BJean

The only place you're going to find a 'natural reared' dog are in remote places from countries like Kazakh and Tajikistan ... I think you need to have a think about what many generations of worming and vaccinations do to a dog's need for natural resistance to parasites and disease ... dogs naturally reared only do well in the environmental pocket they are found in ... You in Australia are looking for a dog reared in a western environment where one piece of concrete can have thoroughfare of 1000 people and their dogs from 1000 different places ... you need such a puppy to be vaccinated and wormed. An unexposed puppy is decimated by diseases that are beyond the evolutionary pace of the current dogs' immune system. NB: By naturally reared I am referring to dogs that have for generations since time dot not had worming or vaccinations as an armor in their shield on life. fwiw there probably would be some remote pockets in Australia with bands of dogs or camp dogs that would fit this bill also - but this is very far removed from what you are looking at. You dont have to regularly vaccinate your dog, even worm once every so so is okay - but as I said, can't get a puppy that has never been wormed in its life have innate ability to cope with high level of parasites if it has not been created from similar lineage and resistance to exposure.

Does that mean the WSS is not a family guardian or watch dog?

I think you need to ask yourself who benefits from Early Age Desexing. Large breed early age desexing is for the breeder's peace of mind that is all. It's a welfare decision made on behalf of what is perceived to be best for the general, not the individual puppy that will belong to you. Hope you can find another puppy/breeder.

Her vet check will verify but the nipple could be a mammary tumor

Does she have a pedigree? I dont know what the Pei breed's general health and longevity status is but from a breeding perspective that female represents a very robust and hardy pei. If I bred Pei I;d want to know her lineage as her constitution is quite remarkable.

Ams is the bitch still feeding the puppies and cleaning after them? What is her milk production like?

I dont think Ams has posted anything that indicates this female has had loads ... If the bitch is actually 15yo and her system is still able to reproduce and raise a litter of pups in good condition then this bitch would have been well cared for. From the OP, it sounds like an accidental breeding.

I have 9 adults solo, but 4 to 6 would be better.

You're hilarious! The ridiculous prerequisite is in place to keep inexperienced, theoretical experts out from under foot. btw Your rescue tearjerker reads like a tanty.

SC I have lost a dog to osteosarcorma and TBH can never read the palliative care forum because it takes me back to the times where I have had to carry about the ultimate duty of a dog owner. Just wanted to say that I wish you and Emma the best and I admire your courage to write about you and Emma's emotional journey. Sincerely best wishes and many sardines to Emma

Same applies for haltis or 'gentle leader' (etc)

what sas said

Sounds like they have never contacted Great Dane Rescue or any other breed specific rescue because the whole point of Breed Specific rescue is to look after dogs often without pedigree papers. imo the group are crapping on :)

Research on the effects of commercial food and while you're at it, the effects of over feeding on bone disorders like HD and ED. Research the effects of vaccinations, and worm treatments on immunology. Research gastric torsion. Research the problems of applying science to behaviour outcomes and what happens when we do this. Research the equation or nature Vs nurture and its impacts over generations.

How fantastic, a dog day out, and catching up with friends for something to eat and drink - sounds like a perfect day Oh so she used the utensils, I can live with that. Might not want to eat with that, but if I saw a scene like this it would make me smile; I wouldn't notice the utensil faux pas. Got to love dogs and their people :)

A while ago I did rescue many ASD and big mix breed dogs. Now all my dog focus in Australia is on two breeds, Anatolian and Central Asian. I find through breeding, helping with a communication information network, and educating people about ASD/CAS (both those who decide the breed is for them and those who decide it is not) that I get more enjoyment and personal fulfillment, than the case by case and limiting scenario of rescue. I feel in my current position I am doing something better towards prevention and broader education and probably achieving more long lasting efforts to help future dogs. So, what SSM said :) :

Not really. It's humans who think dogs need to socialise and be friends with every other dog. There's nothing wrong with DA either; its difficult but does not mean the dog has an underlying 'problem' or damage. ETA: I do agree with one on one time with the dog each day, and if that is walking, even better :) But I dont think the socialisation part is necessary or valuable to a dog that gains no value from interacting with unknown dogs.

Yep very easy to do. imo it's a blessing to get a close call warning bite that emphasises to your own immediate reaction, what you should and shouldn't do. I received one bite to the leg stepping deliberately between two bitches (one with pups) to diffuse a fight. I knew my leg would do that (diffuse the fight), I did not - until I felt the jaw power and potential for mortal harm - know how stupid my immediate reaction was. If my dogs fight, two adults, I will walk away and leave them. When the dust settles it is better for the two dogs to hopefully be able to seek a veterinary solution, than for me to have chunks of flesh missing or worse. Amen.

Councils have the rule because it is based on what is animal welfares "best for all" not "best for the individual animal". Your avatar description says you're in south east, so I assume you are casey or frankston ... you can get an exemption from council min age desex regs if you have a letter from your veterinarian. PM me for more info.

Sorry frufru I didn't mean to come off so tart (my Monday morning coffee hadn't kicked in yet :)) By news fodder, I meant adding an invented story line to a sequence of events, ie training regime gone wrong. But you're right, it's just musings, so pay no mind to me!

Perhaps he did not want his dogs to die. Maybe he made an error, and they were the type of dogs you cannot make an error with. No need to make up news fodder (or get mad at an imagined training session).

Blackjaq I have sent you a PM

He is already on your list, but for assessment/management of HA the only trainer in South Australia I will refer Anatolian/Central Asian owners to with confidence is Mark Singer.

His first photo reminds me of a Shiba Inu

efowler, firstly I should write that I have brought a dog from the pound only for the dog to seriously go for me after its arrival; I've also hauled dogs interstate and rehomed with a DA-PTS outcome - so I'm not intending to make personal criticism. From my experience with kennels and DA dogs, dogs with a propensity to exhibit DA, can be inhibited at kennels. I know for some of my own dogs, that when I go away and they stay at the kennels, the kennel owner looks at me like I am making it up when I tell them why some dogs need to be kept segregated - because to the kennel owner the dog's demeanor in the kennel belies the dog's actuality. Kennels are not very helpful in assessing DA because the dogs know their personal space is segregated, and there are less people/objects to be territorially aggressive or fearful over, or shared resources to possess. There's also a lot of movement, other dogs coming and going for a dog to be sure of itself wrt its environment. Sorry I still dont understand what you mean by random DA. If there is a new dog (Ned) in the proximity of other already established dogs, then the DA is not random. If Ned is anxious or prone to nervousness, the DA is not random. I've known a number of DA dogs and always from the dogs' point of view their DA is not random; it is not restricted to food or type of dog. More often than not, it is circumstantial. Neds DA may look 'unprovoked', but I read a dog with a ? over its nerves and suitability to live with another adult dog, particularly adult dogs of the same sex/age group; and then in a high stress situation, more upheaval etc that dog is moved to a new environment with other dogs ... it is setting the dog up to fail somewhat. To ask any dog to adjust its perception of itself and the world around it, is a big ask. Particularly an 11yo. And the dog does not have many options available to express its innate discomfort, insecurity, fear at the new world order it finds itself in. I am not saying that Ned was rehomeable or that ned was not DA. I am saying (I think :) ) that Ned was a huge undertaking and high risk rehome prospect and this was not realised because of Ned's appearance, and maybe because of what people wanted Ned to be.