piper

Fingers crossed the cytology was wrong Trisven. We had our second breeding today. I will give full story now, it has been an up and down week here too. I took Jazz along to the vet for progesterone testing and he did a full breeding check up - swabbed, checked for strictures. A few days later I was taling to an experienced breeder friend who questioned why she was tested when she was and also said there was no way they could check for a stricture as early as they did. Went for second progesterone test and due to hassles with the clinic with that second test I decided to change to a repro specialist who was not really that much further away. The staff were so helpful when I rang and explained what her results were and when the test was taken and based on that they recommended a test on Saturday. So test number 3 on Saturday and the outcome was breed on Sunday. So on Sunday we headed off for the "date" After quite a few unsuccesful attempts by the dog a friend who was there assisting called a vet and breeder she knows to ask about fresh AI. He very kindly came to us on Sunday to assist and ended up doing a fresh AI. Whilst doing that he commented on the very tight stricture that my girl has and that the dog would most likely not have got past it and it could present a problem for having the pups I mentioned to him that a vet had checked and said there were none and he was very surprised as he said it is very obvious and very tight, not a small 1 that is likely to break down His advice was get her checked a couple fo days before she is due to whelp to see if it has broken down otherwsie do an elective c-section and get it snipped out at the same time. I am just so cross that I had her checked and was told all was fine, only to then be told this at the time of breeding and now I am terrified of it causing a problem. I was telling the saga to the breeder of my girl who said "welcome to the world of breeding" LOL. We did a second fresh AI thiss evening and are now at the wait and see stage. I am no longer going back to the clinic I have used for 18 years - I am so annoyed at the way Jazz was handled by the staff for the tests, the way I was treated in trying to get the results and then finding out that the vet did not find this stricture (not that I am sure we could have done anything anyway, more that he made a big deal about checking and saying how all was fine when it isn't) The nurses at the repro clinic were wonderful and so gentle with her and very understanding when I explained what had happened and took the time to settle her. We haven't seen the vet there yet but will head out there for our ultrasound.

Oh Trisven, I'm sorry - that would be heart breaking. We had a mating yesterday and another tomorrow. Estimated due date will be around 21st May. She was late coming in season and I have been getting so impatient then once she came in I changed my mind and was terrified. Iwas going to not go through with it so many times, even while driving down to the stud dog's place I was ready to turn around and go home. I'm still scared, I think I have read too many horror stories and I can think of 101 things that can go wrong.

I'm nervous and excited that I get to join in here now May looks like a quiet month. Fingers crossed we will have a late May litter of border collies.

I am glad to hear this. And glad LOTG started the topic. I just mated my girl for the first time and was thinking no way can I get the amount of time off that others say they get. I work in a school and have worked out that school holidays will fall somewhere around the 5 or 6 weeks of age mark so I will get time home then and I am pleased about that as it is an important time for interaction and socialisation. Other than that it will be a few days around the time of birth and then popping home at lunch time each day. I only work a 6 hour day, 5 mins from home so will just use my lunch breaks to check on things.

I went outside and had a quick try. We had clouds last night but they were very light and gave a cool effect but it didn't even show up on the photo. I started with the settings mtd posted but it was so bright that there was no detail on the moon so I upped the shutter speed. These were hand help using my 70-300 at 300. ">

Oh I love that design Naomi. I can't remember - did you custom design or was it 1 she had available? If you did a custom design they were awesome choices

I have been missing in action. I fell off the wagon for a little while there but am back now. A new lens for my birthday and Jazz due to be mated any day = renewed motivation, time to get back on the wagon!! Here is 1 of the first shots I have taken with my new 50mm 1.8. I can already see why people love this little lens. It is over esposed but I just loved her extreme head tilt and expression. ">

lol - I walked outside last night and picked up the weekly free paper and started walking to the recycle bin and changed my mind. Hubby also told a few people at work that but the paper to start giving them to him to bring home rather than throwing them out. And ozjen - I am hoping she will be prepared to give up frisbee while she whelps, bit given how much she loves it I can see her doing exactly as you describe if we take it away.

I know of at least 2 SA people going. 1 auditing the first weekend and 1 participating the second. Dova might be going too, not sure on that 1? We then have K&K over here for the first weekend of April, and Jazz is in season and being mated so will miss out :D I have been looking forward to this clinic but also waiting for Jazz to come in season all year.

The routines Mary Ray does before Best in Show are always great as well.

I always love watching his routines. They are so creative. Someone posted on a list I am on that he also got second with his other dog.

Yesterday must have been the day for it. Jazz hasn't been on sheep since um October at a guess. We are running a clinic in a few weeks at a property we haven't used before (and OMG it is AMAZING!!) so we had arranged to go out there and work things out with the owners. When I rang to confirm yesterday he said "bring your dogs and do some training" He very considerately pointed out that his sheep have only seen kelpies so it would be good for them to see some other dogs before the cilnic. 3 of us went out witha GSD, and Aussie and a BC. The sheep were great, really nicely dog broke but not heavy at all. The other 2 worked first and Jazz got herself all stressed out watching and was literally screaming on the end of the lead. She was fine while the GSD went in but every time the Aussie woofed she went nuts. I didn't hold much hope for her doing anything nice given how keyed up she was and that we were working in a small area which she is not keen on but she did a really nice job and we even had a few short drives around the perimeter of the area. The sheep were great, they would orientate to the handler, group together nicely but they did not stick like glue to our legs, instead they would stop about 1m off. The only touble is with Jazz having just come in season (yes the property owner knew but only has female dogs so was not worried) and being mated this season we will miss the clinic

