ellz

For me it isn't a recent thing at all. I imported 3 American Cocker males, 2 from the USA and 1 from the UK between 1990 and 1992. The dog from the UK, imported as a puppy via New Zealand was sterile. As was one of the dogs from the USA who was young, fit and newly titled and had been used at stud in Hawaii en route to Australia. The bitch was confirmed in whelp and then reabsorbed and after his arrival in Australia it was discovered that he was subsequently sterile. The third dog was fine, he also came via Hawaii (although did his quarantine in New Zealand), was proven (with champion progeny in 3 countries) but was reaching the end of his stud career at the age of 7. He was GIVEN to me as a replacement for the other US import. I'm not convinced it is a new thing, probably moreso that the internet and improved methods of communication make it quicker and more fun to spread the news. Editing to add: I'm not sure the subject line shouldn't read infertility rather than impotence. None of my boys had any trouble "doing the deed" it was just the firing blanks that was the issue.

Greyhounds really are couch potatoes and for a large breed take up surprisingly small amounts of room. And despite appearances, are very, VERY cuddly and most are just so adaptable it isn't funny. Another breed if you are sure you don't mind grooming is the American Cocker Spaniel. Slightly smaller (or meant to be) than the "garden variety" Cocker (the English Cocker) but with a different shaped face and more coat. Not generally yappy unless you allow them to be, intelligent, pretty and very sweet. I personally prefer the males, but then I tend to lean towards the males in most breeds anyway because I find them to be softer, but that is just my preference and opinion. My other current bedpig is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier who would equally tick the boxes (as would most which are bred and raised carefully by knowledgable people) but they are really an acquired taste and you either love them or you don't, so if they haven't sprung into your mind early in the equation, they generally aren't a breed which will appeal to you later in your considerations.

I've used all kinds of stuff at one stage or another. I even grabbed a handful of Twisties from one of my sons when I couldn't find anything else one day and they were a real hit! :laugh: I tend to use cabanossi or twiggy sticks because they're easy to manage but also like those little zip lock packs of cooked chicken that you can get in the packaged ham/salami section at Coles. These are good to take away because you can just throw them in the Eski and they won't go off. If I can be bothered, I'll also cook up the liver. I do it in the nucrowave too. Put it on a plate with a desert bowl upside down over the top and then zap it. Doesn't smell, the bowl catches any splatters or pops and when it cools, it's easy to slice and chop.

And a Lowchen would be a very close second......

I admit to thinking the same but not a puppy, can't raise a greyhound puppy properly in an apartment. Agree! An ex-racer would be the go. Plus the OP said she wanted to rescue but didn't want the unknown of the risk - that way she could rescue but still have a very predictable purebred that would suit her circumstances perfectly! Yep :) friends of mine have a greyhound in a townhouse as he is a very happy hound. The no odour of a grey is a big plus for indoor living as well. I'm another who would be endorsing a greyhound. Sound absolutely perfect for what you are wanting. And as somebody who has owned one (and would do so again in a heartbeat), they tick all the boxes, including (with the right dog anyway), the interaction with the cat. My cats used to tease my GAP boy unmercifully and he'd just grin at them and wag his tail....and then go back to sleep! :laugh:

Something else to consider is that you may not necessarily stick with Weis which may make something with Wei a little too restrictive (or look a bit silly) down the track if you end up with another breed. And don't say you won't because I am pretty sure most people don't go into dogs intending to change breeds but many do.

I purchased mine direct from Pupkus and can only speak highly of their customer service and prices. I had mine (via Aust Post which was cheaper than courier) within a week of placing the order.

For me temperament is paramount. I don't care how beautiful something is if you can't live with it, it isn't worth having. When I breed a litter, I include temperament as being one of the selected traits that I am breeding for. Both parents must have good temperament in addition to whatever traits I want to cement or improve upon. Dodgy temperament in either is simply not negotiable.

Personally, I'd be wary of a breeder who even SOUGHT CC permission at that age....unless they were absolutely EXCEPTIONAL circumstances!!!!! No puppy should be out of the nest at that age, it is still a crucial time in puppy development where socialisation best comes from mum and littermates. Certainly some breeds would cope better than others but Staffords especially benefit from the extra time at home with mum, siblings and a breeder who understands the specific requirements in socialising the breed specifically. And whilst I'm aware the colour question was not actually raised, for the benefit of those who haven't read the trillion other threads relating to blue Staffordshire Bull Terriers......reputable and responsible Stafford breeders do not usually breed specifically FOR blue puppies. Granted, the odd one or two may appear in otherwise carefully bred litters but responsible breeders understand that generally they are not of correct type and CANNOT under any circumstances fit the breed standard which calls for a black nose. Something which genetically, blue Staffords CANNOT have. In these cases, most responsible breeders, unless they had a specific plan in mind, would register these puppies on Limited Registration and place them in equally responsible pet homes with pedigrees marked NOT FOR BREEDING.

