RuralPug

Thank you for that, PK. I have to say that the pictures of the euthanised pack don't show any dachshund charateristics to me and certainly the large black and white mix doesn't look to have much, if any, border collie in it. An example of how the media beats up breed - in this case they looked all to be well and truly mixed breed with some of them being short legged. A pack of dogs acting as a pack can and will pull down a large animal (including an adult human) there may not have been any mobility issues, the poor victim was caught un the middle of a field. Why this semi-feral pack was permitted to roam freely we may never know, but that is the true cause of this tragedy.

Start by getting show grooming lessons on your own breed from a breeder who shows. Commercial grooming is often quite different from show grooming - pet owners want a certain look but are not so much fussed about coat quality so commercial salons will often take shortcuts (especially with breeds that are normally only scissored or stripped for the show ring.) This is not becessarily a bad thing, it is just economics. Most pet owners are not willing to pay for the time it would take to hand strip or completely hand scissor. so these dogs are generally clipped instead. If you want to learn salon skills without expensive course fees perhaps offer your services to a salon as a dog bather in return for them training you - you will obviously need to find a salon that is not going to be in the area where you intend to set up shop - noboby wants to train their competition!

I only have anecdotal information about DELTA training - in my opinion it is fine when training well socialised and/or placid dogs, but falls down when certain behavioural problems are present. The most successful DELTA trained behaviourists are the ones with experience outside DELTA, in my opinion. For instance, there is the recent case of a DELTA trainer in SA who, when asked by the owner of an Austalian Cattle Dog pup why the pup was nipping/biting at people's heels, couldn't come up with any suggestions - showing a sad lack of knowledge of this common breed. There are experienced trainers under the DELTA banner to whom I would not hesitate to refer a client with an aggressive dog. These tend to be those with a lot of experience with dogs before they took the DELTA training or those who have been training for many years since their DELTA course. But I would say that the DELTA course alone does not give correct or sufficient knowledge to deal with certain behaviour problems, including some forms of aggression.

If the Chihuahua was a senior, it is likely to cost more than a healthy young dog. And being a Chihuahua, anaesthesia is a bit risker than a larger full muzzled breed so extra precautions need to be taken - plus extracting and cleaning teeth in a miniature jaw is actually more difficult that in a medium size or large breed. To me, the fee itself wasn't necessarily too excessive, however the difference between the estimate and the actual bill was way too big and something is majorly wrong with their estimation procedure.

I agree with HMD. I advised a friend who was seeking an IG to take out pet insurance because they are sooo fragile. When I saw her some time later she thanked me, although she did not have pet insurance on any of her other dogs, she had takem the advice and insured the IG pup when it arrived. So was very grateful for the advice, as the pup tripped over ts own feet just a month afterwards and broke its leg and the insruance saved her a large amout of money.

re the vet cost: MCT removal on brachy breeds or on very senior dogs is often costlier than on younger dogs or non-brachys, as most vets require a dedicated anaesthesia assistant for those breeds. I have had several surgeries for MCTs on elderly pugs and the most recent was $1200 compared with about $400 for a foster (only 4 y.o.) terrier mix - same surgery dog much the same weight, same vet, only a few months apart. I've never seen a MCT on a very young puppy though to be honest. Having said that, I'm not actually sure that the OP was referring to the actual vet bill, but something to do with pet insurance. I'm so sorry that this has happened to you, but mast cell tumours happen to perfectly healthy dogs that are not in the least inbred - it does come in the shit happens category. Not the breeder's fault n this instance but nice to hear that you have been offered a replacement.

Corporate fund raising style. Completely lost the plot, sadly. I don't recommend them anymore since I have had a couple of complaints from people who didn;t like the "spamming". (Not that there was any point in telling ME - I said you need to complain to them!)

Yes it does. Twice I've had seniors pass in their sleep - actually quite a shock in both cases, because neither was unwell. The first time, the vet told me that the heart had just given out. I assumed it was the same several years later when it happened to another. Both were 15. Over the last 60 years I've lost count of the ones that had to be assisted when their time came. Their lives are just too short.

The vets all seem to be pushing a sunscreen that contains an antibiotic but I personally don't like to apply antibiotics where there is no existing infection as you are just building immunity for the germ, in my opinion. I use and recommend Doggy Sunstick by Petkin whenever I have a foster in that needs sun protection. Easy to apply and lasts well.

The Doberman Club of NSW has a lot of excellent information for prospective buyers. Their health issues page especially is informative and gives you a base to question the breeder about health testing. You haven't stated if you are looking for a pet from good healthy lines or if you are seeking a performance dog, security(working line) dog or a show/breeding dog. The health testing should be paramount in any of those categories, but after that you could be looking for different attributes. Edited to add: sorry, I hadn't properly read your post. Looking for a security dog - look for breeders who have successfully bred police and military dogs and have bred high scoring dogs in obedience.

