lappiemum

Hi Kepala-ites- some pics from the weekend - apologies if I have posted any of these already!! typical Kepala play! (thats Tasha under that pile - but don't worry, she dishes it out just as well!!)

I got Ziva cuddles today - and Casey and Caber - so I guess you'll just have to make me the straitup borders fanclub!LOL

Ok, its late and I'll post more up tomorrow, but here are some of the ones I like best!

hmmmm ....uploading 88mb to photobucket...this may take some time (and yes, thats after I did a lot of culling!!!). Pointees, I will apologise in advance as I don't know all the names of the pointers today, so I'll just have them all as a big group - but if you want any (really, if anyone wants any) just pm me and let me know. Mind you, at this rate its going to be a while before we get there!

Thats ok Evolving - when you get another Lappie you'll get to experience extreme lappie sports.....! They seem to think that the only way that lappies should play is at full throttle, with as much body contact as possible....!LOL

Hi Cat - yep, she's a Lappie. Fab photos everyone - am yet to see the ones we took, Steve is hogging the big computer (again) - hopefully I'll be able to kick him off later and get on!

GO ZIVA!! Fantastic result SP - am looking forward to all those bubblies on Monday!!! - and its definately your shout!!!

What was wrong???

Good luck Fran! The stand should be ok, with more practice. Each puppy will have some 'issue' - and at any given time! When they are puppies you just have to grit your teeth and keep going!

You must be President of Casey's cheer squad LOL. Thanks, guys!! Was a great day, her 2nd baby in show award Not bad for a little brown dog!!There is certainly something special about my girl Reserve Bitch/RUBOB - Craigend Elsinore Thats ok - I'm just living vicariously through you and Casey....

Have just heard from Spikespuppy - her homebred baby girl Casey just took out Baby Puppy in Group, and the BABY PUPPY IN SHOW!! - Another Fringey for the wall - go Casey!! :D

Hi poodlelovergirl2010- I think you really do need to go to a show and see what happens there. You can also do classes - either at Bulla or KCC Park, whichever is close to you, where you can learn the basics of what we call ringcraft. You will need a pedigree, mains registered dog to show (that is an entire pedigree dog of a recognised breed, that may be used for breeding and for showing), you will also need to be a member of the Victorian Canine Association (VCA). If you don't have your own dog, you may be able to find a showie who is willing to mentor you and learn as a general handler (usually handlers start as junior handlers, but not always). However, to practice you will need access to a suitable dog - preferably one that is a bit older and is familar and comfortable with the ring. If you have your own dog, you will need the support of your breeder - they will place the dog on the mains register and a good breeder will give you advice and help with your showing ambitions.

I love that story!

Lappies love Ivy - I've told them all about her and Bear thinks she's preety good looking! LOL

i'd also advise that you come to a show (if you haven't done so before). There are lots of people here on DOL that show, you can arrange to meet them and get some advice and tips in person

Hi Colliehound- a) what breed you have Finnish Lapphunds (3) b) what special needs your breed has (eg working, terrier, sporting dog) Working dog, and spitz(es) ;) c) what 'enrichment strategies' you have to prevent boredom, destruction etc? Our dogs are part of the family, so there is constant interaction between us and them as well as between each other. We crate at night, but other than that they have free run when we are home and the rear of the house and yard when we are out. We walk them daily (although we may miss a day or two in the winter months!), they get lots of toys/bones etc, and I will give them food orientated tasks - fav at the moment is to put a handful of kibble in toilet rolls, taper/fold up the ends and hide them around the place. Thats a good game, apparently! We show regularly and do dog orientated social outings like Kepala or going down to the local cafe (cafe trips are usually one dog at a time, just because you never know what can happen out in public - our dogs are fine, but sometimes you have situations where there is another dog who isn't!). I don't like dog parks, as my dogs have been gone at by other dogs who are off leash and not controlled, however, we will go out to beaches etc and do leashed walks. We spend a lot of one on one time with them, and we haven't have any jealousy issues or problems. If we go on holidays they come with us. They are still young though, so will occassionaly do things like steal a toilet roll and shred it, or my stockings (!), but I would class that more as puppy fun rather than wanton destruction. Generally though, they are very easy going and good dogs. We'll be adding to our pack sometime soonish to make 4, but after that I think we're going to have to move house!

and don't forget the big head bit.

Once upon a time, if you had an accidental cross bred litter, the off spring were offered up for either free or very low cost. It astounds me that people will pay thousands of dollars for a so-called designer mutt - when I was growing up they were called (affectionately in my place!) mongrels and no-one would have dreamed asking such ridiculous sums of money.

Hey Ho hayley - welcome to the world of DOL! I have three Finnish Lapphunds, will be adding to that sometime soon My family had corgies (my mum bred cardies) - my grandparents had daschies (my grand dad still has one!) . When I left home I got a good farm kelpie x bc - she was sooooo smart! Loved my girl. My husband (now ex, but we're still good friends!) got a cattle dog x - from a pet shop.... had both of these dogs for many years, my kelpie outlived the cattle dog x (he died from complications from diabeties....was rather awful). After all that, I said to my now DH that our next babies were def going to be pedigree cause I want to know what we're getting...! And I could never get another kelpie, cause my old girl had been so special We did lots and lots of resseach, came across Finnish Lapphunds and were sold. I have to say, we are totally dedicated to our breed, we're a Lappie family! They is the cuddliest, most people orientated breed I have ever had (they are esp fascinated by kids), and they are really our babies! And while they are very much a spitz breed, they aren't as full on as other spitzes - and all they want to do is to be with you! So we shall be Lappie people for many years to come!

12 months is fine. If you've ever had kids, you'll know what its like to get told all sorts of things by everyone who is an instant expert. Take on board their advice but go with your gut instincts. He's a boy so you don't have to worry about seasons, and 12 months is the min time I would say for a dog to mature (mine is 2 years but is still maturing). If your vet gives you trouble tell them to get a life. If they insist on being painful, get a new vet.

What's wrong with Peta? I thought they're doing a good deed overall. Perhaps I should google them and see why they appear to be disliked. No, they don't. Do a search here on DOL and you will fnd a lot of references to what they have done. In short, however, they are a loopy, publicity seeking group of propaganderists who believe that dogs should be allowed to run free in the 'wild' and that their ultimate goal is for humanity to die out completely. Just slightly nihilistic. More importantly, they have appalling PTS stats on animals surrendered to them.

Actually, long double coated breeds tend to shed only twice a year - the rest of the time you will see almost no dog hair.

Not at all I appreciate being able to learn from experienced breeders. I Literally want to know everything I can about the breed. thats a good thing Esky! its important to do your research and make sure that you know as much as possible before hand

Hey Ho Esky- Generally speaking, you would use dogs that are below the breed average, which is 12. Be aware though, that we don't know all the factors that can lead to hip dysplaisa - some are environmental, some may be related to over exercise and diet, and others are genetic - but we don't know all the genetic factors either. What I am saying is you may have two dogs with low hip scores throw a litter where there is a pup (or more) with a high hip score. You may have a high hip scored dog breed consistently low scoring littters. You may have several litters from a pairing, and all fine except for one puppy. So while breeders would select for low hip scores you need to be aware that there is no 100% guarantee. If you want to know more about the actual methods of scoring let me know.