megan_

Question: What is the ANKC doing to ensure that good breeders rights are protected but puppy farmers are stopped? Are they advising the relevant minister? Drafting policy position statements? Just ignoring the issue will only give more power to the RSPCA. Change is going to happen. It is in the public eye now. The only decision now is how to influence the legislation. The whole puppy farming thing was a good way for the ANKC to stend apart from bad breeders. Sadly, I think that opportunity has been missed. Jed - Freedom Kennels was one of the biggest puppy farms in Australia. They changed tack when the owner died. To my knowledge, all sales were via the internet. I am all for good legislation. When you write legislation without clear intent (eg I want to dogs living in awful conditions so I'll outlaw pet shop sales) you don't really address the problem and the enteprising puppy farmers will find a new outlet (be they markets, internet sales, party plan etc).

i never put my hand in my dogs food nor do i take it away from her but i can assure you that if she has anything in her mouth that i want she drops it immediately. she will also refuse food until i give her an ok. imo if a dog is hungry it makes them anxious if the food is removed and i bekieve it is cruel. my dog does not get fed until she has looked at me and i give a release word. in this way she understands i control the food and she controls when she gets it, ie the quicker she is calm the sooner she eats. yip - I trained "give" as a separate exercise. Koalabear - a dog might let someone take their food away from them 100 times, and then, when they hit the age where they try to assert themselves - suddenly attack out of nowhere. If you take food away from a dog all you are teaching them is "when you/child comes along, I might lose my meal" - this can be enough provocation to attack. Just because a dog has accepted a behviour 100 times, doesn't meant htey are going to accept it on the 101st. Doesn't matter if mum is 1m away, the attack happens in milliseconds. I do, however, add treats to my dogs bowls when they are finishing up (they rarely eat out of bowls) or help them get the last morsels of food out of their treat balls (I say "I'll help you" and then approach). They know that when I approach, good things happen. They still get used to someone being around if they have their food, but the risk of them resource gaurding is MUCH less significant. staffygirl - I am sorry that all of this has happened at a bad time. I remember being so overwhelmed by my (very well behaved!) pup that at one stage I just wanted to drop him off at the RSPCA and drive off! Now, I couldn't ever imagine doing that. It is hard when they are being naughty and you just want 5 mins to yourself. Good luck! Ignore the "get a stuffed toy" crowd and pick out the posts that help you the most. The one thing I will say is that just because something has worked for you in the past, doesn't mean it is the best thing for this dog. Try to assess each piece of advice objecvtively and go from there.

Bubby made Daddy do all the work. Bubby 1 Hoomins 0

There were 50+ pages on Judy. If you feel that her plight has been ignored, start another topic. This has nothing to do with Judy. If you have issues with the legislation that got Judy into a bind I suggest that you: i) Personally arrange a meeting with your local MP to update them on the situation and let them know what you want. ii) Organise a rally iii) Ask DogsVic what they are doing about the situation, especially since they knew that the legislation was coming in but didn't seem to fully inform members. This is a topic about puppy farmers. It is not about the RSPCA and it isn't about Judy. What is YOUR solution for them? One this is certain, if the ANKC and breeders try to run away from this topic, they WILL be adversely impacted - and rightly so. The ANKC should be the leaders in getting rid of these scum. If they are worried how legislation is going to impact them, they should draft proposed legislation that protects the rights of good breeders and stops the bad breeders. They should be meeting with MP's, party backroom wheelers and dealers, the RSPCA etc. ETA: It is my understanding that the RSPCA reports to a Minister (Primary Industries or some such). IF this is right, then there is someone to complain to. And better yet - they get elected every 4 years and you can vote with your feet.

Discuss it with them first. They might like visits from your boy, but not have a full-time pup. My father has said that if anyone buys him a dog as a gift they get taken out of his will. Regarding dogs that look like wolves, never, ever buy a dog based on its looks. It can, and does, lead to many dogs (eg huskies) living in pounds because they are beautiful but a lot different from what owners expect. My cousin gave her parents a puppy as a gift - but they were the ones that selected the breed and breeder etc. She just paid the $. They love him and he is part of their family. He is very active but her 70+ year old parents are too and their dog gets more exercise than most.

I have met some very nervy collies though - and they were well socilaised from pups (and not just let out at the dog park to "make friends" either.

$30-40 depending on time. I live in the SE suburbs, much closer to the airport than KCC and it costs me at least $50 each time.

OT - but horses have toys????

Isn't it a bit early for Christmas? You are requiring your owners to plan ahead. I only start thinking about Christmas puppies on the 23rd. I assume you have enough stock to cover late orders? I am looking for a dog that won't wee in my house, looks great, is great with kids, comes pre-trained....

I don't agree with this. I ask about price because I can't afford to spend $3000. There is no point wasting a breeder or my time when I can't afford what they're selling. I love my dogs very much, and while I'm not a perfect owner they are fed a good balance of raw and premium, they are walked twice a day, they are obedience trained and do agility for fun. I am, compared to many owners I see, a good dog owner. My dogs are well behaved and content. I think that when there are set "rules" and people get rejected for asking the "wrong" question to early on then good homes get passed up. I think you need to spend time talking to potential homes and getting to know them, rather than dismissing people early on.

