Beth.

Thanks for the replies!! Yeah, I was thinking that might be the case - I don't know if it's a pre-existing condition as there is no documentation of it yet - she's 16 weeks old and just at our vaccination she just mentioned that she was a little stiff and something to watch for in the future (there's been no testing or anything yet). It's just that I gave my vet a ring today to discuss a couple things with her and this came up again (a couple times when she's been playing she goes lame in her back leg), and she said to leave it for the next few weeks and xrays will be done when she gets desexed at about 6 months. Thanks again for the replies. Oh, and it's probably nothing and i'm just being overprotective!!!! (thats what i'm hoping anyway!!!)

Hi All!! I was just wondering who out there has pet insurance, and do you think it's worth it?? The vet has some small worries about my girls hips :D which is soooo upsetting me!!! We're really hoping it's nothing, but we're starting to look into it. Anyway, I was wondering, I don't have pet insurance yet, but i'm thinking it's probably going to be a good idea to get some soon.... What's everyones opinions on it???

yay sounds good!! Will be nice to know a face when we start up obedience cya at 2.30 on sat!!!

Hi Everyone... I'm keen for a Sat arvo meeting at Kroll Gardens!! I was there just yesterday, but Lottie wasn't really enjoying the other dogs company, so we jsut went for a nice stroll around the park... Oh some bragging...... So...... Lottie drops from a distance!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm soooooo proud of my smart little girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And her stays are going really well as well.... I CAN'T WAIT TO START OBEDIENCE!!! It's such a shame I'm moving to Gatton this year for uni (the whole vet school is moving out there), but I still plan on making the trip back in every Monday - Lucky my sister lives in Bracken Ridge!!! I was down at Sandgate this afternoon and met some ladies who also take their dogs to Metro, so I may know a familiar face.... I would love to meet up NicGSDlover.... before we start so that we do know a familiar face

Thanks again for the lovely comments... Oh a dobe was second on my list of dogs to get.... do you have any pics to share Kynta?? We went to the park this afternoon and a man asked if she was crossed with an Australian Shepherd, then I told her she was purebred and it was kinda like he didn't believe me... took some convincing . She had a play with the most gorgeous bearded collie pup, around her age, she was stunning..... maybe another on the top of the list of later dogs.....

not suprising, she would have to be one of the prettiest aussie shepherds ive ever seen n now your in no doubt shes a smart as she looks Thank you for that lovely comment asal :D She's definately got some brains, thats for sure - I can't wait to start proper obedience/agility etc when she's older!!!!

So very true, i'm contemplating going and lying in there with her!! Bris is FERAL today!!!!!!!!!!! YUK!!!!!!!

Haha, always the way NicGSDlover!!!! It's like they seem to know - I woke up to Fluff ALL OVER the lawn, hahaha, forgot to put the 'daytime' toys away last night!! Thanks for the lovely comments about Lottie I think she's beautiful, But i'm just a tad biased!!!! Plus i've been very lucky with her - she's an awesome little puppy!!!! She's never cried when left alone etc and prefers to be outside (because it's usually cooler out there!!). I'm pretty in love.... :D

Yes, she's good at keeping herself cool....

Because it's SOOOO hot today, we're all just lazing around inside when I realise.... WHERE IS LOTTIE???!!!! So I start searching the house and look where I found my smart little girl.... hahaha :D Just thought I'd share it, because it was soooo cute!!!!

TOTALLY off topic, but Pandii, I LOVE your signiture!!!! Back to the topic, I was TRYING my hardest to tell someone the downfalls/horrible situations of BYB, Pet shop puppies etc and how their breeding stock are kept, and you know what they said to me.... 'Well how can you talk, you have a purebred'. Argh, what a waste of breath!!!! :D I am feeling very much the same as you at the moment Christina!!

