Aphra

Just a point of fact, the hendra virus has never been identified in Victoria, according to the Department of Primary Industries: http://new.dpi.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pests-diseases-and-weeds/animal-diseases/horses/hendra-virus

The risk must be vanishingly small. Most people who have horses will have dogs, particularly in rural areas. Given the number of times they tested this dog before they found anything, the chances are that other dogs on other properties have been infected but haven't been tested multiple times. So the chances of transmission from humans to dogs, if possible at all will be a very low probability.

I really struggle with the idea that they'll put a dog down who isn't sick and when they have no idea if hendra is transmissible between dogs and humans. I loathe the idea that animals are disposable objects and can be simply destroyed just "because it's policy". They tested the poor creature three times and then found it tested positive, and all that shows it that it's been exposed, not that it is sick or that it is infectious. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/animals/dog-tests-positive-to-hendra-virus-20110726-1hy3p.html Dog tests positive to Hendra virus Daniel Hurst July 26, 2011 - 3:22PM A dog has tested positive to the potentially fatal Hendra virus for the first time. The pet kelpie tested positive to the virus today. It lives on a property near Beaudesert, in south-east Queensland, which was already under quarantine because of a recent Hendra case in a horse. Queensland chief vet Rick Symons said it was the first time outside a laboratory that an animal other than a flying fox, horse or human, had been confirmed with the virus. "We don't know how the dog contracted the virus or when it happened," Dr Symons said. "Based on our knowledge to date, it is most likely that the dog caught the virus from an infected horse." The dog had returned two negative results for the virus but a different type of test conducted at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory in Victoria confirmed the presence of Hendra antibodies. "This means that at some point the dog has been exposed to the virus but to our knowledge has shown no signs of illness," Dr Symons said. Dr Symons said the dog would have to be put down because of a national policy to euthanase animals infected with Hendra. "I've talked to the family. They are struggling with it as you can imagine. It's their family pet," he said. "It is part of the family and of course they will grieve. If destruction is the policy, they have to come to terms with that." The case has raised many questions for biosecurity and health officials and researchers. Authorities will now recommend that people keep dogs and cats away from sick horses to reduce the risk of such an infection. The remaining horses and dogs on the property are still being monitored daily and show no signs of illness. Biosecurity Queensland's policy is to test cats and dogs on properties where there are infected horses. Tests on cats and dogs on 11 properties currently under quarantine in Queensland have turned up no other positive results. Advertisement: Story continues below The local state member for Beaudesert, Aidan McLindon, said Hendra must become the government's primary focus. "I'm calling on the government to put other matters on hold and to make this their number one priority," Mr McLindon said. Queensland's chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said Queensland Health would speak to the property owners to see who may have had contact with the infected dog. Queensland and NSW officials have been fighting a spate of outbreaks that have led to 14 horses infected with Hendra dying or being put down since June 20. Hendra is usually passed from bats to horses, and then to humans. Of the seven people who have had Hendra since it was detected in 1994, four have died. Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/animals/dog-tests-positive-to-hendra-virus-20110726-1hy3p.html#ixzz1TBbRp36R

Not what but who! We were really hoping someone with an interest in agility would take a look at our Gibson: he's a Cocker Spaniel X probably Kelpie. Medium sized, very athletic, really tuned in to people and only young. He's got such a quick, clever mind and learns so fast, he's really fun to train. http://www.petrescue.com.au/view/108816

A photo gallery from "The Guardian": http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/gallery/2011/jul/18/vintage-dog-photography-in-pictures#/?picture=376984044&index=0

As a rescuer in Victoria, I've never had any trouble rehoming puppies, no matter size. We've certainly found that Border Collie puppies or Border Collie Xs are actually pretty popular, so I'd think that they will be easy enough to rehome. :-)

Hume Council use the Lost Dogs Home for their pound, so best check there. And go and look in person, don't rely on the LDH to tell you if your dog is there or not.

