Diva

I've always fancied a Leonberger. If I ever go 'boofy' (no offense) I think they might be it.

I suspect all the big dogs are just jealous. Very debonair.

Like most sighthounds it's their Achilles heel. Most Borzoi people will just say never off lead unless the area is fenced. They are just too fast and too interested in what's on the horizon. It's much the safest approach. That said, I do let mine play at the local oval off lead with other dogs and they are very good. And I can walk my two older ones (3 and 9) offlead in the long narrow off lead areas we have around here without a worry. But I'm very experienced as a pet owner with the breed, very vigilant and a half-decent (just, LOL) trainer. If you want to do a lot of off-lead then go with something else I think. ps I like Berners too! pps I'm really not trying to convince you to get a 'zoi. I'd much rather they stay a well kept secret than risk even one ending up in a home that may not suit it. I just can't let ludicrously wrong statements about them like 'not a companion dog' stand uncorrected.

It could possibly be gastric torsion (bloat). He needs a vet immediately.

I am never, ever complaining about Borzoi hair again!

The bit I have bolded is just not true at all. It can only have been posted by some one who has never owned one. I've had Borzoi for many years and all seven have been fabulous companions.

When the girls shed, they really shed. But only for a couple of weeks then they are good until their next season rolls along. The boys seem to shed less, less hormonal. My desexed girl is never out of coat. pf, Howie is such a would be stud muffin

Borzois? I've always wanted one but then I thought....what is it with me and that type of head They do fit your criteria.......

I don't know particularly about Greyhounds, but I have found other sighthounds to be protective of their people in the face of what they perceive as a real threat, especially a male sighthound with a female owner. Just my experience.

Esky, when I got my first one I was told anecdotes by other owners of their 'zoi not much liking strange Huskies and Mals, even GSDs, because of the resemblance to wolves. But I've had seven now and none of mine have ever reacted differently to those breeds. I've come to think it was just a bit of a romantic story really.

Thanks for letting us know ssm. Looking forward to the show

I've already said I feel for their loss. I have lots of sympathy for them, especially if their dog did not usually escape their yard. But sympathy does not change where the responsibility lies. And it doesn't lie with the dogs which were on their own property, nor with their owner. Surviving does not make the big dogs at fault. Neither does being big. I understand you are upset by a whole different set of incidents mum to emma but they have nothing to do with this one.

None of the reports I have seen suggest the Senator's dogs left her own property. That is the essence of the matter. And if they had any basis to they would have, given her public position. All reports that I have seen say the small dog entered the property uninvited. The only points of difference I have seen are whether it intruded under a gate, under a fence or 'wandered' in. But it definately intruded. The small dog is a victim of it's own behaviour and it's owner failure to keep it at home or on a lead. It's really that simple.

The Senator did take appropriate care. Her dogs were on her own property. That's plenty of care. Post about irresponsible owners in public places or dogs, big and small, that charge OUT of front yards and you'll get a lot of agreement. But that is not what happened here. There is no link at all.

The original article clearly said it came under the fence. Not up an open driveway, UNDER THE FENCE. But even if it had come up an open driveway, the responsibility for the small dog's death would still lie with it's owner for not keeping it home. I feel for their loss and it may have been a terrible accident that enabled it to get into their neighbour's yard. But if you think your animal is more vulnerable to harm because it is small there is an even greater onus on you to stop it putting itself in harm's way. Not to expect that other owners will bear that responsibility for you. In a shared public space I accept a responsibility to make sure my dogs only interact with other dogs in a safe way. But my own property is not a shared dog space unless I choose it to be. Regardless of how big or small my dogs are. Edited to fix the typos.

People figure out that is happening and they'll stop taking their animals to vets. Not a good outcome for the dogs.

She's a Senator, the only legislation I have seen people concerned about lately is all state so why would she be relevant? The only Commonwealth dog legislation I am aware of is the import bans. But if you want to contact her all her details will be on aph.gov.au (parliament house site)

I don't think it's 'supposed' to happen but it sometimes does. Not sure about being like a blister though. The times I've seen it, it has looked more like a small swelling.

How about I turn that around - the owners of all dogs should appreciate this and take appropriate care to avoid a situation as happened today by making sure their dogs don't get into another's yard uninvited. That's what started the situation.

Yes, very sad. In my girl's case a result of a combination of very little exposure to people as a pup and an inherited sensibility I think. But when she knew you, she was so delightful.

They will sometimes get a lump at the vaccination site. They can last for months.

I agree with this. I had an adult dog I took on at 18 months who was extremely fearful with people she didn't know well, but she had a very high bite threshold. Even in full panic, she wouldn't bite the person who she was terrified of. She wasn't scared of strange dogs but she had a high bite threshold with them too. She'd tell them off if necessary, but had to be very hard pushed to bite. Agree with the defintions of bite inhibiton too - default response in a dog with good inhibition is not to bite down hard, but if they need to or choose to they can and will.

How awful richess. So sorry

I agree. Unfortunatey I've discovered that the Captiva Diesel is about 8 cms too short to easily take my dog crate