This new series, edited by Jane Waller who manages the site for us, highlights some of the most interesting recent discussions.

You can access Our Dogs Online at http://groups.msn.com/OURDOGSONLINE. The web site is free and is your opportunity to make direct contact with other enthusiasts and talk and write about anything you please - so long as it is to do with dogs.

There has been much written in the Our Dogs group regarding the buying and selling of Puppies, and whether it is right to use the Free Ads and Loot papers seen around the UK. It has been noted that some breeders have adverts in these papers week after week! are these potential Puppy farmers?

How can the ordinary 'newbie' and seasoned owner/buyer/seller know they are doing things right, if they are going in this direction? Could there be a better way?

It is also interesting to see that the KC has brought out several information guide leaflets regarding many discussed topics.

What we could do is take a look at these leaflets and see if we could improve them, and help to avoid potential problems for the future generations of dog owners. All these leaflets are available free either from the Kennel Club or downloaded from the KC main site, www.the-kennel-club.org.uk

The leaflets available are;
l Thinking of buying a Dog?
l Choosing the right dog for you,
l Do you know the dog law?
l Breeding from your bitch
l Thinking of using your dog at stud?
l Kennel Club puppy registration,
l Road Travel with your dog,
l Do you know how to look after your dog in its senior years?
l Do you know what to do if you lose your dog or find a stray?
l Moving house with your dog,
l Thinking of showing your dog in the UK?

'Thinking of buying a dog?' certainly deals with the vital questions such as, 'Can I afford to buy the dog I want?' and it also deals with the 'Do's and Don'ts. But we don’t find out where to look for Puppies until the second leaflet called, 'Choosing the right dog for you'

Now in this one we are warned about not buying from a dealer, it states, 'A dealer usually advertises several breeds of dog, and these dogs may have been obtained from various sources, so their health and condition may be difficult to determine'

Maybe this wording could be placed in Papers like the Free Ads and Loot papers, this would at least show newcomers to the dog owning fraternity where it is best to look and what the differences are between types of adverts.

The genuine dog breeders who wish to place adverts, and will give you support and guidance, should be free to place them anywhere. They are all too commonly 'tarred with the same brush' I know, I have done it myself.

The leaflet I think, is good and well worded, but lacks the all important wise advice to see the puppy with its litter mates, and see where the puppy lives, is it clean and free from sticky eyes, coat shiny, etc. are the litter playing happily, do they eat well, can you see the puppy more than once? All of these questions and more are vital in the purchase of a puppy, whether a pedigree or mongrel. The Information guide doesn’t tell us of these warning signs it only mentions that you should see the pup with the Dam!

Log into the Message Board, and have your say I look forward to hearing your opinions on this and any other subjects up for discussion

Jane Waller
ourdogsonline@groups.msn.com Tel 01763 838933