~Anne~

Great to hear your dog is ok now. Just a question - why didn't you google for a Vet's details instead of posting here?

I'm confused as to what purpose the card has with regard to identifying the owner. The microchip holds the owners detaisl, the Vet only needs to scan the dog to see if the person presenting themselves as the owner is the same as the owner recorded on the computer.Another query. What happens when the Vet scans the dog and the details do not match? I like the idea of a card that holds medical records for the dog though, but not on the grounds of identifying ownership. With the way we are so mobile these days, having your dog's medical records in format like this would be brilliant. Hello, As far as I know when a dog gets scanned only the Microchip number appears and it's only if the vet looks up that number on a register of some kind (may be time consuming) will they see the owners details like address and name,phone numbers. I think a card may be a faster and an extra assurance that dog and owner match. There isn't yet any requirement for them to scan, but many do anyway. When they do scan the screen shows the owner's details to my knowledge (in NSW at any rate). Previously, vets could not access the database in such a way, but they can now. Therfore, wouldn't it be that the simplest thing (at least for NSW) is to have Vet scan a dog when it comes in which deletes the need for an additional card? Microchipping should be the same in all states.

I'm confused as to what purpose the card has with regard to identifying the owner. The microchip holds the owners detaisl, the Vet only needs to scan the dog to see if the person presenting themselves as the owner is the same as the owner recorded on the computer. Another query. What happens when the Vet scans the dog and the details do not match? I like the idea of a card that holds medical records for the dog though, but not on the grounds of identifying ownership. With the way we are so mobile these days, having your dog's medical records in format like this would be brilliant.

I firmly believe we are barking up the wrong tree and applying massive resources of time and energy on battling pet shops. Not only do pet shops and registered breeders sell the lowest number sof dogs, both groups have been, in NSW at any rate, microchipping dogs by law for in excess of 10 years. A quick view of the dogs listed on the Renbury site as of this morning reveal; 62 dogs. Of those 62 dogs, only 21 are microchipped. This isn't a once off, but an every day occurrence where the number of microchipped dogs is a only around 1/3 of the dogs impounded. You could loosely conclude that less than 1/3 od the dogs impounded come from pet shops or registered breeders. Why do we waste time pursuing petshops? The biggest issue is the sourcing of the dogs in pet shops. If common sense prevailed, then registered breeders, rescuers and the public would work with pet shops to ensure that puppy farms are not used as a source of puppies.

I guess it's in their best interest to paint themselves as being a lesser contributor while putting all other sources into one group (despite the huge difference between a puppy farm and a breeder) and saying, "There you go, it's their fault, not ours." Edited to add.. What should be included (but never will be) is that virtually all of their dogs come from puppy farms or BYBs and so if a group is going to be lumped with another, it should be them with their suppliers. So.. Puppies bred/sold through registered breeders.. 66,000 (according to Austerra) Puppies bred/sold in puppy farms and BYBs (through pet shops and private sale) .. 384,000 Their number looks considerably less innocuous now. The fact of it is though, regardless of what we think of them, is that they are selling limited numbers and that the greater majority of dogs are not being sold by them (and as we know, not by registered breeders either) and yet the focus and money is spent on battling pet shops. Wouldn't it be more logical to focus on where the damage is being done? Pet shops have sold animals for as long as I can remember and we haven't always had the issues we have now. We have unwanted dogs in the numbers we have because of society attitudes and because of unlimited and unrestricted breeding of dogs.

It doesn't say registered breeders........ it says 'breeders'.

For me personally, it comes down to risk factors. In somecases, the risk of early desexing outweighs the other risks surrounding future welfare and or health and or surgery risks. Each case should be looked at individually.

And your proof is... ? Quite a number of years charging people with various assaults. Poppycock.

8 weeks???? thats ridiculous! I have never heard of a dog being done that early! well im glad that it seems to be ok! I would never forgive myself if he got sick because of me desexing him early! Desexing at 8 - 12 weeks is very common in rescue, moreso with kittens than puppies.

If he is an adult male already he may be inclined to still do this anwyay after desexing. It is like marking, once they start marking, desexing will not stop it entirely and even dogs that have been desexed from 6 months will still display marking behaviours.

I'm not going to be much help, but I am wondering 'why' you think he should desex? If he keeps his dog contained, and the behaviour problems are now being sorted, why does he need to be desexed?

