SpikesPuppy

Bugger, Erny! I voted at 5 this evening. If i had known I would have given you my vote. It truly made me feel physically ill putting the ballot on the box. I informal voted on my small paper but on the large one I went Sex Party. They seem reasonably sane (and want to decriminalize the sex workers industry which I have wanted since I was a kid!). I hope I did the right thing there..... We only had Lib, ALP, Green, FF and DLP- I will never vote directly Liberal, normally I'd vote Labor but not after this, and the Greens are a bunch of nutters. The DLP and FF want to remove far too many human rights, Lord knows what they'd do to dogs!! I was truly at a loss as to what to do. So I did nothing. Wrong I know but.....

I would rehome, no question if I didn't bond with a dog (assuming there were no issues and it was just a personality clash). And I told my puppy buyers this- if they didn't click they could return the dog to me at any time. I believe a dog should be fun and your best friend- not a chore or burden!!! That's not to say you shouldn't take steps to bond but sometimes you are just wrong for eachother and the dog would be much happier elsewhere. I would also 'swap' a dog in the right circumstance.

We're taking Shazzapugs directions lol and going the back way. But it seems like the quickest for us anyway... Hope the ground isn't too mucky.....

We get the same with Grace and Ruby, although older English or Irish people tend to know exactly what they are and love to say hello. It's often the Aussies that catch people's eye though, especially the merles. Yeah we get a lot of older English / Scottish folk who know the breed, or people who have recently travelledto that area. Th closest anyone has come to recognizing Nessa is "is that some kind of Collie?" I don't think any non-dog person has picked the breed. Had one guy though who absolutely fell in love with her and thought she was the most amazing thing he had ever seen- promised to go home and research the breed etc. Quite a few kids recognize the Borders as 'the dog from Good Boy' lol but don't know the breed. Have also found that walking the Borders in pairs or all 3 together makes people stop and ask about them. I guess if there is more than one they stand out more.

My Newf used to eat tablets like treats he refused to eat the flavoured tablets (Drontal etc) as well as the Heartgard chewables. My Borders will eat tablets like treats 50% of the time.

I have met 2 SCWT at random and their owners were most impressed I knew what they were lol. One was a 5 months old pup at Flinders st station and the other was at our local festival

I will not pay more fees to participate in a hobby. We have 3 'breeding' bitches at the moment. They are pets who show and occasionally will be bred. I will not pay more fees, I will not register as a business (who wants extra responsibility on their tax?? Not me). And most importantly, I will not subject myself or my dogs to 'inspection' by ANYONE associated with the RSPCA nor will I change my current method of housing and whelping my dogs (dogs are in and out when they please if I'm home and let's just say my girls water broke on my bed when she had her litter!!). I am MORE than happy for puppy buyers to visit, and other breeders but that is where I draw the line. Be careful, next on the agenda will be requiring a vet in attendance during a whelping. I also believe such legislation as is proposed will further blur the line and add to the confusion in how to find a responsible, ethical breeder. Puppy farms will remain in full force and they will be 'registered' which will equal good I will be placing my first informal vote today, I have read the policies from all parties and candidates in my electorate and I cannot justify any of them (for reasons involving dogs and other). The two parties who make no mention of animals I find abhorrent in their proposed legislations for human beings. I still feel ill.

I get emails every so often from my puppy buyers telling me about an experience they have had with their pup and strangers, I also get emails and calls from people who have met one of my babies and would like one of their own When I get the time I bring my guys into the city for morning tea etc. They love the train ride! Also occasionally see a beautiful 14 year old Border girl walking with her people in Melbourne CBD. I will be bringing my baby girl into work at some point this year hopefully will get a few people interested they have already swooned over photos!

Anyone else think they can last 12 months without being VCA Registered?? We need to do something to let them know we aren't happy.

Would be interested, thank you

Unfortunately, most people stop and talk to the Borders because they are cute and want to know what crossbreed they are. Withthe Smoothie it's also 'what cross is that?' but it is an opportunity to educate people on the fact that pure breeds CAN look like mongrels if that's what you prefer. So you get the best of both worlds with my breed looks like the mutt down the street but is healthy and you know the parentage etc. Used to have people mesmerized by my Newf

Anyone have opinions or knowledge on the DLP or Family First in relation to dogs?? I only have 5 choices in my electorate. And will not vote directly for Liberal.

