becks

When my brother worked in Oz, his boss had a 'bluey' would this have been a blue ACD?

They will loose a tiny amount of hair but nothing to worry about! There is no way I'd want a house dog that sheds. I can't comment on if they will still shed when clipped as both mine are handstripped. Crufts 09 Best bitch Ch Grovelea Foxtrot Multi Crufts group winner Ch Zamoranos Picasso

He maybe a little stiff and sore from over doing it, just like we feel after a suddenbout of exercise. Give him a day or so and he should be back to normal. 20 mins sounds fine to me, if it is at a slow pace with the pup being allowed to explore. 20 mins of fast pavement pounding would be another issue.

Poor Mr Rolly Eyes!

http://www.vetuk.co.uk/index.php?main_page...products_id=655 cleanaural is the new name for Leo ear cleaner. Yes, it is the brand name.

they grow out of it naturally when you train them not to do it anymore!

You shouldn't leave any shampoo on the skin, always rinse out well. Groomers Evening Primrose Oil shampoo is great for dogs with itchies and dry skin

I don;t have a cat but one of my minis will jump on the table when I am grooming one of the other dgs

On the coffee table? Is it a conversation piece for when you have guests? lol

1. What is my relationship with the breed? (ie breeder, first time owner etc) owner and exhibitor for 11 years, also breed specialist judge. 2. Where and why was the breed first developed? Bavaria, Germany as a guard, drover, cart dog, butchers dog and later as a police dog 3. How common is it in Australia? pass 4. What is the average lifespan? 12 - 15 years 5. What is the general temperament/personality? There is a variation from the loves everyone labrador type temperament to the more correct suspicious of strangers but still OK with people and dogs etc. Natural guard dog. Can be exuberant and clumsy. 6. How much daily exercise is needed for the average adult? A younger adult (not puppy) can happily have a couple of hours off lead running around each day. Without it your life will be hell, so it is easier to take them out! 7. Is it a breed that a first time dog owner could easily cope with? A person would need to be dog savvy to take on a Giant, they are a clever breed that needs a strong leader. So they wouldn't be a good choice as a firstt dgo for most people. 8. Can solo dogs of this breed easily occupy themselves for long periods? Yes, be redecorating your house and furniture! 9. How much grooming is required? The greatly depends on coat type, the correct harsh coat taked relatively little care - basically a good brush of the beard weekly and stripping every 4 months. Soft coated dogs will require clipping every 8 - 10 weeks and at least weekly brushing and combing of beard and legs. 10. Is it too boisterous for very small children or for infirm people (unless the dog is well trained)? yes, even a well trained dog can have zoomies and these guys can knock over any adult, theyare clumsy. 11. Are there any common hereditary problems a puppy buyer should be aware of? Hereditary cataract, epilepsy, thyroid, toe cancer. 12. When buying a puppy, what are the things you should ask of the breeder? (eg what health tests have been done (if applicable) and what is an acceptable result to those tests so the buyer has an idea of what the result should be) Hip exrays, eye tested, thyroid tested. it is also worth asking what coat type you will end up with

The 3 sizes have a different work history. The standard is the original size, dating back to the 15th century and was used as an all purpose farm dog. The giant was developed around bavaria (with crosses to Danes and other larger breeds) to be more a guard dog who would drive the cattle to market for sale the farmer would then tie the money in the dogs collar and while the farmer enjoyed himself at the pub that night, the dog would protect the money. Later they were used as cart dogs, butchers dogs and more recently in the police. The mini was bred down in size to be a ratter, but I tend to think this was a short lived occupation for this size as it very quickly became a pet. The history of the schnauzer breeds is a little more complicated as originally in litters there would be smooth coats and rough coat, the smooths were what we now know as German Pinschers and the roughs are the Schnauzers. Having traced my minis pedigrees back to the begining of the breed, there are a few min pins named in their including one called 'Ali Goller' so I wonder if this is where the 'terrier' aspect of the breed comes in?? Other suggestions have been the affi, but I have not seen any records that name affies and looking back to the times the breed was being developed, the affi and minis were separate colours. As you asked about the working side of things, I will add that it is a shame that a significant number of Giant breeders are going for softer temperaments and less brains, making great sofa covers but not good if you want a dog to do any work.

Sure,but take them out of an environment they are used to and maybe they would'nt? I also said personally I don't. I did'nt say " no you can't and what a horrible person you would be if you did!" The analogy of cutting off the skin on your fingers was to liken the effect in that the vibrissae are VERY important sensory tools,just like the ends of our fingers. If you want to cut them off,it's your choice,but after knowing how they are used by a dog I never ever would. Which is also my choice If you feel knowing that "About 40% of the part of the dog's brain that handles tactile information is devoted to the face, and a big piece of that to the region where the whiskers are located. Any time that much brain tissue is devoted to one thing, it's a sure sign that it's an important sensory mechanism." and you still want to cut them off to make them look prettier,go ahead. But at least now you know HOW important they actually are! If you did'nt already. And THAT isn't calling me a horrible person? Lucky I pull them out To follow your analogy, a dog with a lot of facial hair would be like a person wearing thick gloves, so they wouldn't be relying on them to understand their environment.

