Thursday, September 27, 2007
Crooked Creek Website
I wanted to let everyone know, I'm just fine. My website domain name www.crookedcreekcairnterriers.com is down and they are working on it. It has gone through a migration, just like the Designer Dog Avenue website and now there are features that are not functioning correctly and now I believe the domain is down. This is why you see a different temporary page. I trust that they will get it up as soon as possible. Thank you for the calls and emails, we're all ok!!! You may contact Crooked Creek Cairn Terriers at crookedcreekcairns@verizon.net.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Just a thought on Nature
Regarding nature and separation from the young. (after the previous blog about puppy development and 8wk old puppies annoying their mother!) Ever wonder why teenagers are so difficult!? Think about nature and the time period that a parent needs to separate from their young. Teenagers are growing up, needing independence and are preparing to step out on their own. Just like 8 week old puppies, weanling foals, etc, Teenagers annoy the heck out of their parents. My father once told me, parents are supposed to be annoyed by their teenagers and teenagers are supposed to be annoyed by their parents. That's how they are prepared for separation and stepping into the world on their own. I didn't quite understand what he meant until I became an adult. Now as I look at these little 8 week old puppies that are jumping in their mother's faces, licking, nipping, pouncing on their mom, no wonder she's ready to say "See Ya!" I hope I'm ready when my teenagers grow into adults and are ready to separate...... My father is a smart man. I hope my kids think that about me some day.
How old should a puppy be before being sold?
Years ago, puppies would be weaned from their mother's and sold at 6 weeks of age. This is no longer acceptable practice. The breeder's code of ethics say a puppy should be 8 weeks of age, before being sold or adopted. There are 15 states which have laws governing the age by which a puppy may be sold or adopted to a new family and in most states it is 8 weeks of age. At Crooked Creek Cairn Terriers, puppies may go home at 8-9 weeks of age if being picked up, and may be shipped at 9-10 weeks of age.
Puppy mills and bad breeders will take puppies from their mothers at 5 weeks of age and sell them. Puppies don't even have all their teeth through their gums at 5 weeks of age. They've only been toddling around since 3 1/2- 4 weeks of age. At 5 weeks, they are toddlers in that they are starting to be playful but are clumsy and they still sleep most of the time. At 6 weeks, they are gaining coordination and are being weaned from their mothers, but most still nurse along with their solid foods. At Crooked Creek Cairn Terriers, we don't wean the puppies from their mothers. We allow the mothers and puppies to decide when to wean based on their instinct and individual needs. Puppies are introduced to solids at 4 1/2- 5 weeks of age, but most aren't eating on their own until closer to 6 weeks of age. Most of our puppies wean on their own by 7 weeks.
By watching puppies and their mother's instinct, you can tell developmentally when weaning and separation should occur. Mother's are so protective the first few days of life that they usually have to be forced to leave the puppies to go potty and eat/drink. It is their instinct to keep the puppies warm, and frequently nurse the puppies to nourish them and maintain the fragile puppies. Pupppies are like infants in that they have difficulty maintaining their temperatures initially. It's being snuggled up to Mom and littermates, that they stay warm. Their blood sugar stays stable by nursing frequently.
By the time the puppies are 1 week of age, the mother's instinct is still strong, but she is more willing to leave them for short periods of time. Watch out if you think you can touch or take them without her noticing though! By 3 weeks she's more relaxed about the human interaction and seems content to let you touch them and hold them. By 4 weeks she may leave the puppies for longer periods of time, just returning to them to nurse them. At 5-6 weeks, she's completely comfortable with the puppies being taken for longer periods of time, but is anxious to see them returned to her. She starts to wean them usually at 6 weeks, but some bitches vary in when they wean their puppies. By 8 weeks, the mother is annoyed by these little bundles of energy and says "See ya!" as the family takes their new puppy home.
My parents raised Siberian Huskies when I was a child and teenager, and as I said, it was common practice to sell the puppies at 6 weeks of age. Our Lobo would howl and cry for days when the puppies were taken from her so early. My father said he quit breeding because he couldn't bare to hear them cry for their puppies. But from what I understand now, if we had weaned them and sold the puppies at 8 weeks vs 6 weeks, their instinct would have been ready to give up the puppies and it wouldn't have been traumitizing.
