Red Fox

Confine her top a crate or pen when you aren't watching her. Buy a dog run for the day if you dont think your courtyard is secure enough. Letting a dog that chews roam around the house unsupervised is asking for trouble IMO. Dick Smiths sells cable tidy things that are great for protecting power cords (try having a cat that eats them!!). Looks like this: At 8 months old she is no longer a teething puppy...

Aussie3, it's a Tibetan Mastiff What's 'not a dog' about a Cape hunting dog? I chose a Wolf on my list :D [nerd] ah but wolves and dogs are the same species, painted dogs aren't even in the same genus :p [/nerd] ^^that

And not really a 'dog' but anyhow..

Depends on the dog. We're in the middle of a 40+ degree heat wave, nights are a minimum of 23 degrees. Mine are still getting walked daily. My pup couldn't give a hoot about the heat. She was out last night in 39 degree heat (around 8pm when the sun had gone down). Walked for 45 mins, ran around in the fountain to cool down and had a ball. Same thing this morning. She doesn't cope without exercise and neither do I! My 3 year old dog doesn't do so well in the heat and is happier laying around under the aircon. He missed his morning walk yesterday and was taken out for an hour at around 9pm when it was cooler instead, we will do the same again tonight.

Kenzie? Horrid? Never!

She was not a lot of fun today in 40 degree heat, barking her head off demanding to do something whilst the rest of us lounged about under the aircon. Remember that poem; There was a little girl, who had a little curl right in the middle of her forehead. And when she was good she was very good indeed, But when she was bad she was HORRID. I swear it was written about Elka

Ness only loves me for my chicken chunkers . Just finished up doing some obedience work with Elka next to rides and sideshows with flashing lights and music blaring. She didn't even bat an eyelid. I love my puppy! ...even if she did try and maul me when I told her we were done and attempt to instigate a game of tug with a plastic straw.

In NSW it's illegal, for anyone breeding dogs. It comes under the DPI enforceable guidelines for dog and cat breeders. And how effective are those laws? How often are they enforced and by whom? I imaging that many BYB's do sell pups too young, unvaccinated, unwormed, unmicrochipped..? In SA it is certainly not illegal to sell a pup under 8 weeks, nor is it illegal to sell the pup unmicrochipped and unvaccinated.

I agree with you. Selling (or more to the point, buying) a 4 week old pup is downright idiotic. I wasn't targeting your posts and appologise if it appeared that way.

Or Dogue, or Lab, or Vizsla... I can't see why it matters though. If you're in Vic, you dont have ANKC papers and your dog 'looks' like a pitbull it IS a pitbull. If your not in Vic its just a boofhead crossbreed like any other.;)

Whether or not the dog has 'pitbull' in him is irrelevent. Pits are lovely dogs, usually with dickhead owners. I'm unsure how your OH can be 'certain that he has pitbull in him' and what it matters..?

It is not illegal to sell a pup under 8 weeks, it's a guideline (and part of the COE for ANKC registered breeders). Here in SA there are pups advertised in the paper as young as 4-5 weeks old every day. Most vets wouldn't bat an eyelid at a 6-7 week old pup. The pup is not going to be 'ruined' because it was taken a few days early. Raised well with correct socialisation he will grow up no different from any other dog. The OP has come here for advice, they already have the pup. Try and be constructive.

You'll need to keep them seperate for now, or perhaps permanently. Muzzling the dogs won't stop them fighting. Give Mark Singer a call.

No worries. If you want the form send me a PM with your email address and I'll send it to you .

Here is a copy of the response I recieved when from CAR last week when asking how to add a microchip to their database. Hope it helps Further to your enquiry, below are details of how to have your pet listed on a National microchip database, providing a 24 hour recovery service for the life of the pet. We have 2 packages for you to choose from, which are: 1) BASIC PACK @ $9.95 – Providing lifetime recovery service, Australia wide, and an Identification Acknowledgement posted or emailed (if provided). 2) STANDARD PACK @ $16.60 – Providing lifetime recovery service Australia wide, A4 sized Certificate of Identification posted to you, numbered external tag & authorised internet access to view & update your own pets microchip record. The required procedure is to make arrangements with your local Veterinary Hospital to have your pet scanned so that they can confirm the chip number. They then must sign the attached form to acknowledge that they have in fact sighted & scanned the animal described on this document. If this is not done, then we are unable to process the form. You then need to ensure that all details are filled in and signed as the owner, & the appropriate box ticked related to the package chosen before forwarding into us with the appropriate payment. Once processed, confirmation will be sent out by way of Certificate or Acknowledgement, depending on the type of package chosen. Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us. Regards, Customer Care, Central Animal Records.

Next time Ness.

It's best to start as you mean to go on. If the OP wants an outside only dog, providing the pup is given food, shelter, warmth, shade, attention and enrichment then what is the problem? The dog would grow up as do 90% of pets in this country... Perhaps not what most here would do but it's reality. Some tips, Gorilla; 7 weeks old is too young for leash walks and yes, a little young to be away from mum and litter mates but not excessively so. With good socialisation now the pup will be fine. Take the pup out NOW and socialise it as much as possible. Expose it to new sights, sounds, people, known dogs, etc. Make it a positive experience for the pup. Avoid areas such as dogs parks or where unvaccinated dogs may roam (until at least after the second vaccination). Avoid situations/environments that you cannot control. Crate train your pup. It will allow you to have him in the house when need be (contained) and give him a safe and comfy place to sleep. Plus having a crate trained dog makes travelling and vet visits much easier for you and less stressful for the dog. It helps with toilet training too. As far as the crying, well it depends why he is crying. I would not give in to attention barking, wait until he is quiet then go to him. However at 7 weeks it's more likely he is crying from distress and/or confusion. Give him a nice big soft toy to cuddle up to, a warm wheat pack if it's cold too. Put a ticking clock under his bed top soothe him. As far as enrichment. The sandpit is a great idea. Paddling pool when it's hot. Kongs, bones and treats inside plastic bottles. A tug toy tied to a tree branch with either rope of thick elastic cord keeps then busy. Squeaky toys, balls, chew toys, etc. Be firm but fair with him, establish the rules now. NILIF is a good one to read up on, also the stickies at the top of the puppy and training forums. Also remember that YOU are his pack now. If you must have him outside make sure you are able to spend adequate time with him. As has been said, with the mess that is BSL make sure you always keep his ANKC papers in a safe place in case there is ever any discrepancy over his breed and raise him well. ETA: puppy development calender: http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/117592-puppy-development-calender/ NILIF: http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/nothingfree.htm

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Your own children/family are much different to a strange child getting in the dogs face. Kids tend to jump, squeal and stare, they are unpredictable and it can be very intimidating for a nervy dog. Start by having the children ignore the dog and work her below threshold, don't allow strange children to approach her or stare at her. Probably a good idea to contact a professional for advice. Perhaps ask K9 Pro about his 'handbrake' technique to get you started. And yes, I have been in the same situation.

Ditto His nose is too short for either of those breeds ;) Cute pup, my guess is that both his parents were cross breeds.

Why would you be concerned that she's crate trained?

There's some more on facebook too ;) Thanks for the pics Ness, they are great

I just can't take nice pics like Ness does.

I think you wore her out Ness, she's still sleeping

I use Rufus & Coco Bug Off spray in summer. Seems to work reasonably well.