KismetKat

Clarification: It is me asking should breeders sell on breeders terms, NOT a suggestion by the panelists. The panelists were merely making the point that you may not really know the true nature of the dog until it is mature and it is a shame that many dogs that prove to be good dogs, have already been desexed.

I'm sorry, I wasn't taking notes (tho many people were). I'm sure they'll start posting soon and if I disagree with their 'take' on what was said am happy to jump into the fray But basically - no-one is against pure-breed dogs. Overwhelmingly they feel that registered breeders are doing the right thing. They don't want to see breeds disappear. However breeders do need to do something about breeds that have problems and 'problems' does include behavioural issues that can be genetic. There were also some interesting points about desexing. You might not realise a dog is a truly great dog until it is mature (even up to 6 years of age) but if it's been desexed as it is a 'pet' you've lost that dog from the gene pool. Perhaps more sales on breeders terms????

I thought the presenters made some very good points. I was particularly impressed with Pauline Bennett. Also I think Paul McGeevy's views have been misrepresented by some posters on this forum - he made some very good points to. More controversial were Paul Goddard, and (more particularly) Kate Schoeffet - but both also made some good points. and, as Elfin has said, the student presentations were very very interesting.

A shiny polyurethane laquer is more likely to show up scratchs. Go for a matt finish. Also I think it is more the laquer that sits on top of the wood that scratches, rather than the wood itself. You might want to consider going for oiling instead. It's natural and doesn't have that awful smell. You can also touch up bits yourself. Here's a UK link with some info.

OMG Tess Thank goodness you'd kept Noah in. I think yes, inside from now on (and I'm sure Noah won't mind )

Enforcable. The Vic Act gives local Councils a lot of leeway (far too much in imho).

That's a communicable disease. The truth is that your humble moggie is, overall, undeniably healthy and free of genetic disorders. In creating the Spotted Mist they used 30% moggie genes just to get that robustness into the breed.

Well I said it was a beautiful dog :D Just found the breed standard and I am convinced this is my mystery dog. The name rings a (vague early alzheimers) bell too! :D

Monah - I think you've found my mystery dog! *claps hands* Here's a pic I found Now that's a tall, long silky haired dog with colours reminiscent of a bernese mountain dog. Isn't it? :D

It's just I would have thought I would have remembered a breed name like "Munsterlander" :D OK - maybe I should risk sounding like a crazy dog lady and email the walking company ...

I just take into account how many training 'treats' they've had that day when making their dinners. For training I tend to use whatever leftover chicken I have from a recent roast, and also used thinly sliced up cooked sausages.

now to our next mystery Sherlock...

Mita - that could be it! By googling I've seen some pics of some mainly black ones like the one I saw. Even if it isn't - what a gorgeous breed of dog Thanks for finding it. But yes, you may well have found my mystery dog - virtual packet of tim tams coming your way ETA: here's a link with info on the breed.

No - it was none of the most recent suggestions (judging by photos after a google search). I don't think it was some DD cross - the walker was certainly 'no nonense' enough to not buy into that sort of stuff - she told me the schnauzer looking dog wasn't a pure. The name she gave for the (dutch?) breed was definitely foreign sounding (so i guess not a Belgian Shep) and had 4 to 5 syllables. The dog was quite tall (about the size of a GSD) but much finer looking - not so heavyset. Colour mainly black but am pretty sure there were some colour touches near the feet (as I said, it was reminiscent, tho not exactly like, a Bernese Mountain dog). Coat longish, straight and very silky to touch. For some reason I think it might be a spaniel breed but could be totally wrong - I really don't know enough about the different category of dog to make that judgement. Just the dog seemed soft and nice which is what I kinda expect from spaniels. This is now driving me nuts. I've even thought of emailing the dog walking company to ask but they'd probably think I was crazy!

And a camera jeesh - I did have my phone with me which has a camera

The closest in looks might be the shepherd - but the colour is wrong and also the breed standard says the coat is rough to touch - this coat was sillky soft. I might have to track this dog walker down again (and take a pen and paper with me).

