ellz

As I said, there is asking and there is asking. Sometimes you can tell instinctively if a person is just collecting information or is going from breeder to breeder trying to find the "cheapest" puppy. A phone call is a different thing entirely. There is more scope in a phone call to exchange information.

There's asking and there's asking. If I get an email where the first question is "how much" followed by very little else, then I am certainly very guarded in my reply. You should just SEE some of the emails that I, and I have no doubt, other dog breeders receive. On the other hand, if somebody tells me a little about themselves or the life they can offer one of my dogs and then asks what kind of price they would be looking at, I'm a lot more receptive. I don't advertise prices on my website, or anywhere else, because price is the last thing I am concerned with. As with SBT123, a lot depends upon the individual circumstances. I've given dogs away, I've sold dogs. I have my price and it is not open to negotiation through haggling, bargaining or guilt-tripping but *I* will choose if and when to vary that price according to circumstances and the rapport that I have struck up with a person.

Everything I don't keep personally is put on Limited Registration now anyway so my "pet" puppies are probably better than many other "show" puppies on Main Registration that are out there. And my price is my price. No haggling, no offers. One price for all.

I start them as soon as they start to show interest in their mother's food or as soon as she starts to regurgitate for them, whichever comes first. And if neither happens, then around 3 weeks I will take some finely minced meat and hold it to their noses and see what happens. 9 times out of 10, I discover that I am holding a piranha and not a puppy! So then it's pink slushy time, gradually decreasing the amount of liquid and increasing the amount of "texture" as they learn to use their teeth and not lap at the food. And then as soon as they're on more chunky stuff, they get their wing tips and chicken necks which they take great delight in fighting over and sucking the meat off. And that whole process normally only takes a couple of days and then they're pretty much on "big puppy" food.

I am posting this here because I know that some people don't venture into other parts of the forum and I'd like the word to get out as far as possible to bring my girl home. Missing (taken?) from Hamilton, Tasmania between 1.30 - 2.30pm Monday 10th May. 6mo black female Stafford puppy. Microchipped. Reward offered for return or information leading to return. 03 62863474 0448 236401 More information and photos can be found here.... http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/gr...120310004665481

I thought I would post this here because I've been told that a lot of people who post in General don't venture into other parts of the forum. Missing (taken?) from Hamilton, Tasmania between 1.30 - 2.30pm Monday 10th May. 6mo black female Stafford puppy. Microchipped. Reward offered for return or information leading to return. 03 62863474 0448 236401 More information and photos can be found here.... http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/gr...120310004665481

This is the first time I've contributed to any of these threads. I've got other things of my own piling high in my life at the moment, but Jed is in my thoughts, as are the people who are doing to much to get the situation under control. Good on you DOLers...yet again when there is a crisis, you are rock solid!

I personally don't see a major issue with charging a different price for pet and show, depending upon breed - some breeds do require considerably more care, grooming, training and socialisation for show prospects between weaning time and the time to go to their new homes. I don't agree with charging more for colour though..... But it sounds to me like this "breeder" is operating on a sliding scale, almost a doggy auction if you will. So if there are say 10 people looking for a show prospect puppy, she can charge 10 x what she would have charged if there were only ONE person looking for a show prospect???? I think not!!!!!

Sounds to me like SHE is the one who is in it for the money, not the other way around. Many reputable, responsible breeders charge the same for pet or show prospect. Anybody who will charge a different price depending upon demand is IMO trying to capitalise and should be avoided like the plague.

Prior to Limited Registration, the only other option was to simply not register pet puppies at all. This made it impossible for a good quality puppy to be evaluated and upgraded by a breeder at a later date of course so a quality dog was completely lost to the show and breeding world for good. At least LR gives a breeder the option to upgrade to Main at a later date if so desired. I don't see that it causes any more problems with the "controlling" of breeds any more than other methods have done for a long time. Those who wish to control their breed and/or puppy buyers will still manage to find a way.

I don't see an issue with Limited Registration either. In the OP's case it is more a case of them selecting the wrong breeder to work with.

You can get a wide colour range in Staffords too of course and I do point out to potential purchasers that there is nothing whatsoever wrong in wanting a dog of a particular colour but I suggest they should try to keep an open mind because the dog which is the best "match" for them and/or their situation may just be the "wrong" colour. That said, I don't allow puppy people to choose their own puppies as a rule. BUT they are occasionally given a choice of a couple of puppies after a) I have selected what I am keeping for myself - I breed to keep, not sell so I ALWAYS get first option for colour and gender and b) I know the individual person/family situation and have met or spoken to them a few times so that I can ascertain what kind of personality might suit their needs best. It is pointless placing a full on, goey puppy in a home where they are wanting something a little more laid back. As the person who has spent the previous 8, 9, 10 or more weeks with the litter, I am in the best position to say which puppies exhibit more of whichever temperament and thus far, I've done an excellent job at matching puppies with homes.

I don't have a working or utility breed, but I do believe that the same applies for Staffordshire Bull Terriers.

BIS winners in the litter for sure! Can I place an order please?

