Alkhe

I was so excited when I saw Black Hawk in a pet supply store near me - have browsed this thread a few times. But much to my disappointment, it seems to disagree with my girl's tummy. So strange, she's a hoover dog who eats everything (she loves BH, no problems there!) but it gave her almost-diarrhoea, very loose stools and gas, and she's been getting up during the night to go too. It's the only thing in her diet I changed, and I put her back on Royal Canin and now we're back to normal. Back to Royal Canin for us! The remaining 99% of the Black Hawk bag has been gifted to mum's dogs :laugh:

Wow, baptism by fire, much? No wonder it took me months of reading before I was ever brave enough to post anything here. If everyone is so quick to jump on new people, the only ones who stay are the argumentative types. Stick around the forum, neon - there are lots of wonderful and friendly people, you have to take some responses with a grain of salt. :)

Great thread I have a 4 year old, and soon will be bringing my 10 year old to live with us - though the way they interact has so much more to do wtih personality/temperament than age. Even their activity levels don't reflect their age. Mimi (10 year old) is far more active, fast and playful at the park than Maggie, and both are lazy buggers that sleep most of the day apart from that. :laugh:

I don't know any of these dogs personally, but I personally really admire the organisation Rescued With Love. There's a little girl called Rosie there at the moment who is approx 4: http://www.rescuedwithlove.org/dogsweneedahome.htm There are some other girls who will be up for adoption shortly, including a 12 or 16 week old pup they just took in, who had been dyed pink then left in a pound.

I agree. How could you get up in arms about this being about wanting to "cut corners" anyway? We're talking about $40 here!! She's just taken on an old dog, I'm sure a discounted registration is hardly going to have an effect either way. If I acquired a purebed dog by any means, one of the first things I'd do would be to see about contacting the breeder. My girl's breeder (and most on this forum I'm sure) would be overjoyed to hear about one of their dogs doing well and having a new owner who obviously cared enough to contact them! Who gives a rats if there's an added benefit or motivation? Bizarre..

I have REAL Pet insurance and so far am extremely satisfied. From memory I get back 80% or something, and the pay outs I’ve received so far have come within 2 working days. I also got a $50 cash back for having been with them for over 12 months even though I claimed during this time. No complaints from me – the process has been far easier and stress free than I had ever imagined, or have ever experienced from any other kind of insurance. I’ve heard some horror stories about Medibank, including them refusing to pay out claims, requiring swathes of documentation after having been approved for things. A friend is currently having significant issues getting Medibank to pay out a claim because she is unable to provide documentation for vet visits during a 9 month or so period, when the dog HAD no vet visits. She’s now cancelling her insurance with them.

They did. :) At first Alaska wouldn't come out of the kennel because there were 3 strange people standing at the gate but as soon as I took Jaz in on the lead, she came running out of the kennel to greet her and was all of a sudden alot braver and not so shy. :laugh: She becomes alot more confident with her Mum around. The other day when I was walking her though, this guy was approaching from the opposite direction. He stopped and held out his hand to pat her and for the first time ever she walked forward, tail wagging, ready to get a pat. I was so proud of her. There was a time when she'd sh!t herself in that situation and hide behind me. happy tears, that's so gorgeous! Mummy love is universal I guess :D

Ooooh yes. Maggie knows very well that she won't get food from me at the table, but OH is the softest touch ever. I could give her 4 dinners and he'd still believe that the look she was giving him clearly proves that I'm starving her.

Aw, what a gorgeous old girl :) I have a bit of an off topic (and probably stupid!) question .. but do mums and pups recognise each other when they haven't seen each other for a while? I've always been curious about that, and have this bucket list wish of one day meeting up with my dog's pups (who would now be about 18 months) and seeing them all together.. (:blush:) but I'm just not sure whether they'd even recognise each other? From those pics it looks like they have been together forever, but I've just got no idea!

