Psycho-Magnet

wow, looked in the mirror recently?

So because I'm dissatisfied with irrelevant posts, your response is yet another further irrelevant post??

Who said anything about quibbling? I'm asking "what is a FAIR price" that's pretty much the exact opposite of quibbling.

Then why bother responding?

and I guess that's what I'm aiming for.

Yes, and this was part of my subsequent point. Sometimes (like so-called "Silver Labradors") "designer genes" have been artificially introduced into the Breed gene-pool via outcrossing. Sometimes the genes causing "desirable" traits (such as Merle, Blue Eyes, etc) can have other undesirable traits. Sometimes what is claimed to be the presence of a particular gene, is in fact something altogether different, a corruption of genes that should not be kept. To be clear, whilst I have no personal knowledge of them, I'm certainly not defending those breeders. For all I know they could be doing a great dis-service to the breed. I owned a GSP, and in accordance with the practice at the time, their tails had been docked in infancy. I'm considering another, and if hypothetically somebody was trying to breed "natural bobtails", my question would be WHY??? Why don't you want your dog to have a tail?

So in your opinion, her ignorant attack, is justified by ignorance? If somebody doesn't know about something, then on what basis do they claim it's wrong? All I did was simply ask the OP a question. I didn't attack them, I didn't claim they were wrong.

I DO Know, that there are those in the "Dobie World" who seem to take issue with the breeders of "natural bobtails." I don't understand it, I'm not involved in any way with Dobies. Maybe (like some other genes) there are other issues associated with this gene? Maybe the Breeders producing natural bobtails don't produce otherwise typey dogs? Maybe those Breeders refuse to share their bloodlines? It's also possible they dispute the origins of the gene within the Dobie Pedigree. There are those who claim that the original Dobies were naturally bobbed, and that surgical docking only came in to match that. Then there are those that claim the gene was never present, and has only come about through outcrossing. I don't know, and personally have no skin in that game.

Dobies can carry the Bobtail Gene. The fact that the gene itself might be quite rare, doesn't mean that knowledge is also rare. As mentioned above, I have no idea how common it is. I do know that some breeders specialise in natural bobtails, but have no idea how many, or even if their dogs are even shown. That is why I simply asked the OP how they knew? It may well be that they are correct and all the dogs they observed were surgically docked. Perhaps they asked the owners, or perhaps there is an obvious visual difference? That's why I asked.

There was no call for you to critique my post.

Dobies are well known to have the bobtail gene, and I believe there may even be some breeders who specialise in bobtailed dogs. I don't know how common they are? Or even if they are shown at all. Nor did I see the dogs in question, which is why I asked the OP how they knew? I imagine that a vet or even a Judge could tell the difference, but I know I certainly couldn't, especially not observing from a distance.

How do you know that their tails were docked?

I appreciate that people have attempted to help, but few have actually responded to what I asked. I'm asking for opinions, especially from Breeders, as to what you would consider to be a fair price. Obviously price is not the consideration. If it was, I wouldn't be asking the question, I just go and buy something for $500. And I'm not prejudging any breeder, nor disregarding them on the basis of price. If say there was a consensus that a "fair" price was $4.5k, then for those asking 2.5, and 6.5, then it just gives some insight into topics to be discussed.

This isn't a complaint about prices, and I don't want to start a debate. Just after opinions, especially from Breeders. I am researching Purebred or Pedigreed puppies, only from ethical breeders, and prices seem to range from around $2k to over $6k. Obviously there are big expenses, even before a litter is conceived. Hip scoring, DNA testing, Stud fees, etc, etc. Then the vet fees, and then the costs related directly to the Pups themselves. I imagine that many breeders are only in it for love, and if you looked at all the costs like a business, they would be losing money. But then those at the top end??? I'm asking because, whilst I would naturally prefer to spend $2k rather than $6k, I also want to be sure that nothing has been skimped and I want to make sure that the breeder is getting fair reward.

