Crested

There is one big question... HOW DO I CONVINCE MY MOM!? :o I've tried to explain the benifits you have told me but she is currently suffering from the well known "yeah, but" -virus. Everything I say, the anwser is: "Yeah, but..:" :roll: She thinks that Ben will: (quote) 1. "get angry because he will notice he's no longer a man." 2. "get annoyed because he will notice he is no longer like every other dog" :roll: 3. "get upset when the new girl comes because he has always been the main priority and he will notice that the two of them can't... ehh... have sex." :roll: There are three examples... give me some ways to convince my mom and I'll try... And I'll give you the "yeah, but" she gives me. /Crest

Hmm... When I am out with Ben and a Rott, German Shepard, Doberman, Pit, Am/Eng Staff or another big dog comes toward us I try to avoid them. The reason for that is because Ben is afraid of other dogs (Thanks to my ex. neighbourgs agressive ex. German Shepard who scared the crap out of him :mad:). I really don't want him to go in a situation where he has to AGAIN be scared to death! So that's why I try to avoid them. Some people again are just plain scared of dogs (My uncle is even scared of Ben even if the "worst" thing Ben ever has done is that he licked his hand a few times.). Then there is the fact that thoose dogs have a bad reputation... When they see a cute little dog, like a Pug, offcourse they will love them (if they aren't afraid of little dogs too like my uncle)! If you then look at a big dog that has bad reputation... that's a whole diffirent story. You can't know what has happend to thoose people that avoid your Rott. Mabye it's a situation like Ben's and mine, or like my uncle's. Don't judge them for going to the other side of the road when you are walking with your Rott. I'm sure they don't mean to be mean. Atleast I don't and I can only speak of myself. It is not their fault that some dog owners take a "big bad dog" just to boost their ego. Then the little puppy grows to a really big bad dog, because this "responsible" owner didn't care of raising the dog as it should have been raised. How will a person walking towards you and your dog know how good or bad you raised your dog by just looking at you two walking? I hope this gave you guys some idea of how people might think. I don't think it's a big deal, but I'm sure it's not any fun for you. But there isn't much anyone can do about the dogs reputation... If people have got one thought in their mind and are absolutely, positivly, 100 per cent sure that they are right, then there is no way to change their mind. One person's mind mabye, but we're talking about millions of people. You know... Some people see as the Powder Puff (coated) version of the Chinese Crested as a totally diffirent breed. That isn't true, but that's what some people think. And just because of that, I know that some well known breeders even KILL their newly born Powder Puff puppies just because they are Powder Puffs. If 30 years of preeching that they are the same dog, but just with a diffirent ammount of coat and that one has the hairless geen and one doesn't doesn't change some peoples minds then... how do you expect people to change their mind of breeds with several decades of bad reputation? Just something to think at... /Crest PS: Hope this didn't soud too hostile. That wasn't what I ment.. :)

Ehem... I have a HAIRLESS dog. So Ben doesn't have any hair to shed but he has dander! It's just not visible dander! The only time he sheds is when you groom his tail! And when you groom his tail he sheds a LOT! Can you believe it, atleast FIVE hairs!! :o :D So if Ben hasn't got a fur but still my nephiew (tell me how that is spelled correcly, please!) starts sneezing every time he comes over, I wonder what could be the cause of it. :wink: Ben is house trained so it can't be the two other things that allso cause allergies: urine and feecies, and my nephiew don't get a rash from Ben's saliva, then I REALLY wonder what it could be... :wink: Could it be dander? :D I've been studying allergies and dogs for ages, because I have allways wanted to have a dog or a cat, so I know what I'm talking about. I guess I started asking doctors when I was three... And now I'm 17 (turning 18 in august). That means that I have sucked information inside myself for 14 years now. (Of wich 5 constantly reading new researches etc.) I haven't asked just one or two doctors... Think about 10-20 and you are atleast a little closer to the real thing. I have lost count allredy. And then a "few"doctors still via internet... I guess I know what I'm talking about, huh? :wink: [b]blueH[/b] You are REALLY off base here! Believe me! I can say with 10,000% certanty that it is NOT the fur that is the cause of allergies! It's dander, saliva, feecies and urine! And as I said before; dander is dead skin cells! EVEN [b]YOU[/b] HAVE DEAD SKIN CELLS!! Did you know that there is a rare allergy in dogs and cats...? Allergy for HUMANS!! It's true! Unfortunately thoose pets are put to sleep, because they would be in touch with humans all the time. That means that thoose pets are allergic to HUMAN'S DEAD SKIN CELLS!! I [b][u][i]S W E A R[/i][/u][/b] this isn't a joke! So think about that before you say it's fur! /Crest PS: Thanks you guys who said my post was good! :lol:

