gundoglover

I bet that the burglars would support such an action by the council! :D

Well, presumably they go down the pathway towards extinction along with the mass of other species for which humans have no use.

Just to add a bit to the excellent posts above, the small number of dogs involved in establishing a breed is called the "founder effect" and varies from breed to breed. It is related to another concept called the effective population size. For example, even though humans number in the billions, the effective population size has been estimated as low as 7,500 (African humans) and 3,100 (non-African humans) due to the "bottlenecks" that human populations have passed through, particularly the "out of Africa" populations approximately 20,000 years ago (genome.cshlp.org/content/17/4/520.full.pdf). The COI is more relevant to the deviation from assortative mating that is presumed in the mathematical models. Assortative mating assumes that each individual has the same likelihood of passing on its genes to the next generation. However, in practice this is not the case, some individuals through either potency (ie, evolution through survival of the fittest) or human intervention (ie, selective breeding) contribute more genes to the next generation. These may mate with their close relatives, and their descendents may mate with close relatives. The COI is way of measuring this mathematically & can be helpful to track whether populations are losing genetic diversity over time. (The reason that only 5 generations is used to calculate COI's is that the degree of relationship is very small for doublings further back in the generations, ie, less than 1/2^9 = 1/512 = 0.001953125 = 0.1953125%). So, evolutionary pressures (and artificial selection) may result in a population with a high COI but also a very high fitness for their niche. The survival of the fittest mechanism in evolution contributes to the elimination of unfit individuals from the gene pool, either through early death or inability to attract sexual partners. In selective breeding, it is the breeder's task to ensure that only the fittest individuals pass on their genes to the next generation. In addition, the founder effect may be large and the effective population size small but if selection has been towards greater and greater fitness, then this may still result in a relatively fit population. There is a good explanation of effective population size and genetic diversity at www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/Genetic-Drift-and-Effective-Population-Size-772523

Yes, it is worrying, particularly occurring so close to the establishment of the Animal Justice Party. I do hope that this is only coincidence. It might be an idea for the people who were able to put all that information about PETA on this thread to email the information to ABC rural news. Maybe they would consider doing a follow-up story to educate the unsuspecting public.

Yes, I believe that they do work. However they also fail without warning.

From the ABC rural news: Animal rights group sets up shop in Australia Friday, 29/01/2010 Animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, will set up an office in Australia this year. The organisation is currently looking for campaign and media staff, to brief celebrities and manage Australian animal rights campaigns. On its target list is live exports, caged eggs, fur, sow stalls, and more campaigns against mulesing. PETA's Jason Baker says the organisation will pressure Australian industry and companies, but doesn't rule out targeting individual farmers. "When we write to a company, they know if they don't listen to PETA they're probably in for bigger troubles," he says. "That's why most companies do sit down with us and do talk to us." "They see we have all our facts organised about the animals and welfare side of things." A spokesman for the National Farmers Federation says it has no interest in fuelling PETA's campaign, and says PETA can do what ever it likes. The NFF declined the offer of an interview.

No, I don't think that it counts as an animal unless it has a backbone & is cute, preferably fluffy. Not too many people are interested in donating money to stop the 'exploitation' of spiders & insects (eg, bees, that are 'robbed' of their hard work by people). In the same way, people don't care about the distress experienced by plants that are being eaten, cut or cooked. Aspirin (derived from a plant) works to reduce this plant "pain": "Aspirin, the researchers discovered, interrupts the production of a key compound that plants produce in response to physical injury in much the same way that it interrupts in animals the production of the compound that tissue produces when it is hurt, leading to the pain reaction. The function of aspirin in animals is to block the production of prostaglandin, which triggers swelling and pain. Aspirin binds to the active site of the enzyme that is critical to producing prostaglandin. "It essentially renders the enzyme dead and prevents prostaglandins from building up and creating a reaction," said Backhaus. In plants, aspirin blocks the production of jasmonic acid by similarly binding a critical enzyme. "Jasmonic acid is a hormone that is made when plants are in distress. It signals the production of plant-defense compounds -- it works a little like a shot of pain, warning the plant that it is under attack. It can also volatilize and warn nearby plants, a chain reaction that's like a warning signal to other plants." (from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1998/08/980806090010.htm)

