Lowenhart

I'd give the puppies Yakult. Wait until mum is off the antibiotics before giving her the probiotics.

I give a breed lecture and make sure there are different styles of dogs present so the judges get to see some variety. I don't discuss what style is better, only to look to find the strengths in the dogs there in spite of the differences in style.

Every states judges education system is different and there are differences in how the groups are managed even within a state. So what can/can not be discussed depends on where you are and who is running the groups training.

Blood can stain.

I use shampoo and warm water.

Why on earth would you not tag/chip a dog that's a known escapee, especially a rare breed?

The dog was apparently tagged but lost them in the escape. I didn't ask about m/c.

From the club secretary:

Change to Group 4 ring allocation on Saturday night (18th Feb).

The Champ Show ring will now be in Ring 8. Ring 3 is still being rested.

I saw a stunning Foxhound trotting down the footpath of a pretty busy road. I caught it and took it to the vet (Foxhounds are not a common thing) who had no record of the dog but they rang the next clinic along (there is a couple along this stretch of road) who had a Foxhound on file.

I took the dog home, having left my details with the vet clinic who were trying to contact the owners. I also rang the only Foxhound breeder I knew to see if they'd sold a dog to the area.

I left dropping it off to the local pound as the last resort. The owners came home, got the message where the dog was and swung by to pick it up. Dog was a serial offender, so the owners were grateful to not have to rock up at the pound to claim it. Especially as it had no tags or microchip.

I'd do it again. But then the local pound is forever having parvo and other nasties.

What annoyed me when my dogs have gotten out is people who didn't contain my dog when it came on by. One said after I enquired if they had seen my dog which they had, he'd been hanging out there for 15 minutes. Why didn't they tie him up? "We aren't allowed dogs here". I spent the next hour trying to work out where this dog had wandered off to praying he'd not got hit by a car.

I only have an issue with the breeder who knowingly bred the merle to merle knowing that there are health problems associated with this that can be avoided by breeding to a solid colour. I also question people that support this breeder. Which I think is what most people are commenting on.

I am not fussed on Westminster, or the judges awarding those dogs. They were the best dogs from the results so they got invited. Does it perpetuate the problem- maybe but since dog showing is all about the dog in front of the judge you would need to change showing to change that and I don't think thats necessary.

But it wouldn't be a problem in the first place if people didn't breed knowing there was a higher degree of health risks. If merle to merle had no health risks I would say go for it and be merry!

AKC allows it. I don't think anyone here on DOL is supporting the breeding of Merle to Merle.

But be aware- Dalmatian, Bull Terriers and Cattle Dogs have higher risks of deafness linked to their excessive levels of white. This could be construed by outside people as breeders ignoring health problems because of looks/colouring.

Even if breeders are routinely testing the pups and selecting to use only hearing normal dogs.

The OP linked to a site that is calling for the AKC to "act" against homozygous merle AND it's offspring. No matter if the dogs in question can see or hear.

*edited for grammar*

I'd like to know if the dams of the two Westminster dogs were merle or another colour. If they weren't merle, then I don't see what the issue is, as the merle to merle mating was on the sires side, to produce a dog that would always through merle.

Now if that merle to merle dog , is put to another coloured bitch and no hearing and sight problems result, then what is the issue.

GCH CH Taliesin Fashion Forward (Wyndlair Avalanche [Homozygous Merle] x Ch Southland's Long Hot Summer [sable])

GCH CH Wyndlair Cherokee Vindication (Wyndlair Avalanche [Homozygous Merle] x GCh. Twin City Cleopatra [Tri])

Colours of dams comes from AKC stud book.

These merles are "normal" merle.

Stopping the showing of "normal" offspring seems a bit silly. AKC could just look at preventing the registration of the offspring of Merle x Merle breedings.

Can you categorically say that the double merle sire is deaf and blind? It is a possibility YES, but there are double merle who are deaf but not blind, deaf and blind in one eye/ear, have normal sight and hearing.