So as you see, if we understand and listen to nature herself, we would understand why puppies should not be sold until developmentally ready. If a breeder sells puppies before 8 weeks of age, it may be reason for concern about the practices of that breeder.
Puppy mills and bad breeders will take puppies from their mothers at 5 weeks of age and sell them. Puppies don't even have all their teeth through their gums at 5 weeks of age. They've only been toddling around since 3 1/2- 4 weeks of age. At 5 weeks, they are toddlers in that they are starting to be playful but are clumsy and they still sleep most of the time. At 6 weeks, they are gaining coordination and are being weaned from their mothers, but most still nurse along with their solid foods. At Crooked Creek Cairn Terriers, we don't wean the puppies from their mothers. We allow the mothers and puppies to decide when to wean based on their instinct and individual needs. Puppies are introduced to solids at 4 1/2- 5 weeks of age, but most aren't eating on their own until closer to 6 weeks of age. Most of our puppies wean on their own by 7 weeks.
By watching puppies and their mother's instinct, you can tell developmentally when weaning and separation should occur. Mother's are so protective the first few days of life that they usually have to be forced to leave the puppies to go potty and eat/drink. It is their instinct to keep the puppies warm, and frequently nurse the puppies to nourish them and maintain the fragile puppies. Pupppies are like infants in that they have difficulty maintaining their temperatures initially. It's being snuggled up to Mom and littermates, that they stay warm. Their blood sugar stays stable by nursing frequently.
By the time the puppies are 1 week of age, the mother's instinct is still strong, but she is more willing to leave them for short periods of time. Watch out if you think you can touch or take them without her noticing though! By 3 weeks she's more relaxed about the human interaction and seems content to let you touch them and hold them. By 4 weeks she may leave the puppies for longer periods of time, just returning to them to nurse them. At 5-6 weeks, she's completely comfortable with the puppies being taken for longer periods of time, but is anxious to see them returned to her. She starts to wean them usually at 6 weeks, but some bitches vary in when they wean their puppies. By 8 weeks, the mother is annoyed by these little bundles of energy and says "See ya!" as the family takes their new puppy home.
My parents raised Siberian Huskies when I was a child and teenager, and as I said, it was common practice to sell the puppies at 6 weeks of age. Our Lobo would howl and cry for days when the puppies were taken from her so early. My father said he quit breeding because he couldn't bare to hear them cry for their puppies. But from what I understand now, if we had weaned them and sold the puppies at 8 weeks vs 6 weeks, their instinct would have been ready to give up the puppies and it wouldn't have been traumitizing.
So as you see, if we understand and listen to nature herself, we would understand why puppies should not be sold until developmentally ready. If a breeder sells puppies before 8 weeks of age, it may be reason for concern about the practices of that breeder.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Dogs and Children
I was reading an article that was kind of interesting and I can honestly say I have no opinion since I've (in whisper....never seen the show by Cesar Millan on "Dog Whisperer"). I whispered that because I do love training and honestly, our TV rarely gets changed from Nickelodeon or Discovery Channel because I rarely sit down to watch it! So I can't comment on the show. I can comment on people's views and comments. Some seemed to be relatively good observations, others were just expressed opinions.
My experience with training has been from living with and training my dogs. My formal education in training has primarily been in horses, which being a prey animal they do have a set of slightly different instincts and responses. The rest of my knowledge just comes from behavior modification that I learned in my degree of Psychology. I haven't had formal dog training classes but really want to find time to take some with my friend and trainer, Ashli. I enjoy it all very much, it's just hard to make time! I come from the the thought of making good behaviors easy and bad behaviors difficult. I've read some books but the rest of my knowledge is from experience.
