ellz

But this isn't a change in the quality of the dog, it's a change in the quality of the home and management, major differences IMO.

Ahhhh - is that since it became compulsory here? Or has that been the case for a while. It has been compulsory to microchip for a year or so now. Not ALL dogs, that comes in in July NEXT year, but certainly for TCA registration all puppies must be chipped or they won't be registered.

Websites are a good starting point, but a schmick website doesn't mean a good breeder. What is in the shop window isn't necessarily what is behind the counter. A breeder can say ANYTHING on their website, but it doesn't mean that they believe them. Many will say what they think people EXPECT them to say. If you've been reading any of the threads in General recently, there is mention there of a breeder saying one thing on her website but apparently practicing differenly in real life. The best thing you can do is to meet the breeders, at the least talk to them on the phone. Establish a rapport with them and use your intuition to decide whether or not you believe in them.

To paraphrase a song "it's not what you do, it's the way that you do it".

There's another key that he did not come from a registered breeder or is not registered and was sold on. If he were from a registered breeder initially, he would have been microchipped prior to being TCA registered. So we are definitely looking for a BYBer it would seem.

Sensible breeders don't sell SHOW QUALITY puppies, they sell show prospects. Many don't sell puppies to prospective show homes at all because buyers have unreal expectations of what they purchase. Many think that if they pay XXX for a puppy then it MUST be show quality and MUST win and if it doesn't, then the breeder is at fault. I look at my puppies when they are wet. Some things don't change and are more easily seen wet and before you can confuse construction with animation. Things like head balance, length of neck, length of back, length of forearm and ribcage can be seen while the puppy is laying in your hands and these things won't change much with growth. I keep looking when they are up on their feet and moving around, how they hold themselves on the move, what they do with their tails and legs when they eat, drink and play. At 8 weeks, I make the first real "cull" (metaphorically speaking) and look at the puppies that I have identified as being show prospects for whatever reason and note which puppies will be going to companion homes. By the time they go to new homes at 9 - 10 weeks of age (sometimes a little later) I'm reasonably certain what I want to keep. I tend not to be too critical after that until mouths change - that can ruin the plans for many puppies. And in one of my breeds the ear fairy tends to be pretty brutal at teething time too. After around 8 months, I am then reasonably sure of what I have and could then be fairly confident in selling a puppy to a show home as a SHOW QUALITY puppy.

Restlessness and nesting can go on for days before the actual labour begins. One of my maidens nested every night for nearly 10 days prior to whelping and only started nesting during the day 3 days prior. A slight drop isn't what you're looking for. It'll be a massively noticeable drop to a degree or more less than the previous reading or the usual reading for that time of the day.

Yes Challenge is best dog and best bitch. It's 5 points plus one point for every animal of the same sex over 6 months of age. So in the scenario given above, it would be 5 points plus 7 because your own dog is counted in addition to the dogs beaten. If they win best of breed they get 5 points plus one point for every dog AND bitch over 6 months beaten, in addition to the point for your own dog. Group and Best In Show are a maximum of 25 points, again awarded on the basis of 5 points plus 1 point for every dog or bitch over the age of 6 months in the group or show. It is possible to NOT get a 25 point group, they aren't automatic unless there are a minimum of 20 dogs of age in the group. This is particularly applicable at smaller shows. Best In Show is usually automatically 25 points.

Points are only awarded for Challenge, Best of Breed, Best In Group and Best In Show.

I've just asked on facebook if any of my Dally friends know of anybody in Tasmania who had a litter about 4 months ago. I'm thinking it would be quite surprising if the puppy was from a registered breeder. Just a feeling...no real basis. I do know of somebody who had a litter, possibly around that long ago but she is located down South and it was most certainly NOT registered and was (I'm told) a 1/2 brother 1/2 sister breeding. 8 puppies I think and all sold off cheaply, as well as one (possibly both) of the parents......out with the old, in with the new! I'll let you know if I find anything out.

Shaar, it's a dog SHOW not an obedience trial! And NOBODY ever said that dog shows had to be fair!

My first time in the ring in the USA was in the group ring. My boss had 3 dogs in the group lineup so he and his wife were in there with me. I thought I had died and woken up in hell. I'd been in the USA for a week by then and this was my first show weekend and we were first group into the ring and NOBODY had prepared me for what was to come. I went over there thinking that some of our better known dog people played "dirty"....was I in for a rude shock. Some of the carry-on around the dog scene in the USA makes our more "assertive" handlers look like Mother Teresa! That said, I'd go back in a heartbeat. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life!!!! Highly recommend it for any young person who wants to learn about dog shows via the saturation method!

