Salukifan

Dodger and I will be on the Whippet Breed Stand. We look like this.

My "issue" as you wish to put it was that you didn't seem to have much of a grasp on the contents of breed standards and how they are evaluated. No dog is perfect - how would a machine weigh breed faults and determine which fault was less important than others, even in a working context. God knows human beings struggle enough with all the variables. But none of this deals with the topic of condition on show dogs. I don't get why some of them are shown as heavy as they are - but I'm not going to tell gundog people how to condition or judge their own breeds. In Whippets we get the other issue from observers outside the fancy - "those dogs are too skinny". God knows how the Saluki and Azawakh folk handle it. Their dogs are usually leaner than Whippets.

I never said a thing about pet owners. My comments were directed to you and you alone and based on your response to my comments. Don't wrap yourself in the flag of "all pet owners" to defend yourself. I'm one too you know. I'm not putting you down. I'm suggesting that an avenue exists for you to augment your knowledge before passing comment on things which, by your own admission, you know nothing about. That avenue is free and available most weekends. One of the first things you will notice is that people are very passionate about their dogs. What's a joke to you, is deadly serious to others. Its all about context. I wonder how lean people want to have a working dog that's expected to be in damn cold water to do its job. Indeed, the Cheasapeke Bay Retriever was expected to break ice to retrieve water fowl.

Maybe you should redress that aspect of your dog knowledge before proposing hypothetical solutions to real issues as they affect show dogs. Some of us are doing this for real.

Except it wouldn't measure temperament, check coat type or colour , nor weight minor faults in the balance.. Well the machine doesn't actually exist so you could have it pretend measure whatever you want The point I was making is that there is more to a breed than its physical shape.

Temperaments and activity levels vary a fair bit between those breeds. Time to meet some dogs. If longevity matters to you, that's another factor to consider.

If you ask the GSD folk about what's gone astray (and is being amended) in their breed the answer is NOT the topline. All GSDs are meant to have a sloping topline. It is over angulation in rear and the manner of stacking that produces that extreme slope. I agree that some show dogs carry too much weight. . It's pretty hard not to if you observe dogs at shows. It's not a trend, its been that way since I started showing. I don't think smacking breed fanciers around the head will change anything. The problem is not universal so sweeping generalisations are unhelpful and inaccurate. And sorry, but some show folk take pride in the condition of their dogs for the show ring. I defy anyone to tell me that this dog is "fat". Leah82: Except it wouldn't measure temperament, check coat type or colour , nor weight minor faults in the balance..

Short answer - because they can. And to so many people it will be "just a dog". Or "just an animated garden statue that will reduce their yard to a moonscape".

I would seek advice from people who have Shepherds that are in the kind of condition you want your dog to be in. I'm pretty sure that RC do a breed specific one for GSDs. The GSD next door who is in superb condition is fed ProPlan.

Glad you found it helpful. :) I love that website. Lovely dogs with the right care and attention and I'll confess I like the Longhairs best too!

I take my own doona mostly for this very reason.

This may seem like an odd question but: Do you want the dog to fit in with your current life or for your life to change to revolve more around the dog. People won't necessarily see it the same as me but I think the athletic breeds that have been bred to work with and for man on a daily basis are best suited to the latter category of owner. The Weimaraner is such a breed. I don't mean that you have to give up a life outside your home BUT unless most of your time after work and on weekends is spent with your dog, I'd not choose a Weimaraner. I do not think they thrive without a fair bit of companionship and training and you can say that about a lot of toys, gundogs and working breeds. Others may disagree but that's my observation. There are "easier" breeds to own. I'd put the Weim in the category of an "enthusiasts breed". It would seem I'm not alone in that. (this is a link by the way, you can click on it)

Amen to this. This time I hope they enforce the pet ban EFFECTiVELY.

One of mine is on Propaplin. That costs about $30 a month for a 14 kg dog.

I'd suggest a vet visit to have his kidney function checked and to discuss possible medication to control it.

MM why on earth would being controversial endanger your status here as a member? You can hold any opinion you like provided you express it within forum rules. What gets people DOLidays more often than not is their inability to argue a point without becoming nasty. As for my position in real life, I have no power to "deal with you" in any way shape or form unless you breach the Dogs ACT regs and you are a member. Nor, might I add, have I any desire to "deal" with people who express opinions without breaching those rules. I do want you to know that I cannot grasp the ideas you are trying to get across. What do you mean by "environment" and what do you want of the KCs that they aren't doing now? I still don't know the answers to those. To put it bluntly, I have no idea what you are on about. It's still too vague for me to grasp. I do know that there is NO BSL in the ACT, no political desire to implement it and no support from the RSPCA, Dogs ACT or the AVA for it. Should that change, I would weigh in on the anti-BSL side without hesitation.

