OSoSwift

I made sure mine was done just before mating, then she was done two weeks after whelping. Everything I read said Sentinel was safe but I just wasn't comfortable with it. We are not in a high risk heartworm area.

I guess people who have never lived the reality have no idea. Its easy to have opinons on things you know very little about.

Has anyone heard of this organisation or a man called Ross associated with this organisation. Apparently has done work with lots of rescue groups in Melbourne and Queensland. Any and all feedback is welcome. PM or on here wouls be great. I knew if anyone had heard of them you guys would have.

She wasn't shot down in flames, she was given factual information, and you knew that was coming. Because you knew I did not say she was stupid, If you have such an issue, report me.

Yes, some one was :) See my previous comment and tell me exactly were I called the OP stupid????? If you find it I will apologise.

I did not call the OP stupid, maybe you should go back and read again. I said allowing a Dobermann to roam free was irresponsible and stupid. As the OP is yet to do that how can I be calling her stupid. As for shooting things. I do not own a gun, I choose not to have them. If I need an animal humanely shot I get my BIL to come and do it. I have had probably a dozen dogs show up on this farm over the years. None have been shot. They have been caught, contained and either their owners found or handed over to the rangers. However should I find one in with my ewes/lambs etc they will not leave the farm alive. I fail to see how presenting facts is seen as aggressive! I presented facts and then gave my opinion to do that would be irresponsible and stupid - a statement I will stand by. Unicorns were mentioned as it seems many like to live in their own bubble, not reality. I also believe to place your dog in that situation is just unfathomable. If it all goes arse up, your dog is dead or badly injured for something entirely preventable. Where is the sense in that? I think far too much of my dogs to intentionally put them in that situation.

I would want to know WHY it is unlikely to stick. I would want quotes of the current law as to why it won't stick! It is bullshit, contact melza.

I did once have someone say to me Don't get all caught up int eh money you can make and put dogs in together to maximise your income. I was like WHAT, just WHAT, no way would I EVER place dogs into runs together that were not from the same family EVER. I just couldn't, I would be so worried they would get in fights or injured or worse. I have had people tell me they are not happy I won't mix dogs as fluffy likes playing with other dogs - after having to wear a muzzle for the first half an hour, but he is fine once he gets used to them. I cannot believe people would risk such things, but obviously some places do. Me, I know exactly where my dogs are and in with whom and I sleep very well knowing I have done my utmost to keep them safe until their owners come back! I shudder at what must go on I really do!

I see more communication happening between you and Melzawelza on this one Mads

ahhh okay thank you.

Knowing HW as I do, she will not back down you can be assured of that. I believe the ranger can issue a notice to declare the dogs dangerous, then the owner has 14 days to prove they are not. If they can come up with credible evidence they are not ( I am guessing a behaviourist report) then they can have the order over turned. If it was a second incident it would hold regardless of proof or not.

I totally understand where you are coming from. However, what if the person you want to understand that reality is no longer around to learn because of being flamed when she didn't understand the consequences of what she was doing?The best teacher in the world won't make a scrap of difference if there is no one to listen to her/him . So you think that's flaming, sure okay. Well I will get back to reality, anyone who wishes to keep playing with their unicorns may carry on.

Please don't be harsh like this, OsoSwift. I now you are grinding your teeth at a dog being on a chain and the OP is hoping to be able to let her roam free at some stage. But Skyeedavidson has come on here seeking advice and solutions and does love her dog very much. I think a little restraint would ensure that she stays with us and continues to learn. :) :) I don't have an issue with dogs being tethered persay - our working dog is tethered at night and when we are not home, I do have an issue with guarding breeds being tethered more. However I have a huge issue with a Dobermann of any age roaming a rural property with livestock and I stand by what I said. It may be harsh but it is reality. I have owned Dobes, I own livestock and have lived on farms all my life, I have had livestock mauled, I have worked for many many years in Veterinary hospitals, I have seen what happens when dogs roam. You may think I am being harsh, but I am hoping that it will make people sit back and really think about it. I have no doubt that this particular dog and many others are wonderful companions and very well trained. At the end of the day they are dogs. Left to their own devices roaming farm land they will more often than not create their own entertainment. Quite possibly there is no malice intended, tell that to the owner of the ponies with their throats ripped open because a dog of that size decided to go out for a play. I do believe in this instance I am more than well qualified to have sound knowledge in what can and will go wrong. I have seen it, I have lived it. My dogs were exceptionally well trained and behaved. I spent hours and hours with my dogs, training my dogs and having fun. They are dogs, not robots, when I am not there I cannot and do not know exactly what they are up to. So call me harsh, I call it reality.

