ellz

In most parts of Australia there are no strict rules about food in the ring. It is mostly a case of etiquette. Good manners decrees that you do not stuff your dogs' face full of food when the judge is attempting to go over it. And of course, the judge doesn't want to get their fingers covered in recently consumed bait when they open the dogs' mouth. Common sense should be applied. Use the bait when it is going to achieve the maximum effect. By all means speak to Willow in the ring and to get her going, but also practice other more subtle, perhaps more sedate non-verbal cues that you can use for her as she gets older. But at 14 weeks, I can tell you that nobody is going to frown too much on you no matter what happens in the ring. Babies are best left to be babies, they have their entire lives to learn good behaviour and showmanship! I debuted a few babies this past weekend myself and they were really baaaaad in their first show.....and a lot better in their second. UNLESS the judge makes the mistake of speaking directly to them and then they either melt or go ballistic. This is my 3 month old baby going ballistic when the judge said she was a good girl.... But Flame had a HEAP of fun and really enjoyed herself so I have no doubt that she will be even better at her next show!

Other than that, she's on a double sided fleece matt (which I'm sure is synthetic), or on our lounge. Our floors at home are polished floor boards. Check the fleece mat....synthetics are a no-no for itchy dogs. And if your lounge is synthetic, it needs to be covered with something that isn't.

What kind of bedding does she sleep on and does your house have synthetic carpet or furnishings? That can contribute to the itchies too.

I do agree there is some hereditary basis, but a lot of it does come down to the individual as well. I've had bitches who have been fantastic mothers that have given birth to bitches that are lousy mothers, and vice versa. I will give a bad mother the benefit of the doubt on one, maybe two occasions depending upon the circumstances. If it isn't a "text book" pregnancy and/or whelping and the bitch is lacking in the parental instinct department then I believe some leeway has to be given. Hormones/health can play a huge part in the temperament of any animal. But if a bitch has an easy time of it and does a lousy job, and does a lousy job on a subsequent occasion, then she is removed from the breeding program and her daughters are watched like hawks. It will be interesting to see what happens if/when I decide to breed from my American Cocker bitch again. She had the maternal instincts of a rubber ducky. She didn't labour successfully or show any signs whatsoever that she had read any of the whelping textbooks. Two puppies resulted from her breeding, one of which was euthanased. She had one puppy naturally after very little labour in the wee small hours of a Tuesday morning and then with no warning whatsoever popped out another puppy some 5 hours later. It was this puppy that was PTS at 3 weeks due to some form of retardation.....possibly due to the delayed birth. Once they were out, she fed them but that was about it and at 2 days I removed the weaker puppy from her and carried it in my bra, tube feeding it around the clock. I could have taken them BOTH from her and she wouldn't have cared. I pulled those puppies out from underneath her on more occasions than I care to remember. I'm still umming and aahing about re-breeding her, but I won't know if the above was an anomaly if I don't give her another go. I just need to be sure that I'm mentally, physically and financially ready for a repeat IF another disaster occurs. Interestingly, I bred the sire of this litter and his mother had whelping issues as well.....I wonder if they can be passed down through the males too???? And then on the other hand you have my Staffordshire Bull Terrier bitch who was OBVIOUSLY in whelp from the minute she came home from the stud dog (or so she was telling me at that stage anyway! ). Her belly grew on schedule, she had a day of morning sickness at around 13 days post mating. She was positively scanned at around 3 weeks, counting xray done about a week or so before she was due to give birth. She started to go into labour but not well enough for my liking so she had a c-section and gave birth to 9 puppies. All were healthy and strong. She fed them ALL until they were weaned. Didn't try to sit on them. Kept them impeccably clean to the point where at one stage I was getting a little worried that they weren't passing any waste....but it was just mum being a super-mum! She still loves the puppies that I kept (1 dog, 1 bitch) and spends time with them whenever she can just playing and teaching them how to be obnoxious! The vet feels that she should be given another try and that the delay in labouring was due to the jigsaw of puppies in the uterine horns. If she has a smaller litter next time, the whelping may be natural. If she has another equally as large litter next time, there will be no more litters!!! And it will be interesting to see what the offspring that have been retained from both bitches above do in the future as well.

There used to be a few, El Caballo Blanco was one, Harold Park was another, a couple of the vineyards had great areas, as did a couple of sporting venues but unfortunately many of them either closed down, or the lack of thought and care by dog exhibitors put paid to the arrangements. Typically, the actions of a few spoil things for the rest.

Overheating is nowhere near as dangerous to neonates as chilling is. Obviously you don't want them to overheat, because you don't want them to dehydrate, but if they chill, you are 100% more likely to lose them. This is my pen setup in daylight. As you can see, the dam has taken herself away from the puppies for some time out. It was September here then and not an overly warm September. This setup enables me to close it all in and make it cosier if necessary, or open it up to cool things down if the need occurs, as it did with my November 22 litter.

