Sheridan

Honestly, I would be wary about getting another dog at all. If Charlie is ill then another dog could stress him out and make it worse. When my last dog was sick, he just wanted to be left alone.

Oh look, I had Grumpy glare suspiciously at the toilet a little while ago. No reason.

Cos they were hiding under their beds, presumably.

Sadly, Grumpy is now too grumpy to enter.

Whackjob.

My two get sardines in spring water daily along with their sardine and anchovy Eaglepack. They love their fish. I don't feed red meat due to Grumpy's tummy issues.

I'll give the retailer a call tomorrow. Failing that I'll call the distributor.

Expiry date is May 2011.

*scratches head* People actually have to ask the RSPCA to do this? They don't do it automatically? A-mazing.

Within code? This was posted from Sydney.

I have a bag of Ziwipeak I bought before Christmas. I filled up the container I usually put it in and then sealed the rest of the bag. When I opened it today, I noticed a couple of pieces had white furry stuff on them. Only those that I can see. Would you toss the rest or remove those bits and continue to feed checking the rest? It's bloody expensive stuff ($129.00 per 5 kg bag) so I'm pretty pissed off.

I stopped feeding those rawhide chews years ago when something came through one of the wheaten lists about the preservative being formaldehyde. We like Dog Food 2 U bambi ears in our house. I think they're imported from NZ because we don't have enough deer locally.

Which can be true in some breeds. Look at it from the opposite: a bad breeder will put appearance above health and welfare. The problem as I see it is that a lot of what the RSPCA states is are truisms. Usually the truth is a lot murkier.

The RSPCA has put out a pamphlet which does just this. I picked it up from the seminar. It was mentioned by at least one of the presenters. and what a load of misleading garbage that is. Hi SBT123 Can you let us know why the pamphlet is a "load of misleading garbage"? Thanks Well, for one thing, I didn't meet the breeder of my two wheatens until he delivered my second one to me from SA yet I have no doubt whatsover that he is one of the most ethical people, let alone breeder, that I have ever met. I wish to god that he was still breeding wheatens. The RSPCA states in the pamphlet that tail docking is illegal so the breeder's views are irrelevant. Agreeing with tail docking does not equal actually docking tails now that it's illegal and the inference that it does by the RSPCA is in itself unethical. That the pamphlet also takes a swipe at registered breeders is unethical. Note that the wording towards showing is far harsher than that towards puppyfarmers. And I don't believe that BYBs even get a mention, at least from what I recall, though I could be wrong. The information is useful, particularly regards asking about inherited disorders, but a pamphlet like this should contain information rather than bias.

So you wouldn't have your dog have access to a well-fenced secure front yard, even when you might be inside the home? I'm not asking you personally to your OWN circumstances, because perhaps your back yard is sufficient. But if a front yard comprised a good part of your dog's exercise area, do you think the dog being out the front yard when you were simply home would not be ok? Not to me. For the same reason, I wouldn't have a corner property or one with a back lane.

Why would anyone keep their dog in a frontyard anyway? Wouldn't a dog be safer out of sight?

I see what you are saying- but aren't Wheatens popular puppy farm dogs in the USA now? Wouldn't it be better if those who knew what they were doing and were prepared to take lifetime responsibility for the dogs they breed supplied these puppies? I guess though, the good ones will tell unsuitable people exactly that and if someone wants to pup regardless of their suitability they will source one. But look at, for example, the extremely high number of poor quality popular breeds such as Labs, Staffords & Goldens..... if more quality breeders with quality dogs supplied puppies, the general overall quality would rise. Educating people about where to buy a puppy still has a LONG way to go and people genuinely don't know they are doing the wrong thing. I would also imagine that being such an unknown breed here in Australia, the people after Wheatens or Kerries who are also suitable owners are well aware of the lack of availability & are prepared to wait. Yes, they are but we're talking here in Oz. The problem, I suppose with any breed, is quality breeders. Who decides who a quality breeder is? We know but according to Kate Schoeffel, she's a quality breeder.

I guess it is how one defines the terminology used... I also think that to combat puppy farms/compete with them, we need more availability of pedigree animals. Not in pet shops or 'on demand' but sometimes I think waiting lists of 2 or more years is bordering on ridiculous unless you really want a specific colour/markings or have plans for breeding etc. I honestly don't know where I will be in 2 years time, or what I'll be doing and if all I wanted was a sound & healthy predictable animal for the kids to grow up with and keep me company while they are at school (hypothetical me :D ), I sure as heck don't want to wait more than a few months!! But with some breeds you have to wait simply because they're not popular breeds. I had to wait only a few months for my previous wheaten but that was because a mating had just been done and I managed to scoot to the top of the waiting list. Others might have to wait longer than that. But the thing is, I don't want wheatens or kerries to be as popular as labs or staffies and I'd rather wait than have that happen.

Maybe if costs can be modelled to see if, by making dog rego more affordable & a once only matter.....it would eventually lessen dog management expenses? Are you talking about registaring dogs with the council? Have you looked at the costs of this on the Ipswich City Council Website? I don't know how much cheaper it can get...yes complete dogs are more exxy than de-sexed ones but so they should be IMO! Why?

Would you like a list of years of accepted practice items that are considered arcane and out-of-date? Just because something has had years of accepted practice (let's pick a favourite: white Australia policy; hardly a Good Thing), it doesn't mean it is best practice now. Open your mind, sir. I don't think anyone is saying that desexing is a bad thing but it doesn't automatically follow that desexed dogs roam less. And can we not get onto dog attacks because really, do you want an argument about BSL?

So, would I, poodlefan, but have you seen the Westminster rings? It's a wonder the judges can tell how the dog moves. Take a couple of steps with a big dog and you'd be around the ring twice.

Hang around here long enough (and please do!) and you'll find that for every 'fact' there is about dogs, another 'fact' will say the opposite.

The Highland Gathering is a great day and it's wonderful how they always have the Scottish dogs there. Some years back I suggested a Celtic breeds dog show for the National Celtic Festival in Portarlington but the organisers weren't interested.

Ta v much.

Believe it or not trivia: the dog on the Beneful packet is a wheaten terrier.