Yes I had to strike a number of boarding kennels off my list as they insisted that group exercise was the only way to go. Fortunately I found somewhere that only ever runs dogs from the same family together and insists on feeding them separately. Glad you found somewhere good Steph! Interestingly I have been struck of peoples lists because I do those things :) oh well I sleep easy at nights :)

Yes I agree. Yes I agree with this

I personally will not desex my males unless there is a very good medical reason for doing so. All bitches will be desexed when they are either too old to have a litter or have had the litter I want or after 14 months of age. That generally means my bitches are speyed at around 6 years of age. I do believe all dogs going through rescue should be desexed prior to rehoming. I also believe since my dogs do not contribute to pound dogs or roaming dogs people can jam that argument fair up their backside. Me buying my pedigree dogs did not contribute to a pound/rescue dog dieing either. If someone approached me and demanded to know why my dogs were entire they who get told to F off. Any puppies I have sold I recommend they leave them until around 14 months of age. If they want to do it earlier I recommend no earlier than 9 months of age. In my breed bitches cycling for the first time after 12 months of age is not unusual.

Oh and posted by someone who lives on a farm with livestock and has lived with Dobes on said acerage, and has also seen and dealt with the consequences of "my little well behaved darling/s would never do that" roaming dogs Oh and I am also the one who got called when a friends Dobe - who was a lovely boy - got shot in the head and survived after he was caught chasing livestock. But he would never hurt anything either. It's so frustrating!

I would not risk any dog, but especially not a Dobe roaming unfenced acerage. It is irresponsible. I would look at an area ( and this can be acres big) fenced off with a containment system. I built dog runs for mine and they were in there if I wasn't home and they certainly never roamed at night. Many dogs will roam at night kill livestock and be home in time for you to get up in the morning. Also people have the right to shoot your dog on site if it is on their property, even if it isn't not actively involved in harassing livestock, are you willing to take that risk??? I think allowing a Dobe to roam acerage is totally irresponsible and stupid. Yes Dobes are wonderful dogs, yes they are intelligent. At the end of the day they are dogs and you are dicing with her life should you choose to let her roam free. I would get rid of the chain and tiny dog house and build her something that keeps her safe and is more suitable.

Maybe the stupid owner should put her dogs out the back or put a lock on her gate? The fact that even she could not control her Stafford is very worrying

If a young pup has a fracture then yes that treatment is a very valid treatment. However the puppy should not be stick in the front window, broken leg or not, but especially not when recovering.

It is nasty deadly condition. If you suspect it, vet as fast as you can. If it is bloat 10 minutes can make a big difference to the outcome. I had a dog go from looking a little uncomfy to enormously bloated in the 10 minutes it took to call the vet (at 5am ) and get there. She had a complete tortion that we couldn't get a stomach tube past until she was opened up. My bitch had it and survived it 3 times purely because I got her to the vet asap.

Generally if a farmer is breeding for meat they breed to send to market, any animals that can no longer contribute by being barren etc are culled yes. If they require new bloodlines more males are brought in so fathers don't mate daughters etc. Usually a farmer has a surplus of rams and bulls to cover any unforseen issues such as injury, early death etc. They don't breed them then go oh crap, can't breed them theya re too close, off with their heads. If a stud breeds animals in excess of their requirements, they sell them. It is rare a good stud breeder will have any issues selling excess breeding stock. Also they don't just top their males every few years. The good ones are kept until they are old, well thought out breeding programs take all this into account, and many good breeders will allow them to live out their last few years. Not all farmers just kill everything that cannot reproduce, especially if they are an old animal that has made a large contribution. It seems to me whoever is in control of these breeding programs has no bloody idea and even less of an ability to think about future breedings/bloodlines. They should be sacked. Many otehr zoos use contraceptives and move animals to other zzos very successfully. This lot are morons. Whatever code of ethics or whatever it is they adhere to is severly lacking. As a farmer of beef cattle previously and fat lambs now, I do not think I am anything like these mob of imbiciles and will not be lumped into them. The beef/lamb breeding ventures that happen here have far more thought put into them than this lot put into their animal management of lack thereof!

Yes that is true, however they are apparently breeding for conservation not breeding for profit. Farmers are either breeding stud animals to be sold or meat animals. Still not comparable.

Poor bloke, that would have been terrifying. I am glad they have been seized. No place in society for dogs that do that.

Any reports on their victim?