Given that you have some specific requirements for temperament I'd suggest that you have a look at the breed rescues (or breeders rehoming adult dogs) for a dog which has the qualities you want, rather than looking for a specific breed. I understand that you're not interested in a mixed breed rescue dog as such, but just as an example, I currently have a Rottweiler X who fulfils most of your requirements. She's currently living happily with another female dog. So rather than start with a specific breed, start with the list of breeds you like and look for an individual which has the qualities you're interested in. I think that while breed gives you a broad generalisation, dogs within breeds can vary as widely in temperment and behaviours as between breeds.

The Hands Off Foster Care group have submitted an FOI request for the Lost Dogs Home submission on the proposed changes to the Code of Practice, if any. I hope they get it, I'd be fascinated to read it. The Cat Protection Society and the LDH have incredibly high kill rates; they also have seats on the Animal Welfare Committee, so will clearly carry a lot of weight in the decision making process. The RSPCA have made their submission public: http://www.rspcavic.org/campaigns_news/latest_news.htm I know that the Dog Rescue Association of Victoria have posted their submission on the DRAV website. Our group also responded: http://tinyurl.com/3pdbv7x I've be interested to know who else made submissions and if they are willing to share them.

I have dogs who aren't safe with cats so I do understand where you're coming from. If your dog has lots of time with you then putting him to sleep in a crate in the loungeroom shouldn't worry him too much, just make sure that you do lots of work on making the crate a safe and happy place to be. I'd do things like only giving him treats if he's in his crate, only giving him is most favourite toys in his crate, things like that. If it's only that the cats are afraid of him, but that he's safe with the cats, then crating him in your bedroom and allowing the cats in could work well. However, if he's not cat safe then be aware that a motivated dog can get out of a crate, even a metal one and I wouldn't trust a crate to keep your cats safe if he's motivated to hurt them.

Not forgetting the bit where you get your hand stuck in the treat pouch and can't get it out.

I think this is the big clue: The set fee paid by councils also includes a payment for each death. It's not hard to see why they take on more council pounds, the more dogs they take the more money they make as long, of course, as they have no intention of rehoming them. You'd almost think that funding for any dogs they rehome comes from the marketing and promotion budget ... Another spokesperson for the Lost Dogs Home has said that the LDH have only had to kill one dog because of the 28 day rule, so it's disingenous of Graham Smith to say it will help them save more lives. And really, if the LDH have been so opposed to the 28 day rule, why have they done nothing about it - they have a seat on the Animal Welfare Committee which writes the legislation and have had plenty of opportunity to reshape the rules to save more lives if that was something they wanted to do. Clearly cash-strapped local councils are awarding the LDH contracts on the grounds that they'll do it cheaply. However, Government contracts are never awarded purely on the grounds of cost, there is always a "value for money" clause which allows for contracts which might not be the cheapest but which provide additional services. Rate payers need to know what the implications of awarding contracts to the LDH are and lobby their local councils for pound contracts which include a commitment to rehoming. I think it is actually unethical to outsource pound services to groups which live such a long distance from local goverment areas. I'm convinced a great many animals are not reclaimed because people just don't realise how far away their lost pet might actually end up.

One of my foster pups steals my cups of coffee which is very dangerous to her health (from me on the days when it's my first cup of the day and she's just nicked it!).

In the cool weather I often take a couple of my own dogs or my foster dogs out in the car with me, to go shopping, to grab a cup of coffee or even have lunch. It's a good way to teach a dog to enjoy travelling in the car, they enjoy the outings because they get to see different things and go for walks in new places and most of my dogs just like going out with me ... even if they spend most of it in the car. It's not safe in the hot weather, but on a cold day the car is a nice place to me and I'll often buy a cup of coffee and a snack and drive somewhere pleasant sit in the warm and watch the view while the dogs nap in the back. One of my dogs loves the car so much that if I put him in he'll want to stay there and he's occasionally chosen to sleep in the car overnight. I think there has been a long bow drawn from "it's not safe to leave a dog in the car on hot days" to "it's never safe for a dog to be left in the car at all". Clearly human infants or dogs in a car on hot days are a whole different thing, but common sense means making a decision based on the context and circumstance.

