Steve

this one is for the tethering of working dogs in Victoria. 3.1 Dogs The site must provide a minimum tether radius of three metres allowing six metres of run. Dogs less than four months old should not be tethered. Bitches in season must not be tethered where entire males may have access. Bitches about to give birth must not be tethered. Tethered dogs must have ready access to a kennel, shed or other protection from the elements and for sleeping. The kennel should be of an appropriate size for the particular animal and must not cause a threat of entanglement. As a guide, working farm dogs should be let off tethers at least two hours per day during daylight hours. It is recommended that wherever possible all other dogs that are tethered should be released under supervision for 2 hours in every 12 hours. Dogs must not be tethered adjacent to a fence in a manner that places them at danger of death by hanging.

code of Practice for working dogs NSW <H2 class=top>1. Introduction</H2>This Code is a guide for people using dogs for agricultural purposes. The Code recommends minimum standards that ensure the health ad well-being of working dogs. The basic needs of dogs are: 1.1 Accommodation that provides protection from the elements. 1.2 Freedom of movement. 1.3 Readily accessible water and appropriate food. 1.4 Timely recognition and treatment of disease and injury. 1.5 A safe transportation system to and from places of work. 1.6 Adequate exercise. 2. Responsibilities of the owner The owner of working dogs is responsible for: 2.1 Providing accommodation and equipment suitable for the size 2.2 Providing adequate protection from adverse environmental conditions and climatic extremes. 2.3 Providing sufficient space for dogs to stand and move freely at all times, including any periods of transportation. 2.4 Providing appropriate food and water to maintain good health. 2.5 Reasonable protection from disease, distress and injury. 2.6 Providing prompt veterinary treatment in the case of injury or illness. 2.7 Maintaining hygiene in the premises where dogs are kept. 2.8 Supervising regular feeding and watering. 3. Housing of Dogs 3.1 Kennels 3.1.1 Kennels should be provided to protect dogs from adverse weather. 3.1.2 Kennels should be situated so that a chained dog can reach the kennel and the water supply. 3.1.3 Kennels should have adequate ventilation. 3.1.4 Kennels made from metal should be situated out of direct sunlight or should be effectively insulated. 3.1.5 Chains used to restrain dogs near a kennel should have a swivel set between the chain and the securing clip. The swivel should be maintained in proper working order. 3.2 Pens 3.2.1 Pens should provide enough space for each dog to sit, stand, sleep, stretch, move about and lie with limbs extended. 3.2.2 The pen must be of sufficient size to allow the dog to urinate and defecate in an area well away from feeding and bedding areas. alternatively, pens may be raised above the ground with a slatted area for urination and defecation. 3.2.3 Pens should provide adequate protection from weather through the provision of a kennel or other shelter. 3.2.4 Pens and kennels should be well ventilated to maintain an environment free of dampness and noxious odours but without draughts. 3.2.5 Pens should be drained appropriately to allow water to run off. 3.2.6 Faecal or urine contamination of earth in dirt pens should be avoided. The surface of the pen should be sealed or gravelled if it becomes muddy. 3.2.7 A separate pen should be used for any whelping bitches. 3.3 Running chains 3.3.1 Running chains should be designed in a way that prevents entanglement. Dogs should be able to reach shelter and water without the dropper chain becoming entangled in any obstruction along the running line or its attachment points. 3.3.2 The chain, swivels and running line should be regularly checked for signs of wear. 3.3.3 The running line should be of sufficient length to allow reasonable exercise. 3.3.4 The dropper chain should be of sufficient length to allow reasonable sideways movement and must incorporate a swivel between the clip and the chain. 4. Hygiene 4.1 Pens should be kept clean for the comfort of dogs and for disease control. Faeces should be removed regularly. 4.2 Every effort should be made to control pests including fleas, ticks, flies, lice and mosquitoes. 4.3 Dogs should only be treated with chemicals registered for dogs and only in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. 5. Health care 5.1 Dogs should be regularly vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus. A program for the control of internal and external parasites should be established in accordance with veterinary advice. 5.2 Health and welfare should be routinely checked in the daily management of working dogs. This should include observing whether a dog is eating, drinking, urinating, defecating and behaving normally. 5.3 Veterinary attention should be sought if a dog shows any signs of ill health. 6. Diet Dogs should receive appropriate, uncontaminated and nutritionally adequate food and water. The food must be in sufficient quantity and of appropriate composition to provide for: 6.1.1 The normal growth of immature dogs. 6.1.2 The maintenance of reasonable body condition in adult working dogs. 6.1.3 The requirements of pregnancy and lactation in breeding bitches. 6.2 Feeding of uncooked offal should be avoided to prevent the spread of tapeworm and hydatids. 7. Exercise 7.1 Dogs should have the opportunity for regular exercise. 7.1.1 To allow then to urinate and defecate. 7.1.2 To give them contact with humans and other dogs. 7.1.3 To allow them to be observed for any problems. 7.1.4 To let them stretch their limbs. 7.2 Dogs that are not working should receive sufficient exercise to maintain their health and fitness. Ideally, all confined dogs should be given at least 30 minutes off the chain or out of their pen each day. 7.3 Active or old dogs may require more or less exercise than specified. <A name=8--Transport>8. Transport 8.1 Stock transporters should provide dust-free but well ventilated accommodation for their working dogs on trucks. 8.2 Any vehicle regularly used for transporting dogs should: 8.2.1 Protect dogs from injury. 8.2.2 Have non-slip floors. 8.2.3 Protect dogs from exhaust fumes and extremes of temperature including hot metal floors. 8.2.4 Kept clean. 8.3 Water should be provided during transportation. 8.4 Muzzling of some dogs may be required for their own protection or that of other dogs. 8.5 Dogs restrained on the back of a moving vehicle should be kept on a sufficiently short lead tp prevent movement beyond confines of the vehicle. Hanging over the side of vehicles must be prevented. http://' target="_blank">9. Special requirements for sentry/peg dogs (All other aspects of the Code apply) 9.1 Sentry/peg dogs must be supplied with adequate food and water. 9.2 Sentry/peg dogs must be provided with shade in hot weather and shelter from wind and rain. 9.3 Sentry/peg dogs should be chained in such a way that they have dry ground or dry bedding for sleeping. 9.4 Sentry/peg dogs should not be left unattended for longer than 24 hours. 9.5 Appropriate exercise should be given to sentry/peg dogs, preferably on a daily basis.