Hey There was a thread about American Bulldogs recently, see here: http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/237145-american-johnson-bulldog/page__p__5822581__hl__%2Bamerican+%2Bbulldog__fromsearch__1#entry5822581 I believe they're not recognised by the Australian National Kennel Club (ANKC) so they can't be shown at any shows run by any canine councils in Australia. Basically, there are a couple of hundred breeds that are recognised by the ANKC, and those that aren't (and cross breeds) aren't able to be shown or registered by these councils. It appears that there is a registry in Australia which may run shows(?) - The American Bulldog Registry Downunder, and an American Bulldog National Breed Council. Perhaps have a google around and you'll be able to find some breeders who are in some way affiliated with this.

I often find half eaten foodstuffs in my washing basket or bed. Whenever I get home Maggie runs to the door and then runs STRAIGHT into my room to get a toy, or whatever food thing she's left in my room. Half a greenie, half a biscuit, pig's ear.. I'm assuming to make sure I don't find it first and prevent her from finishing it :laugh:

The muzzle thing is a legislative requirement in most states of Australia, and it basically stems from the fact that greyhounds are considered livestock rather than companion animals. Theyo nly have to wear them in public though, not all the time. I totally understand the image thing, but they are truly the most placid, lazy couch potatoes, and though I don't have kids, if I did a greyhound is one of the first breeds I'd look at. It sounds like I'm a paid marketer for them but I really do believe that they're such gorgeous and under-appreciated animals. The one I fostered was 4 years old, and loved kids. When we went out walking he lapped up attention from everyone, large and small, and stood there patiently while kids patted him and I explained to their parents that no, he's not aggressive, he just has to wear the muzzle because it's the law. Some people were still wary but they're such placid and gentle things that most were won over very quickly. Being sighthounds, they can have high prey drive and would chase after small animals like rabbits etc, given the chance. Though as with any breed, some individuals are more like this than others, and you'd be able to find many greys wouldn't bat an eyelid as that requires too much effort. Here are a few links to greyhoudn rescue organisations which have lots of information regarding greyhounds as pets, why they make great pets, and how they're great with kids etc. These are Vic ones, as they're the ones I know most about. They also have 'success stories' and 'greyhounds in their new home' type pages, and many of those are with kids http://greyhoundrescue.com.au/ - have a look at this page here: http://greyhoundrescue.com.au/success-stories/foxy/ Greyhound Safety Net - http://www.greyhoundsafetynet.org/ Friends of the Hound (NSW) - http://www.friendsofthehound.org.au/about_greyhounds.htm Greyhound Haven (Tas) - http://www.greyhoundhaven.com Regarding fostering arrangements, it's probably something you have to ask each rescue - if you have a google for dog rescuse in SA, or even scan through petrescue.com.au, you'll find links to websites. Most rescues will have information about fostering arrangements there. I'm more than happy to answer any specific questions or chat via PM if you'd like. :)

Wow, your answers to those questions really do scream greyhound to me too! There are a couple of ways to go about finding a greyhound rescue. One thing to bear in mind (which I don't actually think is important at all) is that unless a greyhound has gone through the Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP) program in your state, it will be required to wear a muzzle in public. It's really no problem but some people take a bit of convicning to get past the image thing. The dogs themselves don't mind at all - when I fostered a grey last year, getting the muzzle out was the same as getting the lead out to him, he'd shove his face into it as fast as possible, it was so exciting.. basically it just signalled time for a walk! Greyhounds that have beeen through the GAP program wear green collars to denote that, and don't have to wear a muzzle in public. I'm not sure about SA, but in Vic, greyhounds from GAP only spend a few weeks at a time in foster care, and are kenneled apart from that. There are a bunch of private rescues that take greyhounds from pounds, or direct from trainers etc, and place them in foster care. I personally would go down thsi route, just because they tend to be with foster carers for longer and thus the carers get to know them better. They are by and large a very child friendly breed, and very calm and loving dogs - but the foster carer and/or rescue organisation will be able to match you with the perfect dog. You haven't mentioned anything about cats, which can be problematic - it can be harder find a greyhound that is able to live with cats, beacuse some have quite high prey drives. The one I fostered was far too interests in cats to have been able to live with one, but others would be fine. I know abunch of Vic and NSW based Greyhound rescues, not any SA ones, but others will be able to help you there. GAP SA is here though: www.gapsa.org.au - all the GAP programs are run separately, so vary state by state. My information may not be 100% accurate for the SA chapter. The organisation I fostered for is NSW based with a chapter in Vic, but would rehome interstate- you'd probably want to meet and have a trial run first though, before actually adopting. There are a number of facebook pages that yuo could join to read more about the hounds that need homes - as heartbreaking as it is, I love seeing grey anecdotes popping up in my feed every day. Sorry about the essay, I am just er, quite passionate about greyhounds :laugh: I can't wait to move in a couple of months and start hoarding them! Or.. fostering..