What is the science for so many more diseases/problems with inbreeding? if you do a search on inbreeding you will find that the science is about the same for both sides - steve has written quite extensively on it. nb: as a budding vet, it is stomething I would want to get a clear idea about, because there will come a time when you get a clients presenting you with a linebred dog, and you don't want to assume that because its linebred it is more prone to diseases/problems Yep yep, thats why I was asking Because i'm not up with all the knowledge and I'd love to learn more so I'm a knowlable vet in the years to come :D . I just would LOVE to learn more about the purebred industry - I was just lucky that I have a good friend who told me the great things about all you registered breeders, and the great puppies you breed with so much love and knowledge you all have. I didn't mean any offence by my post, but because i've never been in the breeder aspect of it I was just curious ' The only science is with people i'm talking about (Only what people/public hear) - that was why I mentioned that I don't know anything about it with dogs is all in my first post. Trust me, i'm not critising, just trying to learn . okay well this is the tricky thing to be wary of - 'common belief' often isn't science someone more proficient at doing searches will post a link for you ... steve has written quite a bit on DOL about inbreeding and the science FOR inbreeding ... with differenct examples of where it has occured successfully in both human and animal populations - not just dogs. That will be great to see some more info about the topic - then I can pass this onto my peers . Please, I hope you all know I wasn't trying to offend or critise anyone , I just love to learn, hehe!!

What is the science for so many more diseases/problems with inbreeding? if you do a search on inbreeding you will find that the science is about the same for both sides - steve has written quite extensively on it. nb: as a budding vet, it is stomething I would want to get a clear idea about, because there will come a time when you get a clients presenting you with a linebred dog, and you don't want to assume that because its linebred it is more prone to diseases/problems Yep yep, thats why I was asking Because i'm not up with all the knowledge and I'd love to learn more so I'm a knowlable vet in the years to come :D . I just would LOVE to learn more about the purebred industry - I was just lucky that I have a good friend who told me the great things about all you registered breeders, and the great puppies you breed with so much love and knowledge you all have. I didn't mean any offence by my post, but because i've never been in the breeder aspect of it I was just curious ' The only science is with people i'm talking about (Only what people/public hear) - that was why I mentioned that I don't know anything about it with dogs is all in my first post. Trust me, i'm not critising, just trying to learn .

Agree COMPLETELY!! Hi Woofenpup... I suspect you're studying in Sydney (from your above post is all), but here in Brisbane, out of our 130 student class, there is MAYBE 15 straight out of school if that - the rest have done previous university study - I have done Vet Tech out in Gatton, along with quite a number of my class mates, and alot of the rest have done science degrees, animal studies etc etc etc!!! On average (and this is just guessing as I was year rep of our year last year) the age between 21-25 was the average age of students....

:D yep that's alot of what I wanted to say!!!! Thanks Flic_Mac!!! And can you see, we are both owners of purebreds who ARE prone to problems etc so know about them, but alot of that is because we LOVE dogs and are interested so yes, we probably research these problems more then some other students, but it's unfair to say that those students, just because they don't do out and research every breed are not good vets....

I would love to learn more about linebreeding, as I don't no much about it at all!!!!! (exactly what i posted before - I just want to learn about it all), and I've already leart so much on DOl, I feel this is the perfect place. Since learning about registered breeders and the great things they do, i've been trying to educate anoyone I talk to about them!!!!! Sometimes it's hard to understand how inbreeding is ok (and especially how the father/daughter mating was great), as I love learning new things, and this is all new to me!!! Beth Edited for spelling and changing because one sentence may have been offending which I wasn't meaning at all, so I've changed it a little

I agree with that, but I just get offened when so many people are against vets, and especially 'younger' vets, it's such a sterotype.... It's going to be hard enough to gain the trust of people to hand over their animals (as in put their lives in our hands), without such negative thoughts!!! And I fully understand, I have found my ONE vet and only vet that I will take my puppy or any of my parents animals to because she's an AWESOME vet, treats us with respect and listens to us (and yes this was before I was studying) - also won't charge us very mush as she very much does it out of love for animals!!!! But oh well, I spose I know exactly what vet i'm going to be. I am not from a wealthy family, I studied SOOOOOOOOOO hard during my first year at uni to even become accepted into Vet Science, and I feel soooooo privelged EVERY SINGLE DAY to be studying vet as it's the ONLY thing in my life i've ever wanted to become..... I am very passionate about it and it's sad that not everyone is, but as you've already pointed out, this happens in EVERY profession. But hey, you can't change someones mind just from what's typed here..... ETS - just thought i'd add - I recieved an OP of 11 (Which you need a 1 for vet science) and that was because during my year 11 my future adviser told me to give up, I WOULD NEVER GET INTO VET!!!!! - in which I did..... I wish I knew who he was to prove him how wrong he was, and that because of that I bumed around for 2 years trying to figre out what else was calling me....

