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Er, actually GOM, they are all the SAME breed....even if they don't look like it in some cases. I was talking about the presentation, not the breed itself.

GOM I think I understand where you are coming from. You've possibly been looking at photos of some of the Goldens in the USA who have flat and straight back coat from the back of their heads to their tails. I'm afraid the majority of them have been stripped and scissored that way. I don't know how Australian exhibitors feel about that but I'm not 100% in favour of it because I truly believe that it ruins the waterproofing qualities of the Retriever coat. Your dogs are lovely the way they are.

katek, if it were me I would be using the pin brush first, the slicker brush only (and very gently) on areas where there are twizzles and the comb all over. Sometimes the brush just loosens the hair so the comb removes any that is loose but has stayed behind (and which could ultimately cause matting) and sometimes the comb will find twizzles that the brushes haven't.

Grooming "mantra" is brush, comb, brush, comb. Preferably the mildest brush you can get or at the very worst a good quality slicker brush...NOT on of those pet shop jobbies which are hard backed with treacherous metal spikes because they can be very painful to the dog if misused. If the dog is matted, a dematting rake is a useful tool...FOLLOWED by brush, comb, brush, comb. Do not make the mistake of wetting a matted dog, the mats will clump tighter and become even harder and more painful to remove.

Many years ago...my first homebred boy dog from my first litter decided to lift his leg for the first time at about 8 months of age. I wish I could read his mind, he was absolutely disgusted with himself. He lifted the leg, peed all down the inside of the other back leg, put the lifted one back down and NEVER cocked his leg again! My Rottweiler is hilarious...he's only started lifting in the past couple of months and he can never decide which leg to lift so he stands there, does a jig, picks each back leg up and you can see it running through his mind "hmmm...which one?" before he lifts and squirts!

Chicken necks Chicken wings Chicken Frames Brisket bones Lamp Necks Veal Ribs to name a few...

I personally would not class this as snow nose. To me it simply looks like poor/incomplete pigmentation. ETA: If this person is a registered breeder then they are breaching the ANKC Code Of Ethics if they allow the puppy to leave home prior to 8 weeks. In some breeds at 5 weeks, the pigmentation could still be incomplete and it may fill in. Other breeds incomplete pigmentation is a fault at a young age. If you are really concerned about the pigmentation issue, I would be leaving the puppy with the breeder until it is at LEAST 8 weeks of age to see what develops in that time frame.

I had to laugh...my ex-husband has problems with a knee at the moment so I had to take him to do his shopping and pay bills and go to the Dr this morning and I was telling him about this thread. Naturally, being the good Stafford-lover that he is, he was cacking himself laughing at the farting puppy. Anyway we got to our butcher and who should come along but a very sweet old "regular" at the butchers. A fat, grey, very waddly old Stafford girl. Majestic would be a good word to describe her as she sat down and wagged and smiled at anybody who looked at her. I couldn't resist giving the old girl a cuddle so I handed the shopping to the ex and trundled over to her. As she got up to say hello, she let RIP and did one of the loudest farts I've ever heard in a public place. Her owner was mortified until I said "ah yes, doing what Stafford girls do best", then he got the giggles as well and commented that I must know the breed. The dear old dog sat their smiling the whole time as if to say "ahhhhh". It was hilarious! ;)

Charcoal may help take the edge off it. But even charcoal won't truly mask the unique aroma and talent of a Stafford in full steam!

I hate to say this, but you were warned! Staffords are renowned for wind. They are absolute CHAMPION farters and snorers! You'd probably find her smellier on a processed diet.

Initially, when they first started eating chicken, I would let my American Cocker puppies have wings only. At around 8 weeks I'd simply cut carcasses in half. Now they are 13 weeks and they have NO problems getting through a full carcass and threatening each other with the same treatment if they dare to stick their nose where it doesn't belong!

Hmmmmm....maybe the visit isn't such a good idea? Thanks for the heads-up HH!!

Don't you think you should give it a chance? ANY alteration to a dog's diet is going to do something. I hardly think that one or two days is a long enough trial.

I actually don't mind (and neither do my dogs) the VIP rolls. They are made locally to Shek and I. I've spoken to a guy who works there (his daughters were at school with my boys) and I'm trying to line up a visit to the factory for a look-see. Will let you know if and when it happens. Wanna come too if I can organise it Shek?

I do whenever I have it or whenever they need it.

Hey Shek...whilst on the subject of Royal Canin.....I TOLD YOU SO!!!

Why am I getting a strange sense of deja vu?

I use it on my cats, one of whom is a Devon Rex and they get REALLY grungy ears (because they're so darned big they tend to catch any dirt or dust that is flying around). The difference between the cats and the dogs is that instead of putting it into the cat ear and swishing it around, I soak a cloth (Chux wipes are excellent) in the solution and give the ears a good wipe out.

Why would it have any bad effects on your show girl? I ONLY have communal buckets. All animals drink it, cats and dogs, pets and show animals. My horses get it on their feed as well. My other posts say how much I use, you can adjust it to suit yourself, your dogs and your circumstances.

That is why hips are scored and it isn't just a "blanket" diagnosis of "yes it has" or "no it hasn't" As I said in my initial response, there are dogs with dysplasia which are sometimes never diagnosed. Others which are diagnosed only because they are xrayed and often NOT for that particular reason. Some are very severe and require immediate veterinary attention...it really just depends upon the severity of the problem and the dog concerned.

I put it in the drinking water. Depends upon the size of your water bowls/buckets. To a "normal" household sized bucket (can never remember how many litres they are) I would normally add about a cupful of vinegar. To a smaller one, proportionately less. But start gradually and work up a bit at a time to full strength or you'll have them looking at you with "that" look and threatening to dehydrate!

My advice. Do not even give OCD a second thought until you have to and that may NEVER happen. It is NOT common in Staffords. Muscle strains, cruciate ligaments etc are but only because of their exuberance and the natural weight that they carry. If she is acting normally and moving ok, then that is all you should be concerned about. Honestly, this is why I suggested you stay away from the vet, they've removed one concern and given you a second in the first one's place!

50/50 vinegar and water. Swish it around the bottom of the ear and then wipe the residue away.

Apple Cider Vinegar is one of the most versatile products you can imagine. It is great as in internal "toner", helps neutralise bodily fluids such as saliva and tear stains. Great for cleaning with. Helps to prevent the round burn spots that bitches can cause on grass. Helps kitty trays to not be as "whiffy". Helps the boys to not stink as much when they lift their legs. Helps boy kitties to prevent the urine crystals that can form in their kidneys etc. Can be mixed with water for a very efficient ear cleaner.....And the list goes on......

I've got a name and number for you! Gary Christou in Orange and he consults for animals on tuesday evenings, his phone number is 63612857.