ellz

I have to confess that of more recent times, I've simply given up and am probably not as "forthcoming" with puppy people as I have been in the past. I'm just completely OVER getting phone calls for puppies, or being stopped in the street when walking my dogs and being told in one breath how gorgeous my dogs are and then in the other, being asked how much I sell them for.....and then being told "oh but I can get one out of the paper/from my uncle/from a friend of a friend/from the pound for a fraction of that price". OK, so do it then but don't come crying to me to fix your problems when you realise you've made a big mistake.

It annoys the hell out of me that you need witnesses to prove what happened. Surely the evidence is enough? Hugs to you and poor battered Bernard Nat.

Yes. Greyhounds tend to chase fast moving creatures. It's just what they do. My house cats are safe from my Greyhound UNLESS they are running in a paddock and then it is a quick scramble to get Fang on a lead. Possums/bunnies etc are NOT safe here as a rule because if you see them, they're running and then they become fair game.

Ebay USA! :D

Hmmmm...what am I doing wrong? My dog lets ME sleep in HIS bed.....at least that's how it feels most nights!

Not necessarily although this can be the case. Whilst I would say that many/most breeders whelp their puppies inside, there are a large number of those who then remove the puppies from the home environment into a kennel environment as soon as they can, meaning that they miss out on a lot of the subtle early cues to toilet training that a breeder can give the little ones. Dogs in kennels tend to be less choosy about where they toilet. You do get some who like to toilet in the same area instinctively of course, but most will just go where they happen to be at the time and I have found that puppies from kennel settings, whose parents are kennel dogs, whose parents are kennel dogs (etc) are very much the same no matter how they are reared.

Free play also stimulates them mentally and gets the adrenalin going so they take longer to wind down when free playtime is over.

Yes, basically because the files are a lot larger so it takes longer for the camera to process and save them.

What it means is that the siblings are probably even worse and you may have gotten off lightly!

No, I don't think bonding happens at the breeders. It take some time to form a bond. It also takes time away from litter mates and in your home to develop. I think breeders will generally do a far better job of selecting a pup than buyers. They've had weeks to observe the litter. Buyers only get snapshots. I think temperament is partially inherited and partially shaped by training and environment. Breed DEFINITELY plays a part (after all temperament is one of the things selectively bred for) and that's the reason why people need to have an understanding of typical breed temperament when selecting their breed of choice. Incompatibility is a real possibility and contributes IMO to unwanted dogs. Ummm...confused.....that quote isn't mine???? Sorry Ellz.. brain in neutral. I'll fix it. S'ok. It's Monday!!

No, I don't think bonding happens at the breeders. It take some time to form a bond. It also takes time away from litter mates and in your home to develop. I think breeders will generally do a far better job of selecting a pup than buyers. They've had weeks to observe the litter. Buyers only get snapshots. I think temperament is partially inherited and partially shaped by training and environment. Breed DEFINITELY plays a part (after all temperament is one of the things selectively bred for) and that's the reason why people need to have an understanding of typical breed temperament when selecting their breed of choice. Incompatibility is a real possibility and contributes IMO to unwanted dogs. Ummm...confused.....that quote isn't mine????

My belief is that overall temperature is going to dictate future behaviour but that input from the mother can certainly influence things like the way a puppy relates to humans, whether or not it sees certain things as a threat, how it "fits" into the environment. If the dam is well-socialised and has a balanced outlook on life with no phobias or major fears, then she is going to approach life in a more confident and outgoing way, and so will her puppies because they will follow her example and be reassured by her actions. And believe it or not, I have a firm opinion that toilet training can be "in bred" too. I don't recommend that people who are seeking a house dog, consider a puppy from breeders whose dogs are SOLELY kennel dogs. My experience over many years has been that dogs from kennel-bred lines can be VERY challenging to toilet train. Anecdotal, but my firm opinion.

Lots of observation of the interaction between littermates and their dam, as well as how they interact with the people in my family and also the way they respond to different things that happen in their environment. And yes, parents, particularly the dam play a huge part. Temperament inheritance is a much debated subject, ie nature vs nurture. I do believe that temperament is inherited which is why I look for good temperament in both parents, but overall the dam has such a strong influence on how the puppies turn out, as do the people who are present in the formative stages of the puppies lives.

No, I honestly think that a breeder who knows their lines, and knows how their puppies develop is the best person to attempt to match a puppy to a person at that age. That's one of the reasons you need to trust the breeder and you absolutely MUST fully disclose your TRUE personality so as to enable the breeder to make the best recommendation! And yes, it is very possible to not bond with a dog. I have had dogs that no matter what I do, we just don't "'click" and yet others with whom there has been an instant attachment. It's not dissimilar to meeting other people, some you are drawn to and others take a lot more work.

Nobody should ever have to justify what they charge for their puppies. A person is either willing to pay the price asked, or they will go elsewhere, nobody is twisting their arm.

That isn't always possible.

I've used Jetpets and until recently found them to be more expensive than Dogtainers. I've used Dogtainers but only ever book through Dogtainers ACT. I sent a puppy to Japan recently using Dogtainers ACT and was MORE than happy with the service from beginning to end and it was a process that took over a month to accomplish. From the initial lodgement of paperwork in Japan right through to the day the puppy left Tasmania en route to Japan via Sydney, there were no problems whatsoever. More recently, I've used the services of DOLer wayrod and I have to say that the service (and prices) that I've received from him have been exemplary and I will definitely use him again should the need arise in the future.

Thanks Allerzeit. I'm just at a very big crossroad and I'm really not sure what direction to take at the moment. :D

Many/most bitches have a lower gestational temperature range. It's quite normal. Anything below 37 could be a sign of whelping, but only if it is a SUDDEN drop so don't necessarily just look for a 36.7 temp because you may not see it. Also important is that some bitches have a slight rise in temperature during the last days of gestation. This is normal as well, as long as it doesn't suddenly spike and they start showing other symptoms of illness.

Ya piker! Nope....only got one dog to show anyway and since Flame was stolen I've really pretty much lost the urge. I haven't even renewed my TCA membership yet. To be honest, not even sure that I will.

Not me!

Pound next time JSK. See what she'd rather have, a late fee on a DVD or a hefty council fine to spring her dogs from gaol!

Emailed you a couple.

Perhaps you could send them vouchers instead. ie... if You use Artemis (as I do), then you could ask if they could sell you a voucher so that the puppy buyer could redeem in their state. In other words rather than getting a bag of food Artemis the puppy buyers gets a voucher to the value of a bag of food - this would be attached to a list of suppliers in their state Vouchers are a good idea in essence...but....I thought the point of sending a puppy off with food in it's puppy pack was to ensure that it had what is currently in it's diet on hand, so that the new owners didn't change it's diet suddenly by ripping out to the only supermarket that's open, when they got home and realised they didn't have anything to feed the new baby!! Sometimes people get a bit forgetful and disorganised when they're excited. As you all know the first day in a new home is not the time to change pups diet. It gives them some time to do it gradually if they choose to. Prior to my puppies leaving home, I email (or post) a "shopping list" of supplies to have on hand when the puppy comes home. This is duplicated in the puppy guide but it gives the new owners something to follow ahead of time as well.

Lesson to you Rajacadoo-doo-doo, put on your site that you only provide food for the local ones or it will cost you a fortune! I don't like attaching anything to the crate because things invariably become DE-tached en route. I tie a slip lead to the handle of the crate securely and put the rest in an Aust Post satchel and send it via the mail if I can't hand it over in person.