ellz

Could be a very common condition called balanitis which is an inflammation of the head of the penis. Quite easy to treat but may need antibiotics or a topical cream if it doesn't clear up quickly. You could try flushing gently with saline to see if that helps. Often the dog licking it will do one of two things, clear it up or make it worse.

Another here who doesn't necessarily recommend the "two is better than one" approach. With two you're up for twice the work, twice the expenses, twice the inconvenience when it comes to organising things like holidays etc and quite possibly twice the trouble if they don't get along. To me it's like saying, "hey, have two CHILDREN because they'll keep each other amused". Yeah right, and be like my two youngest who spend most of their time thinking up ways to "off" the other one! How any dog copes when left alone is up to the way it is managed, treated, socialised and the efforts that its human is prepared to go to, to ensure its comfort. And more importantly, how the quality time is spent together when the human is home. NO dog, Stafford or otherwise should be left outside 24/7. They all need social interaction, a chance to be with their pack (even if it is made up with humans), companionship and things to occupy their minds. If your idea of getting a dog is to lock it in a backyard all day, allow it to spend maybe an hour with you at night before you lock it up to go to sleep and then repeat the cycle the next day, then you're probably best off not even getting a dog in the first place.

My American Cocker bitch (Vanni), popped a hot spot recently, two days before a show. Unsightly, messy, weeping damned thing it was. Three days of Prep H and it was dry and healing. Now, only a couple of weeks later, you'd be hard pressed to see where it was.

Preparation H (or any other anti-haemorrhoid cream). Antiseptic and anaesthetic benefits.

Not all vets follow the same protocol. For many years, some have only given two shots, whilst others have given three. And of course, not all owners bother to take their puppies back for their third shot either. :D Because I don't give the first shot between 6 - 8 weeks like many other breeders, I don't always suggest keeping the puppy at home until the third shot. To me, correct and timely socialisation is everything. And to be perfectly honest, a puppy can pick "something" up anywhere, vaccinated or not so after 10 weeks or so, I think the socialisation is far more important than being anal about disease.

I think you'll find that Miranda was more talking "you" generally, rather than "you" specifically. It is a fact though that many people who are new to showing are in awe of the coats and conditioning of some dogs but either aren't aware, or are unwilling to put in the behind the scenes hard yakka to accomplish it. And it is work to maintain a show coat. dancinbc, the OP isn't talking about dying a coat to "create" something that isn't there. Unless I'm mistaken, they want to assist something that has occurred already. It doesn't matter whether you have dogs, cats, horses or even in the case of people hair, if it is in the sun and the elements it WILL become damaged. If the OP's dog is in and out of the sun, then it will sustain some amount of sunburn. The best way to ensure that this doesn't happen, is to keep it out of the sun. My dogs are in and out all day, but when they are out, they only have access to parts of the yard that can be shaded by a good-quality shadecloth to filter out at least the worst of the sun's rays. I'm going through a reddish coat tinge with one of my youngsters at the moment, but he isn't yet 12 months old so I believe a lot of it is puppy coat. He is also from lines which have heaps of buff behind, so I also think that this plays a part as well.

I hear you Miranda, I'm about to do pee and fanny feathers!

Oh and meant to add as well, in the past, if I've had a buff American Cocker which has had patchy areas due to my stupidity with scissoring or clipping or for whatever other reason, a strong tea "soak" has been helpful. This is also good for dying white leads!

You can certainly buy dog shampoos that are designed to remove or reduce red highlights in the coat. They are openly sold and marketed. BUT, your problem is that being a black/white, whatever you use on the black hair, you must NOT get on the white hair or it will most certainly discolour it (although you can use the shampoos designed for white hair on black with no ill effect). I'd probably just go back to basics with the burnt black hair and condition, condition, condition and possibly treat with Plush Puppy Coat Reviver and Seabreeze Oil between shows to get the moisture back into it. As for the tans, there are shampoos available that are designed to highlight and accentuate various shades of tan, red and and brown. Plush Puppy do one, as do Laser Lites, Chris Christensen and a few other shampoo manufacturers.

I don't think anybody is really saying that it IS a crossbred. However quality wise, it doesn't look like a good example of the breed and would be, quite possibly, undersized/underdeveloped for its age.

The OP has PM'd me and I have given my opinion. Unless the "breeder" shows regularly in country Victoria, they certainly aren't a breeder that I have heard much/if anything of. They also advertise that they have blues. One of the things I suggested the OP find out is whether or not the "breeder" does the usual health testing. This is one thing that helps to sort the wheat from the chaff.

Not usually! :D

Afraid she doesn't look 7 weeks in that photo either......PM me with the breeders' name by all means (won't go any further) and I can at least let you know if they're known to me (as a Stafford breeder/exhibitor) but on face value....I'm really not convinced.

