Tralee

I doubt the definition of 'commercial purpose' can exclude profit. Therein the majority of breeders are excluded. Non-profit organisations and charities are not commercial and can never be considered commercial. Simple fact, simple conclusion. Px

Type "stud dog contract" into Google. Regards

If it is any help, I had similar concerns about sending a breeding boy to Hawaii. Fortunately for us the people had a number of web sites so it all appeared kosha. One thing about rarer breeds like the Maremma and White Shepherd is that the majority of inquiries are genuine. I am not sure how I would feel about reneging on a placement, when getting your dogs overseas is one of the best advertisements you could have. Px

Hi Saffiodaire. :) I place puppies in homes according to what the people want. There are three categories: Companion homes, Working homes, and Show/breeding homes. If your situation warrants it then you might include agility/herding/tracking/obedience. But I don't think you can conjure up a person to fit with what you want the dog to be. There has to be demand and someone wanting the dog you have. For our dogs, not every one can have a show/breeding dog and I have only had one dog out of several litters suited to agility. Like most things there is an element of good fortune involved. Good luck Px

Why should an MRI cost that much? I didn't pay that much, and X-rays for dogs and myself are comparable. I would expect $500-600 max, otherwise you should be asking why!

Hi. :) Quite clearly, from your list espinay2 the number of drugs that should not be used far outweighs the number considered safe. Add to that the number mentioned that should be used with care and also considering that those approved for use may simply be below the threshold of studies done or observations made, then the balance sheet for medications and dogs in 'cinta' is very unfavourable. Nobody likes intervention, either vivisection or medication. The way forward must be healthy dogs in biosecure environments. Px

Now I can't remember what the original one was ?? 'twas a gold-shaded sibe. Wishing now that I had copied it. :D

Hi All. :) It might have been mentioned already but Troy has a new Avatar. I want to register my approval however, I did like the original one. I also noticed the new avatar appears to be a section of the Dogzonline signature, a puppy in a play bow. Does this mean you want to play Troy? :D Px

Here is some independent advice that contradicts giving amoxicillin which is generally considered safe by most. Studies have not been done on the use of most antibiotics with dogs. Which Antibiotics? Also

Hi jr_inoz. :) Antibiotics? Not I would need to look up the article but it is a recent one I've read. If its not bothering her why risk taking her to the Vet where she may pick something up. A dog in whelp has a compromised immune system hence the extra biosecurity required. Personally I wouldn't take a pregnant bitch within cooee of a Vet. Regards Px

Shocked and stunned. Hardly legal I might add. Are you in NSW? PX

Hi Mason Gibbs. Dogs will scratch for many reasons. One of the little known causes is the irritation of lose short hairs. They will also preen themselves with their teeth to remove lose hair. My dogs can be totally flealess and still scratch frantically. Px

Oh, I don't know. If by the 'burbs' you mean built up areas then I have moved my dogs from Redcliffe, to Narrabri, Broken Hill, Lismore, Nimbin (on farm), Casino, Koonorigan (on farm), and back to Lismore again over the last seven years. They are easily able to make the transition from working their paddock/yard to walking in the street. Obviously, I do not support the view that Maremma should become feral which was the view I encountered at the Vet clinic recently. I think allowing any dog to develop into something that is not dog friendly and people friendly is what's irresponsible. Regards Px

You must be joking - I actually took the victims of a car theft to the police station a couple of years back - their two Maremmas just stood in the yard barking while a couple of youths drove up to the homestead went inside & removed the keys to a Landcruiser that were hanging on a nail near the back door. By the time the landowner got back down to the house from milking to see what the commotion was, vehicle & spare cash lying around in the kitchen had gone! The Landcruiser was located two days later - full of stolen goods. Yep. There are some funny stories. Then there are those Maremma that almost need to be shot before you can get close to them. Mine won't let anyone inside the fence. All dogs only have a potential at best. Getting them to their full potential doesn't happen by accident. Px

efowler :) Hi, and thanks for putting all the options on the table. I wasn't being lazy just sceptical. It is good to hear that the new Animal Science Degrees are high powered courses. I was at CSU WAGGA WAGGA the year before the new Veterinary Facilities were opened and I am aware of the opportunities that are now offered. I, myself, teach Science and personally hold qualifications from seven universities. But I am approaching the end of my career and the point about taking on more clinic responsibilities is related to my interest in spending more time in our kennels and personally providing more of that type of care for our dogs. If my local Vet can make a total 'balls up' of the simplest procedures then I'm sure I couldn't do any worse. Good Luck with your work in pounds and shelters. Px

Hi Flick Mac. :) My point was:

