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Will let you know what I think of them when I unpack my brand spanking new one that arrived last night. And....best of all......it is PURPLE!!!! Freight was pretty expensive but the courier was fabulous and helped me to unload it and move it to where I wanted it to live. It'll be easier once out of the box though because it is on its own permanent wheels. It is a heated twin tank model. I'm so excited. I've spent SOOOOOOOO many hours on my knees hanging over bathtubs washing and rinsing showdogs in the past 22 years I thought it was about time I finally indulged myself. I guess I'd better get my behind to some shows now to make it worth the money!

DOL might BE the best but it isn't the ONLY and that is the point. Joe Q Public is far more likely to look at the obvious places like Petlink, Trading Post and their local newspaper before they come to DOL. Many don't hear about DOL until it is too late. More breeders need to work harder at catching Joe Q BEFORE he purchases from a shonk and if they can't help him themselves, then they need to be at least educating him AND sending him to DOL. But having said that, DOL isn't the be-all end-all either. I can assure you that there are many breeders who are registered and who use DOL that aren't quite what they promote themselves as being either!

I'd like to say something about advertising, be it on DOL, Petlink, in the classified section of your local newspaper, Trading Post or anywhere else for that matter. Don't automatically discount everybody who uses these mediums for advertising as shonky or pet farmers. I for one utilise such places because I use it as a means to educate potential puppy purchasers. If the only people that use these places ARE shonks and millers, then they have no competition from the reputable and responsible people out there. If you can't beat them (which we can't because they outweigh us by sheer numbers), then join them and make it a darn sight harder for them to peddle their wares. I have in the past placed advertisements for various breeds and had people ring and have spent time educating and discussing the pros and cons of purchasing a puppy from a registered, reputable and responsible breeder. It doesn't work 100% of the time, but if it even makes a person THINK about their future purchase, then it is a win. Sorry for the ramble, this subject has been playing on my mind since discussing that wonderful subject of BLUE Staffordshire Bull Terriers with a young woman here in Tasmania today who was only concerned about the potential $2000 per puppy that she might be able to get. She had no idea of the downside of the breed, nor their particular temperament issues and especially not the genetic issues. I hope she's a bit wiser now. Maybe not, but at least I tried.

Thank you all for your kind words. Disappointed however that a kind gesture by one person resulted in behind-the-scenes nastiness. As a result of this, I don't think I'll be posting much any more. So saddened that Tigger's beautiful thread couldn't be left alone and that I couldn't just be left to grieve.

Moser Arco. No cords to get tangled in. Lightweight. Easy to manoeuvre. Stay sharp forever and not too loud.

My Talyn thinners arrived from the USA yesterday. Brilliant service considering I'd only ordered them a week before. They're AWESOME. Funny looking things but are lovely to use. I couldn't resist trying them straight away so called one of the skinkids over and thinned him out. Nothing that a #3 won't fix but the therapy could have me broke for years!

Cheapest place in Hobart for bulk pet mince which contains EVERYTHING (including chopped up chicken carcasses etc) is Matt's Meats and Glenorchy Centro. He charges 80 cents/kg. He also sells frames etc on arrangement in bulk at a very good price. He breeds Staffords. Nice guy actually and his mince is THE best stuff that I've found yet. I swear by it. Every so often I whinge about having to drive to Glenorchy to collect it and decide to buy elsewhere and then regret it because my dogs just don't seem to do as well on meat from other sources.

Oh Harminee, that is one of the most beautiful things I have EVER seen. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. May I borrow it for my Tigger page on my website (when I get it up and running)?

