Quickasyoucan

I have learned a lot about dog ownership and the right kind of dog for me from DOL. My next dogs (which I won't get until my current dog passes hopefully a good few years away) will be on current plans one from an ethical registered breeder on limited register and a rescue friend if I can find a good match for dog one in terms of temperament etc, once dog one has been settled in. For preference I would go for a rescue in foster care as IMO you have a better idea of how a dog would behave in a home situation. I have been very lucky with my current rescue who is the all round love of my life but I have gained a lot of knowledge from being on this forum with regards to what to look for in future dogs. Not sure about age, probably young but not necessarily a pup given that I work full time.

I know that my dogs track in food drive. Im talking tracking as following footsteps of a person. My dogs also air scent and will chase a rabbit in a field, and that is done in prey drive. When they air scent and its not followed by a hunting behaviour its simply becasuse there is not enought trigger for them to go into drive, not that they are not driven dogs. I agree with this. As I said before, when Jake is playing seek games he wags his tail furiously, yesterday I was caught unawares as a skateboard (his favourite prey item) went past the cafe where we were sitting and he was on leash, he displayed the same tail wagging activity (albeit more intense) because he obviously couldn't move fast to chase the skateboard being on leash. He looked the same maybe more intense as he does when playing seek games and believe me when it comes to skateboards he is very definitely in prey drive I don't think scenting is a different thing at all just one part of a prey drive spectrum.

Well that depends - is he incredibly stubborn and annoying? Cos if he is, definitely a beagle yeah that's him. who needs a bitsa test anyway ;)

My crossbreed dog, bit of stafford, bit of BC bit of who knows what will wag his tail fiercely when playing search games. I always saw that as being an indication of some sort of drive. He doesn't do it when chasing, but that's probably more of a physiological thing, ie you can't go full pelt and wag your tail at the same time. There is an intensity in his searching and accompanied tail wagging that suggests drive to me anyway. Maybe he's a well camouflaged beagle :D

I have to admit to being a bit of an animal planet freak and do remember some particularly vicious (well from my point of view) hunting footage of primates but I can't remember whether it was chimps or baboons, just that it was really really bloody and I think involved hunting other monkeys. I suppose we humans have modified prey drive anyway. Ball games? Hockey, Soccer, Football, Baketball, Netball etc I know I definitely have FOOD chocolate drive

I have to admit to being a bit of an animal planet freak and do remember some particularly vicious (well from my point of view) hunting footage of primates but I can't remember whether it was chimps or baboons, just that it was really really bloody and I think involved hunting other monkeys. I suppose we humans have modified prey drive anyway.

You know though, and this is totally off topic and exactely what we tell corvus off for, I'd love to hear a bit about primates. Do they have prey drive ?? I always think they are really interesting.

I am pretty sure it was the Ray Coppinger dog's book as I remember him talking about modified prey drive behaviours in herding animals and livestock guardians and such terms as eye stalk which stuck in my mind for some reason I seem to remember his argument about how different parts of the predatory sequence had been modified in different breeds such that some parts were exaggerated, some were non-existent depending on what the breed was used for.

Yeah but I wonder if there can also be an element of prey drive too. Isn't play in animals (including ourselves) a sort of practice for the real world be it learning how to hunt successfully or learning about social hierarchies? If I were thinking about it theoretically (given that I only have one dog and so have very very limited experience) I could see it as a softer form with both prey and pack elements, but I guess everyone's view is going to differ slightly on that.

I really like the rescue idea on the website Too many good dogs go down and good ethical rescue needs all the help it can get Maybe Cordelia could be persuaded out of retirement.

Aidan isn't this where I usually come in and give you a telling off? Sorry about the last time I really was having an off day

I would second looking into natural remedies. I was sceptical about acupuncture till I tried it, best thing I ever did. I think it can really help with pain management.

He's already got the widescreen so chances are you already have been :) Ive been widescreened too, and then sent the still images of it Its only a matter of time till you get to experience it as well Secretkei Thank god I never sent any videos. I'm thinking re-branding too as well as other things, including more products on line, maybe more courses on-line. At least it gives us something to think about in our otherwise boring exciting workday.

