Paptacular!

Wow, you are so very keen and early!!

Ditto. The above is the only situation that I would find it acceptable to kick a dog. Also if the dog was attacking another person/child and wouldn't let up, and if I had nothing else (like a hose etc) at my disposal.

I absolutely love the look of Shibas, but due to their difficult nature I really don't think I have the patience/skills it takes to own one. So I will just admire from afar..... Ellz, the Glendalin shibas were stunning. I had seen them in the Darwin show scene before Arthur passed away.

Definitely! Just because your pup won't be shown doesn't mean it doesn't deserve a sparkly white coat!

Hi MTD There is generally no clipping or stripping of the coat for shows. The only scissoring I do it to trim the fur between the paw pads (but not trim around the foot itself, they are meant to have the tufts coming from between their toes) and scissor up the hocks to tidy up, if needed. I use a basic shampoo, a whitening shampoo and a conditioner in a before-show bath. Conditioner is very important to keep the coat soft, as it should be. I use Animal House shampoos.

Thanks, but I'm not a breeder yet!

1. What is my relationship with the breed? (ie breeder, first time owner etc) Have owned a papillon in the family since I was 6 years old, so for about 15 years now. Currently own 2 pedigree paps and exhibit one. 2. Where and why was the breed first developed? The breed was thought to have been developed in France (hence the French name, papillon meaning butterfly due to the shape of the ears), however some sources point to Belgium and even Spain. The papillon was originally called the Continental Toy Spaniel, or Squirrel Spaniel, due to the way the tail was carried over the back, like a squirrel's. There are two 'varieties' of papillons: the papillon with 'pricked' ears, and the phalene, with dropped ears (phalene meaning 'moth'). It is thought that the Phalene was the original papillon variety, though in more recent times, the prick eared variety has overtaken in popularity. 3. How common is it in Australia? Papillons are becoming more common, but still relatively unknown to those that don't have a great interest in dogs. They can often be mistaken for a long coat Chihuahua or a Pomeranian by people who don't know of the breed. Paps first came out to Australia in the 1940's or 50's. 4. What is the average lifespan? It is common for papillons to reach up to 16 years of age, sometimes beyond. 5. What is the general temperament/personality? Papillons are curious, energetic, loyal, smart, loving and a joy to live with. Of course every dog is different, however most papillons exhibit these traits. Some can be yappy, however I have my boy who rarely says a word! 6. How much daily exercise is needed for the average adult? Paps are quite energetic for a small dog. They have their little bursts of energy. Sometimes a good game of ball can do the trick, or else a good stroll with you is something they enjoy. They can walk a lot further than you think! Papillons also excel in agility and flyball. 7. Is it a breed that a first time dog owner could easily cope with? I believe paps can suit a first time dog owner. In this instance, a mature adult may be best, as small puppies can be fragile, and can sometimes take a while to toilet train. As long as the owner does their research into the breed, I think that a papillon would definitely be suitable. 8. Can solo dogs of this breed easily occupy themselves for long periods? Our first papillon was an only child for about 10 years. He was a good boy, rarely destroyed anything! :D Having said that, other 'siblings' of his have eaten shoes, cords, magazines etc. They will often spend a lot of the day asleep, but it is important to keep their busy minds occupied. A variety of toys, such as Kongs or treatballs should keep them amused. Or a playmate. :D 9. How much grooming is required? The coat is single layered, fine and silky. It doesn't need frequent washing (maybe every 3-4 weeks), however, always brush before a bath as well as after, to avoid water tightening any knots that may be in the coat. As for brushing, I would probably spend 10 minutes every day or every 2nd day going through the coat. It is important to check for matts, especially behind the ears and underneath (roll onto his back to check for matts on tummy/groin area). 10. Is it too boisterous for very small children or for infirm people (unless the dog is well trained)? I wouldn't recommend a puppy for families with small children, unless the parents will supervise all times when the dog and children are together. Papillon puppies are very fine in build and fragile, so it wouldn't take much for a child to fall and land on a puppy. For the elderly or infirm, a mature papillon would be an ideal companion. 11. Are there any common hereditary problems a puppy buyer should be aware of? Luxating patella is the main concern. I would also be wary of eyes and some cases of Von Willebrand's Disease have been allegedly seen in the breed in Australia in recent years. 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) I would ask a breeder whether the patellas of the puppy are sound, as well as the parents. PRA in the eyes is more of a problem overseas than in Australia, however I would ideally like the parent's eye results.

Wow, that's really restrictive. ;) I know a few people like to fly pups to and from Darwin in the evening as it is a lot cooler.... this could make it difficult on weekends.

Please tell me Polly is off to a show home? Not that I know too much about Aussies, but she is just way too gorgeous! If we weren't at capacity I would be soo soooooo tempted! *sigh*

Is a DOLer getting one of the pups? :p

I don't think you will, but I really really want you to keep Polly. I love her, she looks so sweet.

I want a Polly!

I love Polly.

Awwww congrats. She looks like such a little cutie pie.

Poor Ruby.

Well done on yours and Kinta's first litter! Gorgeous little bubs.... you know we expect lots of pics!

You would be hard pressed to find whitening shampoo in the supermarket. Best to try at a pet shop, or I'm sure there's somewhere you can buy online.

You did say you have replacement squirrels for the Hide-a-Squirrel? Our guys got a squirrel tree the other day and they love it!

:rolleyes: Bellatrix. I'm so so sorry.

Staff n Toller, the positive training club is in a rural area, which is quite a way out for me to drive, especially at night. I'll have to find out exactly what position the trainer holds within the club, to see who I should speak to about it.

The dog yelped several times while being corrected. I understand that there is a huge difference between a firm correction on a bully versus a firm correction for a pap. I wasn't looking to start a shitfight about it, or make any fledgling trainers feel uneasy about the way they train. I just think that this trainer in particular was being a bit harsh on a dog who wasn't sure what he was expected to do.

I don't think their method of training is right for me and my dog. I only made this thread to see if this was common behaviour by trainers for a beginner's class. I'm not intending to slag off the trainer or the club (no names have been mentioned). I understand that there are various training methods out there, and I was just very uncomfortable with what I witnessed last night.

I'm pretty sure the trainer running the class was the club president, or their senior trainer. No one higher up to complain to I'm afraid.

I agree, gentle corrections on a check chain when they're warranted, I'm absolutely fine with. But to the repeated extent where it causes a dog pain and ends up looking like it wants to shrink away from the trainer.

Well I'm glad I'm not a big old softie then! Well that's it for that class and trainer. There is another club here who call themselves a Positive Training Club, but it's so far away (in a rural area).