I did want to comment about dogs and children since I've lived that! Dogs are animals with a set of instinct first, and training brings out the ability to react in a thinking manner. Without training, dogs respond by their own instinct (which isn't necessarily socially appropriate in the world of humans). Dogs respond to others (including humans) with their own pack & dog social rules. Direct eye contact and an upright stance means aggression or domination. Since children are the same eye level as large breeds, and stand with an upright position, they appear aggressive to large dogs and this is why children often get bitten. Children also don't heed a dog's warnings, they don't speak dog and don't usually understand that a dog's growl is a warning- back off, quit, show me submission. If you're going to have dogs with children, it takes a great deal of training and teaching of both the children and the dog. The dog needs to be shown they are submissive to all family members, including the children. Dogs have a pecking order in the pack. Your family is their pack. Their ranking is at the bottom. Some dogs will challenge this ranking and try to be above the children. This should never happen, and if it does the dog will nip and dominate the child and you have a recipe for disaster. Children (whether you have dogs or not) need to be taught respect, empathy, and kindness to others. They have to be taught not to put their face in the dog's face, not to hit, pull the dogs ears or tail, jump on them, ride them, and all the things that children think must be good ideas at the time. My children are empathetic, loving little kids, and before the age of 4, you'll still catch them doing inappropriate things like chasing the dog with a stick. They can't think through their actions and understand that it would hurt the dog if they hit them. It just seems like a good idea at the time. Here's a stick, that dog is running, let's chase it! Young children aren't able to empathize and understand the point of view of the dog's. But what a perfect time (at age 3+yrs) to start teaching them and talk through what a dog might feel if you were to hit it. I've seen children who were not redirected and puppies who were being held by one leg or abused in public. Parents are at fault and then when the dog bites a child, it's "the dog's fault". Good dogs will defend themselves too. It's so important to never let it get that far.
If you have small children and are interested in getting a dog, choose a small but non-fragile breed that is good with children. Many large breeds are good with children, but choose the breed wisely due to the size and height of a child's eye contact. The Cairn Terrier is good with children, with parents who are willing to spend the time to train the dog and the child, monitor their interaction, and redirect the child or the dog when interacting inappropriate. This means a lot of work! Puppies have sharp nails, sharp teeth, and they go through a nipping stage. Their sign of submission is to lick in the face, but we don't want our children licked and/or nipped in the face. It takes a lot of effort to observe and control their interactions and ensure that they are good interactions. Prevent problem behaviors in both the dog and the child and as they grow, and they will have a relationship that can't be replaced by any other. Children who learn to nurture, be empathetic, and be kind to animals carries over to appropriate social interaction and they will become well adjusted children and adults.
My experience with training has been from living with and training my dogs. My formal education in training has primarily been in horses, which being a prey animal they do have a set of slightly different instincts and responses. The rest of my knowledge just comes from behavior modification that I learned in my degree of Psychology. I haven't had formal dog training classes but really want to find time to take some with my friend and trainer, Ashli. I enjoy it all very much, it's just hard to make time! I come from the the thought of making good behaviors easy and bad behaviors difficult. I've read some books but the rest of my knowledge is from experience.
I did want to comment about dogs and children since I've lived that! Dogs are animals with a set of instinct first, and training brings out the ability to react in a thinking manner. Without training, dogs respond by their own instinct (which isn't necessarily socially appropriate in the world of humans). Dogs respond to others (including humans) with their own pack & dog social rules. Direct eye contact and an upright stance means aggression or domination. Since children are the same eye level as large breeds, and stand with an upright position, they appear aggressive to large dogs and this is why children often get bitten. Children also don't heed a dog's warnings, they don't speak dog and don't usually understand that a dog's growl is a warning- back off, quit, show me submission. If you're going to have dogs with children, it takes a great deal of training and teaching of both the children and the dog. The dog needs to be shown they are submissive to all family members, including the children. Dogs have a pecking order in the pack. Your family is their pack. Their ranking is at the bottom. Some dogs will challenge this ranking and try to be above the children. This should never happen, and if it does the dog will nip and dominate the child and you have a recipe for disaster. Children (whether you have dogs or not) need to be taught respect, empathy, and kindness to others. They have to be taught not to put their face in the dog's face, not to hit, pull the dogs ears or tail, jump on them, ride them, and all the things that children think must be good ideas at the time. My children are empathetic, loving little kids, and before the age of 4, you'll still catch them doing inappropriate things like chasing the dog with a stick. They can't think through their actions and understand that it would hurt the dog if they hit them. It just seems like a good idea at the time. Here's a stick, that dog is running, let's chase it! Young children aren't able to empathize and understand the point of view of the dog's. But what a perfect time (at age 3+yrs) to start teaching them and talk through what a dog might feel if you were to hit it. I've seen children who were not redirected and puppies who were being held by one leg or abused in public. Parents are at fault and then when the dog bites a child, it's "the dog's fault". Good dogs will defend themselves too. It's so important to never let it get that far.