NSW is introducing an accredited breeder scheme - which in itself implies that anyone who doesnt jump up and pay the extra money to be an accredited breeder isnt doing what the extra conditions on this are - and you have to ask why these things arent either already assumed to be happening because they are the law in this state or why if they are not law they are not requirements for all registered breeders and already written into their codes. Its harder to get into the MDBA than it is to become an accredited breeder - what a bloody joke. Part XIII (A). Dogs NSW Voluntary Accredited Breeder Scheme (effective 1 January 2011). To qualify as an Accredited Breeder a member would agree to the following and pay such annual fees and complete and sign an Application in such form as the Directors may from time to time require :- CONDITIONS OF MEMBERSHIP OF VOLUNTARY ACCREDITED BREEDERS SCHEME i) pre-mating disease testing of prospective parents Note: "Disease testing" means; a) testing for health conditions which are notified by the Breed Club, ANKC or DOGS NSW as relevant to the breed, and for which scientifically validated, reliable, readily available and cost effective screening procedures are available. b) DNA tests for hereditary diseases that are available in the relevant breed. ii) subject to veterinary advice, no mating where tests indicate inadvisable iii) microchip puppies prior to sale iv) puppy microchip numbers to be included in Application to Register Litter (unless Veterinary advice to the contrary) v) presale veterinary checks on puppies with written report by veterinary surgeon vi) copies of parent test results and puppy vet check results to be made available to prospective purchasers vii) prospective purchasers can, prior to purchase, view puppies with mother where litter was born and raised (Note 1) viii) provide detailed information for puppy care and welfare to purchasers (Note 2) ix) to observe proper standards of management with regard to the housing, health, exercising and socialising of all dogs on the premises managed by the registered breeder, including establishing minimum staffing levels appropriate to the numbers of dogs involved (Note 3) x) inspection of kennels and records when requested by DOGS NSW xi) non compliance may result in deregistration or suspension from scheme (Note 5)

Sorry shortstep. You're right. I was thinking with regards to registrations and microchips. In Queensland we have a breeder who has working dogs and also another breed - she has to pay 1500 to have her permit to breed her other breed but not her working dogs. She has to pay yearly registrations on her other breed but not her working dogs. I have to have all of my dogs microchipped and registered but I do not have to have my working dogs chipped or registered.

