ellz

I thought it was codswallop initially. Could never managed to find the drop. However once I started to take it more seriously and time and chart things properly, it became really crystal clear. And to be honest, without it,a couple of my litters may well not have arrived safely and I could have lost the bitches as well. Not so much for the benefit of knowing that I would have puppies within 12 - 24 hours (which was spot on with the onset of labour), but because the information that I charted during my temp taking was very useful to the vet with regards to certain aspects of difficult labours. My last Stafford litter in particular would not be here had I not been charting, got some signs and had a "gut feeling" that I needed to get into the vet for a c-section. As it happened, the bitch had complete inertia and was carrying 9 puppies. Another time, my obsessive charting saved a bitch with a traffic jam and subsequent torn uterus. Charting, like many other things can be part of a really good overall "big picture".

Twice daily temps are fine about 3 weeks prior to due date...this gives you a baseline range for the individual dog. In the two weeks prior however, to be effective the temperature should be taken a minimum of 3 times per day, more if you are able. First morning temp should be taken prior to the bitch eating, drinking or moving around too much and all temps should be taken as close to the same time as possible. This makes it more obvious when there is a temp drop. And believe me, when you see it, you will KNOW it. Most people tend to get concerned and retest immediately because the reading will generally be THAT far out of left field so as to make you scratch your head and doubt your temp-taking abilities!! You may also find it easier to plot the temps on a chart, rather than just relying upon writing them down...like they do in hospital for humans. Sometimes the visual patterns make more sense than just the numbers.

First and foremost you should purchase from a reputable breeder who can match a puppy to your personal situation. Most Stafford puppies contain Energizer batteries, but there are certainly some which are a little more laid back than others. A good breeder will be able to help somewhat to slightly lessen the energy factor. Knowing the temperament of the parents is uber important in this regard. Proper management can play a part as well. Confining the puppy to a small, safe area when nobody is home will help to keep the puppy under control when it is not able to be directly supervised thereby reducing risk of damage to puppy....or house. Some breeders will not sell a puppy to a home where there is nobody home for very long hours. You may work 9 - 5 but the reality is that with travelling time, you can in some cases add another 2 hours upwards to the time alone. This is a VERY long day for anybody, let alone a puppy which is in need of education, guidance, company and love. I have had purchasers counteract this by having a trusted friend or family member visit the puppy during the hours it will be alone to deal with feeding, toileting and a little bit of socialisation.

What a load of crap, now it comes down to spelling/shortening a name as to whether you take advice from someone? Actually, it ISN'T crap! When you have had enough dealings with people who do the wrong thing by the breed (and the issues that they create), certain things raise red flags. One of these things is people who call the breed Staffies, another is people who don't know that the breed is NOT called the English Staffordshire Bull Terrier.....just to mention two of them. There are two breeds, the Staffordshire BULL Terrier (known as the Stafford by most self-respecting fanciers) and the American Staffordshire Terrier, aka the AmStaff. May not seem important to some, but it is most DEFINITELY important to serious fanciers.

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I agree, it could be tooth pain. But then, without actually seeing the episode, it doesn't sound terribly sinister to me, if she does it a lot at random times, being a Cocker and only 18 months old, it could simply be good old fashioned "zoomies"....

Exactly, because YOU believe it would be difficult. That's completely different to somebody else saying, "you should only have one breed because that is all you can do justice to"...... I get very tired of people who insist that they know best what another individual can cope with. Agreed fully....well said..... It's the same as those that comment on litters born....more than one a year makes someone a puppy farmer....some think more than one every two years....I've seen (and done myself) three litters in a year, and had no issues...just how things went....two or three years before the next mating took place. Guess I"m a puppy farmer? Now hang on a minute the pair of you. :) You are taking what I said out of context. Errrr Oakway.....YOU hang on and don't get "huffy". Take a look at the date of my post (16th March), look back through the thread and you will see that you have already replied to my post.......obviously Angelsun is just coming into the thread late ;) Nobody is speaking about you "personally"....my point is that each individual should know what they can reasonably take on. As they should in ALL facets of life. I daresay there are some people who say that certain others aren't doing justice to the breed of their choice, even if that individual thinks they're doing just fine...let alone do justice to second or third breeds. But overall it is a CHOICE people make and nobody has the right to tell them that they "shouldn't" or "can't" do something, provided they are able to manage physically, emotionally and financially and their dogs are not in any form of distress for any reason.

