sheena

Whole Turkey necks are good...I get mine from Woolies

I have had border collies for 30 years & wouldn't even consider any other breed. I started with working bred dogs & the last three have been registered dogs from good breeders. I have found as puppies (ie until about 15 -18 months) they can be very naughty especially in the early months where they literally chew everthing they can get their teeth on, including parts of the house, furniture, electrical cords, toys, beds etc. Then when they reach adolesence all the past training seems to just go out the window & they really test the boundaries. But this is just the way they are & if you know that in advance, then when you get your pup you can be ready to help combat that with things like crates, CPens (which I found great) & gating them off into their own special place in the house when they can't be watched. It takes a border collie just seconds to destroy. They are higly intellegent & love to learn. Five minutes of trick training is as good as a 30 minute walk. They are super affectionate & loyal (or at least mine have been) I love them & THEY have taught ME so much about dogs. Everyone of them is different. If you are prepared to put up with their naughtiness in the early days (it doesn't pay to be too house proud) If you are prepared for them to be part of your family & train them to know the rules & boundaries in a rewarding way & walk him twice a day. Further education as in joining a dog club & doing Obedience Rally or Agility is super Oh, & you will need good fences. If you have done your homework & know what you will be in for, then go for it

The flea or tick has to bite the dog before it (the flea or tick ) dies. It is not a repellant

Looks good to me

Thanks hollee, I ended up getting this one but I bought from K9 Pro, the same one. Yes, I looked at those ones Tassie but they wanted $45 postage. I would have preferred one with pull down shutters, but oh well...I have another crate cover I can put over it if I need to. Thanks everyone

They look very similar with the drop down sides. I will make enquiries. I am also looking at the ones that K9 Pro have, though I don't think their ones have drop down flaps on the sides

I found an identical one from Pet Stock....a bit pricey but I don't care...unfortunately they are out of stock too !! https://www.petstock.com.au/product/dog/pet-gear-generation-ii-soft-collapsible-dog-crate/57248

She is not expecting them back in stock till well into next year

Yes those are the ones I have, but she wont have any more in the large for some time. I always thought they were made in Oz too, but apparantly they are made overseas

I have had two K9 Royale soft crates for years & years & they have served me well. However I promised one of mine to a friend for her rescue dog thinking it was a good excuse to buy myself (well my dog really) a new one. I have put my order in, but they have told me they wont have them in stock for a long time as they are made overseas. I always thought they were Australian made, but obviously my mistake. So can anyone recommend another brand that would be just as good? I can't be an Indian Giver & ask for the one back. I need the large size.

Not sure if it is any softer than an antler, but when my guy was younger, I gave him goats' horns, which lasted for a long time. Both my dogs get turkey necks (frozen in summer) & frozen stuffed kongs

Just asking as I might have missed it somewhere, but why are you only considering a small breed dog. There are some lovely medium breed dogs that would be good with children

Keep away from tinned food & depending on the size of the dog, give turkey necks. Or at least that is what I do for my Border Collies

Why don't you go for a pure bred Maltese or Pom? There are a few litters advertised on this site

Hi & welcome to the world of puppies. Why do you not want to use a crate, next to your bed?

That is cheap !!!!! Especially considering he has to have a GA to be able to do it

Do you work with a clicker?

For training treats, I go through hundreds a day, so I make my own by cutting up Prime 100 rolls into 1cm pieces & dehydrating them for a couple of hours in a dehydrator or a slow oven. Easy to put in the pocket. I mainly use Kangaroo or Wild Boar. The salmon one the dogs like too but are a bit smelly in the pocket. For a larger treat like at bedtime, I give them a bone shaped biscuit made by the Australian Pet Food Company. I also use their kibble for training treats

I agree. I would rather see a good breeder breeding well bred pedigree dogs a bit more often than happens now to cater for those people who just want a dog on Limited Register. ATM if they breed more often than when they are wanting to add to their own family, they get labeled as unethical. More well bred pups available would also bring the price down slightly (perhaps) making them more affordable & more competitive with designer puppy farm dogs (does that make sense?)

Without even looking at the ingredients I would NEVER feed my dogs a food that had been brought in from overseas. Too many food miles for me. With so many Australian made & Australian Produce on sale here in Oz...why buy a dog food made in Italy. I much prefer to support Australian Farmers & Australian Manufacturers

What breeds in particular??

If you are going to breed, then you need to get a pup on Mains Register & you need to know what you are doing. Has the breeder of your puppy done all the genetic tests on the parents? What colour are the parents?? For if they are both Blue then run a mile. Breeding is much more than just sticking two dogs together and hoping for the best. The rescue centres are full of dogs that have been bred by people who have no idea what they breeding. Having said that, good on you for coming on here & asking for advice. I am sure someone who knows more about staffies (I know very little, except to be wary of blue puppies & blue matings) will come on here & offer you some advice.

Is your pup coming from a reputable breeder who does all the health testing on the parents?

The good news is I am on top of the tantrums & are finding waays to manage them, but they don't hapapen very often now. It is still embarrassing when I take him to the vets & he lays down & flatly refuses to move out of her office. He just loves going to the vets so much. The bad news, & I don't know if this has grown out of his tantrum behaviour, but he is now resource guarding. We are away camping & if we walk the two together when we are approaching the caravan, he goes into a frenzy & has bitten my husband badly twice on the leg & had another go yesterday. It only happens when the two are together & I think it is prompted by Cricket giving a very low growl (he is a grumpy old thing) & undortunately Jaxon reacts & the first thing he sees is my husbands leg. We are only here for another couple of days & I hope it doesn't start to happen when we get home. I have bought a soft muzzle to put on him in the meantime & will only put it on him when we are nearing the trigger point (for our own protection). He is fine with other dogs & the two of them play together nicely on the beach. At home they do play a rather aggressive game of tug together & I am wondering if this might be the wrong sort of game for them to be playing together. Unfotunately I live out bush & not close to any behavourist that I can think of.

Due to the first one being successful & fun I will be starting a new Foundation Course the first week in July. If anyone is interested https://www.facebook.com/groups/1183080015374769/?ref=bookmarks