becks

The UK standard just says in balance with the dog but the FCI calls for a scimitar shape tail carried above the topline (which would be when on the move, not when the dog is relaxed), curled, spitz type tails are not right but these are seen most in the standard schnauzers, while the minis often have them curled over the back like a shih tzu

It's hard to tell from the photos, are these just ordinary lead with snap clip and you have to provide a separate collar for your dog?

Agree with showdog, of the 3 sizes it is the standard that is the most difficult, stubborn, dominant and needs a lot of work in training and socialising and when older lots of exercise for body and mind - with the wrong owners this breed can be a problem waiting to happen. If the owner doesn't have the time to put into the dog on a daily basis, then problems will develop and it usually involves dominance and agression. The blacks seem to have a more easy going temperament.

I've had 3 different docked breeds, currently have docked giant schnauzers and a mix of docked and long tails on the mini schnauzers. given the choice I would go back to docking, I have tried living with the breed and their tails and I just don't like them the same. I am giving serious thought at the moment about whether to stay with minis at all, import from abroad (which would mean it would be at least 10 months old before being able to enter UK) or find a new breed but the NBT breeds don't have the other characteristics I like in dogs.

I have paid more for a main reg pup and won't be doing that again as it hasn't lived up to expectations and I am left with a very expensive pet. I charge the same for each in the litter. Steve, if you sold a main reg pup to an experience show/breeder you wouldn't need to spend extra time with them, so would you still charge them more?

Think I might keep my eye out for this at the 2nd hand book stands at the shows!

Why was it stressful? anything happen or just first timer nerves?

I take stud fee at time of mating and then hand over the paperwork - would be more flexible on this with friends I trust and offer to wait until pups born or first one sold (although what happens if only one pup and breeder keeps it???) In the past I have used a couple of dogs and the owners have prefered to keep paperwork until pups are born and then pay stud fee. I know some stud owners take a percentage at time of mating and then so much per live pup.

Just to prove the reason why, when I was at the vets with mum and pups (there for dew claws and check up) the dog to come out of the consult room before us was a scottie with green goo in his eyes and he kept sneezing all over the waiting room while the owner stood there with the dog over her shoulder as she waited to pay.

If mum hasn't already had a vet check, then I take her too. My current vet takes the pups into a back room to do the dew claws, so mum and I wait in the consult room. I carry mum in as I don't want her walking through any nasties in the waiting room. They also stay in the car until it is our turn to go in.

Aww, am I the only one who wants to draw a smiley face on the inserts? Be interesting to see what the ears are like when they inserts are removed - how long are you going to leave these on before taking them off for a look see?

and does he drag you out of there?

lovely marked bubs LotG!

Congrats BM and LotG (what colours did you get?)

So sorry Cazzie, hope miss maddie is doing ok. Good luck to those about to arrive and hope your girl CB feels better soon.

Good luck LotG!

With Sways identipup bands on and one with mum pups are now 10 days old

I've only ever seen it in wet dogs or those who have just had a rough towel dry, so thought it was because they want to dry off? When I bath my dogs they are always blow dryed and don't have zoomies

maybe a 'celebration' pack would be a better idea? makes it a bit more open?

When I spoke to the vet on the phone she said that it can happen for the same reason it happens in humans: stress. She did have a litter but they are 10 weeks old now, so I would have thought the stressful part would have been over for her. In people it is caused by a particular strain of bacteria, not just stress.

I wouldn't drop the price, just start the basic training and socialising - there are plenty of people out there looking for older pups as they don't want to do the house training phase. Pups settle into a new home just fine, infact i have found the older pups to settle in even easier!

to soothe skin, especially if it is dry from scratching - Groomers Evening Primrose Oil shampoo is great.

I'm too critical of my dogs, it is handy to sometimes have a kennel blind person to remind you of their good points too!

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Mine were 4 days early from first mating, so they may just be baked earlier then the books say!