I1

If people are starting agility in France and need to know the rules (i.e. one of my problems is that my local club explains the rules to me but I understand only a portion of what I'm told as my French language skills are limited), then the rules may be found at www.dogsport.ru/index.php3?l=1 (International Federation of Cynological Sports (IFCS)) in English. I know it helps me understand what is going on if I appreciate what might be being said (by knowing some of the rules in advance)

I think the frequency of rabies vaccination boosters is determined by the licensing requirements for a rabies vaccine rather than the duration of immunity provided by a particular brand. Were the rules to be “if you vaccinate with brand X, then its boosters very 2 years, but with brand Y its every year …” it would be complex and everybody would get it wrong (at least I would). Thus I guess a country sets a rule and vets (rightly or wrongly) follow that rule. For a rabies vaccine to be licensed it must provide immunity for 1 year, hence the booster frequency being every year. In practice I guess many vaccines do far better (maybe they all do – I don’t know). I notice that the Pet Passport scheme no longer specifies the booster frequency but the EU passport now has a “Valid Until” date against the booster (www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/pets/procedures/Support-info/vacci.htm). I guess that for routine “within UK” vaccinations against rabies, the UK can afford to be a bit more relaxed (as it doesn’t really have too bad a rabies problem) whereas e.g. France is a bit more paranoid about keeping rabies out (as it is still prone to occasional incidents of infection). If people are interested in the duration of protection provided by vaccinations http://195.184.239.210/health/boostervaccinations2.html is a short interesting article.

In the UK I fed my Border Collie James Wellbeloved not because he has a “sensitive digestion” but because it was a no additives and low protein food (20%). In France I found the same brand, though it smelt different (same specs). I don’t know if this is because it is a different manufacturer or because at arounf the time I moved James Wellbeloved was “taken over” by one of the “big” pet food companies. Eventually I decided I should change to French product and went for Royal Canin as it seemed widely available and appeared a quality product. However, I have noticed that virtually all French dried dog foods have much higher protein levels quoted on the packets (e.g. Royal Canin is at 25% and was one of the lower protein level brands in the shop). It does not seem to have affected his behaviour. However, I have needed to reduce the volumes he is fed quite a bit to maintain his weight (310gm per day to 250 gm per day). Before moving I decided to switch him to Hills as I thought this (being a European manufacturer) would be available in France – which it wasn’t (I’ve seen it in one shop only). I did try Affinity Advance for a bit but he did not seem to “thrive” on it nothing specific just a general feeling I had). Does anybody know if protein levels are measured differently in France (I notice the packs refer to raw protein whereas UK just says protein). I would be interested to know what dried foods others feed their Border Collies on in France (as Border Collies are said to be quite sensitive to protein levels).

Do you need to be local (I assume to yourselves) as, if you are e.g. driving to a Channel Port that which might then allow you to use a kennel along your drive (if you can take your dog in the car with you on your way to a ferry). Crtainly in my area (not local to you nor on a drive to a Channel Port), I've foubd the Yellow Pages does not seem to list many kennels (unlike in the UK where there seemed to be loads listed).

I'm at 3.8Km and on 43.47db (which I think is a calculate figure as it is always identical) which gives me the ADSL Max capability (though I’ve only gone for a 1024/128 link). However, I have had loads of problems with loss of service (sometimes for a few hours, sometimes for a few days). Whenever FT have tested the line (during loss of ADSL service), it has been “within specifications”. I had a FT engineer round yesterday (having given them a real "ear-bashing") and he could use his mobile to measure not only the Affaiblissement but also the noise level. When he arrived it was 14 (which was within spec.) but he went round disconnecting all the unused wires on all the sockets and he then reckoned that the noise improved to 22. trouble is, when he was here it was all working fine. One thing I have noticed is that often the actual performance when browsing the internet is more limited by the site you are looking at (or maybe the route to that site – who knows). Fine, with greater speeds you can do several things at once (downloads, browse, e-mail, etc.), but I guess with higher “browser connection speeds”, people providing servers will need to start putting in a bit more investment. I don’t know how widely people are using the higher link speeds for TV, Video, etc. I know at 1024/128 I can listen to the radio and browse without problems. I don’t know if its just me but this particular forum is actually quite slow and on several occasions I have had “time-out” errors reported (- which is not me being critical as after all it is free).

