Mystiqview

Some highlights.

Lily, One thing I found with the 50mm f1.8 is the bokeh can be a little average. It also has a very short depth of field. Just something to remember. I have it and used it the other weekend at the Rally Champs. I fell into the same trap as you did in getting that lens cause of the price and found it would not focus on the D40x. If you are taking moving shots, the lens takes a little to focus. If you are taking still photography, where time to focus is not a real issue, then I would look at it. The f stop of the lens is certainly attractable. I have since sold the D40x and bought the D90 with the professional lens option. Love this camera

There are a couple of registered organisations that do house/pet sitting. A friend of mine got one in and seemed to be a good choice. I know my folks were looking at it at one point as I was not sure if I could house sit for them when they went to Canada. Anyway, from memory, the two main ones, the housesitter paid a registration fee and they recommended people, the other company, the housesitee paid the fee to the organisation.

Depends on breed and colour. Pups can be born with pink noses and may have darker pigment spots on it. As the pup gets older the pigment spots will darken and more pigment will come through. Again depending on your breed and colour, most standards will require the nose to be fully pigmentated, unless the dog is a merle, where "missing" pigment is allowed. A dog may have a black nose, liver nose or blue nose depending on breed, colour and pigment base. For example, a red border collie can have black pigment or liver pigment.

Confirmed today

From what I read of the OP post, it does not seem to be a question of main vs limited register quality. I read it as a "breeder" is charging a large sum of money to get papers (of any kind). If this is indeed the case, then the OP should run as far away from this "breeder" as possible. If the breeder is respectable and ethical, the puppy will at least come with Limit Register papers at NO extra charge (Let alone hundreds of dollars) Also from what I read of the OP post, they are only wanting a pet in the first instance. If they had explained that to the breeder, then most of us would think (or think to ask) what they intend to do with said puppy (ie. breed/show or companion animal). I am sure if the OP has asked a breeder for a show quality puppy for showing/breeding, then they would be prepared or may have expected a price difference between show quality or limit register. As for 12 weeks and desexing. All personal preferences. I prefer my pups to go at 8 weeks and am happy for desexing to occur between 6-12 months depending on female/male. Again it's personal preference and I don't honestly think it is a reflection on quality of the breeder whether they desex early, vaccinate at 6 weeks or 12 weeks, or let pups go at 8 weeks or 10-12.

Limit registration has essentially replaced no papers and some old breeders MAY (but shouldn't) refer to them as no papers. It has been Main and Limit Registration for some time now. They still should not be charging $200 for papers.

I know of some registered breeders (who are also judges) who have sold pups here in Qld without papers. Advertised them on petlink and their website. THey advertised them as from pedigree parents. From memory the health testing had been done as well. But unfortunately that is not the point. We as registered breeders must register the litter as a whole and to charge an extra $200 for papers is a rip off. It only costs me $30/pup to register on either main or limited. The other costs per pup are the same as well (excluding any specialised vet care that may have been needed).

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! By ANKC law, papers must go with the puppy. Whether that be Limited Registration or Main. Limit = You get pedigree papers, you can compete in all ANKC dog sports as a pedigree. You cannot breed or conformation show Main: No limitations. You can compete in all sports as a pedigree. You can enter into ANKC shows and breed (as long as you have ANKC membership, breeder prefix etc)

You don't necessarily have to have ads and banners etc. http://breilla.wordpress.com/ Short domain name, free wordpress blog... and I have had sooooo many people comment about how nice it is and how easy it is to navigate. Took ages to load though Not all free sites have ads/banners. Some are still getting around that do. Personal preference and it does pay to dig around. When I first designed my website, it was pretty much that way, so went straight to hosting. Never gone back, so have not looked recently at the free ones. I know of a few who still have heaps of pop ups and banners cause I am forever shutting them even with pop up blockers. I used to be with MD webhosting in Melbourne, now am with Smartyhost. Frontpage great for those starting out. It does everything behind the scenes for you and did my first version on it. When I took over the Victorian Breed Club's website, I had to learn Dreamweaver as that was what it was written in. I have used Dreamweaver now for 5 years and would not go back. Each to everyone's own.

