Sheridan

Then see my original post on the topic. How pedigree dog breeders conduct themselves in public (and public includes online since some people don't seem to get it) is all tied up with the smear campaign. But by all means, keep on giving them ammunition.

My sister's moved country three times in the past few years. Her cats have gone with her each time. They have more frequent flyer points than most people.

He's very stiff this morning. This is likely because he's been off his Vivitonin since Thursday. He's had a tablet now and hopefully he'll be a little better later.

Well, he's not as slippy now and he's had some dinner (steamed whiting and special kibble). He's done a solid poo (not the cow pats of a few days ago) and is sleeping on his mat. Fingers crossed for a good night. Thankfully, it seems very quiet around the neighbourhood. Will update in the morning.

Yes, yes, we all acknowledge that it's not meant to be denigrating but I suggest that the average pet owner isn't aware of these little descriptors.

Hence I never understood the thread where a soldier had to give up his dog when he was posted overseas.

Most of the breeders I know would never say their puppies are "only" pet quality. If the prospective puppy buyer was asking if the puppy was suitable to show, they would say no due to xyz. They still make sure the puppy is the right fit for that particular family/person. The breeders I am lucky enough to have spent time with put a lot of love, time and effort into raising their puppies, and finding the right home for each puppy - pet only or pet + competition. They do not believe their puppies are less deserving or less important because they are pet quality. What other term do you want people to use? To imply breeders say, oh they're "only" pet quality, as if the dog is a failure, is a pretty poor indication of the breeders you must be speaking with to use such a casual attitude with their pet home puppies. Well, most of the breeders I speak to are people here. Make of that what you will. It is breeders here who go on about pet quality dogs. I don't know any breeder off DOL who even uses the term. It makes me wonder why, if breeders won't use it to their puppy buyers, why they use it in a public forum such as this where (a) their puppy buyers might show up and (b) where Joe Public comes to get advice about getting a dog. Given the myriad threads bemoaning the pedigree dog breeder's lot in life against a seemingly unstoppable designer mutt market, you'd think that a term that on the surface appears to denigrate pets (and yes, no matter whether it is meant to denigrate or not), wouldn't be used in a public place but that's just me. Shrug.

And do you say 'They're only pet quality' to your puppy buyers? Or are you actually diplomatic?

Interesting, Grumpy just got up and didn't have much control over his back legs, as if he's coming out of sedation. He hasn't been sedated. He had an anti-nausea injection. He was much brighter at the vet. Hoping it's just that he's tired. I'll let him sleep and see how he goes.

He's tired and hot but he's home!

Why do you feel the need to call them anything other than dogs? YOU don't see anything wrong with it but I can tell you that people who buy them don't think of them as being unworthy or discards which is what it actually means. Unworthy of being bred or shown, discarded from your breeding program. Stop sticking your head in the sand and just think for a moment how it comes across. I expect if you don't care, we'll not see any complaints about people not buying pedigree dogs.

Grumpy is coming home today! He'll be on a strict diet.

I loathe the term 'pet quality'. Breeders may mean that the dog isn't suitable for breeding but I wish they'd say so instead of such a dismissive term. It's as if show and breeding dogs can't be pets, which I would suggest many are before they are either show or breeding dogs. The continuing use of 'pet quality' is why the gardiner got away with saying that pedigree pet dogs were breeder's rubbish discards or whatever it was he said. Think before you speak.

Thanks! Will take a look at both of those.

Anyone know if the Holistic Select Holistix treats are available anywhere in Australia? Pet Barn had them briefly but they discontinued them a while back. Grumpy is now banned from fatty foods so I'm looking for new treats and he did like these.

Moving quickly works for me ... So does having a big bottle if hydrogen peroxide on hand!

I suspect from what ... er ... came out, so to speak, from both ends, I suspect the sliced chicken. Plus Mini wouldn't touch it this morning. But we also had some roast chicken for a couple of days for Christmas and he does have a sensitive tummy so it could have been either. I miss my little man. So does Mini; she ran around looking for him.

Grumpy threw up again, more of the runs, and still hadn't had a drink by 3.00 pm. Back to the the vet where he's been put on a drip. He'll be there for at least a couple of days.

I've been up since 3.30 am with Grumpy who has quite horrible diarrhoea. Very watery and runny. Took him off to the vet first thing, who thinks it's low-grade pancreatitis. Too much chicken is the probable cause. Grumpy has also thrown up twice. Very small vomits and the second one was mainly bile. Vet has given me antibiotics and lectade but if Grumpy doesn't drink we'll be heading back for him to be put on a drip to get his fluids up. Grumpy is sleeping now; my poor old lovely man, he must be so tired.

A dog is a dog to some people, but to me a dog is wheaten or a kerry blue. Or a glen or an irish or a westie or a scottie or pedigree variation. A terrier, certainly. At a pinch a dog is a sussex or a field or a clumber spaniel. Curious to know what people know about the origins of their dog breeds.

Brown bitsa.

There isn't a wheaten calendar I would recommend, simply because to find a correctly coated wheaten in a calendar is pretty hard. The only kerry blue calendar I know of is the one from the Kerry Blue Terrier Club of the United States. I could wish for less show pictures but it's usually pretty good.

I think that there a loads of people who value their dogs highly no matter what their origin. To say that people who pay more for their dogs would be more inclined to seek out medical care is offensive. I paid nothing for my dogs. By your logic, I am more inclined to dump them and not to seek medical care. I don't regard my dogs as an 'investment'. Your personal experience is clearly very limited.

I support rescue and would be very happy with a rescue dog ... as long as it is a wheaten, kerry blue, irish or glen of imaal terrier. People like the dogs they like. No amount of guilt tripping from fanatics will stop me from wanting the dog breeds I want.

I think it is too strong for him. A couple of teaspoons in a cup of water is awfully strong.