Alyosha

Yep I saw that in the GT ad, still entire. Probably good growth wise. I think DAS have a deserving policy...? MUP mentioned in the other thread that there is one in DAS. I wonder if DD had seen him on gumtree?

Awesome! Thank you. That is indeed the one. This pound has a great rehome rate, but I thought getting him up here might help his chances of a perfect home.

For anyone that might have knowledge of the breed, or know of a suitable home, I have been informed there is a Beauceron at DAS shelter in Canberra. This boy has been advertised on Gumtree for a while now. He was imported as a pet from Europe when his owners came to Oz and has relevant paperwork apparently. I don't have a photo but saw them when he was up on Gumtree and he looks genuine, including having double rear dewclaws as this breed should. Photos might come up on a cached google search, I will try tonight. I don't know any more than what was on Gumtree before, but it appeared that his owners had a change in circumstance and were trying to do the right thing and place him. Perhaps they have run out of options as he has now been surrendered. It may be that his unusual breed has made him difficult to place! As far as I recall from the previous ad info he is already desexed, housetrained etc and looked like a loved pet. But maybe best for someone with knowledge of his breed, or of similar breeds.

Maybe I'm being cynical but that was my thought - not that it was gone, but that they may be seeking extra funds towards desexing down the track.... But it's a unique sort of a situation. I'll play it by ear.

It seems that there is pressure from the vet that desexing needs to be done asap, so thanks for advice guys. I would think if it has been down until recently there would be even less chance of anything going wrong with it. I have still said to them that desexing should be left until 12 months at a minimum. As I don't know the vet involved I don't know if it is simply a matter of the big desexing push that some vets do anyway.

Thanks for replies. The pup is to be desexed down the track anyway. But obviously if one has gone back in the vet will want to do it sooner rather than later - and later is better in such a large breed. Rebanne he left here at 3 months with 2, and apparently was missing one at a vet check just before 4 months. So sometime in those three weeks it has gone? I only have the owner's word for that though. Will have to play wait and see I suppose. He's interstate which is frustrating, but I might have a trip in that direction next month. If I can have a look and feel myself I'll feel much happier.

I read that thread. This is one of my pups, definitely had two testicles until he left home at three months. Now I get news that one can't be found... So slightly different situation. Was just wondering if anyone had actually experienced that as I am doubtful about the story at the moment...

Has anyone here experienced a pup having apparently normal testicles all it's baby life - up until 3 months, palpated regularly by breeder and on every vet check - and then one not found at 4 months? I'm feeling dubious...

Great to hear such positive news Marianne. Here's hoping your cleaning is easing up and your business will boom.

This. People's dogs are their own and their choices are likewise. Mine get variation in their diets to hopefully offset any fussiness when they head off to new homes. They also get chicken necks from a few weeks old, graduating to wings, drumsticks, frames etc. They also get fresh whole carcasses if available - example: I have three nearly four month old pups at home, their mum was given a whole fresh rabbit recently and she took it straight to them. No question about them knowing what to do with it..,.

Very impressive ad. I follow the amazing work of these guys on FB - Operation Wolfhound on FB

Well said. I will send an email. My OH helped numerous struggling exhibitors with trolleys over the weekend - he could have been busy all day! Also of concern was so many people leaving past the marshalling areas for Group and General Specials on the Sunday. So many dogs and people and trolleys and gear all on the one footpath... Also bizarre having the dog exhibitors drive to the back entrance, past the locked dog carpark gates, with members of the public, horse and cattle floats etc and then negotiate the busy carparks all the way back up to the dog parking area. Not sure who dreamed that up but it took me 30 minutes on Saturday to get from the gate to the dog parking area... With the amount of staff on the gates, and the large and clear vehicle passes issued to exhibitors, surely they could have been channelled in through the front gate and reduced a huge amount of congestion. I'm really not sure who dreams this stuff up... Oh, possibly some portaloos in the vicinity so that next time the toilet block backs up, overflows and gets locked there is somewhere alternate...? Bizarre idea I know...