kiti: It's not the fur, it's the dander. Dogs and cats have diffirent dander. People that are allergic to dog dander aren't allways allergic to cat dander and vice versa. The thing that it's FUR that is the cause of it all is NOT true! You can ask any allergy specialized doctor and you will get the same anwser. /Crest

BlueH--> Yes, there are dogs that don't shed (poodles, bichon fris

[i][b]EXCERPTS FROM A DOG'S DIARY[/b][/i] [b]Day number 180 8:00 am [/b]- Oh boy! Dog Food! My Favorite! [b]9:30 am[/b] - Oh boy! A car ride! My Favorite! [b]9:40 am [/b]- Oh boy! A walk! My Favorite! [b]10:30 am[/b] - Oh boy! A car ride! My Favorite! [b]11:30 am[/b] - Oh boy! Dog Food! My Favorite! [b]12:00 noon[/b] - Oh boy! The kids! My Favorite! [b]1:00 pm[/b] - Oh boy! The yard! My Favorite! [b]4:00 pm[/b] - Oh boy! The kids! My Favorite! [b]5:00 PM[/b] - Oh boy! Dog Food! My Favorite! [b]5:30 PM[/b] - Oh boy! Mom! My Favorite! [b]Day number 181 8:00 am[/b] - Oh boy! Dog Food! My Favorite! [b]9:30 am[/b] - Oh boy! A car ride! My Favorite! [b]9:40 am[/b] - Oh boy! A walk! My Favorite! [b]10:30 am [/b] - Oh boy! A car ride! My Favorite! [b]11:30 am[/b] - Oh boy! Dog Food! My Favorite! [b]12:00 noon[/b] - Oh boy! The kids! My Favorite! [b]1:00 pm [/b] - Oh boy! The yard! My Favorite! [b]4:00 pm[/b] - Oh boy! The kids! My Favorite! [b]5:00 PM[/b] - Oh boy! Dog Food! My Favorite! [b]5:30 PM[/b] - Oh boy! Mom! My Favorite! [b]Day number 182 8:00 am[/b] - Oh boy! Dog Food! My Favorite! [b]9:30 am[/b] - Oh boy! A car ride! My Favorite! [b]9:40 am[/b] - Oh boy! A walk! My Favorite! [b]10:30 am[/b] - Oh boy! A car ride! My Favorite! [b]11:30 am[/b] - Oh boy! Dog Food! My Favorite! [b]12:00 noon[/b] - Oh boy! The kids! My Favorite! [b]1:00 pm[/b] - Oh boy! The yard! My Favorite! [b]1:30 pm[/b] - Ooooooo. Bath. Bummer. [b]4:00 pm[/b] - Oh boy! The kids! My Favorite! [b]5:00 PM[/b] - Oh boy! Dog Food! My Favorite! [b]5:30 PM[/b] - Oh boy! Dad! My Favorite! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b] [i]EXCERPTS FROM A CAT'S DIARY[/i][/b] [b]DAY 752[/b] - My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant. [b]DAY 761 [/b] - Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded, must try this at the top of the stairs. In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair...must try this on their bed. [b]DAY 765[/b] - Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body, in attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was...Hmmm. Not working according to plan. [b]DAY 768[/b] - I am finally aware of how sadistic they are. For no good reason I was chosen for the water torture. This time, however, it included a burning foamy chemical called "shampoo." What sick minds could invent such a liquid? My only consolation is the piece of thumb still stuck between my teeth. Well, that and the fact that the dog was the next victim after me. [b]DAY 771[/b] - There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smell the foul odor of the glass tubes they call "beer". More importantly, I overheard that my confinement was due to MY power of "allergies." Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage. [b]DAY 774[/b] - I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. The bird on the other hand has got to be an informant, and speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the metal room his safety is assured. But I can wait, it is only a matter of time... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [i][b]EXCERPTS FROM A BIRD'S DIARY[/b][/i] [b]Day 983[/b] - This morning one of my featherless slaves brought me a dish of canned fruit bits. Ick. Obviously someone has not been paying attention; this slave has not learned its lesson. I flung each tasteless piece against the wall with precision and then promptly overturned the dish. That was followed by a nap. I was then awakened by the sound of a slave mumbling about me while cleaning up the fruit bits. I decided to tweak the creature's skin for its insolence. I was rewarded with instant cries of contrition. [b]Day 994 [/b]- Today the slaves allowed the dog upstairs to accompany them while I granted them an audience; now that I know the dog's name, it should be worth a few laughs to see just how relatively intelligent canines are...NOT! The cat, on the other hand, is a nasty, smelly hairball. It wretches all over everything and mopes around. Today it wandered into my inner sanctum without my permission, before my agents could stop its entrance. I commenced shrieking at 20 decibels and beat my wings and flared my crest for added effect. The slaves are still trying to dislodge the cat from the ceiling. [b]Day 1003[/b] - Today I am teaching the slaves to speak with me. This is trying my patience. No matter HOW clearly I enunciate, they keep saying the same thing over and over to me. How annoying. Since when did bring more apple slices become good bird ?! [b]Day 1115[/b] - It's a lovely day and the slaves are carrying my portable palace outside onto patio to enjoy the good weather. The dog is amusing. I am calling the dog's name and he thinks its the male slave for him. I'm watching him press his sloppy wet nose against the glass, listening to his name being called. He's going crazy trying to obey the command...oops...almost fell off my perch laughing just now... [b]Day 1123 [/b] - This morning I observed the feline scratching the furniture while aloft on the curtain rod. I promptly sounded the Universal Avian Distress Signal. That nasty creature actually attempted to climb up the drapes to where I was seated! One of the slaves arrived just in time to catch the beast in the act and grab it by its nape and deposit it out the back door. Must have been the male slave; the cat was airborne there for a few seconds. [b]Day 1134[/b] - Today I was good-naturedly minding my slaves' offspring. They were attempting to mimic my speech. How endearing. I climbed around on their heads and pretended to make a nest with their hair, which they perceived as a great honor. Indeed. They will make good and obedient servants one day, I think. Now, I just need to make it clear to them that they should dispense with the canine and the feline post haste...

