Erny

Had to laugh, though. There were three other dogs waiting in the Emergency reception. They were a shitzhu cross, a swf and a doodle. The doodle was clearly in trouble from an adrenal ETA: sorry, meant to type "anal" gland op that was going wrong (it seemed) and the other two, well, I'm not sure what ailments they were sporting. But they were all quite stoic about everything. Even the doodle with his very obviously very sore bottom. Mandela screeched the Centre down when the Vet put her finger where fingers naturally shouldn't be. We emerged from the room and no-one could believe that all that squeeling came from one big "brave" Ridgeback. I think even the Doodle had a giggle.

Hooray! And hooray for not having bloat. I hope the hypothyroid meds help. I must say, I was wondering about that since you said his blood was lipaemic. Let us know how he does on them. Want a confession? Fledgie has been sleeping on my bed ever since her big operation. I was a really hard arsed dog owner when she was a baby. But when she had to wear the giant cone of shame I got all gooey. .... I know that "gooey" feeling too, Star. Not to let anyone know, though. Laugh at you, though. Being a pushover so creeps up on one, doesn't it. LOL

He won't eat any other bone. He had almost about 0.7kg of his cooked chicken as well (won't eat all that much raw, just yet) in that meal 'sitting'.

After 6 months of refusing ANY form of raw meat, Mandela (who is recently found to be hypothyroid and has been on meds to adjust this, for the past 2 weeks) FINALLY ate a couple of chicken wings that I offered him. And quite enthusiastically !!!!! :p ;) :p And last night saw us down at Emergency with symptoms of blockage (that could also have hinted at bloat). Crap. ;) BUT, it wasn't bloat. So, this is me, with my "glass half full" attitude ...... ;) ;) Poor bugga though ..... rectal exam wasn't pleasant nor, for that matter, productive. And he got one of his anal glands (painfully) squeezed in the process. He had a very irritated :D last night and numerous unproductive and painful (yelping) poop attempts. :( Just thought I'd share. Our health "YAY!!" moments are so often short-lived. In fact, the night before I almost posted up here on DOL that things were looking up and that he'd begun to look really well, but I deleted the post before submission for fear I'd jinx us. Serves me right for so much as even THINKING about it .... lol. But wait for it ................................. He got to sleep on MY bed last night !!!!!!! Figured I'd sleep better knowing that I'd feel him move if he wanted to vomit/go outside - better than being half awake trying to listen out for him. He was in seventh heaven. Me? I was almost pushed out of my bed . But don't anyone get no ideas. Leadership. Leadership. Leadership ;). Don't want my reputation damaged.

For those who might not be as active or as 'close' to the politics/workings of the ANKC and their own Dog State Body, it can be difficult to put something down in writing that is pertinent and makes sense. Might understand enough about it to have an opinion and object to the titles being disregarded and removed from the pedigree, but just not enough to know how to sum up enough for a letter, other than "I object to working titles being disregarded and removed from dogs' pedigrees" (which I guess would at least be better than nothing). Tapf .... it would probably be helpful if you are able to put up a copy of your letter, if you would? People would be able to read, gain some writing inspiration and form their own letter/s from there. Would you mind putting your letter/s up? I've done it in the past for other things that I believe have been 'wrongs' and I know it has helped immensely as an encouragement to others. Especially when you go to put pen to paper but end up with writers block.

The only chains I will use are Herm Sprenger. Going by my old stock list, they have 55cm chains in Light; Med.G; M/H; H/vy; and X/H. Why does your friend want heavy? Many people want the thicker ones for strength and to a degree, the bigger links would probably prove to be a bit stronger than their lighter versions, however when I choose a check chain weight, it is relevant to how sensitive the dog is. The finer the chain, the sharper the correction. If the dog is reasonably responsive, I don't go for a fine chain - I'll go for a M/H chain. If the dog is so strong as to a tendency to ignore the correction, then it is potentially the wrong training device/restraint for the dog. Anyway ..... I may be able to get one in for you, but by the time the item cost, postage and then shipping to you is added, it might prove to be more expensive than is worth. I don't stock the chains myself, but the kennels where I run classes supply them. They tend to stock the light; medium; and medium/heavy chains, as they are the most common. They were out of 55's the other day and I know there is an order pending already. Not sure the price to get just one in. But I could try, if your friend is really stuck. ETA: These chains DO NOT work as "chokers" (contrary to label indication) - they work as 'checks' or 'correctional' tools. Think of them as "chokers" and that's how people will (consciously or sub-consciously) use them. Think of them as "correction chains" or "check chains" and again, that is how people are more likely to use them.

