RuralPug

I agree that sometimes there is a fine line between separation anxiety and boredom destruction, but I did just want to point out that a dog happy to go into a crate while the owner is present doesn't contra-indicate separation anxiety. I also agree that this might be separation anxiety but really we don't have enough information to be 100% sure from your posts. But you have been given some great advice. I second that she needs to be in a pen or destruction-proof room with plenty of acceptable toys and a baby gate to keep her there while you are not home. While she is being rehabilitated or trained, as the case may be, it would be wise to let her see, hear and smell your other dog - beds either side of the gate or pen perhaps. If your other dog has never been destructive in the home it is easy to forget that she/he might be joining in some of the games and actually participating in some of the destruction.

I would phone your vet and ask if it would be safe to apply plastic skin spray bandage (available from Chemists) to those border areas given that it needs to be safe for puppies mouthing it as well as safe for the bitch.

Maybe we can do something like: before any breeder gets a permit to sell puppies they must produce vet records, microchip records etc. for that litter.Those breeding more than say, 10 litters in a calendar year would need to be registered as a business per their state laws (e.g. in Victoria a Domestic Animal Business). You can either have agencies to provide the permits (ANKC, working dog registry, other approved registries for example which could charge a small fee) OR you could have state stamp duty payable (as for motor cars) and have a state govt department provide permits. In the latter case there would be the stamp duty incentive for the state to provide actual decent policing of unlicensed selling. I would also like to see that breeders are required to microchip puppies and kittens before giving them away free UNLESS they are giving the litter to an approved rescue/rehoming organisation. I am sadly aware that the only "approved" rescues in some states are the big shelters and council impounds, but this would be a stronger incentive for desexing, as you couldn't even give away kittens without shelling out for chipping. The push to have the breeders' ID permanently included on the microchip is a great one as it will mean that we should be able to track where the dumped dogs are originating. I would like to see this in more states.

Shared with a large Victorian lost dogs page. Have asked for no comments except for ID as otherwise admin will block due to previous discussion on the matter going haywire. Can't blame them.

Do look at the Mastiff - they are great big couch potatoes for sure. Mine was always protective of my small dogs and my cats and even rescued a baby rabbit that one of the cats fetched home and tried to mother it until somepug ate it. She would bark at intruders but would show them the keys to the safe if they ever came inside!! But strangers were usually terrified of her just because of her looks. Only you have to be prepared for the slobber....

As far as I know, dogs are only suspended after a complaint has been laid against that dog of aggression at a Dogs Vic event, the complaint having been investigated and upheld by the Dogs Vic rep at that event. It would make sense that a suspension, once made, can only be lifted by that dog passing a temperament test as set by Dogs Vic. I would imagine that once the paperwork regarding the suspension has been served on the dog's owner that details of temperament testing, appeals etc. would be included on that paperwork.

And the reason that legislation largely only applies to registered breeders is THAT IT IS NOT ENFORCED so therefore tends only to be self-enforced by law abiding persons or by persons belonging to an organisation which actively enforces legislation. The numbers of dogs not microchipped before sale, sold before the minimum age, proscribed breeds openly bred and sold etc. etc. is still far too large due to lack of enforcement and apathy in the general public. So the answer to the question how to make legislation apply to the ones who currently ignore it is to change the attitudes of the general public so that they will support the funding of enforcement of existing legislation AND be supportive of breeders and owners who put animal welfare first. The sense of entitlement in the general public that they should be "allowed" to do what they like with their own dogs regardless of what is in the dogs' best interests and travel in motor cars at whatever speed they like regardless of danger to themselves and others needs to be changed. A lot of money and effort is being put into attempts to change the latter attitude and very little into the former. I know that there are those who DO have their dogs' best interests at heart that will strongly dislike being "told what to do" as if they were the great unwashed that don't rate their pets' interests highly (in fact Willem in the first post seems to be expressing this view re being penalised for choosing to keep his dogs' entire) but I firmly believe that we should push for enforcement and attitude changes in spite of our hurt feelings. Once we, as a nation, have started to adopt attitudes towards dogs similar to those in Norway etc, then perhaps we can tweak the legislation - but not until then.

