The Ark

Here are some pictures of our two breeds. We are lucky (or silly) enough to have a litter of each breed here at the moment. I moved both litters out into our living area today, and popped the min pins briefly in with the Aussies while I moved their bed.

I'm not really expecting a reply as I'm sure they are convinced that they are right, and all reputable breeders are elitist, money-hungry snobs. :D It breaks my heart that people still think this is okay - the message just isn't getting through. And I know there are a hundred threads regarding this, but I just had to vent. I am going to be lucky to find homes for any of these little guys as I will be so suspicious of anyone.

I received this enquiry for one of my puppies: Dear xxxx, My name is xxxx xxxx and i found your information on DOGZ ONLINE.COM.AU and saw that you have a xxxxx available. I have currently a male xxxxx thats 7months old and would love a female for him. I was wondering how much are your pups. Yes my dog is registered with Dogs NSW and we have a reasonable backyard. Actually our pup is very quite spoilt as we take him everywhere cept the shops. I hope you can help us in getting a female as we've gone through almost most breeders. The one's I have contacted are show breeders and quite too precisely for us and we only after a house female companion for our male pup. Thank you for your time. So I said "sorry but you have contacted another show breeder", and proceeded to tell her why people show dogs and breed dogs carefully. The reply: Thank you for the heaps of info and we're sorry to hear that you are a show breeder as our male is not yet desexed as we're still deciding on that issue. We've had a demand for puppies from friends but unfortunately xxxxx are a rare breed to find in pet shops. We love our pet dog too but only accidentally stumbled across him in a pet shop in xxxxx. Not to worry my husband will keep trying as this second pet is for me as a birthday present. The male pup was my daughter's birthday present. We did consider in buying a xxxxx but fell in love with a xxxxx instead and i understand why. Thank you for your reply and i hope we can find a mate for our male pup. My reply: "Oh boy! I’m sorry to hear that your boy came from a pet shop as no puppy should EVER be bought from a pet shop. No decent breeder would EVER supply a pet shop with a puppy. Sadly, you have probably supported a puppy farmer by buying that pup! Did you see what conditions his mum and dad lived in? Were they happy and healthy? Unfortunately, this is why you are unlikely to find a responsible breeder who will let you have one of their pups. Breeding should only ever be done with the goal of improving the breed and producing the best and healthiest specimens of the breed. And well-bred, healthy, well-socialised pups from a reputable breeder make good pets. The reason we show dogs is to have them assessed according to their breed standard to ensure that the breed remains true to type and to minimise health problems. We want even our “pet” quality pups to be of the best quality and temperament and in the best of health. Sorry we couldn’t help you, but I would urge you to weigh up the real cost of getting another dog from a pet shop." Why is there a Dogs NSW registered pup being sold from the pet shop in the first place? (If indeed it is registered) I am still shaking with rage here......

Here's my version of your scenario 1: 11 month pup injures tail - no need to amputate, it's hanging by a thread of skin. Lots of blood (tail injuries bleed profusely), pain & antibiotics later, what's left of tail starts to heal. Weeks later, he knocks his healing stump - more bleeding, more antibiotics - repeat twice more. Eventually it does completely heal - but it's far from all being well. This little guy now gets very anxious & aggressive if anyone touches him anywhere near his rear end & don't even think about touching the stump. It's not just their physical well-being a severe tail injury affects - the fright and longer term pain of the injury does just as much, if not more damage We've had this scenario recently with an 8yo greyhound, obviously not a breed that has traditionally been docked. Much blood and pain - however our vet saw sense and amputated and she is now on the mend. I'm happy for docked breeds to be docked in a humane manner (I know some people believe there is no humane way to do it), but tail injury doesn't fly very well as the only reason to do so when there are so many other breeds (sighthounds, etc) that have never been docked and are SO prone to tail injuries - much more so than some of the breeds traditionally docked.

What a beautiful thread! Colour the greyhound - "so relaxed my tongue is stuck to the lounge and I can't be bothered pulling it back in...." Sheer joy on the faces of our two Aussie boys. I love Aussie eyes!

What will you be showing? Jess - Poor Leo - I hope he feels much better after a big sleep TA - Sounds like your little one is a fighter. If she puts on a bit more weight will she be able to feed from Mum again? Parrotpea - Little Bear is still with her mum all the time except when I'm feeding her, but I'm not sure how much she is getting from her. She just seems to have a bit of an attachment issue - she's keen as mustard, but is very easily dislodged by her boofy siblings, or if Ginger moves a bit. At least she's getting the warmth and toileting and socialisation she needs there, and hopefully a bit of a suckle now and then. She is a tough little cookie. I just finished feeding her now and she is at her heaviest yet - 221g!!!

Glad our big pug is doing well (if acting a little strange!). I bet he's having a nice sleep now. The little one needs to be fed because she was losing weight from birth. She was 175g born (the others were 200g) and she slipped to around 147g in the couple of days after that so I took her to the vets, gave her some fluids under the skin and started bottle feeding her. She's now over 200g so she's doing okay - mind you the others are now 317g and 417g!!

Very cute, parrotpea! Good luck with your first shows :D

Jess - I am a DOL and Facebook addict, so I can always make time. The babies are all doing well. I'm bottlefeeding one of the min pins, but she's coming along okay too. parrotpea - Congratulations on getting your first show puppy! What breed is she? You'll have a great time showing - just hang out with the people who enjoy it and you'll be fine.

