ellz

I earmark at birth. Keep watching them when they are up on their feet (walking around, playing and also eating). First "cull" (ie remove from contention) at 7-8 weeks. Keep watching them. Final selection at 10 weeks when companions start going to new homes. Then hold my breath and wait.

I've been showing since 1986 and I've never had a judge tell me that either, although it is one of the maxims that I show by. There will always be decisions that you don't agree with. Occasionally I will ask a judge after judging what their thoughts were but I would be absolutely appalled if a judge criticised another dog to me. That is not on, in my opinion. A breed standard is a blueprint. A judge signs the challenge with its declaration that they are clearly of the opinion that the dog is worthy of the title Australian Champion. If a judge puts a dog up which has obvious faults according to the standard then that is because they consider those faults to be less important than whatever virtues they have found. And remember the little "disclaimer" that is at the bottom of every breed standard..... Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

It isn't just restricted to kennels unfortunately. My father had taken his dog to the vet for treatment and left him there when he went into hospital himself. Sadly, my father didn't come home. When I collected the dog from the vet a week after he went there (and a rather large bill as well), I was absolutely appalled. He was in dreadful condition and was so weak and ill that I ended up taking him to another vet where he was euthanased.

Brown sugar in water, and if that doesn't work, infant coloxyl drops

Also, to check for dehydration, pinch the skin on the back of their neck/shoulder area. If it stands up, or the skin appears to "stick" to itself then they need hydration quickly.

Pin brushes from a wig company (were restickered and sold on by Plush Puppy for 3 x the price) together with Les Pooches and Doggyman slickers with a good quality greyhound comb as basic grooming tools for the American Cockers.

I have been using Cottees Country Blend cordial for man and beast for years.

Changes to taildocking laws??

..other information has come to light and I retract all of my previous comments.

..

Firstly try some brown sugar in warm water, this is a remedy used on human babies with good success. Failing that, Infant Coloxyl drops can be given. But don't be surprised if once the blockage is passed, you have a small amount of diarrhoea. It sometimes happens that when there is a blockage, the softer stool stacks up behind it.

Hobart - Graeme Moate 03 62725493

For larger amounts Peperone, for smaller amounts Wolfs Den. I have used both and both are excellent!

I think it largely depends upon breed, circumstances of missing teeth and the individual judge. I know of a BIS winning Staffordshire Bull Terrier who had had a tooth removed after an accident. His owners carried a letter from the vet certifying that the tooth was removed and wasn't missing as a result of anything congenital. Some judges dumped him, some judges didn't care.

What about those who enter puppy bitch and Australian bred? Also you can do puppy sweepstakes or baby puppy sweepstakes and the open show and the champ show all on one day - it is alot though and much running around :laugh: You aren't allowed to enter Puppy Bitch and Australian bred with the same dog in the same show. It is one "regular" class and one regular class only. You are able to enter the appropriate age group sweepstakes in addition to the "regular" class (sweepstakes being considered a special class) and you can enter an open show on the same day as well.

C3 at 8 weeks, microchips at the same time or slightly after. New homes at 10 weeks or thereabouts.

Of course, to add even further fuel for debate, the question could be asked....when you are talking about temperament, are you talking about the temperament you prefer or the temperament that is correct for the breed you are discussing? Whilst most people would tend to look for obedient, faithful, loving, affectionate dogs, the fact is that some breed standards call for something other than what we personally are seeking. So therefore, a lot of the question of temperament and behaviour is reliant upon whether you are looking for correct or preferred.

I've won a Specialty Best In Show with a dog who had had a badly broken leg plated and screwed, which left a visible scar almost full length on his show side front leg. A Westminster Best In Show winning Siberian Husky had only half of one of his ears after a kennel accident. I think a lot depends upon the scar and the breed.

I've had various brands of show shoes over the years but my current favourites and THE most comfortable (I spent 3 days of our Royal on my feet and didn't break down either with knee or back problems) shoes came from Kmart. They look a little like Skechers and only cost the princely sum of $12. I put my good innersoles in them and they are very very comfortable, suitable to run in and non slip as well! :)

Some of the aspects of temperament are nature, some nurture. I'm not sure it is entirely possible to put a definite figure on which is which. I think a lot of it is in the hands of the person rearing the puppies and how much time and energy they put into their upbringing and suitable socialisation. I have known of dogs from parents who I would never have even bothered trying to live with which have had absolutely "to die for" temperaments. And I have known of dogs whose parents are the sweetest animals on earth who have had offspring which have been real mongrels. I have so many people who absolutely adore my boy Roger. They don't seem to understand that he is who and what he is, because of me and the way I treat/train/love him. But if he were in somebody else's hands, he more than likely wouldn't be the same dog because he would then take on a lot of them and what they put into him. That said, I do believe that you are pushing the boundaries and taking somewhat of a risk, if you don't at least look at and consider the temperament of the parents. Why make a rod for your own back and take on potential problems if you can possibly avoid it?

thank you Zeebie, its still exciting for me when people go ... thats a X dog or try the name, I am very happy when people know what it is, the saying part just takes practice, we say Show Lo ( Xolo) so far a well known Judge and canberaa lady has the best pronunciation ( its not right and very rude) she even somehow managed to get the Sydney Royal Show people to say it in the loud speaker last year! I had to dubb my video! I saw a photo on Facebook of a coated Xolo the other night.....lovely looking dogs, the lot of them! :)

"Back in the days" prior to prog testing, and still very much relevant for those of us who don't have it available conveniently, we counted and watched and used the tools available to us. Temp taking in my world commences at LEAST a week prior to "due date" and is done a minimum of 4 times per day to establish a baseline. That way, you know if a 0.5 decrease is relevant or not. Whelping can take place anywhere from 58 - 63 days however I have to say that in 26 years of breeding, the norm is the 63 days so even in a bitch with a history of inertia, a 0.5 degree drop at day 58 probably wouldn't even make my heart flutter, let alone think I should be diving in for a c-section. I have now been temp testing religiously for years, a number of breeds (some my own, some I have whelped for others) and if the temp testing is done properly and charted properly, there have only been rare occasions when some sort of significant temp change has been noted, whether a small drop at an unexpected time or the expected dramatic drop that heralds onset of whelping.

Agree with the rest. IMO the 1/2 degree drop for the first two litters wasn't enough of a sign and if you had waited it out, my feeling is you would have seen a more significant drop later and normal whelping shortly after that.

Lots of "lovin' on" kittycats goes on here....here are some of my stars from the past! :) Even the horses used to get in on the act :laugh:

+1