LizT

teapot is all good to go and I have the iphone ready LOL How exciting, hope you get in a "nana nap" sounds like tonights the night! :)

Bear in mind I'm half a centuary old. :laugh: When I was a kid we had a Kelpie and if my dad was going off at me and I looked under threat of a belting (it happened)the Kelpie would stand between me and Dad and growl, so Dad would have to "Shut Down' his ranting and raving immediately so the dog would settle. Saved me from many a sore backside. ;)

Really depends on the colour of your Dobie. What is yours crossed with and what colour is he? I have been given to understand that a short black coat, as found in Dobermans and Rottwellers have less heat tolerance than the more insulated GSD coat, which pockets of air help to keep them cool as well as warm. That is why the Kelpie copes with heat, his coat is far from sleek and short when compared to a Doberman or Rottie. The short black hairs will attract heat, it's one of the reason why we put white cotton rugs on black horses (and to save us some brushing ;) ).

Is he an entire or desexed? He could be getting a bit territorial and proprietry. Thinking "he's the man", and having to let everyone know. ;)

Gosh I hope that wasn't the plan. That is not a good enough reason to leave a family dog entire??!! I'm confused now. Did you mean you wanted a puppy from the dog (litter he has sired) that you are buying when he was 5/6 years old OR Did you mean you wanted to buy another puppy from the breeder, related to your dog, as a second pet, when he was 5/6 years old? Perhaps the breeder is confused too.

One of these is "a hopeless guard dog" and the other NO-ONE would get past without aleting us!!! Bet you can't pick which is which though!

So ChattyKathy, what is it that you are actually looking for? A family pet, or are you interested in becoming a breeder and showing dogs? Or was the "maybe keeping him entire to breed at 5/6 years of age" just a whim, that you have since thought through better? If this is your very first time owning a Purebred I can understand you thinking, wait a minute I've got a purebred that I've paid for why can't I breed him down the track, but seriously, you would be better off desexing a male if you have had little experience with the breed and leave keeping an entire to the experts. Get some experience with the breed as a pet and enjoy him as that. :)

Yes, just showing good sense. :)

Whilst it is very sad for you to have lost a loved companion, there are many healthy long lived dogs out there. Hopefully in time you will realise that. It is sad to loose a friend, but realise that people can also die young, aschildren or young adult from diseases that medical science is still trying to find cures for, and yet some people live to 100+. My Mums GSD died of cancer (PTS) aged 10. My previous GSD was PTS at age 14 with a colapsing sacrum.

Bought a Schipperke with Papers in 1985 (ish) for $350. I think that was a weeks wage for me. :) Got my Mother in Law a Whippet on MR in 2002 for $330. Paid $650 for a CKCS on MR in 2007. And $950 for another a year later (better lines and different breeder.)

There are plenty of good Staffordshire breeders out there, buy your puppy, have him desexed and enjoy him as a pet. Unless your are seriously interested in showing, then, and IF, your dog is good enough he might be able to be used at stud.

Exactly...I'm sure your Kelpies (or a Doberman) would not enjoy sleeping outdoors in the snow in Graz, Austria either when it is -4 degrees whereas that would be par for the course for the GSD. Horses for course...pure breeds evolved for purposes. :)

Shhhhh...you're creating an argument FOR DD's. ;)

Article was interesting but I couldn't get passed those horrible cropped ears in the photos section. shudder For photos of extreme dogs, I recommend: dogshowpoop.blogspot.com Personally, I'm more grossed out by coiffure than ears that have been tampered with. But then, I'm not into cosmetics and I would never own a long haired dog. You're probably more desensitised to cropped ears Sandgrubber, given your location. But at least hair can be changed and grow to what the owner likes. Those ears aren't growing back. To be honest, I like the look of cropped ears on a Dobe Not the huge, batty ears but the small, neat erect ears that make them look more alert (like this). I honestly don't see much difference between ear cropping and tail docking. After all, that tail isn't going to grow back either. As for the dogs on the other site linked.. while I'm not a fan of fluffy, girly-looking dogs, I can appreciate the enormous level of skill that's obviously gone into some of those clips. While I will agree your example it is far nicer and less extreme....I still believe if you want a dog with erect ears, then get a dog with erect ears. There are plenty to choose from. It's not rocket science. Not a fan of docked tails either I'm afraid, but each to their own when it comes to fashion (and lets face in this day and age practicality doesn't come into it) it's ALL about fashion. Easier said than done if you're after a dog of a certain type and temperament (things that really do matter when considering breeds). The cosmetic things.. while some of them are obviously just about aesthetics, others do have more practical backgrounds and reasoning behind them. And then there are other cosmetic traits (bred in, rather than altered after birth) that can potentially shorten a dog's life and cause them considerable discomfort so I have to admit I find it odd that people (not meaning you, speaking generally) can be so anti-tail docking (for example) but be okay with dogs that suffer skin conditions because of the desirable skin wrinkling. typo I do agree with you on that issue Hardy's Angel, there is no logic in overlooking the animals comfort before aesthetics, but I believe this is happening due to the overzealous drive for extremes in some breeds. A WHOLE other thread. :) albeit part of "building a dog". You are lucky, you have a breed that changes it's ear set itself... :laugh: I love the way a grey or whippet will unfurl it ears like a sail when it becomes alert. Meanwhile if we got together an "built" the "perfect" dog I wonder what it would look like...my guess is a wolf. ;)