How badly do you want a pup of a particular breed? If you act entitled, like a customer shopping for a lounge suite, you are not doing yourself any favours. Good breeders are looking for people who are willing to love and value and care for their excess puppies, not for shoppers. People seeking bargains or flavour of the month are not likely to be approved. People who have done their research on the breed and approach breeders politely asking to go on a waiting list are much more likely to end up with a nice pup. Make the effort to attend dog shows in your state and meet and talk to breeders. In many cases, that will send you to the top of the waiting list because you have shown that you care enough to make an effort. Do NOT approach breeders with the attitude that the customer is always right. Good breeders are not looking for customers, but for people worthy to value and care for their puppies.

Weird - I wonder why vet didn't sell hubby two of the small dog dose tablets instead of one of the medium ones. When you email or write to Bayer, send a copy to your vet. Maybe he will stock the small dog Drontal tablets as well in future. I always use 2 x small dog tabs if for dogs over 3kg and under 7.5 kilo. Over 7.5kg and up to 10kg I use a 10kg tablet. Over 10 kg I juggle medium plus small as necessary. I rarely need to buy the 35kg ones these days. Milbemax I will use for bubs, but avoid it for adults.

This is really a question for your vet. The puppy has already been started on a vaccine regimen, so you also need to ask if that regimen can be altered at this point.

You might have consider trimming that bum fluff later on, both to keep an eye on the hernias and for hygiene reasons, but great to see excellent regrowth as it shows you are on the right path!

You may be worrying unnecessarily. Really a lot will depend on what the dog himself chooses. You could donate a large warm kennel and heaps of fluffy blankets and he might ignore them all entirely for his chosen spot on the upstairs verandah. Because it is an upstairs verandah (balcony??) I assume that there is a railing or low fence or some sort of barrier - this may be enough to keep him out of the wind and brick walls do retain a lot of heat. Without seeing the actual roofed balcony in question it is hard to determine much. Sydney has what I would call a fairly moderate climate - ice and snow is not common in winter like, for instance, Canberra.The dog might be perfectly comfortable. The sleeping arrangement is not what I would choose for any dog in my care, but I have had dogs in my care, that chose to sleep outdoors, only retreating indoors at night on rare occasions. Provided that they were not nuisance barking at possums etc. I let them choose (any that did bark were crated indoors). You can try asking your neighbours about his sleeping arrangements - perhaps they are just trying to replicate as best they can what sleeping arrangements he had at the deceased owner's home or perhaps they have tried other things and this is what the dog prefers. You won't know unless you ask. Good on on you for walking this dog and enjoying his company.

Just thought I'd share in here - please share among your QLD friends looking for a performance Malinois - not for the faint hearted as these are kennel dogs with little or no training but too affectionate to pass as military dogs. Or if happy to travel, your interstate friends as well! https://www.airforce.gov.au/news-and-events/news/untrained-canines-seeking-new-homes Check the link for pics. here is the text: Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF )Security and Fire School will be offering a viewing of 7 male and 8 female Belgian Malinois,varying in age from 18 months to 7 years of age. The purpose of the viewing is to give people an opportunity to sight the canines prior to a tender submission. The majority of the canines on offer have failed to display the attributes required of a Military Working Dog. Most commonly the dogs have an affectionate disposition, lacking in aggression. Others have failed to meet the strict health requirements for breeding or are mothers requiring a comfortable retirement. All canines have been assessed as suitable for pet life and are of a friendly nature. Some however are a little boisterous and are unsuitable for homing with young children. Canines are predominately untrained; they may acknowledge basic commands but for the most part have no basic obedience. They are indeed trainable and basic obedience training is highly recommended. Pedigree papers are not provided but all canines have been microchipped, de-sexed and fully vaccinated. To comply with Defence Procurement Guidelines, canines must be sold by Public Tender. This requires that interested persons submit a written monetary offer for the desired canine and outline their intended use of the dog via a short questionnaire. This will be provided on the day of viewing. Although canines are required to be tendered, the monetary offer may not necessarily secure the desired canine. Applications will be assessed by a board of members who will determine the most suitable home with the best interests of the canine. Canines will be available for viewing on Fri 27 April, between the hours 10am and 11.30am at Military Working Dog Training and Supply Flight, RAAF Security and Fire School (corner of Haigslea Amberley Road and Tarakan Road, RAAF Base Amberley. Tenders will be finalised 4pm, Wednesday 2 May. If you are interstate or unable to attend the viewing you can request a tender application by emailing [email protected]. Tenders may be emailed or posted to Military Working Dog Training Supply Flight, attention Tender Board, or completed by hand on the day of viewing.

