Alyosha

This is a truly astounding comment: "Ms Blackwood said she wasn't out to dupe anyone, and if she'd known the strong ­Bichon Frise influence in Shaggy's bloodline, she'd have charged up to $200 more for him."

Please tell me that a vet didn't say that?! What utter rubbish. Mine are babies at 8 months. They might have long legs but that's about it! They don't finish growing until they are three, sometimes older. Does your boy still show signs he has growing to do? Is he in proportion, or are his legs/feet still a bit big for the rest of him? Does he have growth nodes halfway down his ribs? They will feel like little bumps on each rib. I would be very surprised if a purebred Akita stopped growing at such a young age. Has he increased in height or any other measurement during the same period of time? Or are you going by weight only? Static weight doesn't mean a body isn't growing and changing...

Fantastic!! Great to hear of his positive progress. Love the photo. I share your opinion on this one Jed. Couldn't agree more.

1 week to go now? Lots of us with everything crossed that she has a safe whelping. As the venom has such a dramatic thickening effect on the blood she may have blood vessel damage - this could be affecting her eye. Some of it might resolve in time.

Would the circumstances really matter to people if the dogs have torn up a child?? Sure there will be reasons it happened. But it happened.

I normally buy fabric sighthound collars from overseas as they are more affordable, even with postage.

Everything crossed her for your girl. Tiger Snake venom is nasty stuff. So lucky you got anti venom so fast!

No experience to share, just hoping she pulls through ok. I suppose the risk is to the placentas, which may have been damaged like other organs.

The article was particularly poorly written. Quite bizarre references to the "child". Poor little whippy. Hopefully she recovers well and the attacking dogs' owner/s help out with the expenses.

I don't recall that being on the form a few years ago when I applied for mine... But it is awful wording.

Yes I would, in certain circumstances, as I have been there. I started with a dog as a pet. As he grew his breeders encouraged me to show him, owned in partnership. As he approached his title they had a new litter. I researched the bloodlines and thought that one day they might match my co-owned dog. I enquired about getting a bitch and was open about my possible breeding aspirations. As we had such a good relationship it worked. They trusted me with a bitch that may have been deserving of the honour of being a foundation bitch. She got her title at a year old. But she continued to mature and I continued to learn. When she was two I applied for and was granted my prefix. When she was three I bred her to my co-owned dog with the blessings of my mentors. And the resulting litter far exceeded my expectations. They still do, and they are still maturing... People need to start somewhere. Trust and rapport can be built between people, and is sometimes hard to put into words.

Ness thanks for the heads up on the cooling mats - have just grabbed two! My adults won't willingly get in water either. The teenagers will wade in the river a bit, and Zander likes to stick his head in and blow bubbles... We have done what someone else mentioned and run sprinklers the night before under the shadiest trees, and the older sooks love lying on the damp spots the next day. My older boy Boris sleeps inside the dog trailer in the shed all day - it's like a insulated little palace! My pups use clamshell pools very happily, or play under the sprinkler. They also love frozen blocks in the clamshells, bits of carrot etc frozen into them are another enticement to get in the water. My worry has been our old and senile Goldie girl, who has started being confused by feeling hot, and then getting restless. Which leads to wandering about and getting hotter. I had to take her physically into the clamshell pool yesterday (she will normally get in by herself but wouldn't go near it yesterday - go figure!?), and the heat coming off her into the water was horrible!! So I ran the cold hose down her underside and throat. She settled after that and lay on the verandah and slept all afternoon with no more panting. We have a fairly new pony and I'm convinced he had never experienced a hose in his life. But after a few gentle goes recently he is starting to look forward to a spray and even had a full bath yesterday with minimal wide eyes (a bit sad he may have never had so much attention!).

Lovely story Mini girl! I too am happy to persevere if they are strong enough in other ways. I had a tiny puppy in a previous litter, born with a broken tail. He too had trouble latching on, and I hoped it was just a lack of strength as he seemed to be a fighter. I tube fed him for a few days and he took off. He caught up and even passed some others, did everything first in his litter - opening eyes, getting on his feet, eating solids etc. He now lives overseas as a family member and military working dog (mascot & welfare). He is so treasured by so many - the couple of days lack of sleep were well worth it long term! Sometimes pups are weak for reasons we don't know and it's not meant to be. Sometimes they can use a little extra support to find their feet, if the spirit is willing.