If you have small children and are interested in getting a dog, choose a small but non-fragile breed that is good with children. Many large breeds are good with children, but choose the breed wisely due to the size and height of a child's eye contact. The Cairn Terrier is good with children, with parents who are willing to spend the time to train the dog and the child, monitor their interaction, and redirect the child or the dog when interacting inappropriate. This means a lot of work! Puppies have sharp nails, sharp teeth, and they go through a nipping stage. Their sign of submission is to lick in the face, but we don't want our children licked and/or nipped in the face. It takes a lot of effort to observe and control their interactions and ensure that they are good interactions. Prevent problem behaviors in both the dog and the child and as they grow, and they will have a relationship that can't be replaced by any other. Children who learn to nurture, be empathetic, and be kind to animals carries over to appropriate social interaction and they will become well adjusted children and adults.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Did You Know?
Did you know that Cairns usually blow their coat upon having a litter of puppies? The bitch often loses their undercoat and sometimes their top coat as well. The hormonal changes associated with pregnancy and whelping causes the hair to fall out and some bitches will go almost bald. By 6 months later, they have a full new coat that has grown in and is beautiful again. With humans, the hormones that maintain pregnancy cause the woman to maintain their hair throughout the pregnancy. They grow stronger finger nails and keep the hair that they would have normally lost during the time of the pregnancy. Upon having their baby, with the change in hormones, the hair then falls out. They are actually losing the hair they normally would have lost if not pregnant. This may be the case with the Cairn as well, but if you visit the dam of your new puppy and they aren't as beautiful as you expected, don't be alarmed. She's just blowing her coat due to having puppies and she'll grow it back after the hormone fluxuations. I've also had bitches blow their coat with their heat cycles, and this is another reason spaying is such an advantage.
Visitation Policy Change
We have had a visitation policy change at Crooked Creek Cairn Terriers. Due to several scary instances over the last few years, but a more serious personal threat recently, we no longer accept puppy visitors to our home.
I am more than empathetic to a buyer, that wants to see the facilities and the cleanliness and quality of the environment. I also think it's important to see the dam and sire and meet the breeder. But I also know how it is to be a buyer and understand how rare it is to have a website available that is thorough and offers photography and information that gives a virtual tour of a breeding program and facilities. My website is intended to communicate and answer the questions desired by any buyer. The facilities and my yard are pictured. The only pictures not shown are those that would identify my home from driving by. I do not want predators to recognize my home and know where I live!
There are photos of all the Cairns in my breeding program. We also have 1 retired Cairn that will stay with us for her lifetime, as well as a spayed protection Doberman. There are no surprises with the number of dogs I own. For any visit, I previously ensured with mitculous detail that all was clean and the dogs were groomed. Someone visiting on any other day of the year may see a Cairn 1/2 stripped and waiting for the next session, as it kills my hands and I get frequent interuptions. But my kennel is cleaned daily, sanitized every few days, unless there are small puppies and it's sanitized every other day or as needed. They have fresh food & water available at all times, and appropriate housing. We do have plans for a new facility and enclosed adult quarters and septic system to ensure there is no "kennel smell". I'm very consciensious and am always thankful to those who point out how clean my kennels are and how good it smells, considering they are dogs!
And I have to share some funnies from the last several years of visits. The funniest comments I've received were: On a wet humid rainey day, a customer paused as she came out of my puppy house and with a long uncomfortable silence, she finally said "Hmmm.....sure smells like wet dog, huh?" Well, considering you're staring at 10 wet dogs, that really surprises me! Here's your sign! LOL The other comment that I still chuckle with, we live in a rural community and we have fields of corn and beans. The customer drove over from the city and says "There's so much.........corn........................and weeds..............." Yep, it's takes a while for those darn farmers to get all the fields weed eated and landscaped! Here's your sign. LOL
The nicest comments I've received are how nice our home is, how beautiful and quiet our yard is with the shady mature trees, how quiet and well behaved the dogs were, how pretty my Cairns are, how nice it must be to live in the country with horses and dogs, and all that I love. I've been thanked for the hospitality and have received many thanks for such wonderful little puppies. It's all these wonderful sweet people that make me want to continue breeding! They offer the puppies I love so dearly, wonderful forever homes, and how can I let a few freaks ruin that for us!?
