JRG

I have used old tyres too they can be fastened on to wood or horse stable rubber matting if necessary

Here is a pic of a little "spare" pen I have in the yard. It is completely enclosed and safe - can be padlocked it needed. ('Fiver' is not quite sure why he has been enclosed!!) I have pushed an old frying pan under the bottom rail. It has two treats in it (but he is not amused). Note that I have not had to come into contact with the dog inside the pen, and I could tie the pan handle to the verandah post if I wanted to keep it within my reach so can remove it.

Not sure that this will help you,but a couple of things in my system of feeding might be of use: 1.i prepare the feed dishes the night before. This means that I can feed all dogs - I have 6 or more - almost instantaneously. 2. Eachdog goes into its own pen and i close all gates. No food appears until all dogs are in. 3 the stainless steel feed dish for each dog is pushed under the gate so that it slides into the middle of the pen. The steel bowls slide really well 4Each dog can eat as fast or slow as it likes without interference should add that i do not have any food aggression problems, but better safe than sorry

I have a bitch who is now 11 and all her life she has hated the car. Cries, is sick etc. I have tried everything and just given up!

Unless your dog is very well known in dog circles , and excels in some aspect eg at the shows or trials You might find it hard to get suitable studs for him.however, you will need to get his hips and elbows xrayed and scored, eyes tested, genetic tests done etc. Stud fee is usually the price of a puppy, but is negotiable. probably your best first move is to approach the breeder of your pup and ask him/her if they would be interested in his services. If they agree then you should probably give them a much reduced fee (or free service) in order to get your boy recognised? Don’t expect to make much money unless your boy isVERY well known! you will find that most breeders of standing have their own boys and will not be interested unless you have something rather special or unique. sorry to sound a bit negative, I have been breeding dogs for 40+ years and only twice have I “fallen across” an unknown dog that I have subsequently used at stud and I imagine other breeders would be the same. - could be wrong of course.

Try the Department of Agriculture site: Code of Practice for the. Operation of Breeding and Rearing Businesses section 5, Sale of Animals. 5(i’j Guarantee read page 23 and the notes on page 24 not sure how this might/might not apply to animals bought in NSW , but you could ask the question.

I see you are in Victoria where there are now very specific regulations about the rights and obligations of the breeder and purchaser of a puppy. These govern the amount of compensation the breeder must give you and second veterinary opinions etc. they are all detailed in the Code of Practice drawn up by the State government and is on their web site.

Allergy?

Saw these in Inhabit just this afternoon.

Or extra. large bulldog clips

Blueskies — did you see the pm I sent you at the weekend re working English Setter litter?

Blow in her face and she will turn away

Yes, this is serious Gundog stuff. Usually takes at least 6 months for the (very) basic stuff, but Banks is destined for offical Field Trials, so I do not expect him back for many months! Yes I will miss him, but since I got him as a potential stud dog, he has a lot of growing up to do before I can use him. i have made a good deal with a friend, he gets to trial him, I get to use him over my (working) Cocker girl, and we both, eventually, get a well trained Gundog. in the meantime I have plenty of (working) springers to keep me busy!

Working Irish in Victoria and WA if you want any more details, pm me.

Banks is great, thank you. He is a really good baby, has never soiled his bedtime pen and is never noisy. He has been to two Puppy Classes and, I am ashamed to say is not the best! loves a game of "chase" and has perfected the art of rolling and standing up again in one movement (while on the run)! Although he hasn't completed the Puppy classes he is off to boarding school next week to begin his training to be a proper gundog. So far all he has learnt towards that career is to collect his dumb-bell and bring it back - which he does with great gusto!! and stay reasonably close when we go for a walk across the paddock. I will keep you posted on his progress

Get to the Vet ASAP. Does not sound good!

Yes! Please do this BEFORE you hand him on to someone else.

Not much help but I got mine from Lakeland in the U.K. I suppose they sell them over the net.

Rebanne - I am keeping positive thoughts coming your way - hope your girl is still hanging in and gaining strength.

Hi Tully If you want to read my first hand experience of dealing with this, I wrote about it for the Spaniel Journal and it should still be available in their archives section <www.spanieljournal.com> (the magazine is no longer published) (title "Thank God for Butterflies"). It was a tough road but we proved it could be done!

Hi Rebanne - it was a long difficult journey. If you pm me, I will send you my ph number and I can fill you in on my experience with Petals.

I. Had a bitch with this back in 2002. At that time it was virtually unknown and was never diagnosed. She was para.ysed for the rest of her life, and she lived to a good age and whelped 3 heathy litters. As far as I recall she never ate chicken in her life!

I’ve had working bred Springers for 45 years and can truthfully say that I have never met a lazy one! hard surfaces etc are to be avoided but otherwise, let them run. By doing so they get fit and strong, and, believe me, they need those attributes in the working life ahead of them.

Banks arrived here yesterday. He is a very dark liver English Cocker Spaniel of the working type and is nine week old. Welcome to the Springer world little man! Sorry, photos not great - he moves so fast!

Bacchus Marsh is a long way from the SE of Melbourne