SkySoaringMagpie

Thanks Elkie, it was an awesome entry of Elkhounds. Someone thought I had the breed lists wrong because there were so many!! So to the Elkhound people for supporting the show.

It's a tricky one. The ideal breeder takes them back - breeder of my kids certainly does. But there is no law forcing them to do so. Speaking not just about my breed here, there are still breeders around who will tell you to put it down or will take it back and put it down. In a ghoulish way that is more "responsible" than letting them go to whatever fate entire, but it's still pretty brutal. I agree that the knowledge that there are other people who will clean up the mess does facilitate the behaviour. That's when I'd expect breed clubs to step in, but it's hard if the culprit is not part of a club or the issue turns political (ie, mostly it's hard). The other difficulty is when you have breeders who view breed specific rescue as "competition" and object to out of state rescue homing dogs into their state because it's taking a potential home for a breed that is difficult to place. I don't have any magic answers. Wish I did.

General Specials Judge - Mrs Marilynn Mincey (Canada) BIS: Norwegian Elkhound - Ch Graabine Son O Clay (Markotany) RUBIS: Irish Wolfhound - Glenfels Finola (Baker) Baby: Beagle - Beagelee Pandora Diamond (Duval) Minor: Dachshund Mini Long - Feizam Nothin but Trouble (Scott) Puppy: RUBIS Junior: Saluki - Ch Pazada Star View (Russell) Intermediate: Borzoi - Ch Mistraka Sarah Vaughan (Mistraka Knls) Aus Bred: BIS Open: Deerhound - Gr Ch Bhealaich Gotta Luv Me (Buckley) Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to all the helpers.

OH just rang me, Afghan BOB was Gr Ch Khandu Got The Look. Don't recall anything else - sure it will be up shortly anyway.

I have more than one pet, so I would not knowingly put myself at risk to save one because it wouldn't do the others any good. However, I agree with GeckoTree that you don't know what you'll do until you're in the situation. A friend recently stuck her hand out and grabbed her small dog away from a snake. She was lucky not to be bitten. She said later that if she hadn't been in adrenaline mode she would never have done that. I'm probably capable of doing something just as risky through lack of thought. I think it's a shame that shelters can't take pets, for me part of the problem is leaving animals to an uncertain fate or a horrible death. It might not be very palatable, but for me euth with a gun would be preferable to leaving an animal to burn alive.

Actually they make quite devoted companions. Most sighthounds are aloof with strangers but very bonded with their family.

Absolutely. Our first Afghan fits the criteria, our second doesn't. I'm not sure about the Saluki suggestion. Salukis can be very drivey, smart-arsed and demanding. The right Saluki tho', would also suit the OP. It gets down to breeders picking the right dog as you say. I'm inclined tho' to think that the Borzoi suggestion is probably the best one. Diva or Alyosha could give the OP advice about where to find a good Borzoi.

It is What's your breed. I can see 1 Mal and 2 Groenendals?

For those setting up camp for the Hound Club of the ACT Twilight show on Saturday, Sighthounds and Foxhounds will now be judged in Ring 8, not Ring 6 as was noted with your numbers. Ring 8 is the ring closest to the Federal Highway and the Service Station (in the corner). Please note this advice is ONLY for the Hound Club show.

Molasseslass - we must have been posting at the same time

My google-fu is failing me. What does a body condition score of 4/9 indicate? All I can find is a range from 1-5, not a range from 1-9. Edit: Found it: http://www.purina.com/dogs/health/bodycondition.aspx For a 6 year old Saluki I'll call that pretty ideal even tho' I found something else saying 5 was ideal.

These threads that start off with a plea for help and end with the dog passing are so heartbreaking. I know because I've started one myself. RIP Olympus. Caeser's Mum, I hope that eventually you will find comfort in your memories.

