Olivebaby Posted December 16, 2011 Author Share Posted December 16, 2011 I haven't chose to show her because I am a nurse and I work shift work. It's hard enough trying to follow a television series let alone a rigorous training schedule that requires me to do long distance driving and I am not prepared to give up my career nor could I afford to, to get into showing. I would love to come to more shows and can always manage to get days off around shows but in the long term it's not possible for me to be consistent in attending training and shows unfortunately :-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greytmate Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 I haven't chose to show her because I am a nurse and I work shift work. It's hard enough trying to follow a television series let alone a rigorous training schedule that requires me to do long distance driving and I am not prepared to give up my career nor could I afford to, to get into showing. I would love to come to more shows and can always manage to get days off around shows but in the long term it's not possible for me to be consistent in attending training and shows unfortunately :-( You don't need to do any rigorous training to show dogs, nor do you need to be consistent in attending them. Many full time workers and shift workers show dogs. I imagine it would be harder for people like Real Estate Agents that need to work every single weekend, but I can't see how it would impact on Nursing, unless you chose to work every weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivebaby Posted December 16, 2011 Author Share Posted December 16, 2011 Unfortunately it's not a choice. I can choose about 2 shifts per week but am not guaranteed to get them off. We are usual required to work every second weekend. I will certaintly look into it and see what is required in terms of training etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubyStar Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 (edited) Can I upload photos from an iPhone on here? If you upload them elsewhere via your phone you can then link to them from here. Photobucket have an iphone app and you can upload photos directly from iphone to your account, then copy the [ img ] link and pate it in here. Or if you have facebook, I tend to send mobile uploads to my facebook account and then link to them from here, too. Edited December 16, 2011 by RubyStar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivebaby Posted December 16, 2011 Author Share Posted December 16, 2011 Ok I will do that. My laptop has died so I will have to et that sorted. Will try and post some Xmas photos :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rajacadoo Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 Olivebaby, both my hubby and I are/were nurses, working fulltime shiftwork, when we started showing our dogs, and we had no issues with getting the days off we needed, by requesting days off. This was in Tassie, NT and the ACT ;) ... We probably showed 2 weekends out of 4, we knew the shows we didnt want to miss, (Royals, Specialties, breed specialists etc, etc) request it off, and REFUSED to work it, if we requested it off ... Yes now its a little harder, but still achievable... You need to have a life, and I think most Managers do try to accomodate requests, for the most part... As Greytmate said, teaching pups show training isnt a huge thing. We currently have 2 babies, 13 weeks old tomorrow, they get about 5-10 mins/day of training, if we remember , cant attend puppy showring classes till next year, but will do when/if we arent working... No biggie. Yep they will be shocking in the ring, but all we want from them at this stage is to enjoy the whole experience of the ring... Time enough later to play for the sheep-stations ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebanne Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 I haven't chose to show her because I am a nurse and I work shift work. It's hard enough trying to follow a television series let alone a rigorous training schedule that requires me to do long distance driving and I am not prepared to give up my career nor could I afford to, to get into showing. I would love to come to more shows and can always manage to get days off around shows but in the long term it's not possible for me to be consistent in attending training and shows unfortunately :-( I'm a nurse who works permament night shift. You do the things you have to do if you really have the breed at heart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dotdashdot Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 I work every weekend unless I specifically ask for it off. I've only gone to one show so far, and it was fun! My fiancee now wants to get his own pup to show (he's 23, most 23yr old men aren't into showing dogs...). My plan is one show a month, and I choose wisely. I have a 3 day, 4 show dog show coming up, what a great chance to get some points! I do plan on breeding in the future, my girl is only 8 months old and I have a fantastic mentor. Not my breeder, but someone else in my breed who lives much closer (breeder in Tas, I'm in NSW). We've become great friends, and she's having a litter soon and I've been invited out when the pups are 6 weeks. She answers ANY questions I have and has helped me immensely. I now call her a friend :D I also know a breeder of labs living close by that is acquainted with my family, so I know I could ask her questions as well. I've also bought a few books already, just to learn (book addict). And my mentor set me off on researching my lines to see what might complement her - and I found SO much. Also, with the show training, I do it after work every day and then on my days off. Sure she wasn't as good at the other dally puppy bitch but she got 2nd in sweepstakes =] I work 5 days a week, 9-5, which is a big chunk of time and I still managed. You don't need to show to title, do it for fun and to prove that you have a great specimen of the breed (although titling will be fun) As a new showie of 20years old, I can't speak highly of it enough. I've had a great experiences with lovely people so far, you've got nothing to lose! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest donatella Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 I haven't chose to show her because I am a nurse and I work shift work. It's hard enough trying to follow a television series let alone a rigorous training schedule that requires me to do long distance driving and I am not prepared to give up my career nor could I afford to, to get into showing. I would love to come to more shows and can always manage to get days off around shows but in the long term it's not possible for me to be consistent in attending training and shows unfortunately :-( This is me at the moment but not with showing with obedience training! I desperately want to enrol but bloomin shift work nursing means i never know where i am from week to week. Its hard to have a schedule for our poor darlings but i do need to work something in the new year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sayly Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 (edited) Going to shows, joining groups online for your breed (such as standard discussion groups on facebook), and reading books on canine structure and movement are all fantastic ways to get a good grounding on the breed standard and structure in general. A great mentor with a good understanding of the breed is fantastic. Do you know about angulation, what is correct movement for you breed, what shape foot your breed should have? Breeding for the betterment of the breed isn't easy and really understanding you breed and breed standard takes time and research. If you take the time to learn as much as you can and you listen to those more experienced than yourself, you are much more likely to be respected by others in your breed, and have access to better quality animals. ETA: Not to mention an understanding of lines, linebreeding, inheritance etc all takes time to understand and requires good mentors. Edited December 16, 2011 by Lyndsay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordogs Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 (edited) Olivebaby, You did say in your OP that you have both the time and love if she works out BUT >>>>>>>>>>>> Then you say you work long hours !!!!!!!!!! If you cannot find the time to show your girl, Please tell us where you will find the time to give to a whelping bitch and care for her babies? Really you don't think that she can do it all without your care. Yes a more mature bitch possibly can BUT most of us do have to arrange time around our girls whelping and caring for the litter. I am sorry to say this but rearing QUALITY puppies takes up a big part of your life !!! Edited December 16, 2011 by Fordogs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivebaby Posted December 16, 2011 Author Share Posted December 16, 2011 I of course would take holidays around that. I can plan my holidays months and months in advance. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebanne Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 I of course would take holidays around that. I can plan my holidays months and months in advance. :-) It's not always easy to predict when your girl will come into season and then whelp. My last litter the bitch came into season a month early so any holidays booked would have been mucked up. Then I waited as long as I could before applying for holidays to make sure she was in whelp cause if she wasn't I would have bred her again the next season and I wouldn't have wanted to waste my holidays. An easy way to measure her is stand her next to something and mark the object at the height of her withers. It might be out a smidge but could give you a more accurate height then trying to measure a bouncy teenager. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jr_inoz Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 I thought I'd add my two cents worth to the discussion. I am a new breeder - yet to have my first litter. I thought I'd fill you in on some of the things you may need to be prepared for. My situation sounds similar to yours - I wanted a puppy from my chosen breed, had been researching for almost 18 months and when I had found a breeder I liked was asked by my breeder "for pet or for show?" I had no idea what this meant and asked. I then started attending shows and got hooked. I of course then asked for show. I was given a gorgeous girl, pick of her litter and of a nice type, who conforms to the standard. She hasn't been as successful in the ring as she would have been with someone else on the end of the lead, because I took a while to learn how to handle and how to train my girl. There weren't any show training classes I could attend nearby with my schedule. BUT - I