FD26

So, this morning I received my update from our breeder. Our pup is now 5 weeks old, so 3 weeks to go. Only problem is...she sent pics of the WRONG puppy. We ummed and ahhed a bit in the beginning about which pup to choose, but over a week ago we made a clear decision and let her know. We've even let her know what we're thinking of naming HIM, just yesterday. So...the email I get today has pictures of a FEMALE (of a different colour, no less)! This was hours ago, and I've sent a reply asking if there was a mix up, but haven't heard from her yet. Usually she's quite quick to respond. I'm trying to give her the benefit of the doubt that she's just sent the wrong pictures, but....? I'm not sure how that could have happened, and I'm getting quite anxious. Btw, we have put down a deposit, about 2 weeks ago...

Hmmm...so after holding out for a puppy update from our breeder we got one today. For the wrong puppy! Should I be alarmed?

Bloody Victorians. 24 degrees isn't HOT. Now if she was out on a 34 degree day, I might think she was a little feeble-minded! I was thinking that, too! Here in Darwin 24 is a treat!

Puppy is 9 weeks old. I use the cages as well. Mostly outdoors, anchored with tent pegs, but did use one indoors until I moved the whelping pen into the lounge room. Provided you can anchor it some way, they serve the purpose very well. I was wanting to use it indoors to hopefully aid in introducing him to the cats. We have tiles here, so I wonder if some packing tape might do the trick.. Goodness I'll be glad when he arrives and I no longer have to be in obsessive planning mode! LOL

Well, I'm off to free Bonnie into the nearby National Park. I'm sure a timid 3.5kg Chihuahua will have a much better life fending for herself out "in the wild".

At the end of the same article: "Contrary to myth, PETA does not want to confiscate animals who are well cared for and "set them free." What we want is for the population of dogs and cats to be reduced through spaying and neutering and for people to adopt animals (preferably two so that they can keep each other company when their human companions aren't home) from pounds or shelters—never from pet shops or breeders—thereby reducing suffering in the world. " http://www.peta.org/campaigns/ar-petaonpets.asp It's interesting what taking things out of context can create. Not that I agree with them here, but it gives you a bit more insight into their views. Again - they may be radical, but they're coming from a good place, and do ocassionally get good results.

I'll actually be glad if they can hasten some changes to live exporting. But I don't tend to hate PETA so much. I was vegan and supported them some 10 years ago. These days I wouldn't attatch myself to them in any way or form, but still reckon they do SOME good. There's a general concensus in sociology that it takes radical as well as conservative activism to bring about changes, so I see this in a similar light. (again, I stress, I don't mean to say I agree with PETA as a whole!!) I'm just hopeful that it will do some good.

Will the compost cage hold the staffy in? Can you let me know if he has any troubles? I was thinking about getting one for our pup but was concerned it may be too flimsy. How old is the pup now?

Me too! If nothing else it serves as a good reminder never to give dogs (or any pets) away for free! Our much loved cat was FTGH, and it's such a shame that more of them can't end up in loving homes, but half the reason we went for her was to make sure no one else, with bad intentions, did. I'd never rehome an animal ftgh to a stranger.

Can you take a photo of the pen? Sounds interesting ETA: OOPS! Didn't realise you'd put it up right before lol

OMG where do you live??! That's fricken HOT!

This is good to hear, then. Maybe 2 days will be enough if I'm working 5? Still awhile off yet, I suppose as he's only 3 weeks old! lol, plenty of time to look into the details with the people who run the day care. Thanks for everyone's imput.

How frustrating are fencing problems?! I think my OH is still working on a solution, so I may just be floundering about over nothing, but I'm really quite concerned at the moment. For anyone who hasn't seen it in one of my other threads, my previous dog was killed in an attack when the dogs next door made enough room for him to get through (what I thought was a secure) part of our fence. We have dogs on 3 different sides, but that's the side I'm concerned with. On the other we have a pretty laid back bull arab, and then in one other are two basset hounds. When we had our last dog there were other people living there with 2 yellow labs, and we never had any problem there...they would just go up to the fence and sniff each other to say hello. The other sids of the fence are secure, anyway, as there's concrete around the bottom. But the side with the dogs that are trouble, I'm not sure of the smaller one's breed, but the large one who killed our previous dog is a Mastiffx, is the problematic fence. But then, because we're both renting it really limits what we can do with it. Grrr. I wish they would just move. But regardless of what we do with the fence, we've become far too paranoid about it now to let him have free run of the yard until we can be more certain things will be alright.

