kendalyn

I understand the part about Cresteds being a rare breed, but I hate double standards. I say if it's wrong for a lab it's wrong for any other breed of dog.

Yup, I would agree! :D

[quote]Is it bettering the breed if you focus on ONLY show and champions? I mean, sure that should ofcourse be focused on, but not the ONLY focusing point, right? What about health, temperament, teeth (as teeth and the hairless gene go hand in hand), naturally erect ears (instead of taping), good size (instead of too big for the breed standard), hair (as most of the cresteds seem to be more or less shaved hairless), skin (as cresteds tend to have zits, blackheads etc) and many more. [/quote] Maybe I'm wrong but I thought that part of the requirements of a successful show dog is that they should be healthy, have good temperments, good skin, right size, etc... Isn't everything you listed something that a judge would look at in the show ring?

Can I ask what intentions your breeder had for Bella when he/she sold her to you? Was she sold to you as show quality or pet quality? Crested Wrote: [quote]I think the only thing why breeding dogs is a good thing is if the dogs are bred for the showring, but mostly for obediance, agility, hearding etc. [/quote] I guess I am confused about how much you actually believe in this statement. If you're going to be doing showing, obedience or agility than that is great. But you plan on breeding Bella whether or not she is good at any of these things AND you say that you want to breed primarily for show quality. These statements conflict. If Bella turns out to do poorly in shows or obedience and agility then how can you say you are breeding dogs for anything other than pet quality? Maybe I missed it, but I still don't understand why you want to breed Bella? I understand that you want to develop Cresteds that are good at agility or obediance because it is an unfilled niche but I don't understand why you are choosing Bella to start this off. I think your plan would be a lot more solid if you waited to see how she does in showing, obedience or agility and than make the decision whether or not to breed her. Of course there are a LOT of breeders who are way way more irresponsible than you would be and I think your plan is fundamentally OK (a good BYB but still a BYB) Although I would rather most people not breed at all, you seem to want to go about it the right way. :)

Crested, I'm not meaning to upset you, but yes I think your plan does put you into the BYB category. You are planning to breed Bella before she has even started showing or competing in any events and you plan on breeding her whether she does well or not. Can you explain how you would be bettering the breed? I'm sure Bella is a lovely dog, but how will you be bettering the breed by breeding a dog who has not performed well? Can you tell me how you are different from SRC in your proposed breeding practices?

The instructor does not sound very responsible. I think it is very disconcerting to be taking classes from a person who cannot even control their own dog. I would not return either.

I would not rehome your dog. If she had really wanted to hurt JW, she would have bit a lot harder. It sounds like she was just startled and it was a reaction. It could happen with any dog, especially a young one. It doesn't sound like Zoey is aggressive to me. I don't think that she is more likely to bite again. She may have learned that that isn't acceptable and is now less likely to bite again. Again, I really don't think she bit him on purpose, it was probably just a really quick reaction to a startling event.

Just out of curiousity, can the vet do anything about eyesight problems in a dog? I've certainly never heard of corrective lenses for a dog... That's not to say you shouldn't get him checked, but it doesn't seem like the information would be that helpful. Maybe just a good thing to know though.

Awesome! That's very exciting! :P

Try asking for information from a breeder that you might be inclined to go to. If they are not helpful than don't buy a dog from them. I won't be surprised if most of the breeders you ask are not helpful though. Most people breeding designer dogs are not responsible breeders. Here's a site with some info: [url]http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/oripei.htm[/url] It says health problems are not known but I wouldn't think they would be any healtheir than the average shar-pei or pug. Maybe try looking for info on Aaron Silver as he is the person who "developed" the breed.

We have a do it yourself dog wash here too. It's called Shampooches. I love it! It's great beause the tubs are at your height and they have the blow driers. And the water is always at the right temp. I blow dry Buck by kind of flicking the dryer head against the direction that the hair is growing. The air knocks the water off. I think it's faster than waiting for the air to actually evaporate the water. I don't know though, that's just the way I do it! Maybe there is a better way. It takes about a half hour to 45 minutes to get him all the way dry. It's worth it though. His hair is so much softer after it's been blow dried. What kind of nail clippers do you use Science_doc? I've never had good results with the guillotine style ones. I bought some from the vet that kind of look like gardening shears. They have this thing that flips up though, and it guards the nail so that you can't cut too much off at a time. Buck struggled when I used the guillotine style ones, but he sits still just fine for the gardening shear type ones. I don't know why but he likes them better too. And I've never cut the quick with them either.

I believe SRC about there being horrible municipal animal control in Alabama. In some southern states people really do have different ideas about dogs than we do in other parts of the country. I have family in the south and they were a little shocked when they moved there about how people treated their dogs and how little animal control there was. When I found Buck in Kentucky people near where I found him and the other pups said that they were "just redneck dogs" and they don't need a home. Their animal shelter only keeps dogs 3 days before shooting them with a gun. That would never happen here, but down there it does.

