kinsella

To me, the one true defining characteristic of a puppy farmer is the short-sightedness ie they are not breeding to improve the breed or replace their own dogs but as a cash crop. They deal in "now" whereas every decent breeder I know is generally looking three generations or more to the future and planning on the strengthening of their lines and improving the quality of their dogs.

Some favourites of Oliver & Humphrey

I'm pleased someone is enjoying this, I'm running out of paper bags.

My first wolfhound had Strangles and it was frightening. Following the vet's advice and antibiotics etc, it cleared up in about a month. He had lost all the hair on his face and ears and looked a mess but he healed with no scarring at all. As bad as it seems now, labkisses, in 3 months you'll never know your puppy was affected. Sending healing thoughts and all that stuff.

After a full weekend last week - 3 days - and the week before -2 days - I've just checked and I don't have a show until 3rd July. OMG, I know it's end of financial year and my desk is a foot deep in work to be done BUT I won't be at a show for weeks! < Breathing into paper bag> It's OK, there's show training on Wednesday night, so I won't be totally lost. What has happened to me?

In a word, YES!!! My favourite sulk was from a one eyed wolfhound. I can't remember why I roused at him but he'd done something stupid. As he was coming through the gate, he wouldn't look at me so I turned his face to me and the sodding thing shut his eye so he couldn't see me. I don't think I have ever felt so irrelevant in my life.

Good idea in carrying the large umbrella. I used to carry a riding crop, lighter than a brolly and better reach. Worked wonders.

Reading all these posts reminded me why we went bush. I've had 2 wolfhounds attacked in public places, both in lead free parks. First was an aggro Golden with an owner whose house backed onto the park. Her idea of exercising the dog was to open the back gate and go inside for a coffee. The second was by a young gentleman (yes, I use the term loosely) who wanted to see if his mastiff/rotti x could "take down" an Irish Wolfhound. It's frightening the knuckle-dragging troglodytes tyhat are out there with their dogs. I now live 45 klms out of town and my nearest neighbour is 1 1/2 klms away. Not paranoid but they are still too close.

Hey, Elkie 1, has the thrill worn off yet? Or are you pinching yourself to check it's real? Congrats again to all of you, I'm still smiling.

I guess I can do without a prize and it is a smell I'll never forget anyway. My older hound, Tigger, had chronic gastric problems for years - the end result being chronic anal gland issues. When the stools aren't firm enough, the glands don't express properly and impact and infect. The solution for Tigs was Hills z/d ultra prescription diet. We found he doesn't tolerate beef, lamb or chicken. No runs=no anal gland issues. Maybe your girl just needs more roughage in her diet to bulk up the stools. Good luck, it really is a miserable thing for a dog.

I'd been checking all afternoon after getting home and there hadn't been any results. I went to sleep in front of the tele and came in to check and YAHOO, Elkie 1 on a lovely win!!!!!! Exciting day watching some really lovely dogs, SSm's beautiful boy with his ABIG win and Elkie 1 with BIG. Congratulations to all. :rofl:

Well done, Magic. Nice day. While I don't know a lot about Gundogs, the Gordon is stunning. You keep good company, BMP & Magic!

OK, I was first. What do I win???? Oh, let me guess, you'll give me your multi coloured shirt so I can share the er, um, aroma. Do you want to share, stormie? I try not to be greedy.

My Tigger was in a fashion shoot for Sunday life. 7 hours for 4 photos. Must try to find them. It was fore winter clothes and was shot in early Feb. Poor model was told to "look cold". It was 32 degrees.

You have to love the geriatric delinquents! They are so special. My first wolfhound became very sinful in his last couple of years and it was just magic. He would steal the TV remote and hide it under his bed. He stole soothers and ate them and used to burp blackcurrant in your face and poo out little bits of chewed up foil. He would ignore me when I called him just to have me go to him and shake my fist in his face and tell him he was a naughty old turd of a dog. I'd give him great big ear rubs while I told him how sinful he was and he would groan with pleasure and agree that he was a fat, sinful old fart of a dog. Enjoy this time, it is what makes you smile years later when you remember just how lucky you were to have this wonderful dog.

Hi IW4ME, this might also come down to a dogs individual temp/personality too. I have an entire Aussie terrier & he is never stroppy bitter or twisted, he is always happy,sweet & cuddly & never shows any sign of dominance even when he is around other entire males. To the op, please don't feel guilty, I'm sure your pup won't hold any grudges, & will recover quite quickly. Hi Baileys Mum, There's probably something in what you've said and I shouldn't generalise. Our first Aussie was from a byb (let's not go there) and I knew nothing of what was behind him. Oliver, on the other hand, has an impeccable pedigree and has lived up to and exceeded expectations. Who knows how he would have been as an entire male but we had no intentions of showing or breeding so neutering was the logical step. I also run 2 - 4 entire IW males at times but they tend to have the sex drive of a gnat. No offence intended

Would AI be easier than a live mating interstate? Or more trouble? I've only ever been the dog side of any breeding (apart from small bursts of puppy sitting) and just curious.

Looks like an infected anal gland to me. Painful. Hopefully your vet will have her sorted quickly. Good luck to both of you.

I know these are really stupid questions but I couldnt find answers anywhere on the net. I think the only silly questions are the ones you don't ask. Even the most successful handlers had to start somewhere and I think you'll find most people try to help newcomers.

There is another benefit with neutering some males and that is the lessening of dominance issues. Terriers can be stroppy little so and so's and our first Aussie wasn't neutered until he was 2 1/2. It made some difference but he was always a little bitter & twisted. Oliver, our new Aussie, was done around 6 months and he has kept his sweet puppy nature. He's grown up without feelong he has anything to prove. Oh, both recovered very quickly - within 24 hours.

Well, thanks heaps for the spew alert, SSM. And it's a new keyboard too. I'm sorry you won't be over on Monday, Daisy. Unless you have some rope and handcuffs....

With some of the sighthound people heading off to sunny QLD, who will be at Exhibition Park in the brisk ACT Winter weather?

zhumphrey & I will be there for my ritual humiliation in the ring. Thank heavens this precious stage doesn't last forever. It just seems as though it does. Tara & I are staying in a cabin Saturday night. Should be good and the weather looks reasonable.

Ah, Alyosha, those sighthound eyes will speak volumes. I saw Diva's lovely Borzois at Junee and while Jaz is a delight, I could steal Arwen. Oh those eyes!

I don't know if dogs are more intelligent than people but I'm sure they are smarter. There is an honesty in dogs - good & bad- that is easier to understand than the convoluted society humans have created.