~Anne~

I am so sorry. How sad. RIP Cloud.

What do you mean he looked at it and said it looked ok? The only way to determine the level of tear production is to test it with something like a schirmer test, not look at it.

I think I need to get a Dremel. It's really hard to cut Boof's nails and he hates it. His nails are black and grow very quickly. Olivia's aren't too bad and they grow so much more slowly. Where is the best place to get a Dremel?

Sounds like possibly keraconjunctivitis sicca or dry eye. Due to the lack of tears the eye becomes inflamed and looks infected. An opaque appearance can also occur. It is incredibly painful and will not improve until you treat the dry eye.

We have this so far. I think the last one can be said more eloquently. Quality Predictability Rich history Type specific (not sure if this is translated effectively) Reliability Recognised/identified parentage We have rich history but i was thinking more of the historical reasons for the development of breeds and the interesting ways breeds have been used throughout history.

The word pedigree doesn't say enough in the current market. We're looking for a message in a word. To you in and me it speaks volumes but not to everyone. On the other hand it may be a way of 'promoting' the key word. We want a way to describe the benefit of a pedigree I guess is what I am thinking. A word that's says predetermined qualities shown with parentage as evidence.

So how do we say that 'the characteristics are known because we can view parentage' in a simple way? How do we capture in a word or two that we have a choice and can find what we want because we have evidence of parentage?

Sorry, I don't mean the actual focus of the point, just the way I worded it. I don't think I've captured the importance of the point with my word.

It's handy for medical history/genetic illnesses or diseases. But in a word or two as per the list?

I am so sorry Pers. RIP Bernie. *cyber hugs to you Pers*

The last one is weak. I can't think of how to say that you see a predetermined and forward known quality.

Quality Predictability Rich history Type specific (not sure if this is translated effectively) Reliability Recognised/identified parentage

Predictability! The reason for breeds in the first place. We choose purebreds because we have a far greater certainty of getting desired features and characteristics - size, coat, temperament, bite inhibition, bite threshold etc etc I agree. If predictability includes reliability. I have found they aren't the same. Quality Predictability Rich history Type specific (not sure if this is translated effectively) Reliability

Including Diva's reasons; Quality Predictability Rich history Type specific (not sure if this is translated effectively)

The list; Quality Predictability and I'll add; a rich history

Ok sorry, yes I think we are on the same page but different chapters. Why they (the public and purebred dog owners) prefer the purebred is most definitely important. Even why they don't is important. When developing a strategy that is precisely what would be looked at. The research in to why and why not. From that research a picture would be built of the perceptions and we would develop our objectives or what we want the perceptions to be from this. The point I was trying to inadequately make throughout this thread, after the concept was raised, is that we don't need perfection. Sure, we need to be working towards being as good as we can but to market and promote, and to return the purebred dog to the highs of where it should be, we need to start promoting.

Yes, you personally chose purebreds due to reasons that were important to you. Currently there is no marketing or promotion being undertaken though so your perception is what it is for reasons that only you know which you've said. None of which are due to any promotion or marketing. When creating a strategy we would look at the positive reason about why you(and thousands of others) chose purebred over crossbreed. We would highlight these positives. You personally don't go to McDonald's for your own personal reasons and perceptions, however massive numbers of people do. More than any other fast food chain. That's because of marketing and promotion.

Corvus, you are looking at marketing in a narrow focus. I don't eat McDonald's either however as a marketing example they are world leaders. More people eat that crap across the world than any other fast food. Why? Because of their very clever marketing campaigns, originally primarily targeted at children and now weighed to teens and children. They are also now heading into the busy white collar worker. Marketing and promotion is messages. It is communicating messages. I work creating strategies to combat negative perceptions about a service. The service has a lot of positive points and it is only these positive points I focus on. I research and survey to find what people think and then I create objectives and targets. I create the messages that will alter negative perceptions. As an example - someone earlier mentioned that that breeders won't just sell their pups to anyone. The negative of that is that it can make the purchasing process difficult however I would be creating messages about the positive. The positive is that the breeder cares about these puppies. They've been lovingly reared. They've been a part of a family. Love, blood, sweat and tears have gone into the planning, mating, rearing of these cute little puppies. The message: purebred breeders care enough to choose the perfect new family.

I agree with the fact that some people who are not geneticists are uneasy about line breeding, personally am more concerned about selection than line breeding. Basic fact of life is that line breeding is what we as pedigreed purebred breeders do - without it there would be no individual breeds and it can be used as a great tool to eliminate or avoid genes that make dogs sick. If you have dogs which cant breath its about what you have been selecting for not how closely they are related. From a marketing perspective - some people who are not nutritionists are concerned about the lack of nutrients in McDonalds but that hasnt impacted too much on their ability to sell their product. If we are still talking about marketing what some people who are not geneticists think shouldnt stop us from promoting the great things we do or the joy our product can bring to a human life. Great example ad it shows the power of marketing and promoting regardless of the product.

Great outcome from a sensible approach!

What makes me uncomfortable about this argument is that we can say exactly the same about puppy farm dogs. They know no different, they aren't committing suicide etc therefore this is "normal" for them. Wow, this is making me think.

I'm not content to be fat, far from it. What makes you think, from the people who have posted about being overweight, that they are content to be fat? Edited for detail. Haven't read the entire thread! I'm not saying that people are necessarily 'content' to be overweight, but the fact that their dog's health is of import but their own isn't strikes me as odd. Have you ever considered that controlling the diet and weight of a dog might be a lot easier than controlling your own diet and weight? Obesity is a complex problem. Good grief. Talk about assumptions and judgements. This thread is filled with them. :laugh: Of course. I was at one point quite overweight. I'm aware of the mental hurdles that come along with human weight problems. :) But that's how I feel on the matter. I'm not speaking for anyone else here except me, and I would not let myself get overweight again, nor my dogs. You statement was: It boggles me a bit that people are content to be overweight themselves (despite knowing the health risks that obesity carries) but their dogs are kept fit? Maybe it's just me. You are making assumptions and judgements on those who are overweight. You have assumed they are content to be overweight but not have overweight dogs. The fact that you were fat before has no relevance.

I'm not content to be fat, far from it. What makes you think, from the people who have posted about being overweight, that they are content to be fat? Edited for detail. Haven't read the entire thread! I'm not saying that people are necessarily 'content' to be overweight, but the fact that their dog's health is of import but their own isn't strikes me as odd. Have you ever considered that controlling the diet and weight of a dog might be a lot easier than controlling your own diet and weight? Obesity is a complex problem. Good grief. Talk about assumptions and judgements. This thread is filled with them. :laugh:

Lesley Leach.

Look at those eyes! What a story they seem to tell. Beautiful pics.