ellz

Yep, that is the case! You can lodge the litter application but until you provide the microchip numbers for each individual puppy being registered, they will not issue registration papers. And they will also NOT accept registration applications if the dam has not been microchipped or if the dog is from one of the states where microchipping is compulsory.

Is there a website, or a good book you can recommend to learn "plaiting in the round"?

Ooh I think there's one for sale on the classies! ETA: It's the old version. I think I'll hold out for the 2009 revised edition. Check out Amazon.com for the new edition. I purchased one just before Christmas and it cost (including postage and x-rate) $40AUD. AND it took only 5 days to get here from the USA. Editing to add: Another one for the more advanced dog person is Rick Beauchamp's "Solving the Mysteries of Breed Type". VERY interesting reading! :thumbups:

I'd say that is probably the case Aziah. It'd be more complicated and a two or more step procedure which would need human intervention to "twiddle" dates so that the system would accept it.

If he is eliminating that quickly after being outside, then you obviously aren't staying outside for long enough with him to ensure that he IS empty before coming back inside again.

When did that ruling come in BB? A few years ago now, I mated a bitch to my stud dog and then leased her back to her breeder in whelp and as far as I can recall she had no problems registering the litter in her name.

I don't know about NSW but I have literally just registered Bad Alice and transferred her mother's lease at the same time (and backdated the lease transfer as well). And my 2005 litter were born here in Tasmania after the bitch was mated in Qld and transferred to me at the same time. I think you'll probably find that the ruling that says something about a bitch being in the ownership of the "breeder" at the time of the birth of the litter covers the question. As long as the bitch is registered in your name at the time of the birth of the puppies, it doesn't matter how far in advance the transfer is done.

For the "uninitiated" a male is usually a better bet for a number of reasons. Most importantly, the novice show exhibitor is almost 150% more likely to be able to acquire a good quality male to try their hand in the ring than they are an equal quality bitch (unless they've got a sh!tload of money to spend and want to be tied up in more strings than a macrame potplant holder!). A good male is an excellent way to test your toe in the show ring waters, see if you like it, experience the highs (and many lows) of dog shows and learn the particular care, preparation and handling that it takes for your breed. And believe me, just because they are "boring old Staffords" doesn't mean that they don't require WORK to get them into show condition and keep them that way. You can take some shortcuts with a long coat but when it is all on display with a short coated dog, the underneath bit of the package has to be spot on, or the outside doesn't gleam and ripple with muscle the way it should! A good male will also be an excellent way to learn how to research pedigrees and get your "eye" in on the breed so that when the time comes to decide whether or not you would REALLY like to breed (and do it properly) you will have a better chance of getting yourself a quality bitch. And that includes finding out which lines are free whelpers or which have issues that you wouldn't like to reproduce in your own breeding program. And to be honest, in some breeds, a male is sooooooooooooooooooo much more pleasant to live with too. IMO Stafford bitches are essentially a "necessary evil". I love my girls but they ARE just that.....EVIL!!

I'd also like to add that breeding and exhibiting dogs isn't necessarily a "part time" thing. You can't just do it when the children are in school. To maintain a show dog in fit, healthy condition and to give proper care to a brood bitch and her litter aren't things that will happen on a timetable. You need to be able to be flexible and you will find that you can't just schedule things to happen during the times that the children are in school. Dogs just don't read timetables or rule books.

I'm going to buck the trend. I feed Optimum to my 9 Stafford puppies and am absolutely THRILLED with their condition. Output is minimal. Two fairly small, nicely shaped stools per day from each puppy of a very good consistency and no real associated odour. I wouldn't feed Supercoat of ANY kind to any of my dogs under any circumstances any more. I used to be a diehard Supercoat supporter but it really lost quality a few years back and I've not bothered with it since.

I do C3 at 8, 12 and 16 weeks.

Most likely heartworm..........They get a puppy one and update at six months If that's the case, then if it were MY dog I'd be saying a big fat NO!! I'm not a believer in heartworm shots. I think the risks outweigh the supposed benefits. I'd rather take the responsibility for daily or monthly heartworming.

OK first of all. Stafford fronts are slightly different from many other breeds in that the front feet do NATURALLY turn out slightly. They don't face fully to the front and it does mention that in the standard. Given that the puppy is 6 months old and lacks chest development, I personally don't think that the front/legs are too bad at this stage. Others may disagree but for my part, for a companion Stafford, I don't see a huge problem with the front itself. Vitamin C supplementation might help, but avoid bulking up on too much calcium which can create even more issues. The natural calcium you are giving is a good way to start though. When you say mashed veges...do you mean COOKED mashed veges? If so, stop the cooking you are removing a lot of the natural goodness. Better to mince or put them through a juicer and feed the pulp. The feet however are a different thing altogether. For a start, the toenails are WAY too long and it is partly this that would be causing the obviously already flat toes to spread. This can also contribute to the weakening of the pasterns (wrists). Those nails need to be shortened and KEPT short. The mother's front foot is dreadful and I have to question why anybody would be breeding from her. IMO, that front foot alone (unless it occurred in an accident and the rest of the bitch is spot on), would have eliminated her from my breeding program!

They are a reputable company who have been around for a long time. As with anything though, shop around and compare prices for big tag purchases.

Another approach would be for you to tell us the breeds that you like and then information can be given as to whether or not people consider they are suitable for your needs.

I have no idea. You'd be best asking your vet. It's the first time I've heard mention of it. Maybe it is Lepto or something but I would think that would be done annually if at all. Could it be heartworm which can be given daily, monthly or yearly (preferably monthly??).

My vet does 8wks, 12wks, 16wks, 12 months.

Well, if it isn't the breeder of the Cav wanting to swap for a kitten, then I'd be concerned and irritated too. BUT...I confess that a few years ago, I bred a litter of purebred Burmese kittens. At the time, a breeder had a lovely litter of American Cocker puppies. Her husband wanted a Burmese. So we swapped a puppy for a kitten. We both got what we wanted.

Koda had 9 (could possibly have been 11 as two of the puppies had 2 sacs ). I know that nothing was retained in her case because she had a c-section and was cleaned out nicely prior to being sewn back together!

Gosh. I thought the obligation to continue paying (if opting to pay monthly) for the 12 month period was only if the insurance had paid out on a claim in that period. I'd be seriously thinking about speaking to the insurance ombudsman regardless of insurance 'fine print' if that was me. He's working on it I believe. The puppy had some very severe hereditary defects which are apparently known in the breed and that is why nothing was ever paid out on....his treatments weren't covered by the insurance.

Actually, you can just send it into the VCA with the VCA transfer price and it will be done. I've purchased dogs from interstate over the years and never have I bothered to send registrations back to the state of origin for transfer.

Koda is only now drying up and her puppies are almost 11 weeks old.

I can't help on the car question I'm afraid. I have a Falcon Station Wagon so the dimensions are a tad more generous!

Dawn or Palmolive Dishwashing Liquid should do the trick. If you can't get that, Sards Wonder Soap (the bar) but condition well afterwards because it is very drying.

Oops...yep, forgot the fish content. I buy bags of fish soupbones from the market for $1 each and they get those at least once per week too. As well as tins of sardines and mackerels (in oil). And of course, any leftovers if I happen to cook fish for the family as well. It's actually quite amusing to watch the dogs and cats squaring off against each other in the "hunt" for the fishy remains!