I would say that Kuma is smart enough to pick up the real emotions under the surface. Regardless, dogs shouldn't harrass people because their owner's don't like them. The OP recognises this and has posted for help. I really can't stand my sister, but when she comes to my house I don't expect my dogs to mouth her. Some people think that all dogs are stable and have some sort of magical power where they can read minds. They can't. They are very good at reading body language. What if an innocent person gives off the wrong body language? Are they fair game? Let's hope the next "Dupree" isn't a kid. ETA: To the OP, I hope you don't feel that people are "blaming" Kuma. That isn't the case. Rather, people are responding to the posters who are posting (very irreponsible) advice that dogs can make judgments on who is "good" or "bad" and you should just accept that they may hurt someone. It is that kind of advice that leads to attacks, an injured person and a dog usually paying with its life. I hope you see a behaviourist soon and things get sorted.

Lot's of human products are used for dogs? Vets prescribe them. They're often much cheaper from a chemist than from a vet.

A woman down my road now walks her staffy on a muzzle. She only walks him on-leash at on-leash areas (no parks etc) but due to the number of "friendly" off leash dogs that approach him (he is very reactive) HE now needs a muzzle. How unfair is that?

While I think the visitor is rude, letting the dog carry on like this is dangerous. It is the OP's house - SHE decides who comes and goes, not the dog. Dogs don't judge "character", they judge body language. My girl, who was abused, is fearful of everyone. Should I distrust every human on the planet?

Spring has sprung? Maybe try putting him on the original version and reducing his meals? How much does he weigh?

While I don't agree with the sentiment in poodiful's posts (and lumping a whole lot of dogs together) I think it is very obvious that some breeds have the potential to harm more than others and that more careful management is required? I have made a million mistakes with my boy, but he isn't from a breed(s) known for being dominant or guarding. He is easy going, non-confrontational and is great with people (pretty neurtal to those he doesn't know but not an ounce of aggression toward them). If he had been another dominant, powerful breed, the end result of my naivety (sp) could have been very different. People like different breeds because they are...different. If all breeds are equal we wouldn't have breed enthusiasts.

I'd focus on building problem solving and not care about the actual end result and tricks/obedience moves. So lots of free shaping and problem solving games.

Agree - but it depends on the fine print. If an orange juice says "Made with organic oranges" it doesn't mean that it is organic orange juice - just that the oranges used to make it are organic. The preservative used for this juice was 220 - which is a synthetic sulphide. What I'm saying is I'd buy organic pet food, but not "pet food made with organic meat and lots of other crap but we'll call it Nature's Way or something and you won't read the fine print".

Despite what some people on DOL might believe, there is absolutely nothing wrong with responsibly rehoming a dog. Do what is best for your family and the dog.

It depends. I bought organic orange jiuce yesterday that had preservatives in it. I am far more concerned about the additives than the organic nature of the base content. For me to buy it, it would have to be artificial additive free.

Dog's Name My mobile # micorchipped desexed (on the girl's one, lest someone think they can nab her to breed) I like having their name on the tag - if they are out, they might come up to someone if they call their name

I would think that was already law. I don't want to live in a place where dogs are allowed to roam free on the streets!

I agree with the sentiment of the article, and many people blame their dog for being dumb when they haven't tried different techniques to teach the dog. I know people who say their dogs are dumb for not knowing "off" but when I ask them if they've actually TAUGHT the dog what "off" means they look at me like I'm hte one who'd stupid. That said, I think there can be varying levels and types of intelligence in dogs. My boy Fergus is a true problem solver. When he gets his kong, he throws it against the wall to loosen the food first. When we clicker train he knows that he needs to try different things to get his click. He has me in stitches with the things he comes up with. When I got rid of the dog door he "solved the problem" by knocking on teh back door when he wanted to go out - I never taught him that, and he'd had the dog door for 2 years. Lucy - who knows more commands that Fergs - is not a problem solver. She has looks on her side though! When she gets her kong, she sticks her tounge in and licks, pushing the food back into the kong. SO she licks harder, pushing it back more etc. I have done clicker training with her for 6 months, lots of loading the clicker in different places, doing different things etc, but bless her heart, she just isn't a problem solver. She knows click means treat, but will sit for 20 mins looking at me lovingly waiting for another click. She is smart, but maybe her horrible start to life has stunted some of her development?

Maybe for you Chewy, but not all mums are super mums. No need to project on the OP - she can have a think about the factors hereself.

I know all breeds need training and any breed can be boistrous, but there's a huge difference between owning a labrador pup and a whippet pup, esp when it comes to children in the household. I'd be more inclined to wait until the youngest child is at least 4yo. Preferalby older though. Just my opinion. Good luck with whatever you decide. Agree. You have to remember that labs are working dogs and are very active. With 3 young kids, how much exercise and training can you honestly give it? Some people can give enough, some people can't, only you will know... ETA: and I agree with PF - what are you looking for in a dog? what can you give it? Labs are great dogs for the right people, but there are many labs in rescue because people thought they are great family dogs that don't need much training or exerecise.