All in a days work

[Fran]

Originally Posted by smudgley

The GSD's are in a box with rails in. The lady put those in herself.
However we have now got some & are using them for some of the maiden bitches.

I wondered because I knew previously you had said that it was Guide Dogs' policy not to use them..

[smudgley]

Yes - they all like to know how many.
In fact Mr. Wheat gave me a bottle of red wine this litter as I said that What would have 10 & she did

Bet Belle will have 12 now.

[smudgley]

Originally Posted by Fran

I wondered because I knew previously you had said that it was Guide Dogs' policy not to use them..

Not policy not to use them, but yes just never really used them, but as a few people were asking about them or making their own, we decided to get some.

[Kazz]

I really like the idea of guide dogs. Hw do you choose a brood bitch then Smudgley is it one you've bred yourself that would make a quide dog but you as an organisation decide would be a better brood bitch or is a brood bitch bred to be a brood bitch not a possible guide dog? does that make sense?

[Fran]

Originally Posted by smudgley

Not policy not to use them, but yes just never really used them, but as a few people were asking about them or making their own, we decided to get some.

Ah ok, I always use them but having had a bad experience of a maiden bitch squashing one of her pups it has made me rather paranoid

[smudgley]

Originally Posted by Kazz

I really like the idea of guide dogs. Hw do you choose a brood bitch then Smudgley is it one you've bred yourself that would make a quide dog but you as an organisation decide would be a better brood bitch or is a brood bitch bred to be a brood bitch not a possible guide dog? does that make sense?

Yes that makes sense.
You are right Kazz, the breeding stock are specially selected from the puppy walking programme, they would potentially have made very good working Guide Dogs - but go down a different path onto the breeding programme.
They have to be sound, have good conformation etc, have excellent hip scores, clear eye tests, shoulders & elbows are screened, they have a skin test, a heart test, a neospora titre count test, a character test & a blood clotting test (to check for WVD) if they get through that lot - they're in!
Lots of people think that we breed from Guide Dogs that don't make it so the ones that are not so good they think we breed from, not much logic there when you think about it

[Fran]

I was once approached by someone from Guide dogs interested in one of my pups to be a breeding bitch as they didn't have many choccie labs. It was a Tikka litter I had on at the time and I wouldn't let any go for breeding as it was her first litter and she needed delivery by C-section which can be hereditary. It was a gentleman that phoned me, very nice he was too and I was a little saddened that I couldn't let one of my pups go to such a worthwhile cause

[smudgley]

that was probably Matthew - he's my boss

[smudgley]

Promises litter are the Christmas pups called..
Holly, Star, Angel & Ivy They were in the Daily express & on the news on TV too.

[Fran]

Originally Posted by smudgley

that was probably Matthew - he's my boss

Can't for the life of me remember his name but he did send a follow up email to me thanking me for being so honest and upfront with him about not letting the puppies go to breeding homes, I'll see if I still have it somewhere although unlikely as it was ages ago..