JRG

The OP was talking about a gundog - bred to hunt and retrieve game. In a normal hunting scenario, noise would not be tolerated as there would be no game left in the paddock to hunt.

Interesting conversation because voice (either barking or whining) is an elimination/major fault in spaniel field trials and no one would breed from a dog that gives tongue. Which brings up the question - are BC's allowed to bark when they are working sheep? I would not think it desireable in real life if you want to keep the mob calm.

Maybe I should bring Barkley to liven up the proceedings! He can't go anywhere without something in his mouth (stones, plastic bottles, biscuits, paper) He must have had great early training!!!

People with working bred springers tend to use them for what they were bred for ie hunting and retrieving! so I guess that is why you do not see too many in dog sports.

Spot on Pots in Ballarat will make you one or there are small cattle troughs about in some of the stock food places. As you can tell, I have the same problems as you do! Edited to add - if you put a splash of cider vinegar in the water it will stop the algae from growing - also good for the dogs and mine really like it!

Had a bitch once that could tell when people had been visiting even if she had not seen or heard them; she would go to the exact chair and sniff the air as though the person was still sitting in it and, if she knew that person, would start to wag her tail. If is was a stranger she would not be happy and would back off and stare at the chair. She even knew if they had been to the toilet or elsewhere in the house. Very spooky

Give her a separate bed close to the whelping box so she can get away and dig all she wants! Some bitches dig because they have too much milk so cut down the food and water to help dry her up a bit - at three weeks old, you might consider taking Mum away for short spells and starting to wean the baby as I am sure she will be fat if she is an only child.

I have sent you a PM too You're going to be busy !!

Since you are in Victoria, have a look at the Department of Primary Industries web site at the Code of Practice for the (private) Keeping of Dogs. There is an appendix at the back saying what size your runs should be and lots of other info you did not know that you needed!

definitely need more than one hole as the air has to get in to allow the milk to come out. Also, don't forget to release the air every so often as the pup sucks and place your hand so that the puppy can use its feet as it does on Mum.

This is one of the problems, the "general public" expects breeders to have pups 8/10 weeks old, ready to go at ALL times. What do you say? "Yes I stick them in the freezer and thaw them out on request!!!!!!!!!!!"

Definitely not legal in Victoria

I don't do ultra sound either. Just ask yourself what you will do if the result is negative? answer - wait until she comes into season and try again!! If positive - get ready for some puppies in about 5 weeks! Good Luck

Not a good move! Dog waste that I put in my own bin has to be double wrapped prior to deposit (Council regulation) and not just put in a thin plastic bag. I would be really annoyed if others deposited their waste in my bin , after all, I have to wash the bins out and disinfect them regularly.

She was an outside dog all her life. Until that point she lived in a yard with other dogs, (her brother, daughters, nieces, grandchildren etc) and took her exercise either out working/training or in the exercise paddock with the others. Bringing her in completely changed her world and she found plenty to interest and occupy her in an active household. She knew nothing of treats from the kitchen or lounging by the fire and she adored human contact (patting, petting, grooming etc). Most working bred dogs just love to be with their owners/handlers and to have this all the time brought a spark to her life when she could no longer go out working with "the boss". If you don't know any working bred dogs you maybe do not realise how much they live for their work. It is their whole life. So bringing her into the house really turned life on it's head for her, and, in the "excitment " of discovering a new world, I think she thought of her crook leg as a bit of an inconvenience rather than something that hindered her. I'm sorry, I have not explained that very well. The working gundog psyche is difficult to explsin

R & B I had a bitch do the same thing at the same sort of age and opted for strict rest. She was a working bred girl and lived for "action" but I brought her into the house and she spent the rest of her life mooching about and enjoying life in front of the fire. Yes, she did not get to go hunting again, but at that age it was unlikely it would have been more than a potter anyway and I think deep down she preferred her humans! Just my story and I was never sorry that I made that choice.

I have to agree with Steve. I have been breeding for 38 years and am proud when someone tells me " I met a W******* dog in town the other day - just had to be one of yours" Yes it is MY brand and I am pleased to be recognised. At least I have not wasted my time!

There are still a couple of places left on the Victorian Gundog Club's workshop "Training your gundog to use it's nose" to be presented by Steve Austin on Saturday 23rd August 2014 Any Gundog owner interested in attending and bringing their gundog, please apply, in the first instance, to Rachel <[email protected]> for more details Cost - to Victorian Gundog Club members $10.00 Non members $20.00 Location - Melton South

Davext please can we clarify something else - the person in Brisbane cannot be cited as the "breeder" as the pups were clearly bred in NZ. The Breeder is the person who is the registered owner of the bitch at the time of whelping. So where is the breeder registered? and what relationship does he/she have to the people in Brisbane?

I am somewhat confused here Davext. Was the puppy imported from NZ?

Try a Road Refresher bowl inside http://www.roadrefresher.com/ They are magic and the dogs love them Only 99% proof as I had a youngster that used to think it a great game to jump on the disc and make a fountain - still some water left but not much

I had a pup brought by road from Orange down to Western Victoria by GTE (the greyhound transport people). They connect with someone in Sydney who does the "run" northwards (Newcastle/Brisbane etc). All very smooth and the pup was well looked after. However, the journey took longer than by air, although it is much less stressful than changing planes a couple of times and she was delivered almost to my door!

Genetics is a funny thing, the chance of getting something like she has is very remote. Think of all the skeletons in that cupboard! Even with two unrelated dogs of the same breed, a total outcross mating is a real shot in the dark

Yes, ofcourse. I find that this is what most people do regardless of whether they tell you or not! In fact I encourage people to ask around because then they have a better "picture" of what you are offering them. If they go elsewhere, that's their decision.