poodlefan

A correctly bred, well socialised American Stafford should show absolutely no aggression towards people. They were not bred to function as a protector.

Click here I've done it for you. Next time if you want to search on muliple words put a plus in front of each of them. eg. +blue +stafford

1. I recommend everyone put some shoes on for a while. 2. Do a search here on "mouthing". There will be quite a few threads dealing with the issue and how to solve it.

"English Staffy" - term when used by the breeder of any dog of this description, should prompt potential buyers to bolt in the other direction. If ever there's a red flag for puppy purchasers, its when 'breeders' can't get the name or the spelling of the breed right.

I would wait until you are settled in a home with good fencing that has approval for a dog. Raising a puppy can be hard work. Raising a puppy in a home with another dog and other adults who may have different ideas to you about how to do it is a headache. Getting a pup now because one's available could be even bigger headaches down the track. I'd be waiting.

1. Don't conclude that because your neighbours complained they are dog haters. I hate barking dogs too, especially at night. 2. Go and THANK (yes, you read that right, thank) your neighbours for bringing the problem to your attention (beats dealing with a ranger) and ask them to keep a diary of when the dog is barking. 3. Lose the "my dog is well trained and obedient therefore it won't bark" idea. I live next door to a working police dog - he is highly trained and obedient and barks his head off given half a chance. 4. Sleep your dog inside (garage, laundry where ever) for a week and ask your neighbour to tell you if that's made a difference. Then both of you will know if its your dog that's keeping people up. I suggest you act on the assumption that it is your dog until proven otherwise.

I will get them in my next car

I'd suggest you stop thinking of him in those terms. He's mature enough now that no adult dog is going to think he's still on his "puppy license" in terms of behaviour and he could be told in very strong terms to keep his distance. The pulling is probably more about lack of training than age in any case.

I add a joint supplement and that's about it. One of my dogs seems to need MORE food as he ages. He gets skinny easily. Wish I had his problem.

Black Labrador! Big, "look" the part (which is really all you need), and a lot easier to manage in group houses and changes of domestic situation. Very capable obedience dogs and you could always think about Gundog working tests too. I honestly think that for a young, first time dog owner, a "protective" breed might be a bit of an ask. Any big black dog is a pretty good deterrant. You don't need to have one that's going to regard strangers with suspicion.

Honestly? About six years apart!! Two young dogs means two old dogs - losing two dogs in quick succession is not fun. However I'd space them out an a MINIMUM of 18 months apart and get a dog of the other gender to yours.

KTB I don't think anyone in their right mind would label you a 'bad' dog owner The issue with dogs, heat and cars is the "things that can go wrong" factor. I think from memory, 10 minutes is long enough to see a car temperature rise dramatically. Dogs overheat faster than we do, dark coated dogs heat faster again and without an available source of water they have little capacity to cool themselves. There's a lot of factors to juggle and I have opted for the easiest solution to me - I just don't do it in hot weater. Of course you could always just buy a station wagon, have rear metal gates installed and leave the rear door up. :p

I don't think its as easy as "the bigger the dog, the bigger the space it needs". IMO its activity level, not size that should dictate space. I'd say an active smaller breed like a JRT (and there are many) would need more space than a dog like a Greyhound or Newfoundland. So suggesting that people should tailor the size of the dog to the size of the yard isn't always helpful. I have four dogs on a 900sqm block and with the exception of the odd game of fetch, all exercise is out of the yard. As far as I know my dogs are not self exercising.

KTB if the dogs are only with you when both of you are iin the car, why doesn't someone just stay with the dogs? I take mine home. Even in the big undercover carpark at Woden its stifling on a hot day.

Yes. 10 minutes is long enough to cause a dog severe heat stress on a hot day.

I have to say that I don't see the less common/bred for function only LGDs are suitable "pets" for our country. They look to me to need a job, an environment that suits the function they were bred for AND an owner who both understands them and manages them accordingly. Sticking one in your average suburban block hits me as profoundly stressful for the dog and a potential accident waiting to happen. As I said earlier in the thread, you can admire big cats all you like but your average person shouldn't be able to own one. Leave these magnificant animals to those who have both the situation and the understanding they need. If you want that much "protection" hire a bodyguard.

sooooo...... Flynn was not spoilt before? :D FHRP tolerates me feeding him biscuits. She'll even find the packet to give them to him now. What the Wonder Dog wants, he pretty much gets these days.

If it wasn't a grass seed, I'd also suggest mites or a mild infection.

I love an old dog. I have a saying - "old dog = no rules"!! I spoil them shamelessly.

My oldest poodle boy Ted is now 13 and a half. He came to me aged 11 weeks and is my first dog. He was my introduction to to dog training, to obedience, to agility and to so many aspects of dog ownership. He's grey now not black, his eyes are cloudy and his coat is thinning. He stresses easily these days and startles easily too (probably the lower vision) but he'll still hoon around the back yard from time to time and loves a squeeky latex toy. He still wants an hour's walk and he'll tow me home once we head back - and because he's old, I let him. He's getting a bit fragile physically and I've become more protective of him as a result. He can't afford to be knocked around by big pups or dogs and begs to be picked up now if he's worried about one. I'm hoping for a few more years with him but I am conscious that he is now an old man in dog terms. I'm not planning on spending much time away from home this year as he stresses and I want to spend more time with him while he is still with me. I think they get more precious as you realise they they are in their sunset years and that they won't be with you forever. :D So yes, I do get more emotional about him. It will be a hard goodbye when the time comes.

Hi Mollie10 I hope you'll get a chance to travel to Finland next time. Finland is quite similar with the climate, but everything is more expensive There are many easier LGD breeds, for example Pyrenean Mountain Dog, do you have these in Australia? We have had those in Finland for ages as a very good pets. They are almost as big and furry, but much more easier by their temperament. Yes, DOL member Espinay breeds them. ;)

Thanks for that perspective Elina - very sad for the dogs that they've ended up in totally unsuitable homes. 90kg of trouble is a lot of trouble. Lets hope the dogs don't find their way into the wrong homes in this country.

I think (Diva may have mentioned it) there isn't a pool closer than the Southern Highlands. By the way LBG has been closed today due to blue green algae issues - again Really sorry to hear about your Lab Muffinclav :D

If you are providing her with a training pad inside, then you will not easily succeed in training her to go only outside. You are sending conflicting messages to her about where it is 'ok" to go. A pen that allows a pup to eliminate away from where it sleeps is too big if you want to train using the pup's natural inhibition to keep her bed clean (assuming you didn't buy her from a pet shop in which case that inhibition has been eroded ) So you'd need a crate but you'd need to be taking the dog outside after regular intervals and after she eats, after she wakes and after play AND during the night until she can sleep through. That means you'd have to hear her stir or she'd have accidents. You have to watch her constantly not to miss signs. You have to spend time outside too and reward her going out there. The play pen will be useful for when you can't watch her so she can't get into mischief but if you want to teach her to go only outside, then that's what you have to encourage from the start.

See my edit on my previous post. You have one resident in Tasmania now.