i recently found out that my littlest eeevil brother's girlfriend bred her two Bostons. ("they're cute and they have papers!") they asked me what they needed to do and, since spaying was apparently out of the question, i told them to talk to their vet. i've never bred an animal and didn't think i had any practical advice to give them. well, the last time i talked to my mom, the pups were a couple of weeks old and hadn't been docked. it's not that they'd made a decision not to dock they thought they could wait until the pups were a few weeks old before they docked them. oye. call me crazy, but that's the sort of thing i would've found out before i even considered breeding a dog. i guess i shouldn't be so cranky about it. i should just be happy that mama dog didn't have to have a C-section and that all the pups and mama dog made it through fine. shelly (perfectly foul wench) and elliott and harriet [link]

I AM LOOKING FOR A ROT BECAUSE MY FATHER IN LAW'S ROT DIED AFTER OVER TEN YEARS. HE WAS VERRY SAD AND WANTS TO GET ONE BUT IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO DONATE ON FOR ME TO GIVE TO HIM IT WOULD GREATLY BE APPRECIATED. I LIVE IN THE DALLAS AREA. YOU CAN CONTACT ME AT (Email Removed) THANK YOU I AM WILLING TO PICK IT UP.

Hi all,I know that Great Danes should not do "a lot" of stairs, and should not climb any stairs until their joints have developed at around a year, but I can find little or no information on what they can handle in adult life without increasing the risk of hip dysplasia. We are about to get a Great Dane pup, if we're lucky, and we have two flights of stairs. She's from a good breeder with a history of no dysplasia and whose parents and grandparents have been screened and show(ed) no propensity toward it. For the first couple of months we can carry her up and down, if we don't want her to have to live on the ground floor (I do artwork and things on the top floor, and they do like to be with their people). After that we will have to either leave her downstairs or build some sort of shallow ramps until she's at least a year old. It's after that I'm wondering about. When she is an adult, should we build ramps or can she do stairs a few times a day with no harm? They're pretty steep stairs with a sharp bend at the top and bottom. Or is this one of those uniquely individual things to which there is no single answer? Thanks, Katrina

Am looking to acquire a male Irish Terrier pup. Have made initial email contact with several breeders though none appear to be in my geographic region. (My family and I live in Cleveland, OH) My neighbor had one when I was little and it was a wonderful dog. Apparently they are not too common as I have had a difficult time locating one. Any help would be appreciated. Feel free to email me at (Email Removed).

I have a area of the yard that has gravel, that the dogs have been trained to use. The problem is cleaning it. I have used bleach in the past and found the smell has come back after a week. Is there some industrial strengh "something" that I can use. I know they sell odor eliminator, but only in little containers. I need something that will treat a 8 X 8 area. Also where would I buy it? I live in Manitoba Canada.

I HAVE THE CUTEST SIGNS WICH I MADE MYSELF WICH WOULD BE GREAT FOR HOME DECORATIONS OR FOR A YORKIE LOVER. SHIPPING IS FREE AND EACH SIGN IS JUST $5.00...IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME...ESCPECIALLY IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT YOUR BUYING AND THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR BUSINESS