15 Reasons Dogs don't use computers 1. Can't stick their heads out of Windows '95. 2. Fetch command not available on all platforms. 3. Hard to read the monitor with your head cocked to one side. 4. Too difficult to "mark" every web site they visit. 5. Can't help attacking the screen when they hear "You've Got Mail." 6. Fire hydrant icon simply frustrating. 7. Involuntary tail wagging is dead giveaway they're browsing [url]www.pethouse.com[/url] instead of working. 8. Keep bruising noses trying to catch that MPEG Frisbee. 9. Not at all fooled by Chuckwagon Screen Saver. 10. Still trying to come up with an emoticon that signifies tail wagging. 11. Three words: Carpal Paw Syndrome. 12. Because dogs ain't GEEKS! Now, *cats*, on the other hand... 13. SIT and STAY were hard enough; GREP and AWK are out of the question! 14. Saliva-coated mouse gets mighty difficult to manoeuvre 15. TrO{gO DsA[M,bN HyAqR4tDc TgrOo TgYPmE WeIjTyH P;AzWqS,. (Too Damn Hard To Type with paws!)

Old Yorkshire Dog Poem The dogs all had a meeting, They came from near and far. Some came by public transport, Some even came by car. But before they were allowed To enter in the hall, Each had to hang his Butt hole On a hook upon the wall. They all got nicely seated, Each mother, son and sire. When a dirty little yellow dog, Began to holler, 'FIRE'! They all jumped up together, They had no time to look. And each grabbed at random, A butt hole from a hook. This got their butt holes all mixed up, And made them very sore. To wear another butt hole, They hadn't worn before. And that's the reason why a dog, Will even leave a bone, To smell another butt hole, In the hope to find his own.

