RallyValley

Also will it be worth it if something goes worse this time and yu loose your bitch. Did you keep a pup from the last litter? Did any go to competetion/show homes or are they all pets?

What are the bitch's hip and elbow scores? What is your prefix? What traits do you want to pass on from you bitch and what do you want in a sire?

I've hit a bump in the road with Toby's stand training (as in I have no idea what to do... he is very spaically sensitive and reacts badly when I try do kick back stands.) so I have been training the dumbbell retrieve. We are using Shirley's method and we are up to the part where you start moving the dumbbell further from the dog. Very proud of Toby and a goos exercise in shaping. Will post a video of course when we are doing a proper retrieve.

Everyone can't say "not my breed". But facts are that the notion that a dog, by virtue of its purebred status alone, is automatically prone to inherited health issues is simply untrue. And anyone who doesn't resist that notion plays right into the hands of those who'd see purebred dogs become extinct. Ok I see the point you are making and agree 100% (I misunderstood before). I would say it is less likely on the whole for a purebred to have health issues given most breeders think about sire and dam combinations, health test, don't breed from bad examples of the breed ect. Whereas a dog of unknown heritage could be a father daughter mating from HD and PRA effected dogs and you would never know because you have no idea of the dogs background. I offer as evidence my old bitch that was so mongrel a BITSA test couldn't even make upidentify one breed that was PTS aged 12 because of her HD that got proressively worse as she aged. I also have a Kelpie x with an very timid temprament and allergies.

And a rather confusing thought. I hate this "all pure breeds have issues" crap. And it IS crap. What inheritable conditions do Whippets have? Where are the legions of this breed that suffer from inherited health problems and cost their owners a motza in health bills?? Beats the hell out of me. Why ARE poodles so long lived if they are plagued by health issues??? I hate generalisations when they are inaccurate. The idea that all breeders should "own up" to the notion that the dogs they breed are walking congenital disaster areas is a nonsense. And the sooner people stop lumping all breeds together on this issue, the better. Ok, well you tell them to not do that, to leave the poodles and the whippets in the kennel club alone. Certainly we can say 'Not in my breed'. We will see if that helps to solve the problem. I see both viewpoints. If everyone says 'not my breed' and points the finger we are divided and not as strong. However as poodlefan says there are many breeds out there with relatively few genetic issues in comparison to what other breeds face, some breeds do need to be made accountable for what they have done to exaggerate or change features so much. I can bet that the original creators of these breeds never wanted that as the outcome. So why should breeders of the healthier breeds cop the flack for this too?

Sorry to hear about Buddy Rach, hope he is ok!

Week 26 - Toby playing in the lake

Yay Amypie! Welcome home! Zora will be in ACWA puppy classes next term so plenty of time for puppy cuddles socialization.

Yep a little Brittany bitch to join 52 weeks ;) She arrives Sunday.

I wouldn't call them the same name but would use a nickname I called a dog. For e.g Lilly's nickname was China (no idea why.. my dad started calling her that when I was very little) and I think my parents would call a future dog China to honour Lilly's memory. I don't even like if my dog has the same name as another dog I know of, let alone one I have owned

Again a two week catch up in uploading. This week I will have 2 52 week photos to submit as I am starting 52 weeks with another dog. Week 24 Week 25

Awwwww, isn't it so cute and amazing to see the pups pointing. One of the first dogs I ever saw point was my Flynn as an eight week old pup, I was absolutely amazed. It alsoe sealed my decision between the two pups I was picking from. A couple more pics from training on Saturday, your classic point pose Gosh Polo just looks so handsome on point Yes it was an amazing moment, especially as she is likely to be Zora's future training buddy. Zora arrives Sunday! I am so excited, I was doing some bumper retrieves with Toby, like when you throw two out, send them to the first one then the second. My poor kelpie When I get a gundog he won't have to do retrieveing drills anymore.

Huge Congratulations!

Well done! What a champion family :D Yesterday were doing some ability testing with a litter of Weimeraner pups, most of the litter froze and stalked and froze on the wing and one very special pup did a proper leg up point! Very adorable! Well done mollipop!

What, even when the attacking dog has a muzzle on? Or am I confusing the function of a muzzle with something else? Muzzles can come off. Damage can still be done with a muzzle on too. Imagine someone hitting metal/hard plastic on your face.

Happy Birthday Mirawee!

Going to the Dockers game on Saturday!!! I am running Ruby in open Jumping Saturday afternoon

What a great idea Mrs Rusty Bucket :thumbsup: Now how do we put this suggestion to the committees that are looking at why obedience trials are dieing ;) Just send us the schedule when you have ti organised - or alternatively - organise a training camp there A message in a bottle? (hic)

Not until next Friday. I need the money too much to be sick Sunday penalties are awesome ;)

So after what feels like an ages wait Zora arrives next Sunday!! It now seems too soon! Plus I will be at work when she arrives and have to wait three hours to get home and meet her.

Goodluck Scoota and Brookie!!! I am sure you will do us proud. YAY Soggy! And happy birthday nanna too. So excited to see the pups! Can't wait especially to do the swimming test.

I have this (as an ebook) and will be using her method when my new pup arrives. It's pretty common sense and is specially made for pups in the way they build things up slowly: http://www.dogwise.com/ItemDetails.cfm?ID=DSH166EBK With my last pup I clicker trained people looking at his teeth, holding the chin - click and treat then progressing to touching the lip, lifting the lip ect always clicking when he was calm and not squirmy/bitey. Once he was letting me look at teeth I started saying the word teeth when I did it, then started the whole process again with other people doing it until they built up to teeth.

Are you getting a Brittany or a Lab?! (you look good handling a Lab ;)) Hmm well they are all gundogs ;) Just for you RS (but in spolier brackets so as not to clog up the thread) here are some Brittany Pro's vs Con's clips from Youtube

My Britt should be quite little She should only be around 3 months when your parents pup comes home, here is some 12 week old Brittany pup pictures, purely for you to judge sizes. ;) PURELY FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY- ALL PICS FROM GOOGLE IMAGES.. And what I suspect my pup will be like (The breeder is using words like bouncy/lively/spunky to describe her so I expect she will be feral )

Yeah Toby snoozed the whole way home and is still asleep. It's nice for him to have doggy friends I will be setting up lots of play dates when Zora comes home for people and pup socialization.