More local news on Pit Bulls except this time it includes a high-profile breeder. [link] 09dogfight.shtml I copied the entire story below because the Post & Courier online requires you to register with them in order to view stories. Its harmless to do so, for those who want to read the article there, but I figured many would balk. Tara Story last updated at 9:33 a.m. Friday, April 9, 2004 Officials say top 'dog man' collared Charges include animal fighting BY GLENN SMITH Of The Post and Courier Staff Authorities say they have shut down a top figure in the nation's shadowy and illegal dog-fighting network after seizing dozens of pit bulls, weapons and other evidence from his Charleston County properties. David Tant, 56, of North Charles-ton is known internationally for the champion pit bulls he breeds, dogs that can fetch thousands of dollars each when sold. He has long been suspected of participating in blood sport contests as both a judge and the owner of participating dogs, authorities said. "For years, he has been what they refer to in the business as a 'dog man,' the upper echelon of dog fighters," said Steve Stephenson, a Humane Society investigator and a member of the attorney general's dog-fighting task force. "He is a recognized referee of dog fights, and he had a grand champion, which means a dog that won five fights. He's probably made a mint from selling puppies of that dog." Word of Tant's alleged involvement in the underground sport had circulated for years, Stephenson said. But dog fighters remain an elusive bunch who are adept at covering their tracks and hiding their activities from view, he said. Tant's legal problems started Wednesday after a surveyor was shot by a booby-trap device while working near power lines that run through the suspect's 11-acre property on County Line Road near Ravenel. When surveyor Steven Baker tried to get a closer look at the barking dogs he heard, he struck a 66-foot trip wire and was blasted with birdshot. Investigators say the device was rigged to keep intruders away from Tant's breeding facility. When Charleston County sheriff's deputies arrived, they found dozens of pit bulls scattered about the property. Some were caged and hidden from view by tall grass; others were in the surrounding woods, tethered to the ground with heavy chains, deputies said. Investigators seized 47 dogs, caged treadmills, cattle prods, five more armed booby traps, assorted shotguns and hunting rifles, a bear trap, homemade gun silencers and other items, authorities said. Detectives also searched Tant's home on North Charleston's Dorsey Avenue and found additional evidence tying him to dog fighting, said sheriff's Capt. Dana Valentine. She declined to discuss specifics. Deputies slapped Tant with 68 charges, ranging from animal fighting and cruelty to assault and battery with intent to kill and possession of destructive devices. Deputies requested a high bail, saying they have evidence that Tant has a considerable amount of money and international connections. Magistrate Jack Guedalia set his bail Thursday at $332,000. Assisting with the investigation are the dog-fighting task force, the attorney general's office, the State Law Enforcement Division, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Tant, a burly man with a head of bushy white hair, appeared at the hearing in overalls and a T-shirt. He said nothing. His lawyer, Mike Bosnak, said Tant's property is clearly marked with "No trespassing" signs, and he had told surveyors the day before that they were not welcome on his land. Bosnak said Tant had previous problems with thefts on the property. Bosnak said it was too early to speak to the merits of the dog-fighting charges. When asked about his client's alleged status in the dog-fighting world, he said, "I have no knowledge of that." "Dog men" are at the top of the dog-fighting hierarchy, participating in matches in which prize money can run up to $80,000 for a single contest, Stephenson said. They belong to a loyal, secretive fraternity whose members can often trace their involvement back for two or more generations, he said. A small match might draw 10 people, while larger contests host as many as 40. The locations are often kept secret until the last minute. Authoritiesplanned to raid a match in the Columbia area last weekend, only to find the location had changed again. One fight that night netted someone a $40,000 prize, said Stephenson, who spoke to informants about the event. "They are just crafty, and they come up with great ways to hide huge operations," he said. The Humane Society estimates 30,000 people across the nation participate in dog fighting, Stephenson said. South Carolina is a favorite spot because the state has a great deal of rural space, and breeders here have produced several winning blood lines, he said. "I've heard this is the third best place in the country to fight because there are just so many champions," he said. An Internet search uncovered numerous references to Tant on pit bull-related Web sites from the United States to Serbia. One site featured a prominent photograph of his grand champion dog, Yellow, and several writers posted messages praising his dogs. One writer credited Tant with using Yellow to establish "one of the most influential lines in the history of this breed." One of Tant's fliers bragged that Yellow had produced nine champions and two grand champions. He stated that he breeds for "gameness" first when producing his "show dogs." "Tant is known to breed good fighting, good game dogs that will not quit in the pit," Stephenson said. A puppy from a champion's line can fetch up to $1,500. Two-year-old dogs with some fighting experience go for up to $2,500, Stephenson said. This all came as news to Tant's neighbors on Dorsey Avenue, where he lives in a tidy brick ranch home bordered by a well-trimmed hedge and flowering azaleas. Neighbors said he was a pleasant man who kept to himself. They had never even seen a dog at his home. "I'm shocked by this," said Barbara Yaddow, who lives next door to Tant. "I'd like to see him come back because he is a good neighbor." Scott Delles, who lives across the street, said he assumed Tant was retired and had recently come into some money after seeing him arrive home last weekend with a new Corvette. Sheriff's deputies seized that car, which they say was purchased with the proceeds of illegal activities. For the time being, Tant's dogs are being cared for by the John Ancrum Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. SPCA Executive Director Alan Berger said it is too early to say what will become of the dogs. Jim Southard, a volunteer veterinarian for the SPCA, said several dogs had damage to their necks from restraining collars and the heavy chains that held them. One dog had an open wound on its neck. Others had scarring that may be indicative of fighting or being poked with cattle prods, he said. The dogs were apparently left tied up or caged day and night on the County Line Road property, Southard said. If Tant posts bail, he will be under house arrest and subject to electronic monitoring. He also will be prohibited from owning a domestic animal, Guedalia said. Guedalia said he was troubled by the potential danger the booby traps and unsupervised dogs posed to anyone who wandered onto Tant's property. "I just think it was a very dangerous situation, overall," he said. "I think it shows a wanton disregard for humans and animals."

