mel121

Ok, so made special trip in yesterday afternoon to see the chihuahuas. Got there at 3.30pm to find that their area was cordoned off from the public and their owners all sitting together with the dogs, away from the barriers, obviously celebrating some winning results . Only problem was that no one could see their dogs !!! What a disappointment !!!! I spoke to two other people who were there showing their different breeds and they agreed that it was a disappointment and that quite a few people had asked why they couldnt see the chihuahuas. I understand chihuahuas can be scared of all the noise etc but is it that hard to maybe put some photos up or pictures etc, or have someone there to explain why the public can't view the Animals ??? I thought it would have been a good chance to have breeders etc talking about their breed to the public ! On the bright side, I got to meet some lovely great Dane owners who wee only too happy to answer questions and show off their beautiful dogs.

Bugger. Can't get there today for the chihuahuas !

Hi, Am wanting to visit the royal Easter show to have a look at the different breeds (especially chihuahuas). Are there dogs there everyday to look at or just on the days they are being judged ? I see chihuahuas are being judged tomorrow and was going to go Saturday but want to make sure we will get to admire some when there ! Thanks

Just an update.. we got the procedure done and it went so well ! We are all much happier now, including my chi who had it done as now we Are not constantly yelling at her If anyone needs details of the vet, just PM me. I highly recommend him !

I was just thinking this vet could know someone in the ACT as it isn't very far away.

The neighbours will do the diary if needed but the council also then wants to make times to see each of them to discuss. Then they have extra paperwork to complete. The rangers will then do random checks on my property as the dog needs to be barking at a certain decibel level for a certain period of time and even there there is no guarantee they will issue the order. When I spoke to the council I then advised that I might have to look at surrendering the dog, and they gave me the shelters operation hours !!! A real help..... The behaviourist I'm taking her too has got me to stop using the collars as they are not effective on her any longer...

Hi Stitch, yes we have tried behaviourist (currently ongoing) plus medication and before that was citronella collar and electronic collars and obedience training etc. I spoke to our local council this week and the crap our neighbours will have to go to so I can get the order is ridiculous. They must keep diaries and fill out heaps of paperwork etc and there is still no guarantee as the council is dead against it.. It's hard cause as an owner I'm trying to do what's best for the dog and us. If I rehomed her someone else may not be so understanding !! Our vet would happily do it but has hands tied unless we get council order.. Do I need a council order in the ACT ? And if not, does anyone have any recommendations ? We are still continuing the meds and behaviourist even once surgery is done as we want our chi to have a happy, calm life with us...

The Veterinary Practitioners Board of NSW sets out the requirements. http://boardtalk.vpb.nsw.gov.au/page/Debarking_dogs%3F_-_Did_you_Know Mel, the people I met many years ago with the debarked (pitch-lowered!) tibbies were Show people...& they told me the name of the experienced vet who'd do the operation (in strict accordance with Qld law). This name was known among Show people who passed it around when a case warranted it. I guess you could also simply phone vet practices & enquire... Thanks mita. I had rung a few of my local vets and was made to feel like a failure as an owner ! They don't seem to understand that my 10 year old dog has no issues and my foster dogs over the years were fine too and that I have persevered,....I know all dogs bark but this little one is a nightmare lucky she is super adorable !

Thanks :-) no I don't have a council order as my lovely, long suffering neighbours on both sides have refrained from causing trouble for me whilst I tried behaviour training, bark collars etc. sadly nothing is working and I guess they now need to bring in the council so we can get this sorted. They have been so patient but we can all take only so much..

Thanks mita. Although I'm not having any luck getting a recommendation :-(

hi Guys, Could you please PM with names of reputable vets in Sydney that debark. Yes this is a last resort for us so please, no harsh comments as I'm definitely not taking the decision lightly. Thanks..

Where in Sydney are you located ?

No, she sounded genuinely concerned.... Im hoping the little girl will be glad to get home and back to her pack !!! I will be like just a bad dream.......

Yay, Good news !!!! The breeder just called and has been Overseas....... The little dog is going back to her home this Thursday..... its best for her and us as she is obviously unhappy here. We have decided not to take the breeder's offer up of another little dog (this one's daughter) as we think the are too many hassles when it doesnt work out when you are interstate...its been a tough lesson for us to learn.... we will be returning to a one dog household...... thanks to everyone for your help and suggestions !

Dogs SA confirmed she is around ( I too gave the benefit of the doubt and thought on holidays ..) and have given me some differrent numbers which i have tried on Friday, yesterday and today.....