The inference being that nobody should purchase a dog from interstate or overseas because they are more likely to be scammed...... Umm, no. Just the usual reading and not understanding what is being said by people who then try to put two and two together and somehow stupidly come up with 3. I never said that you are more likely to get scammed buying a dog interstate. I said that people should not buy a dog unseen and have it shipped to them and that I can't understand why anyone would do it. If I am going to pay a substantial amount for a dog I would not hand my money over willy nilly to some stranger on the Internet. Thanks Anne but I don't consider myself to be any more stupid than you are when you go off on a tangent. You saying people should not buy a dog unseen and have it shipped to them is YOUR opinion and just because YOU cannot understand why anyone would do it doesn't make it WRONG as you have frequently said that you tell people. Some people have no option BUT to buy on the internet.

The inference being that nobody should purchase a dog from interstate or overseas because they are more likely to be scammed......

This! I have sold dogs all over Australia, to New Zealand and to the USA. Some have been sales based upon referrals from other breeders, some have been cold contact. It is a measure of trust on BOTH sides of the transaction. I've formed good relationships with many of my puppy people, some have faded away never to be heard from again. That's the way it goes and the same could be said of friendships that don't progress. I've had family members of a couple of my puppies come to visit the puppies prior to them going to their new homes. One of them was VERY scathing of his son's decision to buy a puppy from Tasmania when he lives in FNQ. However when he toured Tasmania he dropped in to meet me, see the puppies and meet their mother and he went home completely satisfied and wholeheartedly endorsing the transaction. There is good and bad in ALL transactions and from what I read even here on DOL, meeting a person before or when purchasing a puppy still doesn't necessarily safeguard against issues. Each to their own of course but open minds are infinitely more pleasurable for all concerned to deal with.

Have bred a couple of different breeds since 1986 and been involved with friends in other breeds as well and I would say that I've seen bitches who have conceived stay in season and I've seen bitches who haven't conceived stop cycling immediately. However, that said, I think in MANY cases it is a good sign if a bitch goes out of heat after being mated, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it if pushed to put my money where my mouth is.

To add further to my contribution...it can also be a preventative health tool. A friend of mine had their bitch ultrasounded to confirm pregnancy...or so they thought. What they found was a belly full of fluid and a raging closed pyometra. Had they not ultrasounded when they did, they could have lost their bitch. She was exhibiting a few signs of pregnancy that could in hindsight also have been illness. Very lucky indeed.

:laugh: yep, my vet said he would say 4 or maybe 5 but didn't want to bet the farm on it. Koda had 9! :) I did however have an xray done to try and do a headcount so that I would be prepared at whelping time....13 films later and they STILL couldn't get an exact count so all we could say was that judging by her size and the jumble of spines in the clearest of the murky films.....more than a few, less than a dozen! ;)

To confirm pregnancy for a start. May make a difference to show entries, travel plans or even health of bitch or viablity of a dog. To count possible numbers. To ensure that pregnancy is continuing normally and that pups are viable. To confirm pregnancy in case medical procedures need to be undertaken which may be dangerous for an in-whelp bitch. And the biggest one......curiousity! Just to name a few.....

I agree, many people have very valid reasons for getting a pound puppy or a rescue dog and I am happy when they are happy. On the other hand, I do get VERY shirty with people who say they are getting a pound puppy because of their dislike or distrust of dealing with breeders.