What a gorgeous photo I used to see a young boy at the park with his Whippet - he was so in love with him (the Whippet, Oliver) and so knowledgeable about the breed. He talked my ear off about them, and the difference between Whippets and Italian Greyhounds (I was babysitting one at the time) and it was really lovely to see :)

Sometimes it's just nice to know and make contact. I had no real reason to join Dogs Vic and transfer my dog's registration to my name, as she's "just a pet", but did anyway cause she's on the main register and.. why not?

People always tell me that I've got a very mismatched dog. :laugh: They expect something more along the lines of a big, maybe black and "mean" looking thing with a studded collar. Or chunky and "mean" looking. Or something that looks like a big scruffy mutt. My OH is the same - people are like.. .. poodle.. ?? You have a poodle?? Yep. Instead, I have a Toy Poodle that grandmas and old ladies love to gush over. It rules.

Hi selkii - when you got him from your stepmother did you get any paperwork? If his registered name is Dahlet Dark Knight it sounds as though he's registered already. The other thing might be to ask in the Shar Pei thread - http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/105829-shar-pei-thread/page__st__15210 It may be useful to get in contact with Dogs NSW and explain your situation to them, and see whether they are able to point you in the right direction. Privacy concerns may mean they can't actually give you contact details, but they may be able to contact her on your behalf, and give your details to her.

Oh god, I just read through this whole thread with my heart in my mouth. I never thought I'd be so glad to read about a misdiagnosis! Brilliant news :thumbsup:

I just have to add - you're totally allowed to go a bit Paris Hilton if it's your first small dog :laugh: Sometimes you just have to indulge the unearthly desire to put clothes on them or put them in a bag or carry them like a baby...

You can't go wrong with Ian Dunbar's puppy book, available online at www.dogstardaily.com (and also in normal book form). Click the 'trainimg textbook' link. I'd also suggest Patricia mcconnell's 'the other end of the leash'. It's not strictly a training book, but reading it made me a much better owner and it's full of gems as well as being an easy and enjoyable read. I'm also really enjoying 'in defense of dogs' by john Bradshaw- also not a training book but again, I'm learning so so much and it has been very enlightening. Also well written, and the kind of thing I'm going to give anyone I know who's getting a new dog. Those last two are the kind of thing that make me so happy and thankful to be a dog owner :) Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Best friends are those that double as blankets.. After a bath and blow dry.. I put the dryer away and came out into the lounge to find this..

