LizT

Okay so Mum has made the decision that she can't rehome or return the dog. Mum has got ALOT of learning coming her way. Hope she has enrolled herself in puppy school and follows through beyond the standard 4 weeks or so! Perhaps she'll be surprised at what she can achieve. Yeah, yeah I'm usually hopeful.

Not quite...Dogs are for children with adults willing to put in the work!!! I've seen this scenario before, many years ago. Poor pooch ends up being surrendered with massive issues.

Just stumbled across this thread. All the healing vibes and well wishes being extended to Zoey coupled with the German Shepherd fighting spirit and the special care and TLC she's receiving gives your little girl EVERY chance of getting through this. If they do let her go home soon keep a very watchful eye on her condition.

Well done....and a lovely photo to boot. Brave photographer....kids AND animals LOL

Of my three cavs one has a "stronger" odour than the other two. The mother and daughter don't seem to have as strong a doggy smell, fortunately the one who carries a stronger doggy odour is shown regularly so is bathed weekly or at a stretch fornightly if not going to a show. I do find when they are outside playing in fine weather they can get a bit smelly but compared to the German Shepherd they really don't carry a strong doggy smell. All my dogs get regular grooming between baths. You can try regular brushing between baths with a powder/grooming spray or bi carb soda lightly spinkled in their coat to absorb the smell, then brushed out thoroughly. That's provided the smell isn't coming from anal glands or bad teeth or ear infections which all need checking regularly.

"Chortle chuckle!"

I heard that someones car got broken into and a handbag was stolen at Eltham last weekend. I think there were some 'bad' people about. Hopefully your lead was picked up by a 'goodie'. Fingers crossed.

I was so amazed the first time I ever saw that!!! Chooks are omnivores after all. Problem is mice like to raid feed supplies when the chooks are sleeping.

I think the best defence against rodents is keeping your food in sealed containers. Everything in my pantry is sealed so there is no food source for the little fellas to bother coming in for. I use an ultrasonic device to repel them, it seems to help. I have three cats so if one is unlucky enough to come into the house I usually inlist the assistance of my personal "pest control". I use rat and mouse bait in the roof cavity as rats have been known to make their homes in there (evident by droppings). I have chooks and horses so I only feed the chooks in the morning, and don't keep 'feeders" even the suspended ones as even though the mice can't get to them the food attracts them still. All the horse feed containers are well sealed and the feed room (a garden shed that is sealed) has a concrete floor so nothing gets in. Hopefully the field mice will stay in the field where they eat seeds etc. and serve a useful role as a food source for the beautiful raptors (Wedge tailed eagles, Peregrine Falcons, Owls etc) that I often see flying around the Yarra Valley. A mouse plague is caused by inbalance and an abundance of supply. Killing one or two mice wont prevent a plague but keeping a lid on the food source will help keep your local population under control.

My sister found a lovely breeder in London and now is the proud owner of a beautiful Chocolate Miniature Poodle boy called Louis. They have had him for just over a week and are besotted! (Of course)

Because unless you then excluded these dogs from competing from BOB, most judges would not bother walking past the head of the line for BOB... "Hmmm....do I choose the titled champion...or should I go for this up-n-comer puppy??" That's probably the same reason no one bothers to offer the "Novice Class" ie. never having been placed at Shows. No one wants a neon sign above their dog saying "Loser" LOL

I think the main reasons for this was that the entire household and neighbour were at the hospital being tended for their wounds and most probably suffering from shock. I don't think Buster would have been formost in their thoughts at this point either. It is most likely the Press were quite a way away from the home itself, probably over the road using a zoom lenses.

I've heard of a number of schools now that have a "school dog" that attends various classes. Generally it does tend to help settle a class, provided the dog is there as a regular and not random visitor. Also imperative that the teacher in charge is knowlegable about children with dogs, it's fine in principle but it could also easily go "pearshaped" depending on the true suitability of the dog brought in. No-one has really "vetted" or tested the animals suitability to this task. Perhaps also a little self indugent for the teacher/owner.

I think charges should have been laid....against the drunken idiot for abusing the dog!!!!!