My Neapolitan Mastiff Pandora hates my Cattle Dog. He was outside on the verandah one morning and she was inside. She whacked the glass with her paws and took out the whole window. She didn't hurt herself, although I told her she didn't deserve to be so lucky. My sister's Wolfhound X was at my house, stuck his head through the cat door and took out the cat door and the window. I am a bit tired or replacing windows!

There are lots of good reasons why people might want a young puppy rather than an adult dog anyway. just as there are good reasons why some people prefer an adult dog to a puppy. People with cats often like to adopt puppies because they can socialise their dog with their cat without so much risk to the cat. Some people like the idea of raising a puppy their way or just like having a dog from a young age. If you're taking a puppy from rescue it's hard to do it on impulse, at least via a rescue group. The last litter of puppies I rehomed took the adopters about a month from whoa to go. I prefer our puppies to go out as soon as possible after they are well recovered from their desexing; I think going into their own homes as an only puppy gives them much more opportunity for socialisation than staying with me as one of several pups.

Their statistics are meaningless anyway. All dogs are bred somewhere by someone, even if by accident or ignorance. 100% of dogs come from "breeders". The issue is not only where the dogs come from but where they end up, and there's no reliable statistics about how many dogs bought at pet shops end up in pounds. So it's quite possible that while they represent only 15% of dogs purchased they could could represent a much larger percentage of unwanted dogs, but until we can track the origin of dogs back to someone, we won't know. And their statement, "We [dont't] buy dogs from puppy farms that are cruel and unregulated." is disingenous anyway ... they aren't denying they buy from puppy farms just that they don't buy from "cruel and unregulated" puppy farms. Since puppy farms are pretty much unregulated anyway that statement is a lovely example of weasel words. I'd love to see this bit of research, "We have Australia Veterinary Association data that shows a pet selected following good advice from a pet shop is less likely to end up in a pound than an animal sourced elsewhere." I've had a look and can't find it, but I'd love to read how they got their evidence. It doesn't say registered breeders........ it says 'breeders'. Hence the inverted commas.....:p

I went away for a few days and left my old Cattle Dog with a friend and his dog, dog and person my dog knew well and loved. Friend brought Chaucer to meet me when I arrived home and I got in the back seat with Chaucer all ready for a happy reunion. Chaucer gave me a long look, quite deliberately turned his head away from me and rested it on friend's shoulder with a very clear air of "you left me and now he is my only friend". Talk about getting the cold shoulder! :D

The transformation is astounding. What a great old guy. I am so glad he found safe harbour for his senior years. I know there is always a lot of discussin about the ethics of taking old/sick/damaged dogs vs young, healthy ones, but seeing such a sad old dog transformed into a happy old dog makes so much emotional sense even if it can't be explained logically. Dogs live so much in the present that maybe, being happy now for this old boy warmth and comfort are his whole life and there are no bad memories.

I've been using it for ages and every bag I've had (I buy dog and cat) looks and smells the same, so I don't think the chances of it being swapped with something else are very good. By plain package it means that it's just a white bag with the name and ingredients list on it but no promotional copy or coloured pictures, not a completely blank bag.

None of my dogs could be trusted with any bedding at all in their outside runs and kennels, even as adults. I use a really thick layer of clean straw for bedding now ... when it starts to get a bit low I just top it up with more straw. If it gets damp I sweep it out, compost it and add new. It keeps them warm, is dry, cheap and not particularly amenable to fleas.

