RAISINS FFS A double wammy. You know he's is a wonderful man and loves the animals here as much as I do, he took them on when he married me and my two older kids blah, blah, blah, etc. etc. but gees, sometimes he pushes it a bit. Poor Crystal....I'm heaving a big sigh and am now going for a lie down.

Thanks Guys, I've told her 'No' (in a much longer winded way of course) it's unlikely she will even get to see the puppies as she is a recent enquiry and there are a fair few nice people who tick all my boxes ahead of her. I told her I will contact her if those ahead of her source a puppy from elsewhere, which some have done as I found out AFTER I've emailed them to touch bases with them, ask a few more questions, set up 'viewing dates' etc. and they haven't told me so the list keeps changing. Kind of annoying that people don't tell you that they have got a puppy from someone else after they have "sold themselves" to you, so to speak, but I guess that happens all the time. But that's a whole other thread.

Bonnie still 'cleans up" if she's able to get to it before me YUK! Today I put newspaper down on half the box and they are peeing and pooping on it. Now I just have to get to the paper before Bonnie does LOL

That's what I thought....I think I'd better explain this to her as nicely as I can, even if she gets a pup from somewhere else she needs to reassess her 'plan'.

Gosh it's a weight off your shoulders when people reassure your instincts. I like the pen on the front lawn idea but in Melbourne it would be subject to the weather for my little Cavalier babies? Beginning to see why some breeders keep their pups till 12 weeks of age.

I agree with you. Check out the happy news stories - they get very few responses. Isnt it bizarre! Koala, that's what Lo Pan is saying. He just said it a different way Sadly I think it is because human nature suffers from "morbid curiosity".

Vile creatures most certainly do deserve "an eye for an eye" treatment, no ifs or buts! ...and which 'vile person' will we pay to carry out these "fit punishments" ???? Or maybe we can have a "sicko lottery"and they could pay for the "pleasure" of carrying out this "justice'. I still believe 'civilized people' should not behave in the same manner as the damaged, vile torturers they are punishing.

I have a 'potential' buyer who has stated that she wishes to bring her 8 year old Cavalier along to our place when viewing our puppy "to meet the puppy and see how they get along". They had two dogs until recently and one has passed away and the other is lonely without her. I'm not too sure this is a good idea, personally I feel the puppy won't give an accurate response and neither will their dog. I'd have to 'hide' the dam as she certainly wouldn't like a strange dog in the house looking at her babes! I'm also not sure of the health risks associated with a strange dog in my house. Help me out here please guys

Good luck and healing Cav vibes to you...and just in case you hadn't thought about it, don't let your Cav get fat while they are re-couperating!

Oooo e is a big saft lump idn e!

An email this morning from a Dr. "so and so", stating that he "really likes my puppy" and would like me to ship puppy to U.K. as urgent birthday present for his son, rada, rada, rada....."don't forget to send me your payment details so I can confirm payment etc." When it's a 'blanket' email that doesn't even mention the breed you know it a scammer. Spoke to a breeder recently who had a person trying to buy a puppy for her son via an email, sent money, sum to much, asked for refund of overpayment amount and to ship puppy interstate etc. Money didn't go through, fortunately breeder didn't proceed with shipment despite numerous emails from buyer and a shipping address.

No I was asking Poodlemum what her warranty covers as I'm in the process of putting together contracts and puppy packs for my bubs. I did 5 loads this weekend ! As above! Got it! Ta.

...when your teenage daughter looks at you and says "you aren't seriously considering keeping any of those pups from that litter are you?"