He is a DOLer.

Contact wayrod

This can be quite normal and some dogs always have a small amount of pale cream discharge, kind of like the smegma equivalent in dogs. If the discharge is very smelly though or is green or particularly gunky then it could be balanitis which is an inflammation of the opening of the penis and should probably be seen by the vet and depending upon the severity, regular flushing or antibiotics may be advised.

Print out the sick puppy thread as well as everything you can find on the "Greyshaft" case. Anybody, whether a registered breeder or not, would benefit from reading some of this information. These days, selling puppies, even from health tested parents can be a minefield for the unwary let alone a BYBer selling untested puppies of a breed with known issues and already scary precedents.

If you want to fool them into thinking they aren't being deprived by less food in their bowls, then definitely grated.

Have had to put the brakes on mine. Despite introducing gradually, for some reason my boy has been vomiting when he eats the K9 SS on his food. Will start it again in a day or so and see how it goes a second time. And yes, Danny is aware of this. It is more than likely an isolated incident but I felt it only fair to share my progress thus far.

Carrots are awesome. They are non-fatty so good for dogs who are battling the bulge but like treats. They are also excellent grated in large amounts on the meals of dogs who are dieting so that they are getting lots of filler and what looks and feels like a large meal, but few calories.

I give up, you're obviously missing my point. But I'll part by saying that my litters are also supervised 24/7 for the first 3 weeks (at least) so whether mastiff, Stafford, American Cocker or whatever is immaterial. I'm not claiming that my litters are perfectly clean all the time, or that my whelping box material never gets covered in crap because that would be a lie. HOWEVER, a puppy which is left long enough for a crap to get crusty is a puppy that has been left too long full stop. Crap gets crusty when it dries, it takes time to dry. Crap can cause infections in puppies, no matter how robust so it is (and should be) cleaned as soon as it is noticed and not allowed to dry out. End of story. It doesn't matter whether mum does it, or the humans do it, it has to go. Good luck with your litter. I won't contribute any more. Except to say that it is funny how certain people are ok with your puppies having shit on them but if it had been me or other posters, there would have been much baying for blood.

My apologies if you took what I wrote the wrong way, however when you wrote the above, it sounded like crusty bottoms are a regular issue for you, hence my reply.

Ummm...yeah, don't let them get that way in the first place. Well yes indeed, that would be the magic bullet. I'm not being facetious by the way. Keeping puppies clean is part of Husbandry 101. If the bitch won't do it, then you have to. There is no excuse for shitty puppies really. I daresay if you see the bedding is shitty, you change it and wash it. The puppies are the same. If you see it, clean it.

Ummm...yeah, don't let them get that way in the first place.

Yay! Snap T! One of my favourite lunch-time past-times was seeing how many potential pet-shop puppy buyers I could put off in half an hour! My record is 7... It is closed now but I was frequently ejected from a large Hobart city petshop for "harassing" their clientele and after the last time was told if I went back in there, they would call the constabulary..... Ah Ellz! You need some lessons from the westiemum school of subtle unobtrusive persuasion with a smile!! :rofl: I didn't harrass people either - with a smile on my face I would engage them in conversation so the staff never twigged what I was up - and sweetly told them to go to a registered breeder or onto petrescue fo a cheaper and much better, less risky option - many people thanked me. :) And I had a story ready if I was ever quizzed - but I wasn't - and those staff weren't exactly the sharpest knives in the block... :) I actually wasn't "harassing" people either...that's what THEY said I was doing. I think the problem was more the amount of times I went in there moreso than what I might have been saying. Being a small place with only 3 staff members at the time, it was a bit hard to slip under the radar and remain unnoticed after the first few occasions.

Yay! Snap T! One of my favourite lunch-time past-times was seeing how many potential pet-shop puppy buyers I could put off in half an hour! My record is 7... It is closed now but I was frequently ejected from a large Hobart city petshop for "harassing" their clientele and after the last time was told if I went back in there, they would call the constabulary.....

Ah, you edited after I posted. Those dates don't really concern me at all. With careful management I've seen puppies survive after birth at Day 53. Keep them warm and personally I'd not be trusting the suck reflex at this stage, I'd be tubing in addition to the suckling off mum. Just to make sure that the calory in vs feeding energy balance is kept on the plus side because it will be this, together with warmth that keeps them trundling along. Good luck with them.

So sorry this is happening. IMO, it is a 50/50 either way. Realistically (pessimistically) whichever way you go you could have a poor outcome, but it is still possible to have a successful outcome as well with a lot of luck and good planet alignment. So my vote would be to hedge your bets and leave them where they are for at least a couple more days. PROVIDED mum is ok and doing well and showing no signs of toxicity. I think the lightening of the discharge is a good sign and whilst mum is resting comfortably you are doing all you can do, and more than you'd be able to do if you risked premie puppies which are even more fragile. Good luck with it.

Greyshaft