Never a truer word . . . . . In fact I find it quite scary to see the difference between the older vets and the younger ones. I know they have to gain experience, but some of the younger ones seem to have very few skills. They may be brilliant on paper, but it is in the clinic/hospital where we need the expertise. And this is why I do not understand complaints about vet charges to an extent - we would not expect our GP to do all of those things. And what are the 'new school' vets learning????!!!! Are you studying Vet science at the moment????? This is really upsetting all this.... sigh.... So far I have been taught (WHILST STUDYING VETERINARY SCIENCE) Radiology, endocrinology, cardiology (Plus alot more but not on that list that you've mentioned) and have done a semester in parmacology and i'm not done yet - i can tell you exatctly when we're focusing on all the above if you'd like to ask...... still have heaps to learn before I graduate, plus everything i'll learn whilst out there in the work force. And i'm going to be a 'New school' vet as I haven't finished yet. I also Work at an emergency centre learning things everyday, and I LOVE learning, and I can garantee I can't wait until I graduate!!! I love working with both people and animals, and that is something very important..... And how can you even CONISIDER comparing an 'older' vet with a 'younger' vet, that is REDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! do you not think the older vet has been maybe working for the last 20 years with that experience under their belt???????????????? I'm sorry for being so uptight about this, but all these comments are so offending for us who are currently studying Veterinary Science and you're all putting us in such a horrible sterotype that it really isn't fair.

I just hope that who ever wrote in that other topic that Vets are just in it for money reads your post!!!!!!!!!

Thank you Yep thats very true.... But the country is where my heart is, I can't wait to get back out there working on properties etc (and hopefully owning my own land one day, but that'll be a long way off!!!). I can't wait until i'm graduated, and hopefully I might be one vet who changes the views of one person and make a difference.... we can but dream....

That is a really full on comment, and quite hurtful - I'm studying to become a Vet, and to see people write that and to know that if you're doing vet you're NOT doing it for money (because in alot of circumstances the pay is SHIT!!!! - just have a look at the award rates)!!!! I'm studying Vet because animals are the one thing I love passionatly!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe you put us all in the same catagory, it's very shallow minded I'm from a small town where vaccinating dogs isn't even a known thing, so how do yhou expect that people won't just breed because they can.... My hope for my future career is to go back out into the 'bush' educating and helping people make right decisions about responsible pet ownership etc, and i can GARANTEE you I'm not doing it for money, because if I was i'd be very sorely dissapointed..... Yes what the vet said is VERY sad!!!! I hope one day when I'm graduated you might be able to come to me and see what a good vet will be?? Maybe....

Yes he's a GORGEOUS BOY!!!! hehe, i've had the pleasure of meeting him This isn't quite the same, but sometimes people do say hurtful things when they're not fully educated - I was down the beach with my Australian Shepherd, who has a natural bob tail, when a lady said to me, "WHAT have you done to her tail!!!!!!!????? It's so sad for her, we'll NEVER know when she's happy or running up to attack us!!". So yep, I kindly told her about Australian shepherds as she hadn't heard of them, but still after that she was turning her nose up at me like I had cut her tail off with a pair of sissors or something It was really quite hurtful as she was really blunt about the whole thing!! Everyone stops to comment of my pup, but before they can say too much, I start to educate them about this wonderful breed :D ETA ie the - bob tail

I also wish I knew how amazingly wonderful dog ownership is - and that how utterly in love with my little girl (even though i've only had her about 7 weeks) I am and how much you think about them when you're not with them, and the first time you've think they've run away or something how your heart stops!!! I do, however, wish I knew that the first couple days are hard and that alot of thoughts run through your head (like WHAT have I done, I am now responsible for this precious life that WON'T STOP CRYING) It's up to you how you raise it and how you want it to be when it's GROWN UP and not just a cute little puppy - I did go in thinking this though, so I have set the foundations I want for Lottie from Day 1 and she now knows that it's ok to by alone, that outside is FUN and the inside is quiet time, hehehe, i'm a mean mummy!!! Oh, and I taught her to wee on command - made toilet training VERY easy, now i just have to say the word and she'll do a wee - even if she's just done one and I didn't see her, she'll squat and try and do another, bless her little heart, hahaha. A DOG IS LOVE!!!!!! OK, i'm a new dog owner can you tell

Thanks Elsa - I think she is too... but i'm just a tad bit bias!!! haha.. Yep, I think i'm going to go with Metro at chermside... With trialling (I really haven't ever done/been into anything like this before), are there many comps around?? I would love to go out and watch a comp to see what its all about!!!! Thanks for your help!! Beth