buggerme

Grin .. I live in Kelmscott, .. and would love to do obedience as well - but my puppy is fitting more into the slug department at the moment. From what I have seen, Southern River is prob the best place, thou the German Shep Ass also does a bit...

I second this advice.. dont beat yourself up over it - what is done is done... but Im certain K9 Pro can help you

I knew there were some bloody legends on here ! Thanks to all of the above....

Yup, I have a American version here, but was just hoping to make it more Aussie accurate.. minor detail for my purposes thou. Thanks for the comment Raineth

well the pics are hard to come by ... as I dont have him yet and he is interstate.. however: this is him at 4 weeks... and what a bugger: you had just what I am looking for

Thankyou for your replies... Maybe I didn't explain my purpose well enough... There is no way I would reply on a graph as my sole source of information to base choices on - its more a "fun" thing to do for me. Averages are just that - averages. After all, we do it for children - why not our pets ? I was just looking for a comparision: something to play with and was hoping that someone out here had done a simular thing to help me with my data. No matter thou..

Hi... After much stuffing around I figured that someone much brighter than me has the info on the "ideal" wieghts for a male (& female) GSD is throughout its lifetime.. Ive found the American weights but am a little unsure if I convert them to Aussie terminolgy the translation may be lost in the slightly different "variataion" of the breed. And yup = cant spell... ie 2 mths 4 mths 6 mths 9 mth 1 yr 18mhs 2yrs Im trying to make a graph so i can plot puppy against it so I can ensure Im (or he) is doing ok health wise.. anal I know - but heck.. tis half the fun. If anyone has the info handly.. would be greatfull if you could slap it up here or send me a link. Cheers fellow doggy crew !

Thanks Hesa... sorry it took so long for me to reply ! Im greatful to all those that took the time to reply !!!

Well he is certainly squishing my bank account ! Me + Pup = very very bad fiscal investment...

Well thankyou ... do you mean not well supported in terms of - no one goes there with GSD's - or ya just not welcome there if u have one

Thanks for your reply's Emery and Sparky... Yup - have full papers, was really only thinking of showing for the kids, but the breeder thinks at this stage he is quite promising (who really knows thou eh), Ive been down to the GSA a few times just to recognise a few faces and all are lovely .. but Im also realistic enough to know that "some" are only intrested in thier own dogs... For me, its all about the dog enjoying himself, learning a bit, and increasing my knowledge of such a lovely breed.... Time to contact that dogs west place I thinks.. thanks again ! Hi there - Welcome! what emery said... but i guess with GSD it also depends what "type" of GSD you have? I know that there are a lot of people that show them in the specialty rings but don't set food in the All Breeds rings... IMO the best thing to do would be to speak to your breeder first and foremost about the fact that you want to show, and find out how to go about it. Your breeder might have some contacts in WA that she could contact and help you get started. If you are also interested in obedience, then joining the GSD club would be a start too... but i am not sure what the club is like with new members so i can't help you there. I only know Mark with GSDs because he was our obedience instructor at another club and he is very nice. Either way, you will need to make sure you get the pedigree papers from your breeder, and they will need to be mains if you want to show. You'll need to transfer pup into your name with DogsWest (go to their website to download membership form, but you'll need to send this in with your puppy's signed pedigree papers) before you can start officially in any of your chosen activities. Unfortunately i don't know much at all about showing GSDs so i can't give you any practical advice... but i'd try the breeder first of all and go from there. Please post some pics of your new pup when you get it!! we like photos but we don't post nearly enough on the WA thread!! i came home to a right mess last night... Ari - 1 Playstation 2, controllers, plugs, foxtel aerial cords - 0 Not happy!!!

You can also buy a "kong dispenser" roughy $100 bucks. They can be prgramed to release 4 kongs randomly over either 4 or 6 hrs - the kongs even come with the unit. While this doesnt help with your stuffing question - it may help you with the duration of dispensing them as it will release them over a good part of the work day. Just a thought.

what a lovely story - thanks for sharing !

Hi WA'ers ... firstly let me intriduce myself - Troy soon to be with a brand new German Shep pup... Being new to this whole doggy world stuff and not getting pup from a local breeder Im wondering how to go about getting into showing and obedence trialing (when the time comes). Im thinking that in all likelyhood local breeders will not be to "helpfull" to a newbie esp. with the showing side of things - thou I maybe under estimating the crew of course (please dont be offended if thats the case). As we are so far away from "our" breeder - I cant really get help from them.. Has anyone had any experience on ho new people (& dogs) are accepted into the dog world ? Do you have any sound advice that may help me learn how to do this showing caper ? I was just thinking it would be a heck of alot easier if you actually knew someone when first starting off... maybe I should just bipass the showing side and only do obedience, what are your thoughts? Cheers ...

Oh but of course... only a fool rushes in without first satisfing something for themself. Thats why such discussion forums are so valuable to a novice like mwah !

Just because an animal is vaccinated it does not always mean that the animal is necessarily immune. Vaccinations may lower the risk significantly but it does not always guarantee protection, a vaccinanted dog can still catch Parvo, an unvaccinated puppy can easily catch it too. Just like immunised humans can still catch diseases - uncommon, but it still happens. If there was an outbreak in my area I would certainly be taking my dog in for titre testing and re-vaccinating if his levels were low. If not, then what's the point? If a dog is immune he is immune. Pumping him with a vaccine when he doesn't need it is only going to weaken his immune system, how can that be a good thing? The US has been vaccinating dogs triennually for years with the standard vaccine. As have other countries. Australia is only now catching up. As Crisovar said, the manufacturers are labelling their vaccines as yearly, regardless of what the AVA recommends and the vets are either stuck in their ways or refusing to sign off for any longer than the label states. You make excellent point(s) ! ... cant help but agree with you: sounds like the wisest path to take. Thanks.

