leopuppy04

We never get any in Vic TN unless it's held at a specialty breed show I think that most breed clubs will offer the class initially - lets just hope it's well supported because if not, they won't continue to offer the class!

I want to see the Tollers diving into a squeaky ball pit. Just like the kiddy one at Ikea only squeeeeaky :p :D

Yup - how I'm teaching Z dog heel- I love it.

LOL - now I don't want anybody throwing their i-squeaks at me if their dogs don't love em :p 3 smalls for me please :D I can just imagine us all piffing our i-squeaks at Ptolomy... and all our dogs running to get them. Poor Ptolomy wouldn't be able to defend herself! Hey - Ptolomy - I think you should change your prefix. Isqueak Tollers has a nice ring to it too :D :p :p

That's what I'm worried about Miss B

That's what I was thinking too. I know I'll bring my older girl back out just for that title. She may as well add that to her list of achievements. Most of the people who I've talked to so far aren't going to bring out their "pets" so to speak, it will be their best that have retired due to things like pyo etc. I can't see it encouraging new people, as they will still need a main register dog or bitch. I think we'll see a lot of good dogs, that usually come for the ride each week and loved showing but until now couldn't unless neuter was offered. I still think it could encourage new people though if they have an interest in showing but perhaps don't want to have the extra effort of an entire animal. For example, the boy that I'm going to enter was neutered at a young age due to being cryptorchid. He is still the best dog in my backyard, from a breed standard point of view and I honestly can't wait to have him out. As a breeder, I still would rather sell a nice dog (show wise) on a limit/ desexing contract to the 'right' home if it comes along, even if that does mean it gets desexed. This way, like one of my current puppy buyers, they can desex their pets (preferred option) but still have fun with their dog and experience the show ring (which is something they expressed an interest in). Can't wait to see how it all pans out! Lets hope it encourages more people to join the showing world

ohoh "Well they enter their Grand Champion, what chance does my poor Neutered dog have?? They know all the judges anyway." My little Grd Ch Puglet will be getting out there. We also have a couple of others that were neutered unfortunately that will be getting a run around hehehe - I'm very excited about the title - I can finally get my 'nonut' boy out there in the ring :D. He'll love it! ETA - I think it's great that you can pull out your de-sexed Ch and Gr Ch for the title. Makes it more meaningful when you do attain the Neuter Ch title. After all they still *should* be a great example of the breed.. desexed or not Now I just hope that breed clubs will hold it so that I can enter

I just love Lexi's drive Ptolomy! Very jealous!

If I were picking a puppy to come and share our family home, I would definately like to meet the mum. as I would like to see her temprement. Having small grandchildren in my case it is imperative that the family temprement is good. by the way, my granndkids are NOT allowed to be rough and 'rude' to my dogs. Just a remnd guys - this is not about whether or not you can *meet* mum, but rather whether or not mum is IN the pen with the puppies when you are with them. I don't think it's a good sign if you can't meet mum at all!!

in our training name = attention. So yup we use it... but it's not a nag. Once my dogs are switched into work I have their attention. Around the agility course I might use their name a bit "Leo here" or something like that... occasionally if they are heading toward *that* tunnel it may come out as "Kintakintakintakinta!" or "Leoleoleo" in desperation!!! ROFL!

Haha - I know what you mean Nik!! Kinta was always an attentive mother and wanted to count heads all the time. she was still cleaning up after them at 12wks!! TT - I do know what you mean, although yours is perhaps a little different? I certainly don't blame you for not buying puppies from those breeders! I guess it all comes down to how it's delivered across and how the puppies are raised and the atmosphere rather than what exactly takes place. I certainly got the feel from all the visitors that we had, that it was the 'norm' to take mum away and they saw nothing wrong with that . We always had mum close though so that she could say hello later :D

Good point niques. I think I wouldn't trust any breeder who won't show me the mum . But I do wonder about letting mum in with pups for a variety of reasons ;)

Same set up as ours SBT

AB - we are much the same as you - we had a pretty hectic household when the puppers were here, but they were mainly 'doggy friends' and visitors, rather than puppy buyers. Many of you have said that the mums/ adults are put away because they are too boisterous. Would you feel differently if the breeder said that it was because mum was protective over the pups?! Particularly given you may know the dog and have seen the (very friendly) dog away from the pups. This isn't a 'real life' situation, but a general question . We had no issues with our pups and visitors, but for safe keeping, we did keep her away if the visitors weren't people she knew

I didn't even let anyone see our pups before they were 4wks - before that they were just 'doggy friends' and one puppy buyer family. Mum was always in the pen then and we handed the puppies out. Once pups were weaned, mum was kept away as she was a little protective over them with people she didn't know. With people she knew, from day 1 she would invite them into the box with her

