ophnbark

Poor Astro, we are hoping for better news today.

We've had it with one of our bitches but at three years of age she seems to have finally settled in to a correct pattern.

Oh yes, we have had domestic judges comment on the coloureds and say that a Schipp should be black. Hello, read the standard. We've also had them say that they don't like the tails.

I agree but when a judge clearly states that she disregarded coloureds and tails because they weren't allowed in her country she makes it pretty clear what her decisions were based on.

All of our schipps get along except for two of the entire bitches that hate each other with a passion, wouldn't say it's a breed thing though just a dominance thing. Our entire boys all get along fine as do the other entire bitches.

Ah yes, we all remember the Canadian judge at the Schipp club show a couple of years ago saying at presentation that coloureds and tails weren't allowed in her country so that was the way she judged. Wish I had known before I wasted all of that money on entry fees We've been under Canadians with creams before and they have loved them but not so this judge.

White vinegar is fantastic for taking the urine smell out of things and it's cheap too :D

And another aggression one, any dog with wrinkles on it's forehead will attack you.

Another bonding one, apparently if you blow up a puppy's nose it will bond with you really fast. My husband tried it once with a pup when we picked her up from the airport and until the day she died she absolutely hated anyone even breathing out near her.

I agree with everyone that has said yard size isn't important as long as the mental stimulation and exercise is there. We have got a small farm with a half acre running yard and most of the time they are back at the gate wanting to be let back in.

Such a sad thing to happen to one so young and it must be devastating to not know the cause. Hugs to you.

Hi Guys, our boy is 11 years old , 3/4 blind and 1/2 deaf but still rules the roost with the rest of them.

Only Rochelle's 2 Thanks Capanash.

We enjoyed staying at home too, any schipps entered today?

see you all at the park

Ours are raised in the lounge room as well with the kitchen being the next room. Plenty of noise and goings on.

I've also got a box on my puppy sheet for placentas, once ticked the bitch can go for it and eat as many as she likes. For some reason they seem to leave the last one, probably preoccupied with their babies by then.

We have got 9 Schipperkes ranging in age from 11 years down to 3 months. They all get play time with us and some sort of training games and fun games. They all have numerous toys to play with and chew on. They have got half an acre to run around together in (except for a couple who hate each other and they run with others) and they are out in that area for an hour morning and night. After their mad games in the morning they usually laze around all day. If the sheep are in the paddock behind where they run they usually herd them through the fence as well. Some chase birds, some hunt mice but they all enjoy their quiet time during the day to bask in the sun or curl up together if it's cold and wet. Some go to shows, some to obedience or markets or wherever we go so they all get out and about.

All of ours make us laugh with their different antics. We have got "burpers" here as well, must be the good food they are getting. It's also funny to watch them all sit under the dehydrators hoping that the doors will open and something will magically drop in front of them. Our new young pup makes us laugh with the way she acts like a kitten, leaping around and using her paws to wave and bat things.

All of our puppy buyers keep in touch with us and one has become a very good friend. We used to be good friends with one of the breeders we bought dogs from but not any more, are friends though with another breeder we bought from.

Hi kellytaz, We've got nine Schipperkes and you are right about the hair getting everywhere. Open a cupboard door and it's in the cupboard. Apart from one all of ours are entire so only drop twice a year and not constantly but when the bitches have their pre-season coat drop it's unbelivable. The black and cream combination of hair here makes life interesting

We don't get sirens here but the Schipps will howl if the phone rings for too long or if a truck goes up the road (we are on a dirt no through road so not much traffic at all) and gun shots get them started, it's duck season so lots of that at the moment

Several years ago I did the Select-a-pet thingy and it came up with the three breeds they thought were most suitable for my circumstances at the time. After much research I decided that Schipperkes were the dog for me and went about the business of finding one. Eleven years on and we have nine of them and we love them. The only other breed that we would really like right now is a Norwegian Buhund but unfortunately there are none in Australia, maybe one day we'll import a couple.

I'm with Erny, we don't have yearly or even three yearly boosters so why do it to our dogs.

Yep, sucked in