Mmm. that was my thinking... I have been a vet nurse previously (although low pay put a stop to that aftr a few years and i returned to my career :-) and a foster carer in dog rescue on and off for over 10 years or so so have some experience with anxious dogs but her behaviour seems very excessive although i am no expert and will admit it !

Well, still no answer from breeder. Even on additional numbers i was given as well . this is so frustrating ! Have no idea what to do next.... Am being patient with the new little girl but it doesnt solve the problem that she cant participate in outings etc and the whole situation is such a disappointment...... She is not happy either which isnt fair to her... I am wondering why the breeder wouldnt care about how she is doing...... I understand there have been bas climate conditions in Victoria etc but this little girl came from South Australia so shouldnt effect the breeder.....

will try a new name..... as for floods.... dog came from down southern end of australia......

This sounds just like the gradual 'coming out' of the girl next door ... who spent most of her first couple of weeks hiding at the back of a soft crate. (Your girl sounds as if she's ahead of that!!!). She, too, wouldn't eat ... but then got tempted... a little bit at a time. Truly, after a couple of months, she was eating like a horse & using her charms to wheedle food from her new 'dad's' dinner. She was like a different dog, then... & became the most loyal little family dog. I'll pull out & PM the list of strategies. But the things that seemed to work best (but with time) with the girl next door, were not overwhelming her with attention (exactly what you're doing anyway)... & getting down low so we didn't loom over her. I'm only guessing but maybe her reacting to her name, is also a kind of 'hiding'. To be honest, it seemed a couple of months of very gradual settling until the penny entirely dropped for the little dog next door ... that this new life is fine & these are my people now. It seems to be something that moves at the dog's pace. BTW this girl, too, has the most glorious coat! thanks Mita ! I greatly appreciate it ! at this stage i cant even get near her to put a collar on her and she was sent without one ......although i guess she wont get lost when she wont leave the crate......

out of curiosity, are you able to mention what breed your dog is ? or PM me ???? if not i understand....

Im so sorry to hear that ! ThAt would be so distressing for you and your family !

Im also using rescue remedy in her water... cant do any harm i guess......

Good advice. I adopted a little p/b dog, 6 yrs old, from a breeder after illness required the rehoming of her dogs. This one had been her top show girl.... & was also dearly loved with access to family life. She was flown up to me in Brisbane .... & was absolutely frantic with distress. Well, she had been 'torn away' from her well established & happy life. This distress went on for a few weeks .... then she gradually eased into another good life here. She just needed to learn that... and I needed to have patience to let her do it. Then, she 'returned' to her true unstressed personality. Lovely little dog, with loads of social confidence, and she shone with happiness. You would never know it was the same dog. Similar with the 3 yr old p/b girl that our neighbours adopted from a breeder. Where she also had a lovely life as part of the family. So it was again, a real wrench to be suddenly separated from it. She was terrified. She spent a lot of time, staying at the back of her soft crate. When my little dogs popped their heads in to encourage her to come play, she growled. She wanted nothing to do with all these people & dogs that were not her people & dogs. Time and patience again .... then within few months she adored her new 'mum' & had 'dad' wrapped around her paw. Our little dogs had become her very best friends. She'd learned that her new home, family & friends were OK, in her opinion!! Even then we thought she might go back to being terrified when she had to go to the vet (a woman). To everyone's surprise, she was fine. Totally accepted the vet. In both cases, a good everyday routine was set in motion, lots of treats for any second where they were calm .... & doing nothing to reinforce the distressed behaviour. We remained calm, too. I have a list of strategies given us at that time, for how to foster confidence in a frightened, shy dog. Let me know if you'd like them. Thanks for that ! Would love it if you could send me your list of strategies.... Im hoping this is all the dog is suffering from but I cant understand why the breeder wont get back to me. I randg the dos association for that state and they have given me some more contact details for the breeder but again no luck.... I really hope there is a genuine reason why she hasnt been in touch but Im losing hope on that one.... To answer some of the questions... the little girl did fly up from interstate so I do understand that could be really traumatic. She has wandered around a little today whilst I was at work but when we get home its straight back to hiding. We are totally ignoring the fear ( and hence the behaviour) but just talking normally as we walk past where she is... The good news is that tonight she ate a normal dinner after not eating properly for 2 weeks. Im hoping thats a good sign.... or maybe she was just starving !! She seems to be more scared when we use her name... i have no idea why.... She came up in good condition... beautiful coat and a little on the solid side :-) and the breeder does have a good reputation for beautiful show dogs.........

Hi Tralee. She is 5 years old

yes. was terrified at vet but that was on second day so we expected that. Drinking well but picking at food...