RuralPug

Perhaps, Steve, you are are assuming that breed wardens testing for fit for purpose would encourage extremism such as that which has led to brachy syndrome and other health problems? In my mind they wouldn't be proper wardens in that case. To me, breed wardens are a way of avoiding such extremes. History has shown that breeders and conformation judges can and do lose sight of the big picture which has led to common health problems in many breeds by overstressing detail. Basically you seem to be saying that the health scoring etc. that the ANKC has already (perhaps grudgingly?) put into place is too little, too late. I agree IF the process has ended and no further changes are made. My post was about what I think needs to happen to resolve the existing problems. In my view, the MDBA has chosen to act as breed wardens - no companion dog is fit for purpose if it can't accompany its owner on a brisk walk without stressing its breathing or its heart. Standards SHOULD be changed whereever they encourage unhealthy extremism - as you have pointed out, the ANKC/breeder combination have failed to do that with ALL of the breeds but, to be fair, the process has begun. There is no doubt in my mind that the MBDA is leading the way - if the ANKC affiliates wish to promote their members as producing high quality fit for purpose dogs they are going to have to catch up!! DATM talks about "mainstreaming" and I imagine he means that the ANKC affiliates should follow MDBA's lead. (Or I would be perfectly happy to have MDBA take over pedigree registration (i.e. lead and control breeding practices) and leave the ANKC to organise events. (Reach for the stars if you want to arrive at the moon....) I dispute your statement :Purebred breeders will spew forth "why would you breed a dog that isn't a good example of the breed standard" and no dog that is out side of the current standard is going to get a shot at a championship. These dogs were never intended for racing etc Not all purebred breeders are like that - and none that were like that would be accepted for MDBA breeder membership, right? So there is a hard core of purebred breeders who are choosing fit for purpose above the current conformation fashion - in fact, there always has been, but they have tended to remain outside of the showring. When I say fit for purpose - I mean you first have to determine your purpose. I find it acceptable that Breeder A may choose to breed for the purpose of working/hunting/performing in some sphere; Breeder B may choose to breed to provide family companions in that same breed and Breeder C may choose to aim at a strain that can work/hunt/perform acceptably plus be acceptable companions, albeit not as focused on either role. Many would disagree with me, that is their right. The important thing to me is that a purpose is there. (And I don't consider winning show ribbons is a purpose, to me that is a measurement, the same as a performance title.)

I don't think that it is fair to expect that judges will have x-ray vision or veterinary training, so linking health defects (some of which may not be visible to the eye) to conformation exams isn't practical. What IS practical is for each breed club at national level (or group club where there is no breed club at that level) to actively work with ANKC to determine compulsory health tests and minimum scores required before progeny can be put on main register for each breed. Depending upon inheritance mode, dams or sires carrying or affected by a health problem MAY be permitted to be mated only with those who do not carry or have that condition. It may take longer to eradicate diseases that way, but you will have a larger gene pool. It wouldn't be long before the health scores were recorded for five or six generations, which will be a massive help in planning compatible matings. And the scores of sire and dam should be recorded on the registration certificate (there is probably not room to record the scores of grandparents etc. but breeders may choose to provide that information on a separate pedigree document (verifiable by the registration numbers of the grandparents etc.)) A health score document should be provided to puppy purchasers and they should be encouraged to give a copy to their vet. If all breeding stock are DNA identified, there can be no doubt about parentage and therefore the health scores of ancestors will be reliable, verifiable information. Personally I like the idea of breed wardens as well as health scoring. The wardens to enact breed specific temperament and fit for purpose tests on each and every main register dog and bitch before they are permitted to have main register progeny, but I expect to be howled down on that one again. Between that and the health scoring, ANKC registration would come to mean quality and eventually the public would refuse to pay more for cross breeds unless those breeders had similar rules to meet.