I have a designated bitches box. A 3m long by 1.5m wide and 1.8m high run, with a roof, shadecloth on the mesh walls. Bitch spends four weeks in there (apart from supervised runs etc). The dog will be elsewhere. If I let the bitch out, the dog will be crated in the house or something where there can be no accidents while you are juggling.

definately go the belly band and some training. Is he actually cocking his leg or just peeing when he gets back inside? Go nice thick pads to put inside as well. I think I just bought homebrand maternity pads, cut them in half and used them inside the belly band. My boy here is 12 months of age and took ages to learn not to come back inside and pee. He is fine now. I did toilet training with him, but he just took a little longer to learn to pee OUTSIDE! What are you also cleaning up the pee with? Some products will actually promote the dogs to mark back over it as it contains ammonia. He is entire and for the most part, still squats. Sometimes he will do a half arsed cock outside, particularly when I have a girl in season and he has to go around outside. He has NEVER marked inside.

Forgot to add. Another consideration is if you are planning holidays and need to board your dog, some boarding kennels do not take whole dogs after 6 months of age, especially in peak season. Remembered that from another topic

Desex when you feel comfortable. I tell my male puppy buyers to leave it if they can until at least 12 months to give them time to mature UNLESS they are finding they are having problems with the dog being entire. I have seen desexed early, desexed at 6 months and desexed at 12 months, personally I do think there is a difference in coat texture/length, and physical look to the dog. As for vets, that has been standard practice to desex at 6 months. It is a nice easy figure for most to remember and has been pretty much set over the years as that is when you desex the dog in the mind of the general populous. It is also as someone else has said, it is generally before most dogs reach maturity. (males around 9-10 months, females from 6 months generally speaking). It is also a valid point someone made when making considerations for anaesthetic for 30+ kilos, so that may be something to consider as well. I would leave it as long as possible to what the others are saying for medium to large breeds, UNLESS you are having issues with him being entire. As for entire male dogs being aggressive etc: I have run and seen run up to 10 stud dogs together WITHOUT issue. They are non related, and do not live together etc. Some have had bitch up their noses. It really in my opinion come down to how those those dogs were socialised, what the pack order is at home (person and dog included) and the respect the dog has for the owner. I have seen desexed dogs who have been desexed early at dog parks cause fights and trouble. Desexing does not stop some dogs from wanting to hump everything in site and being a right royal pain the butt. Most of these dogs I have seen in the off lead park, the owners do not have any control over the dog nor respect by the dog. Some seem to think it funny their dogs harrasses all the females and tries to hump them all the time.

Bilbo: Both parties must be member with Dogs Vic or a CCC of another state? I am in a co-own with a dog from WA. A new number was generated, but still co owned

Free websites: Pros - Free, you can design yourself either online or offline and upload using a program like Dreamweaver, Go-Live, Frontpage. Scripting is generally done for you behind the scenes if you use their templates. Some are very easy to navigate Cons: Ads and Banners on your page that you do not have a lot of choice of, Long url addresses such as http:\\freewebs\folder\username\page1.com - these are a lot to give out to people and remember. Also search engines are harder to find these so hits take longer to register, possible less traffic to your website. Sometimes limited server space, especially for photos and I have found with one, you can only access a couple of pages before getting error messages from the server saying the page has reached limit for day and to come back later - It was a free Yahoo hosted website Private websites: Pros: You design your website as per YOU want it, No ads, more control, you choose your own URL such as http:\\www.mystiqviewbcs.com, some have basic templates you can use or you design your own website on Dreamweaver or the such and upload. Cons: You have to register Domain Name and maintain Domain name, some hosters will let you pay per year/two years. Or you pay with others for the domain name up front (may still have to maintain a yearly fee). I renew my domain name every two years. Shop around for hosting. Some are really cheap and don't offer the back of house assistance needed if something happens. Others you pay a heap for features you don't or will never need. As far pages: your layout is up to you. Keep it simple. Make it quick to load. Some people out there are still on dial up and if your website takes ages to load, they will get fed up and move on. It also needs to be simple to navigate and read. As for Frames vs No Frames, it is up to you on that one. Forget music. Its sounds crap and most consider it really annoying. Same goes with things like falling snowflakes and mouse trailers. They also take time for your website to load.