And I don't mean to upset you and I'm sorry if I did so. But what your boss has said is very true. Just don't be specific and leave your own dog out of it as much as you can. Give a warning about the dangers of strange dogs in general. Unfortunately it seems to be a sign of the times that people just don't educate their children any more about how to approach dogs. I had it drummed into me and I've drummed it into my children as well.

I use a whelping "pen". It is in a draft free area so isn't directly affected by actual room temperature as such, unless it is particularly hot or cold. Because the pen is pretty much a little "community" of its own, the temperature within can be controlled quite easily. I have a heat pad underneath and an infra-red lamp over the top. BUT, they are only used at the same time for the first week to 10 days or so. After that, they are alternated according to the temperature around the pen. If it is particularly cold, the heat pad is on. If it is relatively warm, the lamp is on, but it is raised a fair way above the pen so it is just a gentle radiant glow over the puppies. The pen is large enough that mum can get away from both the heat pad AND the lamp, but can still lay down to feed and the puppies can still remain in contact with either heat source. I've been using this setup now for a few years and it has been excellent. I had one winter litter and my fears of chilling were unfounded and my latest litter of Stafford puppies were born in November and I had no overheating issues for dam or puppies and I really did think it would be more difficult to regulate the temp with 9 puppies but it was surprisingly easy.

I'm not "flaming" you and I'm not saying you're a crap paralegal....you've thrown that into the equation yourself. What I'm saying is that you are being very naive. The dealings that I have had with legal eagles over the years in dog-related situations have all emphasised one major thing..... ADMIT NOTHING and don't say anything more than you NEED to. Disclosure is one thing, leaving yourself open to further issues is another thing altogether. Take a step back and look at the situation as if you were advising somebody else on the same matter. You would probably deal with it very differently. As I said, I would be dealing with the matter of trespass first and foremost. The dog situation is an incidental albeit real factor. Editing to add: BTW, I'm not talking through my hat either. As a Staffordshire Bull Terrier owner/breeder, I face prejudice and stupidity pretty much every time I move house or go out in public with my dogs. I am well accustomed to having to think on behalf of other people who have absolutely NO idea how to act around a strange dog of any breed, let alone a "vicious one" (apparently so anyway, according to the media and other sources) like the Stafford. The happiest day of my life was when I was able to move out of suburbia and away from idiots who couldn't respect the right to privacy of those around them.

Well then if you know what you're doing, why bother asking? And you can find it as annoying as you like but you DID ask!! Your grammar is not the best, punctuation all over the place. You repeat yourself. Regardless of your profession, it was a really badly penned piece of work. Sorry, but that is fact!

Do you have a reference to this case? No, it was a friend who went through it. And coincidentally, a friend who had a GSD.

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Well....I'm sorry and I don't mean to criticise, but the original letter you wrote doesn't sound at ALL professional and personally, I'd be getting more specific legal advice before I sent it as is, regardless what the police say. Editing to add: And I would still be leaving out the "dangerous due to our dogs" bit. The fact that it is trespassing should be deterrent enough. You can elaborate further on the point when you speak to them perhaps?

I don't recall the thread Erny but I am aware of a case here in Tasmania (maybe the laws are different) where an intruder broke into somebody's home and was bitten by their dog and the homeowner WAS successfully sued for having a dangerous dog and advertising the fact with a "Beware Vicious Dog" sign on their gates. They did appeal and the penalty was reduced substantially but the magistrate did warn about the wording of certain signage and the use of those signs in a residential setting.

Personally I think I'd be paying a visit to the local community legal advice service and ask them to help draft the letter. I have NO idea what to say, but I do think that to specifically put so much emphasis on the possibility of them being bitten/hurt could be opening yourself up to litigation even if they are trespassing. That is why it is not recommended that people use "dangerous dog" signs but signs more along the line of "please shut the gate, dog at large" etc. I may be wrong (probably am) but it just sounds like one of those situations where you really have to tread a very careful path.

Some dogs are big drinkers, some aren't. BUT, if there is a change in the amount consumed, or a particular pattern that has been sufficient to have you asking questions, then IMO it is worth checking out.

I don't bother so much about the temperature of the whelping room, it is a lot harder to maintain a consistent room temp, than it is to maintain the whelping box temperature. As long as it is comfortable for me, I worry more about the box. That said, if it is hot I will have a fan going (no air con here), if it is cold then the woodheater will be going.