Looks like a good class action case to me coming up - pet owners against local councils who give them no choice.

In the state of Victoria - the only differences between a registered breeder code of ethics and what any other breeder in Victoria has to do - are 20.1.10.A member shall not dispose of dogs owned or bred by the member to a pound or animal refuge. 20.1.11 A member shall breed primarily for the purpose of improving the quality and / or working ability of the breed in accordance with the breed standard, and not specifically for the pet or commercial market. 20.1.15 A member shall not permit any of that member’s pure bred dogs to be mated to a dog of a different breed, to a cross bred dog, to an unregistered dog of the same breed, or to a dog not on the Main Register without the prior approval of the Victorian Canine Association Inc. 20.1.18 A member shall not export a puppy under the age of eleven [11] weeks, or such greater age permitted under the livestock import requirements of the country to which the puppy is being exported. 20.1.19 A member shall not knowingly sell a dog to any person residing in an overseas country known to be involved in the utilisation of dogs for the meat trade without first satisfying the Victorian Canine Association Inc. that the purchaser is a member of an ANKC recognised canine controlling body in the overseas country. The member and purchaser must further acknowledge in writing to the Victorian Canine Association Inc. that the intention of the sale is for the improvement of the quality of that breed in the overseas country, and not for any other purpose. 20.1.21 A breeder shall be expected to maintain reasonable contact with the purchasers of dogs from that breeder and to offer continued advice and reasonable assistance. 20.1.22 A member shall register all puppies bred by that member that are living at the date of registration. Such registration must include all puppies from the litter on the one litter registration application form and must be applied for within eighteen [18] months of the date of whelping. 20.1.26 A member shall not: 20.1.26.1 Sell or dispose of a dog to a commercial pet wholesaler or retail pet shop unless they are accredited by the Victorian Canine Association Inc. and the Pet Industry Association of Australia Limited (PIAA). In the state of victoria if you are a member of the commercial pet dog breeders group these things are covered and their breeders have to comply with these things which are NOT covered by Vic Dogs. Members shall not house their animals in cages for any reason other than transport, mating or treatment of illnesses Members should strongly promote desexing of all pets and should do this by selling their pups either: a. Desexed 2 weeks prior to rehoming b. With a $50.00 desexing voucher refundable on proof of desexing c. To a pet store that offers a desexing voucher with all pups sold. Members shall not sell puppies to children under the age of 18. Members shall accurately describe the breeding of the puppies they sell as outlined in the AAPDB Inc Breeding terminology and discussion Members shall offer a 3 day “cooling off” period after private sale of a puppy during which time the pup can be returned and the purchase price refunded, excluding any non-refundable deposit paid. Members shall be responsible for reasonable veterinary expenses up to the purchase price of the puppy for illnesses present at the time of sale of a puppy. Members must provide clear details of how-and-when a refund is applicable. If members do offer refunds they shall not require the return of the dog for these refunds to be paid. Members shall undertake to take back and rehome any dog they have bred at any stage in the animal’s life should it become homeless for any reason. - unless they are sold to a pet shop. Members will promote responsible pet dog breeding and responsible pet ownership in both their words and actions. Banksia Park is a member of the AAPDB.

There is no bill - yet.Since the rally both labour and liberal have said they will introduce harder laws to legislate breeders and RSPCA more power in Victoria the results of the talks we attended wont be seen for a while as the aim is to push for Australia wide laws, however the things that were discussed in those talks will be seen all over the place as they inject what they can now. For example the pilot program thats running on the gold coast.

