Jed

And I forgot to mention and thank Marg, her lovely carer, and Lesley, my other lovely dog carer, who gave up all their saturday to drive Pheonix to the airport so she could come to live with me. They are a couple of great dog breeders, kind, caring, prepared to go the extra yards. Thanks, both you Chickie Babes. I wanted to buy you both a present and I met this really nice bloke, who told me he would sell me a lovely present for you both - it's called the Westgate Bridge. He says yu will love it. Pretty expensive though, but he is going to do me a REALLY good deal

Aw shucks Toohey. I'm really embarrassed now. (Jed shuffles feet in dirt) Thanks for those kind words. My friends are smiling alright - in fact, they are laughing their heads off - at me!! They told me if I stopped showing there would be no one to laugh at. BB Pheonix knew exactly who I was - the so and so who kidnapped her from her nice home with her nice owner and nice cocker friend. When I called "pup pup pup" as I did when she was tiny, she recognized the sound. She was interested. She is settling in, although slowly. It is a big thing for a happy boxer to change homes at 6 months, but she is coming around, and is being very spoilt. She does come when called, she has learned to jump in and out of the station wagon, she has learned that the dog biscuits are on the bed, and to jump up, push the plastic away and eat the biscuit. Rotten little jerk!! We went visiting, she was up on the chair - "hop off" - so she got up on the other chair. Unfortunately, she wont retrieve. Dogs pass learned behaviours down to younger dogs. Somewhere about 1980 something at my house, a Cocker taught a boxer to retrieve, and all boxers from then on retrieved. So we had great games, retrieving furry ducks, kongs and balls. There was always someone left to hand the baton to someone else. Every afternoon after work, we played retrieving -- whoever got the dummy (or whatever) first had to fight off interference to bring it back to me --- so bringing it back looked like a rugby scrum, but the dummy came back with someone every single time, and everyone was happy. The boxes loved retrieving - absolute favourite game. Not sure that i would have been accepted in trials, but hell it was fun. Am trying to teach Pheonix to retrieve. She has a pink fluffy dumbell, and a couple of squeaky things with ropes/ She will run to it if I throw it, but that's it. Give it a couple of months, and then see if her special friend (S##thead will show her how). It's pretty hard to teach a non retrieving breed to retrieve if they don't want to an I do have to ask what the hell the Hungarian Vizla is doing? Thought they were retrievers. he retrieves slow dog biscuits and pieces of pizza from the floor. Things are different in Hungary obviously! Oh, and we are learning "sit" as well. Not sure that she loves me, wants to know why I have kidnapped her though!! Boxers are not allowed to lick or slobber - but I am so grateful to those who helped .. GO DOGTAINERS How much, Ruralpug, looks good?

Some excel in obedience, the uncle of one of mine has a heap of titles. And many over the years have succeeded BUT, if you have your heart set on a swag of obedience titles, another breed just might be better Just so no one is confused Pandii, I remember sending you this - years ago She's gorgeous Pers - the older they get, the better they are

Interesting. I have had to counsel a couple of owners of 10 - 12 month old cavaliers I bred after vets told them their perfectly healthy pups needed LP surgery. Happens far too often. TWICE with 2 different vets for one dog. Glad it's all sorted for you, TO. :rolleyes:

I don't think the average pet buyer needs to read the standard at all. He needs to know himself, and what his needs and aspirations are, and he needs to know about the breed he is interested in. And he can find that out by asking people who own it, or asking the breeder. Preferably both. The standard is the blueprint of the breed - and that is for the breeder.

Oh goody, one of my favourite topics Of course buyers should research. But they don't always, and they don't know the questions to ask. So, the responsibility is with the seller or breeder to thoroughly know and understand the traits of the breed, and to assess whether the person wanting to buy is going to be happy with the dog and vice versa. My biggest objection to pet shopsl and particularly large chains, is very young girls selling pups. They mostly have insufficient knowledge of both people and dogs to be able to make a worthwhile decision on puppy sales. I love fox terriers - I love the way they move, I love their personalities, I love the way they look. If I owned one, I'd kill it in the first 5 minutes, because they are far too busy for me. :rolleyes: I know that.

