wildairbc

All these sorts of debates outline to me is how humans ever more exclude themselves from the Real World, which is Nature and humans are but one more animal in the weave. I don't suppose that coyotes consider the stress the rabbit is under as they chase it to it's death. I don't suppose that anyone is going to agree to ending motorized transportation due to it's well known violence against bugs? Human beings are predators like any other and while we CAN insure humane treatment of animals that we purposely raise for food, when humans hunt/fish, it is as natural as a raccoon snapping up a minnow. Like it or or not, that is Nature's way.

Thanks for the replies. I guess this is the exception that DISproves the rule! ;o}

Until now, I have always found that the one sure sign that a bitch is preggers is that the vulva will remain a bit swollen after the season has passed. I am wondering if others have had false pregnancies where the vulva remained swollen and had the clear discharge. This girl is also producing milk, but I am aware that this is common with false pregnancy.

They only HAVE to be trimmed like that for the showring. You are free to clip (or not!) your poodle any way you wish!

This is not funny at all. It is amazing! You could be a CDA-Crazy Dog Angel.

You might want to be sure that is isn't this: http://www.petplace.com/dogs/cheyletiellos...mite/page1.aspx

Why is putting a price on an older dog any different from putting a price on a puppy? We do "own" dogs and as property, they have a value. Frankly, I feel that some "pet" owners go way too far with their "adoptions' and "mummy and daddy" talk. It is EXACTLY this sort of thinking that may well end pet ownership for all of us. "Guardians" can be deemed unfit on the flimsiest of evidence. Ownership of property is way more difficult for someone to contest. This doesn't mean that I don't love my dogs as individuals and let them pretty much rule my life. I do and they do. I also consider them "property", for their own sake and safety. Animals in and of themselves have no rights in a human society except those we wish to grant them. Laws against cruelty do not give them "rights". With "rights" come responsibilities and dogs do not have responsibility, as is often pointed out in our "stupid owner" vents. As already stated, most breeders have to draw the line somewhere on numbers. But in order to have a successful breeding program, you must breed! When Real Breeders breed, it is with the intent to keep something to carry on with. How many times can we do that without becoming overwhelmed in a hurry? We just can't catch a break-we are wrong to produce puppies just to sell,we are wrong to sell older dogs, and we are wrong to "hoard" the oldies. Breeders must do what is best for each particular dog. I have placed young show dogs with co-owners, running the risk that I will never see them again, because I knew they would be most happy in a home with only one or two dogs. I have placed dogs with people I don't particularly like, because I knew those people gave a good home to a dog. Geez, we aren't shoving these dogs out the door heartlessly. Breeders' hearts are broken in more ways than you can imagine. But we keep on, most of us don't even know why. Without us, this would all be moot. Knowing that our dogs, each and every one, are in the best possible home, is our only solace sometimes. I feel the loss keenly, but I know they are happier and that is all I am after. I can sleep at night just fine. But if I know that one of mine IS being abused after all of my best efforts? Watch out.

Indeed, a rude troglodyte, for sure. However, it is a myth that the dog's coat insulates it from the heat. If that were true, why do you think animals would shed their "winter" coats in summer? What the coat DOES do is SHADE the skin from the sun. Dog skin is not used to being exposed, so it burns easily. It doesn't take a lot of hair to do this "shading". A 7F will leave more than enough, unless the dog has an extraordinarily thin coat. A light shirt(like a kiddies T-shirt) can help, as well. It won't hurt the coat to clip it. It will grow back just fine, as I am sure you know. I think it is more a matter of aesthetics that brings folks to shudder at clipping off a double coated dog. I did this to my Border Collies the first year after we moved to a much warmer, humid climate than they were used to. It gave them a great deal of relief and you could never tell within a year that it had ever been clipped.

Dog food manufacturers recommend that you store dry kibble exactly as you are doing it-in the bag it came in in a sealed container. If the temps are not scorching, it should last well for several months.