One more! [b][i]How to medicate a dog and a cat. [/i] 1.How to give a pill to a cat:[/b] Pick up the cat and hold it on your left hand like you would hold a child. Put your right index finger and thumb on both sides of your cat

How the dog thinks. 1. If I like it, it

How to take a photo of a puppy 1.Take out the film roll from the package and put it in the camera. 2.Take the package out from the puppy

I just heard about the dessolving stiches, that they can get infected a lot easier. I'm still just so reliefed to have made the decition and even if I still have doubts, I have started to realize more and more how good it probabely will be. Ben's... sexual activity... (or what should it be called) has been the main coucurn with getting the girl, but now once I HAVE made up my mind, I don't have a single thing stopping me from getting the perfect girl! And Ben can still be a dad... Well... Not a BIOLOGICAL dad, but I'm sure he'll be a foster parent anyway. :D I kind of have a little "hunch" about that. :wink: /Crest

I've allso heard of an activation PYRAMID... What's that all about and is it any good?

alicat: I think he needs stiches... Atleast I have heard that Cresteds need stiches but just one or two... Ben is a big fellow. He's 32cm and weighs 7,6kg (the last time I weighed him) wich is a bit too much, but he is not at all fat. He's.. fit. :o :lol: The normal weight of a Crested is about 5,5kg. /Crest

alicat: The spots in Ben's ears look exacly like the spots on the page that K sent. [img]http://www.priory.com/vet/vetatop5.gif[/img] (the picture on the right) He doesn't have them anywhere else on his body. Just on the tip of his ears. I have never heard that cortisone can be harmfull for dogs. I've put 2,5% hydrocortisone (I don't know if you can get it anywhere else then in finland) on the tip of his ears and they have actually got a bit better. (I don't use much of it) On the box of the hydrocortison it says (contains) Alcohol certyl, et stearyl. emulsifians A, Alcohol certyl., Cholesterol., Vaselin. alb., Paraffin. liq. et Propylenglycol. q.s. Aq. purif. ad 1g I use it on myself too so I didn't see that it even could harm Ben. And he seems to like it. Every time I take it out he starts licking his muzzle like he would want to say: "Oh, yummy! I finally get to eat that!" (even though I never let him eat it :lol:) /Crest

Michele: Thanks! Ben is the best! No, I haven't tried with a bone... Mom doesn't really like the idea of having a REAL bone in the house for him to chew on. :-? Gooeydog: I think Goo's ball is a bit bigger! :lol: Does he like his ball? Have you ever tried to CLEAN that ball?? I have and that is the HARDEST PART OF OWNING AN ACTIVITY BALL!!! (atleast I think so) Thoose Holee rollers sound like something that would intrest Ben (he's [b]C-R-A-Z-Y[/b] about balls!). What about thoose... what do you call them... Kongs? You put trats in them and freeze them... I don't understand what they do or what they are good for. Can someone please tell me? /Crest

That looks a lot like it! :o :( So you don't think it's just the cold? I just can't think of what would cause it!! /Crest

Ben is in one word... A terminator! He loves to destroy stuff! My phillow is the newest thing! My FAVOURITE phillow that I can't sleep without... :o So I've been thinking to buy some activation toys for him. I allredy have an activation ball that he L-O-V-E-S to play with... but... it's loosing it's intrest when Ben knows exacly how to turn and kick it so all of the goodies inside it will just pour out (the newest brainstorm is to kick it against chairs, tables, walls... you know... I think he's tryeing to crack it open for more fun!) So I've been thinking of a bit more challenging things... Could you give me advice and tell me about a few good activation toys that have worked for you. (I tried a kind of home made activation "toy". I hid goodies under carpets, his toys, his bed and so on, but that ended up with him goeing around and turning every carpet in the house upside down, spreading his every toy around the house and shakeing his bed so that the goodies would fall out :o) So I REALLY need some good activation tips. Ben loves to learn stuff and he is SO INCREDIBLY SMART! Every time I think of an activation game, he's one step ahead of me and the activation game only is interesting a few minutes and then he is back to terroriseing our house! He is really cute and he hasn't done anything dangerous or disturbing... YET, but I'm afraid of what will come in the future. So ACTIVATION TOY TIPS [b]PLEASE[/b]! :lol: Tell me what activation toy you think would be good, how the thing-a-majig works and how expencive it was when YOU bought it for YOUR "man's best friend"! :D /Crest [color=darkblue] Ben's activation ball... [img]http://personal.inet.fi/koti/crested/aktiivipallo.jpg[/img] YAY! I got icecream!!! [img]http://personal.inet.fi/koti/crested/icecream.jpg[/img][/color]