Working dogs will be exempt because they are too frightened of the Australian Farmers Association.

oh ok i'll come back, ;) and i know i really shouldn't be taking things so personally particularly when im in a debate. some breeders, like me for instance. i took it to mean this. a little dig at me. correct me if i am wrong, if i am right......... steve i don't claim to know all there is to know and be totally educated on absolutely everything when i learn something new i don't hide it as i did on this thread with the electric fences and admit i didn't have any idea, but the ignorant ppl that sit on council are not dog people never intend to be dog people and have no idea about dog issues and have told a few people they don't want to know either! dealing with the patella luxation issue, writing my articles doing research with other breeders and logging their info i learnt earlier on in the piece that we all have different views on things we are all not of the same mind, we are all at different levels and have different experiences. some breeders think that they have learnt there is all to learn are used to doing things a certain way for the last 40 years and don't want a yeehah coming in telling them whats what which i completely understood. its about sharing info and using that shared info to make changes for the better. none of which wellington shire and any council for that matter want to do. because the people in power in charge of dog matters aern't qualified to make the hard decisions. the new ranger down there doubles up as a traffic officer. as was the guy before him which we knew well being my mum's boss. (lollipop lady). so how do you get those types to listen and to do their job properly when they don't want to? then you show them the evidence in black and white and they deny it is so even though the evidence is there to hit them in the face. even though you have seen the abuse with your own eyes for years. I was speaking generally in particular I was thinking of the breeders who think that when a dog is mated by a different breed they cant have puppies any more because they are ruined etc.

so.....let pet owners make a choice whether they desex or not? if you are vicdog you are exempt you just have to provide your membership card. gee if that was the case there'd be a few rubbing their hands together in glee breeding their pet? on the other hand, they've had those laws in place for many years and still we see backyard breeders and people breeding their pets for money left right and centre as was reported on another thread.. Yes let pet owners make educated choices on whether they want to desex their pets or not. im sorry but dont really agree with that, so shoot me thats just the thing too, half the time you are dealing with people that don't want to be educated, can't be bothered being educated. (like the silly councillors that i spoke to numerous times). And like the animal rights and some breeders - worse the ones who think they are already educated enough. is this being directed at me? Why would it be?

so.....let pet owners make a choice whether they desex or not? if you are vicdog you are exempt you just have to provide your membership card. gee if that was the case there'd be a few rubbing their hands together in glee breeding their pet? on the other hand, they've had those laws in place for many years and still we see backyard breeders and people breeding their pets for money left right and centre as was reported on another thread.. Yes let pet owners make educated choices on whether they want to desex their pets or not. im sorry but dont really agree with that, so shoot me thats just the thing too, half the time you are dealing with people that don't want to be educated, can't be bothered being educated. (like the silly councillors that i spoke to numerous times). And like the animal rights and some breeders - worse the ones who think they are already educated enough.

so.....let pet owners make a choice whether they desex or not? if you are vicdog you are exempt you just have to provide your membership card. gee if that was the case there'd be a few rubbing their hands together in glee breeding their pet? on the other hand, they've had those laws in place for many years and still we see backyard breeders and people breeding their pets for money left right and centre as was reported on another thread.. Yes let pet owners make educated choices on whether they want to desex their pets or not. im sorry but dont really agree with that, so shoot me Why?

Surely to God we are not still telling people only those who are members of Vicdogs have the right to make educated choices on whats best for their dogs are we? By th eway you're wrong I asked exactly this question last week and have the answer in writing fromthe boss cocky of this department himself. If you want exemptions for desexing the DOG has to be registered with Vic dogs as well as you.If you want exemptions with costs the dog has to be registered as well as you. If however, you want to have exemptions to own and breed up to 10 fertile bitches you can be a member and not have one single purebred dog and breed cross bred ones. betya didnt know that !

so.....let pet owners make a choice whether they desex or not? if you are vicdog you are exempt you just have to provide your membership card. gee if that was the case there'd be a few rubbing their hands together in glee breeding their pet? on the other hand, they've had those laws in place for many years and still we see backyard breeders and people breeding their pets for money left right and centre as was reported on another thread.. Yes let pet owners make educated choices on whether they want to desex their pets or not.

We'd better shut up asal - its not politically correct to tell the truth. The whole entire dog world is held to ransom by animal rights propoganda and rather than stand up to them and tell them they didnt know what they are on about we got frightened and made out like they knew better than us all along. God help us even our vets are being educated by them.

