Pjrt

Hmm you’re right. Im going to look that up later see what I can find!

I was fortunate to work for a very large but ‘top winning’ Kennel back in the 80’s. They knew the gentle art of just knowing they had sound dogs without needing to justify it with ribbons and titles. Yes, they showed and they won, a lot, but they also knew that a plain looking sound bitch with an unflappable temperament was worth her weight in gold, for example, even if she’d never go to a show. it seems these days many ANKC breeders use show wins & conformation titles as the sole measure of quality. And if the dogs don’t have the acceptable number of champions in their pedigree, they’re junk.

Ive just looked at the Dogzonline breed pages and counted just 125 litters listed across all breeds. Let’s overestimate 10 pups in each litter, for a total of 1250 ANKC pedigree pups. Let’s say only half the ANKC breeders are listed on Dogz, and those not listed also have 1250 pups available. I reckon that would be a gross over estimation of 2500 ANKC pups available nation wide today. Is it really any wonder why people buy non papered purebreed dogs and mixed breed dogs from where ever they are available? Quite literally, for dogs sake, ANKC breeders need to breed for the pet market. When did it become so unfashionable to breed pedigree dogs for the pet market?

I talk about this with a lot of my clients, and this is usually what I say first of all, it’s your dog, and your decision. that said, I ask people how they want to remember their dog? . Do you want the memory of your dog with a wag in his tail, a glint in his eye, or do you really want the memory of a tired old dog with mobility issues, toileting issues, etc who is flat & lifeless but just holding on? also think about the level of control you’d like to have. You could decide on a day, and go about making it the best day it can possibly be, set yourself and the dog up for as gentle a passing as possible, with the best memories of the day as possible. That last run on the sand, that last lap of the park, their last feast of their favourite treats ....Or let the dog get to a point where there may be a medical emergency which will leave you with terrible memories of the last moments with your dog, where you’re forced to make decisions quickly and under stress. It would be lovely if they just went to bed and didn’t get up in the morning, but the vast majority of dogs don’t afford us that luxury. personally, I’d take a proactive line, choose a date, make arrangements, choose in advance what you’ll do with your dogs remains, and set about making positive memories. I deal with a lot of clients who linger a bit longer than perhaps they should with these decisions, and there’s always regret. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone with real regret from taking control and making the best of the situation. It’s the greatest gift we can give back to our pets.

2 breeds come to my mind are Iggy and Crestie. No breed will tick all the boxes so they need to put their most important wants at the top of the list and be prepared to compromise on some lesser wants. I’d add wire coated Griffon but of course they’re brachy

I think in SA it’s 2 per detached dwelling , only 1 in attached dwelling!

I would definitely fly if possible.

Absolutely! the concept of standards as we know them present an insurmountable problem in this respect

They might be off putting, but they are important. As @moosmum states, it’s not easy to shift perceptions, be that from inside or outside, of the mind or the space.

And as for “how long will people support that” ...... it seems people crave it! Some of the most “expensive to buy, expensive to run, nothing but heartache & expense, very short lived” breeds are booming in popularity at this moment in time. It’s fashion baby

OMG I’m so sorry to read It seems we have come to think that ‘alive’ equates healthy. I groom dogs everyday that have multiple chronic issues who would be described by their owners as healthy. We’ve got to pull our heads out of our arses.

Is a breeder responsible or irresponsible when they remove genetic material that throws non standard, but non health threatening traits such as off standard colour markings, low ears or high tails?? or when they remove genetic material that has tested positive to health issues?? I know ANKC breeders who operate on one side of this fence, both sides of this fence, or either side depending on the objective at hand. Breeding to standard can only go one way. I despair at the genetic material that’s been lost in dogdom, in the name of purity & standards. It can only ever end badly. I think there really is no way to breed for purity, to standards, responsibly. Think about that. I admire a beautiful pure breed dog, don’t get me wrong, but I’ve come to see the sadness & terrible loss in it too. The purebred fraternity has shot itself in the foot. It’s a slow bleed but the wound is terminal. But I see thing are changing. Dogs are clawing their way back. The strange ways of the universe are seeing a contemporary dog emerging. And it’s generally not a dog steeped in purity or standards. I am quietly confident in the future of domestic pet dogs. But It doesn’t look like it does now. It can’t.