How the heck you do expect him to know the difference? How much time has anybody who is not on the far left animal rights/liberation spent educating him about the whole dog culture in this country? All he sees Animal Liberation leading rally's attended by every body and his dog, calling for massive legislation to stop nasty criminal dog breeders. You expect him to know what the difference is between registered breeder vs puppy farms? Besides the RSPCA has made that real easy so anyone can understand, there is no difference. All dog breeders are potential puppy famers and all need to be policed like the criminals they are. You expect him to know any different? Victoria culture, politics and media have swung so far to the left that they see center as far right, and heaven help anyone who is conservative. Reminds me of something that happend about 3 years ago. I watched on TV, some Victorian socialite ladies all dressed up drinking wine at some social event. They had a well know carton artist there speaking. He then drew a picture of Sara Palin a lady who is on the conservative side of politics in the US. He drew her, with her pants pulled down and she was being ***** from behind by a moose. Now bad enough that all these ladies were applauding the degrading of a female by using sex with animals to make the point that they did not like her conservative politics (BTW what ever happen to the women's rights, oh that is right, women only have rights if they are not on the conservative side of politics). But this program was being shown in the middle of the afternoon on TV when kids could have seen it. I wrote to the stations and there response was, it was political humor so was not really degrading to women. Then they explained to me that Sara Palin was a religions radical in USA politics, like that justified the whole thing and I must not have know that. They also said that children would not have understood exactly what the moose was doing to Sara Palin so it was alright to show it on TV. Hopeless, just hopeless. No need to be rude to me I didn't expect him to know the difference but his whole attitude to me was unpleasant and uninterested. What I would have liked was to engage in a conversation with him but he looked right past me after answering and hopped over to the woman with the pram. On other issues- I LOVE Myki. It's made my train & tram travel so much easier and cheaper. Just have an automatic direct debit each payday and I never have to worry. Yea it cost way more than it should have but that doesn't mean it's not going to be worth it in the end. I have hated Metcards since they were first introduced. For me, as someone who will never have children, dogs are a HUGE issue for me as a citizen and a voter. They are my family and they play a huge role in my mental health and physical wellbeing.

Dr Harry is ugly and I reserve a special dislike for him too I like Dr Harry He breeds Welsh ponies and likes border collies. He obviously loves animals. He is just a crap dog trainer but I am not going to hold that against him too much. His wife also bought not one, but TWO Maltese x Shih Tzu puppies on impulse from a pet store- while she was on holiday!!! Then he had the nerve to 'road test' the 'breed' on Tv.

....... Sometimes she loves her tall, handsome hounds. Caber is usually the best behaved of the lot, if you can believe that lol.

Unfortunately, I am runnin late this morning and must be on this train, however our local Liberal candidate was at the entrance to the underpass handing put flyers etc. I quickly asked him what he thought about puppy farms and registered breeders and his response to Puppy Farms was 'heavy regulation' and his response to Registered breeders? "There are a lot of issues that need to be addressed". I didn't have time to clarify any further but he certainly didn't seem interested in my query, which was disappointing (although I understand that he is under pressure right now but he missed his chance with a troubled voter who is putting in an early vote today...).

We walk with 2 (sometimes 3) Border Terriers, a collie Smooth, a Lowchen (wrapped and in full show clip) and 2 Afghans. The Afghans are clipped rescues but it is still a sight to see LOL and many people stop and stare or are amazed at how well they all get along etc.

I don't think I could vote Liberal and live with myself. As passionate about dog ownership rights as I am, there are other issues at hand. Looks like I'm putting in an informal vote this year Although, I recall reading that Mr Baillieu owns 3 dogs..... Anyone know what breed and their origins?

Didn't even think about the horses but Borders (Terriers ) were originally bred to run with them (the heavier Hunters) after the Hound pack in fox hunts. They are said to instinctively know to avoid hooves but not so sure about this lol. Anyway, they are smart little dogs and seem to have a natural affinity with horses. They are small but enough leg to keep up on a ride. I know of a few riding schools with resident BTs. Mine have only been around horses briefly and on leads (have only had 'pet' ponies for the last 7 or so years so it's just visiting and feeding rather than riding).

Me, please

Liberal preferences Labor over Greens. Just checked again and I only have the choice of Liberal, Labor, Greens, DLP and Family First. Now I don't know where to go. Am in a safe Labor seat.

I will do a proper reply later but CHICKEN COURT ;)

Cool thanks. Better groom my girl to within an inch of her life lol.

Sex Party for me this year. Far out. I feel ill.

Is it? Or is it the beginning of dog-owners, trainers and breeders FINALLY all coming together because we have all now been affected in one way or another by these silly, unfair and unjust laws that have made their way in over the recent years, and now we're a bit more ready to work together rather than individually? I know many breeders who still believe 'it doesn't affect me'. It's disgusting. If you have a small breed that is not extreme in any way, you don't dock, dewclaw or debark, you live in a shire with loose registration requirements (Ie 10 dogs without permit), why would you care????? (that was tongue in cheek btw). With the Govt slipping in these regulations left right & centre- right under our noses, it's terrifying. People are still doing dewclaws themselves or having a trusted friend do them..... Judy should not have been put in this position but I dint think she will be the last person to be 'caught out' unfairly! Not enough people are steppin up to the plate and joining in the fight. Without the numbers we WILL lose. I have a proposition for the MDBA - appoint someone from each state to regularly read and revise all relevant legislations so that no one else gets stung. Yes breeders should know the regs but who would think the legislation could change in the space of 10 months without anyone noticing!