I have had a similar conversation in the last 6 months Im still shaking my head over it. She's ruined for life if an accident happens. How on earth do they get through life let alone being seen to be experts because they go to a show! Scarier is that she is being seen to be a good mentor!

PETA and animal liberation and other animal rioghts groups have been calling the shots for years until its now come to a point where we cant even discuss what really is best for our dogs and less experienced breeders have been sucked in by the crap and older breeders dont dare tell what they think in case they are bullied and chased off. Given the chance dogs eat poo and thats not served up in bowls either.

What about starting a class action for dog owners who are given no choice by shire councils but to desex their dogs when the dogs have less longevity and more health problems which can be scientifically proven to be as a result of desexing ?

Shouldnt have to educate the masses only the breeders. But whats the point no one can use the science anyway. CCs and governments say so. Too bad those who dont breed and who never will know more about breeding dogs than those who do.

Schultz, professor and chair of pathobiological sciences at School of Veterinary Medicine, has been studying the effectiveness of canine vaccines since the 1970s; he's learned that immunity can last as long as a dog's lifetime, which suggests that our "best friends" are being over-vaccinated. Based on his findings, a community of canine vaccine experts has developed new veterinary recommendations that could eliminate a dog's need for annual shots. The guidelines appear in the March/April issue of Trends, the journal of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). Every year, when we take our dogs to the veterinarian's office, they could receive up to 16 different vaccines, many of which are combined into a single shot. Four of these products protect against life-threatening diseases, including rabies, canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2), canine distemper virus (CDV) and canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2); the rest protect against milder diseases to which only some dogs are exposed, including Lyme disease. But, as many veterinarians are realizing, over-vaccination can actually jeopardize a dog's health and even life. Side effects can cause skin problems, allergic reactions and autoimmune disease. Though the case in cats, not dogs, tumors have been reported at the site of vaccine injections. "These adverse reactions have caused many veterinarians to rethink the issue of vaccination," says Schultz. "The idea that unnecessary vaccines can cause serious side effects is in direct conflict with sound medical practices." For 30 years, Schultz has been examining the need to vaccinate animals so often and for so many diseases. "In the 1970s, I started thinking about our immune response to pathogens and how similar it is in other animals," says Schultz. "That's when I started to question veterinary vaccination practices." Just like ours, a canine's immune system fires up when a pathogen, like a virus, enters the body. The pathogen releases a protein called an antigen, which calls into action the immune system's special disease-fighting cells. Called B and T lymphocytes, these cells not only destroy the virus, but they remember what it looked like so they can fend it off in the future. It's this immunological memory that enables vaccines, which purposely contain live, weakened or dead pathogens, to protect against future disease. But, as Schultz points out, vaccines can keep people immune for a lifetime: we're usually inoculated for measles, mumps and rubella as children but never as adults. So, can dogs be vaccinated as pups and then never again? Evidence from Schultz's studies on both his own dogs and many other dogs from controlled studies suggests the answer is yes. http://www.news.wisc.edu/8413