I'm pretty sure that sire is deaf/blind, it said so on the breeder's website. I'm having trouble linking from my phone...

ETA-maybe just blind- but that's definitely stated by the breeder as the reason he can't be shown himself. Sandgrubber's link on the first page links to it.

No where does the owner state the dog is blind. A third party spoke to a co-breeder and posted a message on Yahoogroups, not definitive.

The dog is mismarked with a half white face and unclear markings on the body. That would be the most obvious reason it is not shown.

I agree it is not advisable to breed merle x merle, and understand why you can not register the offspring of such paring here in Australia (even if they are non-merled or are heterozygous merle - 1 copy only, both possible outcomes of such a pairing). But to claim the AKC is somehow irresponsible to let 2 normal, apparently healthy offspring of such a dog be invited to Westminster is a bit overwrought.

AKC might need to rethink the merle x merle litter registration, but to stop the offspring of these litters (some of which can be not merle at all!) from producing is the wrong end of the stable.

Are you saying the AKC has nothing to do with who becomes a judge? Do you think a breed specialist judge won't be familiar with the pedigrees of the national winners in the breed? Does the AKC not have it in its power to ban merle to merle breeding? Are you saying judges are colour blind?

I think 3 of the top 5 are blue merle . . . two have the same sire . . . who was the product of a deliberate merle to merle mating.

Can you categorically say that the double merle sire is deaf and blind? It is a possibility YES, but there are double merle who are deaf but not blind, deaf and blind in one eye/ear, have normal sight and hearing.

AKC does decide who becomes a judge BUT the breeders decide who gets bred and shown. You can only judge from what is infront of you. If it so happens the most campaigned dogs in Collies that year happened to have a colour bias to Blue Merle then more Blue Merle's appear in the top listings. Another year it could be Sables left right and centre, do you blame the judges then?

AKC can ban merle to merle. But it can't stop people campaigning 2 dogs because they are half siblings. That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. I've seen the top 2 dogs in a breed be Father/Son, Brother/Sister. It means that those dogs were campaigned the most AND were winning regularly. Maybe they are excellent examples of the breed and it so happens that it wasn't the only one in it's litter or from the sire etc.

Judges don't (and should never) judge paper pedigrees. There is a reason why dogs are enter the ring with a catalogue number attached.

Lowenhart can you please tell me what VWW10 signifies? :) I love finding out what some of the stuff actually means :laugh:

I would imagine its a world winner title from the world dog show Veteran world winner 2010

Like England some dogs have JW Junior Warrant

Showdog is correct it's Veteran World Winner 2010. "Winner" titles are recorded on dogs names in Norway/Finland/Sweden. Some dogs have so many "Winner" titles, it would take a tree to print them all out.

I think you can't put your own perceptions on other people. So you don't think putting RuBIS as part of a Ad or Brag is classy, others obviously think differently!

I can't see the point in trying to control how others list their dogs in non-ANKC forums. And I'd HATE to see DOL profile title field limited as then I'd have trouble with one of my dogs as his is Int/Aust/NZ/Fin/Dk/Est/Lith/Nor/Swed/Nord Ch VWW10. If I am bragging I normally shorten it to just Int/Multi Ch.

I don't normally add the all the BIS/BISS/RuBIS/RuBISS letters when bragging for a non BIS/BISS/RuBIS/RuBISS win. But I don't tell other people not to. Everyone can do as they please.

If it does not drop he will need to be castrated the vet said by 6 mths, I said I wanted to wait at least 12mths she said no 6 mths.. Ugh so I was hoping to assist it to drop lol.. I might ask around re massaging it down but the breeder did say that I would need to do this and it is common..

I have emailed the breeder as I couldn't get hold of her today but i think I know the vet she goes to so I might ring them..

