Odin-Genie

I went through the test and it doesn't cover all reactions. For example, reaction to vet tests: a) Allows all - relaxed body b) Fidget, excited - light mouth, playful c) TREMBLE, LICK LIPS, ROLL OVER, DUCK HEAD, DROP TO GROUND d) PULLS AWAY, AVOID, MOUTH HANDLER - HARD e) STILL, FREEZE, PUPILS DILATED - TAIL TUCK f) GROWL, SNARL, BARE TEETH, BITE My dogs are mostly likely to fidget and try to get away, but would not mouth handler. Would they still score a (d)?

Thanks. I will give that a go. My dog loves playing with other dogs but after hearing so many horror stories I find it very difficult to trust strange dogs around my dogs. Hope Riddick is healing well.

I don't like taking my dogs to areas where there are unknown offlead dogs. They might be the best dogs in the world but I don't know that so it worries me. However, I do want to take my dogs to the beach. Are there any on-leash only beaches near Sydney where people follow the rule (mostly)??

Totally agree. I read through the Act and it seems like everything is subjective. What's to stop an inspector from saying that feeding bones is cruel so every dog that is fed bones can be seized??? Or is that an improbable extreme? The Companion Animals Act lists the appeal procedure. But there doesn't seem to be any room for appeal in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (NSW). What's to stop an inspector from using this as a personal vendetta (if someone complains against them for any reason?)?

Hi, Based on the other thread, I was wondering what rights RSPCA and other animal welfare agencies have to enter someone else's property and seize animals? Could they actually break into a house to seize dogs/cats? Or is that right limited to the grounds of the property, not the actual house? Also, what legislates this power? Is there a legislative item that specifies these powers?

My goldie is highly food driven (surprise! surprise!). However she has been taught to slow down and doesn't gulp down her food anymore. My elkhound likes food but is not food motivated. He can ignore roasted chicken and peanut butter when he wants to be stubborn .

What about trust? Can dogs experience trust? If not why do they trust a family memeber to say, remove a bone stuck in their mouth, but wouldn't easily let a stranger do that?

This is what I would say too. Sooo many things can go wrong with house sitting. Kennels might not be quite the same for them as playing on the back lawn all day& sleeping on the bed all night, but with a good kennel at least you know their primary role is to keep your dogs locked up safely. I'd holiday a lot happier knowing that my dogs were locked up at 'Fort Knox Kennels' than wondering all the time if while they were out on their walks with a sitter that they were being managed appropriately and whether the environment around them being managed well, and that aunt floss or the meter reader guy didn't leave the gate open etc. Totally agree. If I had housesitters looking after my dogs I would constantly worry about doors being left open, dogs taken to dog parks, dogs allowed to bark!!! I'd much rather put them in a safe kennel.

I met this guy at the dog park with two very very fat labradors. I casually said that they needed to lose weight. He said that he only recently realised that after they went to the vet, which is why they were at the dog park (the dogs were about 5 years old but looked 10). He had thought all this while that labs were meant to look fat!!!!

Possibly, but a number of show people reading this thread will recognise the journalist's name and he does understand dogs. Pampered can mean a lot of different things to different people. Some people I know call my dogs pampered since they are inside all day with us, get the best food and medical treatment and come with us on our holidays.

I bonded with my elkhound the day I saw him at the breeder's as a six week old puppy. I picked him up from the litter and he was the one. When he came home at 8 weeks, he walked in straight as if he owned the house and settled in immediately, which was quite amazing. His breeders warned us that he may not eat or whine for a day or so. But he did none of that. He played with us, had his dinner and promptly went off to sleep. He was a real handful as a puppy, very destructive, super active. But the bond I had with him has never changed. It is as strong as ever. With my goldy, it took a while to bond. When she came home as a puppy, I looked after her but the immediate bonding I had with my elkhound was missing. It was not until she was about six months old that we really bonded.

Thanks jemappelle. I will do that.

I got my first puppy (Elkhound) at 8 weeks and the second (Golden Retriever) at 12 weeks. If I had to do it all over again, I would get my GR at 8 weeks. I felt that I missed out on some valuable bonding time.

Hi Odin-Genie Did this pinned topic get started? I could be just staring at it & not realise cheers Jo-Ann No, there didn't seem to be enough interest!!!

me too :D Calabash recommended - good sensible people Don't they run multiple dogs together in a fenced area? When I visited hem to check out the place there were about 15 dogs in that area with one person supervising them.

I got my second dog because we always wanted two dogs but also as a companion for my first dog. It has worked out really well. They both get one on one time with us including separate walks and play time. But they are also best friends and adore each other. They are also very attached to us. I love watching them play with each other. Two dogs is definitely more work and one has to be prepared for that. But it is worh it.

Took my dogs to the oval for some exercise at 5.30 in the morning. On the way back my OH stopped the car since there was a cat sitting in the middle of the road, looking sort of lost. I got out and picked up the cat and took her to the other side of the road. Stayed with her while my OH drove away with the dogs. The cat started to follow me. I picked her up again and crossed he road. She seemed a bit more confident and started to walk in a particular direction so I left her and walked backed home. OH said I should have brought her home and taken her to the vet for microchip scanning etc. But most people let their cats roam. What would you do in such situations?

Yep, this is pretty well how it is I think. I was asked recently what sort of Enrichment Program I offer for my Grooming dogs. That's so true. People just don't realise that putting unknown dogs together can be dangerous. When I put my dogs in kennels my first priority is to keep them safe. So I don't go to any kennels that run dogs together or put a number of dogs from different households together. While the kennels say that they check for temperament etc to see if the dogs would do well together, I just don't trust anyone else to make those decisions for my dogs. So I prefer kennels that can guarantee that my dogs won't interact with other dogs.

Hi BC Crazy, my dogs will be there for a short stay on 28 Sept. I'll I've you an update when they are back home on 30th Sept. Good luck with your medical treatment.

Update: I did not like Hanrob when I visited the place so cancelled the booking. I have now booked my dogs into Akuna near Hunter Valley. I visited their kennels and it looked like a really good place. My dogs will not interact with any other dogs, but will have AC, bush walks and dam swims, plus they will feed the food I provide.

Same here. My goldie loves to watch TV (I have a 52" HD LCD), particularly if there are any animals on TV. So she can obviously detect images. My elkhound on the other hand is completely oblivious to it. He sits with us while we watch TV but never looks at it. It's like the TV doesn't exist!!!

I am curious. Why is this unacceptable? Wouldn't most dogs turn to look at the person who is petting them? My dogs usually make eye contact when I or anyone else in the household pets them. They are great with strangers and kids and can easily walk around a shopping mall but even if I (leave alone strangers) came from behind and suddenly petted them, they would turn around and look.

Mine love pats and paw at my hand if I take my hand away, or push their face into my hand. However my goldy does a funny thing when being patted. If she is sitting she would sit sideways and offer her profile. It can be perceived as a head turn except that the moment I take my hand away she shoves her face in my hand and paws till I start petting her again.

My elkhound was a highly active puppy, we barely saw him sleep. He wanted to play all the time. We got our Golden retriever when he was six months old. Within a week he had calmed down, was less destructive and the additional bonus was watching them play with each other :laugh: They have continued to be the best of friends, though we do a lot of one on one activities. To the OP: It's more work in terms of training etc, but definitely much better and more satisfying from both human and dog perspective.

That sounds like my dogs :laugh: . I tell my elkhound that he can't possibly be a northern breed!! He likes to find the warmest spot on the bed in winters and curls up there.