That would fit as when I purchased my puppy (at 8 weeks) they already had will the registration stuff. However at age rearly 10 months (nearly 8 months later) I still have not received anything from SCC. I was told the other day its "7 months" for change of ownership.

One thing that is difficult is to know how much is it the TV people "messing with how they come across". The classic is the Nippy and Nigel thing - no two people can be that incapable/inept when it comes to spending large sums of money (or just life) - so it can only have been the TV people. In fact Nigel got a bit worried about how he came across and did a "comeback" series "just to convince the world that he really was incapable".

[quote]Tradesmen, what tradesmen? We asked for a quote for some small repairs to the roof by 3 different roofers, not one came back, one climbed up there and scratched his head and then announced it is not ...[/quote] I wanted an instant gas heat water heater. Found a plumber (recommended by locals), he came round that day, quote in three days and could start the work in two weeks time. However, the quote had the item "Boiler" and I made the stupid mistake to ask him "what make of boiler ... " and as the words slipped-out I knew I'd regret it. Now I can't get anything from him. He's polite enough but its always "I busy at the moment", "I'll call you back", etc.

People may be interested to know that there actually is a European based organisation “bringing together” the pet registrations from differing European countries (http://www.europetnet.com/home.asp). I does not run a “common” single database, but will search databases from member countries. It includes a lot of the European countries (excluding Portugal, Ireland and France, and some others, particularly the newer European countries – if anybody is interested, check the site above). Their access includes the General Assembly of EPN If they do not have information about your pet (which is probably the case if your dog was micro-chipped in France), you can send them the details (though I have not done this for my pets yet). When you enter a micro-chip number they do not tell you who it is registered to (i.e. not your name and address) but rather which database it is registered on and information about how to contact the “owners” of the database.

Found out some more about the agility license and its renewal. The license runs for a calendar year. Getting the paperwork through (i.e. so you have the license in your hand and can compete) takes a couple of months. Certainly for your 1st license you can apply at any time. I’m less sure about renewal, but recon you can apply at any time. The “deadline” I was being told about is when the club sends in its renewal applications so that everybody has their licenses ready for the start of the 2005 year.

I've watched a couple (not very impressed), but it was the Nippy and Nigel ones I could not watch - quite irritating and amazing (I’m socially inept but those two !!!!)

You certainly should get financial assistance from them (but I'm not sure about residency requirements, etc., on-going obligations, what happens if you sell the property.) I know that for Micro-Hydro I get 70% of the feasibility study, 50% of the technical design and 20% of the installation costs (though am unsure of that includes labour and equipment or just equipment).

I believe it would. the organisation you need to check with is ADEME. If have web site, etc. somewhere. There is a national organisation and regional branches. I have been talking to them with regard to micro-hydroelectric. If you have problems finding them, let me know and I'll try and turn out the info.

The Advantix you mention sounds interesting as it prevents mosquitoes (vector for heartworm ?) as well as ticks and fleas. Also it claims to kill them quicker than Frontline. However, the detailed info does not mention Piroplasmose and they identify 4 types of tick prevented (together with the disease each carries) and Piroplasmose (Babesia) is not mentioned. Do you know if it includes the type of tick that carries Piroplasmose (‘cos to me a tick is a tick !!). You may be interested in an offer Bayer are running (to give a free tube): http://www.petparents.com/Free-Tube-Offer.asp Is it a spot on treatment or how do you apply it ? As it seems a modern product I’m guessing that it is less likely to cause a bad reaction in my older dog. Reading Bayer’s web site was interesting as I had always thought ticks were less of a risk over winter but it says that ticks love cold frosty weather.

I always use the Frontline spray because when I got one of my dogs the breeder told me that a sibling of his had a fit when one of the droppers was used. A vet told me that this would almost certainly have been a reaction to the “carrier liquid” rather than the “active component” and that there were 3 different types of “carrier liquid” used by different companies. I understand that with the spray, it can lose effectiveness if the dog gets wet (washes the stuff out of the fur ?), whereas a dropper does not – don’t know is this is true. I have also checked with the breeder again who said that the fit was not life threatening – so I’m beginning to consider the drops. If the drops put a chemical inside the dog, does no company do the same thing in pills ?