One of the arguments used by anti "designer dogs" is that designer dogs like "cavoodles" and "spoodles" etc. are bred in puppy farms. If a puppy farm is registered or if a puppy is sold through a pet shop i.e. domestic animal business they must be microchipped. Does anyone have any actual data or stats that support this theory The 'theory' that they're bred in puppy farms? The problem is that there's no universally accepted version of what a 'puppy farm' is. Some establishments that I would consider puppy farms are actually registered businesses that are licensed to do what they do - thus, they're not illegal. Being legal in my opinion doesn't make them okay, or something that I would ever consider supporting by buying a dog from them. Nobody advertises that they're a puppy farm, that would be marketing suicide. But a lot of registered establishments that are perfectly legal domestic animal businesses that microchip their pups and operate all above board, but are what I would consider puppy farms. A lot of similar establishment aren't registered though. I'd never support either kind, regardless of how legal and officially legitimate they are. I'm not going to name establishments on here, but there are a number of "kennels" with nice sounding names like heatherview palace or blah blah fields, that type of thing, that you can order puppies from online. They're not going to put pictures of animals kept in cages and continually bred from. They have pictures that look like stock, getty images type photos of puppies running through fields etc. Lots of crosses like cavoodles, spoodle etc, are bred by "backyard breeders" - you find them through ads in the paper, and someone's bred their pet or decided to start breeding dogs. Those aren't what I would consider puppy farms, but they're equally not something that I want to support. Have a google, it won't take you long to find some pretty shocking things. I agree with your definition of "puppy farm/factory". The term "puppy farm" conjures up different images into different people’s heads but normally its images of dogs in tiny cages in their own filth etc. These same images have been used by animal liberation type groups to get the publics attention but I came across a thread on the burkes backyard forum about a new "kennel" being built in Victoria. Some people have called it a "puppy farm" and although I don't support commercial breeders I was surprised to read that this breeder intends to build a "dog park" with sand pits and even an in ground swimming pool amongst other things. They have a website that goes over everything www.hepburnpark.com Would you consider this place a "puppy farm"? Look, I'm not going to get into the realm of defamation and unsubstantiated comments, but my understanding is that that establishment is being developed by the operator of a known .. establishment that I in no way support. I could never lend my support to any operation, commercial or otherwise, that exists to breed dogs like that. Crosses, designed to cater to a market that really should be educated and informed. That's a nice website with great PR and it's slick and could really be marketing anything. It's got a lot of words but they don't actually say anything. (I'm a bureaucrat, I'm very adept at writing crap like that and smoothing things over and promising everything while providing nothing. I can recognise it a mile away, too.) Dogs don't give a rat's about landscaping and how pristine gardens are. That's designed to appeal to people, and no amount of landscaping, lawns, paths, hedges and trees are going to convince me that something like that is something worth supporting in principle, financially, or in any other way. The whole website reads like it's trying to convince me of its virtue and almost cover its arse - to me, it screams run a mile. The part defending itself against Animal Activists as if they're a cohesive group of devilish clones with a unified agenda who could never supporting the breeding of dogs, is ludicrous. And it's dog whistling. I find places that are designed and purpose built to breed dogs like that fundamentally unnecessary. I disagree with them on principle, and even if the dogs are given access to a "private dog park" and whelp in boxes with whatever thickness of insulated whatever.. I don't care. What Jed said is spot on - dogs aren't agricultural creatures and they can't be treated that way. The pictures on that site are from god knows where, as it appears that the place hasn't even been finished yet. Whether I think it's a puppy farm or factory or whatever is irrelevant, really. I don't condone places like that - and look, who cares what I personally condone. I'm just a loser on an internet forum who's very passionate about animals. There's been enough discussion about this kind of thing on this and other forums, I don't know what else I can say that will really clarify or shed light on or do anything other than add to the white noise. My moral objections aren't going to change this or any other similar place. All I know is that while there are great rescues and brilliant breeders out there, I'm not going to lend any credence to places like that. Yes, there are dodgy rescues and sh*t ANKC registered breeders who aren't worth the weight of hte paper their pedigrees are printed on. I wouldn't buy a pup fro them either - slick marketing, a dot com and a Harry Potter-esque logo does not a good breeder make. I agree with some of your points but my question was would you consider this place a "puppy farm" not if you condone this place. I don't think I could condone this type of place but it doesn't really fit into my definition of a "puppy farm" either. When I think of puppy farms I think of dogs being kept in filthy places with very little or no vet care, no socialization and normally very hidden. This place hasn't been built yet but if it was to be built the way the owner says it will it's difficult for me to see how the dogs would be suffering and its clearly being open about its intentions and motivations. I don't like the idea of dogs being bred for money but it doesn't automatically mean suffering for the dogs, so when your niece comes to you and says she wants to buy a "cavoodle" from Hepburn Park and you say they are a puppy farm what do you say when she answers "no they're not, look they have dog parks, they are clean and even have a swimming pool etc."? How do you convince your niece without using words like "probably" "may" "usually" "often" in other words not assuming the worst is happening there but having some proof of the suffering taking place there? The answer is, I don't know. I'd hedge on the side of 'yes', it's a puppy farm. What the place says on its website doesn't necessarily have any bearing on what it actually is. Dog parks and swimming pools don't really mean anything. They're not going to say that their dogs are kept in cages - and while it's conjecture, I highly doubt that this place will end up being as open and transparent as its website suggests at the moment. Some places that I definitely consider to be puppy farms have similar websites. As for how I convince my hypothetical niece - the same way I engage with anyone else. Point them to rescues, talk with them about what they want, and what kind of breed, age etc, would best match them. Explain why I chose to go to a breeder, and how and why I chose the breeder that I did. Explaining the importance of health, why I think it's best to go to someone who prioritises that, and has a well thought out breeding program, rather than someone who could be lumped in with puppy farming and the whole whole industry. At the end of the day, everybody is going to make their own choice around what dog they get and where they get it from. I don't see a problem with 'probably', 'may', 'often', etc. Most people are quite reasonable and open if you talk to them in an open and interested way - it's not about brow beating someone into not buying from a particular place.