My testimonials on my website are from previous customers, as well as my veterinarian's observations and reference. But a buyer has to realize how much more risk there is to a breeder than a buyer. I would never risk my reputation and presence as a breeder by doing something dishonest. A person can check the validity of the information and considering that I sell my puppies before they are born, there is no greater risk visiting my puppies in a public place vs visiting them at my home. A buyer still gets to see the dam & sire, the puppies, and meet me. They've seen the facilities through photos and can validate the accuracy from my references if they choose to do so.
We have to realize what's important these days. What's more important- seeing facilities in real life just to "Experience" a breeder's home, or having a breeder be at risk to predators who may attempt to murder her and her children? I'm quite offended by anyone that could say that visiting someone's facilities that they can see in photos is more important than a person's safety. I have sold many puppies to people across the nation that I never meet in person. They can attest to having had a wonderful experience, only seeing photos, and having the puppy shipped to them. I can be empathetic to somone that wants to visit a breeder in person, but I no longer believe it's a necessity. I can not live, feeling vulnerable and fearful to have people come into my home and know where I live. I always argued that I met the nicest people, nothing bad would happen. But killers don't have a sign across their forehead. Murderers look just like the boy next door. They gain your trust and can be charming. That's HOW they get you. It wasn't until a friend said "Of course murders are nice, that's how they get you!!!" that I realized I'm placing myself and my kids at risk by allowing people to come into my home. This just isn't a necessary part of breeding. So I will continue breeding only as long as I feel that my family's safety comes first. People are still getting wonderful, quality puppies from Crooked Creek. They can still enjoy the experience. But we'll both enjoy the experience knowing that we're reducing the risk to predators and that we're safe.
I am more than empathetic to a buyer, that wants to see the facilities and the cleanliness and quality of the environment. I also think it's important to see the dam and sire and meet the breeder. But I also know how it is to be a buyer and understand how rare it is to have a website available that is thorough and offers photography and information that gives a virtual tour of a breeding program and facilities. My website is intended to communicate and answer the questions desired by any buyer. The facilities and my yard are pictured. The only pictures not shown are those that would identify my home from driving by. I do not want predators to recognize my home and know where I live!
There are photos of all the Cairns in my breeding program. We also have 1 retired Cairn that will stay with us for her lifetime, as well as a spayed protection Doberman. There are no surprises with the number of dogs I own. For any visit, I previously ensured with mitculous detail that all was clean and the dogs were groomed. Someone visiting on any other day of the year may see a Cairn 1/2 stripped and waiting for the next session, as it kills my hands and I get frequent interuptions. But my kennel is cleaned daily, sanitized every few days, unless there are small puppies and it's sanitized every other day or as needed. They have fresh food & water available at all times, and appropriate housing. We do have plans for a new facility and enclosed adult quarters and septic system to ensure there is no "kennel smell". I'm very consciensious and am always thankful to those who point out how clean my kennels are and how good it smells, considering they are dogs!
And I have to share some funnies from the last several years of visits. The funniest comments I've received were: On a wet humid rainey day, a customer paused as she came out of my puppy house and with a long uncomfortable silence, she finally said "Hmmm.....sure smells like wet dog, huh?" Well, considering you're staring at 10 wet dogs, that really surprises me! Here's your sign! LOL The other comment that I still chuckle with, we live in a rural community and we have fields of corn and beans. The customer drove over from the city and says "There's so much.........corn........................and weeds..............." Yep, it's takes a while for those darn farmers to get all the fields weed eated and landscaped! Here's your sign. LOL
The nicest comments I've received are how nice our home is, how beautiful and quiet our yard is with the shady mature trees, how quiet and well behaved the dogs were, how pretty my Cairns are, how nice it must be to live in the country with horses and dogs, and all that I love. I've been thanked for the hospitality and have received many thanks for such wonderful little puppies. It's all these wonderful sweet people that make me want to continue breeding! They offer the puppies I love so dearly, wonderful forever homes, and how can I let a few freaks ruin that for us!?
