Scottsmum

No comments on papers - but just a word to the wise. There are a lot of members here and if your dog is as rare / hard to come by as you say it is - people will put two and two together and figure out who the breeder is. Heck the breeder might even be reading. If I were you I'd consider editing that third paragraph ;)

Gap! Stop!* I adore Marvelous. Utterly adorable. *ps. Don't stop.

With all due respect. I see what you're saying when you say that to pick on the GSD because of their looks is "really your attacking show dogs in general" - but I don't think that's true. I think it's probably a step too far. I think this article makes a good point: Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3491160/Crufts-cruelty-row-breaks-German-Shepherd-sloped-wins-best-breed.html#ixzz42x5eSCEk I don't think that the whole conversation about this particular dog is just based on looks. I think people are genuinely worried unhealthy dogs are being selected as winners at such high levels. "Joe blogs" or "Jane Smith" could look at that dog and think either "wow - that's what my dog should look like" or possibly "oh all breeders are the devil" - this particular case doesn't do anything for the work which has been put into trying to correct some of the problems in GSDs over the last few years. As for the second bolded part - This is something I don't get. Surely if you breed and show one of the most important things to you *should* be to produce healthy dogs? We had a bit of a similar conversation here a while ago about Pet labs Vs Working Labs. But if an animal isn't sound and healthy - it shouldn't be being put forward as a good example of it's breed. Sadly if they pull up lame on the day - then so be it. Happens in the horse world - racing and showing - all the time. Just the luck of the draw. I'm not saying you need a full and comprehensive medical - but the animal shouldn't be lame or exhibiting other signs of illness. Edit: Just say Denali's post - saw that image and article after I posted. So maybe the bitch is sound and she was just lame on the day? Unfortunate camera angle?

Probably more likely that its an issue with the wooden floors, more than the stairs. A lot of scotties back problems flared up when we moved into a house with floor boards. We had to put mats at certain points to help him get traction (eg a yoga mat for its non-slipperyness under some carpet so he could get enough traction to jump on, and safely jump back off the bed and couch. Depending on how wide the stairs are you cold put some non-slip down. Maybe cut up yoga mats? Maybe something like those mats you can / (used to?) put in the bath to stop slipping (haven't seen them in years). I'd just be wary of creating trip hazards for humans. You could try something like this: https://www.toegrips.com/ You mentioned crying at night - possibly look at using a night light too - I know my older dog (before Scottie) had failing eyesight and had a lot of trouble navigating the very dark stairs at night. Towards the end she stopped using them at all and we carried her up and down - she'd wake us if she needed a night time pee. She had taken a tumble or two down one or two steps of the bottom steps and it really knocked her confidence - plus it bothered me having her land on hard tiles at the bottom. I'm not suggesting your dog has poor eye sight - just that stair wells can be very dark. We had a plug in night light for her. We've also used a desk lamp. I'd be inclined to make being downstairs the most amazing thing ever in the whole entire world.

You know what? This isn't "just a dog show" Crufts is live streamed internationally. It's shown on TV in England, and the reaction this has gotten in the general public is going to have backlash on not just german shepherds but all pedigree dogs. This isn't just having a bitch about an exhibit. This is going to have quite an affect. Just look at the Kennel Club actually speaking out against the dog and saying there's a possibility of not having the breed in future shows. This!!!!!!!!! (above) Are dogs vetted? I'm not up on this kind of thing but if the dog has trouble actually getting around the ring could it / should it be disqualified from entering the ring on the day?

Thanks Kavik :)

Not sure if this will work. if not - not sure where to find the original youtube clip. https://www.facebook.com/jessica.baker.792197/videos/10153335794187466/

Well that's a huge positive in some ways :)

Beautiful little pack :)

Bummer. I know you said no extensions - and I pointed that our to someone else ... but can you go up? Either second story or an attic room?

http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/265251-advice-opinions-please/ http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/263139-kids-sharing-bedrooms/page__p__6701363__fromsearch__1#entry6701363 Ah.... thanks Sars... Well - I still vote bungalow - come study / break out space or caravan/sleep out if its safe for the nearly teenage son. and its feasible for other reasons.

Out of curiosity - (approximately) how old are the kids? No I'm not going to suggest you give one of them up ;) One is obviously a new born - but for a few years there my sister and then I had a caravan in the yard - Gave us both the privacy we wanted and was safe enough for mum to be OK with it. Even if it's not a suitable solution for sleeping in maybe you could look at one of those little cabana / garden room type sheds as a rumpus room or study? I had a google - victoria seems to be very strict on granny flats (NSW relaxed laws a few years ago) but maybe it would be worth looking at an external room with a couch, desk and play stuff & some secure, well planned storage- it could be used to just give everyone space. I imagine it would be adaptable as the family needs changed too. This is a littel studio - a bit more than I was suggesting - but they're a vic based group : http://avalongrannyflats.com.au/one-bedroom/escarpment/ I know when hubby and I lived in a one bed flat for a 6 months the hardest part was just being on top of each other - there was no space to just go and be quiet if the other one was home. I suppose the other option is to look at storage and furniture solutions - lots of really cool features becoming more and more accessible and affordable - just google "tiny house living" gets lots of hits...

