poodlefan

Friends of mine have been achieving good results by combining Joint Guard and Sasha's blend. Cartophen also seems to provide a lot of relief.

The solution to that according to BB's is to just not give the dog a bone when there may be children present. They will be getting someone else when they can afford it though as there are leadership problems in other areas too that are improving but perhaps the methods aren't right. PF, you can't call him away with something else if he has a bone, he doesn't listen. How about when he has something he values less? Ordinary food? Does the dog have any general obedience training?

Nice to see 3 sighthounds and an Aussie take the prizes.

The professional is the one saying to leave the dog alone until he's finished, that's the problem, and they cost so much to get out in the first instance for other issues as well as this that she cannot afford someone else and is too scared to try anything on her own due to his attitude as she is afraid he may bite. What would happen if he had his bone and she approached (not too close) called him and waved a nice big piece of hot roast chicken at him? Would he leave the bone and allow his lead to be put on? The "I'll swap you for something better' approach is probably the safest way to tackle the issue without professional help. Failing that, I'd be feeding him in a crate.

The XC90's are great cars. I'll be waiting a few years for a second hand Challenger. Hopefully I"ll get one that's never left bitumen.

Spikes: More pedigree animals means more responsible homes to place them in. There are plenty of dogs in less than responible homes and plenty of ANKC breeders turn away buyers they consider unsuitable for the breed. Those buyers usually head straight for the Trading Post or a pet shop. Dog ownership is not a right. It is a responsibility for which self education is important. I have real issues with the idea of making more pedigree dogs available UNLESS programs are instituted to prepare appropriate homes for them. If you want an area where cooperation would make huge inroads, this is it. Vets, animal welfare organisations and responsible pedigree breeders can work together on this one. And this is starting to happen in small steps.

If I get one I will. Hopefully I'll know tonight.

Given that only about 50% of Australian dogs ARE registered, the responsible dog owners and the wider community are footing the bill anyway. Most of the money spent by councils on dog control focusses on those dogs owned by people who fail to exercise, train, desex and contain them. I'd love to see a study done on how many dogs that find their way to pounds fit that profile. I think we've got the system arse about. Licensing of owners would be far more sensible because: 1. Like driving, it allows for compulsory education and knowledge testing prior to granting a license 2. It enables owners, NOT dogs to be penalised for failing to comply with the law. 3. It allows those who demonstrate that they are not responsible enough to own a dog to be prohibited from doing so and fined if they breach the prohibiton. It's bad dog OWNERs that ruin communities for all of us.

I think this is where the purebred community loses most people. It sounds like you are saying pets are somewhat inferior. Why does breeding pets = breeding for profit. My dogs aren't "just" pets - they are pets. That is the highest purpose of a dog IMO. An experienced breeder can still breed to better their breed without stepping in the showring. They can breed companions for people with teh right conformation and temperement. Who said anything about the show ring? It's something many pedigree dog breeders do - but by no means all of them. Are you suggesting that breeders shouldn't retain the best dogs they breed to produce the next generation? That's what they do. Other pups may be sold as pets. If you want to see what breeding with less than the best can do in a few generations, there are plenty of BYB dogs around to illustrate the point. They don't just look less than typical typical of their breeds, in a lot of cases they act it too. "Limited Register" doesn't necessarily mean a dog is inferior. Many fine dogs are sold as pets. We all think we own the best dogs in the world.. but the plain fact of the matter is that some are better equipped to produce more of their breed than others.

No you didn't SP... but that's what the Puppy Farmers would have us all believe.

SP: I think that should start with shattering the fallacy that breeding to improve the standard and to provide the next generation of the breed is somehow incompatible with breeding family companions. If you want a scientific basis for that then the UNQ study is the place to start. Most of the breeding dogs I know are family companions too. The same cannot be said for those dogs unfortunate enough to be owned by "commercial breeders". If your breeding dogs spend their lives in sheds and paddocks, how would you know what their temperament is really like anyway?

Me too. The breeder came highly recommended and I have never regretted doing it.

I agree about not assigning all responsibility to the Council. But I don't blame someone for not leaving collar on at home either. Compulsory (and well enforced) microchipping should be the standard everywhere, IMHO. Agree Diva and my dogs don't wear collars at home either. The saddest part about the blame game is that that the pup's owners and those reading the article don't learn from the tragedy.

Couldn't have said it better myself... conquering Sasha's fears alongside her, and seeing her smile so proudly at her achievements is an amazing feeling - makes all the blood, sweat and tears worth it My Lily went from a dog that would run away during training to the "safety" of my backpack by the fence to a dog that would blow off my cues to do the tunnels it took six months of gentle coaxing to get her through at all. I have to confess I really didn't mind that much when she did it. She was no agility star but got her JDX title before retiring. She won "Most Improved Dog" one year at my dog club - an award I am very proud to have won.

I'll be the same.. I can live without pink for that price!

The pup was not wearing a collar. The pup was not microchipped. It was left in an unsecure backyard. Whatever people think of 3 day impoundment rules, it seems pretty unfair to dump the entire responsiblity for the pup's death on council.

I'd probably go to Crufts or the World show if I was to choose one - but I'd still love to be at Westminster.. must be a real rush for the exhibitors.

I don't know what folk think breed clubs are.. they aren't huge organisations with a lot of funding. The ones I'm involved in have less than 100 members (one only has about 25) and a couple of $K in the bank. The people who do the work can be numbered on the fingers of one hand. Breed clubs don't cost sheep stations to join. Is $10 or $20 a year too rich for people? Most folk wouldn't think twice about spending that on a takeaway meal. Many purebred dog fanciers and breeders started off with unpapered or crossbred dogs. Those who would write off such an owner are very very short sighted. But there's a difference between welcoming such members and welcoming the breeding practices that see your breed of choice exploited.

But that's what you want, a breed club that caters for your un papered dog. And I didn't say full of non-reg pet owners either. Should a breed club only be about pedigree, papered animals or should it be about the breed and educating people on said breed ????? A breed club should be many things Spikes but in the end it is what members are prepared to put the time and effort into making it. Why non-members who don't contribute financially should have any expectations about what a bunch of volunteers on very limited funding should do for them is a bit perplexing. It's the breed clubs that do pet expos and showcase their dogs. I"m sure most of us have been involved in staffing breed stands at some time or another. Dogs Vic have started their companion dog program. Some breed clubs have fun days and open days. But in the end these things come down to tasking the same hard working people to do more. We hope to get lure coursing up and running in Canberra this year for the Hound Club. Anyone who expects to rock up and have a go without becoming a member is in for a rude shock. Even from an insurance/liability perspective, that would be a nightmare.

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Emmaz: Sometimes what people expect a dog to enjoy is not "normal" for dogs and definitely not for an individual. Take dog parks for example. Some folk expect all dogs to enjoy meeting new dogs and playing with them. In my experience many dogs don't and some owners wonder what's wrong with them. Add the uncontrolled behaviour of many dogs and park users attitudes of "let the dogs sort it out" and you can create some really serious behavioural issues from park use. Fear aggression is one. My guess is that a professional will weed out any health related causes and work on a program of slow confidence building. I've had a fearful dog who would bolt if frightened. Confidence building and maturity have helped her but she is who she is and my responsiblity as an owner is to keep her safe. Now that she trust me, she comes to me when frightened, rather than running away as she did when I first got her. Good luck. Fearful dogs can be very frustrating but helping them build confidence is one of the most rewarding things you'll ever do with a dog.

I want one of these.

I'd love to go watch.

Glad this comment made it into the article: Thanks for posting it Arawyn - it was a good read!

I think you need qualified professional help with this. Where are you?