Steph M

They didn't go. Private jet landed wherever and off they hopped, I gather.

Did take selfies with them though...I even feel a bit sick thinking the dogs are on their clothes, god knows what they are taking home. http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/dog-groomer-sad-for-johnny-depp-and-immaculate-pets-20150514-gh1g79.html Also noted in that article they arrived LAST MONTH... That is a lot of time to spread whatever around.

God knows, no inflight meal for them though, I am afraid. I wonder if they will need quarantine/checks on the US end now? A huge risk. If my dog was sharing space with un-quaratined dogs I would be going batshite. The owner was posting photos saying what an honour it was to groom them and how they should be allowed to stay etc. Morons. I wonder how well she has cleaned everything they touched? Not well enough I would bet.

A little birdy told me the dogs are booked on a late flight tonight, so no private jet home for them! They will be most annoyed. Haha.

Barnaby's press release made me feel sick. The whole thing could have been managed discretely, cleanly and without all the crazy. The whole bugger off/worlds sexiest man/etc etc was gross and showy.

Just as an aside, I don't know a decent breeder in Aus who PTS yellow puppies or would dream of it. Yellows pop up and they go off to new homes like the rest. There are quite a few yellows in homes, they're not actually that common of an occurrence, mainly the really large litters and only one, maybe two in my experience cooing over litters (don't judge, its a big job!) Its such a small circle, if someone were knocking yellow pups on the head, everyone would know. Everyone knows everyone else's business as is! As I said, large litters, perhaps pup was PTS on medical grounds, seeing as it appears to be a single pup you're talking about? Also in saying that, there are few born, so the gene pool widener you're talking about is very very small, assuming dog has good structure and all the rest, odds shrink again. Also liver is very much a recognised colour, and many breeders breed from livers, certainly not discouraged... Hawksdale just imported the most fabulous liver dog from Sweden, I doubt they would spend so much money doing so if not to show/breed him. I have heard judges can overlook livers sometimes, but that's as close to discouraged as I've heard. Most kennels seem to have a liver or two in their program. There is also sun bleaching in livers, those who work their dogs or spend lots of time at the beach the fur can gradually bleach in parts. It happens in blacks to to a lesser degree, I believe? This could account for some of the coat changes you may have noticed too. Can I ask, you say you're unsure of your dogs parentage, are they actually from a reg. breeder? I know one kennel breeding FC's that's been problematic for some time. I think everyone knows who! Haha. Not to say the dogs wouldn't make fine pets, but I'd hesitate to use those dogs as an example.

ALL Aussie dogs are infertile! Did you not know?! Haha!

Absolutely! We have to make the choices we feel comfortable with and weigh up the pros and cons in each individual situation. Bang on! And the prospect of captain dingbat getting out and making flat coat x american bulldog puppies left me cold. Haha.

Oh horseshite! Haha. I have tripped over mum's little dogs, been knocked over by my whippet x and many other much smaller dogs. I think your choice is fine, he's a doofy puppy still, it's learning for everyone. Hope someone has some good ideas, I have perfected going limp when Gus used to crash into the back of my legs. The more you resist, the more likely you are to fall like a sack of poo. He did grow out of it, isn't much of a runner now, happier to wander next to us or swim alongside us. No helpful advice from me really, just sympathy.

I think its personal preference. If you're savvy enough to manage an entire animal successfully, I'm all about it. I also however wouldn't judge someone not savvy or confident enough for desexing. We desexed Gus at 12 months, we live in an area where roaming dogs are common, and while our yard is secure I've seen the lengths dogs will go to to get to a bitch in season and the american bulldog thing next door was too very tempting at one point. You have to do what works for you guys, of course the longer into adolescence you can make it the better, but I certainly can't say I'd judge someone for avoiding an accidental litter they couldn't otherwise guarantee wasn't going to happen.

Yeah, Gus would eat it, but I'd also (wrongly) have assumed stomach acid would dissolve whatever witchcraft makes.it stick. I can see how they got caught!

This is an interesting read. https://www.kusa.co.za/index.php/kusa-schemes/canine-health-schemes/512-yellow-flatcoated-retrievers

But if that part.of the standard changes, where do you draw the line? Its a bit of a minefield.

I think the first thing that jumps out at me here is health, temperament first and standard last. To be honest, if we cross standard out we open ourselves up to dogs who are not fit to work, which is what the flat coat is bred for. I have had many healthy, lovely mutts but with no standard to breed to or even traceable genetics, I could end up with anything. Standard is important, not just colour but weight, height, shape of skull, feet, gait etc. Where do we draw the line? I wouldn't ask a pug to retrieve in icy water, little guy isn't generally built for it.

Shoe polish? Haha. Sorry, no idea!

If you're flying its way, way cheaper to book on with the airline as part of your ticket. Virgin do have a weight limit of 65kg incl crate for most flights, so if he's big QF might be the go if he's big. If you need a hand hiring a crate, give me a yell. I can give you a hand thru work. :)

I would be thinking pop her in a bedroom, not only will it be quieter but less dipshits. :) Everyone wins! Why do people need to be such jerks? Also huge congrats to your partner and to you as well! What a fab thing, and an awesome idea to celebrate it! I got told I was rude once for yelling STOP at a little kid running across a driveway to pat my dog, he is quite friendly and no harm, but the old guy backing out of his driveway was more a risk. Silly mother still had the gall to tell me I was so rude and how dare I yell at her child. Admittedly kid was in tears, it was loud. Better than the alternative! People are dumb, end of story.

Actually most people have had a laugh and questioned what intelligence is. I think its been an interesting discussion actually...

Not in my experience. They seem to think shelter/rescue dogs should just be free but are happy to pay whatever the pet shop asks. True. Shelter dogs are already homeless and unwanted so should be free, whereas oodles and cockerschnauzers x pugs are in high demand, therefore they have value attached. Weirdest mindset. The sooner we get puppies out of pet shop windows the bloody better, imo.

http://www.borzoiclubofamerica.org/health/parvo.html I doubt there is any risk, to be honest.

Best to do both, you want a paper trail and when you do call take the name of staff member and time of the call just in case!

A few months back I saw a litter in a pet shop window and thought the same thing. Some idiot is going to buy those poor dogs and then what? Months ago now so you've probably already seen half of them in rescue. Sigh.

Haha, bypass the creek! VM you crack me up! I bet Ernie would swim through ice and sludge if it was presented.

I think the same. If you can't offer a dog comfort on its first night away from its family and expect a dog to adjust to you instantly send the poor thing back. Raising a puppy is hard work, raising a puppy into a dog you want to live with is harder.

Take Gus. He can find a cat turd miles away, if you tell him thats what he is looking for you're set. For real though, how fabulous! Tapua you are awesome!