My testimonials on my website are from previous customers, as well as my veterinarian's observations and reference. But a buyer has to realize how much more risk there is to a breeder than a buyer. I would never risk my reputation and presence as a breeder by doing something dishonest. A person can check the validity of the information and considering that I sell my puppies before they are born, there is no greater risk visiting my puppies in a public place vs visiting them at my home. A buyer still gets to see the dam & sire, the puppies, and meet me. They've seen the facilities through photos and can validate the accuracy from my references if they choose to do so.
We have to realize what's important these days. What's more important- seeing facilities in real life just to "Experience" a breeder's home, or having a breeder be at risk to predators who may attempt to murder her and her children? I'm quite offended by anyone that could say that visiting someone's facilities that they can see in photos is more important than a person's safety. I have sold many puppies to people across the nation that I never meet in person. They can attest to having had a wonderful experience, only seeing photos, and having the puppy shipped to them. I can be empathetic to somone that wants to visit a breeder in person, but I no longer believe it's a necessity. I can not live, feeling vulnerable and fearful to have people come into my home and know where I live. I always argued that I met the nicest people, nothing bad would happen. But killers don't have a sign across their forehead. Murderers look just like the boy next door. They gain your trust and can be charming. That's HOW they get you. It wasn't until a friend said "Of course murders are nice, that's how they get you!!!" that I realized I'm placing myself and my kids at risk by allowing people to come into my home. This just isn't a necessary part of breeding. So I will continue breeding only as long as I feel that my family's safety comes first. People are still getting wonderful, quality puppies from Crooked Creek. They can still enjoy the experience. But we'll both enjoy the experience knowing that we're reducing the risk to predators and that we're safe.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Stripping Cairn Terriers
Stripping and grooming Cairn Terriers is probably the single biggest question I receive, and the hardest question to answer. Most pet owners don't need to follow the stripping zone method which is used in show grooming. Zones on the body are stripped at week intervals, so the end coat has some zones a bit longer than the rest. The primary necessity for pet owners is to keep the Cairn healthy, clean, and appearance kept up. My methods of stripping & grooming are only based on my experience with my dogs. Several of my Cairns need a variance in method, due to the way their hair happens to grow out.
The first strip can be completed when the puppy is about 12-14wks of age. The long scraggly puppy hair is being replaced with a new coat underneath that is harder. These long hairs that were once the fluffy puppy coat can be pulled out. Pull ALL of it out.
After a dog is about 1 - 1 1/2yrs, they'll start to have a long coat that is being replaced with their next new coat. Some dogs will have long hairs that you pull out, while the new coat is growing in underneath. My Libby will grow a complete new coat underneath and it will be about 3/4" long when the longest hairs are pulled out, leaving a fresh new coat behind after stripping. The hair that needs to come out, pulls easily. I just take small locks and go slowly, and she acts like she enjoys it. Some of it even seems a little itchy and it's a relief to get it out.
Some of my other dogs will start blowing their coat, which means losing their hair and it comes out easily all over their body. They may have very little hair left and they require a complete strip. This means all the top coat is pulled out. They look a bit funny for a month or 2 while the new coat grows in. But the new coat is new, healthy, and goes through the process all over again. They need stripped annually.
Others will have some shorter hairs, some longer hairs, and the longer hairs are pulled on a continuous basis. This is rolling the coat and it's something that can be kept up on continuously. Not all coats can be rolled.
For a photo example of grooming, you can visit my grooming page. As I groomed Chloe, I took photos to show how I did it and what the before & after looks like.
The first strip can be completed when the puppy is about 12-14wks of age. The long scraggly puppy hair is being replaced with a new coat underneath that is harder. These long hairs that were once the fluffy puppy coat can be pulled out. Pull ALL of it out.
