poodlefan

If your breed is irresponsibly bred and bought by people to toughen up their image, then I'd say you've got every reason to be concerned.

I honestly don't think the majority of people in the community rate the impact on dog owners as any kind of priority in this issue.

Yooo hooo. Where's Matthew B when we need him. ;)

And they are not the same dogs. Understanding the different breeds might shape your choices.

I'd be trolling rescue pages for a "Staghound" or buying a Deerhound. At least with the Deerhound you know exactly what you're getting in terms of size and temperament AND they are gorgeous.

It might help to specify what crossbreds you expect to find in your "lurcher". There are a few different types in the UK. This website promotes purebred dogs - any reason you'd not want purebred sighthound?

I think once you can say that no dog is a truly a replacement for another, you know you're ready. Its not disloyal to the memory of your lost dog to want to share your life with another. Indeed, if the experience with your lost dog was wonderful, it kind of honours that to get another I think. I also think its easier when you have more than one dog..

Public dog parks are still public parks for everyone else. Not a very sensible place to have such a gathering but they were within their rights to do it.

The problem is your attitude and your apparent failure to be able to honour your commitment to this dog. Things haven't turned out how you planned and now you want to change the arrangement you committed to because it doesn't suit you. You signed a contact that binds you to your word. Now you just want to reneg on that because you failed to realise that things might not go the way you wanted them to. Seriously why can't you honour your obligation? Is that worth nothing to you because that's what it seems like from here. Just ring the breeder for pity's sake. If the contract says you must " return the bitch free of charge", for all you know that talking about the transport costs FFS, and not the purchase price. Who knows, your hip pocket may not be in for the hit you anticipate and God knows that seems like the only thing that matters to you. Next time how about you try thinking things through before leaping into an obligation and then giving it the finger when it doesn't turn out like you plan. There's an animal that's the only victim here.

Ah memories

You are truely dreaming if you think that will fly. You will however, learn what its like to throw good money after bad to attempt to rectify a poor decision at the time. What the hell, its your money. Why can't you simply honour the commitment you made, LEARN FROM IT and move on. You're fast tracking yourself into being puppy buyer poison within your breed and if you want to be a breeder long term then you need to think about these issues from that perspective.

You're giving a dog back that's developed behavioural problems and that you freely admit you can't cope with. I call that pretty even. Pink puppy its difficult to feel any sympathy for your situation. Your history here is a series of lurching from one ill considered dog purchase to another. Give the dog back, learn the expensive lesson and think good and hard about taking on any more of this breed. Maybe its just too much dog for you.

You signed the contract. You GAVE the breeder the rights. No point in complaining about it now. Dogs barking and destroying backyards aren't that uncommon.. . and there's a fair bit you can do about it. How much exercise does this dog get on a daily basis. How much training? I can tell you for sure that you're likely to spend more than the purchase price of the dog in legal fees trying to get out of a contract that you signed and are committed to. Why not try to solve the issues with the dog?

I have heard a similar story about a breed exhibitor who always wore a particular colour.. and how all the other exhibitors in that breed turned up in it at one show. Judge didn't know who to pick.

I think few people would say it never happens, the debate is probably more about how often it happens. And hey judges that put up their friends or pay back wins... well done on sending good kennels down the toilet. If you can show a yak under the right judge and get a win then of course you'll breed that yak and send the quality of your dogs on a one way downward spiral. Personally I find this the only way to explain how some really good quality kennels go to pot after some time. No one profits from face judging in the long run. No one.

And, I have to say, one I really don't understand. Feral pigs are a huge problem in this country. I don't hold with a bunch of yobs in a ute with half trained dogs and a few cartons of beer going after them but well trained professional hunting dogs.. go for it I say. I've seen it done (on telly) and its quick and clean if the hunter knows their job. Its a lot more humane than intensive pig farming, that's for sure.

A lot of pig hunters use dogs to find and hold pigs and a firearm to dispatch them. Pigs don't tend to conveniently provide a silhouette on a hill for a hunter and are a bugger to find. Dogs are very effective for pig hunting and provided they are well cared for, I don't have an issue with it. It sure beats baiting.

Hopefully the RSPCA will have something to say about that.

If she doesn't get it from a pet shop or BYB, and she or OH are home often enough to raise it then good luck to her. She'll probably have some polling done to see what breed or crossbreed might lift her approval rating. ;)

What do you want to use them for? Temporary or more permanent tethering? Most of the dog show vans sell some kind of tie out stake. Ive seen really huge screwdrivers used successfully before.

If you want a cast iron guarantee of no HD, buy a young adult dog that's been scored. If you want a puppy that's less likely to get HD, choose a breed that scores low for that issue. If you want a Lab, research research research, buy one from generations of low scoring dogs and keep it lean, don't stuff it full of puppy kibble so it grows slowly, don't let it run around like a mad thing and dont walk it on lead until its six months old. Even then you're not guaranteed a clear result but you improve the odds.

Oh Thank God. I actually teared up reading that I don't know who the patron Saint of lost dogs is (St Francis maybe) but he must have been watching over them. I bet Stolz is one happy Doler.

Crikey, no bloody wonder the dogs were having issues!!

I'd be considering some mild sedation.

Only your potential insurer can give you definitive answers to these questions. However, given that you're on a budget, I think this is a really good idea.