Tralee

That. Is a very interesting question.

Hi dancinbcs. In answer to your query, No. I quote from Tom's email: Regards Px

Yep! They are great adventurers. One day, one of mine is going to wander off onto a ship docked at port just before it casts off and well ... Bon voyage petit chien. Px

Hi snake catcher. Good work! But this might need to go in Lost and Found in case someone is looking. Px

Hi Alyosha. Exactly. It also stinks of an attempt to be seen to be doing something. I just hope that after this, in terms of large and small byb, their record can be better than most other authorities. We have a huge multi-facility kennel here that ... umpf don't start me talkin'. Px

Hi espinay. And thank you for your detailed response. I think, Why? is a reasonable question and I find a hint to the answer in the Preface. The way I read this paragraph is as a baseline in which to evaluate breeding establishments. Small ventures should easily meet the observation of 'animal’s health, safety and well-being' so it smacks of a preparation for overseeing larger enterprises. The guilding or the silver lining in it I think is the hidden targetting of byb. That can only be a good thing. For occassional breeders, there are some eye opening suggestions and those I welcome and embrace. It would be enough I think to leave it to smaller breeding programs to self evaluate and make accomodations as they see fit. Of course, blatant breeches should not be condoned and as I said I think the documant prepares the way for 'better' animal care. Px

oops

Hi Polgara's Shadow One of my new born pups was nauseated by motion on his first strip to the Vet. Sweaty and clammy on arrival and after that he could never travel. The Vet gave us tablets and we eventually sent him off to Hawaii with his meds and he arrived fine. Px

Hi mace. Its a very interesting point that you make about. Now that I think about it our dogs never saw the inside of a Veterinary Clinic either. If fact, I can't tell you where the Veterinary Clinics were or if there were any other than The Lort Smith. Nowadays, there's practically a Vet on every corner. I can't count the number in Lismore/Goonellabah and there are only about six people in the whole town. (I don't know who all the other people are. I think they're like the grey wanderers :D) Px

Could be an allergy. And that's hardly a controlled scientific study. I don't have any skin inflamation issues but 'Winja' gets heat spots no matter what he is eating. What does condern me is this: "supermarket foods ... are high in salt to make them palatable." Supercoat is not supposed to have artifical additives, but salt is considered non-artificial. Px

Hi mace. I used to use Supercoat. But Big W has 15kg bags of Pedigree for under $30. I get 25 meals or 6 days out of one bag. (There are four large breed dogs) I buy 4 bags a month because they get other stuff as well. That's not bad housekeeping if I say so. I also find that Pedigree has a variety of kibble/biscuits in it whereas Supercoat is a single kibble product. I would like to give them Hill's Science Diet or Eukanuba but the cost would be prohibitive. I don't mind supplementing Pedigree with fresh meat and Pedigree in tins. Px

Hi saxonpup. That is correct except in some areas the local community do not want dogs or cats. Several Northern Rivers communities do not like cats or dogs. But I have four dogs now. Mum, Dad, Big Brother and Little Sister. I remember at first I just wanted one. Out of the many things that I've undertaken in my extensive years, this would have to be up there with the best. I love how they each have their own personalities, and different way of doing things. I love how they each have different needs and how they interact with the other dogs. It is interesting during breeding season and the other main issue I've learned to minimise is 'the big green eyed monster.' After 'the build' next year I will be getting mates for the two younger dogs. The additional code that has beed added to the 'Code of Ethics' means I will have to do more for rescue but we've already housed other Maremmas. The best thing for a dog is another dog and anyone who only has one dog I would have to say ... Well I won't say. I may be single, but I still have a family. Px

Maybe you could help her out and give her a brush. It is in effect a double coat if its not removed. She'd be much cooler. :cool: Px

Hi Nik And Merry Christmas Of course, you'd expect that from the pretentious snobs on the Mornington Peninsula. So if you get it wrong then they know you're not 'us'. Portsea hole is well named and is not the hyped up dive experience advertised. Since Williamstown is our old stamping ground any of the beaches that are not exclusively between the Life Saving Club and The Fearon are off the front beach. We don't talk like the Mornington hoity toity but around behind the football ground is sometimnes referred to as the back beach. More usually it is Shelly Beach because of all the shell grit that covers the sand. Most other places around the world don't follow Mornington's distortion. Altona you say@! Where is Altona? Do people actually live there? Px

Hi shells And Merry Christmas Same here. Except my girl is also in pup. I brushed and bathed her yesterday. It has made some difference. I will brush her again this afternoon. Becasue she is in pup she has not blown her coat. This is making her warmer and I will not be whelping dogs in summer again. She also has a short evening walk, something she has not had recently since we moved from a farm. It may take a couple of walks to alter the labs metabolism and improve her muscle tone. The other thing that we have done is put a fan in her kennel, she has the whole downstairs laundry. And water is constantly available. These three simple things together have decreased her her puffing and she looks much more comfortable. Good Luck Px

Hi Sky If you are on a peninsula then the front beach is the ocean side and the back beach is the bay or river side. Other times, like the Williamstown penisnula, the front beach is the bay beach and the back beach is the river beach. Manly in NSW is another good example. Both beaches are in the harbour so the main beach is the front beach. Back beaches tend to be much grungier. Px

Hi voloclydes. There is a health insurance plan for dogs and cats on the Woolworths Frequent Flyer Program. I think it has to be the cheapest I've seen. Px

Exactly But now I will be more disciplined with the 'spend' so whatever it has cost over the past years will be conservative at best. After the 'build' next year I am hoping to add some dog related income. Px

Hi SwaY. Vet bills are killing us at the moment. They keep taking money from our planned 'build' and I need to take control. I think its just insidious the things the dogs need attention to that creep up on us. Our last one was meds for 'heat spots' Px

HI mish13. The account attracts fees unless $1000 a month is deposited, so I've made a direct deposit arrangement. I figure $100 each week should remain in the account to provide for the five dogs. In business, the aim is not so much to make a profit but to cut your losses. It's the same with keeping dogs. I wouldn't want to suffer the fate of 'the lazy servant'.

Hi Well worth the pain I would have thought. People getting pups through DOL are practically guaranteed integrity. DOL will even help you with buyers who prove to be a PIA. Like someone who wants a puppy freighted to NZ for the price of a postage stamp. Congratulations kascade and Welcome.

Hi I've been looking recently, just this week actually, at shipping from Italy. Hmmm. Denmark via Italy. Poland via Italy. I hope they don't get them mixed up. I wasn't too concerned about the cost, but if the saving differential outweighs the risk and hassle then I could be interested. Px

Hi It very sensibly is in the middle of the school holidays. Px

Hi Pav Lova. It is good to know your dogs get lots of exercise. Mine are not so active, but they do need psychological stimulation. You know what she's doing.

what's statue's got to do with anything Sorry. Let me help you. It should read statute, unless of course your neighbour wants to pee on it. :D Px