love showing and you can get into it for not a lot of money. I bought a cheap, second hand trolley and the basics in grooming equipment. My breeder has been a wonderful mentor. They encouraged me to breed my girl as she has lots to offer and offered their help and support. I read up lots about the subject and watched the raising of a few litters. I applied for and got my breeders prefix. My girl lost her first litter (resorbed) at around 6 weeks. There was no apparent reason for this loss. I had her tested for infections etc but results came back clear. I kept reading up about possible issues and wondered about stress in her pregnancy with a companion dog that had been staying with me at the time as a possible cause for the resorption. On the advice of two different vets and three different breeders, I mated her again on the next season, having done all the health checks again as she came in season. She lost this litter at 7.5 weeks - 10 days from her whelping date. (The other dog was not here during this pregnancy). This time she aborted them. This was heartbreaking. She lactated, and carried her toys around, put them on her bed, licked them, and cried because they wouldn't feed. This lasted two weeks. It was hard to watch. Whilst the vets (both who specialise in reproduction) say that she is fine (had bloods also sent to the US to check for some rarer conditions) and is capable of having a litter (we would try progesterone supplements next time) - I am not sure that I could handle this kind of stress and heartbreak again. If I do breed her, any puppies she has, if sold, would enable me to maybe, if she doesn't need a caesarean, to break even on vet costs over the three pregnancies. (In my breed litters of between 2 and 4 are normal). I, of course, don't want to sell every puppy - I want the best puppy to run on and show and join my household. Obviously I'm not breeding for the money - would have given up long ago if I was. Breeding can be heartbreaking and very expensive. Having said all of that, if you have the support and help and the encouragement you need and believe your girl has something to offer the breed - welcome. I am one of those who are of the view that registered breeders need to stick together and help each other out. Head over to the breeders thread - you can read but not post there. You'll get lots of information about breeding and be able to read about lots of different issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leopuppy04 Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 (edited) Hi all. Just wondering whether any of the breeders out there could answer these question for me. How did you first get started? I get you probably started with a dog but how did you go about choosing and finding the right sire? Where did you get all your information from and how on earth did you know what you were doing? I've only had one litter in the 7+ years I've been involved in the breed. Started off with a pet dog, got involved with the performance side of things and took an interest in showing.... went back to the same breeder and got my first show dog (female) on a co-ownership - dog was 100% owned by me, but all breeding arrangements had to be made in discussion with the breeder. I can't recommend the experience enough even though I know it doesn't always work out well. I had 110% support, showing help from the get go and they taught me how to groom, present and handle my dogs to their best. when the time came for breeding, while the decision was driven by the breeder, they were happy to listen to my thoughts, discuss and it was NEVER "you are using this dog over her" it was "I think x y and z might be good, what do you think?!" so I learnt heaps through this experience. After the first litter K was then placed in my name, full ownership. I never had to give my breeder a litter, although with the 3rd dog (2nd show dog) I got from them she will have the first litter back, but I think that's more coz they want it, not because it was really a condition of sale. It's been an amazing experience . Even now, I know I've got someone, and the network of people that I've built up over the years to bounce off and to try and make the right decisions with my own breeding program, and establishing my own kennel name now, on the other side of the fence, with a litter I breed I will have to find someone I trust to co-own on breeders terms a pick from the litter (I can't keep it) and THAT is stressing me out! how do I find someone I can trust who won't screw me over . Edited December 17, 2011 by leopuppy04 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espinay2 Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 (edited) I started with a pet in my chosen breed. No intention of doing anything at that point except have a well mannered pet. I took her to obedience and became involved in the club. I met a lot of great people who became friends and many of them also showed their dogs. I started learning more about dogs in general and dog behaviour and became an obedience instructor. That dog taught me a lot about the breed - both the good and bad points. Invaluable information for a future breeder who needs to advise potential and new owners. At that point I decided I wanted to show and got another dog (a different breed to my first dog). In getting that dog I chose her as much for her breeder as for herself - I wanted a breeder who was close by and who could mentor me and