Sheridan

Meant to, I think, is the operative phrase there. It is the judges' prerogative to withhold if entrants are deemed unworthy. And some dogs don't get shown at all, some of whom are brilliant examples of their breed. I don't want to get into the regular round of 'if you don't show, you're a puppyfarmer' nonsense because that's precisely what that argument is, but showing doesn't indicate brilliant dogs, it indicates what dogs show up. Sometimes they're brilliant dogs.

Meant to, I think, is the operative phrase there.

I just agreed with Pewithers. Kill me now.

Sadly, Tralee appears to having continuing issues with those who disagree on any topic.

I didn't dry it actually. I steamed it, rolled it up into balls with some of his kibble and then dusted kibble crumbs over it. He gobbles them up. I bought whiting fillets. I don't have the patience to debone them myself.

Its a metaphor. That's how language works, you know. Without metaphor there is no language. You know, like, draw me a picture. I'm having the biggest feeling of deja vu about Tralee aka Pewithers claiming that a word or phrase means something it actually doesn't. I thought a metaphor is an implied comparison, something that cannot be taken literally, a figure of speech. Tralee won't agree with me but I take comfort from the fact dictionaries do..

Yes, I just got a message to that effect. :)

Well, this is plainly ridiculous. Good luck with your one person crusade. No one will know what you're talking about.

The law may be an ass but it's what is worked with, even via the RSPCA (whom I wouldn't trust to tie their shoelaces without falling over).

First thing for my family was that the dog had to be an Irish terrier breed. We went from there.

I wasn't that fond of staffies for a while until one plonked himself in my lap and refused to move. Big rolly brindle laughing staffy. Not enough hair for me to get one but the big wide grin made me change my mind entirely.

Precisely the sort of conditions why I won't co-own. The breeder can trust me or not when it comes to owning a dog and I'm not there just to look after their dog for them. A dog lives with me, it's my dog and I have the say over what the dog does and where it goes.

Quick update on the Grumpy man. I've noticed that since he's been off the BD, he's actually got a little more alert, strangely enough. He still gets confused if he can't find me and like he doesn't know where to look, but he's become more aware of what he wants, I think, and has become a trifle more demanding! Tummy troubles seem to be sorted. I made him southern blue whiting treats yesterday, little fish balls and I just covered them in his kibble. Best thing ever, he tells me.

Oh shit, when did this go up? There is a bedlington missing from Glen Iris. Are you sure it was a girl? The missing beddie is a boy.

Wouldn't most Studmaster prefer to start the Male well before 5/6 years? Isn't this what the breeder had in mind when making her offer to 'use' the dog for stud purposes? But the OP only wanted the dog used for the one litter didn't she and wasn't comforable with the other offer? Isn't the risk of testicular cancer increased if the dog isn't being used? Could be an Old Wives tale, maybe? Anyway, I just didn't think it was worth keeping a dog entire for 5/6 years on the off chance he might be mated for a litter of which one pup would go to the dogs owner? But then perhaps the OP had not intended to desex her male dog in the first place so the option would always be available to her. Who knows. On the stud front, you'd need to ask a breeder but as long as the semen's viable, I don't see why a stud dog can't be older. As a caveat to that, my own dog's sire was 13 or 14 when he was used. Three pups, two died last year aged fifteen and Grumpy turned sixteen today. Guess there was nothing wrong with those genes. No idea on the testicular cancer. Grumpy wasn't desexed until he was eight. As to the worth, again, up to the individual owner. No one's business but hers unless it's against a local bylaw.

Yes, this is true but what are the chances of a dog remaining entire for 5/6 years and even having a clue about mating sucessfully at that one effort at that late stage?? This is what would happen if he wasn't to be used by the orginal breeder and just kept "to sire one litter" for the OP. I thought your objection was leaving a family pet undesexed but it's actually that you're concerned the dog won't know how to have sex? I know it sounds silly but if he isn't used for 5/6 years he could have "issues". Some young studs need "help and guidence" until they become experienced. Or, he could be "a natural'. ;) But it also leaves him open to health issues like testicular cancer. Isn't this what studmasters are for? And on the cancer front, it isn't just family pets who get it, so I'm not sure what the difference is between a breeder's stud dog and a family dog. Both undesexed, both open to testicular cancer, no?

Yes, this is true but what are the chances of a dog remaining entire for 5/6 years and even having a clue about mating sucessfully at that one effort at that late stage?? This is what would happen if he wasn't to be used by the orginal breeder and just kept "to sire one litter" for the OP. I thought your objection was leaving a family pet undesexed but it's actually that you're concerned the dog won't know how to have sex?

Gosh I hope that wasn't the plan. That is not a good enough reason to leave a family dog entire??!! I'm confused now. Did you mean you wanted a puppy from the dog (litter he has sired) that you are buying when he was 5/6 years old OR Did you mean you wanted to buy another puppy from the breeder, related to your dog, as a second pet, when he was 5/6 years old? Perhaps the breeder is confused too. I realise there's a certain divide between pro and anti desexing proponents but unless there are laws in place that say otherwise, it's really up to individual owners if their dog is entire or not.

Volkswagen have been doing joke ads for years. When the beetle was called a lemon, they countered with this ad. It was very effective. There's a whole book of VW ads available now.

Okay, you are getting a puppy from a breeder. Later, when the dog is older, and if the dog is bred from by the breeder, you'd like one of those puppies. Is that the situation?

Aren't most show entries between $10-20?

I think environment and circumstance have a lot to do with this rather than a dog with an unsound temperament. In fact, I'm very dismayed at your post. My Grumpy was never afraid of storms until one where the hail was coming in horizontally at the windows and since then thunder signals that type of rain to him. Are you suggesting that he suddenly became unsound? Couldn't this be age related, for instance? My first wheaten never blinked at storms because we lived five minutes away from a railway yard. That was his environment. Never blinked at fireworks or storms.

Mace, do you blame victims of rape for walking alone at night or wearing short skirts?

I paid $800 for my last puppy and wheatens are around $1500-2000 now. Worth every cent and more yet still not as much as the kennel I paid for. :)

Saw it last night. Love that Volkswagen has a sense of humour.