poodlefan

The "difference" in my opinion, is that companion animals DO NOT SUFFER during humane euthanaesia. Grasping that immediately differentiates this issue from all those others. That doesn't mean that the issue isn't important and can be ignored. But its not comparable.

Welcome Kati - you've certainly come to the right place. I wrote a thread on how to buy a purebred pup a while back. Click here for a link Personally I'd avoid any dog with prominent eyes if you intend to do a lot of bush walking. I also think a short legged breed like a Shih Tzu would struggle on rough ground for any distance. My recommendation would be a Toy Poodle. They can be kept clipped short for ease of coat management. Go for a darker colour - far less maintenance than a white dog.

i love working breed dogs. however this is my partners first dog and i dont want to force him into what i want haha. he really likes the greyhounds and whippets etc. i just thought if i got some suggestions i could also let him know what other people have said from experience etc so he has a good base to make a decision. Is your girl a rough or boistrous player? A full on GSD would probably intimidate a Whippet. I can't vouch for Greys.

Personally I think dogs do best with dogs similar in temperament and characteristics to them. Are there any working breeds that appeal or do you want to move away from such dogs?

I look at it like this Weasels.. Some dog breeds (and individuals) are emotional sponges. Whatever you throw at them, they soak it up and deal with it. These are the breeds and individuals that excel as therapy dogs for kids and for folk who have emotional issues. Two breeds often mentioned in this context are the CKCS and Golden Retriever. Other breeds are more like mirrors... they reflect your emotional state. If you're upset, they're upset - they read you like a book. Be nervous as a trialler and they'll worry and lag. Have difficulty controlling your temper and they're miserable. I own two such breeds - the poodle and the whippet. For both breeds, one breed website starts its review with "be honest, is your home prone to upset or tension .. if so, this breed is not for you". BTW, most kelpies I've seen are mirrors. Here we have a person going through a difficult time with a young dog that falls into the "emotional mirror" category. What he needs is stability in terms of routine, owner emotional state and home. He'd also benefit from activities that expand his horizons beyond his owner and his home. Whether his owner provides those is up to her.

Yes, many people flounder with a new pup. Most, if not all of us go through the "oh my God what HAVE I done" moment. But most of us don't organise another home in the first week before changing our mind and disappointing people. HarperGD has choices. She can step up for this pup, make changes to herself to improve his situation and she can weather some critical posts.. or she can have a hissy fit, retreat into anonymous logging in and fume about all the cruel people taking pot shots at her because they don't understand how tough her situation is. And if she does step up, she'll get nothing but praise and encouragement. Dog ownership can be a bit of a metaphor for life sometimes.. sometimes the advice you need to hear isn't the advice you want to hear but criticism can be constructive. Her choice. She's got the advice she needs if she cares to act on it.

People can flame me for this but what I see is a very sensitive breed (and potentially an even more sensitive pup) in a situation wrife with emotion and stress. Most folk will tell you this is not a recipe that will see such a dog thrive. We have a pup that's had changes in pack membership (partner gone, parents added), changes in where he lives (now at parents) and a lot of instability. Flame away but if the pup is coping better living with Harper's parents, I'd be leaving him there, potentially permanently but at least until her partner returns. Poodles don't have a reputation as being neurotic for no reason. In the wrong situation, that's precisely what they can become. Advice was given earlier about getting this pup to regular training, to build confidence and get some balance into his life. We never got a response on whether or not that occured. This pup's situation has worried me from the get go. Sadly, I'm not seeing much to change my mind. Call me "pathetic" all you want HarperGD but ask yourself honestly if you're in any position now to give this pup what he needs.

Getting him to focus on your face and rewarding him for being quiet when he does it. Teaching him a "look at me" cue or similar would be a good start. Does he spend much time around other dogs?

Edited for spelling or sense.. Something I do to nearly every post I make.

Not necessarily. I know a 13 year old poodle that STILL screams his head off when his owner leaves him. It's unlikely to hinder, at least :D If other variables don't change, there's no reason to believe that age alone will solve the problem (as with any other puppy issue). This is a very young dog. The time to nip this in the bud is NOW. If the OP returns, I can only advise her to summon a decent behaviourist and not to spit the dummy if she's told that her emotional state could be having a direct impact on her dog.