Dogs are not agricultural animals. Dogs are pets, workers, companions. Dogs may be bred in large establishments, but no matter how many ponds, pools, sand pits, or gardener recommendations they may have the basic philosophy is totally flawed. You can breed cows and pigs and sheep like that, because you are going to eat them, not play with them. Dogs from those places are sometimes ok, but often not. When people buy them, they have no idea what the pup will turn into. I notice that the dogs which are bred in these establishments are the "easy" breeds, it doesn't matter if you abuse them, they probably wont attack you. And they are being abused. Additionally, the only reason anyone would keep multiple dogs like that is M O N E Y. It seems to me that to breed dogs like that is not very ethical, but an excellent way of making a lot of money. Burke may recommend it, but what does he know of dogs? He is a gardener. He doesn't even know enough to know it is just wrong ... and if he does, he doesn't care, because he is making money. And he is bashing the ANKC which has always been his motive, according to what he said years ago. Additionally, the parent dogs come from dodgy sources - other puppy farms, pet shops, markets, stolen, from classified ads for giveaway purebreds, by people who bought a pet and couldn't persist with it. Surely none of these places are a good source of breeding dogs. There is a psychological component to breeding good pups, and puppy farms can't provide it. You wouldn't breed the pony down the road to the baker's horse and expect Black Caviar. Why do people expect a good pet when bred from 4th rate stock kept in misery bred by people whose only interest is the income? And every time someone buys one of these oodly pups, they are condeming yet more harmless little dogs to lives of utter misery, with insufficient human contact. And being kept in a cage with messy eyes isn't the only horror. Being kept with other dogs with insufficient human interaction, not going anywhere off the place, being given rudimentary grooming and care, and being put down when you can't breed any more isn't very appealing either. No one who is right minded could possibly think this is the right way to breed dogs. No one who is informed and right minded could possibly think this is the place to buy a family pet, or an obedience prospect, or a tracker from. Just read this post again. Such a great, great post - I thought i'd read all the best ways of putting it but you've really hit the nail on the head.

Sorry, I'm a late withdrawal :( Have fun guys!!