He is starting his own TV show called, "Steve's Way".

Did you ask her 'so when you want kids are you going to go hang around on street corners with your pants around your ankles' the human race is abhorrent and intolerable. I was walking with a friend who has a desexed rottie bitch. We went past a woman with an undesexed male rotty with no tail that was only 2 years old. We asked her why the dog had no tail (given the docking laws). She said well I had to surrender my previous 2 rotties and I wanted another one but not one with a tail so I went through the trading post till I found someone who had one for sale without a tail (way to go in choosing a pup ). Then she looked at my friends bitch and said she's a full rottie isn't she, is she desexed? (I could guess what was coming next). I said to my friend he should have said well I am happy to let your dog get his leg over mine so long as I can also give you one right now That is about how much thought she was putting into things.

K9: Yep I use to help pin point errors, just gotta get some more pins now lol... K9: well then it would be the gardener and the trainer, instead of the Gardener who thinks he is the trainer. Actually Don lives only ten mins from me. But sadly, no. No Don. K9: well its about the dog so thats what the pics are of lol K9: Would love to come and meet you a Fledge! But nope. K9: Yeah I was speaking to this lady on the phone last nioght that was trying to get it out of me, almost did too, but nope. She ran out of drive too early... K9: well as you would know, the reward isnt the object, its the rush associated with it ;) K9: It works with humans very well, cant you tell? K9: now that is funny ;) :p :p K9: yes you have H, ok ok ok enough, if you look at k9force.net within the next ten minutes, you will see sme good info to help you all. Be sure to scroll down. Thank goodness for that I was about to have to dip into my stock of doctored blackmail pics I like to use to 'persuade' the truth out of people. Doesn't matter if they didn't do it, so long as it looks like they did :p :p

Fortunately, the law is on the Senator's side. I think she's being pretty gracious about the whole affair. I think so too and what people should take out of this is the message "keep your dog contained (regardless of size or breed)" on your own property, then these types of incidents simply would not happen and no one or nothing would be dead or injured. It still amazes me the number of dogs you see wandering round the streets. For the record too I nearly lost the use of a finger after a deliberate and sutained bite by a silky terrier. Doesn't mean I think they are all dangerous though. I like to take each dog (and human) on their individual behaviour and merits.

A colleague uses Livingstone Road Animal health Centre in Petersham. (02) 9568 3077. They have a website too but I am not sure if I am allowed to post that on DOL. She has been very happy with them for general care for her 2 small rescue dogs. The Sydney Uni Vet at Camperdown has now opened a 24 hour emergency and general practice too, (as well as the specialist referral), that's not far from Newtown depending on how much you like city driving. I thought they were great and well worth the drive for me.

He didn't deny the affair with Tiger Woods either Steve are you still waiting for Tiger to say sorry He's probably changing the name of his business AND his website so he can get away from we annoying clients

She actually does look at lot different in this second lot of pics in fact the above pic does not have that much of a defined waist at all, I wouldn't have thought it the same dog as the one in the first shot. In the first shot she did seem to have an exaggerated tuck (well more than I would expect to see on a GR) but it is amazing how different coated breeds look wet to dry. I was always amazed at the small dog hiding under the coat when we bathed our springer spaniels. With my dog he looks the same dripping wet as he does dry I agree giving her a feel would give a better idea, difficult to see what's hair and what's not but from the second pics particularly the above shot she doesnt' look thin at all IMO.

Because simply there shouldn't be a difference between show and working lines, let alone then creating a pet line!!!! a "pet line" ? It doesn't happen very often but I am speechless. Actually I am dumbfounded to think that this is even being suggested, as the future of breeding dogs, let alone "better dogs". The pets that I have, are the very dogs that step into the ring, who return home again to the house and the couch and it's being suggested that we dumb them down, calm them down, take the edge of them and make them more suitable for everyone. Oh dear lord, it's time for me to walk away. same here-my working trail dogs ARE my pet dogs,i dont have a problem with them.Dyson can be a smart arse,Millie is a raving food lunatic,Leila is simply just a sweetheart,the 2 pups both have different personalities and i love them all for it.I dont want bloodhounds in a cavalier or other lap dog suit (no offence cav owners :D ).I could take Bono out on a trail,come home and have him take over the lounge. Centitout sooner or later someone is going to suggest Bloodhounds have this particular trait bred out though: "due to generous flews they can fling saliva 20 feet with one shake of their head" Just to add, this is my favourite of all breed descriptions on DOL

