jacqui835

You think the government should buy land and facilities , and then only allow certain people to use them, based on a doggy personality test? I don't think you will convince any government that that is an effective use of money in promoting responsible animal ownership. The more dogs you mingle, the higher the chance that there will be incidents of 'irresponsibility.' The reward for being a responsible dog owner is already there. The dog is safe and happy. Never thought I'd say this but I agree with Greytmate. I would not consider that an incentive anyway, there are lots of off-lead areas available - and whilst I've had a couple of incidents, I haven't seen anything yet (in 2 states and visiting just about every off-lead area around) that would make me stop going. You get better at identifying dogs that are going to be problems, and I'll just leave now if I see something I don't like and go elsewhere. May have to drive a bit further but you can always find somewhere safe for your dog to run off-lead and happy. Even in Centennial Park, Sydney, you could avoid the popular areas and just spend quality time with your dog. If you want to play with other dogs, organise play dates with responsible owners you know, or people from these forums - I've done it and it's been very successful. I don't want to have to leave my dog at home all the time when I have taken the time, and hence know that he is not a liability. That would be a great incentive for me. And for others. Because I have been asked by a few doberman owners how I can sit outside a cafe with my dog, when other large dogs walk past who try to have a go at him and yet my dog ignores them - they have to leave their dogs at home. And the general public needs to see is that we're not the exception, and that most dogs can be trained to the point where they will be non-reactive unless there is a real threat. And if they can't well I would be arguing we need to revise our breeding standards - but that's a whole other argument and one I won't go into here...

I haven't needed to desex my male dogs (and finally have a vet who understands that ), but I did have my cat desexed the other day and without opting for any extras it was around $110. Both testicles had descended and imo, were very prominent for a 5 month old lol so I had him done a month early. I did think this was a bit steep, given that I've seen first hand what's involved in castrating males - probably took them 5 minutes at a stretch but oh well, needed to be done. What did annoy me a little though is that the vet nurses try to sign you up for all kinds of extras so that the procedure could have cost over $350 when from what I've seen, I doubt they have many easier or quicker procedures than a male castration when both testicles have descended...

Well, how about if your dog just needed to pass a temperament test and some basic commands, particularly recall? I agree that there's more to good dog ownership than obedience training. I was thinking more along the lines of proving your dog to be sociable and responsive. No, but it would make your dog fail any tests. If the dog is aggressive, it may not be your fault or within your control but that doesn't we could let dangerous dogs Who would do the test and whose temperament test would be used? One of my dogs is dog agressive, she would fail any temperament test. Does that then put me in the irresposible owner category? No, but it would make your dog fail any tests. If the dog is aggressive, it may not be your fault or within your control but that doesn't we should increase the chances of negative dog incidents. Most dogs won't be aggressive when properly trained and socialised, but of course there will be exceptions. For the people who go to the effort to train their dogs though and create dogs that are unlikely to ever cause any trouble, there should be benefits and they should be allowed to have their dogs with them in more situations.

You can stop them pushing harder by teaching them a new way to get what they want. If you teach them that the second they leave you alone and stop carrying on, you will call them over and give them a calm pat, they will do what they need to do to get what they want. I did this with my other dog, and this guy at the beginning. Then I just became slack and now well, we have about 60 seconds of madness when I get home but I can ignore him and he goes back to his old ways. Say if I'm on the phone or something, he's still happy to see me but I can just turn away and he finds something else to do till I'm ready for him.

Desexing your dog doesn't correlate to any improvement in behaviour. Statistically, many of the people who can't be bothered to train or socialise their dogs are hardly going to desex them - so it's a correlation but not a conclusive factor. If people focused more on training and looking after their dogs, desexing would become less necessary because there wouldn't be so many out of control roaming dogs. Desexing is treating a symptom, not the cause. Funnily enough I doubt these people are registering their dogs either. Pay to desex, or pay more to register? Probably just don't register, in most cases, any dog having unplanned litters is not a dog that anyone cares about too much.