The same thing would happen if it was made that rare breeds receive no points for not beating anything. We just do not have the numbers in a whole heap of breeds for much competition here in Austalia. 6 or 7 point challenges are it the majority of the time, and not by choice for most of us! Each and every judge has to sign their name that each and every challenge winner is worthy of their champion title. im currently handling a rare breed... and i totally agree people give me crap cause she rarely has competition... but at the end of the day she fits the standard and is worthy of the title otherwise she would be non awarded!! and rightly so!! When I titled a rare breed in the mid 1980's many a judge told me that my bitch was an excellent specimen who deserved the CC and that if they didn't think so they would not have presented it to her. So yes, rightly so and don't take the crap!

exactly !!! let's not "cheapen" our Ch titles. I agree..it's a big buzz when your dog gets chosen over one that is already titled!! Should be 'bonus " points for that! LOL

You can't pull the wool over my ewes!!! Ahem eyes!! Poor little neglected dog....

I must be missing something. Pretty much everyone agrees that breed shouldn't matter, and that pitbulls should get the same assessment that Goldens do. Why wouldn't you agree with that? I think it matters in sofar as in "If you have a breed that is programmed to attack ie. strong fighting instincts you are forwarned that an attack has a higher likelihood of occurring than a more placid breed would, so you have odds stacked in your favour or against depending on certain breeds and hopefully you have chosen a breed that is within the confines of your ability and situation as a family and as a dog trainer/handler. In that respect breed does well and truly come into it.

I agree with this wholeheartedly and hope that one day this will happen. My frustration in this whole event was the different way it was treated by the media which I believe was due only to the dog's breed. In fairness to the media I think they are as shocked and surprised as your average Joe Citizen that a Goldie attacked it's family. Sure it's a dog and ANY dog is capable of attacking for various different reasons....but you have to admit, I think most people (experienced dog handlers/owners included) must have done a double take when they heard a Goldie turned on it's family? I think the media is just expanding on everyones surprise...it's not your "standard dog" attack story. Despite the fact that many "unlikely" breeds can and do in fact go off the rails. It doesn't always make the press.

NO. Buster is NOT being put to sleep for JUST being a dog being a dog. He is being PTS for being a dog that attacked people. The biggest crime in Dogdom of which the penalty is the biggest to pay. Very sad non the less.

Actually, it's not over the top at all. With young toddlers you literally DO have to watch them 100% of the time. And as often seen for very good reason. I know of a case a few years ago of a toddler choking to death in a tangle on a frayed towel on the line in the backyard! Ask your mum, she'll tell you!

Damn...I've something in my eye...again.

Poor Charlie. I'm sure he was fine though. Must have missed Em and visa verca??? My OH toileted the dogs the other night and left the eldest, Bonnie outside as she was still sniffing around. After some time we noticed this sad faced pressed up against the front door glass. OH got up and said, "Sorry we have plenty of Cavaliers don't need any more ...try next door, they don't have a dog" as he opened the door anyway! Poor Bonnie.

I have to say over the years I have met one or two dogs that have "needed" a good swift kick!!!!

Quote Bartok Very true Koalathebear I distinctly remember reading on this forum a thread a few years ago about a Rodesian Ridgeback breeder who culls puppies born without a ridge...clearly not a deformity issue, however she stated there were great difficulties in homeing a non ridge ridgeback (I would imagine most people who want a Rigeback also want the ridge?!) This was her difficult decision as a breeder and one she had to deal with. As breeders we all have to make decisions regarding the future of litters we breed, pre and post birth. I ceratinly wouldn't make a judgement on another breeders choices if I haven't walked in her shoes. Maybe I am naive or a bleeding heart, but you cull a puppy because it doesnt have a ridge? If the pups are in good health and will make fantastic pets, why wouldnt you think of asking a rescue group to take them or do their vet work and still rehome them? Well, that is exactly what I thought when I read that particular thread a few years ago...but the breeder stated that there were great difficulties in placing a non ridged ridgeback and that culling off was the kinder option available to her. I can't find the thread but that is the gist of what I recall. I mean I don't know anything about breeding that particular breed of dog but I imagine it occurs in some litters? I guess she can't keep dropping "rescues" off continually can she? Really, I'm in no position to judge, just stating it as an example of situations faced by breeders that I have read about. I do know that some breeders of very large litters cull of the small and weaker ones to give the stronger pups a better chance of continuing to be strong and healthy and to help mother out.