When I was a young child and my parents decided my brother was old enough and sensible enough to have a dog, they 'researched' before they opted for a breed. Research wasn't as easy then as it is now - no computers; internet and so forth. Their 'research' relied on asking around of others who had dogs; seeing other dogs in the neighbourhood; speaking to the breeders. So, even back then, there was "research". By everyone? Probably not. But people (going by others in our neighbourhood) did tend to take a more conscious and sensible approach to it. My opinion is that we keep excusing society for not thinking and seeking to change dogs from what they are, to something else is another way of removing responsibility away from people feeling as though they should retain some amount of common sense and rational forethought by getting at least a bit educated before they make decisions that affect life. Are you saying "it's not their fault" because they didn't think? I disagree. It is their fault. But unless laws and authorities stop making it to seem as though bad dog behaviour is about the dog and has next to nothing to do with the owners and the owners' living conditions/requirements and lifestyle, people won't adopt responsibility. Many humans, I think, are inheritantly lazy in that department and the more we make it that they don't have to think, the less they will do so. Well said Erny. I think a better seminar and topic for study might be "Building Better Dog Owners". IMO the biggest problem facing dogs currently has nothing to do with breeding, it has to do with lack of responsibility and poor ownership. A lot of dogs end up in pounds because people don't think before they buy, because people are lazy and because people think that animals are disposable, not because of anything inherently genetically wong with the dog. IMO, for example, if it hit people somewhere hard to own a dangerous dog ie proper enforcement of dog laws heavy fines and jail terms for repeat offenders, they might think twice about their choices. Instead of this we get "the dog suddenly turned", so it gets branded the offender and for the most part, owner gets away scott free and goes and buys another dog and so the cycle continues. Until we change peoples attitudes I fear for many many poor dogs in today's society.

It's also what makes them the breed of choice for AQIS. What makes the Beagle an attractive breed for many people is the affability deliberately bred into a dog kept and hunted in a pack. It's the fact that he IS a scent hound that give him his character. If you don't want a scenthound then don't buy one. You don't need to stuff up a breed just so any idiot can own one. Beagles are trainable. The simple fact of the matter is the many owners with "problem" beagles don't bother to. The issues with many dogs are owner created. Start by changing the owner's behaviour, not buggering up the breed. PF you always put things so succintly. If I want a breed of dog the first thing I would do would think how happy can I make this dog (and conversely how happy would I be sharing my life with this dog) given the way in which I live. For example, I love the look and athleticism of many HPR dogs (GSP's, Viszlas etc) but at the moment I don't have the time, space or opportunity to devote to their energy and exercise needs. The answer, I simply wouldn't buy one in my current situation, I would look for a breed that is better suited to how I currently live. I don't want a watered down version of an HPR, if and when I get one I want the real thing. I don't want something that looks like a GSP but doesn't act like one it makes no sense to me. For the record, I actually own a crossbreed but I got him through rescue at 10 months and it was pretty obvious the kind of dog he was going to become and that we would be suited. I would actually never buy a crossbreed pup, too much uncertainty in that. And I'm with Warley on the staffords, take out the "bold, fearless" and you could be in for a whole heap of trouble. A weak nerved dog can be a very dangerous one.

The roo flaps at the link I posted are great for the big dogs.. they're a real workout! Hey PF are you sure that company is not a sideline for Deschonko???? We haven't had any update of their latest products for 2010 btw. I am sure we could all do with a laugh...

Be wary of made in Australia as opposed to product of australia. If you look closely a lot of the made in Australia will say (from local and imported ingredients). I second or third only buying Australian now. I also look for Roo stuff as I figure that wouldn't come from anywhere else! (though you never know with the Chinese )