LizT

Don't feel offended Jaqui835. I'm sure that even though it might be subliminal you have also taught your dog that there is a line to any type of play mouthing. I was not happy with my dog randomly grabbing peoples wrists, as I'm sure many were not happy with him grabbing their wrists either. Better to teach him not to do it than to try to teach him that's it's okay with this person but not with the next person and so on. Incidently my GSD mouths my Cavaliers and they mouth each other. Somehow all they do to him is give "kisses". Gundogs are taught to be soft mouthed with objects that they hold, up to and including dead game. They don't learn this my slobbering on peoples hands as young dogs.

A good idea in principle Jed but I dread the thought of a Media provided "Expert".

ummm. no. No dog should put their mouth on you, you are not a dog, you are a human. Bite inhibition means you DONT mouth at all. Think of it this way ... if you want the dog to learn never to counter surf, do you put the dog on the counter and keep luring it off? or do you catch it before it jumps up there and show it the alternative? ETA The modern ideas that mouthing is acceptable I think contributes too. Oh the dog will know what to do when it gets overexcited around a child or when we have to handle it if it's in pain! It's gentle now! Then one day it instinctively opens its jaws at you or a child and it accidentally goes too far. A dog is not a machine. They make mistakes as do we - you're basically saying that everyone with a drivers license will know what to do and an accident will never happen. If a dog learns that putting bits of people in its mouth is OK an accident is bound to happen. I think we have Ian Dunbar to thank for this rediculous theory. See, this is another thing that confuses me. I have always felt that no part of a person belongs in a dogs mouth whether in play or seriousness. Yet five years ago when I had my GSD at a mixed breed obedience school as a young dog who had been attending for a number of months he started "holding' my wrist as we heeled. And he started doing this to my husband and I and the kids at home. I tried to discourage this behaviour, yes, he was incredibly gentle in his hold and it didn't cause any fear or concern to any family member..it was more a slobbered wrist and "you're not heeling properly" issue as far as I was concerned. However our instructor fully encouraged this behaviour and had me allow him to do this during our lessons...."to teach him to be gentle". I bowed to the instructors superior knowledge at the time (but was it really?) but was pleased when he seemed to outgrow this behaviour (but he was well and truly into this second year before he stopped fully) of his own accord. At 5 years of age he never does it anymore. Perhaps he picked up on the fact that I wasn't to happy when he did it? He is a smart boy.

I saw on the News that a Toddler (16 months old boy) had been attacked and mauled by a Malamute in a Park. That is the extent of my knowlege of the story details apart from seeing this poor hysterical mother crying (as I would be) when retelling her story on camera. Each time I hear a story of this type (I am 50 next birthday, so there's been alot over the years) something inside me dies a little as I wonder how this could have been avoided? Maybe the breed was a cross bred maybe it was a pure. Does it make a difference...possibly but probably not.....or is it purely due to the many variables of the animals environmental conditioning??

I've seen some Golden Retireivers that are so "Blonde" the almost appear white! Especially as puppies.

With so many random attacks occurring by dogs that have gotten out of their yards in news Reports I've got to wondering "What makes someones family Pet attack a random child in a Park or someone elses dog on a lead? I'm not trying to breed bash but wondering is it mainly "High Prey Drive" animals. Animals breed for fighting? Low "capacity to learn" animals ie. those that are not commonly used in obedience or are they poorly socialised animals. Sometimes the owners are very shocked to find out their dog has hurt someone. Other times I think they expected it could happen should the dog get out and wonder. Sometimes the huge shock is that they have attacked a family member. What are your thoughts. I'm having trouble getting my head around this. Growing up I could pick the dogs that were dangerous. They slavered and barked as you walked past the cyclone fence in the car yards or other work equipment site areas that they guarded. They were the dogs that were chained up and never left their properties. I was never fearful of the "dog in the street" or park??

The poor child and mother. How horrible. They will carry emotional scars for life. What makes it even worse in my opinion is the fact that this family come from a culture where dogs are not kept as pets and they already have a resentment and fear of dogs. This will not help dog ownership arguement one bit, only serve to increase the fear and resentment of ALL dogs as a whole.