Agree with Tassie about the socialisation. One of the boys from my last litter stayed here until he was 13 weeks old because his new family were going to be away when I would have normally let the pups go at around 10 weeks. He started Puppy Pre-School anyway and they were very complimentary at his socialisation and how much more advanced he was than other puppies his own age.

Different judges so (hopefully) different opinions. Chance for more points and more fringies. No travelling between shows so people can set up, let their hair down and enjoy themselves.

That may be the case in Victoria, but it happens here in Tasmania. For example, the Burnie Ag Show this year has Groups 2, 3 and 5 scheduled for Friday and the balance with Specials on the Saturday.

ellz are you sure you purchased from clipper world? I purchased one from them and the height was not adjustable and it came with a grooming arm that could be attached at any point on the table. Positive, I found the invoice.

I have just realised that I have a Clipper World table as my "spare" and I don't like it. Firstly, as I said, the height adjustable legs move a little too much for my liking. Secondly, I don't like that the grooming arm is a permanent fixture. It only fits the table one way which is a pain if you wanted to use the other end or have the angle of the arm facing a different direction (like I do). Yes, it is sturdy, but it is only sturdy until the legs decide to give way and then they become wobbly. AND it's a real PITA to fold. Very awkward. You can purchase a separate grooming arm for the Liberty which will also fit (with a bit of wriggling and effort) many grooming tables as well. I'm not practical enough with my hands to be able to make my own grooming table, BUT, I have to say that in my 23 years with long-coated dogs (various breeds) and a few shorthairs which have also been accustomed to tables (to save my back), the Liberty is by far and away the best table I've owned. If it weren't for the fact that I usually go to shows by myself so need my trolley to tote all of my junk, it would definitely come to more shows. And will be at Royal time anyway. You can't have too many table tops!

Eye specialist and pronto. You don't mess with eyes! Can't recommend one as I'm not in Sydney, but I daresay somebody here will chime in. But the other issue, licking and staining feet and mouth concerns me too. Do you feed Apple Cider Vinegar? This could help somewhat, but I'd be more interested in underlying causes. What do you feed? I know you said you haven't changed diet, but maybe the formulation of what you feed has changed? Or maybe you need to look at a basic elimination diet to see if it helps the situation.

See, I don't agree with that. I would rather have the sturdier, non-moving table at shows. My Liberty is great. I too have a Terrier sized one. I also purchased the longest leg length I could get. I have another table that I purchased online via Ebay. It has the height adjustable legs and is lightweight but IMO that makes it less safe and somewhat flimsy and I don't think it would stand up to a lot of moving around. AND, the leg adjustments do move fairly frequently as well....not always by much, but enough to make the table stand unevenly or be wobbly. I also like that my Liberty folds almost completely flat which makes it easier to pack in the car. The folding mechanism is easy too.....and robust. Yep another from me for Liberty (and not too expensive either).

I was told that Woofbix which is available through Big W is the "plain label" equivalent of Coprice (ie manufactered the same way but packaged differently without the brand name). If that is the case, then I can tell you that there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with it. I feed it when I can't access Great Barko or Uncle Albers and my dogs do just fine on it. I have coated dogs (American Cockers) and smooth coats (Pug, Greyhound, Staffordshire Bull Terrier) and they all do just fine on the Woofbix. My only criticism is that I have to feed slightly more than the recommended amounts to maintain weight, but because it is such a good price (around $17 for 15kg), that isn't really a drama.

I would agree with this for baby puppies. But a slightly older dog which has already exhibited fear tendencies might find it a little overwhelming. This is why I suggest making it as much a "pleasant" experience as possible until he is more relaxed with the idea.

Get yourself a pair of haemostats and take a seat in front of the TV so that you are nice and relaxed. You don't need to pull a lot with each tug. Perhaps your boy has taken a dislike to it because he was hurt in the past. Most dogs don't ever actually "enjoy" the procedure, but in time, provided you pull a teensy bit at a time and keep at it, with treats and kind words, they learn to accept it.

Had the same experience myself last weekend. Numbers hadn't arrived by the Wednesday prior to the show so I gave the secretary a quick call. Turns out they were late sending them out (our regs state you're supposed to receive them a minimum of 7 days prior to the show) but it was a good thing I rang anyway because they STILL haven't arrived (and the show was last Saturday). No great drama, she confirmed I was entered and I picked up a new set of numbers from the office on the day!

I love my dogs and I don't feed Artemis Me too! And OMG..... I don't feed premium foods or even semi-premium foods either! So, what do you feed? Usually Uncle Albers or Great Barko. If I can't get that for some reason, then I feed either Woofbix, You'll Love Coles Chicken and Rice or Woolworths Select Chicken and Rice. I also feed fresh meat, bones and vegetables and table scraps. Editing to add: The best food for your dog isn't the most expensive, or the most prestigious label, it is the one it does best on. There are WAY too many food nazis around!