Simply Grand

All this puppy stuff, so exciting! Yay Lisa, so hoping the pregnancy takes, I'm sure it will :) Getting so close Jules! CC I came in especially for your update when I realised today's the day, can't wait to hear how your little one settles in :D

MV, I don't think anyone has said anything against anyone in particular yet either, just didnt want this thread going the way of the other one, doesn't look like it will :) I do understand and agree with everything you've said above, especially that breeding for a "popular" colour should be the last thing to put ahead of health, temperament and conformation. I certainly have no time for anyone who charges more for particular colours. Ooo, also just realised today's the day for Collie Chaos, I'll check the puppy thread for pics.

That is interesting to know. I will read the BC standard to educate myself and understand the differences from the Aussie Shep standard. I hope we can withhold judgement on Collie chaos' pup and the breeder unless we know more about them. A thread from a soon to be Aussie puppy owner the other day upset both the puppy buyer and the breeder, also a DOL member, when some assumptions were made based on limited info.

Oh sorry dancinbcs, I hadn't registered that merle wasn't mentioned in this thread. The pup in question is blue merle and from photos posted in the puppy forum has a pink nose with increasing black pigment as he gets older. He is very cute :) ! I don't know who the breeder is and don't know BC breeders either so can't comment on them.

Sid was nothing but cute looking! Dancinbcs, I'm surprised to hear that even Merle well bred BCs shoul have a fully pigmented nose by 6 weeks. I know Aussie Sheps are a different breed, but given that their colour genetics are so similar I'm surprised because the Aussie standard allows up to 12 months for "final" pigmentation. I'm not doubting you, just saying I'm surprised, and wondering why it's so different.

Just posting again so I have a record until I make a more proper record. Today, day 13, Quinn has made it clear that she has had enough of Saxon humping her. She has been quite receptive to him giving it a go until this arvo, and not long ago she gave him a telling off and since then he's had a tentative sniff of her rear end and walked off. So I guess we are on the downhill slide now :) She will be very happy to get back to the park in a week or so and have a proper off leash zoomie!

Oh Caz Still thinking of you here too.

Are wings the same as guides? That's how Saxon learnt through our training club. As in plastic lattice stuff was pinned between the poles to direct the dog (sorry, I can't remember correct terminology ). This worked well for Saxon, as being little, it was hard for him to jump the guides, so it might not work for Hudson. Maybe worth a try though

A lot of people don't think about clipping nails until they get long enough to need it, and by then the dog is old enough to think "I'm not letting you cut bits of me off!!" . Having had 3 puppies in 2.5 years I've really come to appreciate how much easier it is to get them used to things as babies, when they still worship you, before they get little independent minds of their own :laugh:

Aussies seem to vary in temperament, mine is the total opposite of aloof, she's always throwing herself at people and trying to get her tongue in their mouths to show them how much she loves them I really wouldn't mind if she was a bit more reserved, sigh... Your client takes his BCs pants off, heehee! I know what you mean, we had a conversation about that in the Aussie thread recently, seems many of us have problems with crazy looking pants on our dogs :laugh: Yes, the Furbuster will still damage his coat when he's grown up, he should end up with fine-ish, long-ish hair for is top coat, which is what you don't want to be cutting with Furminator type tools, and a softer fluffier undercoat which will fall out, that's mainly what you'll be brushing out with an undercoat rake. I haven't stuck to any particular brand but check with his breeder whether they recommend anything in particular. They can probably give you a quick grooming lesson too :). I think the oatmeal sensitivity is pretty rare so I wouldn't worry too much, but a patch test on his back or belly might be a good idea (still wash it off, of course). Age wise, I used I on mine from pretty much when they first came home (and I didn't know they could be sensitive to it so just went ahead and used it). Again, check with the breeder as they may have already bathed him with something. Another thing to be aware of with Collie breeds is that they can be sensitive to Ivermectin and various other things that are on some dog medicines. I don't know much about that but search DOL and, of course, ask the breeder.

Oh forgot to mention, I really like Aloveen and use the shampoo and conditioner on my guys. As he grows up you may find his pants (back of his legs) go a bit frizzy so conditioner is good for that. Occasional dogs are sensitive to oatmeal so just check that he doesn't have a reaction to it.