I agree with everything you said, Jed. Great post Sometimes I wish this forum had the ability to give people reputation points! One of the arguments used by anti "designer dogs" is that designer dogs like "cavoodles" and "spoodles" etc. are bred in puppy farms. If a puppy farm is registered or if a puppy is sold through a pet shop i.e. domestic animal business they must be microchipped. Does anyone have any actual data or stats that support this theory The 'theory' that they're bred in puppy farms? The problem is that there's no universally accepted version of what a 'puppy farm' is. Some establishments that I would consider puppy farms are actually registered businesses that are licensed to do what they do - thus, they're not illegal. Being legal in my opinion doesn't make them okay, or something that I would ever consider supporting by buying a dog from them. Nobody advertises that they're a puppy farm, that would be marketing suicide. But a lot of registered establishments that are perfectly legal domestic animal businesses that microchip their pups and operate all above board, but are what I would consider puppy farms. A lot of similar establishment aren't registered though. I'd never support either kind, regardless of how legal and officially legitimate they are. I'm not going to name establishments on here, but there are a number of "kennels" with nice sounding names like heatherview palace or blah blah fields, that type of thing, that you can order puppies from online. They're not going to put pictures of animals kept in cages and continually bred from. They have pictures that look like stock, getty images type photos of puppies running through fields etc. Lots of crosses like cavoodles, spoodle etc, are bred by "backyard breeders" - you find them through ads in the paper, and someone's bred their pet or decided to start breeding dogs. Those aren't what I would consider puppy farms, but they're equally not something that I want to support. Have a google, it won't take you long to find some pretty shocking things. I agree with your definition of "puppy farm/factory". The term "puppy farm" conjures up different images into different people’s heads but normally its images of dogs in tiny cages in their own filth etc. These same images have been used by animal liberation type groups to get the publics attention but I came across a thread on the burkes backyard forum about a new "kennel" being built in Victoria. Some people have called it a "puppy farm" and although I don't support commercial breeders I was surprised to read that this breeder intends to build a "dog park" with sand pits and even an in ground swimming pool amongst other things. They have a website that goes over everything www.hepburnpark.com Would you consider this place a "puppy farm"? Look, I'm not going to get into the realm of defamation and unsubstantiated comments, but my understanding is that that establishment is being developed by the operator of a known .. establishment that I in no way support. I could never lend my support to any operation, commercial or otherwise, that exists to breed dogs like that. Crosses, designed to cater to a market that really should be educated and informed. That's a nice website with great PR and it's slick and could really be marketing anything. It's got a lot of words but they don't actually say anything. (I'm a bureaucrat, I'm very adept at writing crap like that and smoothing things over and promising everything while providing nothing. I can recognise it a mile away, too.) Dogs don't give a rat's about landscaping and how pristine gardens are. That's designed to appeal to people, and no amount of landscaping, lawns, paths, hedges and trees are going to convince me that something like that is something worth supporting in principle, financially, or in any other way. The whole website reads like it's trying to convince me of its virtue and almost cover its arse - to me, it screams run a mile. The part defending itself against Animal Activists as if they're a cohesive group of devilish clones with a unified agenda who could never supporting the breeding of dogs, is ludicrous. And it's dog whistling. I find places that are designed and purpose built to breed dogs like that fundamentally unnecessary. I disagree with them on principle, and even if the dogs are given access to a "private dog park" and whelp in boxes with whatever thickness of insulated whatever.. I don't care. What Jed said is spot on - dogs aren't agricultural creatures and they can't be treated that way. The pictures on that site are from god knows where, as it appears that the place hasn't even been finished yet. Whether I think it's a puppy farm or factory or whatever is irrelevant, really. I don't condone places like that - and look, who cares what I personally condone. I'm just a loser on an internet forum who's very passionate about animals. There's been enough discussion about this kind of thing on this and other forums, I don't know what else I can say that will really clarify or shed light on or do anything other than add to the white noise. My moral objections aren't going to change this or any other similar place. All I know is that while there are great rescues and brilliant breeders out there, I'm not going to lend any credence to places like that. Yes, there are dodgy rescues and sh*t ANKC registered breeders who aren't worth the weight of hte paper their pedigrees are printed on. I wouldn't buy a pup fro them either - slick marketing, a dot com and a Harry Potter-esque logo does not a good breeder make.