ellz

Do you have access to either a studmaster or a more experienced breeder who may be able to oversee the event?

Haven't used it myself but know of many others who have used Periactin from the chemist with excellent results. For my part, I've had good results with Brewers Yeast as an appetite stimulant for canines and equines.

Lots of money and impeccable timing at the source to ensure the minimum period of time in quarantine. http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/cat-dogs

I let the puppies decide. If they're paying a lot of attention to mum's food, or to licking her mouth after she has been fed, or if she starts regurgitating food for them, I give them a try with some very finely minced meat on the end of my fingertip. If they're ravenous for that and looking for more, they're ready and I will start weaning. I start with pink slushies and gradually make the meals more solid and chewy as they become accustomed to the different texture and consistency.

To give you an idea....my girls are usually around a 28E or 28FF depending upon the bra brand. I'm wearing a size 5 Enell. I did wonder at the time if that may be a bit small, but I think if I'd gone the next size up, they may not have the same effect and would probably move on me which wouldn't assist the bounceless concept much.

Entropion is when the eyelids roll/fold inwards. Distichiasis is when an "extra" row of eyelashes grow inside the eyelid. Editing to add: And yes, Staffords are prone to this.

I've also picked up some really, really nice jackets from Ebay USA too. Most cost under $20 Australian, including postage and x-rates!!

I want those shoes! They'd look fabo with the suit I purchased from Sway!! Sorry Ellz, they are loooooong gone now!! Does no-one else think they look like shoes that a character from a Brothers Grimm fairytale might wear? The whole big buckle thing? :D Anyhoo, I loved them at the time and did literally wear them till they fell to pieces *sings* "Everything old is new again........" Nope, I really do like them. I had an EXCELLENT find at an op shop the other weekend.....Rajacadoo-doo-doo, Tassie and I think Maxbox saw them. A pair of brand new, patent black Kumpfs. Flat with a strap and a small buckle on the side. SUPER comfy and for 50 cents I just couldn't say no. They'd never even been worn from the looks of them. Considering they're usually up in the high $80s to purchase new, I think I got a bargain!

To the best of my knowledge there are only about 3 or 4 council areas in Tasmania which are "truly" dog friendly. The rest are ok in varying degrees DEPENDING upon where you live and what you want to do and of course, how many dogs you wish to keep and what you do with them. From my experience, the average dog registration fee for Joe Q is about $50. Most councils seem to offer a reduction for TCA members and that can be in the vicinity of $20 or so. They also ALL offer discounts for desexed dogs...usually quite a good reduction. And more and more are offering discounts for microchipped dogs as well. Most require a kennel permit if you have more than 3 dogs. And these, as in most other parts of Australia, cost a hefty sum for the application and a yearly renewal (usually with inspection) on top of the yearly registration fees. We have not yet progressed to lifetime registration for microchipped dogs because microchipping is still not compulsory here, but it will be. I doubt however the councils will go for the lifetime rego pull though because dog registrations generate a lot of revenue. Where I am, in the Central Highlands, can be cold in winter (yes it does snow on occasion) and very hot in summer (usually around 5 degrees hotter than the hottest "official" forecast given for any part of Tasmania that records weather). It is about an hour or so from Hobart. BUT, being a very rural area with a high concentration of cattle and sheep breeding, dogs are considered very important as working animals AND family pets so provided people are sensible, there are no real rules or limits. It's wonderful to live without Big Brother watching what I do. But, having said that....even though I can have MORE dogs now...I've got less than I've ever owned at any time during my 24 year breeding/exhibiting period.

And better yet, no dog limit and no kennel licences!

I want those shoes! They'd look fabo with the suit I purchased from Sway!! ;)

Bones do the job here too! Lots of toothy Stafford smiles with huge white teeth and lovely pink gums! ;)

I pay $5 per dog if paid before the 30th June because they are all either TCA registered, or a GAP greyhound.

You're welcome! I'm glad it worked for you.

What p's me off is that if a "breeder" kept their animals in even a FRACTION of the squalor that this dog is obviously being housed in, the RSPCA would be jumping over themselves to make an issue of it.