There have been improvements in pure bred dog breeding. Unfortunately these have not been across the board, and we now have large commercial scale breeding that, more often than not, does not share those improvements. We call them puppy farms. In years gone by, show breeders bred frequently enough that there were plenty of purebreds unsuited for the showring that made excellent pets. We need a way for the general public to differentiate between greeders and breeders. Personally, I think that the MDBA was formed and continues to run with that as one of its basic precepts, because the ANKC affiliates have not, in any major way, sought to make the "brand" of pedigree breeder trustworthy. I believe that MDBA does seek to ensure that its breeders are trustworthy. We need to educate, educate, educate the general public. Animal liberation groups constantly bombard the general public with the "breeding is bad" message. We need to be able to say "some breeders are bad. Don't buy from them. These breeders are good - this is how to tell a good breeder from a bad breeder." We need to continue to fund research that will help us to identify and isolate unwanted genetics. To continue to learn about puppy socialisation etc. We need to be able to demonstrate that dogs from breeders are a safer bet than dogs from greeders. Just my two cents!

Two "alpha" bitches. Not in the wolf pack sense, just bitchy dominant bitches. Won't work , sorry, without a LOT of management. See if you can swap fosters with someone fostering a more complaisant dog or bitch. And for all future fosters, always ask for a meet in your home with your dogs before you accept.

Some great videos Kavik. Makes me realise how old school I really am LOL How impressive was that simulcam one? Although the twinning of the judges and other officials was a bit weird LOL! Rebanne were your courses like the 1978 one? Good point, Gruf - the Bouvier would fit well on the OP's list and is worth his while to check out. Juice, succinctly put and quite correct. It seems that Jack understands that he will either have to compromise or choose one direction.

Found the video I mentioned - featuring Tex, a world master agility champion acing the course, followed by a video of Zeus the Mastiff. My link And Kavik, you're no doubt right about some lines of GSDs, but the working lines are pretty good in the agility ring aren't they? **Stops to think*** Now when was the last time I saw a GSD in agility???

I guess a lot of the things I want are conflicting. Good with dogs and children is a must, and an off switch is ideal, but I understand I won't necessarily get one. In terms of big breeds(larger the better) what breeds would you say have the best chance of effectively competing in dog sports with ought hurting themselves. Although I agree with you in terms of almost all mastiffs, I have heard a lot about the cane corso being a very reliable protection dog and trainable dog, however if this is wrong I am happy to be corrected. The mastiff breeds are trainable enough, but not suited to active dog sports. And they are not necessarily as good at protection as some of the shepherd working lines. The best breeds for dog sports that involve a lot of twisting and turning at speed tend to be the active herding breeds (GSD, Belgian Shepherds, Australian Shepherds, Kelpies, Koolies etc.etc. and some of the gundogs - Weimeraner, Vizla, all the pointers, the agile spaniels; also poodles, vermin terriers and other odd-bods.) Dog sports that involve pulling (sledding, weight pulls etc.) is a whole different kettle of fish, although GSDs do well along with traditional sledding breeds and some of the cattle working specialist breeds. There are other sports as well, none that immediately come to mind as being great showcases for masitiffs. In Obedience itself, almost any breed can excel if you can find the right motivation for the dog. Good with dogs and children will mainly be up to how well a puppy is socialized , although some of the terrier breeds can go against this trend and be dog aggressive in spite of proper socialization. The other thing that you may not have considered is that all of the giant breeds (includes all mastiffs except the Bernese Mountain Dog) have short life expectancies compared with small, medium and large breeds. Nothing to do with inherited disease, as a rule, it is just that their hearts have more work to do and simply wear out sooner. LOL there is a you tube video doing the rounds which shows a high performance agility dog doing his stuff, followed by a Mastiff doing the same course. I'm thinking that a Dobermann might actually tick most of your boxes - just choose a breeder who is breeding for performance rather than only the show ring.

