Moselle

Not in my breed, allowing buffs or even the tricolours to be shown has never been brought into dicussion. The reddy orange coat colour of Tollers makes the breed and is essential to it's job. I would like to hope that if a buff ever stood foot in a show ring it would immediately be refused and asked to leave.......though they would never get that close anyway as no breeder would ever sell one on the MR. You are entitled to hold onto that opinion but could it be that perhaps you got so used to seeing reddy orange tollers that any other colour doesn't seem "real" or should I say perhaps does not appear to be purebred even though you know they are ??? Perhaps it is a case of being set in one's ways and becoming accustomed to a particular look. Are you saying that perhaps a buff is not able to hold its own in doing what is expected of it? If you knew anything at all about the breed standards you are talking about, you would know that Tollers were originally bred to resemble foxes as that is the colour that ducks are most attracted to when be lured in closer to shore. So no, the buff colour can not perform its original function. Thanks for explaining that, TO. I suppose that if you are into duck hunting then it is understandable that you are adamant in tollers retaining that colour. Me thinks duck hunting is a NO NO so therefore buff Tollers would be more than acceptable. Don't quite get what you mean in saying that ducks are attracted to foxes and can be lured closer to shore? um suicidal ducks maybe?

how odd, my brothers first dog was a chocolate and tan chi. he died aged 16 with no cancers whatever and he was always outside as he just couldnt resist marking in the house. so mum gave him the boot, no more housedog for him My chihuahua was a blue with some light tan markings, he lived to the ripe old age of 19. No skin issues whatsoever. A neighbour owns a choccie tibby, now 14 years old....strong as an ox and still going strong.

Not in my breed, allowing buffs or even the tricolours to be shown has never been brought into dicussion. The reddy orange coat colour of Tollers makes the breed and is essential to it's job. I would like to hope that if a buff ever stood foot in a show ring it would immediately be refused and asked to leave.......though they would never get that close anyway as no breeder would ever sell one on the MR. You are entitled to hold onto that opinion but could it be that perhaps you got so used to seeing reddy orange tollers that any other colour doesn't seem "real" or should I say perhaps does not appear to be purebred even though you know they are ??? Perhaps it is a case of being set in one's ways and becoming accustomed to a particular look. Are you saying that perhaps a buff is not able to hold its own in doing what is expected of it? If you knew anything at all about the breed standards you are talking about, you would know that Tollers were originally bred to resemble foxes as that is the colour that ducks are most attracted to when be lured in closer to shore. So no, the buff colour can not perform its original function. Thanks for explaining that, TO. I suppose that if you are into duck hunting then it is understandable that you are adamant in tollers retaining that colour. Me thinks duck hunting is a NO NO so therefore buff Tollers would be more than acceptable. Don't quite get what you mean in saying that ducks are attracted to foxes and can be lured closer to shore?

What a nasty piece of work, she should go and bury her head in the sand. Wonder if she would have been a suitable candidate for Miss Universe pageant? I bet NOT. The fact is that your puppy was cute, I am sure thousands would agree and as for that wench I don't know that I would have been all that polite, treat others as they treat you....that's my moto!

Utterly and totally true

Not in my breed, allowing buffs or even the tricolours to be shown has never been brought into dicussion. The reddy orange coat colour of Tollers makes the breed and is essential to it's job. I would like to hope that if a buff ever stood foot in a show ring it would immediately be refused and asked to leave.......though they would never get that close anyway as no breeder would ever sell one on the MR. You are entitled to hold onto that opinion but could it be that perhaps you got so used to seeing reddy orange tollers that any other colour doesn't seem "real" or should I say perhaps does not appear to be purebred even though you know they are ??? Perhaps it is a case of being set in one's ways and becoming accustomed to a particular look. Are you saying that perhaps a buff is not able to hold its own in doing what is expected of it?

I'd like to think that the views of the people who developed a breed and defined its standards are not irrelevant. In some breeds, colour matters. In others it may be linked to highly undesireable genetic traits. A breed standard should not change to reflect the whims of the current generation of breeders. Next you'll be telling us that breed function shouldn't matter because so many breeds no longer perform their original function. Well judging from examples laid out here....the blue staffy is not allowed to be shown because its nose is not black....some have said that blue dogs are prone to skin issues....well, that is not always the case and in fact not all dilutes are afflicted with this issue and what difference does it make if a nose pad is either black or blue....slate blue suits a blue staffy. No, I wont be one to say that breed function does not matter, I am all for breeding sound and healthy dogs....must say that I don't approve of dogs being utilised for hunting as I dont believe in it but that is not about to stop anyway and has nothing to do with colouring.

Well, I owned a tiny smooth coated chihuahua, she was, in my eyes, beautiful !! I would occasionally take her out and she took residence in my handbag looking ever so smug, people would coo and aaah over her and just had to pat her of which she sometimes objected. Never a negative comment from people I did not know but by jolly, some of my friends seemed to be on the same wavelength when it came to what they had to say about my beloved Phoebe. They all likened her to a rat :D . But in my eyes she was just adorable so I just laughed and shrugged their comments aside, water of a duck's back. I dont think they were setting out to be "nasty".....they actually believed that humour was at work . To each their own, lol. I must say though that some people really should be a little more discerning when making comments about one's pet and not adopt a negative stance.

aaaah, it is always music to my ears to hear that someone's beloved pet has recovered well, God bless you Charlie.....hugs and kisses.