That's interesting because with my last litter I asked for expressions of interest when the bitch was still in whelp and most of the people who contacted me to go on my list later had sourced puppies from elsewhere or changed their minds about a puppy at this time. It wasn't a problem as I could have sold the babies 4 times each but won't bother doing this again and will only advertise AFTER the litter is born next time. Although in fairness their were a few who stayed with us the whole time and ended up having a puppy. I found a long period waiting list just meant a lot alot of wasted phone calls for me.

I have a Dyson. They are great but when it got sick and I sent it of for repairs I bought a cheap Russell Hobbs Cyclonic from Target for $159.00 and it's been really good. The Dyson has been repaired but I also use the Russell Hobbs. I wont buy any vacuum that needs a bag as it's such an added expense! With three Cavalier in the house I'd fill it each time I vacuumed which is three times a week. I did some research into specific "Cat/Dog vacuums and it's not about the pet hair as such, that comes under the heading of suction power it's about a charcoal filter for the pet smell. Other than that they are no different than any other high powered vacuum.

I've always wanted a Standard Poodle. A pure bred Border Collie (I've had a "farm bred cross breed" one given to me before) A Doberman I'd love another Schipperke Can't imagine not having a German Shepherd.

They look a good strong healthy bunch.

How about putting in an ad with the Sports Shooters Association? Or Gun Clubs?? Isn't it ironic that large breed have lots of pups and small breeds have few and it's the littlies that are easiest to home. When I bought a GSD 20 years ago the breeder offered me the last pup (bitch) along with the male I purchased as I think he'd had a litter of 18 and was "over it". I declined because I only wanted to take on one dog at a time. I have an aquanitance who breeds Show Greyhounds and she says it's a very hard breed to home as puppies.

CONGRATULATIONS WOOFEN AND ABBY! Glad everyone came through safely. Now the fun begins.

Sounds like it wont be long now. Good luck and enjoy!

Kennel cough mutates.. immunity to one strain doesn't guarantee immunity to others Kennel cough is transmitted directly from one dog to the other by air. I've never heard of it having a residual chance of transmission but a person who's touched a dog with the illness might pose a risk. Parvovirus is a whole different ballgame. It can be transmitted on shoes, clothes etc. There is no way I'd have a partially vaccinated dog in a workplace unless people disinfected their hands before touching her. This is what I have been told by my Vet. He says there is little point vaccinating your "average" pet againt KC as there are so many mutations. He recommends it for Dogs that frequent areas where large amounts of dogs attend such as at Shows or Obediance Clubs, trials, or Boarding Kennels etc.

That's lovely news I'm sure it has bouyed your recovery. Hope you're feeling better.

Great news. :D Yes, I'm so glad I didn't 'panic' and refuse the puppy to them. They are very good people and she is in a loving home, so alls well that ends well.

The German Shepherd is out in the back...let them try to seal him. They'd soon bring him back LOL The older Cavalier girls are now trustworthy to be left in the family room which has a puppy gate and the 6 month old gets put in a puppy pen.

Each to their own but I would be wary of giving a toy breed a wing at 5 weeks. If they manage to get a bit of bone or skin off with those needle sharp teeth & they start to choke it would be awful. Yeah Toys need Quail or Squab wings LOL

I soaked my Advance dry because the Growth Puppy Food was a bit on the large size compared to some I had in the past (even for small breeds) and they soon moved on to the unsoaked as they got older.

So the sign on the Community Board catches my eye. "Puppies for Sale" and I just make out the black clipart sillouette of what looks like a Schnauzer. So I walk over to read: Toy Poodle Cross Shit zu puppies for sale. $XXX.00 These puppies are bred from loving family pets. Wormed, vaccinnated, Vet checked radda radda But what made my eyes go wide was... One black and tan male looks like a Miniature Rottweiller! Based on the colour markings?? Not a miniature woolly Kelpie then?? And nothing to do with Schnauzers either??

I think the most important thing is to ensure buyers understand that any changes they make should be done.....g r a d u a l l y! Or they will have to deal with an upset tummy. Even if they feel the change is for the better new food should still be introduced slowly.

She has only had a C3 at this stage. I thought that they only got the KC vaccine on the third visit????

Little Brag. My girl got 1st. Intermediate. Bitch Challenge and then RUBOB followed by Intermediate in Group.

Very exciting time for you! Sure you'll both do fine. Oh and totally unconnected but her photos are awesome! But not knowing much about the discipline she does, why is there a lead attached to her?