[img]http://personal.inet.fi/koti/crested/ear.jpg[/img] Ok, it's not a good picture... But I hope you see the red swollen dots. It's much better now, but I still wonder what is causing it... Could it be frostbite? /Crest

Could it be that the ears were cold and they were freezing? I put cortizone on them and they got a lot better, but there is a little sign of the red dots still. (the dots were even a bit swollen) I'll try and get a few pictures of the ears if I can... /Crest

Oh, I'm so happy! I'm sure takeing her home will lift her spirit! Give her a big bearhug from me aramsey, ok? When do you think you can have her home permanently? I'm so sad to hear about McKays siblings. :( I'll light a candle for them tonight. (My little way of respecting little lives gone to heaven) /Crest

Ok. I have decided to go ahead with the neutering. I still haven't called the vet, but atleast I have made up my mind. I think this has been the toughest decition I have ever made so far, but I really hope it's the right one. I guess the biggest reason for me realizeing that I HAVE to do it is the fact that I have found a breeder and that yesterday the girl went into heat. If everything goes well I should have a puppy in July. So before that I will castrate Ben. Probabely even before spring, because that's when the run aways start... So I won't be able to go to real dogshows with Ben, but I can go to Match shows wich are just as fun! And castrateing don't prevent agility. :) I want to thank you so much for all your grait advice! I'm so happy that there are people willing to help and give good advice. There is a couple thing in castrateing that I want to know. Wich ones are better; melting stiches or the ones that the vet has to take away? When would be the best time for the castration (remember I live in Finland and winters are pretty cold up here)? /Crest

pets4ever: I'm so glad that it went that good for you! But... there are dogs that turn to the worse after the fixing. Some might even be really sick and in real pain. And I'm terrified of causing pain to Ben! /Crest