OK the coat length is a bit like the Markiesje (but maybe longer) - but this dog was a lot taller than 16 inches. The 2 Danish dogs are sorta right on the colour - but the coat was far longer. This was quite a tall dog - probably about the size of my rough collie. Not as fluffy of course, but the semi-long coat was just SO silky - reminded me of patting my Main Coon cat!

Just googled pic'd the whole list - bugger, none of the above. Are they all the dutch breeds? Jeesh maybe the early alzheimers is REALLY bad and it was just somewhere near Holland?

Met a dog walker in the park today with her 4 charges. I must say here I was very impressed with her professionalism which was a marked contrast from some I see *sigh*. Anyway one of her dogs was a purebred dutch breed - she did tell me the name but the early alzheimers has kicked in *more sighing* and it was not a breed I'd heard of. But what a gorgeous dog! Nicely built, tallish and slim. Medium length coat in a colour reminiscent of a Burnese Mountain Dog. But what really got me was the softness of the coat! Running your fingers along her was like the softest velvet glove. I think I am in love. The dog had a lovely nature too. Can DOLers help me remember what breed she was?

From what I have read on the net the people trying to actually make a breed of the "labradoodle" call the dogs "Australian Labradoodle" and they definitely distance themselves from the money-maker types. One thing I find interesting with new cat breeds is that there is no compunction against using moggies (DSH) in the mix to give a wider gene pool and resulting health benefits. So "hybrid vigour' works for cats??? Well yes, totally the wrong term, but what Joe Punter understands from the term "hybrid vigour" is actually valid in the context you are widening the gene pool on the breed you are trying to produce. So is there a role for TOTAL mutts in some cross-breeding with pures (and then back to breeding with pure) to help get rid of breed-specific genetic problems????

Well it all depends on how many kids and dogs you have chewy. I have read the thread and I understand they can cater for 1 kid on a trundle in room with parents. Jeesh - if they physically don't have the space what on heck do you expect them to do?

The cat fancy world don't seem adverse to developing new breeds at all! We have seen the recent development of the Spotted Mist (a mix of Abyssian, good old moggie and, if memory serves me right, siamese). The yanks have also developed a breed from the humble Singapore street cat and called it the "Singapura". They certainly don't go screaming into the streets crying "the sky has fallen the sky has fallen" like the dog world seem to do when someone cross-breeds.

And these are guest house rooms chewy - but as the OP said, you can book and pay for extra rooms to cater for the kids. Poor spiff can't totally rebuild the place just to suit you. There are plenty of house holiday rentals where you can go with kids and dogs - I'm just back from one in Paynesville - 3 bedrooms, 2 TVs, and even an Xbox (with games) plus a gigantic backyard! No limit on dogs (as far as I know) and dogs allowed inside. The OP is catering as best they can for dog owners with the facilities they have! And there are plenty of places like that too! I really think it is totally unfair (not to mention unkind) that you have hijacked this thread in the way you have and run the OP off. shame chewy shame. Spiff - if you are still around please do PM me your website.

I was speaking with the owner of the cattery I use when he came to pick up our cat. They also now own a kennel and I was asking him about it. They do lots of good things with the dogs (cuddle times, play times etc.) and any money they are making is being sunk back into the business to improve condition (it was just a bog standard kennel when they bought it). Anyway he was telling me that their staff are happy to be working in a kennel that actually does all the 'extras' that are claimed. According to the staff many kennels say they do all sorts of stuff that they just don't do. Now I know this is the owner that I was talking to, and he wouldn't badmouth his own kennel, but I really trust these people, they are true animal lovers. They are also happy to take on dogs that are diabetic (which apparently many kennels won't).

I think you are being overly harsh lilysmum and spiff I would certainly not be dropping the pet friendly tag. The vast majority of dog owners do not have more than 2 dogs so the restriction on dog numbers would not be an issue to most pet owners. I've not noticed any other 'restrictions' mentioned so to suggest the place isn't dog friendly is ridiculous.