If you want to talk distractions....try showing in a Group line up in the USA!!!! Never mind a dog barking in the ring as a distraction, try dodging the flying bait. Or gait your inexperienced dog amongst the leftovers. Not to mention the RINGSIDE barking, howling, hooting and carrying on and none of it coming from the mouth of a dog either!! Pro-handlers and experienceds owner-handlers don't pull any punches and neither do the spectators!!!!

Something to remember too as a handler YOU own the space directly in front of you so use it if you need to in order to create a buffer zone. And once you're all set up, don't be scared to move within YOUR little patch of ring to get the best out of your dog.

BAD BAD BAD idea!!!!!!! Very dangerous. I know that many companion animal owners do it as a matter of course....scrape off the bones after a barbie, throw out the roast bone etc etc and get away with it...but they're really tempting fate.

To answer your last question first....if you've got a dog which is a bit flat ordinarily, then ANY animation is good animation IMO, as long as it is appropriate. I've seen Beardies bouncing n barking, Samoyeds answering back, Toy Dogs yapping, Staffords yodelling. Most of the time, the judge laughs and so does ringside. So onto the first part.....all of the above would be appropriate at some time or another, just learn to pick your times. If the woman has an issue with your dog animating and vocalising, then she probably has a bigger issue with her own dog and should probably work on focus issues there rather than carrying on at you!!!! Just my opinion of course and no doubt there will be other opposing opinions so you just need to take what you are comfortable with and run with it! PS. Congratulations on your wonderful year and may there be many more like it!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/CAMEO-dog-cat-rotat...=item19bf1fc165

Ebay often have them too.

You need to make sure that you have either DOGFORM60.FMX or USDOGFORM60.FMX open in the program. These are you form template files. On the left of the program will be the "chooser bar". If you don't have any form files open, you probably won't see an option for Forms. But in this dropdown menu is a tab for Pedigrees. Click on this and you'll have a heap of different display options.

Why should you chase them? I'm with Sway on this one. If they're that keen, they'll contact you again or at the very least, send a decent enquiry!

:rolleyes: I was wondering when you'd get in here and spill. The suspense has been killing me!

We can only hope that will happen, but they keep on coming back. :rolleyes:

Unfortunately, you're just dreaming. I know of a couple of people who have had what can only be termed as "harrassment" aimed at them by the RSPCA over the most trivial things and to be honest, the money spent and time taken could have been better invested on more chronic cases that have been identified and are apparently being ignored.

Bad Alice. You laugh! She started out as Alice and the Bad just kind of attached itself naturally. EVERYBODY knew her as Bad Alice around here. She was a TOAD!!! She's now in Japan and is not only bilingual but is teaching everybody the rules Bad Alice way! The gentle Japanese are finding her quite challenging and very enjoyable!

http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/...mania-news.html RSPCA board row deepens HELEN KEMPTON | September 07, 2010 08.49am INFIGHTING continues to plague RSPCA Tasmania with another former board member being ousted for what she says is her criticism of how the animal welfare organisation is run and its lack of "teeth" in the courts. Animal advocate Suzanne Cass has been told her membership of the RSPCA is "being reviewed" because her recent media criticism had "negatively impacted on the society's ability to meet its objectives". "I am still in the dark with regard to these obscure allegations," Ms Cass said yesterday. As part of her criticism of RSPCA Tasmania's legal performance, Ms Cass released national figures which showed that while the number of complaints to the state branch had risen significantly since 2005-2006, the number of prosecutions had dropped by more than a third. Ms Cass said the enforcement of animal cruelty legislation should be a core RSPCA objective and the reason the society received government and community support. New acting RSPCA Tasmania chief executive Michael Linke has already raised concerns about "radical outside agitators" trying to destabilise the Tasmanian branch. Several hours after Ms Cass put out a media alert about her ousting, Mr Linke released positive adoption and euthanasia data which, he said, showed the society was moving in a new direction. Ms Cass was elected as part of a new RSPCA board in September last year as internal conflict resulted in the removal of the society's CEO and then its president. Ms Cass and State Government whistleblower Nigel Burch promised to shake up the society. However, both have left after less than a year of service. Ms Cass is the third board member to have her membership reviewed after raising concerns in the public sphere. Earlier in 2009, John Bates was told he was no longer welcome to volunteer at the Hobart animal shelter and Pat Gillespie's membership was revoked after she publicly criticised how RSPCA Tasmania was being managed. RSPCA Tasmania appointed a new CEO in July this year. But Karen Vanderpols fell seriously ill and was hospitalised just a few weeks into the job. She is still in hospital receiving rehabilitation treatment and it will be at least six months before the RSPCA knows if she can return to the role. RSPCA ACT chief Michael Linke is flying between Tasmania and Canberra in the interim. Mr Linke did not want to comment on the expulsion of Ms Cass yesterday, saying he wanted to concentrate on animal welfare, not human distractions. Mr Linke said RSPCA Tasmania was on the cusp of a new era.