Steve

hang on Ill go and grab the graph for who responded .

Id say so - other similar studies have shown people stay in breeding for an average of around 6 years so it looks like this is backing that up. What it means though is that the majority of people who are breeding are at the low end of the experience end.

So far we have 250 responses I thought these two so far are really interesting.

How can the MDBA help?

You dont need to be ANKC to be a breed registry.the ANKC happen to be one breed registry but that doesnt mean they are the only ones who register purebred pedigrees. Just because a breed isnt recognised by the ANKC doesn't mean anything more than that. There are some breeds who have decided to deliberately not apply for ANKC recognition and based on current politics it may be smart for anyone with a breed in development to shy away from wanting ANKC recognition! Far as I can see these breeders are doing a pretty good job, and whether or not they do apply for ANKC recognition when they have reached all of the criteria to do that is of no consequence to me.

Thats the whole point Ellz. No one is going to do it alone its come way to far for that - its going to take unity and numbers.Money and votes.

I have to say that this is my frustration with many "experts" who want to decide what the best thing is for us to do with our breeding programs. I sat at a roundtable in Canberra and discussed ways of ensuring puppy farmers would be wiped out, I sat in a seminar at Monash Uni and heard all about how we should breed better dogs, I watch as new legislation is rolled in via every state etc etc etc etc etc etc and its clear to me that very few [if any] of the people involved in making these comments and decisions have ever bred a puppy or have any real idea of what we do when we profile a pedigree or set our goals for our breeding program.Let alone canine reproductive cycles and breeding animal care. Certainly there is nothing to suggest that we should see dogs as a separate species to humans in a lot of areas and ignorant human judgements are stamped all over laws and regs which govern how we manage the actual husbandry. Canine Councils these days have lots of people in directors roles who know heaps about show rings but little else and they snuggle up with welfare orgs to play politics. All of them seen to be "experts". All of them with their own agendas and if they do know anything about what is really best for the future of our dogs they "forget" that to strutt their stuff and feather their own nests - God help us. Since when did professors of Canine behaviour who have never bred a litter become experts at canine genetics? Since when did gardeners who have never bred a litter become experts at Canine husbandry? Since when did members Canine Welfare orgs and Quasi police forces who have never bred a litter become experts on what is best for our breeding dogs? Since when does a government being advised by animal rights loons who have never bred a litter interfer in breeding programs of any species and make the people who breed them crimminals? why do we let them get away with this stuff? Don Burke is just one of many and it saddens me that dog breeders have become pussies and too frightened ,too ignorant or too,complacent to fight back.

Looks like Dallas has been sucked in by Honey and Billy and she is now saying she will keep them with her. Here she is with Billy. Honey didnt want to sit still for a photo shot. Julie

;) Better nominate it for best Canine Publication of the Year! Good One! Julie

Don was doing road tests and he was sometimes not portraying them the way the ANKC would have preferred so DOGS NSW employed a PR firm to try to work out how they could discredit him etc. Someone leaked the report and that made him take the gloves right off. He went on TV to tell everyone what they had done and from then on he has been pretty intent on promoting cross breeding.Back then he offered money to anyone who would set up an opposing registry too. All of this should be available somewhere on the net - it was no secret. and I cant remember how but I did actually read the PR report - I get the feeling he published it in a magazine but I could be wrong - its a long time ago. However, I have to be fair about this after speaking with him - or rather after having been spoken at by him I do think he is sincere and he believes what he says. I have no doubt that if he was getting stuck in about the health of purebred dogs with the RSPCA that he does think that is what needs to be done - its not all about payback or publicity though some may be.

Thanks Ams but there are some things which are particular to this case which will make it necessary to try to keep the dogs as local to Albury as possible. Im sorry I would have said so earlier if I had known. I didn't mean to muck you guys around and send you on a wild goose chase. The fact that we got offers from Sydney,Melbourne, Perth and Queensland is awesome and it's great to know that support is there if we need it in your neck of the woods. For now Dallas who is also an angel and is attached to Albury Dog Rescue has accepted the dogs into her care until we can try to find someone locally in Albury / Wodonga who can take over for her. The owner really wants the dogs to stay together too which makes it a bit more of a challenge. The owner is pretty fragile and we're trying to do all we can to re assure her that she doesn't need to worry about her "family".The only way we will be able to give her up dates is via her Mum and Dad who live near Albury but cant help in the care of her dogs for the next 6 months so we are eager to build a relationship with them as well so no one needs to worry and the owner can get regular updates etc. to give her spirits a lift and know they will be waiting for her when she returns. The owner cried her eyes out when I told her that you guys had offered her help and that she didn't need to feel any more concern for the care of her dogs. So in the mean time we are still looking for a foster carer for both little dogs more locally to Albury /Wodonga. Thank you for your offers. Julie

bump

bump

This has now become quite desperate. If we cant find anyone to take the two dogs on I will bring them here but they will have to be kept here in large dog pens rather than being able to come inside and live as part of my family inside as they are used to and Id rather not do that to them if I can avoid it. If anyone can please help us by taking these little guys on for around 6 months it would help a lot.The owner will not be around for this one to visit them. Julie

Yes Im happy to put the results of this one on dogz. The health surveys are still happening. They are down at the moment because we have only just gotten a new website but they will be back in the next day or two. There are over 3000 responses so far in that one but compiling them is huge. Lots of really interesting things showing up as we have been collecting data for almost a year so there is a good spread of respondents.