I completely support this idea and was talking about it in one of the other threads. I don't think the incentive factor is so important as is the whole, people will see more dogs in more places behaving well. People need to understand what is possible, and what is expected for the average dog owner. As it is now, people almost think it's the norm for dogs to pull on their leads, to not come when called, to steal food off strangers, jump on everyone they see etc. If you have a dog that walks nicely on the street, or sits when it's told, comes when it's called etc - well people stop me and ask me how I trained my dog - like it's some sort of miracle or I own a special breed that can be trained. They can never believe that I have trained him myself and never sent him off to boot camps, or how young he is, or of course that he's entire and yet ignoring their dog going crazy on the end of the lead. I don't know how this happened, but this is what perturbs me most. Of course I know that some people here have dogs that are DA and not normal, but most are. Most dogs can be taught to walk on a lead, most can be taught not to jump up and we have people on these forums with spitz breeds and hounds with good recall so there's no excuse for the rest of us and I think society needs to see more of that. The people with the badly behaved dogs need to become the exception.

Lol yes, Sammy knows what time I get home, so he's waiting at the gate, and I can't help myself, I'm excited to see him too. I get changed out of my work clothes first thing and then let him in and the fun begins. Often he is so excited he has to grab a toy if he can, then he comes over for hugs. Poor kitty has to wait his turn. If I wanted to stop it though I guess I would just completely ignore him, wait until he stops noticing me (even if it's only for a second), then call him over and say hello. Just do it on your terms - and don't just ignore, condition and reward the behaviour you want. ETA My dog has no separation anxiety when left alone at home - he knows I come and go as I please. What he doesn't like is when I leave him with someone else (like ask someone to hold him whilst I go to the bathroom or something), he will often carry on a bit then, and won't move from the spot I left him.

Not to mention a racing champion

More than likely it was separated from it's mum by about 4 weeks so she'd come back into season quicker so they could breed another litter with her. Very sad

My original comment was in response to someone saying they supported the idea of banning pitbulls and just getting on with life, like just giving up and expecting no reprecussions: "So these breeds go. What's the stop these people (because you're acknowledging it's the people creating these weapons) from going out and buying another breed and raising it tough? My dog is known as the happy dog, who always has love to spare. But I know that raised differently he could have been trouble, and at 40+kg's, able to run at over 50km/hr and the biggest teeth we've seen on a dog (at my schutzhund dog club it's something they often talk about), well he could easily seriously injure if not kill someone. So what do we do? Ban each breed as they're chosen by irresponsible people who shouldn't own dogs? Or to be safer, just ban every dog that under any circumstances could be capable of seriously injuring a human? Like other people have said - every dog above knee height? But don't forget the lovely little daschund that castrated a newborn baby... And there was a case of a papillon managing to kill a doberman so really, what would we have left? When everyone knows the problem is the people and not the dogs - (how else could we have therapy pitbulls etc), the only way that banning dog breeds could prevent all dog bites would be to ban all dog breeds." I then posted comments about other breeds causing problems to demonstrate that should they attract the wrong sort of owners, they too could end up the targets of BSL (ie there was nothing about their breed that would protect them and make them immune).

I certainly wasn't looking to make a warning list of breeds to watch out for, I was trying to make the point that any breed is capable of doing damage - and so to address the problem we would be better off trying to tackle the other factors involved - ie owner responsiblity and awareness. I don't believe there's anything to be gained from targeting or banning any particular breed, not pomeranians, not dobermans and not pittbulls.

Ummm.. It's nothing like apartheid. Ok poor analogy I admit ........how about this a smoker in a room of non smokers. Yeah but smokers are hurting other people - passive smoking is a proven cause of cancers etc. I have no issue with people smoking - I think you should be able to do what you want to do to your body, but, it's not fair that others should be hurt by your actions. Having your dog with you if it's well-behaved does not hurt anyone (unless they're allergic or something).

