Lollipup

Big thanks to Ams for the kind offer. However it has been declined by the owner with the following: "thank u but were coping fine and we want her here with us shes a pedigree pup" well, we tried.

Couldn't agree more. Responsible is not a word I would associate with this person. She knew the bitch was in season 9 weeks ago and its just come out she knew that the dog got to her but it was "only quick" so she didn't think it would happen.

I told them that and they did get her checked. Apparently no more pups in there.

This was my first thought. I struggled to find words. These dogs have had planned litters before and probably will again dogs and people both giving birth, I wonder if they know how it happens...

I agree. Kinder to pts rather than wait for more problems. There's no way she will be able to cope with round the clock feeding for a start.

An aquaintance (I don't know her that well but see her around fairly regularly) has two boxers, entire male and entire female. From what I have heard they have the occasionaly BYB litter On Sunday this lady told me that her and her family had walked outside to go to the car to go out and noticed that the bitch had a puppy and this was the first they knew she was pregnant! When she was telling me this it was hours later, she was still away from her house. She said the bitch didn't look in pain but was panting. I told her get her to the vet asap as there could be stuck puppies. Thankfully she did take the bitch and pup to the vet but I think that was only in the last 2 days. There are no more puppies. The mother has been carrying the pup down the back yard and dumping it and the pup won't suckle. So she is having to hand feed this pup. She is very stressed about this as she is heavily pregnant herself and due within the next 3 weeks. Now I know that a puppy needs its mother and siblings to develop properly and that the way it is going it will end up with serious issues. Is there anything I can offer to do for this pup? I guess what it would really need is a foster mother and siblings? I know the owner would be grateful for any help I could offer but I'm not sure what the options are. And of course, the situation shouldn't be here in the first place so maybe I should stay out of it. I just feel sorry and worried for this pup. (And also wanted a bit of a rant as I was boiling with irritation to hear this story )

I got told this story yesterday. My friend took her brother in law to her mother's place after he had chemotherapy for cancer and was toxic, could not touch anyone or anything but was there for a family gathering at his mother in law's house. Her dog had always been kind natured but she attacked him as soon as he came in the front door because she could smell the chemicals and the threat. She later died of the same cancer. This is obviously an extreme and unusual case but shows they can be threatened by things humans can't detect. I thought it was an interesting story but sad of course.

This one is disturbing. Pelican eats live pigeon. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eTzYEUW_0g

Oh my goodness! no wonder he vomited with it moving around inside him. I haven't seen that happen before.

powerful stuff, and it happens every day all over the world

my floor is always hairy so disappointing after slaving away at the vacuum and mopping on a hot day and 10 seconds later...

Yes - more effort is needed on both sides.

You did a pretty good job researching your breeder but letting the colour issue take priority, would have ruled out other good breeders. Buying from a first time breeder can be a gamble unless you can get to talk to more experienced breeders that have the lines behind the litter you are looking at. I often speak to buyers that are buying from breeders that have bred down from my lines. In your case you would have known at least a little about OCD risk if you could have done this, but it can still occur out of the blue in lines where it has not been seen before. The undescended testicles are pretty common in the breed and obvious at 8 weeks so that should have been pointed out when you bought Chester. Personally I would give a partial refund to cover the additional desexing cost if I ever produced a puppy with undescended testicles that were more complex to remove. Thankfully I am one of the few breeders that have never had this problem so far but I have also discounted for disqualifying faults like blue eyes, before, not charged more for them. Thanks dancinbcs. By the time I get to buy another dog I will be equipt to research my brains out! When we realised the cryptorchidism and told the breeder, she had no idea. I had to explain to her what cryptorchid meant. But at least she read up on it after that.

