Muttaburra

Zen! luv it. The puppy is still in the puppy grace period. So the next six months will see if there is a pack order developing between them. But, being a male and a female, it is likey Bub will defer to her on most occasions, any smart bloke knows "to keep her sweet" in the hope of her favours being bestowed upon him. (even if they are desexed). And since they are a fairly laid back, easy going breed, there is a good likliehood that relationships will remain harmonious.

To be honest, I have read more crap on breed pages about Jack Russell Terriers on the internet than I could poke a stick at. Jack Russells are excellent companion dogs, quite suited to the suburbs and some even being quiet and settled enough for apartments. Their main requirement is a certain level of human companionship, and guidance and training from that human, a moderate amount of exercise and some mental stimulation. All easy things to provide in the suburbs. So how do you propose the OP provide what's needed to keep these pups quiet? Suggestions have already been made as to what could be tried. Since the noise seems to derive from a habit of a certain game, where one barks at the other when it has a toy or something, separation and housing indoors certainly would be worth a try. Not rocket science eh? Each could be given (also already suggested on this thread) a Kong with frozen treats to keep them occupied. Jack Russells are over-represented in the pounds, certainly, they are a favourite of Backyard Breeders (of the non-registered kind), they are also sold at pet-shops with little advice given, they are escape artists and can dig or climb their way out of a yard, this also adds to the unplanned pregnancy issues, since they are more likely to be out and about to procreate. As to the ratio of JRT's born to the dumping/escape/lost rate, I don't know, statistically it might not much greater than other breeds.

To be honest, I have read more crap on breed pages about Jack Russell Terriers on the internet than I could poke a stick at. Jack Russells are excellent companion dogs, quite suited to the suburbs and some even being quiet and settled enough for apartments. Their main requirement is a certain level of human companionship, and guidance and training from that human, a moderate amount of exercise and some mental stimulation. All easy things to provide in the suburbs.

Very conditional though, - left out all night in the cold, left to fence run, no attention - that post was about JRTs, the same comments would apply to most working dogs, not just terriers, oh and small white fluffys, Mini Pinschers and similar. A far cry from your "drop of the hat" assertion. Great to see you going to so much trouble to make your point, well done!

And you know this how? I've heard them!! :D I have friends with them. A quick google tells me I'm not alone in my opinion. They are terriers after all. I'd have thought barking would be one of the reasons why JRTs find themselves in the pound. It's not a criticism but failure to understand a dog's nature must be one of the reasons why so many dogs find their way to you. Not a breed to leave in a backyard untrained, unstimulated and unexercised. Miniature Poodles are no different. So speaking in "general terms", many small dogs and many larger dogs will bark at the drop of a hat. I have owned 2 JRT's for over 5 years, they do not bark at the drop of a hat. Nor do all others I know. Much of it is down to individual temperament and training. The don't find their way to me, rather Jill who runs jrtrescue. Reasons for dumping are manifold, mostly lack of committment.

And you know this how?

OMG Bindii, you poor thing, what a shattering experience, and I am so glad it turned out OK. Sometimes with Maxi I am tempted by his mostly good behaviour, to give him that little bit more freedom off the lead, but I always give myself a good talking to, - how dogs are like little children, they don't understand that those cars zooming along the street, actually won't stop or go around them, in fact often will not see them in time to even do so. I wonder too that your dog may have become more excited than usual with the extra time in the park and there was some stimulation of pack behaviour and hunting behaviour, in doing the circuits with other dogs along. Just glad you are all ok.

:D Looks like a chubby Lurcher (not that there's anything wrong with that)

So glad the little mite has managed to fit in. Those first few months can be rough, but it looks like he has decided to adapt, which is great. Dogs will be a bit lost for a while when in a new home. You've done well with him.

What's the father like?

What will be the deciding factors for you Cosmolo?

Yeah, living tugboats

They are absolutely lovely!

Judging by what you said you wanted in your first post, I would suggest a Labrador.

Great photos, I love Newfies! I don't see why they wouldn't be active since the breed was traditionally used for very physically demanding tasks. In my experience it is not uncommon for outspoken "experts" on a breed, to have never actually owned the breed :rofl: It happens a lot with Jack Russell Terriers too.

If they were trying to breed true to type then they would be developing a new breed of dog, and only very advanced breeders should ever attempt this. And it should only be done for a very good reason, since in the development of a breed, the rationale should be along the lines of developing a dog with unique attributes that does not already exist in the purebred world, in the process there are many dogs rejected, culled, dumped, or sent to a pet shop.

I don't know if this will work with eye ointment, but when I apply eyedrops to the dog, I seat the dog in front of me, facing away from me. Then I lean over so I can see the dogs eyes, maybe tilt the dogs head back a bit and apply the ointment. That way the dog is not freaked out with you coming at them, with a strange thing in your hands, and putting something towards their eyes.

I don't know if this will work with eye ointment, but when I apply eyedrops to the dog, I seat the dog in front of me, facing away from me. Then I lean over so I can see the dogs eyes, maybe tilt the dogs head back a bit and apply the ointment. That way the dog is not freaked out with you coming at them, with a strange thing in your hands, and putting something towards their eyes.