I've seen plenty of obese black labs, both entire and neutered, both sexes. In fact a solid black dog will often look fatter than the same shaped gold, fawn or cream dog next to it - it's an optical illusion. But black is slimming!?! BRB buying gold & cream coloured clothes

No doubt breeders are around. An acquaintance in Ballarat has four goldens, all neutered pets. From memory, he acquired two as puppies and two as adult rescues. My own cocker as a child half a century ago was a blue roan when solid colours were much more common and then there was some bad press re the so-called "cocker rage" in the UK which apparently was linked to solid colours only and they did become less popular, although I don't believe that we had much of that syndrome in Australia at all.

I've seen plenty of obese black labs, both entire and neutered, both sexes. In fact a solid black dog will often look fatter than the same shaped gold, fawn or cream dog next to it - it's an optical illusion.

He's gorgeous and still so very young. Chances are good that he will end up with symmetrical ears once he's through teething and growth spurts but as you aren't planning to show it's no big deal if they don't end up even - it adds character!!

Pets can find odd nesting places - I would be in a hurry to keep your dog away from this one not just because he tracks litter everywhere but in case your cat decides it is too much trouble to move the dog and chooses to use your wardrobe or somewhere as a litter tray instead ---- ewwww. Many of the purpose built pet gates with cat flaps would be too small for your Maine Coon - so shop for a baby gate with pet door as these are generally designed for dogs up to Cavalier size which should work for your cat. Something like this LOL (fail as a baby gate)

Currawongs are solitary but the news article said that she heard and saw multiple crows. I have seen crows/ravens pick up field rats and baby bunnies and fly them back to the nest, presumably to feed babies or maybe just to keep away from non-family crows.

Most Pugs don't have a hunger switch off either. I'm wondering if the same genetic markers are common with therm. We'll have to wait for more research I suppose.

Thumbs up to this! Ignore breed when discussing fighting - if you need to generalise, only mention size or coat or head type. Remember, ALL breeds have the potential to attack.

Trying to adopt a young pup from rescue will mean a few knock backs, mostly because there are so many applications for them that the rescues can pick and choose. There are Tentie breeders listed on the breed page in Vic which she can approach. As far as I know they have not been advertised, because they are not yet ready for adoption, but Chally Animal Rescue in Bendigo currently has a litter of small smooth coat pied terriers (mini foxie type) which she might like to contact them about.

If the major use for the crate is as a secure den for an anxious dog, then the smaller the crate, the more secure the dog will feel. So aim for a crate that dog can stand upright in and turn around in, but only just - and give a lot of bedding that dog can bury into if they like. If you choose a wire crate, make sure that it is well-covered with blankets or heavy towels to make a den. If your dog is non-destructive, and you want the den crate to double as an occasional transport crate, then for a cat size dog I would probably also be looking at soft sided small pet carriers which when compared with soft crates have more den-like qualities, you just need to to choose one that has a walk-in door. Regardless of the type of crate that you choose, the most important thing is to make the dog happy in the crate. Google "crate games" and "crate training" to find a method that suits you. :) Edited - went back and checked, so assuming your Chi cross is cat -sized or less then a pet carrier like this one for example might be the thing to look for.

