sandgrubber

That's probably because people don't know where it came from. The puppy farm, where Krudd got his dog from, also sell....Shitese! :rofl: Now that is sad. Presumably a Shi Tzu x Maltese? Grow up! making fun of names is appropriate to 10 yr olds, not adults. Please include some substance if you have a beef with someone's position. Who gives a hoot if Kevin Rudd bought a GR from a kennel that also sells some other breed or cross breed. If I put on my economic justice hat, I could probably knock you pretty bad for something . . . buying gasoline from a nasty petroleum producer, buying wood from a company that buys unsustainably produced timber, buying coffee from some source that screws the primary producers, blood diamond in your engagement ring? . . . etc., etc., etc.. I hesitate to say this on a purebreed forum, but my experience in running a boarding kennel is that the Shi Tzu x Maltese is a particularly successful F1 hybrid. They tend to be healthy and be a bit more moderate in temperament than either of the parent breeds. I don't advocate cross breeding. But I do object to pure breed enthusiasts making fools of themselves by making fun of things that the broader public doesn't see as a problem. If you're going to criticize, please do so responsibly, with substance. Pre-adolescent humour doesn't help a policy debate. (I'm considering taking on another personna .. . 'wet blanket' . . . a wet blanket is what some of these little flare ups call for).

I've been reading the comments on these stories, trying to take the perspective of Joe Public, who has no particular axe to grind in the dog world. I'd encourage others to play this game before mouthing off. The dog community on display in these debates looks petty, fractious, and sour.

Suggestion If you want good attendance, make sure to include date and time in all posts relating to an event. I'm confused at this point about whether this event is in Sydney, Melbourne, both, or elsewhere. Not that I'm going to fly out from the US to attend in any case. But my guess is, others are as confused as I.

Links to a set of articles written by the breeder who introduced the bob-tail gene into UK boxers. Here's an extract from the 'reflections on past progress' article of 7/7/2000 REFLECTIONS ON PAST PROGRESS The study was conceived about 10 years ago. In part it was started as an academic exercise to see how feasible it might be to transfer a gene from one breed to another. But, given the probability that docking would eventually be banned in the UK, as was already happening in other countries, the bob-tail gene was specifically selected because of its potential practical application. The "recipient" breed was my own breed, the Boxer. The bob-tail "donor" was the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. I have often been asked over the years, "Why use a Corgi, which is such a different breed?" In truth I had never thought or worried about this. In the series of backcrosses planned, it should not matter what I started with. Unwanted characteristics of whatever nature would all be diluted out, generation by generation. Of more practical significance was the fact that Peggy Gamble of Blands Corgi fame and the late Patsy Hewan (Stormerbanks Corgis) had earlier asked me to investigate the inheritance of the bob-tail condition in the breed. This proved to be that of a single dominant gene, a finding that potentially made transfer into another breed relatively simple. Beyond this, it was fortuitous that the two main characteristics of the Corgi that I did not want, the longer coat and the short legs, were also inherited as dominants relative to the Boxer very short coat and long legs. This meant that once avoided in any generation, they would be gone forever. Nevertheless, quite apart from these two gene s, I was hugely surprised at just how easy it was to get back to Boxer appearance by repeated crossing to Boxer after the initial Corgi cross. BOBTAIL BOXER ARTICLES - Published in Dog World Magazine (UK) Genetics Can be Fun ....Aug 2, 1996 Genetics Can be Fun (cont.) ....Aug 9, 1996 Genetics Can be Fun (cont.) ....Sept 13 1996 Genetics Can be Fun - Update....Aug 28 1998 Reflections on Past Progress....June 30 2000 Reflections on Past Progress (cont.)....July 7 2000 Postscript....May 4 2001See also .....Bobtail Boxers (plus Questions & Answers). Reposted from the main body of the General section.

However, as noted in the Vic Daily Hansard of 30 August, which billeted this legislative disaster, there are questions about whether it is lawful under section 28 of the Vic Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (charter act)

On the DNA question . . . Here's from the company that does breed identification tests (I've posted this before, but I can't remember where, so here it goes again). Mars Veterinary kindly sent the following response to questions re their "Wisdom Panel" and it's ability to identify the American Pit Bull Terrier using DNA Profiling: "Thank you for contacting Mars Veterinary. The term “Pitbull” does not refer to a single or recognized breed of dog, but rather to a genetically diverse group of breeds. Pit bull type dogs have historically been bred by combining guarding type breeds with terriers for certain desired characteristics – and as such they may retain many genetic similarities to the likely progenitor breeds and other closely related breeds. If a pit bull type dog were tested, we might anticipate that the Wisdom Panel test might detect and report moderate to trace amounts of one or more distantly related breeds to those used to breed the dog, it is possible that one or more of the following breeds might be detected at moderate to trace amounts: the American Staffordshire terrier, Boston terrier, Bull terrier, Staffordshire Bull terrier, Mastiff, Bullmastiff Boxer, Bulldog and various small terriers like the Parson Russell. These breeds would be detected because some markers in these breeds have genetic identity at a minority of the markers the Wisdom Panel test uses to the breeds in our database. Mars Veterinary’s analysis of the many Pitbull type breeds, which are known to be closely related, indicates that this diverse group of dogs could be one or a mixture of American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull terrier, Boston Terrier and some Bulldog. Due to the genetic diversity of this group, we cannot build a DNA profile for the Pitbull. Any Pitbull type breed tested using Wisdom Panel™ MX Mixed Breed Analysis is likely to reveal a combination of several breeds. For example, a Pitbull type breed might show up as 25% Boston Terrier, 25% American Staffordshire Terrier and 50% unknown. Of course, if the parents are registered, you could do paternity tests.