Sorry to go OT but as I am looking at lease agreements can someone tell me the downsides? Well you could be like me and despite written agreements, you could have the other party refuse to return your dog and make death threats against you and that is just the short story. End result was that I didn't get my dog back. I would have a legal rep draw up an agreement , the only people getting a dog on lease are well known friends so I hope I should be ok in getting the dog back, I have heard of this happeneing and its a disgrace, very sad indeed. The bad news is that under most circumstances, they will not stand up in a court of law no matter who draws them up (mine were looked over and approved by a lawyer). And to be perfectly frank, friends are the LAST people I'd be getting involved in a lease situation with. Things like that have a nasty habit of breaking up friendships. Just my experience.

Sorry to go OT but as I am looking at lease agreements can someone tell me the downsides? Well you could be like me and despite written agreements, you could have the other party refuse to return your dog and make death threats against you and that is just the short story. End result was that I didn't get my dog back.

No, but don't go there!!

I was having this issue with my baby puppy Stafford. It was like her nose was attached to the ground with an industrial strength magnet. So for a couple of shows I sacrificed style and elegance and replaced them with personal embarrassment and literally moved her around the ring with some bait under her nose, praising her and letting her have a taste every time she took more than a step with her nose off the ground. It has taken a few shows but last show, she was even happy enough with her head in the air to take the lead in her mouth and walk herself. It is kind of replacing a problem with a problem, but I'd rather she carry the lead with her head in the air because it is easier to encourage her to drop it than to stop the hoover impersonation! Good luck....I know how frustrating it can be!

You might find some useful information at this site. http://www.dragonflyllama.com/%20DOGS/Writing/confstack.html

There's an old saying "everything has a price". With some people, I have no doubt that is true. For MY part, it gets on my nerve when people try to do that to me. I breed for myself first and foremost anyway so my pick is my pick for a reason. As for offering more for older dogs that have done some winning.....if a dog is for sale, or if I would consider selling it then it is noted as such on my website or via private correspondence. But my price is my price. If somebody contacted me out of the blue offering me XXXX for a dog that isn't for sale, then they'd get a short email telling them that the dog isn't for sale (or a short no if the enquiry is via telephone) and if they persist then subsequent emails would go in the round filing cabinet and their name would be kept on file for future reference.

Oxytocin given at the wrong time during whelping can cause untold damage to bitch and pups. It is nothing to do with the actual administration or dosage. It is all about timing and the average inexperienced breeder would not have the knowledge to use their experience to time it correctly without the supervision of a vet. In which case, best off to leave it to the vet in the first place. YOU may have the knowledge and I daresay that I would have the knowledge given my experience with whelping my own puppies and those belonging to other people, but many/most breeders would NOT and I have seen and heard of some pretty awful things resulting from mistimed hormone shots.

Well done Mel! About time you joined us here!

Well we must have been lucky with the person I picked up the other week - no hassle what so ever booking her dog onto flights in and out of Hobart at the times of day needed. I actually expected more issues with it than we had. You can be lucky. But a lot will also depend upon the time of the year and whether or not it is considered to be a peak season in Tasmania. The airlines tend to put on larger planes when they think they'll get more bums on seats. BUT having said that, as I've previously said in this thread, I had a dog only recently booked onto Virgin for a Friday flight and she was bumped with very little notice and had to fly out on the Saturday instead. She had already been collected by the animal transport company for her Friday flight so it cost more to have them keep her unexpectedly to put her on the flight on the Saturday as it was not possible for me to collect her or for them to bring her home again and pick her up the next day. And due to her breed, she could not be flown by AAE. I've been exhibiting dogs for 24 years now. From 1986 until 1991 when I moved to NSW I was a regular traveller between Hobart and the mainland for Specialty Shows, Royals and major Victorian shows like ADI and Cranbourne. In those days travel was DEAD EASY. You'd just ring the day before and book your dog on. Rock up to the airport, put the dog through baggage for $10 per dog no matter what size and then go and check your luggage in at the terminal. Any flight, any time of the day or night, any day of the week, any airline. I lived in Sydney between 1991 and 1995 and was a regular exhibitor at Victorian, Canberran and NSW shows and we travelled a LOT. All by road. So much simpler and a lot less stressful. And yes, if you decided to go, you filled the car with petrol and drove. If you decided not to go, or couldn't go for some reason, all you blew were your entries. Those were definitely the days!!!

the airline restrictions on things like size, type of crate, breed of dog, number of dogs per flight etc are the same nationwide. So people who are considering flying from any state have the same concerns and issues. Incorrect. The airlines use the larger planes routinely on most mainland air routes. They tend to use the smaller ones to come into Tasmania. These planes do not carry livestock, or only carry dogs up to a certain size and only if they are not carrying consumables on the same flights. We also have limited "Qantas" flights in Tasmania. Many of them are actually Jetstar who don't take animals at all.

I also wouldn't be comfortable advising an inexperienced person to have, and use oxytocin. If used for the wrong reasons at the wrong time during the whelping this can cause many serious issues for bitch and whelps.