So I have a dream... A new title - one that actually means something to everyone. Community dog (or something - haven't worked out the specifics). Maybe Well-mannered, well-adjusted dogs - something to convey that. Dog is tested for DA, HA, basic obedience, tolerance of children and annoying people, loud noises etc. Basically you have a dog that will just follow you around, maybe help carry your stuff if you have a big one - Sammy loves helping with the groceries with his backpack, lie down at your feet when you're waiting etc. If the dog passes, said dog can accompany their owners to many more locations (ie I could have my dog with me at work). Thing is, if we had more well-behaved dogs out on display, and real incentives to train your dogs, more people would potentially get on board, and dog understanding and education would be improved across the general population.

Well, to be honest, I wish that would happen on more beaches around me... But I acknowledge that things might be different if I owned a smaller dog. I don't know, I never seem to get approached by off-lead dogs, plus my dog is non-reactive. But like for example, a new lady has recently moved into our street and owns a very large german shepherd and our dogs had been eyeing each other off ever since. So the other day, she happened to be walking her dog when I came home, and we started chatting. She asked if I would mind letting us introduce our dogs, so they didn't have to be so silly about each other anymore. We introduced them, 2 entire males, about the same size and they got on very well, Sammy was play bowing and her dog looked very relaxed (he was a year or 2 older) and both looking at us and whining a bit because they wanted to be allowed to play. So now my dog no longer gets all restless when they walk past and her dog just looks at Sammy and no longer barks. I don't know, maybe big dog owners and different and I barely notice the small dogs... I lie, I am petrified when I see bully breeds off-lead around the streets, doesn't happen often but when it does, half the time I leave my dog in a down stay, walk over to the dog if it's following us from a distance and really tell it off and to go home. I know I'm breedist, but my dog has only been attacked 3 times and all 3 were bullies. I'm not scared of them personally at all, they never seem HA. But I hate the way they stare intently at Sammy and follow him.

I get so scared when I have to hand a lost dog in. Just the other day, I found a jack russel whilst I was out walking Sammy and he was running across roads. Well fortunately he was very friendly and so I put Sammy's lead on him and just held Sammy by the collar. I tried to follow him for a while to see if he would lead us back to his own, and asked at every house he showed interest in, but no-one had ever seen him before. So I took him home and took him to the vet. The vet said to me that heaps of pets go missing at this time of year, because their owners go on holidays and leave them with strangers and they escape. She also said heaps of pets get put down because it takes them too long to contact the owners I was petrified at that point that I'd sentenced this dog to death so I filled out all this paperwork saying that if no-one claims him I'd mind him and search for his owners myself. Fortunately he had a happy ending, but when you get told things like that - I just know if it was Sammy I would just be inconsolable if he got put down or something and I get scared for other owners - especially older people who don't always have mobiles or understand how to update their microchip details.

Your dog is a cross breed, is he not ? I have no idea why you continue to refer to him as a "breed" that he is not No ideas? Perhaps because it's easier, and for the most part he looks and acts like one? (according to people much more experienced with the breed than myself - working doberman trainers from my sports club etc) His mother is pure doberman, his father has a grandparent that was a rottweiler. The rest are all pure dobermans. But of course you're right, he's a doberman cross. I guess I didn't see how it could matter in this particular context? It doesn't matter to me one way or the other though - I've made no secret of it and you know I think I have the best dog in the world lol. And you're more than welcome to correct me everytime I do - if there's anyone on these forums who doesn't already know...

My dog has grown a little less silly as he ages, but he has sped up! As a baby doberman his paws were way too big and he tripped over all the time, he was the laughing stock of the dog park. But now, he looks like a deer when he runs and boy can he run (clocked him at 50+km). He was a bit of a nervous puppy too, whereas now, he'll take anything and all challenges on - whether it's weird guys who come up to me at night or big waves at the beach. I was told by breeders that dobermans don't become proper adults until 3, and then for a lot of dobermans 6 is old. Fingers crossed he lives longer than that - I refused to buy from anyone who didn't have dogs that were 12+ years old in the lines. I will be very sad the day that he starts to slow down My last dog was a terrier cross and lived to be at least 15 (we didn't know how old he was when we got him). He was his usual self until about 2 weeks before he died, then he deteriorated so quickly we barely had time to say goodbye. I remember taking him to the vet at like, 13-14 years old, and he leapt up onto the examination table. We didn't ask him to and were about to lift him up but he was just amazing right up until the end. The vet used to joke that it was because he was entire and had a reason to live lol he was pretty keen on the ladies.