They certainly didn't look picturesque enough to star in anything when they turned up - except maybe The Creature from the Black Lagoon... I saw the ad last night but couldn't it online to look again. So thanks for posting it!!

I have seen Border Collies deemed a "large" breed sometimes - particularly in regard to pet products, so not just by numpties in the street. It is sometimes relative to who is making the call. If that someone is used to toy dogs then a pitbull may well be considered a large dog.

I'd second PBGV, or even have a look at Standard Wirehaired Dachshunds. Stunning dogs. Not too low energy I suppose, but short legs mean they are easy to keep up with on walks! Or Basset hounds for similar reasons - although they are normally considered large dogs... Energy on smaller legs can be easier to deal with sometimes! Or go genuine low energy and look for a Pekingese.

German Spitz?

The photo at the bottom of the article has the same parkings as the video in this thread - it's Izzy... As to when or where that photo was taken there is no mention. I think their whole story stinks and I feel for Whipitgood that this has all come up again. I remember how hard it was on the family.

If you look up the Act that the comment is referencing you might find out. This story from WA has been linked online to the sad story of the Cav bitch "Izzy" and here pups. Many on here will remember the story unfolding. Yes there is not always a home for everything, but when animals have homes ready and waiting and are killed for bizarre reasons like in this instance people remember... Yet again major questions arise about what systems are used for temperament testing.

Second this!! An invaluable skill indeed. Are there any knowledgable folks near SLF that could help out? Or SLF - would your vet be able to show you? Some know and are great and other are less than confident. But it couldn't hurt to ring and ask...

I think it's nice to have this support thread when the situation has generated so much interest - awesome to have so much support and well-wishing. It's also great to have the initial thread in the breeders community so that it stays fairly concise for SLF to seek advice and answers easily if needed. :)

Contact your vet and get them to report the issue here: http://www.apvma.gov.au/use_safely/adverse/veterinary.php If they are adults and don't need C5 for boarding, I would be giving C3 every three years or titre testing if you can access it. The trouble with over vaccinating is that it is suspected of actually weakening the immune system instead of strengthening it..

Sounds positive so far. Well done you! It's tough and stressful and tiring so take it easy on yourself as well ok? She sounds much happier with the pups more content which is understandable. She also sounds clever enough to learn that she can trust you to help her with her babies. :) Oh, and raw milk - great. So long as stomachs tolerate it.

Lack of milk is hard, and stressful. Keep at it, you're doing well. But yes - try to give them time away from her. Will she settle if you give her a couple at a time and let the other few rest? If you can put two or three aside in a warm box to sleep for a couple of hours - even in a separate quiet room, then let her out to toilet/eat and swap them for the couple she has had with her. She comes back to rested pups ready fora drink. I also top up the ones going off to bed - with a bottle or tube feed. That way they start getting a couple of hours solid sleep at a time, with full tummies. This rest and digestion will pick them up faster than anything, but she will also get almost constant milk stimulation and contact which helps her stay settled and brings her milk in. I too have used fenugreek to help boost milk supply. I also give the bitch milk replacer, like Biolac or Divetelac, or my favourite - Palastart Lamb & Kid milk replacer. I soak fenugreek seeds to make a tea, then strain and use that warm tea to mix with the milk powder. In the meantime, keep up the bottle feeds. Do you have anyone nearby that is experienced with tube feeding that could give you a hand? It's great for weak pups as it is quick and doesn't expend any energy. They get filled up and go back to sleep.

It will depend on what level the term "Maltalier" and the recognition of crossbreds can be proven I suppose. If the store have gone to "reasonable" lengths to confirm the ancestry of the puppy, then does the purchaser end up with a leg to stand on?

We need to also keep a lid on what we consider a "normal" reaction. A normal dog, of a broad range of temperaments and breeds, can react to mishandling in certain ways. To my mind, a snap or bite and a move-away can be within the realms of "normal" depending on circumstances and provocation. To go into a sustained attack mode is a different thing and potentially not a temperament trait that should be desired or tolerated.