angelsun

An RSPCA officer came knocking at my door yesterday after having been given a complaint about me. It involved a photo posted on Facebook of a dog bred whilst living in Canada, with cropped ears, and wearing tapes, sitting on my back deck. The information attached to the photo said who the dog was (litter brother to another very well known dog in my breed). This pup was born in 2006. Through a series of events, this photo was taken to a vet (clearly one working with the RSPCA) who said that the dogs ears had not been cropped, and that the 'popsicle' sticks in the ears were to make the ears stand up. The story also was that the dog came from Texas to Australia and in the mind of the person that submitted the complaint, I had illegally cropped this dogs ears. Now this whole thing was in fact quite funny and I'm not bagging the RSPCA officer as he's just doing his job. First off....the dogs ears WERE in fact cropped. Not sure how ANY vet could miss that....The sticks were actually boning used in the making of corsets..a popular material those of us that cropped, used to train the ears to stand, as it was light weight and flexible. The dog was born at my home in Canada (litter brother to the famous one) and was in fact sold to a lovely man in Texas who was starting Uni. His parents ended up looking after the dog and falling in love and when 'son' graduated and had to move, they kept the dog. When the father's work presented a move to Australia, I was contacted to ask if I thought the dog would handle the flight and quarantine. To my knowledge, two years or so ago, this dog lives now north of Sydney. When the officer was invited around to inspect, we showed him our four large dog yards. (about 30meters square) and the large shelters in each one. Two of my dogs are in yard four, because they are in season and need to be separated to avoid any accidental matings. Both are docked as both are imports. We gave him copies of the import pedigrees and vet records showing the tail procedure. We invited him into the house, which he first decline but we insisted...as he warmed by our wood heater, he commented on my series of double decker crates for sleeping, and when he was told that 7 dogs slept inside (five at the moment as the two in heat had to stay in the yard with their kennel enclosure, multiple blankets, raised beds and a heat lamp on 24/7) he commented that the house didn't have any smell of dog. Upon leaving, he stated twice, and most strongly that should there be another complaint, he will not return to our home....clearly he assumed there would be as many that issue idle complaints, if they don't get the answers they want, will try again. The man was polite and commented that we had shown him and given him far more access than most would. He's just doing his job, and I had nothing to hide. There was no cropped ear dog on the premises, nor where there any docked dogs without the appropriate paperwork. What a shame that the person that complained ends up with no satisfaction.... For the person that submitted the complaint, and although I don't have 100% proof of your identity, I'm well on the way to getting it.....sorry to spoil your 'trashing' party....you, like anyone else is more than welcome to come and visit my dogs, see how they are homed and cared for. I was advised to remove the photo in question from my FB kennel page..I declined. In fact, I"ve since posted more photos of dogs I"ve bred with *gasp* cropped ears and/or ear tapes showing. I have never hidden the fact that I like a cropped ear and docked tail. Many wrinkle their nose with disgust, but for generations of never either living with a dog like this, nor even in most cases seeing one in the flesh, these people truly have no right to chastise me for my choice in look. I believe in the historical look of my breed. It's animal right fanatics that have taken MY breed and changed it's look which has been so for hundreds of years because THEY feel they have the right to tell me that I am cruel and uncaring. Never once, in the time I cropped (and remember, this was ALWAYS done with a vet in sterile conditions and with the best of equipment available) unlike some currently still doing it in the states with outdated meds and on the kitchen table, did I have any ear infections, and wound infections or subsequent ear issues at any point in the dogs life....the same can not be said for others that negate the procedure and are running to the vets for drops and ear canal surgeries..... Anyway, at the end of the day, I had to giggle about the visit and the purpose why.....once again, a person with both too much time on their hands, and too much vindictiveness in their heart. I am slightly concerned however that a vet working with the RSPCA did not recognise a cropped ear as such....if something so simple as this was missed with this photo (shown below) what else would this vet misdiagnose when involved in a rescue or abuse case?

My opinion as a groomer, the non shedding requirement is simply due to laziness. What so many fail to realize when they get poodles or poodle crosses and the like, is that they may not leave hair on the carpet, but that doesn't mean they don't have to brush or groom them. Annoys the hell out of me! Can't tell you how many want my breed because they truly believe that they don't shed (short single layer coat) and when I tell them that they shed constantly, they are gobsmacked! I ask why they want non shed and most of the time, its because they don't want the 'mess'...why get a dog?? Lets face it...they can be messy....what will they do when one pees on the floor (or worse!) LAZY...plain and simple. VERY few want it because of an alleged allergy...what they ALSO don't realize is that tolerances can be achieved and its the dander not the hair that's the problem.

