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You will got lots of different opinions on clippers and brands, but for me I wouldn't touch wahls with a barge pole!

My vets are great, they will discuss about what things should be done (and why) and will also say that such a test could help with diagnosis but if the end result (treatment or deciding to manage the problem) would be the same anyway then we don't do further testing for the sake of it BUT the vet likes us to be aware of all the options. The only invasive surgery one of mine has had was a snap decision as the dog was already out on the table to be xrayed and speyed. Xray found something in her stomach (and on thinking about it, could have been there for awhile) so it was decided to remove it while she was out. Turned out to be a piece of rubber toy that had been in the stomach for quite awhile (as the toy had been binned months earlier!)

Thats where this becomes confusing because that exact question was in my original list! Seems what one question someone finds acceptable another person won't. One thing I've learnt is even if the breeder says 'send me your list of questions' as this one did, I should probably say I'd prefer to talk to you about them when you have time! Do you want a puppy to show though? If you aren't showing, then the health and temperament are what you should be asking about, you can make your own mind up if you find that breeders dogs attractive or not. If you are after a show puppy, you will have already done research on what dogs are doing well, been to shows to see the breed in action, learned about the breed standard and past and current 'greats' in the breed. You would have seen which stud dogs are producing the type of dog you like (I got one of my show dogs by contacting the stud owner to see what bitches her dog had been used on recently as I liked what he was producing to different bitches). If the breeder has a website, I would be looking up the relatives of her dogs and seeing what health checks I can find online about these dogs.

You could also see if you can find a breeder via facebook! This is what I am doing at the moment, this way the breeder I am talking to can also see more about me and feel confident i am the right type of owner for one of their pups.

You could open a new email account with another email provider! Go to shows to meet breeders Call them, give them your phone number(s) and see how that goes. What breed are you looking for? Maybe people here can help find a breeder for you.

Some that do lots can be a bit harsh on a puppy tum. I've always used Panacur for litters until they are old enough to have Milbemax. If you are worried, you could use one to treat on one occasion and then use a different wormer a couple of weeks later when pups are next due.

I've had good sucess with the Groomers Evening Primrose oil shampoo for treating dandruff - usually only takes one or 2 baths to see a good result, best results when blowdried after the bath.

Depends on the test eg we do eye tests by yearly examination by a specialist vet BUT we have no DNA tests for the eye problems, so we can't know for sure if a particular dog is clear, carrier or affected, the test just tells us the dog is clear on the day of the test. In the UK there were several thousand mini schnauzer pups born last year and our breed has the best reputation for eye testing litters ( i think the figure is about 60 or 70% of those born and registered. Out of those tested only 5 litters had affected puppies. We also know through breed rescue that those who were bred in a puppy farm are a lot more likely to be affected or produce affected pups with eye problems.

My 13 year old giant does this and also likes to munch on the grass at times too. I just add more veg into the diet when this happens, so atm they dogs have some green beans to chomp on (whole ones) which will add fibre and a different taste/texture for them.

To be honest, I really wouldn't worry about her being on the lead yet. Wait until she can go out for a walk and drive to somewhere interesting (for her) and let her wonder about with you following and holding the lead. Once she is happy to do this, you can then start to encorage her to move with you in the directions you choose.

Sounds like he wanted an excuse for getting a bigger car!

Thank you all for your help. Slaps forehead! Of course! I knew there would be a simple way of doing this! Thank you Yes, that is what I normally do, but occasionally I like to hear the different ways others have chosen to train a particular trick and work out what will then work best with the particular dog I am training at the time. If we all just worked it out for ourselves, we'd never bother with classes, seminars or getting in a trainer/behaviourist or even ask on a forum! ;) While it is nice to train to a dogs strengths, I think it is also good to sometimes stretch their abilities by doing somethings they aren't so good at

I've been doing some rear end awareness training with her tonight, so i am hoping this will help (it isn't something I ever did with the giant)

How have you taught your dog to reverse around you? I have read one way of getting the dog to walk back while you are stood in a corner, so the dog will follow the wall and also turn the back end BUT last time I tried this with my old dog, she just revered into the corner and stayed there. So I am looking for new ideas to try this with my mini (now the giant isn't so good on her back legs anymore, it isn't one to try again with her).

If pup is showing no interest in toileting outside, allow pup indoors and then take pup back outside again quicker then he has time to go indoors. Sometimes the outdoors can be to interesting and they need the reminder they get as they go back indoors to tell them it is toilet time.

A few years ago I asked a friend of mine who had Geoff Corish handle her young bitch - he met her ringside and did a bit of final trimming/tidying up and in the class - that cost her £40 and it would go up from there depending on what was won. Not bad for 10 - 15 minutes work!

have you posted this in the breeders and show section?

My breeds, particularly the giants are known for short attention spans when training, well it is more like 'i've done this right so why are you making me repeat it again and again?' Clicker training is a great way to get them keen on doing things and trying to work out what you want. My current training sessions with my youngest are made up of present heel work hand touch send away (down on mat) send away (to go around a cone and return to me) touch stick - doing various tricks twist twirl walk back sit down stays walk through hoop weave through legs (my legs!) hold (for dumbell retrieving) and various other things that I think of. By mixing in the fun stuff that she enjoys doing, I can keep her interest in the boring stuff and I can then get a longer session in working on a particular 'boring' bit that would otherwise have her turned off from repeating the exercise. A lot of the fun stuff can also be used to keep attention in the show ring or for getting them warmed up for other trials. http://www.shirleychong.com/keepers/fun.html that is the link mentioned earlier and it looks good!

'Scuse me? If the breeder was in the position to breed them, then they are in a position to take them back, even only for a few days until the breeder or the stud dog owner or somebody within the breed community is able to find a foster situation for these guys until a new home can be found for them. I'm firmly of the opinion that breeders need to be responsible and accountable for the dogs that they produce; if they can't be then don't breed in the first place. Sylvia So you don't think that breeders circumstances can change so they are no longer able to take back dogs they have bred?

Don't let her do this (in bold) or as others suggested stop her access to the bed/bedroom

i've never heard of that injection and would still worm pups at 2 -3 weeks of age

a link would be useful, there are lots of breeders groups on FB!

You should ask permission of the photographer first.

This maybe a silly question, but couldn't they tell from growing the fungus what type it is?

LOL kirisline! If you are worried, can you take a photo of the area you are worried about?