I would expect it all to be done by 6 months. Minis can sometimes hang on to a tooth and need the vet to pull it out, so keep checking the mouth weekly

I'd take her to a groomers instead of a vet, vets seem to take to much off and make them bleed. As they are, I would just try a file on the tips.

I've used nutridrops, just a squirt into their mouth, they can't then refuse to take it - though most do enjoy the taste.

We are talking about a schnauzer here, a breed with long hair over most of the whiskers. I wonder if that blind shelti would have managed fine if it still had a beard? I;ve seen blind schnauzers manage just fine!

Schnauzers should have the legs and beard conditioned, though when clipped you can use it on the body also, as the hair there is already going to be soft. Piper, you are right, we don't use conditioner on the body coat of a stripped dog.

QUESTIONS 1. What is my relationship with the breed? (ie breeder, first time owner etc) owner, breeder, exhibitor, judge 2. Where and why was the breed first developed? The middle size, correctly called 'Schnauzer' though often refered to as the 'Standard' was around in the 15th century and used as a general farm dog in Germany. Later on the Giant was developed by various crosses to create a more powerful dog also used for carting, guarding, herding etc of cattle. The Mini was bred down for ratting, again with crosses to other breeds to decrease size. Even from the early days there has been a difference in the temperaments and work ability of the different sizes. They are classed as separate breeds. In the UK the mini and standard are in the utility group and the Giant in the working group. FCI have them all in group 2 schnauzers, pinschers and mollasers 3. How common is it in Australia? pass 4. What is the average lifespan? Minis can reach 15 plus. Giants 12 - 14 5. What is the general temperament/personality? minis are a bit like a terrier with an off switch! Keen and into things, make a good watch dog. Can be barkers. Giants are capable of working a full day. Intelligent, independent, aloof with strangers. Can be dominant with other dogs and people. 6. How much daily exercise is needed for the average adult? Minis half an hour off lead is ideal Giants at least an hour or two off lead each day, some of that playing fetch. Without the exercise you will end up with a bored and destructive, independent dog. It is easier on your sanity to take them for the walk!! 7. Is it a breed that a first time dog owner could easily cope with? Minis, yes with some basic understanding of dogs and going to puppy classes. Giants, most of them, probably not. 8. Can solo dogs of this breed easily occupy themselves for long periods? Yes, if they can eat your house and howl! They were bred to be with people when working and don't like the family to be gone long. 9. How much grooming is required? At least a weekly brush and comb of legs and face, more depending on life style. Clipping every 8 weeks, clipping can alter the colour of the dog. They also need the ears plucking. Soft coated Giants will require a LOT more grooming then the hard coated Giants. To maintain a stripped coat (which is what theshow dogs need) requires work a couple of times a week on the body coat, raking out the undercoat and pulling out the longer hairs. 10. Is it too boisterous for very small children or for infirm people (unless the dog is well trained)? Minis should be OK. Giants are clumsy and boisterous, they don't mean to knock small children into next week. 11. Are there any common hereditary problems a puppy buyer should be aware of? Minis - hereditary cataract, juvenile cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy. Giants HC and PRA + thyroid issues, epilepsy 12. When buying a puppy, what are the things you should ask of the breeder? (eg what health tests have been done (if applicable) and what is an acceptable result to those tests so the buyer has an idea of what the result should be) Eye tests are done yearly by clinical inspection (no DNA tests yet) Giants + thyroid, hip x-ray, Puppies should also be eye tested before 12 weeks old by an eye specialist for CHC

I'd wait until pup can go out on his feet, it won't be long and then you will have to walk them separatly anyway as pup won't be able to do the same distance as the adult.

All fall out. The new teeth will be noticably larger

It could be eye lashes growing towards the eye making him tear more, or maybe an environmental allergy. Worth having a vet rule things out and see what treatments are available

yes, pups are tested as it is a problem they are born with. Symptoms will be showing after 12 weeks (depending on severity of the shunt) pup may form bladder stones, have fits etc as toxins build up in the body as the liver can't function as it should. Caught early enough a PSS can be surgically treated with a good sucess rate, though I believe the intra systemic shunts are not treatable??

No problem to trim the whiskers. In show dogs we pluck out the whiskers in the beard and eyebrows so they will lie flatter (not something you need to do on a pet though!)

There is a test available in the UK at least, a friend had her Boxer tested and amoung the hundreds of things he is allergic to included carrots and chicken. It was a very broad test including tobacco smoke and cockroaches as some of his other allergies!

The common treatments are Propalin syrup Incurin Stilboestrol it can be a bit hit and miss over which works best for your individual. I've now had 3 bitches with spay incontinence and have used all 3 treatments on the different ones. One is now on Incurin every other day the other is controlled with a herbal treatment which sadly is not available in Oz but it would be worth you looking around at alternatives to standard medication. What is MAAH?