Personally I don't feel that a Cocker Spaniel WOULD fit. They do get bored quickly, they do bark (and can bark a LOT) and above all else they DO prefer human company. Their coat can be an issue. Good coat comes from good care (ie feeding and grooming) and even a puppy from a good breeder CAN get very hairy and overgrown quickly and require more than just a quick stripping out to keep under control. They can be quite hyper and not all get on with other dogs. As has been mentioned, the interaction with other dogs is something that isn't just a "breed" thing, it is something that the owner needs to work on as well. The Stafford ticks the boxes on a FEW of the criteria, but again, they are company animals and don't always do well if left alone for extended periods. On the subject of daily walks and lazy mornings at kerbside cafes etc, I wish I had $1 for every Stafford I saw enjoying the sun at the cafes along St Kilda Road a couple of years ago. I wouldn't necessarily consider that a well-socialised, well-trained and CONTROLLED Stafford on lead is any more of a risk than many other breeds. Staffords are NOT guard dogs and should never be looked upon as such. And really, no first-time dog owner should be looking for a dog to act as such. ANY dog will be a deterrent if they bark at the right time and that is what any family should be aiming for, first and foremost. A happy and well-adjusted Stafford is never going to be a guard dog, they are more a watch dog (WATCH the burglar come in, sit them down and make them afternoon tea and then help them carry the TV and DVD player out to the car and hop in after it!! ). BUT...given that most burglars wouldn't want to "test the water" to find out IF the Stafford they have just met is the friendly type, the deterrent value is as good as any other breed.

My lot LOVE water if it is THEIR idea! Horse water troughs - check Dam - check Puddles - check Bath - you're kidding right? Wet grass - now you definitely DO need your head read! Rain - not in THIS life! ;)

Mostly Uncle Albers/Great Barko here.

Can't remember when I joined DOL but I'm sure it was before the date shown.....there wasn't much TO DOL when I first started posting, I do remember that. Then I wandered away and came back a little later. Just want to say it is interesting to read how others happened onto DOL anyway.

I know Tassie, the poor wee souls are very shy.... just like their breeder/owner really! Thank you for your kind words though.....I love my bubbas and it thrills me to see them charming other people too!! And I've gotta say that your young lad is really growing up nicely too.....even if he does have his brains "elsewhere" at the moment!

We turned out yesterday for two shows in one day. Mr Ellz grumbled incredibly annoyingly at first but thankfully, the Misses Rajacadoo and Mrs Rajacadoo were there to help me put him in his place. Although it's a bit of a concern that Mr Ellz and Mr Rajacadoo seem to be joining forces somewhat! Huge thanks to Miss O Rajacadoo for again ably assisting me with my two Staffordshire Bull Terrier babies, but this time at their first Champ shows. Many older, more seasoned exhibitors go a bit pale at the thought of handling Stafford babies, but to Miss O's credit, she takes whatever is thrown at her with a big smile and a very capable hand. I think my puppies love her almost as much as they love me! Here is Miss O with Flame.....chillin' And a bit of puppy slobber never hurt anybody! And the other Miss Rajacadoo.....Miss I, deserves a BIG mention too because not only did she happily take Bad Alice into the ring for me when we clashed with Stafford judging, but she also happily took on the task of learning to brush a "hairy". Many thanks to the Rajacadoo-doo-doo team for another enjoyable show! See you all again on the 20th!

What's in a name? I've changed older dogs' names, usually because I've got a dog with the same, or similar name. Where possible I try to give a new name that has the same sounds, or number of syllables but whatever you call them, they'll still either come when they're called...or not....some of my dogs who have had their names for years STILL don't come when they're called unless they really want to!

I don't think you need to be "hard", being hard isn't a good thing in many facets of life....but you do need thick skin and most importantly, you need to be able to NOT take criticism personally and that can be a very hard for anybody who is human to do. Learning to separate dog shows from reality is the key IMO. Yes, you can eat, live and breathe dog shows, but at the end of the day, they are a CHOICE you make. So therefore, you should be able to take what comes with them. I've BEEN the gung-ho, drive hours to every show (like 10 hours to Melbourne Royal one year, sleep in the car, and then drive home again that afternoon), get depressed when there isn't a show, get agitated when you have entered a show and can't get there type of person and looking back, it wasn't much fun and I can really see the kind of person I let my "drive" turn me into. Now, I've got a completely different attitude towards shows. They're MY time out. I know what I have on the end of my lead. I'm proud of what I have on the end of my lead. If the judge agrees, well and good, if they don't, there will be other judges. It matters little what other exhibitors think of what I have on the end of my lead because I am the one who has to feed them and look at them EVERY day! My main "use" for shows is the social aspect. I'm part of a lovely group now. We all help each other during judging (and our own breeds span 4 groups) and then we all have a good laugh and occasionally a little bitch between ourselves when we're not in the ring. We take food and alcohol and settle in for the day and have a fabulous time. We celebrate the wins and fringies, and commiserate when none are forthcoming. THAT is what shows are about for me now! *gulp* Don't tell me I'm growing up!