Our Vica have a puppies. Newborn(12.04.2004.) healty puppies(2 boys and 5 girls) you can see on www.binis.hr

I bought a cocker spaniel/chihuahua mix puppy last year. I've been looking for info. to see if this mix exists anywhere and haven't found anything. Has anyone ever heard of this mix?

Hello, I am in a quandry and was wondering if anyone here has experience with these two breeds. I would like a medium dog, good with children, not protective - a "show the robber the silver" kind of dog. I like both the Standards and the Brittanys I have met, but am open to other medium-sized breeds. They both seem to have the size and intelligence I am looking for. I would prefer to wait to get a great pup from a top-quality breeder. Our dog would be a house pet. We had a chocolate Lab for many years, so we know about high-energy sporting dogs! I'd like to get away form the hair and the size, although I loved our old Lab's temperment. I think we will have an ideal situation - I work from home, so I am home most of the time, and our kids are ages 6 and 8. Friendly, non-aggressive temperament is much more important to us than "prey drive" or show conformation, although of course we want a nice, healthy dog. I like the Standard Poodle's non-shed coat, and I understand about the grooming commitment this dog requires. However, the Brittany seems like such an intelligent Lab-like sporting dog, whose coat does not need clipping, etc., (but does shed and require frequent brushing). Are they both about the same in terms of exercise requirements and "barkiness"? (Less barking is better in our opinion - is that possible in a Poodle?) I must say that there is a lot more information and potential pups in the Standard Poodle lines - Brittanys seem quite rare in my area (Ohio). But, I am willing to drive and meet and do what it takes to get the right dog for our family. Thanks for any info, - Lisa

Can anyone provide current information on sudden rage in cockers. I've been told it is a trait seen more and more in this otherwise gentle breed.

I have only owned one dog, a mix of terrier and palmoranian, and would like some assistance picking my next dog. I would value a watchdog. Not the kind that attacks, but the kind that alerts or warns off. I have a 3yr old daughter and another baby on the way so being good with children is important to me. I would prefer one that didn't shed too badly as it will be primarily an indoor dog (with a doggy door). Size is a consideration. I would prefer to stay under 25 pounds. The two breeds in the subject lines are ones my limited research has let me too. But I have no experience with either so I am open to further suggestions. Thanks, Dave

We have a Sheltie and he is at home from 9 to 2:30 everyday. We are both teachers so he is outside and with us all summer long. However, "Buddy" is afraid of other dogs, we have in interact in play groups and at our local park but he just sits and does not respond to anything. I was wondering if we were to get another dog (Golden Retreiver) would that help socialize Buddy more and more importantly would he be more happy. He is very loud and barky when we leave everyday.

Hello! What kind of breed this dog shown here might be ? [link] disc.html Some people told me it might be Slovensky Kopov breed, but I'm not so sure about it, since the latter seems to be pretty much bigger than one from the link. Any help will be greatly appreciated !

Is "Baxter" a Boston Terrier or a French Bulldog? Phil