Poofy

The first reply to this question has some very wise words! You are asking for trouble putting a male mastiff and a male dobe together...neutered or not...it will not change the natural, inbred, desire for the alpha role in the pack.

Yes, you would think, some one who cannot tollerate barking, would not get a collie...but if you re-read my post again...as I said...people can have situation changes that put them in a position where it is either, end the nusance barking or get rid of the dog. I am sorry..if you get rid of your dog because you "can't stand to debark it" because it is "cruel" then you deserve to be taken out back and shot. You are worse then any puppy mill person ever thought of being. It is far more difficult and unkind for a dog to be torn out of the only home it has known, taken away from its pack, the people it loves, and left in a strange new world. I bet if the dog COULD make a descision...he would choose not to bark any more. Shock Collars" HAHAHAHAHA Talk about CRUEL AND MEAN! Good grief! When you are dealing with a breed of dog BRED to bark...shock collars do NOTHING. They do NOT understand why they are recieving the correction. I have seen dogs, who have burned holes, so deep in their neck, that they actually damaged their trachea. Also...debarking does not have to *remove* the bark totally. Most have it so that it "turns down" the volume. The dog can still alert you, without alerting the entire neiborhood. If you could not control the volume in which you spoke...and screamed all the time...would you rather have someone adjust that volume? or squirt you with a water gun, spray citrinella (and remember a dog's olfactoy is a thousand times stonger then a humans) ZAP you with an E-collar, smack you with a news paper, jerk you with a choke chain, or better yet, throw you out of your family? I know what I would choose.

Hobbit, The rules, as they stand, will be applied to any one, with three or more intact females, IF DDAL WINS THE CURRENT LAW SUIT. It does not apply NOW, it will not apply TOMARROW, only if DDAL wins. I remember in my local state, when people were saying that our current laws, only applied to pet dealers...no matter what you said, you could not make them understand, that there was legislation in office, that was trying to be passed...we now, guess what...you own a single stud dog, or have one litter a year...you had better have a liscense and your home is OPEN 24 hours a day to inspectors. They can come and go as they please....

Othings opra has done. Bred her Cocker spaniels and gave them away, to poor and needy children (and the logic there?). Bred her golden retriever, who was over sized, no clearances, and very unhealthy looking, also sold/gave puppies away to needy families, and many of those puppies were later bred and sold as "oprah's golden retrievers"..... Oprah may be rich, but she is as ignorant as the come. If they have no bread...let them eat cake!

Clear discharge is normal, as long as there is no bad odor. Discharge can occur nearly any time during the pregnancy, so it does not mean immediate delivery. I have found b*tches who have larger litters, seem to discharge earlier then those with smaller ones. You can start taking her temp and watch for it to drop, and stay dropped for 24 hours (at 99) to give you a better idea for delivery...but that is not always exact either. Good luck!!! and let up know what she has?!

Unless it is drawn up by a contract lawyer and you have the money to back it up...a contract is usually too full of loop holes. There are things you can do, to try and maintain first right to refuse. Microchip your puppies, keep the chip in your name, put a penalty fee, that they agree to pay, in your contract, if they breech it...(make the money go to local rescue and such), lastly, you can keep your name as "co-owner" on AKC papers (but just make sure you are aware of the possible legal responsibilities with that)

Okay I found it. Now remember, this would only apply if DDAL gets it way, and it would be applied to any one with three or more intact females. Any how, here you go. [url]http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/cfr/9cfr3.html#3.1[/url] Here is just a quote. "Animal areas inside of housing facilities must be kept neat and free of clutter, including equipment, furniture, or stored material, but may contain materials actually used and necessary for cleaning the area, and fixtures and equipment necessary for proper husbandry practices and research needs. Housing facilities other than those maintained by research facilities and Federal research facilities must be physically separated from any other businesses. If a housing facility is located on the same premises as any other businesses, it must be physically separated from the other businesses so that animals the size of dogs, skunks, and raccoons, are prevented from entering it." I don't know about any one else...but I have furniture in my house.