BOXERS Boxers are not hyper. They are happy, enthusiastic, exuberant, affectionate, devoted to their owners, happy to please, love to be trained, do not always do 100% what you ask, because sometimes they know a better way, but they understand, and they like you to spend time with them. They can be as silly or as serious as you wish. This is a dog which spends his whole life trying to please you, and care for you and yours in the best way he can. They do not need heaps of exercise - a run or a walk or a bit of ball or frisbee chasing is enough for your average boxer. However, if you are a jogging or biking maniac, the dog will keep up with you. To make your boxer hyper, start when you first get him. Flap your hands in front of his face a lot, jump up and down, make funny noises, encourage him to jump up on you and then whack him when he jumps on your Sunday-go-to-Meeting dress, let the kids tease him, and encourage him to chase them around and jump on them. Rough house him a bit, wrestle with him, he'll growl and carry on and behave like a two bob watch, but he sure is having a good time. Slap him around the chops too, you know he loves it because he jumps around, but he doesn't bark or growl. Don't bother socialising him with other dogs either, boxers like other dogs, and there's really no need to train him much, he's pretty bright, he likes you, he'll get it. Leave him in the yard a lot too, and don't point out the error of his ways to him, so he is not sure how to behave. That will make him even more hyper, because you always laugh when he does that, so when he is not sure what he ought to do, he'll be hyper trying to please you. Remember too, that he is soon going to weigh around 30+ kg most of it solid muscle, encapsulated in a very agile and athletic body, but until he is about 2, he will have the mind of a baby, and will behave like one, so when he jumps through the window, knocks the village preacher to the ground, slobbers all over him and eats his hymn book, he's only doing what he believes is right. What pleases you. Start walking him when he is 9 months old, and he'll be so enthusiastic about all those new sights sounds and smells, he'll pull like a train. You wont be able to hold him. so, you'll have a 30kg hyper boxer that is a complete pain in the neck, the kids wont play with him, he'll have to be tied up when visitors come, and he'll jump all over you and just about scratch you to death. Because he thinks that is how he should do it. and - he'll spend the rest of his life in the backyard, alone, sad, mournful, scratching his head, wondering why you don't like him any more, or he'll end up at Cordelia's, attacking other dogs, untrainable, or pts. Or, he'll be so bored, he'll simply jump your fence every day until he gets run over. Recipe for a nice boxer and happy ownership Make sure you are smarter than the dog Treat him gently. Discourage him from jumping up Teach him to sit from the second day you have him Make sure you are smarter than the dog Give him lots of love and attention - gentle, quiet affection - don't slap him on the ribs or the head, stroke him, look into his eyes, tell him what a good dog he is. Teach him that he follows you through doors, that he doesn't knock you or the kids over. Make sure you are smarter than the dog Teach him to wait to be invited into the car Let him meet other dogs when he is a baby Let him meet cats, chooks and birds when he is a baby Discourage him from chasing other animals or people Call him off when his behaviour is over the top, sit him, and praise him. Don't play rough games with him. Lead train him at home, without distractions. Praise him lavishly. Chastise him gently when he has done wrong. Be consistent. Don't treat him like a fool, or he will be one. All his life. Remember he is a gentle, loving soul, who thrives on praise and attention, and is only happy in the company of his family. Then - when he hits two, you can rough-house him all you like, coz you will have an "off" button - Boxers love contact games. We have a couple here - one is the one where Jed lies on the floor with a towel over the head, and the boxer tries to get it off - with realistic growling and snarling noises. this game is made better if Jed rips aside the towel from time to time and says "boo", which makes any boxer totally frenzied. Hiding is the second game. Jed hides and the boxer finds. When the boxer has found, jumping up and behaving like a two bob watch is encouraged. Chasing is a good one - you can chase the boxer, or the boxer will chase you! Over the bed, into the bath, into the yard - anywhere you like!! When your face is red, you are lying in a pool of sweat with your eyeballs hanging down your cheeks from exhaustion, and the boxer is jumping up and down, tongue hanging around his knees, waiting for you to move so he can jump on you again, you can say "Enough" and he will settle. This breed is a companion guard dog - that is what he was bred for, and that is what he does best - he is not a herder, a retriever, a pointer or a sled dog. His only interest in life is you. He is bold, he is brave, he looks you in the eye with sincerity and friendship. He does take some understanding. He probably wont start any quarrels, but he's happy to finish them!! Character and temperament are as important in the standard as conformation. If you want to own a boxer, keep that in the forefront of your mind. You are the sun in his universe, you hold his behaviour in your hand, he will behave exactly as you want him to - no matter what that is. He's not obedient like a border collie, he was made to make his own decisions, and he will sometimes think you are a bit of an idiot, and do it his way. Mostly there is method in his madness, if you will only see it. If you want a 100% obedient dog, don't get a boxer. He will be obedient in all the important ways. Boxers don't do well in obedience, because once they have done it, they can't see much point in it, and are just as likely to trot beside the cones, off lead, as through them - "see, qucker this way mum, you come too." He is not a dog for everyone. He is called the "clown of the dog world" and he is a clown in his friendly, happy, funny outlook, as he tries to please you, but once the chips are down, you couldn't wish for a better guardian of you, your family, or your home. He rarely bites without good cause, and he does not bark much, he is a quiet achiever. I don't think boxers generally have become less hyper tho some lines are a little. I think that (a) people have more knowledge these days, and do more more training (b) breeders are more discerning about who they sell to © with the internet etc. there is a lot more information to help people make an informed decision about this breed.

