ellz

Still not something that a "prospective" breeder should be taking on initially and most CERTAINLY not considering that the "prospective" breeder could cause Tuscamada untold issues if they aren't playing fair. And given the current climate, the past "Greyshaft" case and many other factors....in my eyes, placing it safe is the wisest course of action.

Err, she works for the RSPCA and she wants to go ahead and breed with a carrier of Collie Eye Anomaly? Apart from anything else, having just read the RSPCA's draft code of practice on breeding, I think you are either being entrapped or she is remarkably clueless. I think ellz has given wise advice. Yes that is what got my allarm bells ringing when she told me that and the only thing in writing is the emails back and forth?? That is why I was looking to rehome her as she is a carrier and has produced carrier pups, such a shame as she is a lovely bitch and silly me believed the yearly and baby eye tests which are supposed tp pick this up, the pups also passed there baby eye tests !!! Eye tests won't uncover carriers, only DNA can do that. Physical examination cannot reveal what is lurking in the gene pool.

Do you have anything in writing? Be very careful if you haven't. Definitely give them back the deposit. Don't make up any fibs that might come back to bite you on the behind. If the prospective purchaser is not an experienced breeder they shouldn't even be CONSIDERING dealing with a bitch that carries a hereditary condition. Personally, I would just tell them that you ONLY want her to go to a pet home and that she will be speyed prior to rehoming and if they are no longer happy with this, you will refund their deposit. Nothing more, nothing less. Don't make excuses or dig any holes that may be too deep to get out of later on.

I started whipper snipping my property this morning but it got too hot so I decided to do 4 week puppy photos instead. They're all eating well, playing well and starting to get underfoot. Temperaments are starting to become more obvious now. There are a couple of bitches absolutely chock full of piss n vinegar whilst most of the boys just want to snuggle and be loved. I'd forgotten how many funny noises a litter of Stafford puppies can make.....when they spark up they go SICK!!!!!!! :D Not the best pics, but not bad either considering they are one-handed efforts as I am here by myself this weekend. No puppy was shaken, stirred or battered during filming. All were allowed to stand pretty much as they are built which was all I was capable of with one hand on the puppy and one hand on the camera anyway! The boys... The girls... I have NO idea what is staying......any thoughts welcome! *whispers* Please be nice, even if you don't like them, they're still my babies and I love 'em.

So sorry Yarrowfell.

Then again, maybe being a showdog isn't as much fun as being a bed dog?

I'm also interested in the health aspects. Yes, I like to know what they look like and whether they have changed or lived up to my hopes and expectations for the breeding, but most importantly, I want to know of any health or temperament "issues" that I can address for future generations. Absolutely health and temperament first and formost,and I'm sure most puppy buyers would contact the breeder pronto if there were a problem, but why breed dogs if you have no interest in what they look like as adults, why are you breeding them, is it not to better the breed? do some breeders really not want to know? or is it because they know what they will look like as adults already, maybe this is true in some breeds, but not in mine. Of course I want to see what they look like as adults. As I said, I want to see how/whether they have changed or lived up to my hopes and expectations for the breeding, but what is the point in DOING the breeding if the resulting dogs are unhealthy? It's really a very fine line. What's the point in breeding the most amazing looking creature if it is not sound or sane? Maintaining an interest in littermates health helps to paint an overall picture of what you are doing as a breeder. I don't think any breeder would do a breeding if they knew they were going to get unsound, insane, or unhealthy puppies Of course they don't, but the reality is that a breeder doesn't have a crystal ball and genes hide. Murphy's Law says it is the puppies which are not retained by the breeder who get the nasty things and many breeders, having lost touch with these puppies never know and breed on with a particular dog or line, oblivious of what is happening to their dogs out in Joe Q land. They could (perhaps) be forgiven for continuing to breed more of the same, not intentionally, but unknowingly because they haven't had all of the parts for the particular jigsaw puzzle.

I wanna be a show dog when I grow up I think, but I'm doing ok for nearly 4 weeks of age.......! My name is Roger.....my human mummy keeps telling me I have to lose my stripes and then she'll look at me properly!

I'm also interested in the health aspects. Yes, I like to know what they look like and whether they have changed or lived up to my hopes and expectations for the breeding, but most importantly, I want to know of any health or temperament "issues" that I can address for future generations. Absolutely health and temperament first and formost,and I'm sure most puppy buyers would contact the breeder pronto if there were a problem, but why breed dogs if you have no interest in what they look like as adults, why are you breeding them, is it not to better the breed? do some breeders really not want to know? or is it because they know what they will look like as adults already, maybe this is true in some breeds, but not in mine. Of course I want to see what they look like as adults. As I said, I want to see how/whether they have changed or lived up to my hopes and expectations for the breeding, but what is the point in DOING the breeding if the resulting dogs are unhealthy? It's really a very fine line. What's the point in breeding the most amazing looking creature if it is not sound or sane? Maintaining an interest in littermates health helps to paint an overall picture of what you are doing as a breeder.

This has been my biggest aid for carsick dogs (and children). If it can't be crated, it wears a snood over its eyes. Sounds weird but they soon get the idea that it is dark (night) and go to sleep. Sleeping dogs don't spew!

I'm also interested in the health aspects. Yes, I like to know what they look like and whether they have changed or lived up to my hopes and expectations for the breeding, but most importantly, I want to know of any health or temperament "issues" that I can address for future generations.