I always wanted a border collie. Then when the time came I decided I wanted a red one. I saw a LOT of dodgy stuff when I was looking. REALLY dodgy stuff. Then I found Chester and thought all was well - registered breeder, lovely breeder. I always research things a lot. Turned out that even though I researched a lot, I didn't research enough. I didn't find out about the breeding for colour issues until later after I bought him. I don't think his breeder bred ONLY for colour. The litter had both B&W and reds in it, more B&Ws than reds. I'm not sure if she charged more for the reds but I paid $950. Other reds I asked about from other breeders were $1500 and over. It was her first litter and I think she did the best she knew and had good intentions. But I think she should have researched more too. Chester had both testicles stay in the abdomen (bi-lateral cryptorchid) which cost me a lot to get him desexed and have them found. Now he has mild elbow dysplasia in one elbow. He is 11 months old. I love Chester but his health issues will always remind me that I should have researched more. I thought I was doing great buying from a registered breeder who shows, he is my first pedigree dog ever and not a great example health wise. Fortunately he has a wonderful temperament. I could have done a lot worse. It kinda stings to read dancinbc's words after all this but if I had researched more first, I probably wouldn't have even cared so much about colour and just bought a pup from the best breeder I could find who had done more research themselves. So yes, good on you for finding this out first. Avoid those who breed for colour or who charge more for it. Choose a dog on the more important qualities. All the best in your search.

I've lost a few dogs and i will never forget them. But one of them was extra hard. She died over 8 years ago and sometimes I still cry over her. But it does get easier with time, and the tears gradually become less often. Hugs to you. Lots of people here will understand what you are going through. I think this forum may be the only place some people can find others who understand what a dog can mean to you. I know thats the case for me, even though I haven't spoken about the dogs I have lost on here before. When it happens, this is where the support will be.

I have a big list of breeds I want to own one day. Top of the list is an Australian Shepherd. That's what I want next. I have a Border Collie at the moment, and a Cocker Spaniel Cross foxy. They're both young and we have a two dog limit here so it will be a long time before I get another dog.

I thought it was Mortgage Choice? I could be wrong

There's a red border collie all over the woolworths select brand pet food range and on some other brand too which I can't remember right now.

When you were first entering into the world of dog training, what kind of help did you have? Did you have a "go to" person for your challenges and questions who would help you out? How did you find that person? I'm studying the NDTF course, reading a LOT of theory, especially Steven R Lindsay's books, and of course practicing with my own dogs and friends and families' dogs. But I am finding the biggest challenge to be when I get stuck on something like a behaviour or training issue which I'm not sure how to approach. I don't work as a trainer and I'm still a long way from that. But when my own dogs have some issues, I feel a bit lost at times and I definately have the need to get my own dogs where I need them to be before I can claim to be able to help others. The trainer we have for the course lives a few hours away. He has helped me over the phone with something recently which I really appreciated but he is a busy guy and I don't feel like I could call him too often. I have offered to pay him like a consult for a client and this time he said no and the call only took a little while. There are no behaviourists or in home trainers where I live, just a couple of obedience schools. What I really would like is a mentor who I can talk through issues with and learn how to deal with them myself. Someone to guide me I guess. Its hard having no dog obsessed friends around to talk things through with. And I can't afford to pay someone to essentially be my friend :rolleyes: So if you have / had a mentor to help you start out, how did you find them? How did it start out? What kind of help could they give you? Did they live in the same area? Thanks for any tips you may have

you must have a very interesting library!!

Thanks. She is very much a sweety. Lola I'd my sweety and Chester is my goofball. He's sweet too when he wants to be. They both know how to work their cuteness.

Thanks Corvus. They are cute. I understand what you are getting at but that might be too detailed. I have to choose from a list of behaviours and it simply says "play behaviour" as an option.

Oh, you don't think I have good examples? :D

I have probably been guilty of anthropomorphising my dogs a little too much in the past. But I do see it as a problem and don't intend to do it. I see them as dogs, animals, not humans. But they are definately part of the family, my companions, my best friends. I love them for being dogs. I often prefer their company to humans. If I viewed them the same way, I wouldn't have reason to prefer them to humans. IMO they sure have some better qualities! Then there's my boss who is a human but I think of her as a.... well let's just say my dogs are smarter and sooo much nicer.

Now THAT is a compliment!