tdierikx

So when recommending a "registered" breeder, we should qualify that by saying "ANKC registered"... yes? Being that the ANKC is the only truly nationally recognised body for registering purebreed dogs... But where does that put those looking specifically for certain working breeds (for example) - they have their own registry due to their breeds not being recognised by the ANKC. What if I don't want to buy an ANKC recognised "breed" of dog? What if I have a preference for a particular mixed breed? Is there somewhere I can go to research what to look for from "breeders" of mixed breed dogs, so that I can make a more informed decision as to the possible health and temperament issues one may face down the track? As an average joe, I have purchased dogs from internet ads, petshops, CC members, etc... maybe I have been lucky that none of the many pure or crossed breed dogs I've brought home have had any inherent issues that we are told that these sorts of dogs should (or will definitely) have... T.

Dannielle, I remember when I had to make the decision for my sooky Rotti boy... he had bone cancer in his neck and damaged it when jumping off the couch. I had the option of trying to treat his problem - which would be purely for my own benefit to give me more time with him - or to give him his wings... he got his wings because I couldn't bear to have him suffering just so I could have him longer... Sometimes I wonder if I should have tried to give him more time. It's the second guessing yourself that is actually the hardest part of these decisions - especially if the dog in question has good days and bad days... Whatever you decide for Abbi will be the right decision at the right time, OK? T.

Of all of the females I've owned that I've had desexed, only 1 had showed any signs of incontinence at a later date. Bear in mind that this one had 2 litters before being desexed aged nearly 3 years old. She started leaking while asleep when she was 6 years old. It's possible that her problem was completely unrelated to her desexing status. My current 2 girls were desexed at 2.5 years old each - after having a litter - neither are even vaguely showing signs of any incontinence at all - and the old girl is 11.5 years old. T.

There could be something else brewing up her nose other than a grass seed... I'd get her looked at even if it means subjecting her to an anaesthetic... better safe than sorry I reckon. T.

http://communityvet.net/2011/01/lost-childhood-companions/ My brother sent it to me... T.

My local vet staff know my voice... even though I don't call them often. They do have one woman who isn't very pleasant over the phone, but when I mention that I'm "Trouble's Mum" she gets a whole lot less frosty... *grin* The regular clinic manager is the best ever - she always can find time to get one of my furkids in to be seen if they need it... considering that I tend to foster pups, and go down for weigh-ins on them, all the staff love having puppy cuddles... hehe! Don't need to bribe with money... *grin* T.

When one of my Rotti girls passed and we buried her in the corner of the back yard, the male that had paired with her sat on top of her grave for a whole week. We even had to bring him his food there... it was pitiful to watch him grieve for his girl. He was fine after that week though... The girl above had a sense for when there was something seriously medically wrong with people too... T.

I hope the visit went smoothly Greytmate... hugs! T.

My heart dog Woosie (a Rotti with the sweetest temperament ever) wouldn't let anyone into my room if I was asleep. My poor flatmate tried to come and wake me because there was a phonecall for me... and my 10 week old "guard dog" stood over the top of me and scared the 6'4" Maori flatmate right back out the door... lol! Woosie never left the bed, and didn't bark or carry on - she just let him know she wasn't having him come any closer by using a growl he totally understood to mean "get out"... This dog was perfectly fine with everyone and everything except when I was asleep. If I were awake in bed, she wasn't fazed by people coming in... just when I was asleep... god I miss that dog! A piece of my soul went with her when she passed... T.

No negotiation - my babies leave with me, or I don't leave. I will sit on the roof and have food dropped to me before I leave my furkids to fend for themselves in a disaster. T.

Each of my babies that have gone to the Bridge have "let me know" that it was time - it's a hard thing to explain "how" one understands their need to take their final journey. It is different for each dog, but the bond you have with them just "tells" you that they need this final bit of help from you. PS - I feel for you. Me and mine send you all the strength and love we can for when your beloved fur-friend needs to take her journey to the Bridge. Jed - your writing from the heart made me cry... but it also made me remember all of my "Bridge-babies" who are patiently waiting for me to join them some day - and that makes me smile again. Thank you! T.

Not only my own dog, but a flatmate's 2 dogs also, got between me and a drunk and aggressive other flatmate who was brandishing a knife at us in a drunken rage. I'm fussier about flatmates nowadays, but I have no doubt each and every dog I've ever owned would get between me and danger without hesitation. Dogs don't have to be fully specialist trained to protect their pack members IMHO... mine are treated with love and respect, and give that back to me a thousandfold in so many ways... T.

I've got a few of the rubbery orange and blue Chuckit balls - they are tennis ball sized... and I recently saw larger ones in our local pet supply store too... they are the only things my crazy Labrador hasn't been able to destroy. Not cheap, but worth every cent for their longevity. T.

That is a totally classic photo... save it for his 21st birthday... lol! T.

*giggle.... SNORT* That is FUNNY!!! T.

Labrador pups make doing the poo patrol each day into an adventure... lol! T.

Hmmm... inbreed your family, but crossbreed your dogs... T.

There is "handling" - and then there is "man-handling"... The video shows an example of one of the above... what would you call it if it were YOUR dog on that table? T.

I have a mower with a catcher primarily because it catches all the seeding bits, etc, that can cause tummy rashes... It's a nice finish, but a bugger to have to stop and empty all the time... grrr! T.

Most rescues don't advertise their charges with the fancy petshop type names... I'm guessing that those who have bought these crossbreeds elsewhere for ludicrous sums of money want to perpetuate that they have something special because they don't want to admit they paid way too much money for a somewhat ill bred mutt... *grin* T.

My girls have only fought each other - and 3 cops with capsicum spray and batons couldn't separate them the last time they fought. Luckily the fight broke up on it's own as the senior cop was going for his taser. Once the dogs separated, the police had their guns drawn on my Lab as I whisked the Rotti/Pittie cross into the house to assess her wounds and call the vet to let them know I was coming in with 2 badly ripped up dogs... Needless to say, my girls are kept separate now. The weirdest thing is that they are both perfectly well behaved in public, and are never aggressive with other dogs - they just don't like each other much at times. Seeing 2 dogs go into a zone where they have absolutely no other focus than killing each other is definitely VERY sobering! T.

That is too funny for words! Go Luki the clown! T.

... and you didn't prank me? I feel left out now Powerlegs... hahaha! T.

I've been sent copies of gossip about me that has been circulated by someone who claims to never have any gossip... But I'm sure that quite a few people involved in rescue have had malicious gossip spread about them - we are a scary lot, and don't always see eye to eye on any given topic... *grin* T.

Fingers crossed she only has a nasty tummy bug, and will be feeling much better this morning after the overnight care. T.