SparkyTansy

Yes, by all means. wonderful - thank you! :)

Although I agree with others that say you should stick to your guns if you can convince your family members, I think that an Old English Sheepdog would also fit. They can be clowns, but they aren't rediculously active, they can be kept clipped, they are fantastic with other dogs and animals (if brought up with them correctly of course), and they are a chunky breed even under all that hair. They are also born for the attention they receive, and relish in people telling them how beautiful they are. I have Weimaraners and English Setters, but i looked after my sisters OES for a while. He was the best watch dog of them all, only barked when something was really amiss, and scared the crap out of people who only heard him behind the door - a big bark! of course they melted when they saw him because he is so darn cute.

That's poor - why accept the appointment, or even bother with getting that group in teh first place, if they don't like it?

Just remember there are never guarantees... ever. Dogs with 0:0 can still produce an HD affected puppy. by choosing lower than breed average, we hope to reduce scores, and lower the risk, but there is never a guarantee.

May i please share your original post and pictures on a FB page? absolutely fantastic idea!!

CC I can't remember how Active Daisy is but Roo is very low in fat so feeding it as a main protein source for an extended period can cause them to lose weight. Some dogs don't like roo also. Spartan, my allergy dog who will eat pretty much anything, will not touch roo, especially when raw. He does, however, like turkey, and he does well on Turkey, despite his major allergy to chicken. I haven't tried horse, though! I find it much easier to feed the simple one protein one veg source (like roo and sweet potato) for a period than using a pre made diet, simply because despite it being natural and raw, there are more ingredients and it's less easy to control and work out what the issue could be.

Skyehaven has imported several from Sweden I think.

very adorable - congrats!!

If it makes you feel any better, anytime i go to stack my pup (now 13 months) at home she throws herself onto her side and then rolls around like an idiot! I gave up practicing with her and just went into the ring and she was perfect. Relax :) i totally agree with Rebanne :)

Wow. Why would you not want to use a dog that had proved its genetic fitness and outstanding exhibit of mother nature. Wonder why dogs life spans get shorter and shorter? because breeding is done by bureaucrats who think they know best. +1 :thumbsup: +2

I used to keep a bit of a list, back when I was organised. Now there are only a few judges i won't enter under, and as others havesaid, it's usually because they are rough or totally disinterested.

It does depend on the coat texture. I would only condition the parts that got quite dirty on the OES... pee area, front legs and face. I wouldn't condition the rest because the coat is coarse and should remain that way. The setters are always conditioned.

My English Setters sire was an 11 year old male. Was a natural mating.

We treat with glucosamine, ester C, careful management of exercise, and acupuncture. he is 6 and while he does have some discomfort particularly in winter, he doesn't get a lot of painkillers. he recently fell over though and has been rather stiff so managing that with painkillers and additional acupunture.

Have you had him checked to make sure he doesnt need an adjustment? he might not be stacking because it's uncomfortable. if you have and it's nothing then persistence, calm and consistent... lots of praise as well :) I had a tricky wriggle bum and clicker training and show stackers worked a treat.

Mine get a chicken based diet, not mince, they get whole chicken pieces daily (more meat than bone), with other meats thrown in whenever. They get an offal source 1-2 times a week, fish once a week (whole fish) and occasionally vegetables. Fantastic coats, wonderful small stool and beautiful teeth. Raw feeding doesn't have to be complicated, you just have to work out what works for you and the dog/s.

This...

stiffness, reluctance to run, bunnyhopping my boy started limping early - approx 7 months of age. it was in both hips, but one was worse than the other.

:laugh: fair enough - maybe have a look and see what other showies have with young pups... I'm not sure of the setup in NSW but if there is a shop there you could take Gus there with you to try before you buy? see what's comfortable and what he responds to the best. I had a variety already with my latest pups - I showed two from the same litter and they had different leads.

Welcome to DOL Space Cadet :) You could ask for a referral to Rivergum Vets for your dogs lameness issue. Pop into the WA thread and a couple of people inthere will be able to give you more information. From what i can tell it's difficult to get in quickly but the specialists are wonderful.

Also ask your breeder they know the breed :)

I like a soft martingale on puppies

I think it's fantastic when it's done but it's never something I'd expect. It seems now that many of the WA clubs have taken up FB group pages, the numbers get posted on there.

Oso poor Rommi! thank goodness you have insurance and glad you can get it seen to straight away. :)

My sister also used Dogtainers to ship her Old English Sheepdog to the UK. Service was very good.