Yip. I don't want existing dogs killed, but I'm not keen on this breed being introduced to Australia. If it is the one I'm thinking of , then human aggression is in the breed standard. Presa standard says "suspicious of strangers". Crossbred with God knows what and in the hands of morons, you are likely to have a lot of dog. The Fila Standard specifies "aloof with strangers". Both standards penalise aggression but I think its the Fila that judges are never to touch. Both should be "bold". A very big dog with no social skills and no boundaries that's "bold" ... no thanks.

How about defining what you mean by "environment". If you mean the wider Australian dog owning community in which only half of dogs are registered or vaccinated and 80% of litters aren't ANKC registered and many dogs receive no formal training, well and good. I'm happy to distance myself from dog owners who fail to meet their legal responsibilities as owners or to provide appropriate veterinary health care or training for their dogs and I make absolutey no apology for that whatsoever. Amazingly, these tend to be the very same owners whose dogs harm people and dogs in the community. Yep, happy to distance myself from the ignorant and the irresponsible because in this day and age there is no excuse for that. KCs don't need to fill that knowledge gap - plenty of knowledge providers out there now. Second time you have used the "purity" word and I've already dealt with that. Substiture "predicability" because that's what purebred dogs represent. When the overwhelming reason people surrenders dogs is that they failed to live up to their owner's expectations, you'd think that predictability would be what the "environment" needs. Oh well. There is no way in hell that all the dogs in the world (or indeed Australia) will ever be pedigreed. As I have previously advised, only 20% of pups whelped in Australia are ANKC registered. You keep talking about the ANKC "distancing itself". HOW? What would you see the KC's do that they don't do now? And why should an organisation funded by members do anything for people who are not only NOT members but have no obligation or interest in abiding by the code of ethics that members are required to adhere to? ANKC affiliate clubs already train any member of the community that wants it. KC's represent the interests of their members first and foremost. Their members are largely interested in pedigreed dogs and dog sports. Who else would would you see them represent and WHO is going to pay for that? And more importanly, what has any of this got to do with BSL? What more than a public policy stating that the ANKC is opposed to it would you have the ANKC do?

MM: The possession of a recorded history of ancestry going back at least 5 generations, and usually a hell of a lot more. Not "partially recorded", fully recorded. What sets these dogs apart is a documented histrory of breeding true to a type specified by the breed creators and documented in the breed standard. I'm sorry MM I just don't get what you're trying to say about dogs and their "envrionment". You either want a dog that's going to be far more predictable in its adult characteristics and far more likely to be within a specified set of characteristics that you want, or you don't. If you don't then there are plenty of dogs around who will fit the bill and plenty of breeders supplying them. Why those who care about pedigrees have to take responsibility for the actions or knowledge of those that don't sure beats me. I dont' see how "environment" influences that.

I think the "eating" bit is a media beat up. I don't hold with BSL in any way, shape or form but I have to say there are a few breeds I'm not sorry aren't here in Australia to be crossed and owned by people with SFA knowledge or ability to manage them. The Presa is a case in point.

From my experience? Only once you've ordered and paid. I agree, it's annoyng.

I will when it arrives. Supply issues. Hi guys. Just wanted to quickly chime in to say I'm pleased to hear the positive feedback. Also to advise there is absolutely NO (not yelling, emphasizing) "supply issues". And you heard THAT straight from the horse's. Cheers Then I must have imagined the email I got from the online supplier (Paws for Life) saying there was a delay in dispatching it due to "stock availability" and that they had been liaising with their supplier and expected a new delivery next week. What's with the attitude? I'm not dissing the product? I'm looking forward to trying it.

Surprise surprise. Not. Happy ending for the dog. That's all that matters now.

I will when it arrives. Supply issues.

Unless she looks like a toast rack, she's getting enough to eat. I wonder if she's getting the right quality/calcium -phosphorus ratio though. I hope he realises how easy it is to ruin a giant breed pup with the wrong diet. "she'll be right" doesn't work on these dogs.