Phyria

Maybe if dog clubs and breeders tried to work together to create a website specifically aimed towards people looking to get a pet, with a questionnaire you can fill out with basic information that will give you a list of potentially suitable breeds, information about WHY you should go to a registered breeder and what sort of questions they are likely to ask you (so you don't get put off by what can be seen as an interrogation. What may be seen by some as reasonable questions others may see as the breeder doubting their ability to look after a dog when many prospective buyers may have already owned dogs in the past) Maybe have breeders and dog owners of different types write up what they know about the breed they love. People that show their dogs, people that just love them, people who compete in agility and other areas that many people aren't even aware exist! It would be great to get some vets in on it too! It would be great to include links to shelters and adoption sites too. Maybe even a Q&A section where people can post up a question and have breeders and veterinarians answer them. Of course a really good website design is important, a professional one. Websites that are difficult to navigate are pretty useless and are generally unsuccessful.

Can you set up cameras? Next time they break something make them pay for it. I'll also vote in favour of hotwire :D they'll be shocked to discover it!

There are puppy farms that are registered with governing bodies. My idea of an ethical breeder is one who does the right thing by their animals, tests for genetic diseases before breeding, breeds to improve/continue the breed they love and sells puppies to good homes. They are also willing to take back dogs that they have bred if the buyer falls on hard times. Yes, I read the blog. I already posted about that earlier in the thread... I said I'd find it a lot easier to find information if they had good marketing. I mis"spoke". Writing comments while tired will do that. I could have phrased that a lot better. Of course if I want to show and then breed from dogs that do well I'm going to have to go through registered breeders and get puppies that are the offspring of good animals themselves. I'm just saying that I would be more comfortable buying a dog from a loving home where I know the bitch and dog are looked after very well. If that breeder is registered, so much the better.

If the people I knew were still working at Rilton Kennels I would say go there... but from what I have heard the new part owner is an idiot and drove away all the staff members I knew who genuinely cared about the animals in their care. He's employed all his mates instead so I can't guarantee the quality of care there anymore. I feel sorry for the other owners. I'd second Cottage Kennels, It's just down the road from me, looks fantastic from the outside with a neat, clean property (it's ALWAYS so neat and clean) and I also met one of the girls who works there and she's lovely.

THIS! I would feel much more comfortable going to someone who is an ethical breeder and not a registered one. Obviously I would prefer to go to someone who is both of course. I personally know someone who is an ethical breeder, but is unregistered. I like to think most registered breeders are like this breeder, they just happen to have an extra piece of paper with their name on it.

Most breeders breed because they love the breed, they want to see the breed continue into the future. And that's what I'm going to do an my frame of mind. I just love several different breeds of dog and can't pick them all!

So a rescue dog that looks like a pit bull has less right to a happy forever home than other dogs? Regardless of temperment? That sounds wrong to me. What about cases like the old lady who's elderly bull terrier was kept from her because council officers said "I think it's a pit bull" Some crosses may not have any restricted breed in them, but can still be mistaken for them. I remember watching some footage from Britain (from the councils perspective) they'd been driving around to pick up some reported "pit bulls" this woman saw a guy playing with his dog in a church yard, walked up to him and said "your dog looks like a pit bull, I'm taking her now" and the poor guy had to let these strangers take his dog. He was devastated! The dog looked like a lab x. The saddest thing for me was all the dogs were all so happy to get in the van, I could just imagine them thinking "yay! Car ride!" This is why legislation based on physical characteristics should be fought at every turn. People in the article even say they thought the restriction had lapsed, they'd been allowed to register their large breed dogs!

From the perspective of someone who is interested in getting into breeding without the title of "backyard breeder" this makes loads of sense. It would be so much easier for me to research different breeds and talk with owners/breeders about their animals if the information was easier to find! I'm still after loads of info too... I need to research energy requirements, trainability, how easy/hard are pups to sell on (I don't want to breed animals that aren't wanted). As it is it's really hard to find the info I want without asking loads of pesky questions on here. It would be so nice to be able to find a page online and read up information and be able to take a couple of years to make a good decision.

may I be so bold as to suggest that the AMOUNT and the carriers of oils may have a lot to do with it ? Someone who uses small amounts of these oils on salads, or to quickly cook meats , and someone who eats deep fried foods, baked pastries ...Hmmm now which one of those may be ingesting too much /rancid/chemically changed oils and risking their health?? THIS. Just like with us it's not just about WHAT you eat but how much and how it's delivered. I don't have a dog yet, but I do have a cat. She only likes Purina Supercoat, and will only eat the chicken flavoured indoor formula. I've lost count of the amount of dry cat food I've given to my friend for her less-fussy cats. She also won't eat raw meat, she wont even eat cooked chicken that I'm eating. But open a tin of cat food and she's all over that! My point here is that animals can be just as fussy as us when it comes to food, some only like dry food. I guess all we can do is try to supplement their diets so they get all the nutrients they need. So long as their diet keeps them healthy and happy then it's okay with me :)

I was wondering if the Aussies born with tails are able to be shown? Do they lose points for not having a natural bob? It's just that I think dogs without tails look strange and I would like to have a go at showing.

That. Is. Adorable.

I think, considering the fact that the dog had had difficult labours in the past and had no live offspring, you are completely justified in blaming the owner. I certainly blame her. If your beloved pet reaches a certain age and you know she can't bare a litter of puppies safely, why would you not have her desexed?!

Make the kid wait to get their ball back, there is NO reason to enter someone's property without permission. Another example of bad parenting giving kids an over-inflated impression that they can do no wrong.

Other low exercise dogs oddly, are Greyhounds and Whippets. Biggest couch potatoes ever! Can't do Grayhounds... I have a cat and I've been told they do not mix at all

Didn't know that about Danes! All the ones I've met didn't seem to drool heaps! Exercise isn't an issue, I'm getting fitter slowly (I train at Taekwondo) and if I'm too lazy to walk, I'm not too lazy to go to a park or field with a ball, or to a friend house so there can be some play with other dogs. Great Danes are on the list for their low exercise requirements :)