The processes leave a lot to local level animal control officers, and aren't reliable. Once a dog is pts, appeal is a lost cause. From a legal perspective, a staffy X (or boxer x Labrador, or other dog that looks something like an APBT) is a 'chattel' with value something like that of a second hand TV. Destroying it is nothing. No value placed on sentience; no value on the heartache to people whose family members are executed. Guess I sound like an animal libber . . . but where the hell are the animal rights people on this one. If animals have rights, certainly this is an affront of the worst kind . . . summary execution based on appearance alone. Taking away of pets acquired from rescues, with no warning at the time of adoption that the dog was to be condemned either to a restricted life, or death for non-registration. I am horrified and astounded that people aren't up in arms about this stupid, stupid law and how it is being implemented. . . . that there's more outrage about the PM being given a DD pup as a b'day present.

I meant to post these in the pinned 'studies about dogs' part of the General but pushed the wrong button. I think they're classics. Does anyone object to re-posting the links in 'Studies about Dogs' to make it easier for people to find them years hence?

Ah, if life were only so simple!

Good thought, but a couple problems. 1) It would be easy to counterfeit, so the authorities probably wouldn't accept the system. 2) what happens to black dogs? Maybe a second microchip?

I think the public's reaction to all this going to be 'how cute'. The pedigree dog community's negative reaction will simply reinforce the notion that we're a bunch of snobs.

Price increase? How about an export promotion award! With the Ozzie dollar so high, there aren't a lot of profitable exports these days.

Most of the policies I've looked at have a limit ~ $3000. If you do get insurance, read the fine print.

There is nothing wrong with having a preference for a particular shade of colour if all boxes are ticked. My dark liver/chocolate boy is an excellent working dog and a very sound, typical Lab as well, his colour is the icing on the cake for me. Nothing wrong with an OWNER preference. If I like redfox yellows, fine and dandy. But if a judge overlooks chocos cause they are a bit bleached . . . well . . . no need to go into it . . . I don't have a high opinion of the show ring as a way to judge quality. Just one more thing to make me cynical. Chocos do bleach . . . yellows do too . . . but no one cares if a yellow goes lighter. It's sick to have people keeping their dogs out of the sun to avoid a natural process. Fine if it's icing on the cake for you. It should NOT be icing on the cake in the show ring, cause the icing is very often the deciding feature.

I agree with suziwong66. Unless your are someone who has a hard time saving but is good at paying bills, you do better to save the money for a bad day than to pay petcare insurance. Also note that the cheaper programs tend to include all the regular stuff. Essentially it's gambling. If you think your pets are healthier than average . . . and people who do proper health checks etc. and follow good diets/exercise regimes/training routines will, on the whole, have dogs who are healthier than average . . . you will save money by self insuring.

I came across a set of articles written by the breeder who introduced the bob-tail gene into UK boxers. It seems worth providing links to these as they are informative and a good contribution to the 'purity' debate. Here's an extract from the 'reflections on past progress article of 7/7/2000 REFLECTIONS ON PAST PROGRESS The study was conceived about 10 years ago. In part it was started as an academic exercise to see how feasible it might be to transfer a gene from one breed to another. But, given the probability that docking would eventually be banned in the UK, as was already happening in other countries, the bob-tail gene was specifically selected because of its potential practical application. The "recipient" breed was my own breed, the Boxer. The bob-tail "donor" was the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. I have often been asked over the years, "Why use a Corgi, which is such a different breed?" In truth I had never thought or worried about this. In the series of backcrosses planned, it should not matter what I started with. Unwanted characteristics of whatever nature would all be diluted out, generation by generation. Of more practical significance was the fact that Peggy Gamble of Blands Corgi fame and the late Patsy Hewan (Stormerbanks Corgis) had earlier asked me to investigate the inheritance of the bob-tail condition in the breed. This proved to be that of a single dominant gene, a finding that potentially made transfer into another breed relatively simple. Beyond this, it was fortuitous that the two main characteristics of the Corgi that I did not want, the longer coat and the short legs, were also inherited as dominants relative to the Boxer very short coat and long legs. This meant that once avoided in any generation, they would be gone forever. Nevertheless, quite apart from these two gene s, I was hugely surprised at just how easy it was to get back to Boxer appearance by repeated crossing to Boxer after the initial Corgi cross. BOBTAIL BOXER ARTICLES - Published in Dog World Magazine (UK) Genetics Can be Fun ....Aug 2, 1996 Genetics Can be Fun (cont.) ....Aug 9, 1996 Genetics Can be Fun (cont.) ....Sept 13 1996 Genetics Can be Fun - Update....Aug 28 1998 Reflections on Past Progress....June 30 2000 Reflections on Past Progress (cont.)....July 7 2000 Postscript....May 4 2001See also .....Bobtail Boxers (plus Questions & Answers).