Hi Dunnwarren, You are still not getting my point. I am asking that IF de-sexing is so detrimental to the HEALTH of the individual dog, then why isn't it the same for other animals, like horses and bulls(so, OK, steers are not meant to live long, healthy lives-bad example)? I am not talking about trainability-I am talking about health. I am also talking about the GREATER GOOD of society as a whole that does not appreciate having to deal with so many unwanted dogs due to the carelessness and "accidents" of others. I hope you are right that there are far more responsible dog owners in Oz than not. I can't say that this is true in the US. Of course, part of BEING a responsible dog owner here is having your dog de-sexed, so it is rather hard to determine. If you would also carefully read my last post, I stated that I do NOT like "cropping" anything off of dogs myself, and that is why I do not have a breed that requires any sort of cropping for show. I have even given up taking off dewclaws, although I do get some disapproval on that from my peers here. But that is not what this thread is about. What I meant was that I am sure that Aussies, as well as us Yanks, are not keen on having the government regulate the "dog hobby". I do not like cropping, but I defend the right of others to do so without some bureaucrat telling them they can't based on nothing but emotion and politics.

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So. Some think that "average Joe" is capable of handling an intact dog of either sex. I do not. My opinion is based on nearly forty years of being deeply involved with dogs in many different endeavors. (vet nurse, breeder, animal control officer, human society worker, groomer). In my opinion, it is nearly inevitable that the "accident" will happen. That is not to mention the "accidents" that many who own intact males do not even know about since they let their dogs roam. Many people who don't care to spend the money on de-sexing, also don't care to spend the money on licensing, vaccines, training, or good diet. But consider this-if all of the "cons" connected to de-sexing are true, why not advocate against gelding horses? Or bulls? I think we all know that the "average Joe" horse owner or the one growing out a calf for slaughter is NOT at all qualified to handle such potentialy dangerous animals. Believe it or not, fellow "dog" people, the "average Joe" is no more capable of handling an intact dog or bitch. How many times have we all said that "so and so shouldn't even own a dog"? Then certainly, they shouldn't be owning an intact dog.. I do not believe that the cons outweigh the pros by a long shot. If you think folks are dumping unruly dogs by the thousands now, can you imagine what it would be like if they were all intact? It is fine to seek out all information, but if you put stock in ancedote, what about the MILLIONS of dogs that HAVE been neutered over the past thirty years or so (USA) that lived long, healthy lives? Because a few people die each year from taking, say, aspirin, do you think it should be removed from the market? How about peanuts? Shellfish? I have seen dogs die of anesthetic for an ear crop, but I believe that many, if not most, folks on this forum, will argue in favor of letting us keep the "right" to crop our dogs if we please. I don't believe it does dogs or society any good to try to make average pet owners feel guilty for having their dogs de-sexed. I don't believe that there is some great conspiracy amongst vets just to "make a buck". I do believe that there will always be those who question the status quo and that is a good thing! But their questions alone should not be construed as answers.

It may not be decay at all. It is not uncommon for the third premolar (which IS big and seems like a molar!) in dogs that love to chew, especially, to develop a "slab fracture" where a portion of the tooth is broken off the side. This rough patch can then collect a lot of tartar which is near impossible to remove. of course, it COULD also develop a cavity. It may not need to be removed right now-or ever.

Hi, I recall just a few days ago, a link in this forum (I believe) about the "Petacure" nail grinder. Now I can't find it anywhere! Can someone give me that link again? THANKS!

Cripes, my dogs LOVE tomatoes and eat them like candy! Even the baby pups, when out to play, will find the tomato plants and start pulling them off. I have never seen any bad reaction. Know lots of other dogs, too, that love tomatoes. I belive that the stem and leaves may not be too great for them, but they don't seem interested in that part, anyway! They even eat green tomatoes. In fact, if I want any produce for myself, I have to fence it in!