Cavalier - robust enough to play with the boxer. A 10 year old is old enough to brush the dog. If it is brushed twice a week, there should be no shedding - and they do not shed more than a short haired dog, it is simply that each hair is longer My first choice would be a Boston - exactly right - but Boston's are as common as rocking horse poo, and the kid will be 15 by the time their order is filled

shortstep When PETA said. As the untruths put about on PDE have now become proven scientific truth. Such are urban myths, and this is how they are disseminated.

Here's the surprise!! Pheonix, back living with me. I believe boxers need someone to bond with, and I don't believe in rehoming. My situation means that it is very unlikely I will be able to have the dogs back much before Christmas. The fire happened when Pheonix was 7 weeks and 6 days old, and I have seen her once since then. So, not my dog. She is my only boxer at the moment (I' m working on that though ). All my friends have dogs - I've lived with a Springer/Border and a Lab, 2 Schnauzers and a Kelpie, Cockers, and now with a Vizla, a Staffie x Crocodile and a rescue I actually dumped gave to my friends 8 years ago. Supposed to be a St Bernard x Malamute. I'd go Malamute x Cattle Dog x Foxie. But they are not MY dogs, and as a kid I was indoctrinated by old stockmen who hated others trying to win their d ogs over. Plus, now that I can get around a bit, it would be nice to have someone to train, to take for walks and do stuff with. Additionally, she will grow up to be my dog. I asked on the forum if someone was travelling to here and could bring her. A lovely DOLer who doesn't want to be named, offered to pay for the crate hire, and asked Dogtainers to pay the freight. Dogtainers happily obliged, and I collected her - very travel weary, on Saturday afternoon off a Virgin flight. I am incredibly grateful to Dogtainers and the Doler for this. If you are flying your dog/pup soon, send via Dog tainers to thank them for helping me out. What a great thing for the Doler and Dogtainers to dol Pheonix began her huge journey at 7am on Saturday, and we got her out of the crate at 4.30. We took her across the road to some grass to toilet, but all the Indian taxi drivers driving by kept shouting "Lovely dog lady" and she was so stressed by all that attention that nothing happened, of course. She has been bug eyed about all the new stuff, and sticking to me like glue. She's very quiet, which I think will change when she settles. She is coming out of her shell more today. Give her a few weeks.She is very like her mother Roxy in nature, and I am sure that bringing her down was the right thing to do. Roxy was one of those easy going home bodies Pheonix was getting great care where she was, but she didn't have an owner. Anyhow, I miss my dogs. None of my friends mind an extra dog, it was simply the expense, and I needed to be well enough to care for the dog. The other dogs "in care" are all older and established in behaviour and ownership, so they will come home and say "g'day mum" and have a sniff around, and although everything will be different I will be there. Currently, I am the breeder only for this girl, not her owner and I thought that needed to be changed, so she wasn't lost and bewildered at 12 months - better at 6 than twelve Wouldn't have been possible without Dogtainers, so................ GO DOGTAINERS Thanks Cockerlover, still haven't had my mail forwarded *sigh*. Can't always have your kids do what you like

Of course if judges fully understood the standards of the dogs they are breeding, this would never occur.