My bitch had a singleton in her first litter. But I know the reason. He jumped her right at the end of her cycle even though I was trying to keep them apart for the next season. Her ovulation rate was obviously low and at the end of her season. Now, I have had nine calls above the number of dogs produced in a litter. I alway have more homes than pups. Let me use an analogy for the place of science. We produce the most productive cotton yields on the planet. It well exceeds anything the Americans can do and we do it with much less water. But, producers are not satisfied with the yields, or the inputs, and science is being employed to increase decrease them respectively. One of the aims of theriogenology and reproductive technology in small animals is to develop management procedures to optimise reproductive rates. Undersupply and demand make it practically unavoidable. Of course, quality cannot be disregarded or the exercise becomes futile. Regards Px

LizT I am not trying to single you out from the others but I don't understand that viewpoint at all. Why wouldn't people want to know something about: Wasn't that the OP's question? Are veterinary courses done in vain? Is there no place in our own infrequent and amateur breeding for: Px

Hi Huntia. :) There are 'soft' and 'hard' courses. There is a very real distinction between Animal Science courses and Veterinary Science ones. At the moment the BScV at UQ looks like the real deal. I mention this because in a kennel situation I think it would be useful to be able to do some of the things that need to be done in a clinic. I believe the Americans can do their own vaccinations. That's a minimum of 2nd year nursing for administering injections here in Aus or it used to be. The UNE course is probably one of the soft ones but I don't know a lot about it. It would be good I think if you had employees and wanted them to have qualifications. But if it is no better than a tafe course, then why bother with the time and money? Px

You're very welcome. I hope you had a nice Birthday. :)

Hhmmm... Tricky question. I am not surprised by the responses and they are quite common when this question is raised about large breed livestock guardians. Of course, the replies are quite correct but if the dog has caught your interest, then you may not be so easily deterred. I was not put off getting a Maremma despite some heavy recommendations about an inability to understand or manage an unknown breed. But what I find intriguing is the thing that attracts us to a particular dog in the first place. I don't think it is just superfically because we like the appearance of the dog. There is something else, its like the challenge and mystery and the sense of confidence in being able to master the task. Its all unspoken but it is deep and multilayered. My Maremma could not be better candidates for illustration. The great overpowering rambunctious brute I was told to expect turned out to be a total and complete pussycat. The wrong temperament for a Maremma? No! I asked for a companion and her breeder knew what she was doing. The second dog was very highly strung and took considerable work. But he was what I was expecting a Maremma to be. However, he has mellowed into a lovely gentleman. My puppy girl on the other hand doesn't have a peer when it comes to 'working' temperament. Too far the other way? Not at all. She was raised 'on farm' and was left to do what Maremma do best. She has not disappointed. However, in town, because she has been brought in to the Vet and other places she is a complete lady. Nevertheless, if she is walking with the other three dogs out in the street she needs to be muzzled. Dangerous dog? Well don't exaggerate 'protective.' She was born and raised looking after the other dogs and that's what she does. Notwithstanding her 'guardian trait' I have been able to curb here zeal to chase off what she deems threatening and unwanted. So my point is this. The breed temperament of a dog is only a potential. The dog, in the hands of the right person, possibly the person who finds an intrigue in its stature, is simply clay. The dog will be what you make it. Regards Px

I am clearly not across all the issues, so I have not tried to analyse the comments that have been made here. That doesn't mean that I will not be looking to find some compliance between the state laws and regulations with my own practices. From what I can discern from what is written here, there seems to be objections to the powers of inspectors based upon abuses of similar powers in the past. It is easy to be critical the proposal being presented, until the question of what would you suggest in its place is asked. Clearly something has to be done and one theme running through the document is a collection of data. That data could then be used to re-evaluate the status quo and I have an inkling that this proposaL, if it gets up, in one or other of its variants, will not be the last word on the matter. More to the point, the power of the inspectors seems to me to be quite benign, remebering that it is not proposed that there be a return to the past. It will probably raise more questions than it will answer but that is a healthy process. If no questions were raised the document would be stagnant. Px

Just crazy It gets washed out every other year. Some of the worst conditions I've had to perservere with. Makes me cringe every year when I see the Show Schedule.

Hi yarracully. :) I understand you were replying to wags. However, in your zeal to attack the RSPCA you have overlooked important parts of the proposal. So, your point about power being misplaced is a misrepresentation. The inspectors appointed under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 will be independent and their power will be raised to Law Enforcement, an outside agency. Unfortunately this makes the remainder of your critique redundant. The new legislation may in fact redress the abuses of power that have occurred in the past. Regards Px

There was a similar concern in Queensland in 2004. Several theories were circulated about what was happening. Good show dogs were thought to have been taken for overseas markets. The dog fighting theory was also put forward. More people need a Maremma - bred to keep the thieves off the lambs. Px