Salukifan

DO NOT get that patella operated on before your dog is 12 months old. And I"d be after a second opinion on the HD as well.

It's a massive dose of Moxidectin which lasts 12 months. Once you've given it, if there are side effects there is bugger all you can do about it. It's a bit different to administering an oral dose designed to last 1 month. If you want to know more about it, there is plenty about it on the internet. This is a good start. Vets like it because they calculate that the risk of heartworm infection in dogs whose owners forget to dose them counters the potential risk of side effects. If you can remember to dose your dogs monthly (or daily with another drug) then why take the risk is my view. It's one hell of a chemical assault, especially if given with vaccinations.

Crate trained as babies. It's a big help with toilet training. After that, they sleep in the bedroom in baskets or on the bed. They are fed every day and given treats in their crates. When staying in new places or at dog events they are crated. I think crate training is important for dogs that trial or are shown, or who travel a lot. I think crates are also a useful tool for managing multi dog households. Their crates are in the "dog room" - the sun room at the back of the house where they now spend the day (it has a dog door outside)

Ignorance and complacency can be a disastrous combination. I feel for the owner but I can also summon some sympathy for Farmer Dave. No doubt he'd never considered how this might turn out and until now, he had no need to. Rather than bay for his blood, I'd rather see him learn from this. I hope other dog owners learn from this tragedy also. If he doesn't learn from it, then he deserves what he gets.

Most professionals I know shudder at the idea of "doggie day care". A bunch of dogs of varying sizes and temperaments running around under the "supervision" of someone with minimal dog knowledge is an accident waiting to happen. And sadly, they do.

I'm always intrigued by this. Don't dog nappers use FB or the internet?? There was a spate of "suspicious vehicle in area" posts in Canberra not long before I left. Dogs WERE being stolen apparently. I asked the ACT Police. If dogs were being stolen, no one was reporting them. I honestly think some people get their jollies scaring the bejesus out of dog owners. Yes, it happens. But so do gates left or blown open and dogs that would rival Houdini for escaping.

I use recreation leave or I don't do Friday shows. I just turn up on the Saturday. Work pays the bills. It has to come first. I've turned up to work on a planned rec day and missed a show because I was needed. My boss is pretty good about days off so I do right by her.

With 2017 as your puppy acquisition date, you have time to explore a rarer breed and get on a wait list!! Option B - see if you do go overseas and obtain a rare (or not in Oz) breed there!!

Dalmation???

Utility breed - and were developed to have a protective function. If you want to take your dogs to the beach, be warned that A LOT of dog breeds don't "get" Boxers. Their facial expression says "hard stare' to working breeds in particular. I hae never found them to be particularly friendly. Get a Bracco!!

"'Cheap" and "dog that requires regular professional grooming" are a poor combination. Scratch the wooly breeds IMO.

A well bred, well trained Rottie is a wonderful dog :) ETA but they have a double coat

I'm going to add a note of caution about the utility gundogs. I realise you are only at the narrowing of options stage but prepare yourself for actually meeting breeds. Utility gundog pups are FULL ON. GSPs are great dogs but they are not low maintenance. They need a lot of training and stimulation to be happy. Even then, they are not going to quietly fit in to urban life IMO. A Standard Poodle pup is just a big silly gundog so they are the same. Agree with Showdog about Pointers being potentially a better option but even then you have to survive the first year. I wonder if one of the utility breeds might suit you better. They still need a lot of work for the first 18 months but I would have suggested a Dobe or a Rottweiler. I love Rotties.

Because I've decided to show and breed: * to deal with excitement, disappointment and setbacks to plans. I have seen friends suffer heartbreak and rebound. It's "character developing" * that dog people come in all ages, socio-economic statuses and types of mental health * that dogs don't care about any of that, nor about wins and losses, if they they are loved and cared for. * that the more you learn, the more you realise you have to learn. Dogs are very grounding.

Get them to a dog show or at least put them in touch with the relevant breed clubs when they select a breed. You might want to prepare them that telling a dog breeder they want a dog that makes no mess in the house will not be a great start. There are a lot of sharks pumping out pretty ordinary Dachsies at the moment - a decent breeder will be critical. I suggest a look at the Standard Dachshunds might be a compromise - they are a not a 'small' dog despite the lack of height.

Can I correct one misconception? Some older Whippets may be happy to sleep on the couch all day but Whippet pups are , well, pups! They need training, exercise and stimulation. My 3 year old is probably at the upper end of the scale for activity levels but a bored young Whippet may become destructive or an escape artist. Dodger without sufficient exercise is a handful. Both my youngsters were accomplished diggers. Their prey drive needs harnessing through training and an outlet and a spooked Whippet offlead is a gone Whippet. I recommended them earlier in the thread but they aren't what I'd call a "no work" breed. I work in business suits and while I put them on last thing before I leave for work and take them off as soon as I get home, I still get dog hair on them.

No hair, no drool. No dog? What kinds of concession are they prepared to make to having a living animal in their home. Short of a hairless dog, some degree of hair is inevitable. If that freaks them out, I have to say a dog is not for them. How will they deal with pee, poo or vomit??

Salukis do come in smooth coats but are not a breed I'd consider suitable for a first time dog owner unless they are prepared to step up for that breed in a big way because they really want one. Gundogs have looser flews to enable them to hold birds. Loose flews = capacity for drooling. That doesn't mean they'll do it all the time but they are certainly capable of it. A Whippet might fit the bill. I also love Pointers but if the occasional drool at food is an issue, strike them out.

oops. Double post

I think showing is one of those things where you just have to jump in and learn by doing. Have a few lessons, practice and then get in there and get feedback from people who will support you. Just do your best. The judge will restack your dog if necessary while they judge. Don't panic!!

Allergies are a symptom. A depressed immune system is the cause. You've got yourself a colour known for skin issues in a breed with sensitive skin. Good on you for doing the hard yards for this pup. But what you haven't got (yet) is the WHY for all these issues. I think you need a referral to a veterinary skin/allergy specialist. I'd also be having a good look at thyroid levels. I hope you can sort this out.

My friend's BC pup tried to herd my Whippets when she first met them. FAIL Not easy to herd something that's running laps around you.

Yes Jules this is why I say small and to meet the other requirements it probably needs to be leggy. I would love a border collie. My first dog was a border collie of sorts but I acknowledge they are too high energy for me. Whippets are certainly athletic dogs but I thought they had a high prey drive. I think a mini poodle is probably what I want. Now I just have to find one. Thanks everybody for the suggestions. I have both Whippets and Poodles (Miniature and Toy). One thing you will find is that decently bred poodles don't come cheap. There are a few breeders who have had a number of dogs do well in obedience. They are certainly a far more biddible breed than the Whippets and are charming companions. However a Mini Poodle that weights more than 8-9 kg is probably a fat dog. They are high on leg and are ectomorphs like the sighthounds. I love my Whippets but they they need their WIIFM box ticked in training. Some folk do very well with them though and they are a low maintenance breed in terms of coat. High prey drive doesn't mean they want to have a go at everything but if it runs... Many live with cats but I'd not sell a pup into home with poultry.

My entire boys are quite pungent. The desexed boy doesn't produce that result. Nothing stable disinfectant doesn't solve.

And brindle and white Pugs, and a few other new colours cropping up in other breeds. Spontaneous genetic mutations? My armpit they are.