healp me learn. That breeder turned into a good friend and mentor who taught me a lot. I showed that dog, made lots of mistakes, but had fun. And I learnt a lot. I did not breed her as I decided I did not want to breed that particular breed. Neverthe less, she was very important in my learning process and actually opened the doors to more breeders in my original breed just by getting me out and about. She also in that way led me to my next dog. My next dog opened even more doors and gave me even more contacts. I showed her and had fun with her. I learnt about the breed and made connections with other owners and breeders. I made friends and we talked a LOT about dogs. We exchanged ideas and taught each other. I met other people I consider to be my mentors. I did not breed that dog but she taught me a LOT about the breed and about what I wanted and didnt want in a breeding program. As her health testing showed up some issues I made the hard decision not to breed her. Being a 'breeder' is also about learning when not to breed. But she helped me learn a lot more and opened more doorways for me. As I have gone along I have made more and more connections here and overseas. I learn, I talk, I pour over pedigrees and information. I learn from every dog I own. It is all a learning process and it is something you never stop doing. In the end though it is all about attitude. If you are keen, you make the time and you don't begrudge that time to read and learn and put into your dogs. We all have busy lives and it is important that we maintain a balanced life, but breeding is a commitment to the breed - you really do need to have a 'passion' for it. It is also about learning to be objective when looking at dogs and to separate the 'this is my pet and the best dog in the world' from the 'this dog has X issue/fault/failing that I need to be aware of and consider in my breeding program' - no everyone can do that (my OH can't - he hates it when I 'criticise his dogs' ) but it is crucial for a good breeder to be able to look at the same dog in both these ways. As for showing, It is not 100% necessary though I would strongly recommend it for most people as it really is a way to open doors - many that are not even visible to those who don't. I really only personally know one person who hasn't really shown their dogs but who I would consider has a stellar breeding program. This person DOES attend breed specialties every year even without dogs, HAS fostered relationships with other breeders in his own breed and others, takes the time to 'talk dog' and learn, has been around dogs quite a long time before venturing into breeding and is knowledgable on behaviour and management, Is objective and has chosen breedings wisely - not afraid to look interstate or overseas for stud dogs. As a result he is respected by those who do show and they show this by allowing him to use their dogs (when many others don't get the chance) and also buying puppies he produces (which do go into the show ring). Not showing is NOT an easy route and does take just as much commitment, if not more if you plan to become a good breeder. So the conclusion to my ramblings in a nutshell? It is about getting out there, making connections, and learning, learning, learning. And in the beginning, finding a good mentor is something I would highly recommend. Hi all. Just wondering whether any of the breeders out there could answer these question for me. How did you first get started? I get you probably started with a dog but how did you go about choosing and finding the right sire? Where did you get all your information from and how on earth did you know what you were doing? Edited December 17, 2011 by espinay2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivebaby Posted December 17, 2011 Author Share Posted December 17, 2011 Thank you for all that positive information. I have been in contact with my breeder as she thinks that Olive has the potential to do very well because she is a lot like her aunty :-) she hasn't seen her since she was 8 weeks, but I set her photos and details about how she is progressing. Although she is sometimes very helpful it does make it harder with her being in another state. Jr inoz it sounds like you have had a terribly sad time, your girl is lucky to have a mum like you :-) I hope I will never have to experience that for myself but I'm not nieve in thinking it will be a walk in the park either. I will do some more training with my girl as right now she is definitely not controlled enough for any show ring and maybe next year I will come and check some shows out with her. Thanks again for all your suggestions and stories. Positive encouragement makes a big difference :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pie Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 Can your breeder put you in touch with any Lab people they know in Perth, see if they can show you the ropes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivebaby Posted December 17, 2011 Author Share Posted December 17, 2011 Hopefully. I sent her off an email this morning asking if she knew anyone. Even just to take a look at her. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivebaby Posted December 17, 2011 Author Share Posted December 17, 2011 I have just uploaded some photos to photo bucket, how do I put them on here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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