Rebanne

when a vaccine was found for it. It is almost unknown thanks to the vaccine. I've been in dogs for over 40 years and have never even heard of a dog getting distemper. There will always be unvaccinated dogs and plenty of them but it's parvo more likely to get them then distemper.

Your local council should be able to help you.

Ask your breeder about vets. They can ask other breeders if they are not close to you. House training, hmm never had a pup in an apartment but make sure you have decided how you want to do this. Do you want to use a pet loo for the life of the dog or train it to hang on until you get home from work for example.

I google their home address so I can see the fences etc. Ask for photo ID before handing puppy over. And otherwise what you have done. There are no guarantee's. Some people are very very good at telling others what they want to hear. Just have to trust your gut.

Good luck @Yummyit's not easy to find something that works. My girl gets antibiotics when she has a bad flare up due to secondary bacterial infection. I know what you mean like the areas look so sore.

Has the dog seen a vet? I've got an itchy dog and I use several strategies to manage her, including meds from the vet.

I'd be getting a vet check first. Then, is it a full blown phantom where the bitch goes around collecting toys, or just the bitch coming into milk? Most breeders just carry life on as normal. Some cut back food and up exercise to decrease milk.

From what I have read about Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs and Manx cats, yes they can have problems ranging from no tail stub at all, incomplete spine, to not having an anus. My reading of the STCD is more about their early development and it's possible those problems have been ironed out. I know Manx cats have a different gait to tailed cats but next doors seems to have no problems.

I asked some people that do have "skin in the game". Yes there is a NBT gene and they have to submit DNA for purity at time of registration.

My attack???? My claim it's wrong??? I've read plenty about the NBT in Rotties over the years. Never seen a word about Dobes

Bit rude don't you think? I said as far as I know. Please post a link to a verified source to back up your information.

Mostly depends on the breed

As far as I know Dobes don't have the natural bobtail gene so if the tail is shortened then docking is the obvious reason.

Breeders can and do make money on a litter depending on the breed of course. I had 4 litters and made $3000 on one litter. Of course that came no where near covering the loss on the other 3 and I suppose you could say that $3000 was my wages for all 4 litters. Not much per hour that's for sure. I was speaking to someone the other day, bought a purebred lab for $600, from good lines?, bred her to the neighbours purebred lab, from good lines?, and in her own words sold the pups for $3000 each (microchipped and vaccinated) and made $24,000. Next litter she plans to sell the pups for $3,500. Oh and they know the Mum has "the no overeating gene" because she doesn't. Just ask for the records of the parents etc so you know actual testing has been done.

Most will be imported from NZ. Breeders sent the bitches there to have their pups. Pups were docked there.

not correct

Can we please not turn this into a p1$$ing contest?

it may just be an old age thing Stitch, sorry not much help

well you would know then all about how many cross breeds have a Goldie parent, so you can't blame ethical breeders from saying no. Full marks to you for being up front though. I can only suggest you contact a couple of the breeders who have dogs you like and suggest a sort of apprenticeship. Meet up at shows, chat, help them etc, build a solid relationship and see how you go. But your journey won't be quick and to be frank, if I had a breed used for crossbreeding very expensive dogs, usually from non health tested parents, hybrid vigor you know, then I would most likely say no as well. I am not saying breeding cross bred's is your aim, not at all, but I understand where the breeders are coming from. Have you not met any Goldie breeders worth their salt in your long career? Or are they the one's saying no?

My first dog as a 20 yo was a German Shepherd X Cattle Dog but we did live on a horse stud farm so lots of exercise for the first 12 months. Honestly she was a dream dog so I wouldn't say your choices were bad but 40 years later I know I was so lucky with Brandy. Don't rely on what your teenagers may or may not do. Decide what you can commit to and go from there. I have had Goldies next door to me and boy could they bark! No dog is perfect but I'd be going a purebred from a registered breeder who can help guide you to what pup would suit you best and be available to help you with any problems that may crop up, or just listen to your brags on how you have the best pup ever!

in Vic they are but must be contained by crate or chain. If chain it can't allow the dog to reach the side to prevent it falling off.

depends on the breeder. Costs the same to rear them.

Well I loved every minute of it. I thought it was very well done and showed just what working machines the dogs were. What I was surprised at was how they all were worked on cattle, not sheep. Cept for Lucifer who ended up with cattle after being too much for sheep. No pure cattle dogs in sight. Mainly Kelpies, with a few obvious cross breds.

I always suggest seeing a vet with strange, new lumps. Better to be safe then sorry.

I think it will be enough. Dogs in cars wear a harness and are clipped in. Depending on the size of the dog you could put a crate on the passenger side but it would have to fastened down somehow.