The Club also have a few shows coming up in the Sydney area. This is the detail for the next one; Sunday, 24 April 2011 - Scottish Terrier Club of NSW Inc - Erskine Park You can go along to a show, meet some breeders, and sniff all the dogs you like all at the same time. :p

I know someone who owns 4 of them. Funny little things they are. Have you tried the Scotty club? http://stcinc.org/

Yes, sounds like a possible UTI. The yelping may be unrelated or it may be that it stings and burns when she urinates, or she may have stones as suggested. If she has stones, they need to determine which type they are so that she can be treated to prevent them occuring in the future. A simple way of testing for crystals (which usually lead to stones) is to catch some urine on paper. Let the paper dry in the sun. If you see crystals reflecting back where the dried urine is, you'll know she is at risk of developing stones and you will need to keep treating to ensure you minimise the risk and hopefully stop the crystals forming.

OT - love the log-in (i mean member name)!

Wow, there are soem fabulous shots in there Julie! Love them!

Itsmeg has offered some but we can always use extras especially coming up for winter. I was looking at making some myself to cover it but Id muck 10 up before I got it right I wish I had have seen this before my clearout and before I visited the markets yesterday. They had them at Berry for $8 each for small dogs and I cleared my excess out and sent them to the Pound a couple of weeks ago. I still have loads of towels to get rid of after clearing out my linen cupboard yet again (it wouldn;t all fit in the new one). Do you need those?? They might be more costly to post though?? yes we do need those - we are happy to cover postage. Ok, will get them to you.

Itsmeg has offered some but we can always use extras especially coming up for winter. I was looking at making some myself to cover it but Id muck 10 up before I got it right I wish I had have seen this before my clearout and before I visited the markets yesterday. They had them at Berry for $8 each for small dogs and I cleared my excess out and sent them to the Pound a couple of weeks ago. I still have loads of towels to get rid of after clearing out my linen cupboard yet again (it wouldn;t all fit in the new one). Do you need those?? They might be more costly to post though??

If in NSW and if they are only listed on the NSW CAR, then they complete a C3A and send it to their local Council of the area they move to.

Thanks. The muzzle they show for a Pug looks like a normal length muzzle to me. It is also a wire muzzle and I can't see it being comfortable, not that any muzzle realy would be anyway. However, if I am going to muzzle my Pug, I want him to be as comfortable as possible. I would be more inclined to look at something light weight, in a soft leather.

I agree, they're great and so easy with hair. I have thrown 2 small ones in the washing machine and they survived...only just though. I wouldn't recommend it.

We have hardwood floors and we have a number of persian style rugs on the floor. We also have dogs beds and they are placed near us so the dogs are more inclined to lay in them.

Maybe that is what we will have to do. Pavers will eventually grow moss though which isn't great of OH&S, and again, it is just more of the same in the yard as the rest of it is stamped concrete. I keep getting visions of pebble crete. I recall watching my father many, many years ago apply pebble crete and it was just some kind of clear resin stuff that you poured and then you poured the pebbles on top. I wonder if there is something like that for large pebbles though?

I am not sure that grass will grwo up the side though, hence why the original owners have put pebbles in I would think.

I have a rock eater. Monte. I was hoping that in this new house Monte would somehow 'forget' his fascination for eating them and I wouldn't have to block off part of the yard. He hasn't forgotten how much he loves eating them afterall it seems. My yard is only small, it is mainly stamped concrete and gardens. There is a largish side passage that has been filled with pebbles. I have now blocked this off which leaves the dogs wtih only a very small area to lay around and toilet in. I would love to be able to allow them up the side passage as they love to explore and wander about and there are gardens along the side of the house also. The area covered by the pebbles is approximately 35 metres long and about 1.5 metrres wide so to replace it with something else will be costly and difficult. My husband has suggested that perhaps we can use quick drying cement to pour over the first 4 metres or so and then place a fence there, just so they have a little extra room, and work the cement in so that the pebbles are still visible but not able to be picked up. I have some reserves about this method although it could possibly work. Does anyone know of any other ways of stopping Monte from eating them? I can't muzzle him as I am yet to find a muzzle that suits flat faced breeds and that would be comfortable enough for him to wear all day.