Neoclassic Perk

I'm taking my daughter on Saturday - we will be loitering around the YKC Ring for much of the day, I think! It was my first time last year (Friday), and I am slightly apprehensive about how much busier it will be at the weekend.....

The wedding fee is being split charities, she's not keeping it all herself - I applaud her for that

I love the idea - it's great! Any chance you could offer children's sizes, as well as sizes for the more "well-proportioned" of us?

Wow - what a fabulous read - this "story" had bypassed me totally (I confess I don't read national papers) but what an amazing sequence of events

Me too - if I ask nicely, will she sit on my feet?

We've had Urka-Gurkas in this house for the last couple of days; punctuated by a Ralf now and again

That's the bit that scared me, too - in a debate with my colleague (a journalist by trade) I tried to highlight the fact that just the publication of this type of commentary (regardless of motive) reinforces the extreme views of a minority of society who actually DO want all dogs banned......after all, if The Times says all dogs are a danger, then why shouldn't they shout abuse (or worse) at dog owners in their street ?

I checked it out today; unfortunately, the law changed last October, and "incitement" no longer exists as a crime! I've had a standard, very polite and very comprehensive reply to my e-mail complaint - and even if they don't consider it a breach of the code, they will forward all complaints onto the editor; which hopefully, will make our point

Has anyone else complained to the Press Complaints Commission? The first principle of the Code of Practice for journalists is accuracy, and that "The Press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information, including pictures." I have submitted a complaint to the PCC on the basis that the article is grossly distorted and I also questioned it accuracy in parts. If anyone wants to do the same, you can do it via e-mail (attaching a link to article on The Times website): http://www.pcc.org.uk/complaints/form.html

This particular paragraph might be his undoing: That looks like incitement to commit criminal damage - are there any legal bods that care to express an opinion?

I think that's the point though, isn't it - there has been generalisation after generalisation printed/spoken about dogs since this tragedy, but none about grandparents, and yet the latter are associated with such events as often, if not more often, as the former I don't think anyone will ever know what actually happened......so it is inevitable that the most *acceptable* solution is proposed by the media; dogs owners are already ostracised by many in society, so blaming the dogs upsets fewer people than blaming the grandmother (it is natural to look for someone to blame, as it was avoidable)

My daughter Lil'bit is eight years old; I'm sure they'll have a blast!

In my experience, parents and children don't get "taught" anything Actually, that's not true - what the children and parents at my daughters school get *taught* is that dogs are a risk to health (a large notice on every gate declares "for the sake of our childrens health No Smoking and No Dogs) There are education programmes offered by the Blue Cross and other charities; trained, volunteer educators are available to talk in schools, youth groups and similar in the hope they will take up the offer) - and some school staff take the time to integrate dogs and pet care into their classes if they have an interest......but generally, there is nothing offered to support parents unless they go looking for it.....

EEk! I've booked it!! Now I need all of you to stop me talking myself out of it - this is all a bit of an adventure into the unknown!!

I'm going to work on OH over the weekend as I would love to come - we bought all the camping gear last year, but it was too wet to bother, so this would be a good place to begin training my two furry hooligans how to behave when camping... I'll have a dog-mad eight year old in tow, too

This makes me really cross I can think of no reason why these officers should keep their jobs - I can't imagine their colleagues are happy, either

I use two of these when I am hiking with my two: http://www.ruffwear.com/Flat-Out-Leash_2?s...amp;category=15 I don't feel that the bungee/elastic ones give enough control, but the Flat Out leash can be clipped round the waist, lengthened or shortened to suit and it has a traffic handle for the lanes, too

At risk of sparking a debate, I don't believe that a responsible and ethical breeder (one who has knowledge of the breed, genetics and health testing) can be compared to someone who shows so little commitment to the lives they create that they sell them to a pet shop

Happy 1st gotcha day - she is beautiful

Oh dear I am sure that you feel *bad* about the negatives of the decision you made today; yes, you have a gorgeous new puppy, who I hope grows into a healthy companion for you in years to come - but the joy you are feeling is no doubt tainted with the guilt of supporting a trade that you have campaigned against in the past You are not alone; thousands of people have succumbed to the sophisticated marketing techniques that are employed by these companies and bought a pet from a store, even though they know that they are ultimately supporting a cruel and heartless trade These stores spend hundreds of thousands a year on marketing; it is a rare person who does not find themselves influenced once they are subjected to it - imo it is far better not to be faced with temptation.

Yes; the adverts are all being placed on an Island-based classified site......so all the dogs are living here and are looking for new homes here, too There has also been an increase in the number of litters advertised, and the number of bitches that have been advertised as "stud wanted"

For the last year or so, I have checked our local online classified listings once or twice a day, and if there are any dogs being sold/given away, I send a message with details of local/breed specific rescues, a link to The Refuge, and other suggestions to prevent the dog falling into the wrong hands. When I started doing this, I was sending one to two replies a week - now I am sending at least one a day ! The reasons given for the dogs being given up/sold are varied; some are genuine cases, but most are people who have either not thought-through getting a dog, or have got bored and can't be bothered with the inconvenience that they consider a dog causes It makes me sad to think that this is only the tip of the iceberg - at least the owners I send messages to care enough about their dogs to advertise them and at least try and find them a new home....how many are given away, or dumped, without any thought given to where they will end up ?

Will be thinking of you all - hope you have a great time

Just checking - is it OK to cross post?

That would be great fun; would I get to meet your gorgeous doggies? Do you like Garlic? We have a HUGE garlic festival here in August.....