HeavyPaws

And now for the flux of reporters to call them 'dash-hounds'

As a member of the public at dog shows, I can personally say I've seen some outright disgusting behaviour. The worst, and I haven't seen it mentioned yet, is how they talk about the dogs when the breeder/owner/exhibitor is right there. Last time I went to the Melbourne Show, there was a middle aged couple who walked past a handsome bulldog boy and the woman screws her face up, points at the dog and goes "Oh, eww! What a {insert 's' word here} dog!" The owner was facing the couple, and was less than a metre from them, and you could see their words hit home. Sure, I would never own most toy breeds or 'pretty dog' breeds I just don't click with them, but when I see them on show or just sitting by the side of the ring with their owner, I'll compliment them on their dog's colour, or carriage, or even coat density, but the point is I don't walk past them and sneer "Oh, get a real dog, not a yappy rat" They love their dog, they love the breed, they do right by that dog and make that dog a part of their family. If I think their dog looks like a toddler's stuffed toy, I'm sure as hell not going to say it, but I will honestly tell them that I noticed how their Bichon, for example, has no tear stains and that looks lovely. It's always the idiots that breed little idiots into the world.

I thought it was too. It covers all issues with detail, isn't too long, is in short layman's terms, explains the differences between BYB and purebred pups, and even has a small bit on rescue and nutrition and picking a puppy. I think most people would be willing to read it all.

If you can see it, this was a good short guide. Puppy Guide

I was just imagining my Dane carrying a little basket overflowing with drool and soggy cookies. I'd definately eat the food your dog offered, and give a treat in return. What a sweet trick to teach

Yes, the only thing is it's not really funny. It's sad actually. And even sadder when you consider how many of the public would believe it and pass it on if they saw it on the 6'oclock news

When my bulldogs died the vet sent me a bulldog-themed card, saying sorry for my loss and they hoped they did everything they could to help their passing peacefully. {They were passed over at the vet's with me} It made me cry, and even though that was almost a decade ago I still have the card.

There's lots you'd love to hear. Like the reason for cropping Dobie's ears is so it helps relieve the tension on their swelling brains And a 'Staffy cross' means 'Southern Cross Staffy', which means it's an Australian Staffy. Not Staffordshire, mind you, the 'proper' name is Staffy. Also, they're called 'pitbulls' because they were used in Spain to kill the bulls that were too wild in the bullfighting ring. You don't use collars on puppies, you use "choke chains" and if it does something wrong you chase it and step on the end of the lead once it's running so it learns what it did wrong and that you're the boss. And you can cure a bitch of aggression by letting it have a litter of puppies And if you have that litter, once their eyes open, you take them off the mother and their siblings except for feeding time so the only things they see are humans, they will get attached to people, and that will stop them ever biting anyone. That's what all the good breeders do *nod* All of these and more I've heard as "facts" from her. Thank god she's caught up in ruining her own life and hasn't yet bought a puppy

One of my friends believes that 'pitbulls' {which in her mind means anything from a Stafford to a Tosa Inu to a Shar Pei} get aggressive because they're too "muscley" and the physical pain of being so short with so many heavy muscles weighing on them drives them crazy. That is a true story.

I wonder how they all survived at that altitude. Apparently the flood covered the entire land, which surely means the mountains as well. Would they not have frozen to death?

Surely that's photoshopped!?! Yeah, photoshopped, it's been around for years. Re biggest dog, my family friend Amanda had a 42 inch Wolfhound but he lived and died without anyone even suggesting the world record to her. He died when I was 9 but I have pictures of him, and he was immense.

I know, I wasn't having a go at you or snapping back, I was adding to what I'd already said and the last bit was an actual "stupid me" self-question. The typed word isn't good for showing mood or intention I can see how emailing someone just after they've posted a litter can be seen as time wasting, but thankfully i've had nothing but genuine and happy responses. One thing you can always be sure of is that if you compliment someone's dog and ask them to tell you all about their babies, they'll be more than happy to never stop talking

A few breeder's websites I've looked at have that. Like this example: Sitting Bull

See i see that as time wasting because you could email that breeder without having a litter advertised to ask all those questions & get a feel for the future & ask what planned litters they have etc etc & pursue from there. I don't mention the litter apart from maybe a "I saw your litter advertised on....I'm not looking for a pup right now, but I am interested in the breed and would like to know more about your........because your dogs look very healthy" Unless they have a seperate email for litter enquires I don't see how I'm wasting their time

I think time wasting is emailing them appearing very positive about the pup/dog, and then backing out and saying no thanks, not interested. I talk to a lot of breeders of different dogs just to get an idea of what I may be getting into. I see an ad for a nice looking litter from a nice looking mother, they put helpful and professional information in the ad, so i email them and ask about their breeding practises, how they feed, play and train, what their dog's health is like, what I'd pay for a pup, if I get a puppy pack, what homes would they look to sell to, etc etc. It's just testing the waters for myself at this point but it's a step to go further. I don't think I'm time wasting, I'm collecting valuable information to make an informed choice

I actually remember that quote as well! I think it was when he visited the cat lady with...Tristan? Chasing the cats around with the gloves I haven't read him for quite a long time

When you say staffies i assume you are referring to American Staffordshires not Staffordshire Bull Terriers???? I'd hate to think there are still people out there that are so ignorant as to make comment on the breeds whilst knowing absolutely nothing about said breeds. When you say 'staffy' to a bogan Aussie, they assume you mean what we know as the American Staffordshire. Although you can hardly tell what they are nowdays, they've BYB it to a crisp

I personally found the best way for my ultra-clever kelpie was to put her pill in a glob of raw mince, sit my toddler at the table, and put the mince ball in front of her on the plate. My toddler would squeal "EWWW!" and flick it off the plate onto the floor. Shash would leap in, snatch the ball up and eat it in a split second because she thought she was being a food thief. Ha stupid dog

Although this would make excellent fodder for the type of people that buy BYB Staffies and say pitbulls should be banned because they're inheriting violent, dangerous genes. Telling the masses that Australia's favourite 'family safe' dog is actually very closely related to and is basically an off cut of the "dangerous pitbull" will knock a few socks off, I reckon. Still, for the Staffies who will suffer

Haha RSPCA guess you have no foot to stand on now with breeding. If Noah only took two dogs...that means ALL of our dog breeds are interbred and closely related! Remember, if god wills it...it must be so

My favourite way of giving my cat pills is to wrap her in a blanket James Herriot style and when she opens her mouth to yowl I drop it down and follow it up with a quick squirt of water. If I do it any other way eventually I end up cradling my hands in a bloody tea towel while roaring "Fine then! Die of worms! See if I care!" at the fleeing cat

Not all Danes grow up to immense heights. Seems like everyone I meet tells me my 2 year old must be a puppy because "they saw that there big dane dawg on da tv, I tink his name was George, and they growed up big n tall. Wunder why yours is so small"

I can't even express how much I want your Wolfie. So, so beautiful