:thumbsup: Huge thanks for your quick response Wayrod, super professional as always. :D

A timely reminder, not so much for regulars here, but maybe for all of us to keep an eye and ear out in our neighbourhoods etc for dogs suffering in the heat. http://www.warwickdailynews.com.au/news/heat-claims-life-of-dog-on-chain/2137026/ ROSE City residents are being warned of the dangers of heat stress for pets, following the death of a dog in last week's heatwave. An East Warwick resident, who did not want to be named, reported seeing her neighbour's dog "cook" in the sun last weekend. "We heard the dog across the road barking in distress," she said. "I knew something wasn't right so I checked in on it." When the resident found the dog it had wrapped itself around the star picket it was chained to. "It was around 2pm in the heat of the day when we found the dog," she said. "By the time we found the dog it was pretty much dead." According to the resident, the dog had no water and had been in the sun for several hours. "We tried to cool him down by tipping water onto him and getting him to drink but he was so exhausted and his body was shutting down," she said "He was taken to the vet but it was too late." RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty said there were a number of things people could do if they found a heat-stressed dog. "If you can, get the dog to air-conditioning, wet compress its lower stomach and forehead and give it some water - depending on how bad its condition is," he said. "Call the RSPCA. We'll refer the incident to either the RACQ if it's a car or the nearest authorities if there is no animal ambulance in the area." Mr Beatty said unfortunately finding dogs suffering from heat stress was a fairly common occurrence. "Either people are straight-out idiots and leave their dogs with no water or shade or they chain them up and the dogs get caught on something like furniture and can't reach shade or water," he said. The East Warwick resident said it was unacceptable for her to have to find a dog in such a state. "It was a horrible thing to witness. I will never forget the look that dog gave me as we tried to save his life," she said. "The worst thing is it seems as if we are the only ones that have shed a tear over this dog while the owners don't seem to care." If you find a dog in distress or suspect a dog is suffering, call the RSPCA on 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625). what to do:  Get the dog to air conditioning  Wet compress its lower stomach and forehead  Give it some water  Call the RSPCA on 1300 ANIMAL

I have to agree with Sheridan, that it is often a term used to dissuade people from purchasing from breeders - which is no less of an "adoption". Especially coined by the phrase "Don't Shop, Adopt" which is usually used in anti-breeder advertising. I consider the term "adoption" is used in dog rescue as a marketing tool. If money is being exchanged then the dog is being bought.

Does anyone on here have it? I've done a quick search but can't find it. I will pm but thought I'd check if anyone else has it handy. If you're about Wayrod shoot me a pm. I have a family in Vic seeking some help with transport for one of my pups. If I can get your contact details I can put you in touch. Thanks. :)

That's sad but very interesting Dyzney. I wonder if it could almost be a different scenario for those heavy muscled breeds to be desexed early, would the muscling develop differently without ever having been exposed to the same levels of testosterone? I know that there are studies done on the skeletal changes but I haven't seen one on the muscle before. If I mentally compare to cattle (which I try and do as there is such a visible example of the physical changes brought on by desexing - steer vs bull) then I can imagine the muscle difference. Is it not much discussed?

Best to do it when it suits, and before any major dramas. I have never done any tests before a castration on a young and healthy dog - just send them in and whip 'em off I say! :D Does he have both testes descended?

How's your bub doing today?

Aww she's gorgeous!! I'll be at Braidwood so if you spot me with the tall and hairy brigade say hello. Will you come to Tarago the following day as well?

Suckling takes quite a bit of strength for a newborn. If he was very tired he may still be fatigued. I would just keep topping him up to build his strength. But before each top up give him a go at the boob. If he still lacks strength just let him rest then try again later. That way he won't continue to get exhausted. Try him on a bottle if you have one, rather than a sponge, to help his sucking reflex take over and mouth strength improve.

One of mine was successfully treated, by my normal GP vet. She was 2 at the time, it was open and draining. She was treated with antibiotics, and with the standard abortion injection (can't remember the name sorry!) to assist in producing contractions to expel any infection material. Vet advice was to breed her on the next season for the best chance of fertility and flush the uterus. That was an absolute impossibility at the time. She was young and immature, and her half sister was nearly due to whelp a huge litter. So I took my chances and didn't. We agreed not to give her antibiotics following her next season and she cycled normally afterwards. I crossed my fingers and toes last year and bred her. One mating & tie and she produced 12 healthy and beautiful puppies in November. She was pregnant and whelped without a hitch, and has been a spectacular mother. She had her Pyo in June 2011 and whelped her litter in November 2013. Not sure why it happened as it is not known in her family. She had only had one season prior to her Pyo and she had a very strong phantom afterwards (also not known in her family). So possibly linked to that, but I suppose we'll never know.

I wonder if the public opinion circus has anything to do with the lack of prosecution?

You took the words right out of my mouth Rebanne. :)