I have no quams with my local laws. However, the problem is DDAL who wants the USDA to cover everyone. No amount of writing or protest will do anything at this point. Even AKC has not been able to stand up against them. Right now, the USDA and DDAL are in court...and it will be up to a judge to decide.

Sorry but according to my local agri guy. When you house your breeding animals IN YOUR HOME, it becomes the "housing area" for the dogs and there for falls under those rules and regs. Therefore, if DDAL gets its way, your kidding yourself you you don't think they will apply it in that manner. Remember DDAL wants the USDA to cover ANY ONE with 3 or more intact female dogs.

Okay I found it. Now remember, this would only apply if DDAL gets it way, and it would be applied to any one with three or more intact females. Any how, here you go. [url]http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/cfr/9cfr3.html#3.1[/url] Here is just a quote. "Animal areas inside of housing facilities must be kept neat and free of clutter, including equipment, furniture, or stored material, but may contain materials actually used and necessary for cleaning the area, and fixtures and equipment necessary for proper husbandry practices and research needs. Housing facilities other than those maintained by research facilities and Federal research facilities must be physically separated from any other businesses. If a housing facility is located on the same premises as any other businesses, it must be physically separated from the other businesses so that animals the size of dogs, skunks, and raccoons, are prevented from entering it." I don't know about any one else...but I have furniture in my house.

I replied to the request for a website, but apparently it did not go through. Any how, believe it or not, not all information comes via the world wide web. The info I recieved came from our local agriculture inspector animal protection division. I will look and see if I can find the information, via the web, but the USDA site litterally has dozens if not hundreds of pages reguarding animal husbandry. Its very difficult to weed through it and find dog specific info.

Like i said...its not that I think that having a liscense is bad...its just under the current rules and regs with the USDA, such as having to have a vet on the premisis or on "call" would be difficult for a lot of people. Some of the housing requirements would make having your breeding animals in your home, a violation. I could not imagine lkeeping my dogs isolated out in a building, never to enjoy them as I do. My state *requires* a breeder, even one litter per year, to be liscensed. But, there are so few inspectors, the only people who abide by the laws are the honest ones. I am afraid that will be all that will happen when it comes to USDA.

Unfortunately AKC does not reguard, internet auctions, the same as live auctions. Interenet autions are catagorized the same as a news paper ad or any other internet ad.

I strongly suggest that you seek out an animal behaviorist/psychologist that is associated with a university or established vet practice. It is very dangerous to take behavior modification advice from strangers that you don't know and do not know (or have proof) if they have any type of professional training. I really hope that you will seek out professional help from some one that can give you HANDS on guidance. Good Luck

If you read the USDA rules, your house, would contain to many "contaminates" or dangers to the dogs. As for "good" for the breeding more then seven litters a year, classifies you as a high volume...wake up and smell some reality. Some people being classified as this DON'T even BREED dogs. they simply have their names as "co-owner" on several dogs...usually to help with the carreer of a dog being shown. Many of the top kennels out there, will be classified as HVB....you might be suprised to find out who.

I tell ya what...I really don't care what registry some one uses, as long as the welfare of the dog is what is met. And those who don't think that AKC supports commercial breeders, is kidding yourself. AKC now classifies any one who breeds, seven or more litters a year, as a high volume breeder. Wether the b*tch is actually on your property or your co-owner's is beside the point, or if you have a toy breed that gives 1-2 pups a litter is beside the point...you are still considered high volume...and way to many breeders, judges, and handlers will find themselves under the same classification as the commericial breeders...almost seems to me that AKC wants you under that classification. If the DDAL gets what they want, it will make the hobby breeder exstinct. I don't think people realize the danger here. Did you know it is AGAINST the USDA rules to have breeding animals in your home? Thats right, no whelping puppies by your bed is allowed. You will *HAVE* to house your dogs, just like the commercial breeders, or be in contempt of the rules and regulations of the USDA. This type of regulation will also make the cost of dogs sky-rocket, and the pet owner will pay. My point? Who cares about which registry we use....we have a common need that goes beyond a piece of paper...its called the love of the breed...and if we are to protect our breeds and breeding rights, then we need to work together not bicker about who is better.