Thankfully, I haven't had the dreadful experiences that you have described - how awful to have a litter of pups stolen and rude people gate-crashing your family party! But I, too, was very alarmed that my home address would be placed on a website. In the job that I do to pay for my hobby, I would not want anybody to know my street address & take care to use a PO box & have an unlisted number, etc. If this ruling came in, I would no longer be breeder. I understand that the RSPCA is worried that puppy farmers conceal their activities & send puppies by mail, etc., but depriving the rest of us of the privacy of our homes is surely going too far. Genuine puppy enquirers are welcome to phone or email & make an appointment with me on those few occasions when I have puppies, but for the general public to just have the address & drop in unannounced is not on - I am not running a pet shop!

I agree with this. However, in fairness, the RSPCA is asking for submissions. I assume that MDBA is planning to make a submission, and I agree with previous posters that it would be sensible for us all to do so on those matters where the RSPCA is misguided or ill-informed.

Great article. Thanks for posting.

They make great family dogs for an active family - enjoy!

He looks like a liver tricolour. They are fairly rare. Are you showing him?

You're welcome

Survey on Dept of Primary Industry Website http://new.dpi.vic.gov.au/home An opportunity to have a say on this topic

Thankyou. They are both very interesting.

This is a great story! What a clever boy & soft mouth.

Thankyou, this is a very interesting study. Well worth PM'ing for the whole article. It appears reasonably sound science. The authors have developed a severity of illness scale based on those in use the medicine for humans for the 50 most popular (by UK KC registrations) breeds. Notably the vast majority of disorders were not linked to conformation. Of those determined to be linked to conformation, the table below from the paper summarizes the findings: Table 1 Registrations statistics, number of disorders (including conformational related disorders, C, conformation exacerbated disorders, CD, and disorders not previously linked to conformation, D) and cumulative severity of disorders by breed. Breed Total disorders Cs CDs Cumulative severity Cumulative severity Popularity rank (number Percentage increase in (C + CD + D) range for Cs range for CDs registrations) registrations German shepherd dog 77 13 6 64–123 35–73 5 (12,116) À42.18 Boxer 63 13 5 71–155 18–27 10 (8191) À14.78 Poodle (miniature) 58 17 2 47–113 27–55 48 (1038) À6.82 Retriever (Golden) 58 4 4 17–37 20–38 7 (9557) À35.44 Spaniel (English Springer) 57 15 0 62–138 0–0 3 (14,702) 15.39 Retriever (Labrador) 55 9 2 29–79 10–19 1 (45,079) 25.3 Doberman 53 7 6 21–65 23–47 23 (2437) À16.14 Poodle (toy) 51 14 3 64–134 25–41 33 (1671) À3.35 Spaniel (Cocker) 51 11 0 36–96 0–0 2 (20,883) 47.93 Dachshund (miniature 50 12 4 55–117 19–35 26/42 (2112/1244) 77.93/À27.93 smooth/long haired) Great Dane 50 12 8 51–112 40–74 29 (1897) À6.41 Beagle 45 5 2 18–45 6–10 25 (2124) 126.2 Miniature schnauzer 45 3 1 10–28 7–14 11 (5152) 101.33 Irish setter 44 6 5 41–64 18–42 50 (1029) À28.69 Bulldog 42 16 2 50–150 9–18 41 (1258) 8.35 Basset hound 41 16 3 69–154 7–20 16 (3979) 97.76 Poodle (standard) 41 9 1 51–97 7–12 47 (1057) À19.13 Shar Pei 38 14 1 46–125 2–6 27 (2040) 132.61 Collie rough 37 7 1 37–71 2–10 43 (1196) À48.87 Dalmatian 36 9 2 39–86 13–17 34 (1657) À45.81 West highland terrier 35 7 3 30–75 0–0 9 (8309) À45.09 Shetland sheepdog 34 1 0 7–19 0–0 35 (1655) À31.24 Chihuahua (long/smooth 13 2 56–128 14–26 31/45 (1728/1143) 42.34/114.85 33 coat) Pug 33 16 2 60–145 9–20 17 (3547) 449.07 German short-haired pointer 32 4 2 18–37 12–13 38 (1497) 5.57 Rottweiler 32 5 0 18–46 0–0 14 (4257) À14.07 Weimaraner 31 5 1 14–38 9–13 20 (2724) À0.69 Akita 26 7 0 33–70 0–0 40 (1375) À11.12 Shih tzu 26 7 0 30–68 0–0 12 (51447) 21.05 Yorkshire terrier 26 10 1 47–97 7–14 15 (4055) À54.01 Border collie 25 4 0 16–36 0–0 24 (2359) 5.08 Cairn terrier 25 3 1 11–28 7–14 30 (1873) À18.46 Cavalier King Charles spaniel 25 10 1 51–102 7–12 6 (11422) À10.08 Lhasa apso 24 9 0 40–90 0–0 13 (4713) 40.35 Scottish terrier 24 5 1 19–42 2–10 49 (1031) À19.45 Alaskan malamute 23 3 0 13–28 0–0 44 (1161) 936.61 Bullmastiff 20 9 0 32–78 0–0 37 (1594) À32.37 17 3 1 12–28 7–14 21 (2694) 5.56 Bichon frise Bull terrier 17 4 2 12–32 11–19 18 (3335) 32.18 Border terrier 16 4 1 18–36 2–10 8 (8814) 153.35 Hungarian Viszla 16 4 1 23–37 0–5 46 (1133) 114.58 Siberian husky 15 1 0 3–10 0–0 28 (2000) 151.26 Rhodesian ridgeback 14 5 0 26–53 0–0 36 (1618) 59.25 Tibetan terrier 13 3 0 19–36 0–0 39 (1384) 45.84 Staffordshire bull terrier 11 2 2 6–12 13–21 4 (12,167) 27.23 Whippet 10 5 0 8–27 0–0 19 (3043) À28.69 Retriever (Flatcoated) 8 3 0 9–28 0–0 32 (1527) 18.19 Dogue de Bordeaux 4 1 0 1–9 0–0 22 (2543) 1204.1