After a dog is about 1 - 1 1/2yrs, they'll start to have a long coat that is being replaced with their next new coat. Some dogs will have long hairs that you pull out, while the new coat is growing in underneath. My Libby will grow a complete new coat underneath and it will be about 3/4" long when the longest hairs are pulled out, leaving a fresh new coat behind after stripping. The hair that needs to come out, pulls easily. I just take small locks and go slowly, and she acts like she enjoys it. Some of it even seems a little itchy and it's a relief to get it out.
Some of my other dogs will start blowing their coat, which means losing their hair and it comes out easily all over their body. They may have very little hair left and they require a complete strip. This means all the top coat is pulled out. They look a bit funny for a month or 2 while the new coat grows in. But the new coat is new, healthy, and goes through the process all over again. They need stripped annually.
Others will have some shorter hairs, some longer hairs, and the longer hairs are pulled on a continuous basis. This is rolling the coat and it's something that can be kept up on continuously. Not all coats can be rolled.
For a photo example of grooming, you can visit my grooming page. As I groomed Chloe, I took photos to show how I did it and what the before & after looks like.
Scammers are back
The scammers are still at it. Buyer beware. I posted this photo with an ad about Scammers and that they repeatedly steal photos from breeders. The scammer ads were gone immediately upon posting this photo. Then it seemed that they weren't present, and as soon as puppyfind.com removed my ads with the photo alerting about scammers, there are pages of scammer ads again.
Here's how to recognize a scammer:
1. Little real information about the puppy's dam, sire, breeding program, and little or no photos
2. Price is too cheap- $350 with shipping included, shipping is $225-250 by itself!!!
3. Seller pushes sale of puppy rather than assisting the placement to a forever home, and asking questions about the home the buyer can provide
4. Seller wants Western Wired Money, never send wired money for a purchase of any kind!
5. Check "all ads by this seller" and scammers will have pages of ads of all different breeds. If a breeder breeds more than 2-3 breeds they aren't a breeder you want to work with even if they aren't a scammer. It's hard to be an expert in that many breeds.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
The Doberman
Ok, this is a Cairn Terrier blog, but I have to tell our friends about our new Doberman protection dog. I'm so impressed with the breed! I grew up with large breeds, and our first "child" was a German Shorthair who was so impressive with his advanced training. I taught him verbal and sign language commands and his mind set was so quick and responsive, he was eager to please! I could tell him to sit & stay outside of the grocery store (after walking him to the store), run in quick, and he'd still be in his position when I came back out. No one dared to come into our house without our knowledge. He wouldn't touch them, but would stand with his nose next to their hand growling, and they didn't dare take another step. Cairns have been a much different breed, and I had forgotten the characteristics I enjoyed that were different than a Cairn.
So, we bought this adult, trained, Doberman for protection. I researched breeds and because of the shorter coat to groom, and the fact they are such a family dog in addition to protection, I felt it was the best fit. Then we got hooked up with Zora. I can't believe how quickly she bonded to us!!! She understands so much daily language in addition to commands, and responds with amazing instinct! She gets very alert and can be dead asleep, hear something, and she's on the prowl ensuring that everything is secure! I tell you what, if she came running at me barking, I would climb a tree! And I'm comfortable with dogs!!!! LOL Chances are we'll never need to use advanced protection training. (at least I hope not) But it sure feels better to know she's on alert at a moment's notice. I'm so used to admiring the beauty of a quality Cairn. I'm not experienced with Doberman confirmation, but I admire her beauty! Her sire is an International Champion in Indiana.
So anyone looking for a family dog that has good instinct and is protective, I'd recommend looking into them! We just love Zora!
My Breeder's Blog
I started my blog to assist in keeping our Cairn family, who has grown to about 135 families, in communication. I think continuing education is important regardless of the field or subject. It's also been important to me, to educate about puppy mills, unethical breeding, and let knowledge become power to increase the quality of living conditions for breeding animals and pets across the nation.
It takes a detective these days to see an advertisement and decide if they're a scammer, unethical breeder, or ethical breeder. There has to be certain rules applied, in order to separate an advertisement that appears legitimate vs an advertisement that in the least leads you to believe they are either a scam or an unethical breeeder. I have attempted to help buyers understand these generalizations.