I do use Frontline monthly. I did think of vaccinating against Piroplasmose and Lyme and whilst money is not too much of an issue with regards to dogs health and safety, I did find out that the vaccinations are not particularly effective (i.e. quite far from immunity – just a degree of protection), so I figured that being more thorough with the tick killer gave adequate protection. If people disagree and think the vaccinations are worthwhile then please do say.

Before leaving the UK I checked with my vet to see if there were and diseases I should get my pet vaccinated against or be aware in France - and was told there were none !!! One thing I have found in France is that whilst I am very happy with my vet, they do not volunteer advice. This might be language difficulties maybe not. Anyway, does anybody know if there is heartworm risk in the Sarthe (72)/Indre et Loire (37) areas. Also, if people are concerned I did find information and a map of Piroplasmose risk/incidence at http://fr.merial.com/pdfs/prevention/Leaflet_PIRODOG_tryp_ok_2_quest.pdf.

I am just passing on what I read elsewhere (and it was disputed thereby different people) so I am probably guilty of Chinese whispers. Some people have said that you may need the permission of your Maire to keep more than 3 dogs. Rather than my paraphrase, check: http://normandy.angloinfo.com/forum/topic.asp?topic_ID=527&forum_ID=26&cat_ID=2&topic_Title=Moving+to+France+with+Pets Regards Ian

I live alone and have a massive boiler with a 160L hot water tank. For me it is very wasteful to keep 160L of hot water hot all the time so I am having a Chauffe bain fitted (with a divet valve/switch so I can run either for hot water). I still trying to get details of exactly which model has been quoted for but the total quote (supply, installation, etc. for a propane chauffe bain is around 1000€. Of that the chauffe bain is 480€.

I’ve had a chat with the president of the club I do agility at and I believe I understood that: My dog is only 9 months old and cannot compete until 18 months old – which means she can start competing 1/Aug/2005. The President said that there is no need for me to get a license at the moment and I can get one nearer the time. By implication this means that the license renewal is not an annual thing with a strict deadline. At least not for the 1st license though I guess it is possible that subsequent renewals could be at set dates but when I started asking about this I got totally lost on language. Again, do double check as my language skills make “getting the wrong end of the stick” a high risk.

My own opinion and experience is that space to run around in the car is not an issue. Certainly my own dogs: one likes to sleep whilst the car is moving, the other loves watching everything go past out of the window. Longer periods in the car (e.g. on cross-channel ferries) are just time for sleep. Clearly there needs to be space of the dog to stand up decently, turn round and move around a bit (stretch a bit). However, on longer journeys you can always stop for a brief walk every now and again. A ferry channel crossing is no longer than a normal overnight. To some extent there may be a risk that more space may just encourage more movement. I take my two (Border Collies) around in a Peugeot 207 (small hatch back) with the back seat down flat (so they have the back and not allowed in the front). In France I have seen that a lot of people taking their dogs to agility club take their dogs around in the large carrying cages/baskets. I don't know the maximum time/distance people would use those for One hint (and where I failed) is that, if your dog starts to get over-excited when travelling in the car, try to discourage it before it becomes too strong a habit. One of mine is a “total petrol-head” and gets a bit over-excited when I go to start the engine/put the car in gear – to the point where he spins round bashing things. Training to stop this behaviour in its early days would have been a lot easier than addressing it now. Sorry (not trying to lecture you on how to do things, so don’t take anything the wrong way), though try to take your new dog around in the car quite a bit so she gets used to travelling in your car. If he/she is a puppy, then this is particularly important and getting used to the car can help you have a dog who is a joy to travel with rather than “difficult”.

My French language is limited and thus my understanding is prone to inaccuracies. Thus, if others contradict what I say please take what they say rather than what I say. Also, for the same reason, please feel free to contradict me. My club said the deadline is 15/Nov (and as I wont be getting them copies of my paperwork until the club meeting on the 14th, I have probably missed this). However, they had actually filled in loads of forms for people, some of whom did not attend that day so I don’t know how “hard set” a deadline. Also I cannot believe that miss a date and you are out for a year !!! I will try and telephone the person who runs my club this evening and check (but with limited French ?). As I understand the registration laws, you can actually have your dog either tatoo’d or micro-chipped (or both). The French no longer require a tattoo and accept a micro-chip. A UK dog may reside in France for 3 months before being registered with the SCC. The actual registration process takes over 7 months to get the paperwork back from the SCC but I guess you get some sort of receipt. Vets in France do not regard themselves as “policing” the system and thus when I asked I was told to do nothing. When I got my French pup, I asked she be micro-chipped rather than tatoo’d – which was not a problem for the breeder. (Without and input from me) her chip was put on her left shoulder. My UK dog’s chip was put fairly centrally on his shoulder but it has migrated a bit to his left (so they are moderately the same on both dogs). I actually always point out where the chip is when they are being scanned. Should they be lost, I’m sure (given where they are fitted), they would be found OK. I have very limited experience (1 UK dog and 1 French dog) so we are talking about a sample size of one for each case – not much of an indication of common practice. I’m sure most people know about above, but I write it out as it is through shared (limited) experiences that we can establish how common something is or how much variability there is in practices in France. I do not mean to try to teach people who know more than me how to do things.

