Lowenhart

I would try and find a sympathetic groomer who would be willing to hav Ollie come in for bath/blowdry weekly especially at the change of seasons. Grooming in the house probably doesn't help the family either. I back getting your child tested for allergies. The remove every pet, huge clean and then add back one at a time thing to help identify the triggers is a great idea. Four years ago I developed an allergy to cigarette smoke almost spontaneously. I had share housed with smokers but never been one and never reacted before. But I was suddenly getting headaches and nosebleeds and the allergy has gotten worse as time goes on. It is difficult to avoid smokers, at dog shows (where smoking is endemic), and when walking to work in the city. Allergies can develop spontaneously!

Actually I think in humans it does not automatically equal deformity. Wasn't there a case of half-siblings marrying and having children who were all healthy? And didn't that horrendeous incest case of a father having children with his daughter show that the children, whilst in a bad way from being locked up, they weren't deformed. Not every brother/sister litter in dogs will be deformed. There maybe some deformities, but not in every case, just as you see deformities in litters were the parents aren't related for 7 or 8 generations. If it's there, and the genes fall into that pattern, then it appears. Close inbreedng should not be undertaken by someone unfamiliar with the family tree. You really have to know the pedigree in and out before untaking such a breeding. It certainly does show up some of what is in there, and it is unadvisable to do such close breeding for multiple generations as you are not incorporating anything new and have a higher chance of bring together unwelcome recessive traits.

I love this as it's very typical of my dogs

Bitches do pick up infections while in whelp, which, as you pointed out, could be brought in by visitors (another example - friend dropping by for coffee) or another dog in the house that had been taken out for training, or by owners going to a show but leaving all their dogs behind. Having the bitch stay at home is no guarantee that she won't get sick. I don't vaccinate my dogs against kennel cough and I'm a show breeder. You can only vaccinate against 2 strains of the blasted thing, when there are many many many more strains doing the rounds. My dogs have NEVER picked up kennel cough from the Brisbane Royal and I go every year. Infact my dogs haven't had kennel cough at all. A dog I bred died as a result of being given a C5 (which covers the 2 kinds of kennel cough). Hence why I never recommend that protocol.

So if the vet "confirmed" the bitch picked up an infection at the show, what was the infection (specific bacteria/virus) and how he/she was able to say that this bacteria is ONLY found at the show grounds? A couple of years ago 2 of my puppies contracted a viral infection whilst at their owners house. It was a severe gastro bug that killed one pup and almost killed the other one. Neither dog, or ANY dog on the premises had been to a show for 4 weeks prior, nor walked around the neighbourhood. Owner's house backed on to open grass land and the dogs only had access to one neighbour's fence line which was a solid colourbond number. Still a pup died, and another was touch and go for a while there and it had nothing to do with dog shows. Dogs can get bacteria and viruses just from being in their own yard, brought by wind and fauna. I have shown up to 4 week pregnant bitches in the past and would not hesitate to do so in the future.

I'm getting some of these too, I wonder if the ANKC will even consider accepting them before FCI recognition If they are recognised by the CC of their country of origin that's enough isn't it? Where are they from? They are recognised by the Russian Kennel Club as Russkaya Tsventnaya Bolonka, however when you go to the english part of the Russian Kennel Clubs website they only list standards for FCI breeds. :nahnah: (site is here) However a page is in the Russian language side that lists them as being non-FCI but a Russian Breed. (link to google translation here) I have to stop looking at photos! LOL I keep finding cute photos of them.

I'm getting some of these too, I wonder if the ANKC will even consider accepting them before FCI recognition

Longhaired Bull Mastiff I wish I could find the photos of the parti Afghans...

The PrevenTic collars are not 100%, we had a dog go down with paralysis tick wearing a 3 week old collar. He had not been washed or swimming or gotten wet in that time.

