ellz

Not every dog makes a connection with me ... I agree. I can LIKE most dogs, but don't love them all.

This was not long after himself had decided I was his.....snuggling on my bed :) How could I not love him??

My Stafford boy Roger wormed his way into my heart at about 3 weeks of age. He was one of 9 puppies. He was the first puppy to find his way out of the nest and he headed straight for me and clambered into my lap. As he did this, the name Roger popped into my head. I actually don't even LIKE the name that much but I figured that that was what he wanted to name himself so it stayed. At this point, I was watching the bitches as I wanted to keep a bitch and I didn't really want a very stripey brindle but the funny coloured "khaki" (the colour of his puppy collar) kept to the front of the pack so I decided that he would stay no matter how he turned out. And I'm glad he did because he is the love of my life and is almost titled. My American Cocker boy was always sweet and I liked him, but it was really only when he came home recently from a couple of years on the mainland with a co-owner that I actually fell in love with him. He is the sweetest, funniest, most gentle little boy and just looking at him makes me smile. I'm so glad his co-owner decided she couldn't keep him any more.

There are a couple of reasons my puppies don't go to new homes until they are about 10 weeks. Firstly, Staffords for some reason are apparently more prone to parvo. Therefore, in order to maximise the natural immunity they get from their mother, I don't vaccinate until 8 weeks and then they have a full two weeks to develop their own immunity. Secondly, I would prefer to ensure that they are correctly socialised as fully as they can be during their early weeks. The Rule of Sevens is a given but in addition to that there are car rides, socialisation with people in weird places and with other dogs and cats and most importantly kids. It can sometimes be difficult for new puppy people to know whether or not they are doing the right thing whilst not putting their puppy at risk in certain situations so by doing as much as I possibly can with the puppies BEFORE they leave home, I am hopefully setting them up with the best chances for successful integration into new homes. I'm not perfect, but I do know what my puppies need and it is my job to provide it.

My puppies aren't vaccinated/chipped until 8 weeks so they are 10 weeks when they leave home. Not a fan of juvenile desexing so it wouldn't be an issue for me.

I grew up with Mini Poodles although my first "own" dog when I was a baby was a Smooth Fox Terrier named Skippy. My first husband and I originally narrowed down our choice to a black English Cocker Spaniel. But while waiting for one to be born, I met a black/white American Cocker puppy with whom I fell in love. She ended up very much as my husband's dog until the day she died (from cardiomyopathy) but the love affair was born. I've had various times in the past 15 years when I haven't had an American Cocker but one of my homebred champion boys (4 years old today) came home from his co-owner recently and reminded me of what it is about the breed that I love, so my passion has been re-ignited. In the meantime, my marriage ended and when I met my second husband I was introduced to the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. He'd only had crossbreds so I made an agreement with him that if/when we were able I'd get him a Stafford but that 1) it had to come from a good breeder 2) it had to be registered and 3) I had to be able to show it. The rest is history and I wouldn't be without at least one Stafford warming my bed now.

There has been evidence suggesting that dogs which are desexed early do tend to grow taller than entire litter mates. There can also be differences in coat in desexed dogs as well, which is particularly obvious in the coated breeds. Having shown dogs and horses and having bred both, I personally feel that comparing the two is like comparing apples and oranges. Showing a dog "just for fun" is very different to showing a horse for the same reason. Whilst it is always possible that a breeder won't mind you showing your dog in the neuter classes, it is equally possible that they would prefer you not do so for various reasons. Definitely follow the advice given to discuss the issue with the breeder.

Good point! I guess she knows what's hers because I don't take it off her, I play with her with her toys? Thanks, I'll try that in conjunction with the other suggestions. Stopping her from chewing a chair won't help with toilet training whereas a pen will.

If you cannot rearrange the house to limit her access, then perhaps you could try using a pen when you are not there to directly supervise her? This would help with her toilet training too.

If she is acting differently this time than past seasons or it is otherwise abnormal, I'd say a trip to the vet might be in order. She may have a UTI or worse. She might not too, but I'd be erring on the side of caution if she were mine.

I do agree with Clyde, particularly the bull breed bit. They're more "needy" of humans and you know how naughty they can get if they don't get what they think they need, when they think they need it. If you're going to base it on "ease" of child. Having now had 3 children and bred/owned/exhibited dogs for 26 years I'd say that my firstborn, despite being a terrible "chucker" (horrific reflux) spoiled me for those to follow. He was easy going and despite being my first, I managed to parent, work full time and still breed, groom and show long-coated dogs. How, I still don't know to this day but my ex was pretty obliging and we did manage. The second broke me and was so much work and so full on that I honestly wished I had NO dogs when I had him and he was born at a time when we only had one. The last (15 months after the second), whilst marginally easier than the second was nowhere as easy-going as the first but I'd gone back up to two dogs (stupid me) by then. Whilst I was lucky they were older and more settled in their place in the home and lives, it was still tough to juggle everything.

You'll have a new puppy soon.....a human puppy. More work, more unpredictable, bigger, noisier and smellier. You do NOT need a fourlegged baby right now!!!! If you weren't already up the duff, I would have said GO THE PUPPY and leave the skinkids to somebody else....but it's too late for that! :laugh:

I use a #20 on the American Cockers so I'd be going a #10 for undercoat on a pet Shih Tzu.

I stopped using it for a while to see if there was something else going on with my guys that was causing the upchucks. I started them back on it again in miniscule amounts a week ago and they've started upchucking again so I have no idea what is going on. Very disappointed, I was really hanging out to get my hands on this product. Will try again, one last time now that I have the new dog here. See if it has the same effect on him. Will let you know how I go.

Hi Tangwyn! Time to come home already? Just feels like yesterday when you left! I'd suggest contacting DOLer Wayrod, I think he'd be able to help you with all of the ins and outs!

Understatement. MAJOR understatement!!!!!!!!!

Being a Shiba, she's probably plotting world domination......

Personally I prefer Breedmate. I've got Kintracks and it is certainly adequate but I keep returning to Breedmate.

Gestational xrays can be very useful in the management of some breeds and almost essential in the management of others. And no, sedation is not always required.

Thank you! :) Still a long way to go until I am completely satisfied but nice to know that 2 years away from trimming doesn't mean that I've lost my skills and that with each bath and haircut, he'll be a step closer to how I want him to be! :)

I can tell you for nothing that having one huge registry which does everything that eyeopener seems to want doesn't necessarily work either. Ask most American dog breeders about the AKC. All I can say is "be careful what you wish for".

Update: Mr Rimes has been home for 2 weeks, 3 baths and a HUGE trimming session (as I messaged to a friend on FB, I kinda went postal with the scissors). The upshot is that aside from the terrible saddle, I'm more satisfied that I'll be able to do something with the rest for the Royal so I'm pleased I decided to enter. Took him to show training at the showgrounds here last night and he's a real show pony. Wind him up, put him on the ground and off he goes out on the end of the lead. He loves it! Snapped this today with the self-timer and the tripod. Not the best but you'll get an idea anyway.

On the rare occasions I feel it necessary to do so, I do it within the last 3 or 4 days of pregnancy.

Has she had her eyes checked recently? Sometimes night terrors can be associated with failing eyesight.

I just got reminded that I have 17 different bottles of shampoo in my bathroom cupboard....for 2 dogs (a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and an American Cocker)....