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ce/webConf/Boxer2010.aspx This is a live webinar with Dr. Kate Meurs 0n 19 October. It is free but you need to register. Tells you how. AVRC is quite important

Windows Mail sucks. I ordered that with my last laptop - you couldn't attach anything to anything which drove me mad. this might be ok when I get the hang of it 4 Paws and More might have a website, you'll have to check it out, but you can ring up - most shops, the girls go "ga, ha, what", but Sag knows what you want, the the service is excellent - and not expensive. Good quality - and fair prices. Cheap dog stuff is dangerous. You should buy decent stuff.

4 Cavs at the RS"pca. They are on the NSW Cavalier Club website. This might be the chance for someone to get a rescue cav.

Thanks Barbnpippa. I am pretty ragged most of the time, however, I am a big believer in behavng as you wish things were, and eventually, it will be as you believed it would be, and as you behaved. I also think everything happens for a reason, and when our dogs leave us they do go to the Rainbow Bridge, so I live in knowledge that I shall meet them again, as I shall meet their predecessors, and we shall all be reunited. I have no idea what the reason was in this case but I can tell it, IT SUCKS!! Dell finally turned up. Mouse wouldn't work. Too much ratsack . Hour on the phone last night - tech support - another hour today - returns. *sigh* Went to Dick Smith $24 mouse, all good now, although I have outlook, and wanted outlook express, about to work that out. Dell has tried, and the computer seems to work well. I visited Sagittarian's shop at Keilor last week - great shop, so much stock, and such good quality. Everything you could possibly want to show or keep your dog. No bling leads though!! Go along, tell her Jed sent you. She wont give you a discount News of "the excitement" over the weekend, not sure when

Of course you can reply, Bet. I deleted what I said after a little consideration, but you had obviously copied it before I did that. I would have preferred that what breeders said remained off a public forum. But it did at least give you the chance to respond, which I think is good. I personally have no quarrel with you - as I said before, you have made me research and learn, and you have sent me thinking in different areas. The incidence of MVD in Aus and NZ is falling - according to the stats. who knows. And I still think that anyone who sends an anonymous letter is a coward. As a breeder, I found PDE extremely offensive, untrue and inflammatory. It is now obvious that it has caused untold damage to the purebred dog world, and if it has caused any good, it hasn't come to light yet. Bet Hargraves Absolutely not. I guarantee all the pups I breed against any hereditary problem. Refund or a new dog, and keep the original one, if they wish. I tell them I wont replace if the dog has MVD when he is 8+ - but I will do something - partial refund, or partial payment for another pup. So far I have bred one which needed pts at 2 because of megaoesophagus, and one which died at 16 weeks from an aneurism. Second not hereditary. First one - maybe. Both were offered a new dog or refund. Second took the new dog option. I don't care if people mention problems in the breed to prospective buyers. I never bothered to tell people about SM, but if I bred in future, I would but mainly because of the chances of some numpty vet putting down a 5 month old Cavalier because the thought it had SM Dunno :p

Yep, I saw them, cross bred pups in glass c ages exactly the same as pets shops I presumed they were rescues, but have no idea. I didn't think much of it - if it is wrong for pet shops, it's wrong for any public display.. It's wrong for the same reasons in both places. And while I am bitching, I was most unimpressed about the ducks and fowls in their pavilion with no water. NO water. And they were thirsty.

Mita, also, the first link you gave, to Russell Mitton's remarks re MVD testing is about 10 years old. I think he is now retired? Now, that info is fine for the general public, it does tell them what they need to know. However, it has now been dragged up onto a forum in UK, and is being touted as new information, and being used to illustrate how little improvement there is in the health of Cavaliers. I am not criticising you, it's not important ..... until someone takes it and uses it as "scientific fact" to bash breeders. *sigh* I edited the rest. I don't breed any more, someone else can carry the flag.

2 breeders I know applied for breeders' licences when they were first brought in, and when registering dogs was more expensive. Some of the new legislation provides cheaper registration per dog without making drastic changes to the regulations. Both the people I know were happy with the outcome. I would like to hear the outcome of the meeting when someone has time