[b]alicat:[/b] It's [b]not[/b] that simple! First of all, I have been VERY strict with buying this puppy. I've been searching and looking at several diffirent breeders, their upcoming litters and breeding standards and I must say, I have turned several down instantly. The biggest reason for that is hairy hairlesses! They might be wonderfull breeders with fantastic dogs, but the one thing that scares me away is hairy hairlesses. No hairless dog is supposed to be [b]shaved[/b] so that it will be hairless, is it? If you look at Peruvian Inca Orchids, Mexican Hairless Dogs (Xolos), American Hairless Terriers etc., they are preferred to be true hairlesses. [b]Only Chinese Cresteds are preferred to be [i]hairy[/i] hairlesses![/b] This is the result of breeding. See the picture in my signature. On the left is a hairy hairless (wich means that it IS infact a hairless dog and not a powder puff. So you have to shave it for it to be hairless. But... does it look hairless to you? The one on the right is Ben. Ben is a true hairless. Even if he would be 10 years without a single shave, he will [b]never ever[/b] look like that! Second of all; I'm [b]really[/b] against any kind of puppymills, backyard breeding etc. Third; I'm not saying I [b]will[/b] use Ben. I'm not saying that at all! I'm just thinking of the possibility, because I [b]know[/b] he would have much to offer to Chinese Cresteds, [b]but[/b] he [b][i]DOES HAVE FAULTS![/i][/b]I'm not even tryeing to suggest that he doesn't. I have got compliments of a few breeders on how grait Ben looks. (Chinese Crested breeders) And that makes me wonder even more. One breeder even asked if she could use Ben as a stud, but I said no, because I haven't tested his knees or eyes yet (planning to do that this summer if I get the chanse). So wether I will ever use Ben or not, that is not the biggest reason for the neutering or not neutering. The biggest reasons why I'm pending is the fact that I want to do the best for him and offer him the best quality of life I possibly can! So far I have heard reasons why I should neuture Ben and explanations of how grait everything will be afterwards, but no one has said to me anyting about how it will be like let's say one hour afterwards. Or two? 24 hours? I'm tryeing to look at this from various of diffirent angles. [b]Not just one! [/b] I strongly live with the motto: "Fools only think about happy days, wise men think about the ups and downs." when I'm tryeing to make a decition. That means that I don't just think: "Oh, grait! In June I can play with Ben, he will not be interested in any girls in heat and stops beeing territorial and marking!" I think: "If I neuter him, he will be in pain in the beggining. Even if I know it will become better with time, there is allso alwas '[i]today[/i]' and I have to think long term, but also short term if I want to be a good dog owner." I'm not mad, I'm not just makeing excuses and I'm not hostile in any way! (Many people might think that by reading this and texts can be missinturpered (how ever you spell that) and it has been known to happen lots of times!) I'm just trying to show you guys my point of view. [b]pets4ever:[/b] You're right. I didn't buy Ben for breeding purpouses, but as a pet and family dog. That is what he is to me and that is how I see him. Still my mind is filled with "what if's" (What if I would use him as a stud? What if he has good inheritage? What if it isn't really allergies?) But the part where you said: "Obviously the dogs need to be show quality." That isn't really the main thing I'm looking for in Chinese Cresteds, because the dogs that are "show quality" are hairy hairlesses! Believe it or not, but true hairlesses have a really hard time in the show ring against hairy hairlesses, because they do look better shaved and all! But do you really have to use veet and other hair removing gels to make your dog hairless?!?! So there are not many true hairless dogs with Championship titles and even fewer breeders even use true hairlesses in breeding! The sad part is, even though the dog might be perfect otherways, if there is a hairy hairless that has a few inperfections but has lots of crest, plume and socks, he will win the Ch title!! That's what makes me mad and that is why I want to fight against theese hairy hairlesses! A dog with good nature, body and teeth is much more important to me then having lots and lots of Championship titles just because of the hair part. If I ever do find a dog that actually does have a Ch title and is a true hairless, I will jump up and down and cheer for joy!! But as it looks right now, hairy hairlesses is what's IN! :( So that's why championship titles don't really matter to me. But I would prefer that the dog has been in a couple dogshows so that I know what judges has thought of his/her body etc. [b]yellowlabsrule[/b]: Thank you for that post, but all of the good reasons are about the long term results. I allso want to know about the short term results and effects. About the "Six Common Excuses for Not Spaying or Neutering Pets" ... I'll tell you exacly what I think of each excuse, so you will know what's going through my mind. Ok? :) [i]1) My pet will get fat and lazy. [/i] I don't think this is for me an excuse. More of a consern and a "what if". [i]2) We want another pet just like Rover and Fluffy. [/i] No, no, no, no, NO! Health issues and "what if's". I don't want to "clone" Ben! :o [i]3) My pet's personality will change.[/i] Again, it's for me a concurn, not an excuse. And I'm afraid it will change for the worse. It's known to happen. I've studied this pretty much and heard stories and I know it's known to happen. And that's one thing that I DON'T want to happen to Ben! [i]4) We can sell puppies or kittens and make money. [/i] Absolutely NOT!! I would NEVER EVER buy a dog JUST AND ONLY for breeding purpouses! NEVER EVER! That's a big tabu for me! This new girl I'm getting, I'm getting as a companion for me and my family, for hobbies and yes, a playmate for Ben (still for the biggest part a companion for me). [i]5) My children should witness our pet giving birth. [/i] First of all, I don't have kids. And even if I would, I would rent a video with a woman having birth and show THAT to them rather then buying a dog for breeding purpouses so that they will se how puppies get into the world! And third of all even if I do become a breeder and have kids, I will keep the kids far away from the room where the girl is having her puppies! So that's not an excuse for me! [i]6) I am concerned about my pet undergoing anesthesia.[/i] This is one thing that I am concerned about, but not as much as the surgery itself. Even if it is a small operation, it is one! And each operation has risks! [b]gooeydog[/b]: I think your overreacting. Especially about the part of "the dogs wouldn't be here if everything would be natural". In some way, yes it's true, but still, I think you are overreacting. Secondly: "You don't know 100% that Ben's allergies are caused by genetics, you also don't know 100% that they aren't. That alone is enough to make a responsible dog breeder alter their dog, as they will not take the chance of their dogs' offspring having to endure the same health problem." You do have a point here, but here is another thing. At the first minute we started to even think that it MABYE would be allergies, I told this to the breeder. First reaction to this was: "It is NOT allergies!!". I explained everything carefully, without any real results. I don't know if it is genetic, but if the breeder would even think that it might be, I think he would have neutered and spayed Ben's parents, but as far as I know, Ben's dad is a new happy father again. I don't really know about his mother, but I doubt it that she is spayed. [b]Hobbit[/b]: That is exacly my point. It isn't just yes or no. You can't say: "Yeah, I'll neuter him today and I can undo it if it happens to be a bad decition." Once you make the decition to neuter, you can't go back. And THAT is the biggest and scariest thing! Thank you for your posts. I hope I will still get more info and thoughts. I doubt it that anyone even had the time to read all of this, but if you did.... :kciuki: THUMBS UP! :lol: But now it's 2AM again... Better go to sleep! Good night everybody! /Crest

