sandgrubber

Fascinating, but a long way from providing practical advice. Watching my untrained ESSs go nuts around wild pheasants and quail and doing a fine job flushing them, I can believe something quite specific has been programmed into land races. Likewise herding dogs with sheepies. But there a long way from knowing how to get a kelpie to have a soft mouth or a Springer to herd sheep.

f*** the "golden years" stereotypes. A retired, healthy, and financially stable person better able to deal with puppy than a family with two frenzied adults who work full-time and a big mortgage and a couple of kids. Divorce, bankruptcy, unemployment and loss of rental can be almost as disruptive, from a dog's perspective, as death of an owner. Puppies need time and patience. Retirees tend to have lots of both, and some of us have accumulated a lot of knowledge about dogs. As as oldie, I appreciate puppy buoyancy. I don't need to add the sorrow of a dog in its ending years to the pains of my own aging. I now have a 2 year old ESS. His energy keeps me to 10,000+ steps a day and his naughtiness and quirks help keep me from feeling and acting my age.

I'm no longer a breeder but somewhat geeky about genetics. My impression is that epigenetics is potentially important, but there's a lot of trendy garbage written about it and it's going to take a decade or two before there's a solid evidence base.

Only if the others have good judgement. Personally I'd rather see veterinarians and people involved in the breed's purpose, whether sport, working or companion, have equal say to conformation judges. IMO the unfortunate downfall of the pedigree system is due to overemphasis on the surface aspects of conformation that can be judged in the show ring, and inattention to health and temperament. Pedigrees could used well, but have mostly been used to narrow the gene pool to particular showy types. In many cases, health testing is merely an effort to backtrack the effects of a century and a half of 'line breeding', closed registers and consideration of form, while neglecting function.

Inferred motive. The actual may be quite different. I'm reminded of a widow (husband killed in plane crash) and 2 kids who were my tenants years back. She told me she overheard one of her kids say to a friend: "My parents are divorced too. My daddy's dead". Adoption, like divorce, become a norm and advertising that you bought from a registered breeder risks looking like a tall poppy.

Hey. Easy on oldies. I'm 74, but the actuarial tables expect I'll make 95. My dogs will probablybe frail before I am. I'm home all day. I do 6 km daily. My dogs are off lead and do 4 steps to my one. They are seldom left alone, and if I pass early there's a loving home to welcome them. People (and dogs) are individuals should be evaluated as such.

The most absurd FB ruling: you can't sell fish, live or dead, but in NZ, whitebait (ie, fish fry netted on their way from fresh water to the ocean, a traditional delicacy in NZ) are sold freely.

Not 'completely'. You could as well say it recognises the deep emotional bond that develops between sentient beings of different species. I have no love for PETA and extreme AR. But my pets aren't just things I own.

$200 to reimburse some organisation for a vet check, intake services such as deworming and grooming, several days or weeks boarding, and in some cases a spay or castration is not comparable to $2000+ to a breeder. I, personally, shop rather than adopt. But I fully respect those who are proud of adopting from a shelter.

IMO English needs a new word or two to recognisethe two way bond between pets and their owners. If I play and cuddle with a living entity and grieve deeply when that entity dies, it's more than a thing and more than a possession, even though I bought it and have legal ownership and responsibility for it.

It's more complicated. SWFs are rare in shelters. I doubt you'll ever find a puggle. Small terrier crosses are rare. Bull terrier crosses are everywhere.

Sounds like vet schools need to be expanded.

"Detective Inspector Aylett said there was only one dog involved in the incident and wanted to assure residents there were no violent strays running around the city. "That dog wasn't a stray dog, it was known to the occupants of that house," he said." Is this supposed to make people feel safe? No violent strays, just violent 'known' dogs.

What's the fuss? My dogs are family. I adopt them, even when I buy them. They do NOT become fur babies! No argument, FB has some stupid rules about animal sales.

Silky terrier?

It means eugenics.

Perhaps firing dog control officers who fail to respond to serious complaints would work better.

Some use the term for anyone who doesn't show.

To me, a dog's temperament is at least as important as appearance and health. And to me, a sense of humour is a key aspect of temperament. Clownishness and a relaxed and tolerant enjoyment of whatever happens make for a dog that's a joy to live with. Stiffness and reactivity, less so. I almost never see this trait discussed, but most people who have owned many dogs can say which dog had a sense of humour and which were more serious. Just curious to know whether I'm alone in this, or whether others have like views, and whether anyone has set out to breed for this trait.

The USA tradition of lawsuits has its drawbacks, but in such situations it might have merit.

It can be different. I don't know why Finland has taken a different course, but its Kenel Club takes a strong health and temperament stand in defining "improvement " of the breed. https://www.kennelliitto.fi/en/forms/finnish-kennel-clubs-general-breeding-strategy-2018-2023 Objectives 1. Dogs that are used for breeding shall be above the breed average in desired characteristics in order to achieve genetic improvement. 2. A dog that is suitable for breeding is typical of its breed both in appearance and temperament, and it is free of ailments or characteristics that would make everyday life difficult. 3. A dog that is used for breeding is to its nerves and behaviour one that can manage situations in everyday life. This way, the probability of the dog’s progeny to inherit mental traits, that make everyday life difficult and are detrimental to wellbeing, is minimised. 4. The spread of defects and diseases that have a severe impact on the wellbeing of dogs will be prevented. Only clinically healthy dogs can be used for breeding when it comes to diseases that cause pain or discomfort or otherwise restrict the dog's ability to lead a normal life that is typical for the species. 5. Only dogs that can mate naturally and care for their puppies will be used for breeding. 6. Dogs from bloodlines with maximal longevity will be used for breeding. The life length of a dog shall not be unduly prolonged at the expense of its health and wellbeing. 7. The genetic diversity of all breeds will be safeguarded in breeding. Different individuals of the breed are diversely used for breeding. 8. The Finnish Kennel Club supports and produces activities that aim to increase knowledge of the heredity, health and diseases of dogs. 9. Cooperation with veterinarians and researchers will be intensified. The actions undertaken by veterinarians also support the principles and objectives of the breeding strategy. 10. The Finnish Kennel Club influences the international community through the Nordic Kennel Union and the FCI with the aim of promoting greater knowledge of and competence in dog breeding. Our actions within the international community always set the health and wellbeing of dogs as the most important goals.

Yes, inbreeding is a symptom and breeding to standards (pedigree or market preference) is the cause. But, as well documented by the Standard Poodle Project, narrowing gene pools, as an outcome of breeding to win shows does create health problems. http://www.dogenes.com/poodle/poodle.html The Frenchie fad makes it clear that dog shows' emphasis on conformity to a standard appearance, and propensity to exaggerate of the demarcations of that standard, isn't the whole problem. Frenchies of no particular pedigree are in high demandand sell for big $.

It HAS begun. A few European countries have regulations limiting the extent to which bracyhcephalic traits are permitted. And I haven't heard anyone speak favourably about line breeding for many years.

https://cgejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40575-023-00126-z Concluding paragraph: The time has come to examine all breeds and dogs in the light of current science, morals, and ethics; to look at aspects of conformation, genetics (e.g. coefficients of inbreeding), health and welfare and ensure that future generations of dogs will be healthier and have better welfare. Any approach taken should not be about vilifying the past. Progress can only be achieved if we are armed with the right scientific evidence – together with a healthy dose of common sense—and if kennel and breed clubs work together and collectively and collaboratively with veterinarians, researchers, and legislators.

Posted In error