JRG

Certainly you should check for mastitis etc as the other have suggested, however I had a young bitch like this - she did not want the babies to "cramp her style" and she would sit out and just watch them for hours. She was confined in the same area as her whelping box and could come and go as she wished, and the pups showed no adverse effects from this treatment. She did sleep with them at night although I have no way of knowing if she spent all the night with them. Dr J.E. Mosier DVM in Pediatric Care (an article written for Uncle Bens Australia in 1982 - yes I know it is a long time ago!) talking about feeding orphan pups says " The number of feedings per day may vary from 3 to 12. . . . . The greater the number of feedings the greater the liklihood that the puppy can be maintained on comparable condition to a well fed nursing puppy" So he is saying that you can feed orphan pups as infrequently as every eight hours and I have certainly found this to be true although probably not desireable.

Have to agree with you 100% m-sass. As a breeder of working line dogs for 30+ years, I have always said that a good "pet" home is better than a bad "working" home every time. A good working bred dog is mostly about what you make of it. Given love and attention, it will usually be equally satisfied as a high drive performer or a lounge lizard - just don't try ignoring it!!

Another thing to note is that Champion titles go before the dog's name and awards go after the dog's name eg RTCh blank blank NFD = Retrieving Trial Champion Blank blank Novice Field Dog ie the dog has gained his Retrieving Trial title ie he has won at least two All Age Stakes and has also won Field Trials at the Novice level(and/or is no longer eligible to compete at that level) ... hope I got that right!!

John Lawton (03) 9743 3788 (Specialised Dog Accessories) has them. Makes them himself from the "real thing" Don't think they would be any good for tugging - more the real thing for practising retrieving with a soft mouth. Rabbit skin is very soft.

do you mean like a satchel with a net front? You could contact John at <www.sportingoutbacksupplies.com.au> as he is a gundog man.

You should be able to get a shooting vest with a game pocket in the back at almost any gun shop - either in person or on line The pocket is like a pouch and will hold lots of game - rabbits, pidgeons etc and is easy to access.

We don't have TV reception but I read on DOL that there was an ESS on 60 Minutes and guessed it was a relative! I bet she was cute and mischievous - seems to run in the family :D Which half, by the way? Same father Her "job" is hunting feral cats in the Kimberley. She can certainly cover the ground!!

Say SD did you see Em's half sister, Sally, on TV last light?

wait 'till it snows! - spaniels just LOVE playing in the snow

MUCK BOOTS if you can get them. They come in various lengths and are lovely and soft inside. I think they were originally made for mucking out stables!! I wear them all the time in the winter as they are easy to get on and off.