Alyosha

I'm no expert but do admire the breed from afar. I'd say a challenge with them would be keeping them cool - depending on where you live of course! And general soundness. They are gorgeous little dogs, so full of character and life. If I was looking for one personally I would be wary of too much coat, so much that it hinders movement and general lifestyle would be too much for me.

Yet I seem to recall you might have a liking for Arabian horses?? If we want to talk inbreeding you can't them out if it, they have been tightly inbred for thousands of years - making them what they are now... Sorry for more derailing... couldn't resist... :D

If they are puppy farmed surely they have all sorts of dodgy paperwork with them, homemade pedigrees etc. One more dodgy page saying they are older than they really are won't be a problem will it? How many airline staff can reliably gauge the age of a small fluffy crossbred puppy in a crate?? Yet the conscientious registered breeders will only have legitimate papers so will have to adhere to the guidelines. Sigh. When will people figure out that more and more rules only alter the behaviour of those willing to abide by them. Other people just find a way around so they can do what they like.

Not likely PF. The hunt for publicity always come first I'm afraid.

Easy! Whippet or Greyhound. But I also adore the Cardigan Corgis... Especially when pups...

Love the cut off tale comment!! We get everything, from "What's that, some kind of staghound cross?" (I hate the term staghound) to "hey look at the Lassie-cross dogs", to "Geez, they've got really weird long faces." And... "A Borz-what?". Resulting in the inevitable explaination which seems to help people understand - "they're Russian Wolfhounds". Which results in lots of knowledgable nodding and "Ahhh, yes, wolfhounds... Were they bred to hunt then?"

I love this one of Boris...

Surely a person answering such a phone should be employed? I wouldn't work full time for only 30k, and a full time hotline would need more than one staff member. So it seems a ridiculously small amount really. Also taking into account equipment, dispatch softeware, running costs etc.... Centralising things like this doesn't necessarily work. Answering phones on a local basis can be much more useful as local issues are know and taken into account - like prank callers etc. I think it's a PR exercise - like most things the RSPCA do. Designed to make people think they're doing more good, regardless of effectiveness. Having people on side means higher donations, which is what it's really all about.

They're lovely aren't they Krislin? In Russia the word Borzaya translates roughly to "Sighthound". So you have a few Russian sighthounds, all ancient breeds. There's the internationally familiar one, the Psovaya Borzaya (or "Borzoi" as we know them). Psovaya meaning longhaired. The Hortaya Borzaya - Chortaj. Hortaya meaning shorthaired. The Stepnaya Borzaya translates to "Steppes Sighthound".

... and I patted her last weekend!! An amazing looking dog - very soft to touch. Sonia Ooooo!! I want to meet her too!!! Is she headed to the Canberra area anytime soon??

I'd best aim for a big win then, and we could have a few new breeds in Oz. Love the Stepnayas: Plus who can resist puppies??? Stepnaya and Chortaj:

We can pine together, I might in lotto one day and import one... One day... They are also known as Chortaj if you're looking online for pics to drool over. :D

Have you heard the story of Queen Victoria putting Borzoi over the working Border-type Collie to produce the Rough Collie we know today? To the disgust of the working collie breeders of course.... Rumour? Conjecture? Perhaps not...

Hortaya Borzaya: Recognized in Czech Rep. and few other spots. The great supporters of the breed actually oppose formal FCI recognition as they feel it will be detrimental to the working nature and history of the breed. Love them

Fading coats in black dogs can be a sign of mineral deficiency, particularly copper. Black animals can require up to six times the trace levels of copper as white ones.

This is grizzle in salukis. It also comes in red or cream etc:

I suppose red is best. He is technically a tricolour though isn't he? But I know most would associate that with black tan and white.

Wire Fox Terrier?

Is a terrier...? ETA - Airedale?

:D

Come on lurkers... We've highjacked this thread enough... :D

I know, I know!! Come on... Someone? Anyone?? Starts with a G... :D

You were right the first time - Grand Bleu de Gascogne. I always loved how there was four varieties of the Bleu de Gascogne, they are lovely breeds. Your turn again! :D

Love those shaded faces!! This is one I loved when I was a kid - from a picture book I had. :D Who knows why some things strike us as special?? But I've always loved Bloodhounds too. :D

Hang on - Bavarian Mountain Hound?