Your sister is very brave going from a quiet dog to a full on high drive breed like the Tentie! But I assume that she has done all of her research and knows what she wants. If she definitely wants a pup I recommend approaching the Tenterfield Terrier Club if she lives in QLD, VIC NSW or WA who may be able to recommend a breeder planning a litter. If she lives in another state she could ask the ANKC affiliate in her state to provide contact numbers for Tentie breeders. She will need to be prepared to wait for a pup from an ethical breeder, there are not huge quantities of litters each year. If she is not really fussed on a tiny puppy, there are a great many smooth coat pied terrier crosses in rescue ranging from adolescent to elderly. If she looks at well-fostered rescues then she will have an excellent idea of the dog's energy levels and trainability. If you let us know what state she is in, we may be able to recommend breeders or rescues. :)

You'd be surprised at all the things that also happen regularly on Fridays that you don't think about that he might connect with the beard washing - apart from the obvious stuff like you getting the beard washing equipment ready, it could be something that the neighbours do every Friday ( fish and chips?? kids allowed to play before tackling homework??), or changes in the traffic noise patterns or even a certain programme on TV or radio that happens Fridays just before beard washing. So many things could happen just as regularly on a Friday which warns him that it is dreaded beard-wash day! It seems that your other dogs don't mind it too much, it should be easy to counter condition young Elliot as Pap Kisses suggests when he sees the others enjoying very special treats on beard wash night. So special different treats on fridays to connect with beard washing. LOL if its a messy treat like BBQ chicken or sardines you may want the treat to precede the wash!! Dogs and cats certainly come with unbuilt clocks (as we see twice a year when Daylight Saving is switched on or off LOL) and they pick up quickly on regular schedule changes such as weekend days vs school or work days buy anything else I suspect is linked to other clues that we wouldn't necessarily connect with certain days.

If she is shedding within the average for her breed, I can't imagine a shampoo that will alter that. A change of diet may sometimes reduce shedding, raw/barf/grain free diets most often help with this. But if she is shedding a normal amount for her breed, the best you can do is try to manage WHERE she sheds,and the daily brush - if you are using the right type of brush and are brushing right down to the skin -should get at least 80% of the loose hair. If she is "blowing her coat" (which some breeds do once or twice a year) then a dog dryer (which blows harder than a human hair dryer and without heat if the coat is not wet) will blow away most of the loose coat. If you have a very strong vacuum cleaner with a reverse blow function that may also work.

Another vote for the vet - you really need a diagnosis on this. It could be allergy or it could be OCD behaviour, these are treated very differently.

She doesn't know what are allowable toys and what are not. She sounds like a bright, busy girl who needs to keep herself occupied. Three-way approach: (1) Lots of brain stimulation to tucker her out - treats in plastic bottles, puzzle games, treats and toys buried in sandpit, lots of trick training during walks (if there are walks with your torn tendon) (2) Management - when you can't watch her, crate her (in the garage with you, or in the house if you are out) (3) Identification - find a scent that she does not like (peppermint oil often works) and put a few drops on the things that you don't want her touching. It won't happen overnight, but it will happen. To overcome her misbehaving on walks, you need to get her to focus on YOU. Look up the LAT game (Look At That) and use it to reward her for NOt reacting.

As a general rule, I would not recommend leaving puppy or adolescent dogs together unsupervised. They can do a great deal of damage to each other with absolutely no malice involved, just by exuberant play. Keep their play dates supervised until they are well and truly adult and have calmed down a little. While they are young tire them out individually with 10 minutes of brain work a couple of times a day (sit, stay, come, walk quietly, etc etc and some trick training). Not only will your "clever" trained dog impress your friends, the training will also be a bonding experience.

kamuzz you might like to consider Meals For Mutts if you are seeking a quality grain free kibble in 20kg bags. Meals For Mutts

I do pretty much the same with rice flour and tinned mackerel from Woolies. Mix into a dough, roll thin, cut into small bits and bake in a moderate oven until golden in colour. You can freeze them, or they will keep in a biscuit tin for weeks. Most dogs love them! My cats will also filch them when they can LOL Interesting. I might try this... So just rice flour and tinned mackerel ? What kind of quantity? I imagine one 400ish gram tin - liquid removed. I just tip the whole can in, oil and all and a generous cup of rice flour to start with and then just keep processing until I get a dough. If it is too wet, I add more flour. If it gets too dry I bung in a little water. I have been known to add a whole egg once in a while, but it works fine without.