Jed

NEVER EVER leave a check chain on a dog. Countless dogs have been caught in fences/shrubs/door levers and painfully strangled. Use a web breakaway collar if you need to have a collar on the dog at all times. Dogs are safer without collars of any sort when at home. They can still strangle with an ordinary collar - although it is less likely. And impossible with a decent breakaway collar

From my behavioural genetics textbook "Hybrid Vigour or Heterosis is the increase in viability and performance when different inbred strains are crossed." When was the book published, and how much credence does the author have?

.??? I thought the term originated in botany, where F1 hybrids are usually varietal crosses, and are often robust due to increased heterozygosity. Seed companies love them cause they mess up seed savers...the F2 rarely runs true. Yes, the term originated with botany

Those who are interested may want to get a legal opinion from solicitors who deal in civil matters, because AFAIK, this has not been tested in court. Permission to build a dwelling on a residential block carries implicit permission to keep pets. No one needs a permit. Councils decided they wanted people to obtain permits. That is the way I would be going if I had a problem.

Get an opinion from an orthopaedic specialist

Hybrid vigour refers to the mating of different species ... such as lions/tigers; zebras/horses. There are no proper scientific references to "hybrid vigour" occurring when crosses are made within the same species, although there is a lot of non scientific claims on the internet.

The dog was owner trained. It couldn't have been re-allocated to another blind person. I didn't see that in the article. Where is it? I also wonder whether a 5 year old guide dog would be safe with a new owner, and the previous owner may have known - from experience with the dog - that it would not settle elsewhere. A guide dog would have more connection with its owner than most ordinary dogs.

When I took my pups to the vet for vaccinations, I saw the associate, not my regular vet. The Associate is the one who sends me letters advising me my dogs are due for annual vaccinations. I have discussed this with him to no avail, so I simply shrug and bin the letters now. The associate was all ready to shoot them up with C5. I told him a C3 would be fine. He told me they had no C3. I told him my regular vet always did them with C3, and that's how it would be. He had to ask the receptionist how to organise that. So he is recommending annual vacs, with C5. Some vets are either living in the stone age, or would do anything for money.

More numpty laws which wont make a blind bit of difference but will really disadvantage the people who are doing the right thing. And yet more registered breeders will toddle off if they have to pay a $350 annual licensing fee. Ah, governments.

Hi, Ricey, good to see you!! I do wish those people who believe that a pitbull has some type of pre-disposition to become a dry land shark would do some research. The bite stats are a good place to start Last week, I was bitten quite badly on the back of the thigh by a King Charles Spaniel, which are supposed be poor watchdogs and very friendly. This one was, but it was a watchdog as well. Not a Cavalier King Charles, a King Charles (different breed) Deed NOT breed

I thought campylobacter was relatively rare in pups (vet information). I wonder if they actually checked the pup or simply blamed it.?

I have posted in the breeders' forum, gapvic.

I was advised by my vet that pups like this are in pain - as the brain grows larger it is compressed by the skull/fluid, and hurts the dog. I kept one for 10 weeks, when she was obviously in pain. I took her to the vet to be pts, and he told me it should have been done as soon as the problem become obvious rather than let her go on suffering. Not all vets feel like this, but I think it is valid. Good luck.

Hi Boxerben, I am pleased you have sorted out the destructo problems. Re walking on a lead ..... she is excited and interested, why wouldn't she want to go and introduce herself to everyone, and jump on them and lick them? I presume she is good, and reliable on the lead? Teach her sit. Reward with treats. When she wants to bounce off somewhere, ask for "sit" - get her to look at you, and give a a treat And some praise. Ask her to pay attention to you every time she wants to make new friends. Make paying attention to you good fun, and worth her while. Good luck. Why not go and have a look at the boxer thread?

Hi Katdogs, "stacked" is a slang word which means "stand". The handler stands the dog in his best and most flattering position for examination by the judge and the dog stays still until the judge has finished "going over him - ie, checking his conformation, his teeth and his eyes. So the dog is "stacked". Medium to large dogs are stacked on the ground, smaller and toy dogs are stacked on a table. Most breeds stand a little differently, as you can see from stacked photos, but it is still basically the same. Sorry redangel, I know nothing about GSD. Showdog - that was a strange photo of the Irish, I agree Juice - I t hink they have coloured and white classes because there are so many dogs, and that breaks them up a bit And I think 13 and 15 inch beagles - only in America!!

So sorry, Pers, I know how much you liked him. Run free after those darned cats over the bridge, Hamlet boy.

I think your plan to take him to the vet if it doesn't resolve is an excellent one, particularly as there is more tearing in that eye. Good luck

Here is the link, it is too big to download. Some great photos, not all stacked and a chance to see some breeds we don't have in Aust. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/02/12/sports/westminster-dog-show-best-of-breed.html

Well done Mon Elite. Sounds better than some and worse than some whelpings. At least she is a great mum. Don't forget you will soon have the weaning, cleaning, and bedding changes, followed by expeditions outside and to other interesting places where you will have to supervise. And squirting the wormer into 12 unwilling little throats.....after weighing them, and that's not a cake walk. Then piling 12 into crates for a visit to the vet for vaccinations and microchipping. AbouT $800 - $900. Done well so far, good luck with whats to come!! :)

I believe the recommendation is not to vaccinate over 7 (?) For the past 15 odd years, I have been vaccinating my dogs twice as pups, again at 12 - 14 months, and never again. Their titre levels have been high when tested. I have never had a case of any of the diseases they should be vaccinated against. They caught kennel cough a few weeks ago- a few coughed for a day or so, some never coughed, but they all recovered without any serious symptoms. And yes, they do out - on the streets etc. without problems.

How dreadful. Poor little girls. Sounds as if they escaped and formed a pack ..... and yes, they should have been euthanased.

It appears that govts world wide cannot keep their sticky fingers away from dog breeders. Nothing will work unless they police their laws. So why don't they go and do inspections now? If they know that dogs are badly kept, why aren't they calling there with warrants? Same scenario as Aus.

Yes, the lovely Hugh. And for once, he was correct. However, I think that the breeders of the dogs are responsible. Why would they sell to people in the clutch of the current craze?

Ignore Mantis, they are just jealous they haven't got anyone to look after them like that

It's horrible when you find out. Cancer is so scary, and losing an eye is horrible. As long as the op cures the cancer, all is well .... after a few weeks, she will adapt, and you wont notice. I have had 2 dogs with one eye, and they both did fine. Good luck and good wishes for success