Sorry Lab Tested, I have no idea where the letter orginated what I said was

Mita breeders Aust wide are not too happy with this one, and a lot of questions are being asked about how many dogs were in the survey. Proof is being required about the dogs in the survey. Lots of questions now being asked about surveys in general - 19 year old dog is free of MVD. Of course he is, he has been dead for years. Dogs being added into stats re SM are dogs referred to specialists by the vets as being suspected having SM synptoms. Those 2 things would skew the figures either way Much prefer to believe my own "surveys" - none of my dogs had MVD or SM. Thats all I know for sure, and it's too small to be a survey but it suits me. Either my breeder friends are all liars, or they don't have MVD or SM either. I rather think they are telling the truth. Sheridan I thought improving the breed, and not having sick dogs was the same goal. Many serious and dedicated long time breeders in UK and USA do not approve of Bet or her methods. They state that her research is not well done or proven yet she distributes her theories and ideas on lists and forums on the net worldwide as scientifically proven without any proof or studies which back what she has to say. These are highly respected breeders who have been putting healthy and winning cavs on the ground for decades who do all the tests, who helped pay for and develop the tests, and who lose dogs well into their teens. They often post on lsts to refute what Bet says and to warn breeders about her. I don't personally know any of the people involved, including Bet - so I read both sides. I have enjoyed reading what Bet has to say, although I don't always agree with it, and stats available for Aus seem to show a different picture from the one in UK. Bets theories have sent me off to research,l which has been good. As I haven't bred Cavs for quite some time and will not breed again I haven't been followng it as closely as I might have 12 months ago. Problem is that Bet doesn't understand how difficult it is to eradicate a disease for which there is no tests, no known mode of inheritance, and the onset of symptoms is usually after the dog's breeding life is over. And of course, if the progeny of dogs who showed late onset MVD are eracidated from breeding programs, the gene pool will be so reduced other and perhaps worse problems will surface. But - I know many breeders are probably annoyed enough with Bet to send her an anonymous letter. However it would be postmarked, so that gives the police an immediate lead on area .... so I hope they catch him soon. It's a scabby thing to do. Maybe for Bet to be posting here, the letter came from Australia?

Oh, so fashion forward Jed! :p We did a test at obedience training once, with the dog heeling off-lead but the handler held the chain and made the zip noise to see if the dogs would correct their position. Some dogs did but not mine - not well trained enough? Probably. :cool: Oh, I know - only difference is that mine is black - if I could I would take and post a photo. It cracked me up. Nowhere to put the lead though As far as well trained - they are all different. 2 cockers, one saying " what now, what now and yearning to hear and obey" - the other lying down "oh, nick off, can't you see I'm having a nap". Different dogs, different sounds KK there is that, it obviously worked on him. You can buy fursaver chokers and Sprenger makes them too

When I went out this afternoon - I put on my new necklace - blow me down, it's a chain with black web threaded through the links EXACTLY the same as the choker in the first post!! I tittered all the way to the car. ML - the dog has to be either very well trained, or very compliant and willing for the rattle of the chain to have an effect - a well trained dog will pick up any slight rattle, or movement, so the command is "listen" - with the real command following. I have obedienced trialled a couple (back in the horse and buggy days) and they would do whatever was asked without any pressure being on the chain. As soon as my hand moved, they did something .... I had some recently which I didn't trial, but they were the same. I have owned some of those round web chokers, and was very unhappy with them - I needed to pull on them just a bit for the dog to obey, and therefore thought they would be less comfortable than a chain. I bought them because I wondered if the chain was pulling on the hair. Apparently not!!

Ahh, yes. I guess there's too much trainer in me to see the 'other side' of these things, lol. But then, if a dog doesn't really need a check, aren't there other nicer looking glitz collars around? I wouldn't use that collar for training, but it sure do look purdy!! I can see it on a show dog. Erny. some dogs (small breeds) show better in a "slip" but most show well in a choker - and big dogs always in a choker. There are fine ones, heavy ones, black ones, three different types of gold ones. For 98% of the dogs shown, it doesn't matter whether the choker makes a noise or not ... they don't need a choker, it is decoration and a guide. I just bought two slip leads - one is gold and silver, (with real diamonds, the seller assured me they were real) the other black and gold (for toy and medium breeds) --- they are so fine that if the dog pulls, the lead will cut my fingers to bits. But neither dog pulls much, they only need guidance, "turn here, stop here". Bling leads with beads and sparkly bits are also the go - I often wonder how much strain they would take. Friend shows a 40kg boxer who is always up on his toes on a bling lead and a fine choker which is about the size of a bit of string - never been any dramas. He has 2000 odd points, he knows EXACTLY what he is supposed to do. Ruralpug How do you know the noise is what yours really notice if you haven't tried one? Just curious

Story here http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/find-and-...with-fireworks/ I think this is horrible. If you follow the link, there is a petition to sign and I think it is worth signing.