mum24dog

Nasty arrogant ruthless piece of work, more like. But we knew that, didn't we?

Sometimes he did, sometimes he didn't. Looked more flexible than a Toller at times. That's part of why I have doubts. And maybe something not quite right in the neck area - a bit more slender? Still, Tollers vary so much - stumpy legs to great hulking beasts (relatively), pale gingery coats to mahogany, medium coated to long and thick, a few black noses, no white where you'd expect it. I could be completely wrong, of course. Maybe the variation isn't as bad as it was a few years ago now they're not as rare? As you say, you'd have to see him in the flesh. I've often spotted red collie crosses in the distance at shows and thought they could be, but on closer inspection they weren't. The reverse could equally apply.

Not unanimous on the Toller forum that he is a purebred, though. I'd go along with the people who think he's not quite right, although TV can be very deceptive. And I have known a fair few of them and have been interested in the breed for the past 7 years or so, although have now decided I'd never buy one (or any dog) knowing the rescue situation. (My feelings, not a dig.) Anyway, I've diversified into black and white from ginger dogs now, so they don't have the same appeal as they did. Still majority ginger in this house, but only just. Pam

I did exactly that with our collie. Straight from Bakers to CSJ CP24 (or 21 - can't remember) and his scurfy skin was gone in days. No stomach upset or anything. Pam

Is that inclusive if vat and p&p?

Charlie just came with the name and we kept it because he was. (KC name Charlie the Traveller because he may have been a gypsy dog.) Ross is red, so he got a red name. (KC name Ross the Rug because he's always under my feet.) Hazel is reddy brown, so she got a reddy brown wood name. (Half Pint Hazel because she's small.) Similarly Cedar, but he got a taller tree name because he's bigger. (True to Type because he's ginger and white, short coated, gentle and vulnerable like Charlie.) Eddie - because my daughter wanted a JRT with that name, although I think his foster name of Bobby suited him better. (Odd One Out because all the others were ginger before him and he was black and white.) Kye because my daughter wanted a bitch collie called Sky, but we got a dog instead. (Culture Shock because we've never had a manic collie before.) Pam

I think he shows great generosity of spirit, especially when he says they chose his mother's cut and shut dog because she was so ugly noone else would want her. Of course I have my preferences, but who knows, maybe some day I'll have a dog that doesn't fit in with them? Oh wait - I have a wsd and I don't much like collies. But he is a bit weird looking and a rescue (of course) so maybe that's OK. And a terrier - never liked terriers. And a hound cross (never considered one of those). And my first dog turned out to be a lurcher in disguise when I was told I was getting a lab cross. I've diversified into black and white from my preference for ginger dogs. So many types of dog I would say didn't generally do anything for me, if asked, but I wouldn't rule out any of them because of what they were. Just keep an open mind and who knows what treasure you might find? Pam

Only if you don't read any further than the heading, which unfortunately doesn't actually reflect the thrust of the article.

Of course they aren't, but there are dogs running the whole gamut of canine type and temperament in rescue and therefore something to suit everyone who takes the time and effort to look. Pam

I would expect him to be totally against - given that he has a large staffy cross that has exhibited somewhat aggressive tendencies in the past (if only towards geese). Pam

I assume you meant "shouldn't outlive..." I think you're misreading what he means. He's just saying that the best thought out plans can go wrong, wherever your dog comes from or whatever it is. Take it as rather tongue in cheek. Pam

And why not? It's a very honourable thing to do. Whatever is wrong with publicising the rescue dog as an alternative to buying from a breeder? The more publicity the rescue situation gets the better. Goodness knows, Crufts gives enough publicity to the breeders. Pam

What's to object to in what he said? Beauty is only skin deep and dogs deserve better than to be bought and sold like the latest "must have" commodity. Too many dogs in the country needing homes already without the inevitable scramble for pups related to Crufts winners. I was asked 3 times in half an hour at Crufts on Sunday what breed my 100% little mongrel was as she was so nice and looked like she "ought to be something". (It happens every year.) Well she is "something". A perfectly healthy little dog who needed a home. One person who asked was looking for possibilities for a smallish dog as she didn't have room for another lab. I pointed her in this direction and mentioned a couple of rescues not too far from where she lived. Go Roy!!!!! Pam