I feed my Staffords, American Cockers and the Greyhound on Albers/Barko and couldn't recommend it more highly. Should be noted though that the feeding directions on the packaging are somewhat generous IMO. If I fed that much to each dog daily, they'd be the size of houses!

For brush outs between baths, I often use Sunsilk Children's Leave-In Conditioner.

Yes, but sadly, the fine print says "where available". The reality is that there are generally more animals than suitable homes.

As previously mentioned, I highly recommend the Enell Sports Bra for well-endowed ladies. I have worn mine to three shows now and for the first time in many years haven't suffered from crippling head, neck and back aches for the week following each show! I was also asked by a couple of people if I had lost weight (which I have actually) or had a boob reduction and a couple of other larger ladies also asked me what I did. To me, that's one of the highest recommendations that a product can receive. I've also ridden my horse without pain for the first time in a long time. I used to wear 3 bras when I rode but the Enell has made it comfortable again. They are NOT cheap.....from an Australian stockist they will cost well over the $100 mark each. To purchase from Enell directly from the USA, they will set you back around $80USD each plus postage. I was fortunate enough to have found a seller on Ebay USA who were selling two for the price of less than one so even taking x-rates into account, the bras plust postage were still a lot less than it would have cost me to purchase one from Australia. I should mention too that they are one of the few bras where it won't necessarily matter if you purchase one a size or two too small. They are designed to LITERALLY "hug you tight". They take a bit of getting used to, but now that I'm accustomed to them, I only take them off at night to sleep. LOVE LOVE LOVE my Enells!!!

Yes, the RSPCA do it as do some other private refuges etc, but personally I'd rather see an older dog laying on the end of somebody else's bed than languishing in a kennel for the rest of its life. If that cannot be arranged, I have left instructions for my dogs to be euthanased. Sounds hard but if they can't live the rest of their lives in cushy comfort then I'd rather they go to sleep humanely. For my part, I am a "beneficiary" of a few dogs in other peoples' wills. One of my puppies from my 2009 Stafford litter has gone to live with an older lady. If anything happens to her, he is coming home for the rest of his life. He shares his home with two older Staffords (both are 11) as well and if Ben comes home to us, then his companions Bran and Bridget are coming with him.

I agree with you MM. And to be honest, it wasn't really the intention of my thread at all. Hence my using photographs of MYSELF and not other people. I didn't want to point the finger at other people, I'd rather use examples of my own fashion malfunctions and faux pas and perhaps others can learn from those.

From when I first sent Koda over to Brew, I'd told Finola that I didn't want brindle and refused point blank to keep one out of the litter. My own personal theory being that the amount of naughtiness in a brindle directly corresponds with the number of stripes. Of course, Finola keeps reminding me with great glee and a lot of that the puppy which chose me has stripes! Mr Ellz thinks that this photo is very appropriate....brindle being put in its place. Edited for spellink.

Blue Staffords can turn up in the best of kennels and from the best pedigrees, it is what the breeder does with them that dictates whether they are ethical or not. And btw, for those who say they love a jet black Stafford...you are of course aware that genetically, in Staffords, there is actually no such thing!

Sensible exercise is essential. Your bitch will dictate to you when she has had enough. It is obviously silly to introduce exercise if she is not accustomed to it pre-pregnancy, but a good level of fitness will help to ensure that she maintains condition for whelping and also in the times after whelping when many bitches tend to lose condition rapidly. Not recommending the following, but even as much as a few days prior to her litter of nine being born, my Stafford bitch was still swimming in the dam and jumping fences on the property. I ended up having to "confine her to barracks" because I was worried she might overdo things. She was NOT happy!!

Nope, not kind....just honest!! And I for one can say that your eye and the mental picture you create is impeccable!!!!!!! PS...and I like that you added a little bit of your own "winning luck" to the combo too....a Royal BOB at its first outing isn't to be sneezed at!!!! :hug: I didn't go to any summer shows that were suitable for re-wearing this beautiful blouse....but I'm going to a 30th birthday party on Saturday night and I'll be wearing it then!