Sheridan

Number of soft-coated wheaten terriers and irish terriers, please?

Amazing how people will automatically pick debarking instead of training as the immediate solution.

In 1859, a Winchelsea grazier by the name of Thomas Austin imported 14 pairs of 'breeding' rabbits. Do I need to go into the consequences? Some years afterwards, when Mr Austin's rabbits had got, in the words of his gamekeeper, 'a little out of control', hundreds of domestic cats were released on another grazier's property, the Chirnsides, at Lara near Geelong. Do I need to remind you of the consequences? Or foxes? Or the cane toad? The 'it's not their fault' is a very silly reason for not eradicating pests. I note in passing that when I first moved into my house, I had a shitload of mynahs. I see nary a one nowadays and my yard is full of natives. I had kookaburras a couple of weeks ago. I can only conclude that the dogs got rid of them because I haven't done anything else.

Shows are probably better but you could contact some breeders to ask what shows they're going to be at.

Do lakies and welshies shed? My sister's irish terrier sheds like the clappers but I recall Lyndsay reporting that her Ruby doesn't so much. I have no particular feelings for badgers so no qualms here, Monah. Indeed, when the kerry doesn't want to let go I found it rather funny. That sounds bad, doesn't it. No illusions about kerries at all in the may kill small animals department; I know what they're like!

Dogsearch, you'll have noted that I have a wheaten and a kerry. What you have to remember about both the wheaten and the kerry is their original as the all-purpose farm dog and vermin hunter. 'May kill small animals.' Did you take a look at that video I posted the link to? Kerry vs badger = dead badger. Sure, wheatens can be ditzier than the kerry. I've had two wheatens and two kerries. Of the two that I currently have, my wheaten is the most stubborn dog I've ever come across. He has to decide to do something; he cannot be persuaded. Sure, he's a dopey blonde laughin' boy, just as Mini is a dopey blue laughin' girl, but of the two, she is far more biddable. My previous kerry wasn't socialised and I would have described him as dog aggressive. My previous wheaten was attacked once by something very large x something very large and thereafter instituted a first strike policy that made George Bush look like Mahatma Gandhi. My current wheaten is old and his nickname of Grumpy is well deserved, to the extent that I give people a severe lecture on how to behave around him. Of all of them, my kerry Mini, is the most bombproof but I always remember that she's a kerry. I think Merijigs comment about various kerry people, particularly overseas, not wanting to talk about temperament is spot on. The kerry is certainly feisty which can turn into aggression but dog park stuff I'd be very wary about particularly given some of the horror stories on DOL. I'll note that non-shedding equals lots of grooming, particularly for the wheaten. Feel free to PM me or Merijigs (she offered in the Dog Breeds 101 thread) if you have particular questions.

In our experience the cancer death rate for a low number of the breed is very high.Our rehomed boy died of cancer,my brothers import died of cancer & 3 we groom died of cancer The problem with that is these are just dogs of your acquaintance. My last kerry had cancer but as far as we could tell he died of a heart attack. Very true. My girl's doggy companion is a 14-year-old grumpy wheaten terrier. She's very cheeky with him. She'll push him out of the way a lot of the time but she acknowledges that he's in charge. As do I, naturally. She's far more obedient that he is.

Where are you?

On that one, here's a kerry badger trial in Ireland. It could be subtitled, 'The badger's mine; I ain't letting go.' See the size of the kerry and the size of the badger. That's a dead badger at the end.

Princess Mini does have a wonderful temperament but still, Inspector Rex is a no go zone on our telly.

