mushka

Will this event still be on if its raining?

Will the State agility and poodle obedience trials be on this weekend even if is raining or is there a weather cancellation policy?

Hey - would you use these in a car - do you think its tough enough to hold a dog in an accident? Or would you use a wire-frame cage (in lieu of a proper car barrier)?

There is an interesting article here by Dr. Jean Dodds (DVM) about the studies being undertaken to see whether there is any benefit to repeated vaccination (after puppy boosters): http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/DODDS-CHG-VACC-PROTOCOLS.HTM I read a bit about this a while ago and am not up to date but my take-out message was that there was no clear answer as to whether repeated vaccines were necessary to maintain immunity and the yearly vaccine schedule seemed arbitrary. I think its interesting to consider the human situation where we get a series of vaccines and boosters for various diseases as children and are then considered good for a lifetime. But I know there is some debate about how long the chickenpox vaccine provides immunity for and whether adults might need boosters.

Is there an Australian version of the Whole Dog Journal annual review of dog foods?

Rough coated Collie - yep, one more Lassie lover! Haven't got one yet - would love to have one some day. Or an Australian Shepherd which I have only just seen and think are beautiful!

I really like this book for dog browsing: Paws to Consider http://www.amazon.com/Paws-Consider-Choosi...y/dp/0446521515 Its simply laid-out in a very accessible way and has "usual bonuses" and "possible fallbacks" for each breed- I think its great for window-shopping a breed. It also has a section at the front about the basic requirements of any dog.

Are there any breeders in Victoria doing agility or obedience with their dogs?

Would it be weird for wannabe dog owners to show up at the Schnauzer club of Vic championship? IS this a good way to see dogs and meet owners/breeders?

The ASPCA exists in the US - is it not associated with RSPCA? I had assumed it was.

Is there anyway of blocking them setting-up shop in Australia?

Is Sat or Sun better for seeing dogs?

Can anyone tell me a little more about these shows - which breeds are likely to be there?

Can any of the breeders/owners chime in on this breed? I'd love to know more.

Thanks again for all the replies. I have a bit of time before I'l be buying a dog so I will definitely do some more research. Ruby is beautiful - as are many of the other dogs in people's signatures. What is the best way to meet purebred dogs - attending dog shows or am I better to get in touch with breeders? Are breeders annoyed by people wanting to visit just to meet a breed if they haven't firmly decided they wish to buy a puppy?

What are the exercise requirements of a standard?

I'm not a retiree but you made me laugh!

boisterous - I like boisterous...aren't almost all young dogs boisterous? It totally makes sense to me that the wheatens are very different to Kerry's. I guess I read too much into the "blonde cousin" thing. non-shedding - husband hates dog hair.

Thank you for all your replies. I found some of them mildly offensive but I am sure they were well-intentioned. I do not want a dog "just for the kids" - the dog is for me but I have a family and so I need to find a breed that is most likely to be a good match for all of us. I also have no intention of neglecting a dog in the backyard without training, grooming or exercise. I read on an American breed info page that there was a single breeder of Kerry's in America who recommends taking them to dog parks and apparently she breeds with this in mind. On various other pages there seems to be a debate about the temperament of the breed with most comments defending the Kerry as feisty rather than aggressive - I did not read between the lines that this a more challenging breed with more fire than most terriers. Thank you for your honest comments on this. The schnauzer suggestion surprised me - the breed descriptions for these dogs seem to ring with warnings about the exercise requirements and dog-dominance of this breed. I think mini-schnauzers are super cute but would prefer a larger dog. I have met quite a few wheaten terriers and I would describe them as rather boisterous (but not particularly feisty or aggressive) with a definite blonde ditziness to them. The description of the Kerry as the more serious cousin of the Wheaten was one of the reasons I had been considering a Kerry. Maybe the Wheaten's I've met were less feisty than usual for the breed or perhaps the Kerry is actually very different to the Wheaten? I would be concerned about the Lagotti being a newly popular breed but I have never heard of them and will definitely do some research.

I'm looking for a new family pet. These are our criteria: non-shedding, medium sized, able to be trusted in a off-leash in a dog park, smart, not super high-energy. For context we have previously owned a dog-aggressive dog that required at least an hour of exercise a day and preferred 2 hours plus. We loved him but he was hard work and we don't have time in our lives for this sort of dog right now. After reading through lots of breed descriptions I feel like a standard poodle would be a good match but I have two problems 1) I'm not sure about the poodle personality - I like mischievous dogs that have a bit of character and 2) I just don't really like the way they look -this isn't such an important thing to me but it is a minor factor. So, how well do you think a Kerry Blue would fit our criteria? I have not spent time with either Poodles or Kerrys.

Hello, I am just beginning to research as I wont be getting a dog for a year or so I think this is a beautiful looking breed and I love terrier feistiness but my biggest concern with descriptions of this breed are the mixed reports of dog-aggressiveness; do you think this is an issue with this breed? Is this a matter of training -could a well-socialized dog be trusted to behave off-leash in a dog park? Are there any breeders in Australia that breed for a calmer temperament or would this be considered off-type? Thank you in advance.