Was going to post in the breeders forum, but I want the general public's perceptions too. If you were going to look at a litter of puppies, would it concern you if mum was not in the pen with you when you met the puppies? So say this was the following scenario: *potential puppy buyers come in and meet mum (and other adult dogs) *adult dogs put away, and puppy buyers introduced and get to play with puppies. *Adult dogs kept locked away until puppy buyers leave (unless they want to see mum again). As a breeder - what would you do? As a puppy buyer - what would you expect? for me - I think mum's can be quite protective of their young, so it certainly wouldn't bother me if she was put away, especially if young kids were around too! As a breeder - I find it's too much for me to watch - young kids holding puppies right, talking to puppy buyers and having to keep my eye on mum too... it would do my head in. I was talking to a fellow DOLer about it and we have quite differing views. They think that if you can't have mum in the pen with you, then she would run a mile from that breeder. Does your opinion change dependant on breed?

Gah - I don't like coming into these threads I look at your amazing shots and mine never come out that good!

I don't believe it Bedazzled! Brookie couldn't behave like that! I've seen him!!! Like Ness said - must have been an imposter ;) I'm pleased to say that we've been training since then (gotta love living on 1/2 an acre with full set of agility and obedience equipment for 1wks!) and he's been awesome!!!!! Maybe I need to enter a trial again soon.... Kinta's open training is going well... now.... to work on those stays.....

Done - TSD - I 'll send him over to get belted by a kitty cat Need to speak to you too ROFL

Well we had one of these a year or so ago, and I think we need another! Leo was a disgrace on Sunday at club. After a blinder round on Sat training with a friend where he found the seekback in record speed and also did the jumps perfectly afterwards AND fetched the right glove, I couldn't be prouder Turn up to club on Sunday, ready to blow everyone away, only to find the dog left his brain at home with the girl in season :D Only took him 5.5yrs to figure our what girls are about Seekback I think he tripped over it 5 times before he found it, we TOTALLY forgot what 'box' was and if by pure chance we got out there, he would drop in it ;) now THAT'S something new! We've also forgotten what 'speak' means and how to do a signals COP! Can I get a refund please?! Got him out this morning to do some remedial box work, and whadiya know... he remembers how to do it perfectly Pulled Kinta out, who was off her rocker to do some work. Gawd I love enthusiastic dogs

I'll be in on that even if I do have the box problems sorted I'm sure Leo and Kinta (and even Zara perhaps now!) will have problems of their own up their sleeve

Have to agree with you there Ptolomy - you learn something from each and every dog you train, because as Ness says, while you will perhaps fix some of your mistakes from your previous dog you made in the way of teaching/ training or trialling, your new dog is bound to throw something a little off centre for you to have to work with or around also that's what makes the joys of trialling so much fun! If we got it right first go, then why would we keep trying. Like you Ptolomy, I've been very spoilt with my first dog who can still give me so much after being my guinea pig so many times. I think I taught him about 5 different ways of heeling before we got it right Poor little lad is the one who has to 'try' on everything just so I can see if I'm training it right Ptolomy, I am sure you are an inspiration to most of us on here. I know when I watch video's like yours or bedazzled or even yours huski that there is something inspiring for me in there to want to train towards. For example, I see the incredible amount of drive that you have built up with Daisy and that encourages me to try this angle of training a ltitle more Love the videos. Ptolomy - I'll trade you Cider for Leo... only can you bring back Leo so that he remembers how to do a box and that it involves going to the box first, rather than doing the jump THEN going to the box please?! ETA - just watched your vid Huski - have you tried rotating your shoulders slightly as you go around the cones? Perhaps throw a toy or a (large, easy to find) piece of food as she goes around the outside to really encourage that drive around. Dropping your shoulders slightly on the inside of the fig 8 will make it neater . Think of riding a motorbike.... LOL... just don't make it too exaggerated

Ptolomy - I didn't know you got a new toller baby!

ozstar - what a great breeder you are Always warms my heart when I recieve emails like that .

hi all, i have a question about my 10mth old Aussie who would be due in season any day now - very swollen vulva etc,etc which has come about in the past few days. I was checking her today as her mother came in today (fun times ahead ) and I noticed that if I went to have a look at her girly bits she would yelp and run away. all of my girls have been FANTASTIC about having me check their bits, so this is very unusual for her. It was like she was really in pain. Everything else seems normal, although she is a little red around the vulva too (not abnormal coming into season). she did have a bout of mild vaginitis at about 4-6mths of age which cleared up quickly, but I'm wondering whether this may also be a contributing factor (the past few days she's had the same sort of yukky discharge, but no bloody discharge). So.... is this normal?! Now... the fun of housing two girls in season....... oh dear