We've got quite a god set up here and I think that's what I'd like to ultimately do. Here, I drew you a picture. :D We have a lockable internal door -into house and kind of "external access" to the the laundry. It's just a matter of finding *something* secure and affordable which can butt up against the back door I suppose (door opens in so that's good). The brown bits are dirt / flower beds - he can / could access under the house from those points so ideally what ever we get would have 4 walls to keep him away from the walls of the house and from getting under. the red things are two very steep steps. The grey is concrete paths - one around the corner of the house, one which goes no-where (used to go to a shed I'm told) and the one in the middle goes to the clothes line. I looked up some awesome NZ made panels last night - but holy heck they were expensive. Looked incredible but I think ideally we'd get 4 panels like below and sit it along the edge of the concrete (where I've put the yellow circle)- keeping him off the walls entirely. Ideally we'd flip & create a gap to get in and out of the house and use the gate to still access the washing line - kind of like the panels create an airlock into the house. Something like this would be good - with some modification http://www.tornadogates.co.nz/images/Dog%20Run%20Compound%20Assembled.JPG this is also great (but expensive). Unfortunately I know he can jump 1.2 when he wants to - so it would need a roof... http://www.premium-lifestyle.co.nz/product/3m-x-1m-triple-dog-run/

I think it would be similar in costs. Based on the local pawshake economy - It's about $20 for a walk or a day of 'care' (day boarding / day care / what ever you call it). I think it's about $15 for a home visit. The lady who was doing day care (who I'd kind of lined up *could* come do a walk. I could give her a key to let herself in. Not sure how I feel about that. I have had a dog walker in the past but I kind of "inherited" her off someone I trusted a lot so had no issues with her letting herself into the house. I do quite like this lady - it wouldn't be too much of a problem.. I suppose the crux is no matter what we end up doing we'll probably have to do something we're not 100% comfortable with :)

Showdog - Life happens... and I think its great we can have a really frank conversation about it. We once took on a 4th cat - inherited her after a rellie died. Didn't realize 4 was / would be too many til after she was there. Many years later one of the 3 remaining was PTS & my parents reported that with hindsight the house was a lot more realaxed even without the (more) neurotic 3rd cat. Point is sometimes you don't realize what the situation is til you're in it. Life changes all the time. Id have never gotten a Scott if I thought for a second that 6 months later we'd be planning an international move.... Good on Rascal for being honest & asking for views - it might spark a solution.

oh. That bought tears. What a dear mauler of a kitty. :) & a truly beautiful photo.

I *think* he's OK - no signs of unhappyness - no trashed crate (only once in 15 days), no chewing his tail (that's big!), no howling that we know of. But he also was on a very full dose of drugs. Unfortunately - walking options around here are a bit limited - we kind of live on a road which is a big "P" - you walk one way in and one way out - you can mix it up a bit but it's boring. Footpath only on one side - no verge or shoulder on the other so can't even mix it up like that. As for duration I kind of think *can* and *comfort* are two different things. I know he CAN hold on between 8 and 10 hours - he was crated every night from May to November last year - but he also had full and interesting days out. Even then he had a few nights where he'd cry. A lot at first - then just one or so every now and then. I just feel bad making an aging dog hold his bladder for extended amounts of time. Also not much of a life if he's crated all day then I get home and I'm too pooped to do anything with him. We were fortunate enough that the afternoons were stunning and warm and I could sit or lay on a towel and play and just be out there with him. I'm also worried about creating other behavior problems from boredom. Anyhow... Unfortunately I need to work. Fortunately we can afford for that to be part time ... so hopefully the universe clicks into place so he can have a relaxed and happy old age. That said, I value every opinion and comment because if I do end up doing 5 days again while he's still around we will need a workable solution.

Pretty sure the deal is if you guess the colour right you get a free puppy. :D In that case I vote a little bit of tan & lots of black. Who do I give my mailing address to? On a more serious note -hope all is well. Cant wait to see puppy photos!

Yes - yes it is. Adorable happiness too.

