Benji's Mum

Electric fencing? We gave up on the back lawn, but luckily ours don't touch the citrus and fruit trees. (so far)

I'd be nipping this behaviour in the bud quick smart, too. Even if it means being separated from his toys, bones, friend and freedom until he realises that you mean business. It'll probably get worse before it gets better as he bungs it on - hang in there.

You can try to set them up for failure and catch them in the act, so the message gets thru loud and clear a few times. Hang around the area where they dig and if they do - Bang away. Will probably work better if they are separated. Clutching at straws now, good luck. Hope things calm down after the teenager stage is finished. Keep reminding him they are only pups, they will grow up soon and be really good (hopefully!).

It sounds like there are just no boundaries and they are running riot together - can you separate them to calm it down.

Get some really big bones from the butcher. Bang saucepans and show displeasure when you catch them in the act. Old pavers can weigh down edges of fencing more easily than concreting, depends how determined they are.

OH was complaining last night that our sweet vege patch looks like a cross between Alcatraz and a bomb shelter. He would prefer everyone owned pet bilbies instead of dogs, but he's ok about them. Concrete the edges in and keep fencing. Can you build a dog run or contain them somehow and exercise them elsewhere - they may grow out of it eventually.

A rescue dog of ours died from diabetes (I think this the same as hypoglycemia) as the local vet refused to test her twice and told us to nurse her. We took her to a decent vet who blood-tested but it was too late.

We are DIY, OH even got my daughter's stitches out when the doctor couldn't get near her.

My pup plays rough and tumble with my other dogs. When she's with me and other people, I expect her to be calm. It seems to be working so far. I have small kids, so I am training her that particular way for a reason. And I use NILIF as well.

As above, plus we try and keep our pup as calm as possible all the time. Instead of chasing, grabbing and holding games, we only do calm activities such as paw and tummy rubbing, sitting and patting.

I found medical reasons for all aggressive behaviour in my particular cases diabetes, tumours and arthritis. A 4yo from RSPCA had a brain tumour and she turned aggressive quite quickly.

If the dog is adult and well-trained, I consult the vet, there is usually a medical reason for a temp change. If meds can't help, sorry, I've got kids and won't put them in harm's way...

Some owners are habitually allowing their dogs to roam and they should be the ones we are targetting. Of course one-off accidents happen.

I am trying to highlight some of the potential hazards when dogs escape. 'Cos they can' implies that owners are allowing this behaviour, and I feel it is important to highlight what happens if owners allow this behaviour to continue. I am sure this info is relevant to a number of other threads. Off my soapbox, back to the window to watch an ACT National Park go up in flames today because a NSW backburn got out of control.... it's not a pretty sight. At least there are 3 choppers now.

And lastly a 2005 press release: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is urging local residents to keep their dogs out of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, following a spate of reports of attacks on native wildlife. "Most recently domestic dogs were seen chasing a possum along the Perimeter Trail of the park at Terry Hills and Duffys Forest, and earlier this year the death of several swamp wallabies in the same area was most likely the result of dog attacks," said Regional Manager Chris McIntosh. "Based on reports from the local horseriding community and park neighbours, the NPWS believes that domestic dogs allowed to wander at night are the most likely culprits," he said. "Two wallabies were found with puncture wounds, bruises and ripped muscles, which a local vet said could have been caused by dogs shaking them through their canines. "Numerous dog prints were recently observed, after the NPWS placed sandpads across the trails to monitor animal activity in the area. The NPWS also analysed dog faeces found within the national park, several of which contained possum, bandicoot and wallaby hairs." Mr McIntosh said, "this is depressing news, especially as fox-control programs carried out over the last five years have resulted in reports of an increase of native animals in the area, including swamp wallabies, echidnas, lyrebirds, brush turkeys, bandicoots and powerful owls. It is absolutely vital that these efforts are not threatened by domestic animals entering the park. "The NPWS has invested considerable effort over the years into raising the conservation message regarding the inappropriateness of having dogs in national parks, however it is likely that some neighbours are unaware that their pets are roaming at night. "The death of wildlife is tragic and can leave orphaned and unprotected young native animals. "Dog faeces and urine can also carry diseases that effect native wildlife, as well as add nutrients to the soil that promotes the spread of weeds," he said. It is an offence under the National Parks and Wildlife Act to allow dogs to enter a national park without special approval. People with dogs can expect to be issued an on-the-spot fine. Uncontrolled or unaccompanied dogs found within a national park can be impounded and the owners issued with a fine of up to $1100.