Unless specifically trained, dogs are more of a deterrant than anything else. I would never rely on one of mine to attack an intruder. Quite the reverse, I think it's up to me to protect my dogs rather than the other way around. Is there a specific reason why you feel unsafe alone at night apart from the usual fear of intruders?

I gather it's not just about newbies but also about reforming some of the negative "only valuable if you can breed with them" image of the sport. I do think adding a Neuter title to a Grand Champ is pretty redundant. When it comes to newbies, any strategy including this one will only work if it has fertile ground to work on. I agree with many of the comments Poodlefan has made. Much of the pontificating you read about the importance of encouraging newbies makes a lot more sense if you substitute "attractive young people who might show my dogs" for "newbie". Because frankly, the reality does not match the rhetoric.

The new owners of a rescue Saluki I had been fostering have expressed interest in taking him and their other Saluki to obedience training classes. They live in the Werribee area. Both dogs are soft dogs from what I have observed without any major "issues". I would be especially interested to hear from people who have successfully trained "challenging to train" breeds with positive methods at any clubs in that area. Thanks

The other thing I've noticed in this style are thumpers: people who stomp around a ring like an elephant in clogs to try and spook/distract your dog. We don't have any locally but there is one who travels in every now and then.

This is how I explain it. I have one sighthound who is, IMO, overweight. She could stand to lose 2 kilos - you can see her pin bones (just) but no ribs. All the vets I have seen have said she is fine. The other two are perfect IMO. You can see the last three ribs, their coats are glossy, their eyes are bright and they have proper well defined muscle which they would not have if they were emaciated. However, I've been taken to task for not feeding them. Go figure. They get the right amount of good quality food, they don't get a bucket of supermarket kibble and human snack food. Once I was told my dog was underweight by a very large guy with a very obese Lab. There is bugger all you can say in those situations but it must be worse for Lab and Golden owners I think because most Labs and Goldies are obese and it is considered normal. So if you have a fit Lab or Golden, you will always be an outlier. At least most people have some concept that a sighthound should be lean, even if they don't understand what lean is.

We feed sardines once a week and mackeral once a week. You'd have to ask toy people what quantities to use, my dogs are quite a bit bigger. We don't supplement. The dogs are not sitting in the sun all day and spend the time that we are home indoors. That means their coat doesn't get a beating from the elements, especially the sun. We don't use coat oils on our Salukis, a decent shine comes from within and reflects the health of the animal. My two show Salukis are definitely shiny, we have had people ask what we use but it's just good breeding (some inherited conditions can give you a crappy coat) and good internal health.

probably because they also have an "Australian Breeds" Ch show in conjunction wth the Royal on the Saturday night. Yep. The judge of that show is an ACD man. Also there are 31 Tenties at the Royal and I understand there may be even more at the evening show. That's a huge entry for the breed around here. I suggest that anyone interested in Australian Breeds get along to the evening Australian Breeds show to watch.

Brittany - 8 Cairns - 18

Saints - 9 Bernese - 7

I had this idea in my head that you couldn't register puppies from a bitch for 6 months after the transfer of the bitch to a new owner. But now I've checked the NSW regs, I can't find anything. Someone has transferred a bitch to me for a litter. The date of effect is 19 Jan 10. She has not been mated yet. Is there a period of time that has to elapse now before I can arrange the mating? If you can point me to the relevant reg I'd be grateful.

I'm so sorry to hear this peacefrog. You all tried so hard. Run free Esmay.

Turned out to be the distributor - so $350 later and we'll be back on the road this weekend. A big thank you to you and Icemist for sharing your gazebo on Friday - much appreciated :D Also, thought I'd mention for those that weren't there that while it was miserable for most, the gundogs seemed to thrive in it. More than a few of them looked like they were just itching to go skidding through the water Their owners did not look quite so thrilled. Edit, forgot to mention in all this that my girl Al Muzdaher Farousi Rabha (Imp Bahrain) scored Intermediate in Group in the Hound Ring on Friday. Go Mabsie!!

My cheque has been cashed.