Any body who has reasonable luck can breed to produce pets for one generation. Its why there is such a demand for first cross designer dogs.Why the averge time someone breeds is around 6 years or two dog generations. I breed to produce great pets but you cant consistently breed good pets generation after generation with science and not just luck if thats all you are aiming for. You do have to aim at producing that one special dog every litter which will look the part , act the part, and reproduce more consistently healthy great pets.Just breeding pets without also aiming at wanting that special dog of your own is to me also a dead end.I want to know that every litter I produce has the best chance of representing the breed or there is no challenge.

Wow ! So far 58 responses - the things you guys see as the biggest challenges and why you would stop breeding are things that really need to be addressed and openly spoken about !

<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RCKP8TJ">Click here to take survey</a> We are not collecting names or breed details. So you cant be identified nor do you need to be concerned about telling the truth. Julie

<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RCKP8TJ">Click here to take survey</a> Nothing is collected which identifies you or the breed.

Yep.

This is a good question and one Ive looked at pretty closely over the last year or so. There is a difference between someone who breeds dogs and a breeder. Anyone can breed dogs - all it takes is putting two dogs of either sex together and 9 weeks later you get puppies. But Raising the best dogs you can using science,experience and skill is much more than any business or part time hobby could ever be. It’s a passion, an honour, a labour of love and a huge lifelong commitment. Research tells us that the average length of time someone remains a dog breeder is around 6 years - that's about 2 dog generations - so lots of people do get to a certain point and ask the questions you're asking and decide its not what they thought it was or what they hoped it would be. Ive asked my self these questions too often to count.Sometimes you see some people who give it a go - walk away and then come back and give it a go again when they are more prepared. Every person has different reasons for breeding dogs and its no different for this activity than it is for any other.No matter what the reason is its whats in it for me. For me it gives me a reason to get up in the morning, a reason to study, to research, to experiment.It gives me feelings of accomplishment when I know Ive had a hand in changing a new owners life or ensuring that owners way into the future wont have to deal with a bad temperament or genetic health issue with their dog because of the decisions Ive made. For those who dont have the passion its difficult for them to understand but people dont [or shouldnt] breed dogs with papers just to be superior. The papers are a tool to being able to use the science to select the best mate for everyone - not just now but for generations to come. People dont just attend dog showS to feed their egos and attach their self importance to the end of the lead. They do it to help them to interact with experienced dog people, to help them select the best dogs for their breeding programs and to assess whether what they are doing is whats best for the dogs and the breed way past what they see in front of them but for generations of dogs and their owners to come. Take a good look at the breeders who have been doing this for 30 plus years - Jed, Marg Coles, Judy Gard,Lesley Stewart,Debbie Egglestone, Diane Gunn Scarcella, Bob Knight to name a few and it is there the answers lay because it takes that long to get it right.These older more experienced breeders help new kids and do all they can to encourage them and while they have had their bad times and they have had to scratch money together to pay their way they rarely ever think of the bad times or the cost - they only think of the benefits and whata wonderful way of life breeding dogs has provided for them - not in monetary terms but in the feelings of fulfillment and intangible things which wont show up in a bank account. Bit of a joke really that these days breeders like this get told what to do. When to mate a bitch, how often to mate a bitch, how old a bitch should be etc by people who have never had the opportunities they have had to test what works and what doesnt- and worse - usually by people who have never bred a puppy.

O.K. Latest news. Last week end the owner was picked up from the hospital and taken with Banjo to the off leash dog Park. Gary still cant walk but was able to stand with help and watch Banjo play and enjoy himself with the other dogs. I cant tell you enough about how fantastic our Foster Carer, Chris, and her family have been throughout all of this. Not only has she looked after Banjo perfectly but she has taken the dog to the hospital for visits with his Dad and now, even though the Foster carer had never met the dog or the owner the relationships that have developed with both is awesome. There is a strong bond there now which Im sure will remain a friendship and support system for the rerst of their lives. Gary goes home on the 13th of September. He has come a long way from being paralysed and not being able to move more than his head. He will be aided when he goes home by Lifetime Care which is a group that assists people who have spinal injuries caused by car or bike accidents. We are aiming for Banjo's first sleep over back at home in mid October.The plan is one night then the following month 2 sleepovers and if all goes well to slowly increase until Banjo is back home with Chris calling in every couple of days to walk him and ensure all is well. As you can see though this is going to be a slow process and the goal of being able to be in his own home again with his dog is something which helps Gary to keep up his good spirits and believe there is a future for him. In the beginning there was a lot of pressure on Gary to simply surrender his dog and everyone involved is now so thankful that didnt happen and that Banjo is still a major part of Gary's life. I dont know how to find words to type which sufficiently explain how this story makes me feel. But it helps me to see that we really are building something which changes people's and their animal's lives. I was able to tell the foster carer - Chris - that she had been nominated for an MDBA award last night and her reaction made me feel we had come a least some way in telling her how great we think she is. Something wonderful is happening as well across the board - so far without exception. Because what we do is to take on people's much loved family pets when their owners hit hard times relationships are being built which last longer than current period of care for the dog does. Our foster carers are truly wonderful people and how lucky are we to have them as part of our team! Nicola, Kim and Chris especially have opened their hearts and their homes to help us - Thank you. Julie

it would be good if they could but not that much of a big deal if they dont. Julie

Papillon who is 9 and a Maltese cross who is 4. all costs covered and supply of food, worming tablets, bedding ect they are fully vaccinated and in very good health. We will require a Foster Carer for approx 6 months. All will also be covered by our volunteer insurances. These a very much loved family pets and the owner is in a situation where she is desperate for help due to a personal disaster. We only have a short time span to help her out. [email protected] OR 0269276707 Julie