spottychick

Awww! Dear old thing looks so content. But what's that big hairy thing to the left??

:laugh: You wicked thing you It now becomes clear why Spottychick got such a big crate...... Darn it! I can't put anything past DOLers :p

A Tassie breeder - I still havent worked out what the "canberra" bit was about.

:laugh: You wicked thing you

Hi juice I can't separate them easily but if I had to I could probably call in some help and build something so that we can do that. There isn't even a separate backyard/frontyard atm but it's possible to set it up with a bit of fencing etc. I could even build a run for him outside as there is a kennel here from the previous owners and an area where I could do it. If it was an extreme situation. Oh and there's a small building separate from, but close to, the house where I'm going to install the laundry. It has windows, doors and insulation and is even big enough to make it a second bedroom or studio as well as the laundry area. I forgot about that. It would be brilliant as a sort of HUGE kennel. It has it's own toilet too - not that the puppy will care hahahaha Yeah, I just don't know with Tango. He seems to have changed so much but I do have to keep reminding myself he's only been with me for 8 months as opposed to 8 years of his previous life. So I still don't know him that well.

VC - you're doing a great job with Sophie!! Astred - yes I agree. I'm pretty good at laying down the law and can be pretty darn scary when I want to be LOL I have spoken to the owner. It doesn't sound like the breeder is the sort you would want to return the puppy to. Apparently when he couldn't sell the pups at the price he wanted he took them to a pet shop and then got outraged at the low price he was offered so he flogged them off cheap himself. I have asked him to check if the puppy has papers etc and to get the breeder to call me. The good news (IMO) is that they knocked back the other person who was interested in buying the pup because they didn't think he'd provide a suitable home. That's good but I think they thought I sounded like a better proposition so I don't know if they'd maintain that fussiness without me in the mix.

LOL I know.... I'm just trying to be sensible and make a "reasoned" decision

It's isn't normal, the OP said: 6) Following me around everywhere from room to room. If I leave the room he will follow me everywhere & gets distressed if he can't get to me. The dog getting distressed is not a good thing. Yeah okay. Fair point LOL I missed that "distressed" bit. Mine would just happily follow me around but wouldn't and don't get distressed if they can't see me or follow me. So yeah, the distress/separation issue needs sorting.

Thanks for all the thoughts folks - I knew I could rely on this forum for some level-headed input. Just a bit worried now that I can't get through to the owner. Secret Kei and Mackiemad - yes I was concerned about that - I want to do the right thing and your comments helped. SK I'm getting info on the breeder hopefully in a few minutes. I tried looking up the Tassie Canine site but there's not much there re dalmatian breeders. Powerlegs - good point LOL I hadn't thought of that. Though that might not stop me taking him once I had him in my hands

Hi TD Tango goes everywhere with me in the car LOL He is fine in the car but has trouble if it's a hot day. He used to have a go at Pepper in the car but that stopped a while ago. Now they're perfectly fine in the back of the wagon together. So yes, he would definitely meet him. We've had a range of dogs, including small ones, visiting the house at times. The only dogs he has some issues with are bigger males. But it's not clear if THEY growl first and he responds or what. And we separate them fast so I have no idea what he would do beyond a bit of a growl. But with little dogs he's great - plays with them etc.

VC That was so sad what happened to your foster. I dont know about lowering the money. I just worry they'll sell him to the "wrong" sort. Especially a young intact boy. They still havent returned my call ..... hope he hasn't been sold. Or if he has that it was to someone good.

hmmmmm This is one reason why I want to know more about the breeder Have just tried to call them again but couldn't get through.

We bought our house from a registered dally breeder (we're in Launceston) and as far as I know, they moved somewhere just out of Launceston so it's possible it's the same woman. I probably have her contact details somewhere, if SpottyChick wants/needs them. I'll PM you

Yeah, most of those behaviours are normal. Peeing etc inside means he hasnt grasped the difference between inside and outside. I find that dogs who live inside get it pretty quick because they don't like to mess where they sleep. Inside becomes 'where they sleep'. Eating poo is normal for adult dogs, let alone puppies. Especially cat poo LOL When I had a cat I'd just remove the cat poo before the dogs could get it. Chewing up things is normal dog behaviour and may also be related to teething. Like others have said - get him things to chew on. I highly recommend the TOT programme which someone else mentioned. As for following you around LOL He loves you! Youre his leader and he wants to be with you. Mine do the same thing. At one point I used to have 3 dogs and a cat all following me - even into the toilet hahahaha I didn't mind. Unless they got under my feet and/or in the way, then I'd scatter them by saying "Go to bed!!" rather sternly, which they all would - except the cat hahahaha

My concern exactly - and it's how I keep thinking. LOL I'm such a sucker for dallys - especially a pup!! Good point re "buying dog for the kid". I don't really know what that's about to be honest. Is it just that they want the kid to be comfortable around dogs? Funny thing is Dalmatians are brilliant with kids generally. You just have to teach em not to jump up etc and to be gentle around little ones. Yeah referring them here might be good LOL I did suggest some smaller breeds that might be a better choice - and they were interested in a mini poodle - they were happy to have a smaller dog live inside. I also mentioned tassie Dogs Home as an option and possibly getting an adult dog as puppies are all going to be a bit of work.

