Gayle.

No idea. I've been researching kidney disease in dogs, but nothing points to what caused it in him. It seems to be a disease of old dogs, he was only 4. Or poor diet.....his diet was varied and top quality....holistic kibble, raw meaty bones, fruit, vegetables, fresh eggs. It's not breed-linked, nor is it something linked to the collie breeds in general. I expect I'll never know, it was just one of those things. He was seemingly fit, healthy and active. But lately we've had JulesP lose Brock suddenly, Sue and Cindy (now Sue and Waldo) lose Cindy suddenly, K9angel lose 3 of her dogs in a very short space of time, just this week losing Gypsy. And Pretty Miss Emma losing Emma. There's something doing on with those dog planets and the sooner they get back into proper alignment the better!

I'm so sad for my husband, Benson was his best mate. Each evening after dinner, he'd load his arms with bickies and chips and say "To the office, Benson!" and they'd head off to the rumpus room for an evening of TV watching. When ever I went in there, Benson would be curled up on the couch next to him, trying to mooch some food or just enjoying the company of his dad. They'd channel surf looking for dog shows. The other three dogs sit with me in the lounge room, but since Benson has been gone, Dusty has divided her time between my couch and my husbands. She's very intuitive, knowing he needs her company.

I'm so, so sad for you, Do you have someone there with you? Last week when Benson died, I emailed my friend in Sydney and she rang me right away and we cried together over the phone. The next day we did the same thing. It helped a bit, knowing someone was also crying for my boy. Then I found out lots of people had cried for him. We are all crying for you and your darling girl.

It's been a bloody awful couple of weeks for the DOL community, with some very special, very treasured dogs making their way to Rainbow Bridge to wait for their owners to catch up. I am still reeling with shock at the loss of not only my own boy but other DOLers dogs as well. So here is a timely reminder that dogs lives are fragile and they can be taken in the blink of an eye. Last Monday afternoon, I drove into my driveway after work, Benson hared around the corner of the house to greet me, barking his head off, tail wagging. All was normal and very right in my world. Less than two days later, I stroked his head and whispered a tear-filled good-bye as he left us forever, a victim of a silent but deadly kidney disorder. This weekend, please take a minute to look into your dogs eyes and say "I love you, you mean the world to me" and enjoy every second of your time with them. They are too precious for words.

I met a Wheaten puppy a few weeks ago, he was at herding training. Gotta say, he didn't stay wheaten for long...we were ankle deep in mud and he quickly went dark brown. Cute as a button though, and he LOVED the sheepies! Had good instinct too. Awww! Do you know what kennel he was from? No, all I know is his name was Quigley and his owners are Irish. I think they are from Melbourne, they came to Kate's place (Rozate) for a herding clinic. The pup was about 8 months old, he was gorgeous (a bit manic though). SOOOOOOOOO much energy! Much more than any of mine had at that age!

I met a Wheaten puppy a few weeks ago, he was at herding training. Gotta say, he didn't stay wheaten for long...we were ankle deep in mud and he quickly went dark brown. Cute as a button though, and he LOVED the sheepies! Had good instinct too.

Is there a breed club in her state? That might be a good place to start, she could contact them for a list of breeders willing to mentor.

Last night I dreamed I was back in my chilhood home and I opened the back door and Benson was there. I thought when I dreamed about him I would wake up unhappy, but I didn't. I woke up and felt like I'd seen him again.

That was beautiful. What a lovely tribute to your gorgeous girl. I tried to post something earlier this morning but couldn't see for the tears. I wrote something similar about Benson for our club newsletter, as I was writing it I felt it helped enormously to ease some of the pain. Rainbow bridge must have had a shortage of awesome dogs cos quite a few very special ones made the trip last week.

I lost my beautiful boy last week and I feel so miserable and lonely with missing him, but I can't even begin to imagine what you're going through. Just not fair, not one bit fair.

I did a list of pedigree dog prices last year, I went through all the puppy ads on the DOL home page and put together a comprehensive list of breeds and current puppy prices, and what I found was surprising. Pedigree puppies, on the whole, are a bargain! Yes there are some over-the-top prices for some breeds (mostly bull breeds), but on the whole, puppies from registered breeders ARE NOT expensive and cost far far less than a crossbred in a pet shop. I have seen Maltese X's advertised for over $1000, and yet gorgeous pedigree Maltese puppies were advertised for $800. How is that expensive?

A few weeks ago I had a browse in the museum at KCC Park, and they have some of the prizes that were on offer at the shows back in the 1930's. They were amazing! Even the class winners got huge trophies. Must have been some amazing entries back then.

I wish there were more tri's being shown, a class full of quality tri's is a sight to behold. And I wish judges would realise that without tri's there'd be no breed quality.

Aawwww but 4 am is a great time for puppies! Their humans are just big dumb lumps at that hour and that's just perfect for jumping on and biting!

Not all breeders are ethical. Maybe a solution would be to decide on baseline results, then publish the test results for the parents at the time the litter is registered. Not place bans on anything or anyone, simply make the results of the health testing available to the community.

Oh, so, so sorry. May she rest in peace and always watch over you.

With mandatory health testing, shouldn't there be a baseline score above which the dogs shouldn't be bred from? As it stands now, certain tests have to be done in some breeds before the pups can be registered, but even if the tests expose a problem, there is nothing stopping the dogs being bred from and the litters registered. By testing and providing proof upon registration of the litter, the breeder has abided by the rules, but there is nothing in place to stop them breeding from unhealthy dogs, or even breeding from untested dogs then having the tests done after the pups are born but before they are registered.

Oh, he's gorgeous! He looks like a little ewok. I have been thinking of you and wondering how you were getting along, glad to see you've got a little mate to love.

We got our rescue dog from the breeder as she was returned twice in 5 years and was up for rehoming through their rescue service. They are Facebook friends with me and whenever I post anything about her, I get lovely comments about how happy they are she's now got a fabulous home, and they are thrilled with her progress in herding.

I am very keen in black tri Aussies, with less white rather than more. But they don't do well in the show ring, most days the judges only have eyes for merles. My next Aussie is very unlikely to be a puppy and it's doubtful I'll get a choice of colours so we'll just love whatever we get. I can tell you though, that they are all too precious for words and in the great scheme of things I'd pick health and longevity over colour any day.

Where's the problem with getting a specific type of dog for a specific purpose? If the OP wanted to show a dog, I doubt she'd be told to show what she's got.....she'd be told to speak to breeders, go to shows, research lines and then buy the best quality puppy she could find.

Could you possibly approach the local dog obedience clubs? They often have members with a very high level of skill who volunteer as instructors, or who trial at a high level, and you just might find someone who would not only love to do it, but also be very good at it.

no and no. A smooth collie is the same as a rough collie but without the long coat A Coolie is a different breed altogether and looks nothing like a smooth collie.

My Lhasa Apso was vaccinated as a puppy, as a 15 month old then never again. She lived to 17 and never had a sick day in her life.

Folded up in the shed. I only use a crate for a new puppy, they aren't ever shut in them, just sleep in one when they are inside during the day. Now I just use a crate at dog shows. The dogs have beds in our room on the floor.