If you are a breeder, email me and I'd gladly offer my observations about the scammers who take my photos, identity, and make me feel vulnerable to a dishonest realm beyond my imagination. I'll also gladly educate about our breeder's code of ethics and how we should be raising our puppies so that buyers can easily see that we're an ethical breeder. Dogs deserve to have proper living conditions with mental stimulation, exercise, love, compassion, and wonderful homes. Puppies deserve to be born into sanitary, daily socialized, and lovingly cared for hands. They deserve to have a breeder ENSURE that they have a deserving forever home for the rest of their lives. If we as breeders, take nature into our hands, by planning offspring, we owe it to those lives to ENSURE that it is for the purpose of improving the gene pool and characteristics of those offspring. Sure we have to sell the puppies at a fee that demands a quality home and makes our budgets balance. But if someone believes that they can enter the world of breeding just to make a little cash on the side, they're going to get a wake up call eventually. If you breed long enough, you WILL have c-sections, emergency fees, and vet bills get big very quickly. It quickly eats away at any profit.
I have formed my breeding policies with the guidance of a published breeder's code of ethics. My policies have come about by "The bad apples" that I've seen through either my experiences or the experiences of fellow breeders. I try to keep the perspective of the buyer in mind, as well as the protection of the puppy's well being. By all means, my policies will change over time since I will continue to learn and grow in time. If a buyer doesn't like something about my policies, by all means they are welcome to purchase their puppy from someone else. I'm never more interested in a sale than the well being of my puppies and a great relationship with my buyers. The rewarding relationship with buyers is what it's all about! (beyond the love for the breed of course) I'd forgotten that while I was upset with somone sending me threatening hateful emails. But you know what? I've had the BEST experiences with families who are wonderful people!!!!! I can't let 3-4 people over the last several years, overshadow 135 WONDERFUL families!!!!!! If someone doesn't like or want my opinion, don't read my blog. But for those that want to learn, grow, and explore the world of Cairn Terriers with respect for nature and each other, welcome to my blog!
It takes a detective these days to see an advertisement and decide if they're a scammer, unethical breeder, or ethical breeder. There has to be certain rules applied, in order to separate an advertisement that appears legitimate vs an advertisement that in the least leads you to believe they are either a scam or an unethical breeeder. I have attempted to help buyers understand these generalizations.
If you are a breeder, email me and I'd gladly offer my observations about the scammers who take my photos, identity, and make me feel vulnerable to a dishonest realm beyond my imagination. I'll also gladly educate about our breeder's code of ethics and how we should be raising our puppies so that buyers can easily see that we're an ethical breeder. Dogs deserve to have proper living conditions with mental stimulation, exercise, love, compassion, and wonderful homes. Puppies deserve to be born into sanitary, daily socialized, and lovingly cared for hands. They deserve to have a breeder ENSURE that they have a deserving forever home for the rest of their lives. If we as breeders, take nature into our hands, by planning offspring, we owe it to those lives to ENSURE that it is for the purpose of improving the gene pool and characteristics of those offspring. Sure we have to sell the puppies at a fee that demands a quality home and makes our budgets balance. But if someone believes that they can enter the world of breeding just to make a little cash on the side, they're going to get a wake up call eventually. If you breed long enough, you WILL have c-sections, emergency fees, and vet bills get big very quickly. It quickly eats away at any profit.
I have formed my breeding policies with the guidance of a published breeder's code of ethics. My policies have come about by "The bad apples" that I've seen through either my experiences or the experiences of fellow breeders. I try to keep the perspective of the buyer in mind, as well as the protection of the puppy's well being. By all means, my policies will change over time since I will continue to learn and grow in time. If a buyer doesn't like something about my policies, by all means they are welcome to purchase their puppy from someone else. I'm never more interested in a sale than the well being of my puppies and a great relationship with my buyers. The rewarding relationship with buyers is what it's all about! (beyond the love for the breed of course) I'd forgotten that while I was upset with somone sending me threatening hateful emails. But you know what? I've had the BEST experiences with families who are wonderful people!!!!! I can't let 3-4 people over the last several years, overshadow 135 WONDERFUL families!!!!!! If someone doesn't like or want my opinion, don't read my blog. But for those that want to learn, grow, and explore the world of Cairn Terriers with respect for nature and each other, welcome to my blog!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
