sorks

Thank you Clyde

I purchased an Akita puppy from a registered breeder, they weren't much help, didn't pass on feeding information etc, called them a week later to let them know how she was going, barely remembered me, let alone cared! Couple of minor health hiccups and we were on our way, beautiful dog. 18 months later we walked past a pet shop and saw Akita pups, we had been thinking about a pal for our big girl and approached the 'shop assistants', couldn't have been more knowledgeable bunch, gave us so much more info on the breed (a trying one to raise as some of you may be aware), fortunately we had one already and knew what to expect. First and foremost we were not allowed to purchase the pup for 48hrs, they would hold him and told us to go home and think about it, we came back and they took us thru everything, health, feeding, training (including training companies that we ended up taking both the kids too), oh and the pup came with papers, as they had acquired the pups through registered breeders....and for the record, this is a dogs online forum, pretty sure it doesn't say 'pedigree dogs online', do you exclude people who have a crossbreed dog1

Thank you stormie, your the first person to at least understand what I'm trying to say, and I respect that that's your informed opinion...sure beats listening to people put on their blinkers and instantly slender all pet shops as evil and all breeders as god-like!

No I'm actually a winemaker, so sorry to disappoint

You kids need to get your blinkers off!

There are some really good pet shops out there, there is some that aren't good....there are some really good breeders out there, then there is also some that aren't good...stop assuming and categorizing every pet shop you see as being inhumane, disgusting and assuming they have no care in the world for animals because that is entirely untrue...not all pet shops buy from puppy farms and just because some breeders have gone out there and got themselves 'show titles' that makes them oh so much better...and for the record, some breeders confine their pups too! I know first hand many breeders that sell their pups to pet shops and are quite happy to do so, the reason: because not all pet shops are as evil as you all make out!

I'm not a poster child for petshops, I'm just embarrassed at the narrow minded behavior on this forum in this regard. There are god knows how many people out there who have purchased a puppy from a pet shop (not always spontaneous and yes, believe it or not special 'pure breed dogs') and have bought a healthy, amazing animal that they have had the pleasure of owning..you all seem to assume every pet shop in Australia supports puppy farms and all the dogs they sell are treated poorly and sick...I'm not the one who needs to be educated

Ghastly? Because they were selling a Belgian shepherd and a dog was barking? OMG quick! Call the RSPCA! A dog was barking!!

Hmmm I wonder how many die in the hands of 'breeders' that we don't hear about, doesn't just happen in pet shops kids!

So my dog has seriously massive enzyme levels (lipase?) and he seems fine and the vet is blown away that he doesn't have full blown pancreatitis, thank god! So immediate low fat diet for him. I had been incorporating stuff into his already bland specialised bladder stone diet to make it taste better..I've done heaps of reading on diet etc but what I'm curious to know is how long it takes to see a difference in lipase levels once the diet has been changed? 2 weeks? 6 months? Anyone had this experience? Thank you :-)