Article was interesting but I couldn't get passed those horrible cropped ears in the photos section. shudder For photos of extreme dogs, I recommend: dogshowpoop.blogspot.com Personally, I'm more grossed out by coiffure than ears that have been tampered with. But then, I'm not into cosmetics and I would never own a long haired dog. You're probably more desensitised to cropped ears Sandgrubber, given your location. But at least hair can be changed and grow to what the owner likes. Those ears aren't growing back. To be honest, I like the look of cropped ears on a Dobe Not the huge, batty ears but the small, neat erect ears that make them look more alert (like this). I honestly don't see much difference between ear cropping and tail docking. After all, that tail isn't going to grow back either. As for the dogs on the other site linked.. while I'm not a fan of fluffy, girly-looking dogs, I can appreciate the enormous level of skill that's obviously gone into some of those clips. While I will agree your example it is far nicer and less extreme....I still believe if you want a dog with erect ears, then get a dog with erect ears. There are plenty to choose from. It's not rocket science. Not a fan of docked tails either I'm afraid, but each to their own when it comes to fashion (and lets face in this day and age practicality doesn't come into it) it's ALL about fashion.

OM doG, are there still people who do that!!!!????? Roova if she is an ex show dog she should cope with being in a crate for short periods, when you can't watch her? Try the lead toileting but the less accidents inside and the more toileting outside the better things will become.

Article was interesting but I couldn't get passed those horrible cropped ears in the photos section. shudder For photos of extreme dogs, I recommend: dogshowpoop.blogspot.com Personally, I'm more grossed out by coiffure than ears that have been tampered with. But then, I'm not into cosmetics and I would never own a long haired dog. You're probably more desensitised to cropped ears Sandgrubber, given your location. But at least hair can be changed and grow to what the owner likes. Those ears aren't growing back.

*snigger* apologies .. it is immaculate and beautiful...BUT my very first mind flash was "topiary" Oooh, oooh, if I had a breed with such a distinct sillouette I'd definitely get someone to do a topiary dog in my garden for me! :)

I feed raw and kibble. With the puppies the kibble is soaked in half boiled water and half puppy milk. I like to feed some kibble to the Cavaliers as it is one way of ensuring they get a "crunch clean" with every meal. Particularly the girl who isn't keen to chew bones. :rolleyes: I tried "Turkey Mince" with my little one this time and she loves it. I couldn't find any chicken mince and since it was post Xmas when she started on solids there seemed to be plenty of Turkey mince around. :laugh:

I sent a note to the sire's owner, who had never heard of the condition and checked with her her Vet Opthamologist. Her eye-guy also said it's not hereditary. Tempest in a teapot, but tends to make me a little skeptical about required health tests. If they're gonna stamp health certifications for trivial conditions with dubious genetic components . . . jeez . . . we've got much bigger things to worry about. I would think it's right up there with the likes of "Lipid Dystrophy"....inconsequencial.

Congratulations on the new babes, BittyMooPeeb. Love the Prefix name, very clever!

I try to feed the best I can ALL the time and increase natural calcium during pregnancy with the addition of a few extra chicken wings. I have read so much negative stuff about supplements (larger birth weights etc.) I would not be keen to add anything extra when the list of vitamins and minerals on the quality pre made foods (Advance, Royal Canin, Black Hawk) is already so long. Don't want to over do things.

Article was interesting but I couldn't get passed those horrible cropped ears in the photos section. shudder

Start from scratch and "crate train" if need be i.e. crate her when you can't watch her 100% or if she hasn't just gone outside and you can't risk letting her loose, crate her until after she has been outside, then she can have 'free time' in the house. We toilet trained an 8 year old ex puppy farm rescue Cavalier who only wanted to cock his leg EVERYWHERE in a month using this method. :)