Okay....for example...blue staffies are not welcomed in the show ring because of a supposedly "slate" nose....what the heck? so if that is a normal occurance in the breed it should be welcomed. It isn't as though they have something else in the mix....the same applies to other breeds disqualified from the show ring due to colouring because of some ancient decision.

Once upon a time when standards were set it was basically a case of a handful of people stating their own colour preferences and so originated what colours would be accepted and others disqualified. Time has passed and it is a shame that the preferences of those individuals still have to be upheld....time to move on and I am sure that quite a few people would agree. There are such beautiful dogs in both type and conformation but simply because they are born of a colour that is not standard approved they are frowned upon..... Things have changed over the decades....so what's the hold up? lol

I wouldn't worry about in the meantime but I would make a point of mentioning it to the landlord and reassure him/her that all will be remedied when you leave. Besides being a pastime for dogs, I am sure that they dig holes in order to lie in them.

May I ask why? Are you basing your opinion solely on colour? Hope you dont mind my asking.

You're not biased at all - she's VERY cute! I second that, you are not biased....Tilly is very pretty!

The reason that some breeders in this thread are made out to be culling the "wrong coloured" pups is simply because they admitted to doing so. Some have utilised the excuse that the reason for culling them is for health reasons and others have not hesitated in saying that it is because they are afraid that byb will try to breed dogs that don't fit the standard in order to sell them as rare! And in the past I have heard with my very own ears that they found it "embarrasing" when supposedly "odd" colours appeared in their lines and made a point of culling pups in order to keep this in the quiet.

Dog allergies are not always a result of genetics, FCOL. Outside influences can promote allergies in dogs just as the same applies to people.

My vet is very understanding, I was able to explain to her the breed standard to her and that was fine. Other people however have not been so lucky. The surprising aspect of all this was that I once owned an "apple head" siamese which was more robust than the typical show siamese and the reaction from my vet was most unexpected and was proof that he had not seen many a siamese in his lifetime, if any...lol

Hahaha I've been yelled at on the street for starving my clipped off Afghan Hound... if you can't educate them, you just need to take the hits on the chin. Sorry, I meant that in a lighthearted way having seen some high dudgeon on international breed lists. Didn't mean your post at all. I guess people get offended because if your X looks like a Y, there's an implication it isn't a good example of breed type. No you can't show the smooth Afghan. I don't think you can show the Azawakh in Oz yet either tho' people are working on it because there is one in Victoria. I can't wait until Azawakhs are showable in Australia... I have seen the Vic one in person and boy is she pretty. Yes, I know the feeling only too well but I didnt cop the reprimands from people in the street implying I was starving my SIAMESE cat but from my vet of all people, lol.

There was more to it than simply an overgrown lawn hence the reason why the op was dubious. It all boils down to the RSPCA not getting back in touch with her, leaving her to believe that they had not looked into the matter. Had they bothered to contact her I am sure she would not have continued to ring them. Every complaint is assigned a number, when you call the RSPCA and lodge a complaint you are given a case number ( can't remember the exact name of it, I can go back through my diary of the report I made ). I called the RSPCA back a couple of weeks after I lodged a complaint regarding and emaciated dog, I was told that a notice had been issued to the owner and that they would check back at a later date to ensure it had been complied with. They must have complied as the dog put on weight and it's still in their back yard. It is NOT the RSPCA's responsibility to call everyone back who lodges a complaint and inform them of the outcome. Okay but not everyone is aware of this; seems like the op was not supplied with a case number or whatever it may be called. You would expect that the RSPCA inspectors would know and hence pass this onto complainants and advise them that should they want to know the outcome that they are to ring back.

There was more to it than simply an overgrown lawn hence the reason why the op was dubious. It all boils down to the RSPCA not getting back in touch with her, leaving her to believe that they had not looked into the matter. Had they bothered to contact her I am sure she would not have continued to ring them.

I stumbled upon photos of chocolate cavalier king charles some years ago. They are just gorgeous.

Could some of these dogs be 3/4 purebred, hence the different colours?? I have to stay they are stunning.

Surely that alone rings alarm bells....and rather smacks of a puppy mill? Sure, puppy mills are legal, but it certainly doesn't hurt for the RSPCA to be aware of their existence and to keep periodic checks on the welfare of the animals kept there. Without marching into the premises, Heavy Paws, or anyone who cares about the welfare of dogs and cats, would have no idea if animals are sufferering there or not, particularly if the premises looks a bit 'feral'...so getting the RSPCA to check is a very sensible option. If the owner has nothing to hide and the animals are kept in good conditions, have adequate food, water, shelter, vet care and exercise...then exactly what harm is done by them being checked out? Honestly....I wonder if some of you are just posting to start yet another argument? You've said it well. There is no real harm in alerting the RSPCA as to the possibility that things may not be up to par. I would have personally preferred to sight the place first but even without doing so does not merit being crucified as is happening around here! Gosh, sounds to me like there are a fair few people breeding large scale and keeping their dogs penned and resenting any approaches from the RSPCA.

You are the one that is not getting it; how many times already have I stipulated that I would have approached these breeders BEFORE making any complaints? sheesh....

Ellz, as I have said before...and on the above post, perhaps the poster was under the mistaken impression that the RSPCA were not looking into the matter. The RSPCA have told her that they would have gotten in touch with her after their investigation but they never did....for whatever reason! If it is not customary for the RSPCA to do this then they should have said so from the onset!