The dog need not even be homozygous for a trait to select for it, especially if it is an autosonomal dominant trait.

i didn't know that Penn-Hip closed? I thought it was only GDC that was absorbed by OFA (which is sad because GDC was a truly open registry) Why did Penn hip close and when?

And don't forget...while bullmastiffs might not be as high energy...they are about 10 times as POWERFUL and strong as any boxer.... It takes nothing for them to flatten you then hold you down and slobber you to death.... ;) you won't have a chance... :) HAHAHAHA

I said. "Personally I would not consider any dog, that had been "made" mean, abused." And you said, "Oh really. Considering the methods that are used to make these dogs mean how can you possibly NOT consider them abused? I'd really like you to explain your rational here." That was supposed to be Personally I would consider any dog, that had been "made" mean, abused The NOT was NOT supposed to have been there... Sorry about that... I would consider any dog, made mean, and abused dog.... Sorry for the confusion.

Personally I would not consider any dog, that had been "made" mean, abused. Sadly these dogs are usually useless as pets and are a menace to society. The thing is there ARE breeds that are natural guardians, that don't need a handler to tell them "when", you don't have to make a dog mean to make it a natural guardian. THese breeds need no training to know "when" and "when not" to protect. They have been used for thousands of years in pastures and palaces. These dog also do not "attack" everything, are not viscious, and are often beloved family pets. "attack" dogs in the sense of being viscious, to me, is a dog that needs to be destroyed and the person that made them that way needs to be put in prison.

Originally the comformation ring was designed so that breeders had a place to gather and compare breeding stock. The Judges were there, to choose the best of what was presented to them. The dog who were considered the best, were the preferred breeding animals for the next generation. Breeders would compare, and talk, and decide direction to breeding programs. The way comformation used to be, can still be sort of seen in livestock shows and rabbit shows. Here tho, the loosers are often eaten. Today, the comformation ring has evolved into somewhat of a sport. It has sort of become, the poor man's horse show. ;) There is a lot of money involved in showing dogs, not making money mind you, but spending of money, and political ties have gained more ground. Still, the underlying reason, is to choose which dogs might be "more correct" and more of an asset to the breed. It is argued tho, that the comformation ring has becoem more of a beauty padget and less of a selection of what is correct...sometimes I find this true and sometimes not...every day is different.

I have to speak up on this, because it is obvious that there are people who are under the wrong inpression about what an "attack dog" is. Firstly, they really should not be called "attack dogs" that would be like calling a bouncer or a security guard a psycopath. A dog that is bite trained is really considered to be Protection trained or a personal protection dog, guard dog, etc. A dog that is PROPERLY trained, is not "viscious". Dogs who do this work and are Successful are not "viscious, uncontrolable, mean, etc." It takes a certain type of temperament, one that the average dog does not have, and neves of steel, to be a proper working dog. Dogs who are viscious cannot be controlled, and uncontrollable "attack" is worthless to the handler. A dog that is viscious often has underlying behavior issues such as fear biting, fearfullness, no confidence, etc, that makes it act out in a viscious manner. These dogs are USELESS and a liability. A properly trained and temperamented, protection dog, can be worth its weight in gold, for those owners who need that extra set of eyes. Police dogs, who are properly trained, army dogs, and personal protection dogs, are priceless to their owners. Please do not lump, viscious with protection training...they are not even remotely the same.

If you really want to know about the breed before you buy, then go to some dog shows, meet the people who handle them, breed them, and live with them. Watch the dogs at the set ups and ring side. You may think a puppy is better, but in reality, an older dog, who has "calmed with age" might be better for you as a first time owner of this breed. You should serisouly consider taking the time to hit the shows and talk to people who have all types of experiences with them. They are a lot of dog. That much I do know, having traveled with handlers who have them as clients... Good luck!!!! :lol:

apparently not too closed as you seem to be reading it.