My main concern isn't the pup spending time alone, just spending SO MUCH time alone, know what I mean? Especially when he's younger and won't have the run of the yard. I won't be anxious when I leave him so long as we have a plan in place, which is what we're working on doing now.

Thanks for everyone's imput. After hearing all your stories we'll be insuring our puppy. I'm still not sold on insuring the cats though, as cats tend to cost a whole lot less when things go wrong.

Oh well, still two little boys here looking for homes if you know of anybody who wants one. ;) One black, one very stripey brindle. They'll stay here until they are old enough for nursing homes if nobody wants them. The litter is being spread out with one girl in Cairns already, one in Melbourne and one going to Townsville in a week or so. I'm keeping two and have another going to his new home locally on the weekend IF I get my car back, otherwise it will probably be next weekend. I just had another call from the guy who is possibly getting his boy on the weekend. He's SOOOOOOOOO excited!!! AND I just got a really lovely PUPdate from the girl in Cairns with some photos. It's just as nice receiving the PUPdates from the breeders' point of view! :D Updates or not we're in love with the guy we're waiting for He's a little blackie, too. I used to send updates to our last pup's breeder every few weeks, she always seemed happy to hear what was going on and see new pics, and it was fun to share as well! My cousin's on the other side of it at the moment, she bred her teacup chiuaua to devestating results late last year (lost all but one pup and mum), and actually gave the remaining pup to her brother half heartedly in December, and she hasn't had one update! From her own brother! She's pretty upset about it. I hope it will serve as a lesson for her though, because she shouldn't be breeding dogs at all, she doesn't have the resources or know how. But, regardless..it makes you realise how much it can mean to people to get those updates!

Thanks meg, that helps heaps! I am in Darwin, so that's the one I'm talking about. The prices seem quite reasonable, as well...less than my son's afterschool care will be costing! lol Now just to figure out what we'll do with him until he's vaccinated. I wish I could stay home for longer but I've pushed it as it is lol. I'm just hoping I get a job nearby and I can come home at lunch time. The plan at the moment is to bring him home when we have a whole weekend with him, and go from there. We're hoping to build a dog run, but it comes down to finances and whether my OH can really build one, as he says he can lol.

Well, I'm thinking I may have found a solution to my dilemma about returning to work after we get a puppy. There is a local doggy day care I've been in contact with, and while he won't be able to go until he's a few months old, it may just be ideal. Has anyone used them before? Have you had good or bad experiences? Thanks!

Hmm, I would think not having a descended testicle would mean he's not the pick of the litter? Wasn't someone saying there's a general rule about which one it is and whether it will drop or not? I can't remember which now..

Still waiting here! 4 and a half weeks to go.. I'm thinking I should have looked closer at your ad, Ellz! I'm still waiting for my pup update Hopefully it will all be worth the waiting in a few weeks!

OMG - why did he have 40 dogs to begin with? I can understand the grief of losing an animal in an attack - and I'm sure it's a thought a lot of people would have had, but to actually go and shoot all those dogs? What a maniac...geez, hope he rots.

I think it'd be the same as with humans...they mirror the behaviour you expect of their gender!

Sounds like you want a staffy. Except maybe this bit...

Goodness! I thought I had a bad neighbour, but at least they mind their own business for the most part. They just have an out of control agressive dog, and not much sympathy about it *rolls eyes*. Can't imagine going through all that, though! Hope it settles down for you soon.

I've seen quite a few that do, and others that don't. My assumption is that with a female you can get a stud as where with a male you will need a female? But, honestly it's stumped me a little bit, too.