Well I'm not convinced that you need to worry about catching Meningococcal or Meningitis from your pooch - I mean maybe if they have fleas and the fleas have bitten another human with it (or a pig, I think we share some viruses with them?) and then maybe you hug your dog and the flea bites you... But all in all, that particular link says if you have a compromised or deficient immune system, beware of your dog. People with compromised immune systems need to be careful of just about everything - who knows whether they got sick from their dog, or sick from something else? Supposedly most of us catch our colds from touching things touched by other sick people - like handles on the bus and lift buttons. Maybe they did that - the link just talks about how some people are sick and they also happen to have a dog... I don't like other people's dogs licking me either - kind of like how I wouldn't want to be hugged by a complete stranger. But my own poochy - well let's just say, if he could make me sick, I'd be sick by now. My partner just saw this thread and told me something I would have preferred not to know lol. He gets ingrown toenails all the time and so has to cut his nails a special way etc but sometimes they get ingrown anyway. Before he lived with me and Sammy, they supposedly got infected all the time and he had to go to the doctor every time it happened. Now he reckons he lets Sammy 'clean' it for him after he removes the nail, and he hasn't needed to go to the doctor about it once in almost 2 years... But I don't know I feel about Sammy licking me when he's also treating my partner's ingrown toenails :s

Hahaha you sound like my OH Omg I can't take that either, it tickles!

I don't love the sensation, but I do let him a bit anyway. He is not an excessive licker, in fact, you're pretty lucky if you do get licked - even if you have food on your hands. The only time he really licks me is when we're having a bit of a hug session - I will wrap my arms around his head and pat his head, ears and neck, and in return, he wraps his head around my arm and licks my wrist and arm a couple of times. He looks up into your eyes when he does this which makes it kind of sweet. I think it's his way of showing affection. That said, if I do have a cut, he is desperate to lick it but it just makes me feel a bit gross. If he does manage lick it though I don't really care, just move it out of the way because again I know he's just trying to help. Funniest thing is bandaids, he tries to groom them off. Actually I lie, there is one time when he's a big licker - right after you get out of the shower, he will (if he can) try to help "dry" you by licking your legs - this neither my partner nor I am keen on.

it isn't a cat vs dog thread Lol I know but you know what I mean... The, "Do you like cats and dogs" thread then.

Well I didn't want to go OT in the "cats vs dogs" thread but I am really interested to see what people think about letting their dogs lick you. For anyone interested: A study published recently found that active components in canine saliva were effective in treating and preventing acne. Even more surprisingly, patients treated with canine saliva solutions saw better results than control groups treated with expensive, celebrity-endorsed acne medications. "There are a number of components of dog saliva that have been shown by scientific research to act against infection or to promote healing, but this is the first evidence that canine saliva, which helps dogs clean and disinfect wounds, can also help humans maintain clear skin." At least one company has already attempted to capitalize on the study's findings -- last week, French skincare giant Bonpeau launched PawActiv, a line of skincare products that contain varying levels of canine saliva. Despite its cheeky title, a spokesperson for the line maintained that it is a serious product with serious results. "Our customers are able to see beyond any stigma associated with canine saliva, and realize that as a treatment for acne it is very effective -- and reasonable."

Omg it gets better. For anyone suffering from acne or who knows someone who does... A study published recently found that active components in canine saliva were effective in treating and preventing acne. Even more surprisingly, patients treated with canine saliva solutions saw better results than control groups treated with expensive, celebrity-endorsed acne medications. "There are a number of components of dog saliva that have been shown by scientific research to act against infection or to promote healing, but this is the first evidence that canine saliva, which helps dogs clean and disinfect wounds, can also help humans maintain clear skin." At least one company has already attempted to capitalize on the study's findings -- last week, French skincare giant Bonpeau launched PawActiv, a line of skincare products that contain varying levels of canine saliva. Despite its cheeky title, a spokesperson for the line maintained that it is a serious product with serious results. "Our customers are able to see beyond any stigma associated with canine saliva, and realize that as a treatment for acne it is very effective -- and reasonable."