I seriously would not choose any of the mastiff breeds if you are intending to do dog sports - their joints are under strain already from sheer size (I'm sad to say) and running and jumping etc. can have major consequences when done often. I would also avoid all of the Spitz derivatives as they need a very different training style. One last hint - how important is the off switch to you? Most of the breeds you have short listed don't have an off switch until they are seniors. However, if you are dedicated enough with a working line breed, you can train in a temporary off switch.

Thanks Powerlegs I've been searching for that report too. I'm finding a lot of news articles regarding it in the second half of last year. Possibly Mars just did a media release without attaching the actual report to it? The news report with the most figures that i found was this one:My link 5 OCT 2015 - 9:23 AMIt's raining cats and dogs no more according to new research. Australia's passion for pet ownership is slipping, according to new research that shows the population of four-legged friends is in steep decline. In the 12 months to December 2014, cat numbers nationwide fell by 200,000 and dog numbers by 100,000, research commissioned by a pet care company and released on Monday shows. Despite the published benefits of pet ownership, including fitness for dog owners and greater self-esteem, it seems social issues are standing in the way of Australians adopting a canine or feline family member. "This new data is an early warning that pet populations will decline further unless we address some of the factors affecting the pet ownership decision - for example, with more people renting we should look at encouraging more pet-friendly properties," researcher Tim McCallum said. "There is still time to turn this situation around, but we can't take pet ownership in Australia for granted or lose sight of the enormous value pets bring to our lives." Tasmania was the aberration among the findings, where both cat and dog ownership showed a small increase during 2014. South Australia and Western Australia both showed an increase in dog ownership. New South Wales boasts the highest populations of cats and dogs, with 642,000 and 1,304,000 respectively. Like Australia's human population, Mr McCallum said the nation's pet population is ageing. CHANGES IN AUSTRALIAN CAT AND DOG POPULATIONS (2014) STATE DOG CAT NSW -1.2% -7.9% VIC -11.1% -14.2% QLD -4.3% -11.6% SA 9.6% -5.1% WA 6.4% -15.8% TAS 4.0% 3.0% TOTAL -2.9% -11.0% SOURCE: Mars Petcare Australia

I'd like to know just from where he gets his stats? Cat ownership down by 200,000? Dog by 100,000? Weird figures. From a rescue POV in Victoria I can tell you that I haven't noticed much of a decrease in ownership - what I have noticed is a decrease in admitting ownership officially. Since Victoria ordered councils to offered lower registration fees for desexed animals, a certain strata of population have decided not to register their pets. When challenged, the usual response is either "it's just money grubbing by greedy council" or "I will register him/her as soon as I can afford to have him/her desexed". Applies to both cats and dogs. I also see a lot of unapproved pets in rental homes - and lo and behold, they get found out and pet is dumped into pound or into rescue's lap. Before adopting out, I will always ask for a written approval from landlord or rental agent if the applicant has stated they rent. - but I worry that some of the "home owners" are really renters and there is not much I can do about liars. There is some level of over-regulation it is true, but by and large the regulations imposed on pets have been put into place to compensate for the lack of responsibility of the worst of the pet owners. Those of us who do the right thing are penalized along with those that don't.

LOL it will be interesting to see if the average pet adopter via either listing site is any the more aware of the actual rescue they adopted from. I have heard people complaining that Joe Blow thinks that he adopted from PetRescue but I'm not sure that it is any different to asking where someone bought an item, and they reply "Ebay" or "Gumtree"!

Who else has received an invite for "early onboarding" to the new rehoming platform being launched? It would appear that over that last month or so a group has been very busy and their initial motivation seems to be made quite clear from this paragraph: "Yes, when you list a pets on this site the donations and support goes to your org or your nominated charity. You get the names and contact details of your supporters. It's your hard work, you deserve the rewards. This is about saving lives. And the best way to save lives is to make sure rescuers have donations and support. Not the listing service." If you haven't had an invite, please don't ask me for the website - I don't wish to steal their thunder and the launch will be reasonably soon. I am just wanting to stimulate discussion on PetRescue having a direct rival. Personally I would be happy to list on both sites, but will pull out of any one that tries to maintain my rescue as an exclusive. Thoughts? EFS

Lots of hugs for you. It is very hard to step back and let your beloved dog go where she will have the best chance of recovery and recuperation - you are very brave to put her well being first and I salute you.