With chocolate/liver Labs, I think far far too much attention goes to the coat colour. I know show people who keep their choco's under shadecloth to avoid sunbleaching. Come on! The Lab should be a working dog. A judge who obviously favoured dark or light yellows would get jumped on. But for some reason, it's considered ok to favour a dark, rich colour. I can see penalizing the pink nose or eye-lining. These are faults in the standard. But going for one shade of an allowed coat colour is wrong. Yes, there are some sour grapes here. The vet called my very sun-bleached choco 'grizzly' coloured the other day . . . which is descriptive . . . colour quite like a grizzly bear. Much more yellow/orange than either of PF's cooked liver dishes. Her undercoat is much darker. I like dogs to look like they've been out in the weather.

discount store paint rollers are good. Cheap. Pretty hard to dismember. Good mouth feel. Not full of stuffing. I'd say six squeekers in an hour shows both IQ and focus.

Even if the Biewer is moving toward becoming a registered breed, I'd say it's the sort of new breed the dog world doesn't need. Looks like it will have a very narrow gene pool, and like its distinguishing feature is 'looks'. The only 'need' it will satisfy is the need for novelty. Btw, I hope those of you who are against X breeding are as anti for the Dogo Argentino as for the Labradoodle, or whatever it will eventually be called. Now there's a real mutt for you. The insistence on whiteness results in high frequency of deafness. clipping from wikipedia . . . The Dogo Argentino (also known as the Argentine Dogo) is a large, white, muscular dog that was developed in Argentina primarily for the purpose of big-game hunting, including wild boar and puma; the breeder, Antonio Nores Martinez, also wanted a dog that would exhibit steadfast bravery and willingly protect its human companion to the death. It was first bred in the 1928, from the Cordoba Fighting Dog along with a wide array of other breeds including, but not limited to, the Great Pyrenees, Irish Wolfhound, Boxer, Great Dane, and Pointer.

Personally, I think empty collars will be a stronger statement than dogs. Most of us think our dogs are o.k. But even ok dogs occasionally get out of hand.

In sum, if the dog wants to be caught, and is friendly to strangers, it's easy. A timid dog with many options to run into bush may be near impossible to catch.

There are some great breed clubs. However: Some breed clubs have internal politics that have driven would-be members out. Some people live so far from where the breed club meets that it's not worth their while to join. Some breed clubs don't do much. I wouldn't necessarily dismiss a breeder who doesn't belong to their state breed club.

Chocolate/Liver is one of the three accepted colours for Labradors. Everyone likes chocolate better than liver, except, perhaps, the dogs, so no one ever refers to 'liver's'. I've long been curious whether liver meant that Weimerarner grey colour you get from cooked liver or the bloody dark red of the raw stuff. If it's the grey, then doesn't that approve the 'silver' Labrador as a choco? I've never seen a raw-liver colour on a Lab.

You might ask this on a rescue forum. I think you'll get the answer that it's damn hard to tell. It's pretty common for rescues to cut the girl open for desexing only to find that it's already been done.

MIght add that the 19th century gun dog breeding was affected in a major way by the importation of a few hundred, perhaps more, St John's water dogs from eastern Canada. These, in their various forms (longer/shorter coats, larger/smaller sizes) were x-bred into existing lines to varying extents, but without the genetic input, we wouldn't have the modern Labrador, Goldie, or Newfoundland. The rat terrier is still traceable to several breeds, including beagle, whippet, and various smaller terriers . . . and is (like the poodle and Xolo) recognised in three sizes. Dog roles have changed. No 19th century breeder was breeding for flyball, agility, or dock diving. Many were bred for some combination of cart pulling, guarding, vermin control, hunting, and herding. Hunting upland game is a very restricted niche in Australia, dog carts are rare, few herding breeds get a chance to herd, and earth dogs get in trouble when they spoil the lawn. Breeds should not be fossilized into the form they took when the stud books closed. Especially where the existing forms have narrow genetic basises and widespread health problems. The 'pure bred' label does not need to mean 'unchanged since 1900' nor should it deny the emergence of new breeds. Is this to say that DD's are good? Not at all. There are no data to work from (that I know of), but I'd guess that a large fraction of DD's come from indiscriminate breeding, without health testing, etc. and with no tracing of pedigree. Such dogs are going nowhere in 'breed' terms. In response to the question, 'what will the public think'? The public don't think that highly of the pedigree dog world now. If they see us with our bums held high and our heads in the sand, it won't improve our public image.