There is nothing hygienic about dog saliva! No idea where you heard that from. "In a study done at the University of California, Davis, researchers found dog saliva killed E. coli and Streptococcus canis, another harmful bacteria. The scientists concluded that when mother dogs licked their nipples it helped keep puppies free from disease, and that dogs licking their own wounds accomplished the same goal." "Another reason for the reduction of growth in these bacteria is an enzyme called lysozyme, which kills dangerous bacteria by lysing them. Lysing means that the lysozyme attaches itself to the cell wall of the bacteria and weakens it until the point where the cell wall ruptures and the bacterium dies. This is especially true for gram-positive bacteria, such as the Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and E. coli being tested in this experiment." They advise that so long as your dog is up to date with all parasite control (ie wormed), it's safe to accept their kisses. Worms are about the only thing you can catch from a dog. Cat saliva on the other hand can kill - like a Komodo dragon their saliva is full of harmful bacteria. I know this first hand because I used to keep rats and the crazy thing was a tiny fang puncture from a cat was much more serious than a big wound by a dog. So long as they didn't die from the initial attack from the dog, they almost always recovered. If their flesh was broken by the cat's teeth, they needed antibiotics asap or they were as good as dead. ETA: It's no co-incidence that people are much more likely to be allergic to cats than they are to dogs (more than 3x more likely) - their saliva is nasty. Dog saliva may be safe to 'accept kisses', but I certainly would never risk ANY animal licking an open wound of mine, regardless of any studies. Those studies don't take into account what that animal has been eating or licking. "Because dog saliva contains a special enzyme which promotes healing of the dog's wound, some pet owners think it will have the same effect on their own cuts. The enzymes in your dogs saliva only work on the wounds of dogs. Allowing your dog to lick your cuts could lead to infection from any germs the dog may have in its mouth." - Vetinfo.com It's not just some enzyme, it's lysozyme which kills many types of harmful bacteria - they're currently in the process of trying to isolate the antibacterial properties of dog saliva to develop new antibiotics since bacteria are fast becoming immune to our old ones. The bacteria remain the same and are killed by the same things whether they're on humans or on dogs, hence many people have had their wounds healed faster by their dogs (just google it and you can read 1000's of accounts and experiements). You don't have to let your dog lick you though, I don't particularly enjoy the sensation myself. I mean I also know that maggots can save people from infected wounds when no antibiotic can, and yet I would literally have to be dying before I let them put maggots into me...

There is nothing hygienic about dog saliva! No idea where you heard that from. "In a study done at the University of California, Davis, researchers found dog saliva killed E. coli and Streptococcus canis, another harmful bacteria. The scientists concluded that when mother dogs licked their nipples it helped keep puppies free from disease, and that dogs licking their own wounds accomplished the same goal." "Another reason for the reduction of growth in these bacteria is an enzyme called lysozyme, which kills dangerous bacteria by lysing them. Lysing means that the lysozyme attaches itself to the cell wall of the bacteria and weakens it until the point where the cell wall ruptures and the bacterium dies. This is especially true for gram-positive bacteria, such as the Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and E. coli being tested in this experiment." They advise that so long as your dog is up to date with all parasite control (ie wormed), it's safe to accept their kisses. Worms are about the only thing you can catch from a dog. Cat saliva on the other hand can kill - like a Komodo dragon their saliva is full of harmful bacteria. I know this first hand because I used to keep rats and the crazy thing was a tiny fang puncture from a cat was much more serious than a big wound by a dog. So long as they didn't die from the initial attack from the dog, they almost always recovered. If their flesh was broken by the cat's teeth, they needed antibiotics asap or they were as good as dead. ETA: It's no co-incidence that people are much more likely to be allergic to cats than they are to dogs (more than 3x more likely) - their saliva is nasty.