Not necessarily. I know a 13 year old poodle that STILL screams his head off when his owner leaves him.

Here's what you get when you type "what dog breed is right for me" into Google Hardly a dearth of information online about it. A lot of folk genuinely believe that the only real differences between dog breeds are physical. Personally I believe this perception colours a lot of the more ignorant dog welfare types attitudes. And of course the recognition that a crossbred pup is a conformation and behavioural lottery doesn't sit well with the "save them all" brigade.

Not quite. Some folk find the reputable breeders.. quite a few in fact. I am not at all discounting beautiful pure breeds, I have them here with me now at my feet along with rescues. I just think that if there was much more info re pure breeds, even if people google junk it would be fantastic. There is plenty of information on purebred dogs on the Web. Most breeders and breed clubs have websites. There are whole websites devoted to matching people with purebred dogs suitable for them. But you're not talking about people who research breeds here. Impulse buying and buying a dog that fails to live up to your expectations is what sees dogs dumped. Buy from soneone who doesn't give a damn about the kind of home the pup is going to and the chances of dumpage grow exponentially.

Not quite. Some folk find the reputable breeders.. quite a few in fact.

OMG. Inappropriate much?! Harper is looking for advice from fellow dog owners after her partner left for the defence force and her puppy reacted in a very normal way. Someone needs a therapist, but it sure as hell isn't Harper... I don't see how insulting anyone is going to help here. With respect, pull your head in lashton! Harper, it's pretty obvious that you're not coping well with your partner's absence. It seems that this is being reflected by your dog. If you cannot see that your posts might make people concerned about you, I hope you reread them. Having served in the military for nearly 20 years and being the daughter of a Vietman veteran, I'm not unfamiliar with the situation you're currently in. My mother went through it with a partner on active war service and four children. She held it together with a husband missing in action by the way. There are services specifically for the partners of serving military personnel deployed overseas. I suggest you think about accessing them, even if its just to have a chat. If nothing else, you might realise that tens of thousands of Australians have lived through your situation and found ways to cope. I hope you do too.

You can by psyllium husk in Woolies - did the vet tell you how much to give them?

And yet they seem to manage just fine aquiring knowledge when buying cars... The only difference in the two processes is how much they value the "item" they're purchasing.

NicB: My guess is that it may have something to do with the fact that none of them make sufficient money from their hobby to pursue such activities full time? And frankly, why should they do more than place the dogs they breed in responsible, caring homes? Unlike PIAA, there aren't funds for a professional lobby group either. The answer to all of the issues relating to puppy farms and poorly bred dogs lies in the hand of the BUYER. Education is the answer and there is one organisation with the funding AND the mandate to do it.. the RSPCA. Perhaps if they focus on those issues we might get a paradigm shift in attitude from "its just a dog" to "this is a 15 year investment for my family and I'd better buy carefully and put some time into training". I can dream.

Doesn't really help much I'm afraid. Dogs need bulk (provided in the wild by fur and feather) to move things along. Small hard bone poos don't do the job. Psyllium husk or pumpkin works. Exercise helps too.

Hi Poodlefan, Is there some place I can go to find this legislation? I would like to be able to quote it. Thanks Here's a code of practice for breeders made under the Vic Animal Cruelty Act Ask her how she'd feel about being convicted of a cruelty charge for breeding without health testing.

Harper, separation anxiety is a behavioural issue. If you want to address it, you need a qualified behaviourist, not a trainer. The most important thing to recognise about separation anxiety is that the owner plays a significant role in creating and sustaining it. It's the owner that has to change THEIR behaviour to assist improvement in the dog. My guess is that with your partner gone, you are the entire world to your dog. Therefore, he feels you leaving is a big issue. Move him to your parents and his world expands - you leaving isn't such a big deal. You could be subconciously feeding this behaviour and if leaving him alone stresses you, he'd be picking up on it. Have you attended a dog training club with him yet on a regular basis?

Because if she "studs him out" in Victoria and she has not hip and elbow scored him and tested for any hereditary conditions, she'll find herself on the wrong side of the law if ANY pup he sires has health issues.

Why cant they build a fenced dog run???? Honestly, what did they expect when they bought a Whippet??

Hope they charge the b@stard..

Just saw this.