LizT

My OH never had small dogs before and always calls the Blenheim Cavaliers "Puss"! My youngest daughter found this highly irritating, but I just find it amusing. ;) Although now I have a Tri-colour he refers to her as "his border collie pup"... :D (a breed he has owned in the past) Yes, dear our very own miniature floppy eared Border Collie! All in fun and terms of endearment but seriously...... He took the cake last week when he was talking to our Jersey Cow... and scruffed her behind the ears and called her Pup! Time to get the toddler animal picture book out I think.

I've seen behaviour of that nature from adults in all kinds of places - ask anyone who's ever worked in a service industry. The only behaviour we have any real control over is our own. You can expect all you like but some folk will invariably disappoint. I dont' see why we should let them ruin our enjoyment of what can be a very pleasant hobby. We can tut tut and shake our heads all we like - it won't make some folk behave and I'm dammed if I'm going to retreat and leave the field to them. You're not wrong there ...my 18 year old daughter recently began a part-time job in a Hotel (Pub) kitchen and she says the head Chef is forever throwing a tantrum and usually the gravy boat along with it!!

Right of refusal is the right of every stud owner for whatever reasons are applicable to you. Nice to know it doesn't just take a wad of money for someone to get to the stud of their choice! This is particulary comforting as I trawl through potential studs wondering which would best suit my girl. While getting input from her breeder is of great value to me I would also hope that any potential Studs owner would also give me their thoughts and reasoning either way, even if for..or against.

So basically because those that follow breed specs realise that a black nose isn't going to happen so don't bother with the blues, making it the domain of those who see an opportunity to cash in having $$$$ in their eyes. I find it interesting as I had/have two lilac Burmese (a father and daughter) still have dad, the lilac is a dilute of Blue. They came from a mix colour mating however and are beeeuuutiful animals. Although...they did both arrive with ringworm and bald ears. The breeder telling me she had used a flea kill solution at too strong a mix and had burnt the ears. That may be, but my vet diagnosed ringworm as the cause of hair loss. Once treated it cleared up quickly and the hair regrew. Never had any skin problems since, 16 years on.

I so agree. You don't have to be "hard' to take it on your chin. Have we meet?

It's not only an issue with Backyard breeders, but also an issue with ANKC registered breeders who are choosing to breed blue to blue, knowing that the pups they are producing are not conforming to the breed standard and will never do the breed any justice. Just wondering, apart from not having black noses (and the obvious risk of skin problems that have been highlighted ) why blues seem to not be good examples, conformation wise of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier??

I was thinking the same thing. I have a little Greyfriars Bobby that someone brought back from holidays for me. At least Bobby had the village to look after him. I hope someone can care for this poor loyal dog.

What is the answer then? I'm not trying to be funny, it's a serious question. How would you stop people being rude? I found people aren't rude for long if you smile, take what they say on board and just get on with what you enjoy doing...showing dogs. Albeit some are happier when you're losing than when you're winning! There are some people out there who don't lose often and when they do it's not pretty. Sometimes they could use a bit of humble pie. But on the other hand a newcomer who starts out winning can be in for a bit of a let down when they find they don't always win. I think you have to deal with this type of thing in the same way you deal with other aspects of your life. None of us live in a cocoon.

My dogs are wondering why we went for a drive in the torrential rain??? Got there just as they were putting up the Show Cancelled Sign!! Just glad to be back home safe n sound. OH is outside now trying to re route rivers!

Sally deserves a commendation from the Police for her efforts!!

why ? if one of my family went out and purchased a blue pup, they'd certainly be subject to what I thought. followed by not to bother to come to me when poo hits the fan, because they have been warned. RSG as a SBT person it would be very remiss of you NOT to say something. For the average layman, dealing with "family" and not having all the relevant information at hand it can be dangerous waters indeed. Since the sisters Fiance has already purchased the puppy I would simply also say "beautiful Puppy" and at some point advise them to be observant of possible skin problems so that the dog does not have to suffer unnecesarily due to lack of information.

Just mulling this one over as I think the meaning has many different interpretations. Is it...... An ANKC Registered Bitch A bitch that falls in line with your breeding "type" and program A bitch that is "pleasing to your eye" and meets "your approval" A bitch that is Titled Or something else entirely?

Surely it can't be the first in Sydney!!! I thought that there would be a number of NO KILL Pounds already or is that only in the suburban areas and therefore not counted as Sydney?

Then there are those that are seized or surrendered directly to a Breed Rescue and fostered. Never steping foot, err sorry paw into a Shelter or Pound. What's the figure on those?

You mention that you had the puppy diagnose with LP at 15 weeks and that he is now 9 months old. I guess 3 months isn't long to wait but if it's eating at you now why not take him to a different vet for a quick check to see if it's easily diagnsosed now???