eh sorry not following? When dogs are not bred, have infertile matings, (Kim and Kim 2005), cystic endometrial hyperplasia may develop. The cystic hyperplasia-pyometra complex in the bitch. Vet Rec 69: 1409-1414. During estrus ("heat"), white blood cells are removed from the uterus to allow safe passage of the sperm. Following estrus ("heat") in the dog, progesterone levels remain elevated for eight to ten weeks and thicken the lining of the uterus in preparation for pregnancy.This lapse in protection often leads to infection. If pregnancy does not occur during estrus cycles, the lining continues to increase in thickness until cysts form within it. The thickened, cystic lining secretes fluids that create an ideal environment in which bacteria can grow. Additionally, high progesterone levels inhibit the ability of the muscles in the wall of the uterus to contract. http://www.uoguelph.ca/~rfoster/repropath/surgicalpath/female/dog/female_dog_uterus.htm It is not surprising that the uterus can attempt to form a placental site even though there is not conceptus. It is assumed that focal hyperplastic lesions that resemble placental sites are of this type. They may occur in pseudopregnancy. Pseudopregnancy is a physiological event that may be exagerated and clinically visible. Excellent reviews are available (Gobello et al 2001a, b). The pathology of the uterus in pseudopregnancy is documented by Whitney (1967). Clinically pseudopregnant dogs had diffuse thickening of the uterus and additionally, macroscopically visible swellings that corresponded to 2cm diameter regions of pronounced endometrial hyperplasia. The lumen of the affected uteri had a clear or cloudy blood stained fluid (see mucometra). Microscopically, the placenta like zones had long branching villous structures and the epithelial cells of the the lumen and the glands were large and foamy. The endometrial glands are dilated and contain secretion. Whitney (1967) reported that 3 of 6 dogs had inflammatory cells including neutrophils in these placental sites. The uterus is prone to maintain infection during the dioestral phase of the cycle. It is during dioestrus that the dominant hormone is progesterone, and that progesterone inhibits immunity in the uterus. Hadley and Osbourne (1974) reviewed the pathophysiology of pyometra. They recognised hormonal and bacterial factors. Pyometra occurs in dioestrus when the uterus is influenced by progesterone. Progesterone causes endometrial proliferation and secretion, and provides an environment for bacterial proliferation. They considered that bacteria were secondary invaders that were not necessary for the development of pyometra and therefore complicate the disease, rather than initiated it! http://www.vin.com/proceedings/Proceedings.plx?CID=WSAVA2002&PID=2686 Introduction This paper will focus on the most recent advances in the pathogenesis and treatment of canine pyometra which are relevant from the practical point of view. Pathogenesis Canine pyometra is a diestrual disease typical of adult intact bitches whose development is strongly influenced by sequential progestational stimulations (normal diestrus or treatment with progestins) of the uterus. Bitches whelping rarely or never in their lives have a greater chance of developing pyometra with rare or no occurrence of pregnancy. For unknown reasons gestation has a protective action on the canine endometrium, causing pyometra not to develop in areas of the endometrium where placental attachment has occurred (although pyometra can occur in one horn with pregnancy in the opposite horn). During a progestational stimulation the canine endometrium proliferates and starts secreting the so called "uterine milk" while the cervix remains closed and myometrial contractility is inhibited (Table n° 1) . Fluid accumulates into the endometrial glands which then dilate becoming fairly large (up to 0.3-2.0 cm diameter). The endometrial pattern that develops is referred to as cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH) which is a prerequisite for the development of pyometra due to the fact that the uterine milk in itself constitutes an inflammatory stimulus as well as an excellent culture media for bacteria which. CEH is a physiological phenomenon whose regression starts during the second half of diestrus. However, with time and number of "open" (non-pregnant) cycles CEH may not entirely disappear from some sections of the endometrium, thus increasing chances of causing endometrial inflammation.

im a city slicker suffering from memory loss! yes, we had dogs who would go and flush out the rabbits after sticking the rifle over the fence, nice tea at night, only visited a supermarket every fortnight just eat of the land. don't think you could do that now, i think wild rabbits suffer from (well they did later on) mixamotosis etc. the dogs would go down the burrow, then after they were finished come back home. The rabbits around here dont have mixo or calisi - wish they did. On dusk you see thousands of them pop their heads up in the front paddock.

Look Im sorry but you are going to always have a hard time convincing me that there should be laws to tell me that I have to have my dogs vaccinated every year,that I have to feed them in bowls,how old they have to be before I breed them, how often I breed them and how old they should be when I cant breed them. This stuff regarding when bitches should and should not be bred is pushed by animal rights and not one shred of science to back them up. Canine Councils have decided to go with this without regard for anything other than what looks good to people who dont know the difference between canine reproduction and human reproduction to a point where its used as some sign of registered breeder superiority. Its bad enough that we have to go with this because we are registered breeders and do what we are told but thats by choice and its become norty to even discuss the real issues relating to breeding dogs and fraught with fears of being labelled a puppy farmer but to make it illegal to be able to make educated decisions on how to manage when you breed your dogs is in my opinion disgraceful. Maybe puppy farmers should consider class actions against the government for how their laws impact on the health, natural instincts and reproductive lives of their bitches.

Is this a mandatory code ? If so where does it say its a mandatory code?