Not as simple though as producing and F1 cross as the final outcome, that will not produce puppies that are true to type. The majority of cross-bred dog breeders aim only to produce F1 crosses, so any cross-breed argument in the development of a "breed" is a moot point. The end result of the breed development of the Golden Retriever was a dog that bred true to type, known as a purebred. There was also a rationale behind the development of the breed, something like a retriever that also was a good swimmer. There is no sane rationale for the current breeding of cross-breeds, the only driving force being money.

The experiment to provide an allergy free Guide Dog with the attributes of a Labrador and the non-allergy coat of a Poodle was for all intents and purposes a failure. Only a small number of dogs from this cross were allergy free, likewise those suitable as guide dogs. But..... due to a certain Gardener legitimising unfounded claims of the benefits of "hybrid vigour" (while ignoring "outbreeding depression" as a factor) and promoting cross-breeds on a certain popular gardening show, the horse well and truly bolted from the stable. Every half-wit backyard breeder jumped at the promise of huge bucks for cross-breeds, Pet Shops sold them, Puppy Farms produced them in the thousands, as the Emporer with no clothes on paraded proudly down the street. The gullible public rushed to buy mutts at inflated prices thinking that they were getting a superior animal.

Megan, I don't believe that is how all Purebreeds started at all, some perhaps. If you look at breed development, many started with a "type" of dog, for example the history of the Affenpinscher here ............ http://www.akc.org/breeds/affenpinscher/history.cfm One of the most ancient of toy dogs, the Affenpinscher originated in Central Europe. During the 17th century, small terriers were frequently kept around stables, on farms or in stores where they served as ratters.................... Bred down in size, these small terriers became companions in the home and kept mice from overrunning their mistresses' boudoirs. The Affenpinscher is believed to have been a major influence in the development of many of the smaller rough-coated breeds of continental Europe, including the Brussels Griffon and the Miniature Schnauzer.................. So they were stable ratters, who after many generations became similar in characteristics, then people using selective breeding refined the breed, so it bred true to type. This breed was then bred to develop other breeds, again with selective breeding, and perhaps infusions of other breeds, but never for the purpose of producing F1 crosses as the end result, but more to steer and shape the breed in another direction. Another example is the Australian Terrier, one of the smallest of the working Terriers, was bred to be both a helper and companion in rough times and terrain. A native dog (known as the "rough-coated terrier") and a close relative of the old Scotch dog of Great Britain (not to be confused with the present-day Scottish Terrier) are believed to have been cross-bred with a number of other breeds of British stock to produce the fast, sturdy, weather-resistant and fearless little dog that the settlers needed as they expanded the frontiers of their country. The breeds chosen for cross-breeding were selected to promote specific desired traits. Although there are differences among writers of the histories of the breed, there is a consensus of opinion that the breeds used included the precursor of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier, the Skye, the Yorkshire, and the old Black and Tan Terrier. http://www.australianterrier.org/history.html Notable in the development of the Australian Terrier is that it was developed using other TERRIERs, so again, it can be seen that the earlier developers of the breed were working with a certain "type" of dog, in this case the Terrier, and aimed at refining the coat and temperament to suit what was needed 150 years ago in the rural areas of Australia. So even though today's Purebreed dogs may have mixed ancestry, most of them started with a "type", then were bred smaller, or larger, hairier or smooth, ear shapes, leg lengths, varying temperaments and so on. Developing a new breed of dog is a lot different to producing an F1 crossbreed. Also as SBT pointed out, it is diluting the gene pool of existing Purebred dogs. The other issue with cross-breeding is Pedigrees, very hard to make really informed decision when deciding on which dogs to mate, because even if they have a pedigree, it's almost impossible to know what the synergy effect will be. I have seen some appalling coats on cross-breed dogs, coats that are so thin the dog is barely covered and what is there is sparce and tangles like crazy. Others with the combination continual growing poodle coats mixed with other breeds and having textures that are huge maintenance issues. And some of the skeletal problems are tragic, ever seen a dog with legs too long and a crumbling pelvis? Some of the cranio-facial mismatches are disturbing, and can only be causing the dogs health problems. If the decision were being made by experts in dog breeding, and some outside breeds were being introduced as infusions to a Purebreed in a carefully controlled and scientific fashion, to create a new breed, the ultimate aim being for a breed that would breed true to type, that would be harder to criticise.

I hope for their sake it's vinyl with teflon coating! There didn't seem to be anything stinky about it, it was great having a large consultation room, it had the usual table and treatment area of course.

Well my "new" practice, the one I will be going to in future, had a really roomy consultation room with a lounge, very homey.

Hmmm, a stoic breed, they do need the occasional challenge :thumbsup:

Sorry to hear about your dog not being well Dunwarren. Whatever the cause, I would think medication would be the mainstay of any treatment. It might need to be tweaked a few times to get the best results. Your vet will guide you. Sending supportive thoughts for you.