Re the vet saying he is too lean, you know I actually think she made more of that as I said I was feeding raw and I wasn't interested on feeding him totally dry food

.. I gave him a good feel today and his ribs are not sticking out, they feel good and this arvo he was running around full pelt heaps of energy. Looks like more vets to try lol..

I have had pups which didn't drop by 6 months and advised by a Reproduction specialist that there is no hurry to get them neutered. It takes a very long time for the testicle to get anywhere near cancerous. 12 months old is fine, but do expect to pay more as it is a much harder surgery (they have to go exploring).

I don't think they understand "sorry" but they get that at that moment I am not trying to punish or hurt them.

It's a marking word, similar to they way I use "oops". When my blind dog accidentally walks into a wall I say "oops", soon I say "oops" before they hit it and they change direction.

For "sorry", it means "pack leader hurt me but is happy and affectionate". Or "it was not meant as a punishment". I see my dogs inadvertently hurt each other and they go back and check. Why can't I do the same?

If I have to recommend a cheaper food, I like Julius Gold from Aldi. $7 for 4kg.

It's not the best that money can buy, but if caught short it is sufficient quality to get the dog through a tough spot.

I find white pants/skirts and bright underwear very distracting...

You don't want to distract the judge from the dog so avoid too many sparkles or sequins.

There is an entry form program that you can install on your computer.

Link here

Or this post with links

I give Yakult to newborn pups who are not thriving and have the frothy stools. It really makes a difference. Gave it to their dams as well.

There are plenty of reasons people end up renting and it's got nothing to do with not being willing to save up to rent.

Houses in the cities are unreasonably expensive compared to average wages, it is getting to the point where Australian cities are in the Top 10 most expensive in the WORLD for living (housing+food etc).

Relationships breakdown, family responsibilities arise, job transfers, suddenly unemployed.

Damage can occur in rentals without pets, if there is a problem with how damage bills are handled then that needs to be looked at.

I use something like #3 to pull off the build up on my dogs teeth. But a teaspoon with a smooth edge does just as good a job.

It's not as good as a proper clean by a vet but I had a dog that could not be anaesthetised due to sensitivity (his heart tended to stop)and he refused to let me brush them, so it was chicken pieces and a spoon for the stubborn bits that kept his teeth decent.

I've picked a bad overshot mouth at 3-4 weeks. The dog had a significantly shorter/narrower lowerjaw that never caught up. I check teeth and jaws as part of my regular handling.

If Lowchen have teeth at 4-5 weeks, it's likely they are smooth. If they don't yet have them at 7-8 weeks they are likely to be undershot with an overdone head.

By checking regularly and noting it down, you can learn for the next litter. Makes predicting outcomes easier.

And for an alternate view, we took a dog to a chiro and the dog was screaming in pain by the end of it.

An alternate view, I went to a Chiro and had shooting pains down my legs afterwards. Another Chiro left me with a "grinding" in my lower back. Not all human Chiros are equal, same for dogs.

I found a good chiro for me, and a good one for my dogs. They happen to be brothers :p.

Is a vaccination available in Australia?

Yes in very limited quantities. It is needed for dogs that are exported.

Qantas allows for dogs that fit in PP40 or smaller to go as excess baggage from selected airports. Otherwise it's $ per kg.

Virgin has flat rates for weight ranges.

Just wondering if any of the air companies still allow you to take dogs as excess baggage or do you have to pay the full per kg rate for them???

Actually the Griffon Bruxellois is exhibited with 2 coat types. Same with Saluki, Ibizan and St Bernards.

I love a good Puff, it is sad when they are overlooked for a Hairless. I do know there is some old timers who don't believe the Puff should be there but they are needed for the health of the breed. I think it would be hard to push for a split due to the small numbers of dogs. And I do believe they are not split for FCI.

After all you would never see two coat types allowed in many other breeds, unless in fact they are split i.e short and long coated chi's/ smooth and rough collies, etc yet the cresteds to have two and from what entourage says maybe more coat types allowable in the show ring.