Border Collies: Due 27th (yet to be confirmed) It is a repeat mating from last year, so am hoping for performance homes as the pups last year had excellent drive

I have bought my scales from Ebay: Here is the link: Ebay Parcel Scales Found them really good. THey are quite large but very stable - one thing I really like about them.

Also look at some of your local obedience clubs - they sell tie out stakes. THey are like a picket driver and stake built into one. Don't bother with those corkscew type ones. Waste of money unless you are in sand. My tie out wire is about 3 metres long and I just attach it to one of those stakes somewhere where he will not get in the way. Or I tie him to the front recovery points of the forby - and attach the keys to the bullbar so I cannot drive off with the dog attached. (Don't laugh - I have seen it done). We have two forbies in this family - a 60 series Landcruiser and a 2001 hilux. We use one of those Ezi Dog harness and tie the dog down with that while 4wding. IT has been been a saver at times when on steep hills or off camber hills.

Flat collar. Nothing beats proper training to walk politely on a lead.

There are a lot of people who go camping with their dogs successfully. I have been camping with other people who have had no control of their dogs and it is not good experience for all. To go camping or anywhere with your dog, you have to know your animal and have control over the animal(s). I toured last year with four dogs (2 adults and two puppies) for two weeks, camping and towing a dog trailer. We could camp in caravan parks and no one knew we had dogs. There were people in one caravan park who had two small yappy things and they made more noise and annoyance than four border collies. It is sad that your camping trip did not work out. And sadder still your youngest one has been emotionally damaged from the experience.

Ours come camping and 4wd with us whenever we can. What you have to obviously check is where dogs are allowed and not. When we were touring last year, there were some parts where we passed on dirt roads through National Park. Dogs were not allowed past a certain place. So make sure you check with the local rangers to see what their rules are. I always pack "Gastro Stop" when I travel. Just incase they eat something or suffer gastro worries. Take your own water. Even if you use town water, I have found sometimes they can get gastro problems from local water. Keep your food as normal as possible too. Same reasons. I don't take a bed. More to carry. Although you can get canvas beds that fold up similar to chairs in a bag. There is always a ground mat infront of the tent, so that is where they sleep unless they choose to go elsewhere. The usual bowls, leads, tie out wires (as applicable), poo bags. Get yourself a good harness to strap your dog in. Tracks are bumpy and unpredictable. So for me, it is more important to make sure the dog is strapped in. For your safety and the dogs.

*shakes fist at Seita** PIKER!!!!!!!!! All the more paw print banana breads for me then.... LOL (I was given a silicon baking mat in the shape of paw prints - so I made banana bread in them) Am looking forward to going.. I will not be down there till late Friday though (Have to make a detour to Ipswich for a job interview at 3pm). My cabin mate Mel and one of her dali's is going as well. Look forward to catching up

Have Pm'd :rolleyes:

Tilly my interview is at 3pm. A friend was going to take him with her but one of her girls have come in season. He is entire but not an escape artist and is good with others. I will have a crate with me. Dolittles and other boarding kennels all shut at 4pm. So no good there. I have Friday off as well to study and prepare. While I have a ute set up for dogs I believe parking in Ipswich city I all out in the open. Not only that I don't think I would want to leave him unattended in the car for an hour. People may take offence.