I imported a dog from here to Canada a number of years ago, and of course, he'd never seen the white stuff. One night, whilst he was snoring in bed, we got blanketed and the next morning he went to dash out the dog door only to be met with a sea of white...he froze solid...wouldn't move!! The look on his face was priceless!! I slipped on a lead, walked him down the deck, through the white stuff, encouraging all the way...it took about an hour and the encouragement of the other dogs who were Canadian through and through, and he truly enjoyed it after that! No rugs, no boots, no touques (beanie)required.

I've had a few challenging litters, but I wouldn't use the word traumatic because I simply don't fall apart in these situations. Bitch had 8 pups, text book and then the wheels started to fall off....pups slowly dying and she was trying to smother them. She would pull them in and lay on them. Three weeks sleeping on the floor, crating her and allowing only feeding...we got through it. Three pups remained, one had only one eye as she injured it during her smothering. Bitch had 8 pups....three massive birth defects, dying pups. At the end, one remained and a bitch very ill. Removed the pup, put her on another mother, dosed up the mom who had a low grade infection that was undiagnosed. First time in my life I took a bitch to the vets during whelping and first time in my life I stayed awake for 4 straight days. Bitch carrying 8 pups. Wasn't well, throwing up dried blood. We insisted there was a problem, the vet disagreed. 24 hours later, the bitch is dead at the foot of the bed, with 8 dead pups in her belly. And most recently: Bitch whelps 7 pups. At 15 days, she's blown apart with mastitis leaving a gaping wound you could put two fists into. Remove her from the pups which we take over their care. Keep her dressed and clean whilst we wait for the mammary tissue to go down in swelling so she can be sewn up. A pup starts to fade, lose weight, fall weak. Joints swell and that cry that those of us have bred for a while, know that is not good and going to get worse. At 18 days, puppy is put down. A week later, another starts the same downward slide and the result is the same. Bitch is sewn up and recovering and pups are off to new homes, and the phone call that at 12 weeks, another pup undergoing exploratory for a bad cough/choking has not woke from anesthetic. Pup had an aortic arch....not a happy ending on that, and tragic for the new owners left devastated by it all. Unfortunately I have lots more stories....after 30 years, it's the way of things...but I also have many many stories of litters born and raised without issues. I keep breeding in spite of the bad stuff, because the good stuff outweighs it all. The continuation of my current breed relies on me rising above the possibility of all the bad things happening, in hopes of all the good stuff that might happen. At the end of the day, that's enough for me. If I wasn't 'breeder' material, I would have given up years ago when my BIS bitch died at 4 weeks gestation. There are breeders, and then there are breeders....

We show ours....but they are strong in rear and topline as well as often have 0/0 hips and elbows. It's not about show versus working..it's about good breeding and selection versus the opposite. www.gipfelgsds.com I groomed a lovely boy in nature but he could barely stand due to his sickle hock problem and so far under himself in the rear. Shame really when there ARE in fact good dogs out there.

Unfortunately I too see this sort of thing and mostly on rear dew claws that the owners believe it or not, do not know even exist!! I can't tell you how many people I inform about rear dews and they look at me with a blank face and say 'really? I didn't even know they were there!" and this is not a puppy...but a mature or senior dog....shocking!

I'm aware of that 'breed' but this is being called a curley coat and it's FAR from it. Apparently there WERE some purebreds in there but over a few years, the leg length has shortened the head has narrowed and the coat consistency is all wrong. Marketed as 'curley's without papers.Or by some 'the real working curley'

And this is why the purebred dog breeders have such a problem. Mixed breeds, computer generated pedigrees and fly by night 'stud book registries' have created a world of mutts with fancy names and 'papers' to the point where Joe Public doesn't know a purebred dog now. Case in point, the owner of the GSP/Wire GSP that actually owns a flatcoat. The people that own the purebred standard poodle who are told regularly that he's a labradoodle. My own breed that the majority believe 'has some kelpie in there' and in fact has a longer history than that breed and is more documented as to lineage than many humans out there at the moment! In Canada, we had in my eastern region, the "Valley Bulldog", yet another twist on the 'X' Bulldogs we see popping up all the time....those 'breeders' swore blue faced that it was a REAL breed and far healthier than anything else....but when asked for hip testing, cardio testing, eye testing....'we don't have to....we don't have any problems' In this region we have a bastardized version of the curly coat retriever....reminds me of a cross between a curly and a Suffolk (check leg length to understand) and yet they call it another name, swear it's purely bred.....and I have a piece of swamp land to sell in the Vic Alps you might be interested in!

I get mine from Pepperone Pet Supplies in Nar Nar Goon Vic

Green backed here..and lots of it...I really don't care for the rubber back and when it does start to break down, it's a bloody mess! Yes the green back will slip a bit, but not really a huge thing and for me, washes up much better. As for colours...not important, and none of the dogs have ever complained!