Why it is wrong to take dogs into National Parks, from NPWS: National parks and reserves are refuges for native animals. Dogs and other domestic pets (other than trained assistance animals such as guide dogs) must not be taken into national parks, state conservation areas, nature reserves, historic sites or Aboriginal areas, because: * Native animals see dogs as predators. The lasting scent left by dogs can easily scare small animals and birds away from their homes, often causing them to leave their young unprotected. * Dog faeces carry diseases which can be harmful to wildlife and people, and also add nutrients to the soil, increasing the spread of weeds. * If dogs and other domestic pets have frightened native animals away from popular visitor areas, there will be no wildlife for other visitors to see. * Dogs can interfere with the enjoyment of other park visitors.

Part of a NPWS press release back in 2001: "Unlike our battle with other feral pests the fight to eliminate pigs is fraught with problems because we have people with an interest in pig hunting actively husbanding feral populations and undermining our efforts to get rid of the pigs. "It's got to stop if we are to get on top of the pig problem and to achieve this we need the help of landholders throughout the region to prevent pig hunting on their properties and in neighbouring national parks. Hunting in parks is highly illegal and can result in hefty fines for offenders. "The trapping of this dog indicates that pig dogs do escape and will attack sheep," Mr Pearce said.

Yes I do, he wears a soft muzzle and doesn't enjoy it much. I watched a pro-groomer friend do him first. I use scissors on him, he's not a showdog. I use elec clippers on horses, but I find scissors work fine for Benji. I mainly cut the underneath hair which knots most easily and leave it long on top of his back and around his face. He looks weird with 3 legs anyway, a funny haircut doesn't matter!

More likely to escape if hungry or thirsty is the same nonsense as not being trained. Dogs think food whether they've been well-fed and watered or not. I didn't starve my dog and yet he'd bolt if he got the chance. Hmmmm, a lost dog owner told me yesterday that 'she normally comes home'. That makes another vote for 'cos they can', I guess. The 'starving dog' theory is taking a lot of hits! I don't mind, it gets people thinking about a good topic.

BM - First of all, are you not Id in the dogs anymore because of BSL - of because you dont know one breed from another? Second - most dog owners will NOT have collars on their dogs, they are dangerous and dogs get killed wearing them. You also said that you will not call the persons number, you call the ranger and pass the number on to them to call - that is NOT saving Rangers time at all. Firstly, I suppose they were all mongrels...secondly, what do you attach your DOL tag to, his pierced ear? Lastly, it is helping the Ranger catch repeat offenders.

Hooley dooley, that's some serious fencing there. How do they keep her safe now? It's a tough question, why do dogs escape...

Hey, how's this for a theory! Dogs are more likely to escape if they are hungry or thirsty. They've all been after food - chook poo is food, the school, and the smartie in Woolies. Thus owners must keep their dogs well-fed and watered.

Fair question, I think you've asked me twice now. I suspect my 20 chooks have something to do with it - the front garden is fertilised with chook poo and that is where I have found most. Umm, the kickboxer brings them to me too, he walks his dog miles every night and drops them off here. A couple at the school and there was one in Woolies in the dog food aisle!

Exactly. But how is returning dogs without telling the Rangers helping the dogs if there is no audit trail of the escapes? How will the Ranger know that a certain dog has escaped many times if you don't notify them? The fines are supposed to increase with each escape. How will the Rangers catch the morons who let their dogs escape ad nauseam if you keep returning them?

'You also said that you will not call the persons number, you call the ranger and pass the number on to them to call - that is NOT saving Rangers time at all.' So what's your suggestion - take them all to the vet, send them home without telling the Rangers, no-one gets fined anymore. Is that what you would prefer? Edited to remove a swear word.