How does this work, though? Does the ANKC take notice of each person's voice, or does the ANKC only take notice of the voice of each State Body, with the State Body being made up of all the individual voices? Or is it a matter of both? IE Voice opinion to both the ANKC direct as well as to your State Body?

Read more: http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/s...p#ixzz0xnGd007W I don't know what constitutes "large ingestions" in this instance. Perhaps you've already checked that out?

The WL malinois people are doing something believe me, the ANKC Malinois clubs on the other hand are not fussed. The ANKC Malinois Clubs would not promote working titles, would they? Given that the ANKC is against Sch? Would this not be the case for many of the ANKC Breed Clubs? No intention to flame/stir .... and I don't recognise any harm in the question, but this does feel as though it is the case with the ANKC Clubs in general. Individual members of the ANKC Clubs may not necessarily carry the same view, of course, but are they prepared to stand up and be counted or could it be a bit of a sheep mentality for fear of some sort of retribution?

It's come up about once - maybe twice, if I recall. It has hardly become a GSD bash. WE "are doing this ... because [we] have an axe to grind with the GSDCA" ??? No - but I think if there were answers to some of the questions that have been asked time after time (and remain unanswered) we might in some way have some idea of why and how ANKC developed their policy against working titled dogs in the first place and why and how therefore, it has lead in its round-a-bout and subsequential way to the point we are at now. I agree with this. Or even if your breed is not one that will be affected but just because you have a special interest in dogs in general along with working-line activities. Because the historical info and pov by GSDCA may well have influenced things to bring about what is currently on the table. Answering for myself, working on putting a letter together. The most of this thread hasn't mentioned GSD conformation. I saw that one post did. Don't know if there's been more since I last checked in. That's interesting. Are there any Malinois Breed enthusiasts who are members of their breed Club who can quantify that their Club doesn't care that their breed's working titles can and will be removed from their pedigree?

..... Now THAT's a plan !!! Gawn, Star. Come share house with me. Ya know yawanna.

ooh ooh chuck it to me chuck it to me pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease! Here is a "quiet moment" Nek................isn't he adorable Go away, Nekhbet, you, you, you ........................ opportunist you !!! SharpShep offered him to me first .

Well - I don't want to get a Shepherd, join the GSDCA nor get on its committee. But that shouldn't stop someone being able to explain it so that it CAN be understood. Unless there is skulduggery going on that prevents it from being clearly explained on a public forum and that the only way to find things out is to go 'underground' . Erny, we have had our differences in the past but you never cease to surprise me on how low your thinking/mind is and I wonder is it really to 'learn' or is it to 'stir the pot'.......and unfortunately I think it's the latter. Shhhh but guess what..... There is no 'skulduggery' going on ....only whats in your mind to even think of such a thing. Everything has been explained to you over and over and over and over again in OH so many topics about GSDs and clubs.........but I guess there is none so blind as those who DON'T want to see (as the old saying goes) As to the rest of the trouble makers on here........write letters or don't ! I don't really care...because there are HUNDREDS of us left in the dog world who do care and they are the ones who matter. Bye! Tapf - Insulting others doesn't lend you any integrity. It must make you feel better, because you do it a fair bit - but it doesn't do you any good, IMO. If there's no skulduggery, then I don't see why answers and explanations from the GSDCA pov (or from those members who know the GSDCA's pov) is so hard to obtain . Nothing to do with stirring the pot, at least not just for stirring the pot sake.