I have been considering a(nother) GSP as my next puppy. Beautiful, Intelligent, dogs. We had one many years ago. I would like to get into Agility or Trialling. Are GSPs a good choice for this? I know these dogs are very "high-energy" and alert. However our last girl was like the Energizer Bunny, she was super excitable, and never stopped. To be honest, I still don't think a repeat of that would be the best fit between dog and family. A dog would get plenty of attention, love, and exercise, and have other dogs to play with also. I just want to be sure that we're offering the best home for the dog. Back then, speaking to Breeders and other owners, they considered our girl's temperament to be extreme. Early on, a breeder had earmarked her for a potential lease, but ultimately decided she was just a bit too "out there" in temperament. So I guess my question is whether there are more "chilled" bloodlines? Or is it just "luck of the draw"?

We have a dog that would be brilliant at Agility (not FCR). Also, I am looking into getting a puppy, and when older would hope to do Retrieving. So, questions: Can only ANKC Registered dogs be entered? And if so do they need to be on the ME, or is the LR ok? (Family dog is not pedigreed. New pup will be, but probably not on the MR) What level of fitness is required from the Hooman? (I'm not exactly in the best shape of my life.)

Hmm, no. It's her back feet that are the problem, and FCRs mostly use their front. Besides, booties are generally wider than the natural paw anyway. Problem is finding ones that fit. As for the rest of your comments, , obviously I wouldn't have posted if it wasn't a problem. and obviously access is restricted. It's not only the law, but pools can be dangerous for dogs too.

All I said was that I could understand why some breeders are protective. There are Breeders who have imported multiple dogs and bitches (actual dogs not just sperm) So logically, if you want access to that for your own program, then you should pay the appropriate stud fee. That's all. I would imagine that most breeders are not in that category.

I'm not involved in the "industry" and I only know a few breeders to exchange pleasantries on facebook, so I'm far from being expert. I don't know much about the Goldie scene, but one thing I've noted with FCRs is the extent to which some Breeder have gone to improve Australian Bloodlines. Importing a dog is a huge undertaking, especially now that there is only one quarantine centre, in Melbourne. The process can take several months or even longer, and the costs are enormous. So I can understand why some Breeders are justifiably protective of those genes.

I sympathise Playing Devil's Advocate, it think that Breeders get a huge number of enquiries, and even a lot of enquiries similar to yours. Many from people that fall into the "oh wouldn't it be cute to have puppies" basket. From their point of view, it might seem like your priorities are: Pet Puppies Maybe Showing Good of the Breed You need to stand out, and if possible try to reverse that perception. If you are serious about showing, then you should do your research, start attending shows, get to know what to look for in a Champion, make friends with some of the breeders. You'll probably do better showing an interest and getting to know one or two breeders. And perhaps think about starting with a boy? Breeders will probably be a lot less suspicious if you ask for a "Show Quality" Boy. One thing to keep in mind, is that the bodgy puppy farmers aren't stupid. They know that they will produce better pups and crosses if they can start with bitches that have been rigorously screened for health issues. So I imagine they try all sorts of tricks to get their hands on good bitches from reputable breeders. If you are serious about wanting to breed, then I suggest you enquire about Guardianships. Put simply, you become a "guardian" of a bitch selected by the Breeder. They retain legal and registered ownership, under a contract that gives them wide control. If they judge her suitable for breeding, then they select the Sire, and the Dam is returned to them before whelping, and back to you after weaning. At a specified age,or after a given number of litters, ownership is transferred to you (possibly following sterilisation.)

Can anyone recommend (LARGE) booties for my Flatcoat. She loves to swim, but the paving around our pool keeps grinding the ends off her claws. Especially on the back feet. I thought this might correct, with trimming, but the claws are now extremely short, and still the ends get ground off and expose the core. EDIT> Sorry if I wasn't clear, she grinds the ends off and exposes the pulp. And if I don't immediately call a stop, then next step they start bleeding. Also, whilst the faux-limestone paving around the pool is the worst, the other paving is only a little better.