Isn't there a bit of a disconnect here? On the one hard we (as in DOL in general) condemn puppy farmers and backyard breeders for a whole host of valide reasons. There are frequent threads despairing of family, friends and workmates who go the puppy shop route despite much promotion of the purebred dog option. And breeders equally frequently deplore the fact that Joe and Jane General Public don't see purebred dogs as a viable way of getting a new family member. But here are people who actually wanted a purebreed dog and are finding it hard and the expectation is that it should be a thankless, difficult, and unfriendly process to ensure that people are sufficiently motivated to buy a purebreed puppy? How hard would it be to shoot back a friendly email saying "thanks, here's some stuff about us and this is what I'd like to know about you"? Many people find it hard to express themselves through email, especially if they are being asked to cover some criteria which is invisible to them. Being friendly and encouraging doesn't mean that you have to spend hours writing long emails, or hand dogs over to anyone who wants them, but good customer service isn't that difficult. I deal with lots and lots and lots of rescue applications for our dogs. Some of them just make me roll my eyes and go "FFS", but all of them get a polite reply asking them some questions or directing them to our application forms or just declining them gently. Yes, it takes time, but a number of those "FFS" emails have turned out to be from lovely, caring, responsible people who just don't write very well and had I turned them away because of that one of our animals might have missed out on a terrific home. I don't do this because I'm an incredibly nice person, because I'm not really, but because I see that part of my role is to advocate for rescue by being as client oriented and professional as I possibly can. And on reflection what WoofnHoof said. Exactly how Im feeling. Well if you go back and think about all the advice given in this thread, and possible reasons why you didnt get the email response you wanted, you might feel differently. Nobody is promising you excellent customer service. There isn't enough profit in good dog breeding for the type of service you might get buying a car or a house. But if you want a really good dog, you put your feelings about breeders aside and keep trying. It might be worth you contacting ACD rescue (anywhere in Australia), letting them know what you are after in a dog and telling them a bit about your life and family. They may have a dog in foster care that will meet your needs for a happy healthy dog, and you won't have to deal with breeders. The only person that will directly benefit from you getting a dog is you. Nobody is going to make a fortune out of you, or chase you for your business. So the dog you get out of this whole buying process will reflect the effort that you are willing to put in. Going to a BYB or petshop will lessen your chance of getting a good dog, it isn't a direct threat to a hobby breeder or anyone else here.

Some years ago when I lived in the city in a tiny little house in the suburbs I had two big dogs (GSD and Cattle Dog X). When it was too cold (or I was too lazy) to go to the park I trained them in my loungeroom. You don't need much room to teach sit/drop/stay. I used to put them into stay and disappear up the hallway where they couldn't see me to teach them to stay when I was out of sight. They were the best trained dogs I've ever had, even though they lived in the smallest space. You can clicker train in your loungeroom if you want to, you only need a clicker, some treats and a few ideas which area all over these forums. I've got a photo somewhere of one of our rescue dogs in her new home. The kids in her new family set up a little agility course for her with a couple of bricks and a broomstick and she's having the time of her life jumping over it.

Oddly enough, I tried submitting a Gumtree ad for our rescue group and it was rejected on the grounds that I didn't put an age for the dog, even though I was advertising the group and not an idividual dog or puppy. So sometimes they do pay attention to their own rules.

To a large extent, I think. Sometimes a Malamute called Rocky visits our park. He walks like he owns the place. He never hesitates, never looks uncertain, and largely ignores most dogs. My dogs will run to him and throw themselves on the ground in front of him to lick up at his muzzle like puppies. They act like he's a celebrity. If someone has a squeaky toy, he walks up to them and takes it. No "excuse me" or "can I please..." just takes it like it's his. I think that confidence is what my dogs are responding to when they grovel in front of him. I've only ever had one what I'd call very dominant dog, my Mastiff X Belar (a real Mastiff X, he was 68kgs) who died last year. He was fine with other dogs because they all deferred to him, he never needed to start an argument or finish one, because other dogs just naturally deferred to him. He only asserted himself when it was something he really wanted, such as bones, otherwise he was pretty easy going. If another dog approached him and he wasn't interested conversation he'd lift on side of his lip and show the smallest amount of tooth and the other dog almost always got the message and backed away. I think of dominance as something like the attitude of a Clint Eastwood or Gary Cooper in old Westerns; that sense of unasailable confidence which doesn't need displays of aggression or macho behaviour. Dogs which make a lot of noise and fuss with other dogs are, to my mind, unconfident and anxious, bullies rather than dominants. With people Belar was friendly and affectionate if a bit standoffish with strangers. He was such a gentleman with people that when my vet arrived to put him to sleep after his cancer started to overwhelm him, he insisted on struggling to his feet to go and greet her. We did have to set some rules when he was a pup and he occasionally challenged me over really precious resources. Oddly enough, even people scared of dogs loved Belar, I think his calm confidence gave them surety that he wasn't going to do something unpredictable.