Dixie ★ Golden Retriever

[MacGyver]

if your looking for art i have an art shop if your interested? I can post the link? x
love your siggie by the way; apart form the good breeder stamp because in my eyes whilst there's so many dog in rescues there's no such thing as a good breeder x

Really? That'd be awesome! ^^

And thank you! c: Actually, most dogs who end up in the shelter come from BYBs or from pet stores/puppy mills. BYBs and pet shops will sell to anyone who wants a dog. A good, reputable breeder won't let their dogs go to just anyone. Unless you've ever researched reputable breeders, you wouldn't believe the screening they do on potential owners, just to make sure their dogs are going to be in capable hands. A good breeder usually won't have more than 1-3 litters a year. They health test their dogs for genetic defects, work and title their dogs, and breed only for the betterment of the breed. Right now, reputable Golden breeders and the Morris Animal Foundation are working together to find the cause of (and cure of) cancer in Goldens, thus being able to rid the breed of it. Also, with a reputable, responsible breeder you know your dog's and litter's lineage, history, temperament, etc. Thanks to BYBs, resource guarding and various types of aggression, [including SSA, HA and DA] are showing up in Goldens all over the place. That is NOT a Golden temperament. A responsible breeder never would have let that happen. If BYBs and puppy mills didn't exist, I'd bet money that shelters would be 99% free of dogs.
BYBs are usually in it for the money, because their dogs are "purebred", because their dogs are "cute", because they want a pup from Fluffy to keep her legacy, etc. There's much more to breeding than just putting two dogs together. They don't care about how much they're harming the breed. They don't screen potential homes, they don't test for genetic defects [hips, elbows, eyes, heart], etc.
http://www.jlhweb.net/Boxermap/reputablebreeder.html
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?A=1448
I could go on and on. But to put it frankly, I DESPISE backyard breeders. It strikes a negative chord in me when people bunch all breeders into one hate bucket without knowing the facts. (Not directing this at you, of course). Without reputable breeders, pure breeds would eventually vanish, we'd never eliminate hip dysplasia, cancer, and other health defects, etc. When I want a Golden, I want a dog who carries the characteristics and temperament of a Golden. I want a Golden who won't be euthanized at age 2 from severe hip dysplasia or develop cancer or some other life threatening genetic defect. I didn't want a Golden who would eventually end up with dog aggression despite being raised and socialized properly. It's very difficult to manage and deal with in a multi dog household. And though I love Dixie to pieces, it's something I never ever want to deal with or go through again.

But, I do understand your feelings on the matter (I once felt the same way until I began researching).

[Lucid Dreamer]

I'll post the link to my DA account soon for examples :3
and I know what responsible breeders do and I respect them for that; however as the pic in my siggie states in my eyes there's no such thing as a responsible breeder when there's thousands of dogs dyeing in rescues.

[Lucid Dreamer]

my DA account if your still interested in my art? x - http://lone-greyhound.deviantart.com/

[MacGyver]

and I know what responsible breeders do and I respect them for that; however as the pic in my siggie states in my eyes there's no such thing as a responsible breeder when there's thousands of dogs dyeing in rescues.

That seems a bit contradicting to me, but I'll drop the subject there. ^^'

Thanks for the link! Wow you're good - PM'ing you. c:

[Lucid Dreamer]

cheers x
but I don't think my PMs are working right now, it says I have a new pm however it wont let me view them

[MacGyver]

cheers x
but I don't think my PMs are working right now, it says I have a new pm however it wont let me view them

Aw that stinks. Is your inbox full?
I PMed asking about pricing. c:

[Lucid Dreamer]

got the pm c:

[MacGyver]

Copied my post from the Dog Owner Chat:

APRIL 1ST, 2014 - We just had the biggest breakthrough! I'm literally so happy I could do backflips and cartwheels right now. This morning, we decided to let the other dogs out in the backyard with Dixie, since she seemed to be doing well when they were on leash together or walking together. It was amazing to watch! It was one of the happiest things for me to see them playing together like they did when they were pups. She was very gentle with Murdoch and even encouraged play, by bowing and trying to get him to chase her. Murdoch was fearful at first, but soon played once he decided she wasn't going to eat him. >_<
I don't have their play session on video, but I do have a little bit from afterwards, so you can see how relaxed she was around them. I'll be uploading them later and posting it here.
Video: [During the first half she may appear antsy - this was because she was trying to tell me she wanted water. XD]

Later, as a sort of reward, I took her in to the farm supply/feed store while Dad was picking up a bag of grass seed. She did VERY well - no fear at all, walking beside and in front of the cart, walking in tight areas with a lot of people, she even surprised me by demonstrating a good 'leave it' with the popcorn that was all over the floors around the store. She just wanted to sniff everything. XD So many things to sniff, too little time! She also gave no reaction other than a glance at another dog that was barking at her from the back of a truck.
Then we went walking again at the strip mall for about a half hour and she greeted people very nicely. <3
I probably look like a rooster as proud as I am of her right now. She's come so far! Somebody pinch me!

And this morning we took all four dogs in to the vet for their rabies and vaccinations (scary outbreak of parvo in the area right now!) - she did VERY well. Chose to ignore the other dogs (including an excited lab pup who kept wanting to come to her), rather than engage. (By the way, when I got her to sit still on the scale, she only weighs 52lbs. O.o She weighed 58lbs at 18 months when I had taken her in for her spay surgery.) On the way out, a lady was bringing in two Rottie pups, one of whom Dixie greeted without reacting <3 (The lady was carrying the other.)

[MacGyver]

My model. Honestly, this dog is such a camera hog, it's almost embarrassing.

[Lucid Dreamer]

congrats hun!