Friend of mine has a German Pinscher needing a home. (Check DOL for mature dogs listed) In fact I think she has a male and female. One might be suitable. They pretty much fit your list. Short coated but don't need jumpers. (at least I don't on mine and they are fine.....)but perhaps I'm just a mean mum!

As a bitch owner, I seek out dogs I feel are the best match, (titles or not) I don't need anyone advertising, calling or 'pimping' their males for me to find them. I have a breed that's not common and there aren't many out there but I've found them (mostly in back yards in families) Finding a hidden treasure happens, and finding one with an attribute that is unique is great. At the end of the day, I decide if it's worth the effort to continue on the journey with this found treasure. As a stud dog owner, I don't advertise my males. I don't call bitch owners or seek out stud services for him. My motivations are for my own breeding program. If someone else wants what my boys have, and I agree it's a good mating, we go ahead. I kick back more than I agree to. My males are for my use first and foremost and never have I owned a boy with the belief or intent that he would 'stand at stud' because I think he's perfect and so must everyone else that lays eyes on him. I have a boy here at the moment with a pedigree that no one else has in a male in this country due to imported lines and unused by other breeders dogs in Europe. He's produced a litter that has turned out nicely with two exports to top breeding/showing kennels. Is it enough to make me feel he should 'stand at stud' and that everyone else will appreciate his virtues? Not really....he's a decent dog, and I like him and what he's produced...others may not..it's a matter of taste. He can have all the best health testing in the world but if he's not someones 'cup of tea' he won't be sought after. that's fine...I don't own males for the sake of others, I own them for my own future in my breed. Just my thoughts when it comes to this sort of thread.

I did that with my German Pinschers...wouldn't be caught dead in the ring without the effort. Quite honestly, I don't do it here as it's a far more relaxed way of presenting dogs here than it was in the US and Canada.

I am using shower curtain poles. Bunnings, cheap...drill a hole in either end...bent pin in one end and spring clip in the other. Drill holes the right size in the box. Very easy, very cheap.

I progesterone when I live mate, simply because I can't be bothered wasting time. If the male isn't up to the task, I do a fresh collect AI. All over in five minutes. Much easier and faster. If he's able, and I know she's ready (and not just being a sleeze, as some of my girls will flag and stand at day 5, but are no where near ready and frustrate the boys) I let them mate in the morning and again at night if they choose. I will do that for two days in a row, MAYBE three but usually two days is sufficient, even with one mating per day. Because I've progesterone tested, I know when she's ready and don't worry about if the boy is randy or the girl is slutty. I use science, it works and I don't waste energy for either myself of the dogs.

Suspended heat lamp, smallish room with box set in a corner out of the direct path of the doorway. I have the heat lamp on a chain and hook system that I can raise and lower as needs be. I also set it off to one side so Mom can get out of the path of the heat should she get warm, but also, she has access to her mat outside the whelping box. Now that the pups are weaning, they still like their heat lamp, but it's on at night only, up nice and high and they have vet bed in their plastic molded beds. They are quite comfy. If they are out, as today, they have a crate with a bed and no door to get into should it get breezy. After having REAL winter litters (insert the words snow, windchill and frostbite) this is pretty easy.

I would say Alaskan Mal to Rotties from the looks of it. My numbers put me in the 'a' group and they are a G breed.

Happy to report that all pups are schedule to go to new homes. Two are going overseas to show/breeding homes, one to stay here. The others will be much loved and spoiled pets. A bonus is that the sire has been engaged for two litters based on the quality of both himself and his offspring. It's nice to see generations of hard work paying off.

Yes, but in the end, the judge must decide if the exhibit is worthy of challenge points...the SAME as in the regular classes. We see MANY substandard dogs (entire) shown in the regular classes by newbies...why would this be considered any different than showing a neuter? In the end, the judges give the points...the people either accept their dog isn't up to snuff, or they don't.

Good money making proposition for those involved with the making and distributing of these products. That's about the only benefits I can see from this sort of thing. Yes, breed good temperaments, BUT....and more importantly....screen buyers PROPERLY and ensure that THEY are the right temperament for your puppies. FOLLOW UP with the buyers...make sure they don't over compensate and make sure they are tough when it comes to crate training and new puppy sooking. I'm all for keeping up with new science and 'the times' but this one in my opinion, is bubble wrapping...but then, it's what society is doing in all other aspects, so I guess it was just a matter of time before it hit the dog breeders.

The Auslander dobe shown by Jan that day but normally Pete shows him.

My dogs are naked here at home as well. Never have I left a check chain or equivalent on a dog that's unattended. Just asking for issues. Even puppies with little collars....I know of one that got hung up on the pen it was in and twisted and hung itself. I do understand why having a collar on a dog that may escape is needed, but my answer is either ensure the yard is more than safe, or crate the dog. (I prefer the latter)

Both through the birth canal at the same time. side by side as though it was one whopper of a puppy.