SparkyTansy

valley perhaps you can bring him anyway? I remember my intitial enquiries and they said that even the groundwork allows them to remember when you go back to it later on... perhaps a different collar will prevent you worries of his nose being on the ground? i am sure eventually, a harness is an indication of tracking just like a showlead can be an indication of the showring...

I agree with this 100%. Often traits/character are lost or an influential line fades away and using old frozen semen is a way to bring those exceptional traits back. Sometimes we scratch our heads as breeders wondering how in the world we can move forward with what is currently available in stud dogs. It's nice to have options available. I also agree - however there are those in some circles who wouldn't agree it would seem... perhaps it is those who have not been as open to the possibilities of AI and frozen semen.

Also membership fees if you want to join are: $25 for single, $35 for family. Membership year starts september to september. Tracking season is April to September. They have all equipment on display and you can purchase it through trackwest. We just put out the word to a bunch of weimaraner people so we hope at least a few rock up to try it out.

www.trackwest.com.au Pre-season Tracking Workshop Date: Saturday, 27th March 2010 Time: 0800am to 12noon Venue: Lumen Christi College, Mills Road, West Martin Enquiries: Sue Fletcher Ph 08 93064772 E [email protected] Carol Freele E [email protected] Refreshments: BYO Equipment: Fixed collar, lead, food or favourite toy, water for your dog. This workshop for beginners is held prior to commencement of tracking season (commencing Saturday, 10th April 2010). Handlers will be instructed on how to train their dogs in this fascinating and rewarding sport which utilizes the dog's natural ability.

Upon speaking to some friends on a UK list in my breed I was under the impression that AI matings have become a little more more acceptable lately? There seems to be a great deal of people though still closed to the idea of an AI vs Natural mating, and will sooner choose amore geographically acceptable dog over perhaps a dog more out of reach even if that dog might be better for the breed. I totally get that the rule of a bitch having had a successful natural mating is required, and I think this is good. I believe (and correct me if i am wrong becks) that if the bitch (maybe the dog too?) has had two successful natual matings, it can be used for AI? Is this just for dead sires? When i asked the question, it was more in relation to sires who are dead but semen is available. I had many ask the question, why go backwards in a breed? Back to the OP, i find this database interesting, but I can see that there are way too many factors missing. These factors will not stop the responsible experienced breeder from doing their research into whats missing, but what is to stop someone breeding fifi with fido because it's suggested they'll get healthy pups, without considering the phenotype of the two dogs? What if Fido is 3 times the size of fifi and this isn't taken into account? What if the litter of pups is healthy, but mum has a ceasarian or dies as a result of the poor choice of mating? there are just too many variables to make something like this work. No way would i trust a computer to tell me what I can learn by studying pedigrees, individual dogs and their health. Question... i know that it could mean specific breed health tests, but if vets start recording operations etc, cant this be classed as a breach of confidentiality?

I'd love to bring my dogs to work but it's too dangerous right next to an airfield!

Kristen I second the kangaroo - i have found Roo tails have been fantastic for my girl during the day, but they have to be frozen or she finishes them too quickly... but supervise your boy first with them as some will try to swallow the whole thing which obivously isn't safe. You could try roo mince frozen in a kong won't last as long but its not fatty.

I'll admit to once upon a time being one of those people who wasn't quite sure why i was losing and would pick holes in my competition without truly knowing the problem... I am a bit different now. The more you learn and the more honest you are with yourself the easier it is to congratulate the competition.

I'm planning at this stage, to go along to the tracking workshop, but we'll see if that comes into fruition!

Rubystar - what about that orange BELTON? Just kidding!! although you may just change your mind when you meet James

ooh thanks showdog! Do you know which Cav?

Right - so who won BIS,RUBIS etc last night?!

GSP BIS, RUBIS Rotty

PD yeah i was flat out... won't be doing that again any time soon!! i honestly dont know how anyone does it with more than say two dogs in the same breed... even though we lost with the OES i was a tad happy as it meant i didn't have to worry about char for the rest of the night!! Yep Mr Faolmor aka Mr Dreadlock! Kendall yep that was me! please feel free to come and say hi to me if you are around again! i won't be so busy tonight i don't think but i do hope that OES doesn't clash! Group 3 BOB went to Tintookie pointer bitch (my fave liver pointer!) and RUBOB went to a lovely young american cocker named Dexter

The whole night was a blur for me... here is hoping tonight will be more relaxing as I only have three dogs to show... big thanks to everyone who helped me out last night!

valley i won't be down there tonight... as much as I'd love to get down there i just don't think i'll manage it with the other stuff i have to do... it doesn't matter too much, i would have loved to reserve a spot, but in all reality i do'nt think it matters too much - i am used to setting up at hte back and it doesn't really impede my view that much.

true Valley - although I do have to bath the LH wei that is staying with me too

CnR I am freaking out about tomorrow already too i have so much to do plus i am working tomorrow til 11 pretty awesome right? that I have to work on the biggest weekend of WA dog shows? especially wehn you have an OES to get ready... sigh...

Tess, I'd say an English Setter fits your criteria as well... but you have to be willing to get through the puppy stage first, where they can be a little full on. Both of mine seemed to grow up around 14-18 months. They generally have fantastic temperaments, are very calm, gentle dogs. They are called "gentleman by nature" afterall... They don't have a great recall and aren't always wonderful at obedience (they have a bit of a setter attitude afterall) but they are a lot calmer than many breeds and I think people don't realise this because as soon as you say setter, people think of their irish cousins with their rather more energetic attitude to life They don't need regular bathing necessarily but you have to watch out for skin issues... if you get a male you should make sure their feathering is washed more regularly. A healthy English with a good coat and skin will not need regular bathing. With a LH wei, like Goldenwei says, they can generally be more laid back than their SH cousins.... but don't let that be your only deciding factor... they need a lot of work to ensure they dont get separation anxiety. They bond VERY well to their owners, some more than others. All the years I have had weis we have only had females, and I find that they, in relation to friends with males, seem to become more attached. Other things you have to keep in mind with weis - high energy, high preydrive, can be protective of their families... I have a LH bitch here at the moment and she is probably higher energy than my SH weim, so dno't assume getting a LH will cement your chances of a laid back temperament. sorry i didn't read the entire thread sorry if someone else has already suggested.

I cried nearly through the whole thing. I thought it was great. What I didn't like was that they didn't explain HOW to tell the difference between a puppy mill and a registered ethical breeder in terms of being part of the ANKC etc... they still told people to rescue rather than support puppy farms which is good of course but at the same time, they are making it look as if purebred pets are out of reach for those wanting a purebred pup from a breeder.

oh no Faol i hope you can still make it!!

CrazyDaisy not sure how different your entry forms are to WA ones but on ours above the line for the name of club, there is usually a bit that has chamionship show/open show/parade - i usually highlight or circle the one it is, IF there is more than one on the same day (like in your case). If i am entering a standalone champ show (no open show on that day) i don't bother circling it.

What I want to know is how they figure crossing back a certain breed for a couple of generations will make it pure? If they are so hell bent on having pure dogs, why not just GET a pure dog!!

I lost a friendship because I was over adamant about them getting their GSD pup desexed, after they exclaimed to me that they'd be mating it to a "Husky dog" because her BF had always wanted a "wolf type looking dog". I sometimes miss the friendship, but i so hope more that at least some of what i said sunk in...

SBT101 i hope that your Ody is ok and heals quickly! Not planning at this stage to come to Gero but that might change.