...or you could just pay more Every vet will tell you different, as will breeders and owners. I've had one vet tell me that vaccinations are important in the early years and later years of a dogs life and that the middle ones can be missed. Another tell me that I must vaccinate yearly with a C5 Another tell me that it's up to me, and give the options of titer test, C3 or parvac, yearly or triennually (the vet we stuck with) Another (who was from the UK) tell me that dogs should only be vaccinated every 3 years with a C3 and that we over-vaccinate in Australia... Hmmm... so who's right? The AVA is now recommending 3 yearly vaccinations http://ava.informz.net/ava/data/images/doc...inal-june09.pdf Yet most vets are still telling us that we MUST vaccinate yearly I stopped vaccinating my now 7 year old cat 2 years ago. Up until then he had been given a yearly vaccination; he limped badly, couldn't jump (he has arthritis and we were then in the process of discussing FHR surgery for him- which he didn't have), his coat was terrible and he was develloping constant abcesses and infections. He is now has a healthy full coat, hasn't limped for well over a year, no illness or infections in that time either... I won't be vaccinating him again. There-in is the problem we are all struggling with I think - so much variation in advice, it is now almost impossible to work out who is right and who is wrong: prob because they dnt know themselves. I wish there was some form of accountability we could apply, or at least a way we can "confidently" know we are using the lastest evidence based research with what we do instead of hoping that it is accurate. I dont think there is one person that given a ability to cover the cost wouldnt do the absolute best they could. Saying that though - look at the parvo outbreak at the moment in Perth and Sydney. It would be intresting to see if that was caused from 1. A failure of the majority to vaccinte against it - is it a herd immunity concept issue 2. Some mutation in the bug that has made the current vaccination non effective and a waste of our time and money 3. If the ones that were vaccinated - was it with a yearly or 3 yearly schedule. 4. Are the vaccinations available - just rubbish quality There must be a way that a scientist / animal expert can work out the cause with some degree of accuracy - if we can do it with people, surely the same can apply. Im not suggesting that we shouldnt vaccinate, or that we should - but m 10 cents worth is that surely a attempt to prevent is better than nothing. I just wish like you all it was clearer what the best advice (unbiased) was.

...or you could just pay more Every vet will tell you different, as will breeders and owners. I've had one vet tell me that vaccinations are important in the early years and later years of a dogs life and that the middle ones can be missed. Another tell me that I must vaccinate yearly with a C5 Another tell me that it's up to me, and give the options of titer test, C3 or parvac, yearly or triennually (the vet we stuck with) Another (who was from the UK) tell me that dogs should only be vaccinated every 3 years with a C3 and that we over-vaccinate in Australia... Hmmm... so who's right? The AVA is now recommending 3 yearly vaccinations http://ava.informz.net/ava/data/images/doc...inal-june09.pdf Yet most vets are still telling us that we MUST vaccinate yearly I stopped vaccinating my now 7 year old cat 2 years ago. Up until then he had been given a yearly vaccination; he limped badly, couldn't jump (he has arthritis and we were then in the process of discussing FHR surgery for him- which he didn't have), his coat was terrible and he was develloping constant abcesses and infections. He is now has a healthy full coat, hasn't limped for well over a year, no illness or infections in that time either... I won't be vaccinating him again.

Well that depends on the reason your vacinating. Take tetnus for example, current human modle for that is once every 10 yrs (though some articles suggest it may be good for 20 yrs. Hep A & B - a course of 3 shots, but often a booster is needed, esp if your at a higher exposure risk. Even babies for most of the bugs go through a course ie Measles, Mumps an Rubella, so its often more than "just once" For me, its all about risk reduction. There is a herd immunity arguement - but its a risky one: as there is no way you can know who has been vaccinated or not.. As for dogs, well - I guess the same principle remains - Im not a vet. Certainly I dont see any reason why a virus wouldnt mutate as the do with people.. Just my thoughts mind you

... Sorry mate....

Well I am using one as well ... I think the best thing you can do is is to have a chat (in person, via email or on the phone) enouigh times until your comfortable to commit. I spent several days finding out what I could before I spent my cash your foolish not to really, but I guess that depends on your individual experience which I have bugger all. What did / do I expect ? Well I only have one expectation - Results. There is zero room for error in todays society and dogs. So far, and Im only new to all this - K9 Pro has been brillant. Nope - Im not biased, I just trust the guy, my research and have a 1000% commitment to follow what he tells me to do - to the letter.

Thankyou for taking the time to reply

Hi Crew, I guess this is out there for all the perth boys & Gal Do any of you have a highy recommended vet that is knowledgeable with German Sheps, preferably SOR ? No issue, just would like to locate a quality vet that is price sensiable.... Cheers !

I love the ringing bell idea ... was thinking of getting a battery powered door chime from my pup as they have a wider base for the paw to hit on than the "counter bells" that I can find, and hanging a string of bells on my door isnt practical for my joint. Not that Ive tried the idea yet - as my pup hasnt arrived laugh...