ellz

Afraid I'm not a big believer in doing this. Leaving food available all the time can encourage finicky eating rather than a good healthy appetite for set meal times. Also, it can be hard to monitor the amount of food a dog is getting if it is free ranging. And finally, the food runs the risk of contamination if left out all the time. Far healthier to set 3 or 4 mealtimes and stick to them. Put food down for 10 - 15 minutes and then remove it. They soon learn that they eat when the food is available. Me either,only when not home.Some times can't always be there.Rather leave some food than come home to a collapsed or comotosed puppy. Very very rare. And on those days when it isn't possible to be at home, it is far easier, and a lot safer to rearrange the feeding schedule to still allow for 3 or 4 meals.

Why not? I loved it when I used it the other day. Have been researching and it scores highly with most reviewers as well. Would be interested to hear why you wouldn't buy it.

If you've got the same surname, then you could just put in Mr A & Ms A in the Given name box and that will print out as Mr & Ms A Smith on the entry form. If you'd rather have the surname listed twice, then yes, you put one in the Surname box and the other in the Given name box. For example, my Kelpie has my name in the surname box (Mrs LM Ford) and her breeder in the Given name box (Ms T Hudson/ ) - note the slash after her name....it prints out Ms T Hudson/Mrs LM Ford on the entry form. For group, your Beagle is ALWAYS in Group 4 - Hounds. The class is what changes, usually do to age and/or location. Babies aged 3 - 6 months go in Baby Puppy and if it is a bitch, then yes she would be in class 1a (Baby Puppy bitch). You can put her into Baby Puppy Sweepstakes if you want to. But just remember that whilst a regular class in the show IS compulsory, you don't HAVE to enter Sweepstakes which are optional.

I've been offered a very well cared for Eos 50D (body only) for $500. Other than that, I'm thinking along lines of a Pentax K-7 (provided I can sell a horse to pay for it anyway). Would you go for the Canon or should I just keep playing with my point and shoot and save the pennies for the Pentax?

Yep, I used to do the bathtub bit but since living out here and buying all of our house water, I've seen the light and appreciate the convenience of the dogwash!

Most of the time, I use the DIY dog wash at the local car wash too. I take my own shampoo and use their water. I bring them home and if there is any moisture left, I hit them with the Ultraforce here.

Puppy farms, while not nice, are NOT illegal. Having multiple breeds of dog, whilst not acceptable to some, is NOT illegal. Making continued complaints about a person's private business, without absolute PROOF, IS vexatious. If the OP has seen, with their OWN eyes, and not ASSUMED from what they care to IMAGINE, that conditions behind the fence are not suitable for animals then by all means complain. Having a "trailer-trash" yard visible from the road is NOT illegal, UNLESS it contravenes local council by-laws and in that case, it is up to the council to pursue NOT the RSPCA. How much more clearly does it have to be spelt out?

It's not a myth. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence to support the fact that black/tan dogs and dogs of certain breeds do seem to be more prevalent to parvo than others. Maybe one day when scientists aren't spending their time doing research on a dog shaking water from its coat, they may have time and funds to look into something that will actually benefit dog owners.

Have a good sniff of her ear. A "normal" ear shouldn't have an unpleasant odour of any kind. A "strong" smell could indicate a fungal issue or mites. Also look at the colour of the ear and/or any wax coming from it. Excess wax could also mean infection or mites.

Amazing how you've heard it and you're in Qld, yet we in Tasmania haven't.....heard no less than 5 news reports today and haven't heard a whisper. We'll probably be the last to know as usual. I won't be responding any more in this thread anyway because you will no doubt blame me for the situation.

