hi c
could anyone advise me on getting puppies tailed docked? where to go (what vets do it) how old the puppies have to be? and how much it costs?

Thank you

Normally done at just 2 days old.  If you get in contact with the council for docked breeds they will find you your nearest vet who will dock.

This is going to sound really stupid now, which council the city council/ some other council?

The 'Council for Docked Breeds'.

jeangenie how do you get in touch with them/ where do you get there phone number from?

Frank, jeangenie posted you a link to their website- click on "the Council for Docked Breeds" - you see it is blue and has a line underneath it?  That means it's a link! :)

thanks i'm new to this aswell as being a bit slow on the uptake!

Frank/sue  hope it isn't the westies that are getting docked :-O, I thought you were trying to breed westies. Do you have other pups just now?

>hope it isn't the westies that are getting docked

Crikey yes! That would be disastrous!

no these pups are not mine, i'm asking for a friend. Thanks for your concern though folks. i only have two westies, and i definitely would'nt put them through that, there great with there tails. see you've been following me around. just like to say a special thanks to jeangenie she's been a great source of information.

Hi frank,

Glad it isn't the westies that would be a mighty sight :-)

No not following you around just read the posts everyday so you get to know people very quickly. I have westies so you naturally remember people with the same breed.

BFN

hi blue how many westies do you have?  what do you feed yours on?

6 westies :-) One little one just now that is 10 weeks old. She was born 8 days early by emergency section, 2 in the litter and one died at 2 days.  Had to bottle feed her for 5 weeks but she made it and has turned out a nice show potential girl...

Feed, Mine get a variety of food.  Raw tripe with wholemeal biscuit 60% of the time, chicken wings/necks, various meat cuts, mince,  loads of veggies, potatoes, liver ,eggs even homemade soup :-). Pups get most of this from 5-6 weeks.

thanks blue, have any of your dogs ever had allergies?

Touch wood frank but never had a problem. ( away to touch my hubbies head :-) )

I cant take the credit for it though as it is the breeders of the dogs I have bought that have been very selective and careful with the lines.

To be honest I don't know that many westies with skin trouble although it is thought to be common.

What I would say in all honesty is if you ever had any trouble at all NEVER breed from them.   I personally myself would wipe out all my dogs from any breeding program if I had the slightest worries on anything and I do beleive that if everyone did the same ( and a lot do) then troubles would be far less.

Not sure if it helps.

If you don't mind me asking have you had trouble? the reason I ask is I think I rememeber you saying you thought the raw diet made things worse , whether your own or someone you know . My advice on that would be give it time it will get better. 

Those I do know who have had trouble , diet controls it well.

BFn

yes i did say that about the barf diet only because i seen another breeder saying it.  i felt sorry for isabel because rose kept putting her views down.  I had no right really to comment on the subject, as i dont know much about the barf diet.  Yes i do know that you should'nt breed from a dog who has any problems and i would'nt. My dogs haven't got any skin problems but when i first bought them the vet said insure them as westies have alot of skin troubles.  Also i do know people who have bought puppies with skin problems, so i was wondering is it hereditrey/ diet?

It is rare for someone to have bought a puppy already with trouble it is generally later over 1 that it may show. Or so I am led to believe.

There is argument for and against it being heriditary I think it is both. 

Some dogs are exposed to things which cause problems. I remember when I got my first westie and I was at ring craft a woman going on and on about her slin troubled westie and tearing the breeder to bits. A year on it turned out to be chemicals that the dog was getting on it through the field it was being walked in :-(   and was now the picture of health.  I do think it can be both.

Those who do have troubles I think can be helped with the correct care and diet BUT never cured.

thanks blue