I sent you a message

Thank for posting @moosmum. I reckon a lot of people get a bit lost reading your posts, but I like them and hope people give them real consideration. Hopefully after taking off the rose coloured glasses, should they be wearing them.....

Lowchen! They are fabulous sturdy small dogs. And I think there are a couple of breeders in SA.

Yes definitely approach breeders now and discuss things. also another breed I thought of maybe to look at is the Schipperke.

I’d go with the one kibble meal and one fish meal, or a mix of both at each meal. I had a dog who loved salmon heads and had them every day or so. I’d rather feed them exclusively than have a yeasty itchy dog! Also if you can source rabbit that might be worth investigating.

Sorry I’m just popping in here based on the last few posts and have not read Kane’s back story.......but was wondering if Kane could/would wear a well fitted basket muzzle for a while so he could be safely outdoors with Scout? You’d probably need to do some conditioning regarding accepting the muzzle. And obviously not a solution for times when you are not home. Just thought of it as an option for him to be able to hang outside with his buddy.

Yep it’s true. Whenever I hear ANKC breeder whining about puppy farms, I remind them to go home and breed some dogs then! “oh, I only breed when I want something for myself” seems to have become the catch cry of the ‘show’ breeder. There it is all in one little statement. I don’t have a problem with that if it’s what suits them, but don’t bloody complain when someone, anyone, steps in to fill the market!

Adding, after re reading you OP, if the last vaccine you had was an ‘annual’, and only signed of as such, although that same vaccine, if labelled triennial, could be signed off for 3 years, if it was only labelled and signed for annual, the kennel will not accept it if it’s ‘overdue’ whether you know it’s the same vaccine or not is not relevant in the liability sense, for the vet signing it off or the service accepting your pet into care, such as boarding and daycare etc it makes me really angry that vets are still not explaining the vaccines adequately. It makes me angry that any vet is still even offering an annual core vaccine regime for the vast majority of normally healthy pets. Even angrier that vets are still vaccinating, often annually, extremely senior pets

Labelling for liability. As far as I’m aware the core vaccine is the same but labelling allows triennial to be legally signed off for the 3 years.

MVD aside.... I’ve actually told several people that the first thing I’d do if I came into enough money is set up some sort of fund to ensure that every single (registered) breeding CKCS is MRI tested for SM!! in my 33 yrs of handling dogs, ive come to understand that SM is a condition of degrees. A dog doesn’t have to be displaying overt distressing symptoms to be suffering the condition. I would estimate that at least 8 out of 10 of the CKCS I’ve known have SM. Very strange and vague symptoms to incessant scratching, screaming, even hallucinations. I don’t have vested interest in the breed but I’d love to have the money to help prove that this delightful breed is riddled with SM, and work on breeding away from it. Ive even had breeders and owners tell me straight to my face that their dogs are not affected......despite the fact that none of these dogs have had MRI. The absence of symptoms does not mean the dog does not have the condition. And

Welllllll, I may finally have found a companion today anyway!

@persephone you don’t happen to have a spare puppy do you? Seriously!

A few breeds that people often overlook in a search for,the type of dog you’re looking for. Lowchen. They’re on the larger side of small and really sturdy and have fabulous temperament. Bedlington Terrier Dont let the breed profile trim put you off, they can look completely adorable in an all over teddy style clip or just clipped off short without any floof. (Same for Lowchen above, most pet owners just keep them in a short all over clip, not the ‘lion’ style) also a fairly mild terrier temperament. oh and the Bichon Frise. One of the most delightful and affable temperaments out there.