I saw your pup's photo in the puppy thread, he's adorable! I have a blue merle Aussie Shepherd girl, now 14 mths old :) Don't use the Furbuster on him, it will break his top coat. The slicker will be ok as a baby with his litle fluffy coat but I'd suggest a pin brush, brushing the fur up backwards from tail to head to get down to the skin, and an undercoat rake or shedding comb (which might be what you already have) as his coat develops, especially when he has his coat drops! Don't forget nail clippers, and practice clipping his nails often as a baby (this is my new advice to mention to all new puppy owners :p )

I took the boys to the park today leaving poor Quinn at home of course. I tried to bribe her with one of her favourite chewies but she kept putting it down and coming back to the door like she was saying "no that's ok, I don't need a chewy, I'll just come with you guys" I had to just shut the door on her, mean mum!

l love the way you say that Ellis - "I will not be laying next to the crate" Nope, not mean at all, it will be good for him to learn to settle himself, otherwise you'll end up with a dog who whines for company every time he wakes up.

I know, concerns me too. I don't think they realise what they are in for with her as she gets older and bigger. She'll be losing her puppy licence with other dogs too which worries me because she doesn't back down to warning signs from other dogs and can be very in your face.

Just catching up on your pics ktb, your boys are so awesome! Have to say I love your creative approach to toy naming, it's the same here, they have Polar Bear, Monkey, Ducky, Goose, Turtle, Bunny, actually there's another Monkey, Ele (the elephant), Donut, Froggy...

Jasper and Daisy are sooooo cute :D He sounds like a special little guy and he is lucky to have you.

Oh that's good to know murve, I'll tell him that!

That poor obese dog, it certainly was cruel to let him get anywhere near that size I'm pretty sure I've never seen an 80kg dog, probably neither have the people getting the pup. I will see what I can get across to them to try and get them to change their minds, and will ask them more about the breeder as well. Hopefully the health issues and how this dog might be viewed by other people will get through to them. Just to make it worse, the guy also mentioned he wants to train the dog to be a protection dog and maybe do security work with it. They really aren't bad people, even the guy, just under informed about managing the type of dogs they want to own. The Husky is bossy, confident and strong willed, which is fine if they can train and manage her properly, but I suggested to them that asking the breeder for a more laid back Rotti pup would be a good idea otherwise they may have fights on their hands, but again I doubt they'll listen. Maybe there's a chance the breeder will actually try to match them with a suitable pup (*optimistic hat on*).

Um Sandy, im not sure you've read my initial query properly, and I'm also not sure I understand what your response is saying with regard to my question

"Only" 39 here in Canberra... And no air con at my house The dogs have been lying around all day moving from spot to spot. I have ice packs and frozen water bottles wrapped in towels around for them to lean against, but they don't seem to want to Riley keeps coming and lying against my legs until I push him off too, he's crazy!

They do seem to take some pride in the fact that their Husky girl is pedigree PB (apparently) so I will ask about the credentials of these Rotti "breeders". Maybe the idea of their dog not being respected by other Rotti owners will get through to them Eta - just saw your last post dyz, maybe this is a good tack Also I was just talking to them the other day about the costs of the various medical requirements for multiple dogs and bigger dogs, and explaining what flea, worm, tick treatments actually do. I wish they'd join DOL! I keep encouraging them.

On the plus side, I wouldn't be surprised if the breeder is lying about the weights of their animals just to appeal to people who want "giant tough Rotts"... Not a big plus I know

Arrrgh, I knew it sounded dodgy but thought I should check before I jumped to conclusions. I will keep chipping away at them, and ask them for more details of these "breeders", and slip in comments about health. They are a couple in their 20s who are nice and quite good dog owners I think (they have a 5 mth old Husky girl atm - yes adding a Rotti pup now is a concern in itself) but they have these ideas in their heads, especially the guy, sigh... They won't listen if I just say they're making a mistake so I try to pick my battles and encourage them to at least appropriately train the Husky and now the Rotti.

I know Alyosha! I pointed out that males are meant to be around 50kg and that 80kg would be incredibly huge. Mm, these people want a biiiig dog some I'm sure they are meaning and wanting an 80kg dog. Maybe they have misunderstood what the breeder has told them (hopefully...)