Have you had any interest from the media, yet?

Yes

Even the Bateson report has no problems with this level of inbreeding (less than cousins, COI = 3.125%)

Dogs & cats raised together can become friends and provide company for each other. It depends a bit on the cat's previous experiences with dogs & how the cat feels about no longer being the only pet.

I believe that Tobenlee (Victoria), Uwish (Canberra) and Magicbrit (Sutton Forest, NSW) are all expecting litters of Brittanys in the next few months. They all are on the Dogsonline breeder listing. Others on the list may also be expecting/planning litters. Brittany breeders usually don't have to advertise, and often have prospective puppy buyers on their lists, so I suggest that you look at the breeder listings, and contact the ones that interest you.

I wouldn't really call it a precedent. The Darwin RSPCA was sued a few years ago, and lost. The only info I could find http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/nt/content/2003/s1069891.htm BTW: I knew the woman involved, she moved to Vic and was murdered not long ago (not related). Thankyou for this information. You have a good memory!

Two dogs are better than one if they are to be left for long hours. However, I would not suggest getting two puppies at the same time!

Here's my two cents. I think that you'll find that the seminar has been put on primarily as a venue for the uni students to present their research papers and the academic keynote speakers to meet some of the "publish or perish" requirements of their jobs. The signs of this are: 1. it is free 2. only local speakers are presenting keynote papers. If this is the case, then the uni won't have been interested in looking far & wide for appropriate, knowledgeable speakers & there wouldn't be funds to pay for high profile overseas (or even local) invited speakers. I understand that lunch is being provided so that is where any sponsorship moneys will go. However, this is an opportunity for reputable breeders to be represented (at least on the panel), and I would suggest that Vic Dogs, ANKC, MDBA provide volunteers to the organizers for the panel. There may also be space in the program for brief presentations or poster presentations, stalls, etc, during the lunch break. It may be possible to turn this event into an opportunity to promote pedigreed dogs and their responsible breeders, and to challenge some of the misconceptions.