I had a discussion the other day with a person who'd previously contacted me for advice when he saw his bitch, which he didn't know was in season, get mated. She is a TINY TINY Stafford, BYB no papers and the sire is a very large, heavy boned "pitbull" cross. My first advice was to get her speyed. He enquired but apparently didn't have the money. His girlfriend is due with their first child when the puppies will be 6 weeks old....can you see where this is headed? He sent me a text at 2.18am one morning and said "she has had puppies, what do I do now?" Next he is on Facebook advertising the puppies for sale at 6 weeks for $400 each and that the new owners will have to pay for vaccination, worming and microchipping. A friend says he wants one but it's the wrong timing so "numbnuts" says he will think about "repeating the breeding". I suggest that for the sake of the puppies, 8 weeks at a minimum is better and that he should be the one to absorb the costs of worming, vaccination and microchipping considering the litter shouldn't have happened in the first place. And I reminded him that as the pitbull is a restricted breed here, that he should be advising potential owners to obtain proper permission from their local councils. So HE says on facebook that potential owners should lie and tell the council that they are Stafford cross and why should HE pay for the health care of the puppies because he'd never make any money that way. My reply "welcome to the world of breeding dogs Bxxxxxx" and "do me a favour, if you aren't going to at least LISTEN to my advice then don't bother asking me for any more advice or help in the future". And I left it at that. But he's Mr Ellz' apprentice so he cops it in the neck now but to his credit, where he'd always ring me and ask me to answer Bxxxxx's questions, now he just says that he isn't going there and walks away. Anyway, the bitch had 5 puppies OUTSIDE, in the wee small hours because he hadn't bothered to organise things so she could be comfortable. He has no idea whether there were more puppies because he only found them by accident when he went outside for a cigarette. He's just bloody lucky she didn't need a c-section for size disparity. Why do these people seem like they're made of Teflon? Easy matings, easy whelpings, seemingly magically the puppies rear themselves on shit food and he can sell them without qualms with no back up and very little knowledge?????

Sending you a PM :)

What size ellz ? 22 plus I'd say....

Le Suit Tahari Yep and Kasper too. Thanks!... I found a really nice suit actually on Ebay but i cant trust things coming from over seas they never get here in time!! Really? I have no problems whatsoever with International post. In fact it is usually quicker for me to get something from overseas than it is from some parts of Australia. Thus far USA to Hobart in 4 days would be the record compared to 8 days from Sydney to Hobart....even the yachts go quicker! :laugh:

Anybody got any plus sized jackets for sale?

I don't think you'll find any dog food nazis you'll find people saying if your dog does well on it then go for gold whatever the brand... :laugh: Don't bet on that....

I have used both Uncle Albers and Great Barko (same company) with great success. I don't use it as a complete food when I do feed it though, and always supplement with bones, meat, veges etc. I have found it excellent for putting weight on and usually feed it to the greyhound during winter or he fades away to nothing. I have also found that most dogs will eat it, even fussy ones. Many of the dog food Nazis will get on and call it rubbish but for a budget dry food, it really isn't as bad as some would make it out to be.

From what I have read, dogs have trouble opening their mouths due to the overgrowth of bone and it seems to be related to rapid growth. Apparently once the growth rate is slowed, the dogs are able to open their mouths again normally. So I'd say that any puppy which has problems eating could be a potential candidate.

Haughty McNaughty, you are in Tassie I see. Aren't you aware that it is illegal to feed offal (even human grade) to dogs because of the hydatid risk?? ETA: <paste>It remains illegal in Tasmania to feed or allow dogs access to cooked or uncooked offal from cattle, sheep, goats or pigs. Offal refers to all internal organs from these types of animals. Fresh livers and hearts from butchers shops and supermarkets should not be fed to dogs.<end paste> http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/webpages/cart-6sa36r?open

I should probably come back into the thread and say that at many stages during the past 26 years I have had at least two breeds of dog in the show ring, occasionally more but that is generally because I have been roped into showing a dog for friends. I have only ever bred two breeds under the Ellz prefix....American Cockers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers and only once have I had litters of both breeds at one time and the American Cocker litter was a major oops caused by a precocious 11 month old puppyboy!!