* Get to more shows than I did in 2009......which was still more shows than I had been to in 2008 so was an improvement! * Finish Rimes' title * Get Bad Alice in the ring * Get the Stafford puppies in the ring * Continue trying to get Mr Ellz in the ring with a Stafford puppy * Try to get to a couple of interstate Royals and specialties, even if just to spectate.

Yep, every year I get a Powerpoint Presentation from one of my "grandkids" showing his year in pictures. It's amazing to watch him grow and develop and to experience his world with him. I really look forward to my Christmas Card!!

To many breeders puppies aren't just a "product" to be sold, there is much more than monitery value to our puppies. I don't expect my puppy buyers to live in my pocket but I would hate to have a puppy buyer who would rather whinge on a public forum instead of taking the same amount of time and sending me a quick email to let me know all is well. I stand by I hope I never get a puppy buyer like the OP. I was just about to post similar to JOLEY in response to your post Wuffies. Constantly harrassing a puppy purchaser for photos and information isn't necessarily what I would call "normal" behaviour from a breeder. However expecting SOME kind of update from a purchaser is more than reasonable and perhaps getting concerned for the welfare of the puppy if such an update isn't forthcoming would be a natural response from most I would think. Resistence to a simple request as shown by the OP concerns me. They show little regard for the breeder and their involvement in the production of the puppy and the rearing of it. Makes me wonder what kind of breeder they will be themselves one day and how they will treat their own puppy people??

I understand your concern for the APBT X, however far better to be picked up by the ranger and face a humane euth, than to meet a dreadful end on the road.

Well, as a breeder I do kind of expect at least semi-regular contact. I don't expect a puppy person to become my best friend or be on the phone or sending emails constantly but an email every couple of weeks won't break your arm, even if you can't get photos straight away. Just telling the breeder how the puppy is developing or its latest antics is better than nothing. I put my heart and soul into raising each and every puppy and I kind of expect that my puppy people continue that AND keep me informed as to the progress and/or any problems, issues etc. I might add too that I state on my website that I expect every purchaser to maintain some sort of contact and I also have it written into my puppy agreement that you agree to this. Naturally, I can't force anybody to do this, but at least it makes my intention to remain in contact clear. It's Christmas. Surely it won't hurt you to send a Christmas card or an email with a photo of the puppy and a quick progress update? How long does an email take? You found time to come into the Breeders Forum and complain, couldn't you have used that time to send a quick email to the breeder to let them know that all is well?

So sorry to read about everybody's losses. I feel for you all, having lost my own little one after fighting so hard for her. I know it is because we are all concentrated in one area, but it just seems that the latter half of 2009 has been a terrible time as far as litters and puppies are concerned.

I is tired.....s'hard work being cute when you're 3 weeks old....

When she's good she is very very good, when she is bad she is horrid, wicked, evil, monstrous, revolting and just plain BAD!!! You'll get to cuddle her early next year!!

First stacked shot of Bad Alice. Not bad for a one-handed effort, first "real" time at being stacked. 'scuse the topline...the tummy is dragging it down a tad....she's not exactly a lightweight! And a profile shot......I'm just loving this little girl's dark eyes!

It actually isn't unusual to have a couple of temp drops and "false alarms". Unlike humans, animals have the ability to control their labour and can put it off if something isn't quite to their liking. I've had girls (including recently with Vanni) drop temps a couple of times, putting me on alert for the next 12 - 24 hours and then continue on as if nothing has happened, only to have another BIGGER drop a couple of days later and finally let go! That's another reason they're called bitches! The average temp drop is a degree (or more) but this is based upon the median temperature. So if your bitch is normally around the 37.5 mark during pregnancy, you'd expect a temp of 36.5 or lower to signal the onset of labour. If your bitch is prone to having temps of 36.5 or lower, then obviously the whelping drop is lower again. That's why it is a good idea to temp (and chart) at least a week prior to the due date to give you a better idea of what is normal for your girls. And partipaws....don't average the temps. Everything is based on ACTUAL temps, not averaged ones which can actually be quite different and misleading.

Koda's mob are doing the drunken sailor bit too! They're hilarious. They've started to take notice of me now. When I open the door of the pen and get in and say "pupppeeeeees" the little heads come up and they start squiggling around! I had a full on game with two of them this morning, little growls and trying to gum my finger. When I pulled my hand out of the middle, they kept on at each other. So cute! I can't believe how much suction they've got. Whenever Koda gets up now and leaves the pen, I usually have to retrieve a cling-on that gets stranded in the middle of the floor!

The last six weeks has flown by. Here is Bad Alice on a jaunt in the great outdoors just now. Razzed up the greyhound, growled at the Stafford, barked at the BIG orange monster (horse) and stalked another small fluffy orange monster in the long grass! She loves being a big puppy!

Keeping a puppy outside until it is toilet trained is completely counter productive because you won't toilet train until it is inside! I agree too that a schnauzer should be an indoor dog. But as I suggested in another thread, night barking and unusual behaviour at night can also be a sign of early onset night blindness which in some breeds can be a symptom of PRA so it may be worth having this checked at some stage too.

The Gang of 9 are two weeks old today! All are over the 500gr mark now with a few pushing the 700gr mark. I'm loving listening to them growl and bark at each other now. Poor Koda is getting frustrated though because they don't stay where she puts them any more AND they answer back like she does! :D The boys: The girls: And the faces....got some pretty funky ear-things happening there!! :D :