Hobbit: I'm not mad... It's just that... (Wow, it's hard to explain!) I KNOW that it wouldn't be a good idea to use Ben in breeding. I KNOW that in a way it would be best to neuter him. I KNOW that if I would use him as a sire to puppies that the puppies would probabely get the allergies too. But there is one thing I don't know... And I think that is the biggest part why I'm still pending between yes and no. And that is; I don't know 100% that he is allergic. What if it's just dry skin, or dry air... What if he has been rolling on the carpets (as usual) and small hairs have tickled him and THAT is why he's scratching? There are a million "What if's" and that is a big part why I am not sure if it's the best thing for him. If he isn't allergic. If it is just (let's say) dry skin. Then I would be missing out on a grait dog! The other part that makes it even more difficult is the fact that I think my love for Ben makes me in some way blind to his faults. I try and try to be honist to myself and I really TRY to find faults in him that would tell me: "Well, there is no way for you to use him as a sire to puppies, EVER!". But I haven't found anything yet. The part that is mabye the biggest reason for me to neuture him (besides the coming girl) is the fact that he loves to run away. Especially at summertime. I'm terrified that he will be run over by a car (Once it came pretty close and I thank God the driver saw him in time and hit the brakes. That day my heart jumped up in my throat, because at that split second I really thought I'd loose him. He ran straight between the front and back wheel and I'm amazed that the driver even saw him! That day he had angels watching over him!). Good teeth is not everything I care about in breeding, but because Chinese Cresteds are known to have "bad teeth" (as I have said before some don't even have a single premolar) and Ben has good teeth, that would mabye give better teeth to puppies. Alicat: I know that thoose thoughts are not the best in the world... It's one thing what the dog will be like let's say a month after the operation, but how will he be like just after? I bet the stiches will hurt, he will be tired all the time and feel just misurable. I have a friend who spayed her cat (the cat is a girl and I know it's a much bigger operation for a girl then for a dog) and she said that for three long days she could mabye sleep for two hours each day, because the cat was in such pain that every time she tried to turn around to get a more comfortable possition she would scream! My friend said that she really doubts if it was the best thing for the cat. A week later she was still in pain, but she could sleep more peacefully so she would get a bit more sleep herself, but not much. Even though it's a bigger thing for a girl then it is for a boy, it doesn't take it away that it IS a surgical operatin and that it WILL hurt! And I don't want to cause unnecceccary pain for Ben! I hope you understand that. I'm not just thinking about makeing puppies and breeding, but of him! It's a whole diffirent story how a dog will be like a month or a year afterwards. How will he be like just after wakeing up from anastecia?? How will the first week go? Every human, dog, cat, horse etc. is diffirent. What works good for one doesn't necceccary mean that it will work as good for another. THAT is what scares me!! /Crest