I think the frustrating thing here is that you basically shot down any kind of advice, even though you specifically asked for it. No, I really don't think I would feel as much compassion as you do for your aunt. Anyone who could do that to their pet has something seriously wrong. My boyfriend had an old Cocker Spaniel when I met him. The dog had skin and teeth problems and did smell bad. So they bathed him regularly, gave him medicine and brushed his teeth. Even when he still smelled kind of bad, they loved him anyway. The dog had accidents in the house more frequently. They understood that this can be expected with an aging dog, so they simply cleaned up the messes. And when the dog got to be in pain and unhappy, they put him down humanely. That's how you take care of an old dog. Your aunt is guilty of severe neglect and consequently animal abuse. There is no other way around it. You may not have treated your dog that way, but you are in a position to help this one. You have nagged your aunt about it and that's good. That's doing something. Could you have done more? yes, definately. That's something that you'll have to square with.

Maybe try getting him a harness? That way he couldn't flip over on his back. If you do the tree method, just remember to let him go as soon as he takes one step back. He'll probably pull again right away and you won't get anywhere, but that's normal.

We always made sure Kody had done his business before taking him to the groomers. They had a sign up and DID charge extra if the dog consistently made messes. I would have done it anyway, but there is a little more incentive if you know you're going to be charged extra. I think nerves work the same way on dogs that they do on people. I know I'm always in the bathroom before a big test! :lol: :oops:

Getting his eyes checked isn't a bad idea. But, if his eye sight is bad, can they do anything for it? I would also really try and increase his excercise. Feeling all geared up with nowhere to expend his energy could make him pretty loopy and irritable. I got Buck to stop pulling by using the tree method. I never move when he is pulling. It didn't take long for him to get it. Every once in a while if he gets excited he'll pull a bit, but as soon as I don't move he remembers and stops. You could try that. He's also getting a good heel down. Whenever he walks close up by me I say, "Close" and then praise him a lot. Now when I say close, he stops and lets me catch up, then he walks next to me. I usually just let him walk at the end of the leash though, as long as he isn't pulling. Does he like to play frisbee or catch? With the snow all high those games wear Buck out really fast because he has to push through all the snow to run for the ball. Maybe try that?

OK, that's a pretty obscure reference. An advertisement for a symposium? Also, James Madison was the 4th president of the United States. He was in office over one hundred years ago, so that term may be dated. If America, Australia, the United States, Britain, New Zealand, Canada and other nations are all "liberal democracies" than can't you lump Portugal in there as well? How is it any different? It sounds like it is a very broad term. So I suppose we are both right. It's the same thing as calling a Greyhound a dog. It is a dog but more specifically it is a greyhound. Do you Understand? Broadly I suppose America could be referred to as a liberal democracy but more accurately it is a Federal Republic. I've never heard the term liberal democracy though. I can't promise this will be my last response to this thread, but I hope it is. I have problems keeping my mouth shut.

America's official form of government is a federal REPUBLIC!! Check this website: [url]http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/us.html[/url] I think the CIA world factbook is a credible source of information. And I think being an American I know my own country's system of government.

If I were you I would go over there and make friends! :D Meet the dog for yourself. Explain your daughter's lingering fear of dogs to them. In all likelihood, the dog is friendly. Hopefully they are nice people who will understand. If the dog is gentle enough and good with children, maybe you could bring your girls over to meet the dog. This will help them be less afraid of it. I would definitly go over and talk to the owners though. I looked up some info on the breed and each temperment description said they tend to be gentle and good with children and other dogs. Don't go only by this though as every dog is different. If it is well bred and well raised though, there shouldn't be a problem.

No, you're not the only one offended by her comments. Guida, I don't know what you think America's system of government is like and I don't know what you mean by a demo liberal regime. My guess is you don't either and used the phrase intending it to be inflamatory. For further information, America is a constitution based federal republic with a strong democratic tradition. Also, I don't think it is only a cultural thing because people from other countries have posted that they have used crates. Go back and read the posts.

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You said it was too cold to drive with the windows down? I checked and tomorrow in Birmingham it's going to be sunny and 63 degrees. Is that really too cold to have the windows open? I know if it were like that in Michigan right now people would be out sunbathing and wearing shorts! :lol: You must have some friends that would be willing to drive you, or if not, you'll have to make your aunt. The rental car was a good idea if you really can't put her in the new car. Your aunt could drive the rental and you could sit in the back with the dog. If you really can't get your aunt to go, call a rescue or shelter and ask if someone from there could drive the rental, since you can't drive. I'm sure they would figure out a way to help your aunt's dog die peacefully. Just out of curiousity, since you work at a vet, the vet knows you right? Are you sure he wouldn't give you the drugs to put her down yourself?

Only you know your dog but I would think that she will be fine. Oh and I need to correct my last post. Buck USED to be in the crate that long when I worked day shift. He is no longer shut in his crate, but I believe he does spend most of his time in there when I'm gone. Go with your gut though. If you really think that it will be a problem for her, maybe try to get her to where she doesn't need the crate. Or could you come home for lunch and let her out a bit?

That must be very frustrating to watch :cry:

Pupppies need to sleep! They need to sleep way more than 5 or 6 hours a day. Sleeping in their crate while you are gone is no different than sleeping on the couch while you are gone.