That was my intention Sheridan. I don't think Kerries are what the average pet buyer is looking for. Most seem to want an easy going, biddible friendly dog that doesn't have any particular management requirements and is up for a trip to the park for a picnic and a run on the dog beach. Left, as many pets are, untrained and poorly managed they can be a nightmare. One terrorises the street a friend of mine lives in. It's not the dog's fault but the owners. Too much dog for someone simply looking for a pet for the kids IMO. No doubt others will disagree. I'm a pet person, poodlefan. Not every kerry is a showdog. Most aren't. Most live in pet homes with average people. Indeed, I would describe myself as an average pet owner. I have just been fortunate enough to live most of my life with the Irish terrier breeds and know what they're like and can thus describe the particular type of person who should belong to them. Yes, they require a particular type of person but then most breeds do. The terrorising scenario could be any dog. Rather than get a particular type of breed, I would argue that the person you describe simply shouldn't have a dog at all.

A calm kerry is an oxymoron. The main thing kerries are known for are sebaceous cysts. They are generally a healthy breed. Cancer is known as much as it is in other breeds. They don't seem prone to it as a heritable disease.

I would query given it's about emergency vet prices (i.e. out of regular hours prices) what experience they have in these things. The pricing appears to be simply because other surgeries are closed not because they're experienced in anything or have specialist skills.

You can hardly find a vet you like or seek a second opinion if it's an emergency. What it does mean that people should have around $5000 stashed away for emergency surgery. I suppose those who loftily post that if you can't afford veterinary care you shouldn't have a dog, have such funds readily available. Surgery costs, it's expensive, you can either pay for it or in the case of an emergency ask the price up front and if you can't afford it, then euth the dog. The majority of emergency clinics, will advise you of the costs , they also expect that you will pay upfront before treating your dog. It's a fact of life, if you own a dog and it becomes sick or injured , you will have vet bills. There's no medicare for dogs, so if you can't afford large vets bills, take out pet insurance. I'm sure that there are people who are as pragmatically cold as this.

As far as I'm aware, LDH volunteers are restricted to spruiking for the National Pet Register at events or by manning the phones/stuffing envelopes.

As I've said in the past, I haven't yet come across a recommend a dog breed for me thread where I've said, 'yes, that person could have one of my breeds' and this one is no exception. You're considering a poodle or a kerry. Completely different dog breeds with totally different temperaments. While I agree that kerries should only be owned by those who understand them, calling them 'fanciers dogs' rather implies that they're not for pet people. Kerries make great pets for those who are prepared for them. I wouldn't recommend them for the inexperienced dog owner and if you've previously had an aggressive dog, maybe consider something calmer. They can be dog aggressive if not well socialised. They will remain fiery to the last even if they've been socialised. I would be careful as to temperament. There are obedience champion kerries and agility champion kerries but if their owners don't put in the hard yards then they're not going to be remotely obedient. They are independent dogs with minds of their own and are supposed to be. On the animal planet survey, they come up first if you choose 'May kill small animals'. Of the points you've mentioned the kerry: 1. is not to be trusted in an off-lead park 2. can be dog aggressive if not socialised; my kerry has a wonderful temperament but still goes off like a pocket rocket at anything that moves 3. should be well exercised - perhaps not two hours but the walk is very important 4. is hard work even for those with experience in the breed (my most oft repeated thing to Princess Mini is 'Oi, miss!') 5. yes, is mischievous: completely charming but do you like removing things from your dog's mouth as a constant form of entertainment for yourself? 'Oi, miss, is generally followed by a thunderous, 'Put that down now!' Mind, my wheaten is worse at this. At 14, I'm forever bribing him to drop things and chasing the pair of them around the house. Do you like dogs that jump and dig? Badger hunters, vermin hunters, have been used as police dogs - chasing is fun. One of Mini's nicknames is Princess Pogo. She can pogo higher than my head. Best dogs ever along with their nutty blonde cousins but I'm sorry to say, the kerry is not for you.

You can hardly find a vet you like or seek a second opinion if it's an emergency. What it does mean that people should have around $5000 stashed away for emergency surgery. I suppose those who loftily post that if you can't afford veterinary care you shouldn't have a dog, have such funds readily available.

Question: are two better than one?

Some of these might be a matter of opinion, I think.