You made me smile Maddy. That was his "don't let yourself be fooled, I'm just recharging my batteries" look! :rolleyes:

I'll never forgive myself that I couldn't have done more for you my stripey little man. Saying goodbye was the hardest thing I've had to do in a very long time. I feel that I've let you down. The house is quiet. Koda is missing having you attached to her back leg. The cats aren't used to eating without you standing with your paws on their table staring them down and daring them to drop their food. Fang sat by the back of the car until I dragged him inside. He has taken himself off to bed without eating his dinner. The skinkids have cried buckets and have asked me how I could let you go. I can't answer them. I'll never forget you, my funny stripey man...you've left unfillable pawprints. Tell Reg I told him to look after you, but don't try to take his tennis ball, he's a lot stronger than you. I love you Tigger. Mum :rolleyes:

The problem is Viszla, that being separated from the rest of Australia as we are by water, we don't always have a lot of reasonably priced options as far as feeding our animals are concerned. I can't speak for other people, but personally, if I had the choice of feeding a premium food to my dogs, without having to have it flown over from the mainland at great expense to myself, or purchasing the food locally for a fraction of the price.....well.......principle seems to me a bit like throwing the baby out with the bathwater or cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Thanks for the links. Don't really need much help with my grooming or selecting my "tools" as such, having been breeding and exhibiting BIS winning American Cockers for 22 years, but I always like to look to see what might be new that I can try. Your homemade "spa" is a great idea, but unfortunately I'm not in a position to plumb a permanent bath in anywhere here. The hydrobath that I have sourced and decided to purchase comes on wheels and only requires a hose to a cold water tap. Makes it so much more convenient for me in my current situation with limited water. Am going to go with the Beacon. Have sourced a few others and received good information about Oldfield, Laser Lites and Double K but I KNOW Beacon and trust them so will go with what is familiar.

I've just purchased a set of Talyn thinners from the States. They look awesome (although more than a tad weird compared to "normal" thinners) and come highly recommended. Can't wait until they get here so that I can try them.

Bugger. Just my luck that I'm too far away for it to be of benefit to me.

Not in my lines it isn't.

I've got a "Wandering Do" as well! And the funny thing is that all of her children do it too so there could be a genetic link! At least I can tell which offerings are hers in the scoop run....I have a fixation on the quality of the "output"! :D

I used to have really good results with the Crown Royale Whitening Powder. Unfortunately though, the best results come from prevention rather than cure.

Yes, the recipe is an adaptation of the Blue Power recipe which uses Gentian Violet instead of the Betadine. Another variation is to use Witch Hazel instead of the Betadine. HOWEVER, do NOT use this recipe whilst the ears are still open and sore or you will cause untold pain to the dog. Alcohol BURNS a raw wound!!!

When there is no more infection or broken skin, I'd consider using an alcohol based cleaner if you can after he has been swimming. The alcohol will help to dry any residual fluid and will evaporate itself so as not to add to the problem. If there is no broken skin or inflammation, it will not hurt the ear or the dog at all.

I do 5 minutes on about power level 5 initially and then check it after that. A lot depends on how much liver you are cooking and how fresh it is.

The horse brush I mentioned (nobbly one side, bristle the other) will set you back about $10. Mine is the best investment I've ever made. As I said, I use it on my horses and on my greyhounds as well and greyhounds can lose a LOT of hair!!!

Yep, this is quite similar to the "nobbly" side of the brush I suggested. Loosens the hair, picks up any dust/dirt on the skin and brings it to the surface so it can then be brushed away. Not so much in favour of the strippers/knives/tools etc that actually cut the hair because they tend to remove the waterproofing properties from the coat.

Cut it up, put it onto a plate, turn a bowl upside down over the top of it and nuke it. Takes 1/4 of the time and the smell clears more quickly as well.

I'd suggest going to a saddlery shop and getting hold of one of the rubber brushes that has nobbles on one side, and short, stiff bristles on the other. The rubber nobbles give a lovely massage and loosen the hair and the stiff bristles remove it and encourage a shine. I use this kind of brush on my horses and my greyhounds with great results for all.

Doesn't affect me. I don't cage dry. Can honestly say that in my 22 years of preparing coated dogs for show, I have NEVER cage dried a dog yet.