What sort of investigation has been dome into the severe allergies in the family? Is it dog HAIR they are allergic to or dog DANDER? Could this possibly be controlled by antibiotics - the reason I ask is that many people don't realise that the low shedding woolly breeds need a lot of thorough grooming at home PLUS visits to a professional groomer for coat care regularly (probably every 6 weeks). When speaking to breeders (always speak to several different breeders in the breed you decide upon) ask about grooming! If the hair shedding is a real problem, avoid breeds with short spiky hair that hooks into everything. Unfortunately the Bull Terrier and Mini Bull Terrier definitely are in the high shedding short spiky hair category. However, if you like the terrier temperament a really robust little dog without short spiky hair and with a fairly easy care coat is the Australian Terrier - a fantastic little dog. There are probably other terriers that you might consider, such as the Border Terrier that are also suitable. If the allergy is a major problem and a lot of grooming is not then I think you are best to stick with your choice of Lagotto (Italian Water Dog) this is the one that is easiest to source in Australia, there are very few breeders of the Spanish Water Dog here. The Portuguese Water Dog does have a few more breeders in Australia than the Spanish. Personally I have never been up close with a Portuguese or a Spanish so I cannot testify to their temperament, but all of the Lagottos that I have met have had awesome temperaments. Most of the Standard Poodles that I have met have also had awesome temperaments, if that is not too large a dog for you, certainly one to consider. Unfortunately I have to say that the temperaments of Miniature Poodles can be a bit of a grab bag, no doubt there are good ones out there but I would want to see both parents at the very least plus I would want to know just how the breeder socialises their Miniature Poodles before I took one on to be companion for a child. I would rule out the Toy Poodle as not being robust enough. Good luck in your search and keep us informed - we would love to see how you go!

What TSD says is true. Also you need to know that if your Associate dog with ANKC is not registered with ANKC (that does not include MDBA) it must be desexed before it can be accepted as an Associate (except for herding trials - see list below*). The other thing to know if you want to compete in performance is that some ANKC state affiliates (NSW for sure, I'm not sure which others) won't allow you to have dual membership in ANKC at the same time as unrecognised registries (such as MDBA). Check with DogsQld on that. ANKC is the only body whose affiliates regularly hold all breed confirmation shows - however, some of the breeds in development hold their own confirmation shows (no choice as they are not yet entitled to exhibition at ANKC dogs shows. ) Oh, and I believe the association of pet breeders/puppy farmers or whatever it is called either held one earlier this year in SA or was planning to, but I don't know where they planned to get judges or anything? Bottom line - if you want your dog to compete in conformation showing towards its championship, ANKC is the way to go. For dog sports however, as long as your non-ANKC dog is desexed it will be welcome in obedience, agility, etc. etc. *Here is a list of the accepted working dog registries etc. for herding. If your dog is registered with one of these it won't need to be desexed prior to being registered as an Associate. (I think this list might be a bit out of date, as White Swiss Shepherds are still there but are now entitled to full ANKC registration.)

Um, desexing them certainly won't hurt but um.... bottom line they are terriers. Terriers hold grudges for a long long time. I have had pairs that happily ran together no problem for years, then one day something started a scrap between them and they could never be allowed to be together ever since that day. (All desexed, by the way.) It could be as simple as one was grumpy because the other went to the vet without him and snapped in jealousy - the other was cranky with pain and snapped right back - and then it was on for young and old. And now they both feel hard done by and each is likely to attack the other for very minor reasons. So I suggest go right ahead and desex them - but be prepared in case that changes nothing, in which case a decent behaviorist who will visit you will be needed to sort stuff out, before they really hurt each other.

Collars can cleverly be used to make optical illusions in the show ring if the dog's neck is not the best (too long for instance). A flashy collar can actually detract if you have an excellent topline, as it can make the dog's head look disconnected from the rest of them. But unless you actually need to create an optical illusion, a collar and leash that blend with the dog's neck colour is ideal. For dogs that have a tuxedo white blaze, or different colour on their throat to the neck that is not going to happen LOL so a chain is probably best in those cases. For a Rottie I would suggest a medium weight chain, or it yours has enough black on the throat, a black slip lead. As long as you have him under control, the most unobtrusive lead is the best. There are those that seem to think that putting a heavy weight chain on their dog makes it look more muscular - judges are NOT that stupid!

The reason that the dilute colours are not recognised in the French Bulldog standard is that the breed specialists who helped to develop the standard noticed that health problems were often associated with the dilute colours, including blue, in the breed. They did not wish to encourage those health problems and so did not list those colours among the acceptable colors for the breed.

ish just let me know if you would like me to drop by once or twice and check the girls while you're away. I'm only 10 minutes away. Or you could ask your Dad to send daily videos to you of them?

If you are wanting your disabled family member to use the ramp handrails are essential (unless he is in a wheelchair of course) ! That is a great ramp ish!

I'm not sure this counts as inadvertent, but I never have to worry about picking up food that my arthritic hands have dropped or knocked off the bench to the floor!

As I read it, every dog had already been tested and definitely had AT least three breeds identified. The point of the survey was to see how well people guess breed make up. Yes, this will definitely be affected by the breeds that you most commonly see. Kelpies obviously did not feature in any of the dogs tested (OR the Kelpie DNA is simply not available to these particular testers, therefore did not appear in their results!) Since they do know the breeds that their DNA tests indicated, they no doubt included all of those breeds in their drop down list, plus some extra breeds that (I'm just assuming this) that they thought would be recognised by the average survey taker ( with a US bias of course, quite often it seems to me that US survey makers are totally ignorant that the rest of the world exists!)