Thanks everyone. I am chuckling at the chocolate, coffee and panadol references though. LOL The vets number is handy however we have a slight technicality - the clinic I use no longer do after hours and the nearest emergency centre is quite a drive away. I did speak to the new clinic owner who I used to run puppy classes for at his previous clinic and he has said we can have a chat once the mating has been done and see what we can work out. There is a new vet clinic at the Universitry vet school and they will be running emergency eventually but apparently it is not yet up and running. We are just back from progesterone test number 1 and Jazz was such a good girl for her blood draw. He also gave her a thorough exam and checked everything out and all was good - no strictures there. At this stage I won't get the results until Tuesday (although they did say ring tomorrow as they might get them back before they close) and depending on the result we will test again Tuesday or Wednesday, they will let me know. I am sure I will have plenty more dumb questions over the coming months. Years of reading, listeningl talking and observing all of a sudden seem to mean nothing and I am incredibly nervous about it all.

Thanks everyone and keep it coming! Jed - your comment about not weighing is interesting. The breeder of my girl is the same like that. I think for my first litter though I am going to weigh. My other current fear is trying to secure time off work.

Jazz has had 3 formal lessons and has been doing so well. Last night they moved her out of beginners and into the next class and she was running short sequences off lead. And I knew this was a possibility but I thought I might get a few more weeks in - Jazz has come in season. Just figures that once I started training and booked her in to a herding clinic that she woudl have her long awaited season. So her agility training is back on hold for a few months and our chance of trialling this year is probably out as I expect it will be a little while after her litter (assuming she gets pregnant) before she gets her full fitness back.

Well the time has arrived for Jazz to be mated and in preparation for the inaugural Ildanach litter I was wondering what people consider absolutely essential in their kit and what things are nice to have but you don't have to have. I read some people's lists and think wow that is an awful lot of stuff and then other people say they don't use much at all. So I thought I would ask the collective DOL brains trust what are absolute non negotiable items. This litter has been a long time in the planning but suddenly I am terrified and feel like I have learnt nothing over the years. Tomorrow we go for the first progesterone test, a couple of days early but of course it has to be a long weekend in Adelaide this weekend!! So the absolute essentials that I am guessing everyone will say are: whelping box (I am thinking about 1.2m square for a BC litter?) heating source bedding of some description (I am planning on vetbed) scales beyond that lists vary so much, so please share with me what would you not be without and what you would like to have but can get by without?

Another good post Dancinbcs. You always make so much sense. Yes, if only more people would query the price and realise that the price should not be inflated for colour, it would solve the problem real quick. And I also suspect it would stop a few of the money hungry breeders out there if they could not get stupidly inflated prices for pups.

I would want to know how much they sell a black and white pup for because IMO there should be no diffrerence in price regardless of colour. Other colours do not cost more to raise and I am always wary when I hear of people charging significant amounts more because a dog is a certain colour. I am not saying that those you contacted are definitely doing that but it would be interested to hear what price they would say if you rang asking about a black and white pup.

Thanks for the pics. I am still a alittle wary - I would be worried about the weight in the long term, not sure those handles are designed for that and also the event of stopping suddenly. I like the idea, just not sure I am brave enough to try it. I just slide mine in at an angle. It is a bit of a pain but it works.

I think I know what u mean by normal flat collar, as in a normal dog collar ?? Yep, just your typical buckle collar. I agree with Ness - use a grooming table or similar to teach sit, stand and drop then transition that to on the ground. Also work on focus on you so they are looking up and then you won't need to be down as much to get them to see the signal. Alternatively you could train them to respond mostly to a verbal cue unless you intend on getting all the way to UD

Don't feel stupid, not somethign I would have thought of. Can you post a picture? I am trying to imagine what you mean.

Unfortunately there is a very tough crowd to work with over here And some of them can be quite vocal about their beliefs.

I think RallyValley is talking about competition style heeling as opposed to loose leash walking or close walking used on your everyday walks. I have done what you describe above for teaching a nice walking style but it is not how I would tackle heeling for competition. First thing I do is work on stationary position and attention. From there I gradually add movement and keep the rewards high and the sessions short. Others that do it more effectively than me will be able to give a much better description of what and how

That is stunning Vickie. A very special present indeed.

I'm another who hates those flexi leads, they can be such a nuisance and the dogs are very rarely able to be effectively recalled. I believe in SA that "on lead" means a leash less than 2m in length. As for kids - it depends. I used to walk our sheltie on my own at about 12 but Mum used to take me to obedience training with her every week and we worked well together. I also used to pop in to the retired lady next door on my way and see if she had walked her poodle and if not she would come with me so I wasn't always alone. Dimmity would not leave heel position even if given the opportunity as she was a nervous girl and I was her safe zone and she would do anything I asked. She could have been walked on a piece of cotton thread and not broken it. However my first border collie Ricky was very seriously attacked by an Akita being held on lead by an 8 year old, when he decided to go she was pretty much bouncing along on the end of the lead and provided no barrier whatsoever to him going where he wanted.. She was also not the owner of the dog, the owner said he was fine and as she was the only 1 at a kids cub scout pet day without a dog he had given her the lead (the cub scout leader). I was there as my brother was the other leader and had no pet at the time. I had kids begging me to walk Ricky but wouldn't allow them as I felt it wasn't safe, I was only 8/19 at the time and felt he could be too difficult for them to manage. I have been forever grateful that I had said no as I think had there been no adults nearby then it could have been so much worse and kids were at risk too. It is definitely a grey area - I used to tell my puppy classes that a dog onlead did not mean it was under control.