Sheridan

Because when it comes down to it, shows are beauty contests (though why anyone would pick an incorrectly coated wheaten above one with a correct coat is mindboggling).

It's like the two different sort of wheaten terriers being shown, one with the correct coat, one not. The woolly, American style coats up until recently were seen far more often in the show ring so the ones with the correct coat weren't put up. It's what judges are used to.

Yes, sure, but you're blaming your dog as if he's a person. He isn't. He's a dog. He's not doing it deliberately to piss you off.

You're projecting. Clean up, move on.

My dog doesn't understand when he does something I don't want him to do. Instead I smile, give him a cuddle, and clean up.

That's cos westies come in pairs. Can't have just one.

Some wheaten owners whose dogs have kidney disease actually bake their usual kidney diet food into treats. I wouldn't be buying normal dog treats.

What, you've never had one throw up on your bed?

As a kelpie owner I see no difference to a dog being called a bench kelpie or a show kelpie... the term bench kelpie came at a time when show dogs were all benched like they are at the Royal Shows. And my kelpie likes being on a bench particularly if I am sitting next to him and he can crawl into my lap I think either term is pretty daft.

Even when the standard is followed there is a huge difference betweeen show dogs, and working dogs. ETA: Clarrification. I see many different "types" of aussies. All to the standard, yet all different. Different ends of the height requirement, different takes on what is "moderate" etc Oh yes, happens in all breeds. The one that gets me is the term 'bench kelpie'. Say what now?

If the standard was followed there would be no difference in show or working lines.

When my last kerry blue was diagnosed with cancer, the North Geelong vet clinic paid for a pet photographer sitting for us. I didn't have a lot of photos of him and this was greatly appreciated.

North Geelong vets did this for both our dogs that died. Both had very personal touches and were quite lengthy in their remembrances of our dogs.

On the flip side, I was snobbed by an AR nut who had a rant at me because I said I wanted a pedigree dog of particular breeds and that I didn't want a rescue unless it was one of those breeds. I was killing a dog in a pound, you know.

Group 2 results?

Grumpy is no longer able to digest bones. He doesn't vomit but he gets very unwell. He gets a bambi ear each night and the vet was very pleased with the state of his teeth when he cleaned them in January. He said one side was pristine and the other was nearly so.

Ta v much

No, no, no. This is a more polite way of expressing the argument of 'If you get a dog from a breeder, you're killing a dog in a pound' that's used so often by animal rights whackjobs. Frankly, I do not like being told that I have to rescue a dog instead of getting one from a breeder and the argument is illogical anyway. If I could not have a breed that I liked, I wouldn't rescue a dog, I would simply not get one.

Wheatens and kerry numbers? I doubt there'll be any wheatens.

The reason why puppyfarms, BYBs and pet shops are able to get away with it is because of people who won't wait for a puppy. I waited for four months for a wheaten puppy but I lucked out in meeting a breeder who had just mated his dog. No guarantee of getting one, put on a waiting list, interrogated, and observed, and there aren't a lot of people who are prepared to go through that. Unfortunately, 'I want it NOW!' and 'Gimme' are well entrenched in our society.

Can you provide an example? I was thinking of the whole crossing with poodles thing to make a dog for people with allergies. Practical crosses - not just to make them look cuter. And that is the only example I was thinking of but there could be more? Except that such crosses are rarely hypoallergenic. There are plenty of purebred dogs that fit this bill.

There were 96 litters of staffy puppies listed on DOL last month or maybe the month before. That is just one breed of dog and only here on DOL. Surely that is plenty when you add it to the total of dogs needlessly pts each year as well? If people have to plan and wait for a dog rather than impulse buy then that is a good thing in my book given how many years that dog will be needing care for. My question then is why is it that the registered breeders need to take a hit and not produce puppies but that BYBs and puppyfarmers are given a free pass? Yes, there are bad eggs in registered breeders, particularly those who export to MacDougall, but an ethical puppyfarmer is an oxymoron.

And I'll point out that merijigs has actually done this so it's not just words to her. Not a puppy but she rehomed her Mini girl to me, for which I will be eternally grateful for her trust.

Um, but she produces oodles. Since when is that not crossbreeding?

I believe the Terrier group winner is the Russian Scotty who did so well at Crufts this year. BIG - 1 Skotsk Terrier FILISITE BRASH CELEBRATION RKF 2180863 Dog Owners: Valentina Popova RU-125475 Moscow RUSLAND Breeder: POPOVA VALENTINA 125475 RUSLAND Catalogue number: 04694