Oh baykinz ... you've just brought back a horrible memory. When I was a little kid, I was out riding my bike when the street's savage German Shepherd (he had bitten several people before) knocked me off my bike and bit my thigh. Legs all bloody from the fall and the bite, I went racing down the road screaming my head off with the dog behind me - just as I got to my front yard, the aggressive maltese across the road joined in and bit me on the ankle before I managed to get inside the house! The story sounds funny now, but at the time it was very traumatic for Mini Koala ... Especially as I had to have tetanus shots that same morning That's terrible I hope those dogs owners were delt with. As the owner of both large and small dogs over the years I always expected the same social behaviour and manners from all my dogs. A dog is a dog and needs to be educated equally.

My heart really went out to that poor man. As a sleep deprived shiftworker I know what sleep depravation looks like. I'm sure he has some very frayed nerves. Just wanted to give him a big hug. He needs to expand his practice, get some more vets there and...no offence..he needs to get a life. I'm sure he'd agree based on some of his body language and comments. Great show....great talent.

My girls would hold still to have teeth checked (as in Judge checking at Shows) or Vet checking them or cleaned by me but I doubt they would hold still if panicked by chocking. That said I remember camping once where a campers dog had a large stick stuck in his teeth /mouth and was panicked but the owner was able to hold him while I dislodged the stick. It wasn't easy and he was a good boy about it. That's why we shouldn't allow our dogs to chew sticks.

Oh poor Lovemesideways!! You and your arm are heroes! I was told by a trainer many years ago at Obedience Club that a tennis ball is the GSD's worst enemy. He went on to tell me that the Kong was designed not so much as a treat holder as a ball that was not a choking hazard as air can flow through it. Ricky was very Lucky that you acted so quickly. Hope you are not too uncomfortable.

What is it that makes people think a baby belly is public domain??!!! With Sniper it's a Catch 22, you feel you need to desensitise him by giving him more exposure but really, why should he have to put up with this?? Maybe you can get some help with a dog club and have random members to come up and generally just 'touch' him?? I've seen this done before? Of course it has to be gradual and done carefully over a period of time and not just on the one day.

It will be a tight squeeze. I hope people think about what they bring and why. I get a bit surprised when I see people setting up dog pens beside their trolleys indoors????

Must admit I'm surprised she is trying to sell off her dogs for top $$$. Still being ruled by the $$$$$$ when soon enough they could be seized if I'm following this story right???

Sigh, people do judge dogs so very quickly. erinonthefarm, I feel you with the puppy thing! I've put alot of time into desensitising my pup from sudden people-movements (like the infamous SHP or Sudden Head Pat!) No matter how much people are told not to stick their hands onto a dogs head/face, they still do it! And often in a very unexpected manner as they walk past the dog! It can take quite a lot of time to get the dogs to the point of actually enjoying the SHP's so it's no wonder some dogs get caught off guard. That's so true. Even though 99.9% of the kids at my youngests Primary School actually ASK "May I pat your dog"? the majority go for the top of the head and always need to be shown the correct way. I guess if you're going to run a program about not pating a dog until getting the okay from it's owner you should add some behavioural information too. An interesting note though is the adults rarely ask permission to pat!

yes i have a look that makes all children behave. my daughter is grown now and will gleefully tell tales of what that look does even to strange children who are behaving badly in public....and i never utter a word it is a gift ;) ;) ;) I too have always done 'the look'.. and it worked very well. Now they are much taller than me and adults.. I get " MUm! are you doing the look??' together with laughter .. I would get in trouble working in a school when a child did or was about to do something NAUGHTY and I'd be on auto and go ARGHH! (like I do with the dogs to stop them in their tracks.. ) I dont see anything wrong with it? ;) but apparantly..... you are meant to quietly ASK the dear little child to leave the rock there and please don't throw it at Johnny again because... .... :rofl: me too monah a good oi or aargh!!! goes a long way. my daughter says to me now "are you giving me the look?" i have friends with twins and they always want me to look after them cause they go home in a good mood and really well behaved....and the kids always want to visit me.... kids feel so much safer when they know the boundaries. i feel sorry for kids that don't have them how on earth do they know what to rebel against This is so true of both kids and dogs. BOTH are looking to the Pack Leader for cues and directives. Without this they are confused and frightened.

Okay so the other night Peter Overton was talking to a bloke whose beautiful GSD was standing on the back of his ute on the Bruce Highway and he asks the man "Who's this good looking bloke next to you"? "Is he friendly"? Yeah, he's friendly was the reply". "I'll take your word for it" says Overton. Way to incite breed fear. Then this morning on the TODAY Karl Stefanovic is walking along the street talking about damage and there's this lovely GSD tied by his leash to a pole patiently waiting for his "person". Dog is sitting quetly as Karl walks by, very well mannered and Karl says "Good morning young fella" as he walks by and leans forward with arm outstretched as if to pat the dog, rethinks his action and states "I'm not going to pat you"! The tone in his voice suggesting that this is a potential savage dog and he could get bitten. So much effort is spent trying to educate children not to touch ANY dog without the owners persmission and to ALWAYS ask "May I pat your dog"? It's a pre-school mantra. Karl is such a nuff-nuff around dogs. I wouldn't even pat a Cavalier tied up without permission. He made it look so breed specific.