Awwww, bye-bye Leo's testicles. He'll be fine, Jess - and still eligible for neuter classes! :D Good luck big puggie.

Congratulations ophnbark, nedsur and zzz Top on your new additions. Our min pin girl, Ginger, safely delivered 3 puppies last Monday between 1.30am and 3.30am. I made it halfway along our street on the way to the vet at about 2am because she'd been trying for quite a while to deliver the first monster pup, but I heard her eating the placenta on her bed on the front seat so we turned around and went home again (after ringing the vet and letting her go back to bed). The 2nd puppy born has been struggling a bit so I've been bottle-feeding her. She was 175g born, dropped to a low of 147g and is now back up over 200g today so I think she'll be okay. Here's a couple of pictures of her. She's the first one to be named - Little Bear - because she looks so much like a tiny bear cub, and her dad's nickname is Chester Bear. I was planning an astronomical litter theme (dad is Silverino Moon Rocket) and there is actually a constellation called Little Bear so it looks like that might be her registered name too. :D

How bizarre! I had to read it twice to work out what had happened (I'm a bit slow tonight ) but oh my goodness - what a weirdo!

That's true, Skye2, and that's the way I intend to go forward with our own dogs. Bobtails would be nice, but it's the rest of the dog that counts.

I also show tailed dogs in a traditionally docked/natural bobtailed breed. It's a hard slog - but so rewarding when your tailed dog is recognised for its merits despite the fluffy thing hanging off its backside. In our breed, the danger of trying to breed natural bobs is that they are not all going to be nice, tidy tails of less than 4 inches as per the standard (or what it used to be). You end up with short tails, 1/2 tails, 3/4 tails and if you are doing the right thing then you can be stuck with an odd-length tail. Ironically, whilst I don't seem to be able to breed Aussie Shepherds with nice short tails we now have a docked greyhound at home due to a major tail injury that had to be fixed. If ever there was a breed that could be docked for health reasons you would think it would be greyhounds!

I love the versatility of our Aussie Shepherds - they love having fun, whether it's at obedience, a show, or just hooning around the paddock. They are very affectionate and like to please. I love the air of peace that surrounds the greyhounds - with their big, liquid brown eyes and their ever-wagging tails they are a little island of sanity in what is a very busy household. I love the self-assurance and carriage of the mini pinschers - and their portability. They are very easy to house and move around. I do NOT like their barking tendencies. I love the sheer size and magnificence of my Maremma Sheepdog girl. She is such a soft, loving girl and it's nice to have the security of a big breed around the house.

China is a very affectionate, cuddly greyhound (not a foster failure, not a foster failure.....) as is my Colour. Both will approach us regularly (sometimes constantly) for cuddles - that is, when they can be bothered getting off the lounge. They both also love toys and running about too. Example of China with children: If greyhounds aren't really what your looking for, what about a Hungarian Vizsla? The ones I've met are lovely, calm dogs and they suit all your other requirements. (Disclaimer: I don't know a whole lot about their general energy levels, just the ones I've met).

It's a bit like Group time in the toy ring somedays for min pins - people go straight from Maltese to Papillon and miss the stunning little dog in between.

One would assume that "professionally cleaned" would be covered by the normal cleaning staff employed at, say, a caravan/cabin park? We stayed at one place near Port Macquarie which let us have dogs in the cabin, and all they asked was an additional $20 cleaning fee - presumably this was so that their regular "professional cleaners" could spend a bit more time going over it. I think it may well just be a cop-out! :D I understand people not wanting pets inside, but just be honest about the reasons and don't quote some vague "regulations".

I think sometimes we need to be honest and admit that a dog may be better off elsewhere. Often it is no-one's fault. Dogs don't hold onto attachments like we do, and if the next place they go offers them more attention, more walks, more fun - for whatever reason - then they are better off. As long as rehoming is done with the dog's interests at heart, and all precautions are in place to make sure the next home is a good one, then it can be a win-win situation. Good luck to Ollie in his new home.. :D

Our Aussie Shepherd girl, Vivi, delivered 5 lovely big pups last night - all out and done in just short of 4 hours. We got 4 boys (3 blue merle, 1 black tri) and 1 girl (blue merle). Mum & pups are all doing well this morning.

You might just be right, as they do have the "feel-good" pic of the RSPCA staff cuddling the dogs who are looking for homes. Unfortunately, it still spreads the same crap message. That reporter needs to be put in the mail room where she can't do any more damage.

So happy that the White family managed to get a cheap " but not free" dog. Now they can take it home and not worry about vaccinating it or desexing it (because those vets are ripoff merchants like the RSPCA) and it will cost them hardly anything! When are the newspapers going to get a kick up the arse for running these stories?

I think you have a winner in Disco! It's short, cute but full of energy - pretty much like I'm imagining your gorgeous new boy will be! :D Good on you for being adventurous - I look forward to seeing him around the show rings.

.... and hear them. One of my 8 week old pekin bantam chicks decided to climb up the stay and jump the fence into the front yard last week. I first saw it being carried around in our Aussie Shepherd's mouth, and when she dropped it for me it looked like it was taking its last breath. I kept it inside overnight, and a week later it is now running around with the flock again (and we've fixed the stay problem). Vivi (the Aussie) is our gentlest, most placid dog but I have seen her kill a chicken in the past so our dogs and chickens are not to be trusted together.

Maybe because that was the noise she heard as a puppy when she was doing really naughty stuff like eating chickens.......