Another thought - I know she is not able to exercise much but instead of putting the kibble part of her meal into a bowl make her work for every piece by tucking each piece into a rag rug (this sort of thing) or a commercial seeking game (example) or home made seeking game (great site here). These things will expend energy without putting much stress on her joints. Thinking takes energy - there is no thinking required in just emptying a bowl. And the same small amount of food will seem more satisfying to her because it took longer to eat.

We have cut down on the treats due to his weight, I know this was an issue. so it is OK to do the veggies with his dry food every meal? Every meal is fine. The vegies will help him to feel full. You might get some disgusted looks at first - MUM - what is this green stuff? But he will munch them up with gusto eventually.

You are certainly not alone in this - pugs do like their tucker! One of the simplest ways to cut down his weight is to replace about 1/3 of his normal meal with vegetables. Green beans are the most common replacement, vary this now and again with some pumpkin. If you or family members are in the habit of giving him treats during the day, make sure you "count" those in his daily allowance and adjust his meals accordingly. It will also help if he has a few extra walks - I know, cold weather but bundle up and off you go!

Hope it is easily sorted. Fingers crossed.

Secure run for now. Spend what time you can teaching her the rules. It won't happen overnight, but you will get there. One thing that you need to remember is that if she has always been in outdoor runs, then she won't be totally stressed out by not being allowed free run of the place. You are probably more upset about it than she is. If you really, really can't cope with the idea of a part-time kennel dog, there are breed specific rescues with full-time foster carers that could take her on.

Most large cities have pet sitters who will mind dogs in their own home if the dogs need constant attention. If you can find one that has been recommended by a previous client, that would probably suit your situation - but it won't be cheap. You will also need a back-up in case the pet sitter becomes hospitalised or ill. I would ask on breed notice boards and community pages. The most important thing is that both you and your dog trust the sitter.

Can you run a temporary fence a metre or so inside the problem fence and screen that until your hedges grow? Right now it is escalating and it is very worrying that the large dogs are bouncing off the wire. Cutting their view/smell of your dogs should tone it down, then your dogs won't have as many visits to react to. If the fence is a boundary fence between the two properties, I'm not sure you are permitted to put a hot wire on the other side - unless your neighbour gives permission (and assuming your state permits hot wire where dogs are enclosed - not all do.) EFS

Just wondering, Rascal, if the newest set of X Rays have clarified the situation at all?

I've been offline for a few days - I've been wondering about Olivia. I'm glad that she is in specialist hands but unhappy about the prognosis. Sending heaps of hugs to you and lots of puggy healing vibes for her.

Just wondering - X-Rays will prove right or wrong about the hip dysplasia. But is there any chance that there is a soft tissue issue with the hip ligaments or similar? I know that you said your vet manipulated the hip and found no signs of looseness or pain - but there may not be if the pain only manifests on weight bearing. That would mean that the physio was right about the patella, even though her diagnosis about why was off mark. When they do the hip X-Rays, they should check that patella again, just to be sure. Of course, it would need a MRI or similar to check soft tissue damage and that is often not practical. I do hope that the mystery of the apparently non-healing patella is solved soon.

Try to contact other bracy owners for free run games and keep your boy on leash when out and about.. It is not uncommon for snouted dogs to target flat-face dogs if they were not socialized to them when they (the snouted dogs) were puppies. It's like the flat faces have a doggy accent that is foreign. Hopefully., somewhere near you there will be a Frenchy meet-up group or a Pug meet-up group or similar where he can play free safely.

blinkblink is spot on. Dental check first. Once teeth have been sorted, then it may help to mix up the soft food with the kibble. And decide if you are going to continue to pander to them or not - check out raw feeding websites online. You can give them yummy stuff that is actually good for them !