Well - I don't want to get a Shepherd, join the GSDCA nor get on its committee. But that shouldn't stop someone being able to explain it so that it CAN be understood. Unless there is skulduggery going on that prevents it from being clearly explained on a public forum and that the only way to find things out is to go 'underground' .

By the sounds of it, and if your words have created the right image for me, it sounds to me as though you did the best thing you could under the circumstance. I am also fairly comfortable with the idea of him having you shield him from what he considers to be worrisome/scarey stimuli. I would suggest that YOU put him to the other side of you though - BEFORE he chooses to do so. Your terms. Your decision. Your leadership. You'll keep him safe. Let it be at this for the time being - just let him learn that it is possible to be safe in the proximity of other dogs. Later on, you can do very small incremental work to push the envelope a little bit, if it is suitable - but I'd suggest you get some hands/eyes-on guidance for that.

I will write the letter - thanks for your encouragement . But I'm not understanding something. What Sharpshep wrote above .... .... makes sense to me. Perhaps me being a bit naive . But if I am, it's because I obviously don't understand the GSDCA's workings well enough. Are you able and willing to explain why Sharpshep's suggestion is laughable?

I think Sharshep's contributions here have been helpful in that, in a very succinct but understandable way, s/he has painted the picture, bother historically and currently, that readers (who might not have known about the history before, nor even understood the impact of the current situation) would find helpful to understand. It is hard to write letters when you only have half or a quarter of the information that stands as the background from whence decisions by the ANKC may have come. I intend to put a letter together. Working Titles and trial rules/politics is not something I am first hand experienced in, so I will be writing my letter carefully. I also intend to send a CC of it to the FCI. I am not (yet) a member of the FCI as such. But I am a member of the ANKC and as it is an Associate Member of the FCI, does that carry through as some form of membership with the FCI ????? .

I wouldn't mind some answers or at least a glimmer of understanding regards the GSDCA's actions/attitude and why they carry whatever that attitude is, etc. Must admit it is sometimes easier to be able to discuss it with someone who knows rather than formally applying to the organisation itself for the answers. But when the answers won't, for whatever reason, be given even by those who supposedly "know", then address to the source direct is the only other option.

Calendula Tea can be good too. I just dab to remove excess wetness after application. No need to rinse off.

...... *cough* ... I'd be checking thyroid levels. And I'd be running the tests via Dr Jean Dodds in the USA, not here in Aus. I admit I have a 'thing' for checking thyroid (hence the *cough* on entry ) - but I think it is a good place to start. Also, it makes me think that if you are feeding lots but your dogs are carrying lean, there's an absorption issue. This may or may not relate to thyroid. Just my thoughts based on my own recent and current experience/s with my own boy, whose story is not over yet.

I would join too - I may not have the 'breed' dog acceptable to the FCI to be an official active member, but if they'd allow, I'd be happy to join up so that my membership could add to the support.

Good to hear the Vet has been able to diagnose the ailment and has done so fairly swiftly and I hope to hear that Whitey is stabilised and back to living his normal life with you, real soon .

.... Are all the GSDCA interested in is showing titled GSD's that are only non-dangerous (ie deemed non-dangerous given that they are at other times deemed dangerous) in the show ring, and are happy for the titled of their breed to portray to the community they are dangerous dogs? Or is it not intended for these titled dogs to be out in public unless they are at an official sanctioned event? I agree that these discussions have gone down this path many times before and they probably will continue to do so until some common sense, logical and straight up answers can be given to the many questions that still float. Regards the removal of Working Title from pedigrees' history - I think that is very wrong too and I agree with you Tapferhund that letters/objections etc. should be submitted to ANKC alerting it to just how many people are against this move. But I don't think what has gone down in the past regards the move away/against Schutzhund and then the feint in favour of Schutzhund (only for 'special interest' purposes by a select group) should go unaddressed, no matter how much it has been discussed or hashed over in the past.

Is the Vet running any tests? Has the Vet checked him for skeletal issues? Or is the Vet just "observing" him? I'd want more than the latter, if the latter is the case.

Are they all aware of it? I'd like to think yes. Perhaps someone-club needs to extend its hand to the other club and so on, to get the ball rolling.