We made it. HE made it!!!!! 3 weeks full time with me at work and no major signs of destructive behaviour or complaints from the neighbours. Weeks one and two went pretty well as I mentioned above when I popped in for a day 4 update. Hubby home at 12pm-ish - eating lunch in back yard & playing fetch at the same time. He's home between 4.30 and 5.00pm & they play fetch again for a short while before hubby comes to pick me up. Scottie is walked between 6.00am and 6.30am for 1 to 2kms - depending on who walks him and how many times they've hit snooze. He's crated between 7.10am and lunch and again from 12.50ish until hubby gets home. Scottie is left out free range of the house and yard while hubby picks me up from where I'm doing placement. Week three was a bit less successful. Hubby went away for work at shot notice so Monday of week 3 was OK - He was home prepping to leave and I did a half day. Tuesday I got home at lunch but it was a logistical nightmare - Door to desk it took a solid 30 minutes to drive to "work", park, walk to office. So doing that in reverse wasn't feasible - on tueday I pushed my luck and got back to the office 5 mins late. I also risked it and got a casual parking spot - popped out to feed the meter at 3.30pm. It also cost a tonne - $4 all day parking in the back parking lot or $2 an hour in the casual lot closer to the office ... all in all I look a "too long" lunch break and paid $12 for parking. Thurs was also a really full on day with things scheduled right up to 12pm and again at 12.45. I tried to book him into day care but the lady I had lined up and pre-met for day care has stopped doing it - and hadn't told me. I didn't push for her to do it as her dogs also managed to catch Kennel Cough - I suspect part of the reason she stopped doing day care!!! So wed, thurs and fri - I just crated him straight through - I left a bit later in the mornings 8am and was home by about 5 - then I'd spend a full hour out the back with him before coming in and doing things and walking him at 7. He managed OK - but by friday he'd had enough - he wouldnt come in after going out for last pee & he didn't eat his treat either. So that's where we are. I can relax a bit now and plan to have a more relaxed week with him while I write up my report from placement and catch up on other study units I've neglected while on placement. I also discovered during one of my hour long fetch / sunbaking / snuggle in the yard sessions that he can - and does get under the house - took himself under to get a ball I (stupidly) thought was lost. He was all "No worries Mum - I got this" and was around the corner, in, out and back to me faster than it took for me to crouch down and assess the situation. So that'll need addressing too - little shit :) Basically now we've got to address the issue of what on earth to do with him long term?. He really can't be trusted to have free run of the house - and even if he could - short of trying to litter train him he'd still need to hold on for toileting all day. The yard is less dog proof than I realized would be a HUGE job for proof. It would be great we could give him outside / laundry access. Coming into winter I have no problems having him crated when we are not home. But we can't do that to him 8 hours a day - 5 days a week. This only worked so well because Hub could get home to him mid day. Assuming Hub is available to get home every lunch time is not a safe assumption to make. In reality he could be called away at the drop of a hat. Me getting home could be a possibility - if we had a second car or I had a flexible enough job - both HUGE ifs. I'm thinking something like this kind of butted up to the backdoor - which opens inwards might work: http://www.trademe.co.nz/pets-animals/dogs/kennels-crates-pens/kennels-with-runs/auction-1046768803.htm We could make do and save up once I get work - making it a first / high priority for my first few pay checks. Of course - still hoping for part time work - but at this stage - work is work - I'd do *almost* anything.

Risky tactic - Aside from breaking the council by laws :D You risk peeving new neighbours and making an enemy of the rangers... I mean worst case scenario you have to re-home down to the allowable number - which is what we're discussing here - but it's still risky ...Plus - wouldn't you have to register them - which basically means you've either got to not register them / or some of them or dob yourself in upfront.

We were looking at rehoming our poodle his breeder found a suitable home but at the last minute they decided they wanted a puppy, my daughter was born two weeks early so everything happened at once. When I came home with my daughter he was the one that bonded to her instantly so we've been trying to make it all work.My hopes are we can find a place and not have to give anyone up however most councils won't allow 5 dogs and even if we stayed with the same council different area I would have to get all the surrounding neighbours signatures.We have considered building a brand new house and applying for the permit while there were minimal neighbours but the only places locally we would consider are both cat free estates so I would have to give up our cats so still a huge dilemma. I thought it was you that had a big few weeks - baby, leg surgery on one of the dogs... etc :) Multiple pets sure makes hard / big decisions even harder. If we ever moved from here to Auckland (which is probable) we'd need to apply to have more than one dog in most districts of Auckland so I suppose that's another reason to stay with our singleton. Anyhow that doesn't help you in your decision making process. I suppose the old "move further out" suggestion doesn't help? Could you / would you go semi-rural?

Just going to bump this rather than make a new thread. Wondering where the best place is to do some (low level) reading on active ingredients in wormers. I've always just used what ever was sold over the counter at the vet - and if I got it from the supermarket for some reason I just made sure it had Praziquantel in it. But I'm becoming more inquisitive. So ... where's the best place to read up on the following drugs - either in combination(*1) or on their own? You know - pros and cons of each etc? Praziquantel & Oxibendazole (S)-methoprene - Endogard Milbemycin Oxime & Proziquantel - Milbemax Praziquantel, Pyrantel Embonate & Febantel - Drontal Afoxolaner, Milbemycin Oxime - Nexgard Spectra(*2) *1 - by combination I mean Praziquantel & something else - NOT Engogard + Drontal. *2 - I don't usually chemically treat the dog for fleas unless we have visible signs - so I probably wouldn't use nexgard spectra.

Showdog - I think I need a touch more info - I don't get what you're saying directly above. As for the brush/furminator. We started using it every night while I was plonked on the couch watching TV - 30-50 minutes every night for a week saw him come good. I just set myself up with a shopping bag for the hair and tried to flip him over about half way through so both sides we're evenly furminated. By the friday I hardly got anything off him at all. So yeah - not a quick win but it's made a noticible difference. I bathed him yesterday after a swim and got basically nothing off him.

head. desk. what a clown.