Thas was my first thought as well. Pretty frightening. To be honest, at this point in time, I really don't agree. Tasmania has always been behind the other states with regards to animal managment policy and legislation. Allerzeit and her husband and I attended the Central Highlands Council Animal Management Meeting in September and were very pleased with the outcome. Whilst certain changes with regards to animal numbers and microchipping are being introduced, there is nothing terribly restrictive or draconian about other policies. Unlike other municipalities, unless a dog is declared dangerous there is no specification as to the required type of housing or kennelling. Kennel license are to be introduced alongside a limit on numbers HOWEVER these too are negotiable and do not require expensive planning applications and major building works to construct kennels. Unfortunately, other councils are not quite as liberal. A 2 dog limit has been enforced in many/most council areas here for many years and in some municipalities the chances of getting a variation are next to nil. But this has always been the case, at least in my 24 year involvement with purebred breeding and exhibiting in this State. The TCA Inc is quite active in supporting its members too so if there is anything of major concern, I would be very surprised if they don't start jumping up and down. It may not be a perfect organisation but it would be a very cold day in Hades before they would "sell out" their members in the same manner in which other State controlling bodies have done.

It's all tied up with the companion animal act which was introduced a few years ago and is only now starting to be enforced. The 12 month time frame is the period of time until the compulsory microchipping laws are "officially" started. Many councils are having community meetings about Animal Management Plans to be introduced in some municipalities. This is to bring them into line with State legislation. As for the RSPCA....considering the RSPCA here is in such a shocking state, I'll be very surprised if for the forseeable future, they can see past their own internal bickering to do ANYTHING much about actual animal welfare!

You have not heard ANYTHING unless you've heard a litter of Stafford puppies "at it". A few years ago, I had a litter of 5 and a friend who has been breeding Rough Collies for many, many years visited. We were trying to watch TV and the Piranhas woke up and started "playing". Poor Kerry was MOST concerned and kept asking "is that normal?" She'd never heard anything like it in her entire breeding career! It's all part of sorting out the order within the "pack" and yes, they can get pretty darned scary and very nasty on occasions. Most of the time it will fizzle out peacefully, occasionally there will be "tears" and THEN it will fizzle out. It can be very interesting to watch though and can be a really valuable lesson for the hoomans in pack dynamics. You'll soon see who the bossy, dominant puppies are and these will be the puppies that need to be placed in homes where they can be appreciated. It's all part of learning how to interpret the temperaments of puppies within your lines and then being able to place them accordingly.

It was around long before Cesar was born! We were taught it in our first ever lesson at an obedience club back in 1987. I hated it (and certain other things about the club and the instructor) so much that I never went back for another class there. The whole "domination" thing really didn't appeal to me then and still isn't "up there" on my list of favourites now for various reasons.

Afraid I'm not a big believer in doing this. Leaving food available all the time can encourage finicky eating rather than a good healthy appetite for set meal times. Also, it can be hard to monitor the amount of food a dog is getting if it is free ranging. And finally, the food runs the risk of contamination if left out all the time. Far healthier to set 3 or 4 mealtimes and stick to them. Put food down for 10 - 15 minutes and then remove it. They soon learn that they eat when the food is available.

Probably the same scientists who for whatever reasons researched a dog shaking itself dry! And yep, they probably can measure how much rain falls into a little cup...only problem is....there isn't usually that much in some areas!

I'm really not convinced it IS a breed thing. I had 2 American Cocker bitches who tried to add to the statistics one day, and in doing so, they managed to include an entire male who ended up finishing his show career as a result of the back injury he received trying to get away from them. And I have to say that whilst the Stafford bitch is the biggest problem in the issues I have here at the moment, the American Cocker bitch isn't backwards about having a few things to say to the Stafford either.

Damn those bloody black cockies........never seen one yet out here.......maybe that's why I don't see a lot of rain! :p

Anecdotal evidence does it for me I'm afraid! :p

Just putting this here out of interest and for anyone who might like to discuss. Hmmmmmmm.......I have one word for this. bull*cough*shit! Disclaimer: My opinion from my own personal experience. Others may be different.

Well all I can say is if people are judging my dog husbandry by my inclination to garden, I shall await the arrival of an RSPCA inspector shortly. My weeds can only be described as spectacular. Me too. My biggest problem is the council keep getting narky (and rightly so) because my horse plays "fetch" with my tyre roundyard. But that should surely not be a reason to call in the RSPCA....unless providing a constant source of amusement for a naughty horse is cruel?

