I have, trying to fill the spot left by my best mate.
In NSW a seller must vaccinated and micro chip each pup, but it is not happening.
I looked for my new mate in ten shops over a 600 klm trip at work yesterday.
Found cross breeding that just frightens me, how about the Dog? some outcomes seem to bring concerns for the health of new pups.
And constant story's about we will reduce the price if you get the vet things done are a worry.
A pup pure bred and fine but not the right one for me, was given this added sales pitch.
The boss puts them down if they are not sold as pups! please buy him!
Then the bright eyed Little bundle of fur that was cross bred but not sure what breeds are involved!
Do we need more regulation? yes we do, and I still need my mate.

Belly, forget the shops, buy privately where you KNOW these things wont be done (if if they are supposed to be), then get them done yourself. You then know its been done right. As for cross-breeding, it can bring out the best or worst in dogs. I'm on my third dog (second pure-bred), and I'll never buy a pure-bred again. My farm mutt was much more intelligent and obedient than the two since him have been, and has much more character!

Thanks Country girl you are right, but it does not change my concerns.
Bush breed I have had Kelpies and blueys in big numbers love them but not what I need now.
My best mate died and I took his little bundle of fur home it grew on me.
I want another one like her, only after starting the search did I get some doubt was she pure breed?
Kept looking between jobs today and it hurt!
Pet shops backed by puppy farms are openly by passing state laws.
Not vaccinating and horrible as it seems killing dogs past a selling age.
Can not get over that.
A dog if you are not working it should be a mate not a status thing, not a body guard , just a companion and mate.
And at 8 weeks who can tell what a pup will be? unless you see both parents.

Belly, I think that a pet shop would be about the worst place to buy a dog. Unlike CG, I prefer pedigreed dogs (golden retrievers, perhaps unsurprisingly) - and I found my current 'best mate' through a breeder recommended by the official kennel club.

The puppy wasn't cheap, but she came with all vaccinations, certifications and pedigree. I had her microchipped and desexed.

She's the best dog I've ever had - but that's what I thought about the last one :( One of life's tragedies is that dogs don't live longer...

Belly

There's a real racket going on with the sale of dogs. Once, if a dog was a cross breed you didn't pay anything for it. Now potential dog owners are paying hundreds of dollars, even for a maltese "chitzu" cross and so on.

As for myself, I have never sought or bought a dog, however, I have never been without one either. My animals have all been refugees. On the odd occasion I have snatched them from moronic and cruel owners.

I have also had pure breeds such as labradors, boxers and bulldogs. I now discourage friends from buying certain breeds, a result of breeders who continue to breed the pug, bulldog etc. These poor critters usually suffer from breathing difficulties, asthma, eczema and in-breeding genetic flaws. My lovely Bruno, the boxer was born with a hole in the heart.

Now Belly, a word of advice. Why not go to the pound and rescue the ugliest dog you can see? Ugly dogs will for certain get the bullet since there is such snobbery amongst canine owners these days.

I have had my beautiful, intelligent bitzer for 11 years. Unsure what breed he is (his Mum was a good sport!) but golden coloured with woolly pants - about the size of a blue heeler. Three years ago the vet diagnosed melanoma with a short-term grim outlook. "Right" said I and put him on my special diet. He is thriving and outruns all dogs including those much younger.

I am opposed to "booster" vaccinations which dogs are currently receiving. I believe all these treatments (together with commercial pet foods) are responsible for many current diseases in dogs. Pound dogs are often resilient since many of them have been "street kids" and have built up a good immune system. An initial vaccination, I believe, is sufficient.

So do a poor ugly dog a favour.......Skeeta would approve of your good deed!

PS: Was forced to spell "chitzu" since this new monitor thing accused me of a profanity!

CJ- You old softie you. A dog lover. Well we have that in common.

I lost my old mate Ben recently. He was a full grown Dachshund as opposed to a miniture. A lovely chestnut brown colour.

I miss him too.

All good advice I have rescued a few dogs in my life, but Skeeta came by no wish of mine.
She , we are told was mini foxy, well just maybe it was Tenterfield terrier?
My age and job say my dog, should be a house one , who likes the car, and long trips.
Likes putting her head out the window and saying Gday to workers walking by.
Pure breed? yes if I can find her price? who cares,mates are worth it.
Back to the intent of thread, we are a weak bunch us humans sometimes aren't we?
Tiny little pups with a use by date, waiting sale or death!
No micro chip, law says they must but none there.
Cross breeds that make the dogs whole life a risk.
To avoid that we should pay ten times the price for a well breed and treated best mate.
I never had a dog working or not that was not my mate.
Sky , my new mate is out there some where waiting for me.

Yes sharkfin, nice to have a conversation about something that many of us have in common, despite ideological differences :)

Thanks Belly - and good luck in your search.

I only adopt from shelters, both on principle and for the hound's health.

Pedigrees are achieved through inbreeding, which creates genetic deficiencies which leave some dogs susceptible to disease and degenerative conditions.

Crossbreeds have at least some chance of receiving alternative alleles to compensate.

Bully, What do you mean when you say: "Cross breeds that make the dogs whole life a risk?"

The pound in my regional area picks up 100 stray dogs a month - pedigrees, bitzers the whole lot! Most are euthanased. The local pound is the dog's vision of hell!

And yet residents continue to support the pet shop industry by buying a dog they can show off as a status symbol.

What a shameful, callous lot we are!

Belly,

Surely you know better than to look for a dog just like the old one. No such thing. That's like having another child because you like the one you have so much that you want another just like it.