They both love running. I actually have to be quite careful, even in this weather as they totally over-do it. They basically race around the field each trying to beat the other, then one loops back. They get completely out-of-breath, then happily start again, until I have to take them back indoors. Whilst I don’t have animals, and thus they are not learning to “work animals”, I do teach them a few whistles (two to stop, up/down/up whistle to turn and change direction. Problem is that they cannot work out when a command (or verbal reprimand) is directed at only one of them. Even if its prefixed with the dogs name. I’ve thus started teaching the French dog French commands (privately) and leaving the English dog speaking English. I don’t know how long it will be until the English dog becomes bi-lingual ! Older male can be a real nuisance with long handled brooms, mops, etc. He’s a real nuisance with the Hoover. When a tractor drives past the house the older dog makes sure he has seen it off properly (fortunately he only does this when he is indoors so its safe) and he absolutely loves going out in the car (which I can’t do in summer due to the heat). The pup is pretty obsessed with the older dog. I was warned about this before I got her, but due to initial difficulties gave them getting on a higher priority to her being more focused on me. When they are in the fields, younger pup is totally focused on older male and it can be quite a struggle to switch her attention to me.

One other thought. My male is pedigree (his brother once came 3rd in breed at Crufts). However, whilst he is Kennel Club registered, this has been “invalidated” as he is castrated. Whilst I have not bothered to declare this to the Kennel club (naughty me!), I always thought that this effectively meant that he is no longer a Pedigree. If my above impression is correct (which it may not be, it is just what I thought), does the same apply to LOF/non-LOF and could that add to the reservation French people have about neutering their dogs ?

My two are both uneasy about other dogs. The older (UK) male was always totally obsessed with other dogs (had to go and greet them and would leap around making all sorts of noise if a lead stopped him). He was friendly, but as about 1.5 yrs old he was attacked by another dog (mine lying on ground waiting, other dog ran over to him, 6 ft away other dogs mouth open, I said “Oh God” and other dog laid straight into him – no physical injury, just well shaken). Now he still needs to greet other dogs but is jumpy. He has never actually bitten another dog but if the 1st second or two of greeting does not go well then he will put on quite a show. Pup is fine if the other dogs ignore her. If they pester her, she will lift a lip (showing teeth). If they ignore that she will star snapping in the air. She decides pretty quickly about friends and enemies. Once a dog is an “enemy”, it will get the display is he/she approaches. No attack, no biting, just displays. As you say, I also have always been told that Border Collies nature is that they have to make decisions and quickly. With my male I have always found he gets on very well with other Border Collies (they just all play the same way and thus seem to get on). To help him get more comfortable with other dogs, I spent almost a year taking him to weekly classes for dogs who were not good with other dogs. The people running the class basically believed that many dog-dog issues were because the dogs had not learnt to communicate and the way to resolve it is to let them learn to communicate – and they took all these dogs that didn’t get on with other dogs for a long walk in the forest (all off lead). The people running it really knew what they were doing and how to help the dogs – it was not a “free for all” (and they used muzzles where appropriate). (It may sound daft but apparently the worst injury they had had in 10 years doing it every week was a small puncture wound that did not require a vet). Anyway, there was one Border Collie there that was really terrible and would attack anything (some people would not go when the particular dog came) – this bad dog and mine got on fine (both Border Collies). I have actually been really surprised how obsessed by agility the youngster (non-LOF female) has become and how quickly this has happened (I’ve only been doing it for a couple of months). Sorry – I’ve gone on (but I tend to when the subject of Border Collies is mentioned).