I think the point was that this seminar day is about dogs and their welfare. All dogs. All of the presentations on the day will contain information relating to (all) dogs. It\'s not a pedigree specific day and it\'s not a cross-breed specific day, it\'s a day about dogs. It\'s not an anti pure bred day or an anti cross bred day, it\'s a day about dogs. I was objecting to you lumping all presenters together as anti pure bred - not offering to find you links! I haven\'t met or spoken to all the presenters in person, so I can\'t quote their personal opinions. However, I do know that a couple of them who (as I\'ve mentioned previously) are pure breed breeders/owners/showers/VCA members and clearly not anti-pure breed which is why I objected to you calling them such. Goodness me. Again, I know you didn\'t offer. I asked you to provide me with one from McGreevy who, from what he has said, seems to most certainly be anti-pedigree dogs. Do you see the difference? Oh dear, short memory, must have a. You asked for suggestions. I provided some. That would be because we\'re not stupid. The only way that crossbreeders seem to be able to spruik their \'wares\' is by denigrating their source material. A pity then that you appear unable to understand our concern.

Hi Sheridan, I never offered to post a link, I merely objected to all speakers being categorised as anti pure breed. I know you didn't offer. I asked for one. You stated that it's not anti purebred so given McGreevy's well-publicised mutt stance I have asked you to provide something that shows he's praised pedigree dogs. Link, please. How about a balanced view on pedigree dogs? Or is that too much of an ask? How about going after the welfare of crossbreeds? How about going after the welfare of dogs in puppyfarms? Or are pedigree dogs your only target?

No one said you do stuff all, more that there is no point denigrating the AWSC for not asking the ANKC to speak when the ANKC is not pursuing the many opportunties available to offer their views on this type of platform. There are many organisations running events for animal welfare and IMO it should be the job of the ANKC to represent it's membership at these events and actively pursue opportunities to do so. It's good that this happens to a certain extent in the ACT but the groups whose view you oppose are acting nationally and it would make sense for the ANKC and it's branches to do this as well. As for what I do, I watch and I learn, I don't own pedigree dogs and I don't belong to any breed clubs my interest remains in animal welfare as a whole. Erny that's the thing, your ANKC membership is paying for this PR bloke Peter Higgins to spend his time representing your interests, why isn't he doing just that? It is his job to pursue all available opportunities to represent you that is what he is paid for. I agree that the ANKC should be pursuing opportunities to promote pedigree dogs. In fact, I've harped on about it on many an occasion and have been flamed for my troubles. However, people get invited to speak at these things; they don't invite themselves unless there is a submission process. You have to ask why if this is not simply another opportunity for people like McGreevy to pedigree bash, wasn't someone like Dr Higgins invited to take part.

I would suggest that this is because Kate Schofeild isn't selling marketing; what she's selling is mutts and her marketing ploy is to denigrate the 'stock'* from which she sources her 'material'. * Stock because that's what dogs become when all you interested in is selling.

All topics being presented at the seminar are about dogs. The findings being reported apply to dogs. Including pedigree dogs. The seminar's aim is not about promoting crossbred dogs. The presence of McGreevy and Schoeffel would indicate otherwise. McGreevy never seems to waste an opportunity to stick the boots in. And there seems to be some question over Bennett. I am, by the way, still waiting on your link to where McGreevy praises pedigree dogs. Can't you find one? Were your seminar balanced I'm sure more would consider going. Why hasn't, for example, Peter Higgins been invited? Someone who can read a standard and actually understand why dog breeds have particular traits? Cos the ones I've listed don't seem to. I thought some registered breeders were supposed to be part of this. Who are they and what do they breed? And if the purpose is not to pedigree bash, what exactly is the purpose? Cos I'm not getting it from what's been spruiked thus far.

Yes, but then the breeder would get done by the RSPCA when the pullalong dog's string broke and for not providing a lifetime supply of batteries.