Kay Laurence's outfit. Clicker training based. I'm a huge fan. I haven't gone on one of their holidays but I would expect it to be great fun. If I lived nearer and had any spare time I'd go on some of their courses. Pam

I'm glad someone has posted what Julian Clary actually said on the Crufts programme. I couldn't hear a word when he came on as we were in the hotel bar with the Broxburn Flyball team who were there to watch the coverage of themselves in the final. It's not only flyball dogs that are noisy. The pilot tonight is just a recording, is it, for broadcast at a later date? Pam

Interesting. The Coppingers' book "Dogs" has a good bit about the extent of inbreeding in pedigree dogs and the effect of a closed gene pool, especially from successful show dogs. Pam

I was thinking on my way to Crufts that I hadn't even brushed my dog beforehand. (Not for breed showing, admittedly, although 3 people on Saturday asked what breed my 100% mongrel was as she looked like she should be something - happens every year). She went missing for a hour after rabbits the previous Monday and the extent of my pre Crufts grooming consisted of picking a few little twigs out of her coat. Essential grooming only in our house - kids and adults included. Pam

No, you weren't the only one. I like proper dogs too. There were some real monstrosities being shown. When I had my first child, the health visitor said "A grubby child is a happy child". I think the same applies to dogs. Come to think of it, the health visitor was a doggy person and took hers on her rounds with her. Pam

I saw it on Thursday am in the flesh and thought the same. Far too long too and nothing really difficult in it for a trainer of Mary Ray's ability. Maybe she's spreading herself too thinly nowadays and can't give it the attention and time she used to. I haven't been particularly impressed for the last 2 or 3 years. Pam

I promised a photo of Cedar (Photo by Ian Robinson of Agility Eye) Any recent ones of brother Murphy? Pam

The trouble with that is that you're clicking for a head down position and you're probably wanting the head up, so then you have an extra step to train it to raise its head. I've never used food as a lure to teach the walk back. It's harder to get the distance you need if you're relying on something in your hand. My first dog I taught with a target stick. Position it above the head so the dog takes a step back to touch it and take it from there. It works from in front and behind the dog. Extend the stick to get more distance. The others have just been taught to target my hand for all sorts of things. Hand above the head, dog looks up and steps back. Raise the hand higher to get more steps. By the time you've reached the limit of being able to use your hand, the dog should be doing 3 or 4 steps and have got the idea. To train a reverse straight through the legs, I now stand over the dog with just the muzzle poking out. It will just back out and I gradually increase the visible amount of dog. I'm finding a walk back very useful for teaching left and left about turns to our collie at the moment. A lot of dogs don't seem to realise that they can do stuff with their rear end and it's a good exercise purely for coordination. Pam

Plaque and tartar it does remove. Stained enamel it probably won't help. Like anything, it won't work on all dogs, but it has removed encrusted tartar from my dogs' teeth. They used to be kept clean by having permanent access to bones to chew, but we can't do that with the dogs we have now. You do need to use it for at least a month, and considerably longer in bad cases. I ran out a while ago and have just restarted using it, so I'm not very proud of my dogs' teeth at the moment. Pam

Depends what you call "main events". I think you have to pay to see the Obedience in the Pavilion (why, I don't know) and the Sunday ticket doesn't include the Arena after 3pm where BIS is held, but everything else is covered by normal admission. Pam

But the BYBs aren't breeding for the show market and I guess most of them couldn't give a toss about the breed standard. If it's illegal, it's pretty obvious if it has been done, unless an owner so prefers the mutilated look that they will keep their dog hidden from prying eyes. I guess there were people whio preferred the look of cropped ears too, but we don't see those any more. It needs to be made an offence (with a hefty penalty) to possess an illegally docked dog, not just to collaborate in docking. A few convictions then we'll see how many people are willing to risk it for their personal preferences. For those with docked dogs before the effective date of the ban, it should be a simple matter to get a certificate from their vet (for example) that it was already done. Pam

Have you asked Toni if that's OK? She may have a waiting list for cancellations. Pam