And that is the RSPCA's concern too. If the animals wellbeing is fine and the business owners are operating within the law, what's the issue? Contunially reporting someone for doing something that is not wrong, IS harrassment. Yes continuously reporting someone is harrassment BUT then whose fault is that? I know that if I report something to the RSPCA I would expect to be told that all was okay if that was the case but it is abundantly clear that the RSPCA have not gotten in touch with the poster and that only serves to leave a big question mark ????.....dont you think? Ummmmm no. It is yet another example of the RSPCA not following up for whatever reason. It wouldn't be the first time and I would bet pounds to peanuts that it won't be the last either. Again...you are ASSUMING!!!

If they are too lazy to remove the sign long after the pups are gone is an indication that perhaps they are too lazy to look after the dogs adequately...besides which...would you want to be hassled by people dropping by wanting to buy a pup when you no longer have any? or is it convenient for the simple reason that their name can be jotted down in preparation for the very next litter which may be just around the corner? And again, your emotions are getting away with you. You are ASSUMING that they are perhaps too lazy to look after their dogs. To but the boot on the other foot....maybe they are so busy doing a good job by their dogs that a sign is the least of their worries? Having a sign on the side of the road is not a lot different to a breeder having a website that appears in a search engine, or having a breeder listing on DOL come to that. People will take notice of it if they want to.

I have many issues with it. However, until its against the law, my personal feelings are not sufficient reason to call the RSPCA. They need evidence. At worst, these are vexatious complaints - that's harassment. Poodlefan.....the mere fact that these breeders are breeding multiple breeds and appear to have a litter every month or so is an indication that they are breeding large scale and that deserves a visit from the RSPCA and even though some things may not be against the law does not mean that we should turn a blind eye. How do you know they haven't already HAD visits from the RSPCA? Breeding multiple breeds and lots of them, whilst not necessarily what is acceptable to some is still within the law and provided they have their ducks in a row....there is little that the RSPCA can actually do. And regardless of anything, sooling the RSPCA onto somebody from a drive-by where there is apparently little or no evidence of mistreatment VISIBLE, is little more than harrassment. If you have a concern, then for goodness sakes make the effort to actually STOP and VISIT the premises and THEN if you have an issue, by all means contact the RSPCA. Personally, I would have stopped to see for myself BUT I am not going to crucify the poster because she opted not to stop! Breeding large scale may be 'within the law' but that does not make it right and I am adamantly against it esp if breeding several different breeds of dogs and selling them like grocery! It is considered an embarrasment for reg breeders to advertise a litter of pups via newspapers (nothing wrong with that imo) and yet its okay to sell living beings via a large sign hanging outside a property? You may consider it 'harrassment' to report such types to the RSPCA but my main concern lies with the animal's wellbeing. NOBODY is saying that it is what we LIKE or what we ourselves CONDONE but you are missing the point.....it is NOT AGAINST THE LAW!!! Just because somebody doesn't like the appearance of a person's home does not give them the right to harrass them by calling the RSPCA WITHOUT EVIDENCE OF MISTREATMENT!! Heck, half of the "wog palaces" (apologies in advance to anybody who may take offence, I'm just trying to make a point) in a certain suburb hurt my eyes but I legally cannot go around complaining that they mistreat their animals WITHOUT EVIDENCE!!!!! Can't you see the difference? Or are you deliberately NOT seeing the difference??????????

Yep, Stafford puppies get them on occasions after particularly rough play and usually around teething time or other stressful interludes and American Cockers are LOUSY for them! I've had Yank puppies go to bed fine and wake up 20 minutes later with cherry eye for no apparent reason. If you press in the right place, you can actually feel them pop back into place. I would say that probably 8 out of 10 times, they are never seen again. The important thing is that the gland isn't compromised. Treating dry eye is a darn sight worse than treating cherry eye.