I'm with dickie on this. Go to the pound and do some poor mutt the biggest favour of its life. Unlike a pet shop the staff will let you take all the time you need to get to know the creature a bit before you take it home.

There's also the foster system, where you commit to looking after a dog until a home is found. An awful lot of dog owners own dogs they meant to foster, but couldn't give up.

Keep trying Belly.. I'm sure you will find a new dog soon.

Sharkfin..speaking of dacshunds there was a doco about this animal shelter in South Africa.. and it has lions, monkeys, dogs, and hyena's.. the naughty little Dacshund tried to hump a medium sized lioness laying down :) Hilarious.

I lost my beautiful bitch (my dog) too.After 14 years of faithful service she passed away silently at my feet. I think Maremma's are the best companions a wo/man can have if you have the space. Search at Google will bring up a club where they look for homes constantly for this breed.Or join this Australian site: http://groups.msn.com/maremmasinrescue

How can you NOT love this look? http://groups.msn.com/maremmasinrescue/maremmasincare.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=222

Amen, dickie, amen.

>>The pound in my regional area picks up 100 stray dogs a month - pedigrees, bitzers the whole lot! Most are euthanased. The local pound is the dog's vision of hell! And yet residents continue to support the pet shop industry by buying a dog they can show off as a status symbol. What a shameful, callous lot we are!<<

It has always amazed me that perfectly normal human beings can think that this kind of behaviour is somehow... not just acceptable, but totally unremarkable.

At one end of the supply chain you have people breeding dogs to be pets.

At the other end of the chain you have vets killing off those that are in one way or another surplus to requirements.

Am I really the only one who considers this absolutely, incredibly bizarre behaviour?

But I suppose the defence is "they're only animals"

I seem to recall hearing that concentration camp inmates were referred to in similar terms, as they wer sent off to Dr Mengele's waiting room.

"To Mengele they were nevertheless not fellow human beings, but rather material on which to conduct his experiments.<< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josef_Mengele

Pericles

I've constantly advocated for a short term TAFE course for potential animal owners and stronger regulations for the desexing of animals.

I believe pet ownership is one area of society where owners should have accreditation as well as paying substantial fees before being permitted to own an animal. This may disadvantage the animal owners who have a genuine affection for their pets, however, it may also better protect our canine friends.

Hopefully, this would discourage many of the brutal pet owners we have in society from obtaining pets which they then happily neglect, terrify, torture and set about to make savage.

Oh....yes Mr Mengeles experimental laboratories continue to flourish......managed by "civilised" members and "leaders" of society. I am reminded of my current crusade against these fine upstanding members of our "free" society, who transport other poor critters to their Dante's Inferno on the ships of hell......but that's another crusade on another thread and besides, as you quote: "They're only animals."

And we who care are simply "pesky nutters" intent on destroying lucrative trades.

A view of Mr Mengele's modern day laboratories, same procedures - different species - and all in the name of humanity:

http://www.atourhands.com/vividogs.html

Crying is the same in every language!

I have had PC problems so been away from the debate but not the search.
In answer to a few questions, I have had many cross breeds, they are indeed great.
Skeeta may well have been one, however do not undervalue my intentions to get the same type of dog.
Such a dog will be as happy with me as I am with it.
Pet shops are out, no way anyone should buy a pup there, the phone has rang of the wall with outraging offers once they knew I wanted to buy, at huge prices.
Been to the pound, it hurt very badly, we humans should have to prove we are worthy to own a dog.
Breeding? can not get my head around the difference in mini foxys and tenterfield terriers?
Danger in cross breeding? some dogs live a life of discomfort hair in eyes ext just so they will look like a live teddy bear!
If your dog is your mate do not forget it is not yours forever.

While the thread sleeps the killing continues, by now I have found my mate was a Tenterfield Terrier.
Hard to find but the search continues.
I have found pure breeds, from $500 but non have any yet, so will wait.
But two male pups mentioned earlier are dead! grew out of the selling rang.
Phone has rang of the hook from my first search places pups from 250 to 490 all cross breed some sick in the pet shop cage.
My view is we have the laws to stamp it out but those paid to do it are not doing what they are paid to do.
Except the RSPCA we have few who care about animal welfare, but many who are paid to care and do not.

Thanks dickie I had heard of it but the story was well worth a read.
It has my support far too many end up on death row.
Searching all the RSPCA type pages is depressing.
But the pet shops is hell.

Belly
We are so sorry to hear you lost your little mate.
Just remember however plenty of animals need a good home and they all we will love you unconditionally.
Good Luck with only being able to pick one.
Its hard.
I am sure your little buddy is still watching over you.

In defense of all those people who want that special dog, the breed the type that fills the hole.
I want my pup to grow older with me,
And my pup fits my home and lifestyle I know I have had that breed, my pup will be with me almost every place.
But I will give a home to two dogs my pup and the first homeless grown one I see.
Each will be loved , one may grow to understand me better ,but both will never need a mate.
However we must do something about the dreadful life and death so many pets have.
And the dreadful fraud that most pet shops trade in animals is.
Then again we seem to find it imposable to look after even some people don't we?

Just words, I broke all my own rules today but Sky is home and at my feet.
Cross breed, rule one down Jack Russel mini foxy cross.
Pet shop, but a good one rule two down.
Every thing was done well by the shop ,including interviewing me to assure them selves I was a good owner, impressive!
A good end to a long sad story.

It has been a week Sky is 75mm tall, a passing woman asked me was she a Guinea pig yesterday!
She will grow to about 450 mm but is already worth about twice her price to me, the value of the carpet she has eaten!
Searching still for my pound puppy to keep her company.