Controversial Issues

A lot of xolo people think xolos are magical creatures as well. I think a lot of fanatics in breeds tend to feel that way about their specific breed though. I have to say I'm kind of disappointed Itztli isn't showing me his magical ways though. He really is a DOG. Who would have thought?

On the topic of docking/cropping.... I'm not against it. I think dobermans especially look really nice with cropped ears as long as it's a nicely done crop and not a butch job. I wouldn't mind if they were left natural either, but I would not opt for a ban on docking/cropping.

I can't stand "adopt don't shop" agendas or when half of my friends who aren't as dog savvy as us say it without knowing what it truly would mean if no one ever purchased dogs from responsible breeding. Sheep.

I do have a breed that is supposed to have upright ears and I did post them for a good while. I am now gluing breathe right strips in his ear to get the tips up, but may have to post one of the ears for a bit longer since it's being fussy. I know some people aren't a fan of that, but I am hoping to show him a little and the ears have to be up by a year old in this breed. It doesn't hurt him. #sorrynotsorry

Also I have to add that after all of the fuss I've been going through to get Itztli's ears to stay standing, I have a deeper appreciation for what Doberman people have to put up with. On top of the fact that it can just be plain a pain in the ass to have to constantly redo the ears especially when you have pups that are good at figuring out how to remove them.... You also have to deal with the snide comments people make in public all the time. "Oh that poor little puppy. What a mean owner.", "Aww if he was my puppy he would be so happy because I would let his ears do what they want", "oh no what happened to his ears?", "oh poor puppy those mean people cut your ears" because apparently posting ears MUST mean that his ears are cropped or that he injured them somehow.... His ears are natural by the way. It's no different than GSD people that give their pups some extra help getting the ears to stand.

Yeah I don't have an issue w/ people taping ears to get them to stand, especially if the breed calls for erect ears, I just don't particularly like the act of surgically altering them and then putting them through the maintenance... just my personal feelings.

Schen's ears are taped. Only one person has said anything. They seemed more puzzled than anything about why I cared if his ears stood when he wasn't going to be a confo dog.

I taped Bears ears over so they would fall over in a V shape and I remember getting so many rude comments about it. A friend of mine had a dobe with cropped ears and people were horrible to her.

People who have a problem with me dying my dog.

IT DIDN'T HURT HIM HE DOESN'T KNOW HE'S A DIFFERENT COLOR, STAHP.

Yeah people taking issue with dying dogs mystifies me. It seems to really, really offend some people.

Really?! I can't remember getting any negative comments. Then again, maybe those people just avoid me...

I was told at a trial over the weekend that I was lucky the judge didn't excuse us from the ring because that sort of thing has been known to get people NQd in AKC before. I was like, I'd like to see her try.

I have a few friends that were really upset that I did it. One because "He's not a pretty border collie anymore!"

wut. It'll wash out!

Yeah, any kind of artificial coloring is not allowed in the ring and you could have been excused from the trial.

LOL like to see her try? What would you have done?

I probably would have cried. I'm just expressing how dumb I think it is, you don't need to make it into a bigger deal than it is.

I am pretty bummed that I didn't see the info anywhere sooner. Talk about waste of time and money. We won't be competing in AKC anymore apparently.

I would just assume that you couldn't colour your dog& run it? I don't care about coloured dogs but wouldn't think they could compete.

Also, if you didn't get NQd for it, why was it a waste of money? Just idle curiosity!

why wouldn't a dyed dog be able to compete? Its not like it is performance enhancing in anyway.

I would imagine the waste of money is for potentially putting Qs on a dog in a venue you won't play in again.

I have only dyed Dekka a few times (I loved putting a heart on her bum, worked really well) but I don't do freestyle with her because they have an anti dye rule. I am at no risk of playing AKC lol so its not an issue.

I would bet it's a rule that's originally created for confo.

Why would you assume that? (really wondering, never even crossed my mind!)

Ding ding ding. We won't be competing for a MACH now that this has been brought to my attention.

THEY NEED TO REVISIT.

As was said, I think it started in confo and has bled into the obedience sports. You also can't have any sort of decorative, eye catching collars on your dogs during competition. I was stressed that I'd be excused for having a slightly shiny, thick collar when I did obedience with Cohen the first few times. It's ridiculous.

well in all fairness your dog IS neon purple..... id give that a wide berth too

Yep pretty much anything that can be considered a distraction is a no go, right down to overly eye catching collars.

To be up front, dyeing dogs is definitely not my thing. I don't like the look any more than I like tattoos or obviously dyed hair on people. But I certainly don't think it's a terrible thing to do to a dog who is fine with baths and such (or whatever you do to color a dog).

But I was actually shocked that some venues DO allow dyed dogs. I just assumed it wasn't allowed at all. Carry over from show horses, maybe, where altering color/markings isn't allowed in some classes. And of course, my old-school, traditional, hunter trainer would have sent us back to the barn if we'd even considered something 'flashy'. So I think I just went into agility thinking "animal showing = don't alter color", and was surprised when I saw some dogs with dye on them (not often, but a couple of people sometimes do it).

I think it looks tacky, but certainly don't care if others do it or if it is allowed. AKC is weird about some stuff though; I regularly check with more AKC savvy friends before trials, because I'm always worried I'm going to wear a shirt that is illegal or something.

I thought you had photoshopped the color onto him when I first saw your signature because that is such a jarring shade of purple... But then I read a little of your blog and realized you actually dyed him.:rofl1:

I personally would not dye Fable just because she is a pretty little cattle dog already and she doesn't need the extra flash, and I honestly think it would look a little weird because of all her speckles. Even though I wouldn't dye Fable, I don't have a problem with people dying their dogs. I think it is rather comical.