Salukifan

I wasn't sure that I would post here but having read Leopuppy's post it seems fit that I too say farewell on the forum to the dog that started me on my journey into dog ownership. So farewell my beautiful Teddy. Crystallee Top Stuff CD AD JD 31.8.1998 to 1.7.2014. Ted was increasingly frail in his last months but still feisty and still the boss of the tribe. I came home yesterday afternoon to find him unable to stand and made a dash for the vets, knowing in my heart that it was his time. Run free Ted - a great ambassador for your breed. I couldn't have asked for a better first dog. You were the one that started me on my journey into dog sports and the world of purebred dogs. You will be so very badly missed.

So very sorry to read this. Run Free Leo I lost Ted yesterday too.

I seem to recall last time this topic got an airing I suggested that generalisations about quality of dog ownership based on factors like having a full time job were neither useful, nor helpful. What matters is what adjustments people are prepared to make to their lives to accommodate the needs of a baby puppy. The fact that someone is home during the day does NOT automatically mean a pup will get more attention. It could just as easily be left outside on its own because "that's where dogs live". Call it an apprenticeship for becoming the animated garden ornament that so many dogs seem to end up as. Breeders have the right to home their pups as they seem fit but IMO a few more questions about how an owner will cater for a pup sure beat assumptions about fitness based on work requirements.

One of mine had anal gland problems on a raw diet. No issues at all since kibble was added to her diet.

This assumes, of course that mandatory desexing is actually enforced in the ACT. And that is one hell of an assumption. My guess is that a significant proportion of ACT dogs are neither registered, nor desexed. A cursory look at pups for sale ads would support that view.

Have you considered two Savic station wagon crates?

Yep, definitely a vet visit and don't delay. You don't want your dog to lose the sight in that eye.

Thank you. Survey completed.

oops. Misread. Thought you were asking about the P4Ps. There are six in this house.

Personally I think the sooner people grasp that testicle removal is not the "magic bullet" for behavioural issues, the better. Sadly, a lot of vets support the notion. A lot of the time the issues aren't with the dog but with how its being managed.

Better bone density and different angle of the femur into the socket - shorter femurs on undesexed dogs.

Sadly, my M4M trial has not been a success. They were having loose sloppy stools on it - didn't realise how loose till I did poo patrol on the weekend. It's back to RC now.

Depends on whether you think fluoride is "nasty". It's certainly done wonders for the teeth of generations of kids. You can always just get a Brita filter jug.

Melbourne has some of the best tap water in the world. I'd not bother to use bottled water for a dog (or for myself at home in Canberra). Half the time what you are getting is not better than tap quality anyway. Up to you but I can think of better things to spend my money on.

There are a number of vet who a way to quick to go down the Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis route for my liking. A gangly pup is not cause for panic. Keep them lean, feed them an appropriate diet and exercise them gently and just let them grow.

Talk to the pup's breeder and get a second opinion from a good vet. Also bear in mind that less than perfect hips doesn't necessarily equate to life as a cripple. Keep the pup lean and fit and he may have many pain free years. If your first vet is talking surgical intervention now, run a mile (and my guess is that's what's on the agenda) What you need is more information and now.

I think it might be useful to change discussion of the table from "how do I fit into this as a breeder" to "would this assist puppy buyers to avoid the worst kind of breeders". The answer for me is a resounding "yes". And the quote that captures the AIM of the table is this: I don't have any argument with that.

I do know of plenty of club rescues that only rescue purebreds but they do not require them to have pedigree papers. I thought this thread wanted contact details for breed specific rescues. I have no idea how people identify an "obvious cross" but if they're taking them on, that's beyond breed specific rescue isn't it? Whippet Club of NSW is one of these and its contact details are on the breed page. If people don't want to get the Club involved, that's their business but the Club will see to whatever dogs are brought to their attention and they do a better job of fostering and rehoming dogs placed with them than some others. The dogs don't end up kennelled for months for a start. If people don't want to visit the breed page for club details, they need merely to advertise the dogs by breed in the rescue thread. We'll see them soon enough. Otherwise this thread will require 5 different contacts to be updated. If there are non-club affiliated other Whippet rescues, I don't know who they are.

If a club is only rescuing purebred dogs, isn't that what a breed specific rescue is? I don't know of any club that insists on papers

My recommendation would be to buy a Dremel and learn to do it yourself. It really isn't that difficult and doing a little often would be better than an occasional trip to the groomer.

Your parents need to be part of the way forward for your dog. Sorry to say, but what they are doing is probably part of the reason you are seeing it escalate. They are creating more anxiety about loss of his treasures. Get someone decent in. If this was a big dog, what's happening would be downright dangerous. Even so, your dog has the capacity to seriously wound someone,

I'd also never buy a pup from someone who tells you that every pup in the litter is show quality. It does happen but not often. Take the pup an experienced breeder/exhibitor tells you is the one. Personally I'd not go lower than second pick dog or bitch.

It's my absolute favourite :)

Next step: Download a copy of the breed standard (extended one if available). Read it. Learn particularly about what are major faults and disqualifying faults. Go to a specialty if you can and buy a catalogue. Note the names of the dogs YOU like the look of so that you can learn more about who bred them and what their pedigrees are. This is the first step in figuring out who you want to look at to buy a pup. It's not how I started. I'd have bought a show prospect from just about anyone. I was lucky that I got steered in a good direction. But now? I look to pedigrees.

Here's my suggested first step: Go to a few dog shows. Sit ringside and watch the showing. Decide whether or not this is something that you are prepared to do for days on end, weekend after weekend. Sound obvious? Not really. We get people coming to shows with their new pups for the very first time and they've never been before. If you are serious about getting into it, I'd say you're probably looking at about 2 weekends a month to get you and your pup up to speed. If you only want to "play" at showing? Go for your life. But if you are serious, that's the commitment you are looking at.