Sorry jaxx'sbuddy - I thought I'd responded to you! I will talk to the owner about that tomorrow - hopefully after I have a bit of info about the breeders maybe via Quoll.

Thanks tiana. I have the time for it, I work from home so it's a bit easier for me. My girl would love the puppy but yeah, tango is the question mark. If I see the puppy I wont be able to let it go - I know myself too well LMAO

That would be excellent! I will contact you - thank you!

Yeah thanks Jaxx. I have to think about that.

Not yet I had a look at the breeders in the ACT and actually have talked with Yarrowfell about one of their girls a few weeks ago so I will ask them if they know.

This is exactly what I was thinking - if I was to actually plan and choose a puppy it would be a girl because I am afraid of how Tango would be with an adult male. On the other hand I know Pepper will be fantastic with another female. But I could certainly take him for a while and teach him a few things while I find a decent home for him. I just would hate to find him at a pound in a year or two with major problems. But if I did that I'd probably want to have a bit of a chat with some seasoned rescuers about how to do all that.

Thanks lucys mama. I guess because he's so young it's sort of thrown me a bit. I can't understand how they'd decide anything with only a few weeks of having this young guy.

Yeah, I guess I don't mean I will only take it if the dog needs rescuing, but I have never bought a pup/dog from anywhere but a rescue situation or a registered breeder (my first dalmatian!). I'm just not sure what's going on with this pup. It all sounds a bit odd to me and I'm not sure what to do. I just keep thinking of it being sold to someone unscrupulous or just negligent and want to go grab it LOL. I can't find any registered breeders in Launceston. I'm trying to figure out how I find out if there is anything like that here. I was recently thinking about buying a puppy from a registered breeder and talked to a few in Victoria and NSW but couldn't find anything over here.

Um..... not sure about this. On Saturday I noticed someone selling a 4 month old dally boy for $200 in the paper. It said to call Sunday so I did. Turns out these people bought the pup from a "breeder" near Launceston for a cheap price for their little girl. The little girl is a toddler. They bought the pup because they wanted to have an "outside dog" (previously they owned a shitzu and it was inside) and thought a dalmatian would be ideal. But after having the pup a few weeks they've decided it was a bad idea. Apparently the pup is growing faster than they expected and keeps knocking the child over. He lives outside and wont stop pulling things off the washing line, digging holes, tearing up the hose etc... and keeps pulling all his nice blankets out of the big kennel they got him and sleeping out in the cold (OMG!!!! - Do you know how freezing it's been here lately!!!???) He sounds bored and lonely to me. So they decided to sell him (not give him away because they want to find a good home for him) and get another small dog instead. Apparently he is a black and white boy, very nicely marked and has black ears with white spots on them LOL Cute,. One other person has called. The owner said he sounded "old" and the owner wasn't sure about him. They live quite a distance from me but have offered to bring the pup to a town closer to me (where his partner lives???.... I don't know what that means) for me to meet him. So I'm going to call him back tomorrow morning to tell him if I want to see the pup and to see if the other person has called back. What do people think? 1. Is this a stupid thing for me to do given I've only just got Tango settled? 2. What else should I be asking about this puppy. The owner didn't know much about it's background. He said something about it's a "Canberra Brand"???? I've never heard that expression before. Anyone know what that means? 3. Is this more like a rescue, an ordinary "puppy purchase" or am I supporting BYB/puppy farmers? What's a legit puppy purchase? How do I know? Does it matter? LOL I'm so confused! My concern is that there are currently TWO male dallies in the Tassie Dogs home looking for new owners. One is a 2 year old, the other 5. There seems to always be a dalmatian or two in the pound lately. I am concerned that's where this little guy will end up in a couple of years time and will have all sorts of issues to deal with. So I'm thinking maybe I should grab him now. He is not desexed and not microchipped. If I take him now I can get him chipped this week at my local vet along with my girl - they are offering discounted chipping and the Council is also offering discounted registration at the same time at the vets. Oh and they've named him "scruffy"???? LOL Anyway, would just like some feedback if poss - especially from anyone who's followed my story with Tango. Cheers

Your anecdotes have basis - your conclusions and sweeping generalisations do not. You took what you have seen amongst some people, made assumptions about what you saw and then applied it as a general theory to thousands of people you've never met. What I think is totally relevant. Sorry if it bothers you that I disagree with you. You use your casual observations of several dog owners to make insulting statements (in more than one post) based on sweeping generalisations that have no evidentiary basis. Of course that will be open to criticism and opposition. And sorry, but my observations are at least as valid as yours and I'm quite entitled to state them. That's life chum. People get to challenge your assumptions. Seriously - you might as well be saying "I've noticed that most people with blue eyes are just SO unhygeinic" just because you've met 20 people with blue eyes who had grubby fingernails. And I'm not actually sure how you managed to actually "observe" a whole lot of people sleeping with their dogs...... But anyway - Ill leave you to your sweeping generalisations and just ask that you to try to be a little less rude when you communicate with people. My "rant" comment was merely an attempt to lighten the mood. ETA for clarity.