Bitches CAN live nicely together, but just because they are "girls" doesn't make them all sugar and spice. I've witness some scary situations, and find most "to the death" fighting is personal and same sex. The individual dogs can be fine with other dogs but have a particular beef with just one other. The biggest turmoil I found was bringing in an "outside" bitch to a pack of dogs that were lead by a strong bitch. It was like watching a documentary on a pride of Lions - the top bitch decided who could breed or flirt (her immediate daughters) and she would not flirt with her litter brother or sons, only "outside" males. She hated the outsider girl and pushed her out from the pack situation, until the outsider girl got sick of it. Those 2 could not be trusted and one of them would have died if there wasn't intervention. Yet both girls ran perfectly fine with other entire females, and were not dog aggressive. The outsider girl's daughters don't play nice with the top bitch's daughters/granddaughters, but play really nice with each other and any other bitch. It's a case of running two packs now, one decended from the original top girl and one from the outsider bitch.

I've given older puppies who didn't turn out for show to people who have proven to be excellent homes, especially as I don't readily have young puppies available.

Things to keep in mind - Avoid transiting through asian airports during the day - it's hot in KL and Singapore all year round. Try to get a flight that stops over at night. I know Qantas have a good one that leaves Brisbane and goes direct to Frankfurt with only a 1 hour refuel stop in Singapore at night. No plain changes, short stop and it's night time (so animals are less likely to be overwhelmed by heat & humidity. I've done this flight with my dogs and exported dogs out on this flight also. Animals go out as "Special Cargo" and you may face duties and taxes at the other end. Personally had fights with Frankfurt officials twice over this. Germans love their taxes. The bigger crate is not always the better one. While you think the dog needs more room as they are locked up for such a long time it is not always ideal. Dogs experience the same turbulence as you and get jostled when loaded/unloaded. The bigger the crate, the more room to be tossed around in. They do need to be able to stand up with head clearance and turn around easily but don't go too big. Basically a crate they can curl up and "hide" in is the best. The freight costs are calculated by volume, so the size of the crate can affect this. Get them used to crate now, and perhaps do a short return flight within Australia to get them used to the situation.

If I was hospitalised/overseas/incapacitated and the dog had to come back ASAP I'd call on my doggy friends to help out. And be prepared to do the same for them. One of my breeds has "welfare" (read rescue) and the other doesn't. So in one instance I'd call on the welfare crew to help out until my sitation improved and in the other I would have to call on friendships in and outside of my breed. If it was simply numbers reasons (too many dogs) I'd just take the dog anyway - I've found that even when you hit capacity, somehow taking another dog on for a short time doesn't break you. Long term is a different kettle of fish. My initial offer would always be to counsel the situation, followed by assist to rehome or just take the dog back. I don't offer full refunds for "change of mind" after 14 days. Refunds after this time are for when the dog is not what it was claimed to be like a show prospect, or able to breed for a stud dog etc. I'll cover transfer/transport costs to get a dog back if the people are difficult.

Phil Thomas at Queensland Veternary Specialists which is the old West Chermside Vet. Worth the trip

As Rebanne points out it's 30 characters/spaces now but with creativity people still got their names @ 24, albiet with creative spelling ie: Wandalier EvathePoo Runa With 30 it's easier to read though: Wandalier Ever the Poo Runner

When it gets hot in Brisbane I lay out wet towels on the floor and let the dogs find the coolest spots. I just make sure all the water bowls are topped up before I leave the house.

While someone might have brought a pet or 2 in, it would be unlikely that there is anyone breeding them here. They aren't recognised by the AKC which is the only registry which the ANKC acknowledges, so they can't be a registered ANKC breed here.

See I kinda saw it more like a feabile attempt to find out if you were a disreputable breeder. In any case I guess you got the outcome you wanted, them to go away.

Bedlington Terrier

Lakeland Terrier

Instead of being a smart arse I'd reply: Thank you for your enquiry. We are not expecting puppies or planning on having any in the near future. And just leave it at that. If you want people to contact you, you are going to end up with silly emails like this in the mix. Polite and detached is all you need to be.

How about Tolld, Toljovi, Joviol

I've found no one product gives 100% protection and in the end it I'd recommend daily checks (even twice daily) for ticks.

A spaniel, more likely a Cocker.

I am pretty happy with my dog called "Kick Up The Heini", from our "Kick" themed litter (siblings are Kick It To Me & Kick Starts Your Hart). Linked with the parents it goes.. Up N Atom! Wotcha Waitnfr? A Kick Up The Heini??