Muttaburra

It's very sad, but I wonder how she got to be in the pound in the first place. The owner couldn't have claimed her and rehomed her privately?

Yes, not a good look at all.

This picture is worth a thousand words, what a wonderful girl! Great job Caz, she was so worth it!

The Bulldog is a loyal and loving breed. Puppies don't have hands, so most of their sensory explorations and communications are through the mouth. How old is the puppy? When pups are small and still with litter mates and with the mother, that is when they undergo learning socialisation and doggie manners. Mumma dog will not take too many nips from a pup with sharp teeth without some kind of correction. Brother and sister pups also help sort each other out to a degree. When the pup is taken away from the litter and Mumma dog, then it is the human's job to continue it's socialisation and education during this critical time of development. It is essential that you learn fast what is needed to guide the puppy and also requirements for ongoing training. Doing it right will be very rewarding, but not getting it together often just adds to the pound statistics. Are you sure you are ready for a puppy at all?

Why the pillow? It's a darn good hump, is all, and maybe it's the most doggy smelling thing around. Why humping? he's a teenager, it's what they do I found the solution with one of mine was to ask them to go outside when they started humping. You could probable toss him and the cushion out in the yard anytime he does it, then it's his choice, but if he wants back in.

Poor Snot, poor you It's good to hear that Snot has been helped with treatment, sending supportive thoughts for further progress.

Well twice in one week, in 2 different parts of my street, whilst walking my dogs on lead, I have been rushed by a dog, double/triple the size of my dogs, because the 2 lots of dog owners have not ensured that their dogs are kept securely. So I would say keeping a dog securely from roaming to be right up there with criteria for Responsible Ownership. And this becomes even more important it they are the kinds of dogs that tend to rush at other dogs while barking with hackles up, clearly not socialised or even DA as well. The other issue of course is the dog being injured by traffic. So now I am afraid to walk at either end of my own street

I was thinking along those lines too. Also the left rear paw seems to drag a bit at times, so I think something is affecting the movement, either nerve/spinal or hip displaysia being a possibility. If nothing shows up in the tests, Acupuncture might also be considered and perhaps some kind of training that can improve the gait. The other thing that might help is swimming, it might be a case of uneven muscle development.

I believe it is very important for as many people to be involved with this as possible, otherwise the only ones who will be giving input will be the puppy farmers and crossbreed wackos. If you read the website you will see how it is targeted towards Industry and Farming, however the implications are for all those involved in animal husbandry and purebred dog breeding. It would be most unwise to let those with the least sound practices to get the jump on others truly striving for improved animal welfare and breeding practices. That cannot be done unless you are heard and get involved, or at least try to be. http://www.animalwelfare.net.au/about/about.html Centre Outputs 1. Develop scientifically defensible welfare methodology. 2. Use scientifically defensible methodology to establish, amend or validate industry welfare standards and practices. 3. Develop and support industry education and training strategies and provide scientific advice to support the modification of codes of practice and the development of quality assurance programs to introduce scientifically defensible welfare standards in the animal industries. 4. Understand public and consumer attitudes to animal welfare to assist Governments and industry in (1) developing animal welfare policy and (2) assuring local and international consumers, public and other governments of the sound welfare standards for Australian domestic animals. 5. Ensure tertiary students entering the animal industries are better prepared to provide sound, science-based advice on animal welfare practices to industry, interest groups and the public. 6. Provide high quality postgraduate and postdoctoral training for the next generation of researchers and teachers in animal welfare science.

What distressing images, and all the more disturbing when they appear to be of a similar breed.

Poodles are often natural retrievers. Two of my three are. Mind you, so is the Whippet. The reason I say these breeds are "easier" is because you often don't have to work all that hard to get or hold their focus. They want to please you. Terriers (like Hounds) are often more interested in pleasing themselves. Yeh, all well and good poodlefan, however the OP has experience with working dogs, Kelpies and Border Collies, so really, a Jack Russell Terrier would be a cakewalk for them. You wouldn't believe what my Jack Russell boy can do with only minimum training (all with a ball for motivation), his tricks were so amazing that people would regularly (unbeknownst to me until I met and spoke with them) come down to the park to watch him perform. Their potential is enormous and they are very intelligent and learn very quickly. I think one of the mistakes people make is not keeping up a good pace with the training, you need to keep them moving and keep them moving fast. Find out what motivates them, something always will, same as any other dog.

If you've had Kelpies and Border Collies a Jack Russell should be no extra challenge, other than them occasionally disappearing into the bushes to chase rabbits. Some people do get perfect recall with them, not all. Cuddles, absolutely, they are a very cuddly dog, or at least a lot of them are, especially the boys.

You'd think he'd have upright ears if he had both Malamute and GSD. Other than that he strikes me as more of a GSD x Kelpie.

I see a lot of Pointer in there, but as for the other breed/s very hard to detect. The back is relatively short, so it would be safe to say that neither parent was Greyhound or other kind of long dog, the shape of muzzle and head also supports this idea. I am thinking some Great Dane in the mix with those legs. Probably a 3 or 4 way mix, maybe with Pointer on both sides.

A well fed dog would survive well on 60% meaty bones, usually the parts of the animal that humans don't eat. Dogs also do well with some vegies thrown into the their diet. A very superficial viewpoint in my opinion.

Sometimes I feel the way that you do in your OP, when gongheads do a bad job of securing their dogs on the back of rather flash utility vehicles, the ones with all the added extras, flashing chrome everywhere, but not the brains to know how to secure their tuff dog in the back of the vehicle. I see what you are saying when things seem all for show, but simple safety rules are not followed.

When I lived in a place where the main house had a pool, I knew it was inevitable that my water obsessed JRT would find his way into it at some time. As it was, both me and the dogs were allowed to swim! Anyway, I took Maxi into the pool and made sure he was confident in finding the steps and getting his way out, that is the most important thing. Having a place where animals can climb their way out, then doing some practice sessions with them so they become competent in finding and using it, is crucial.

I'd just like to add that getting a puppy and raising it with the children, can have it's advantages but is no guarantee. The full personality of a dog doesn't develop for a while. Sometimes it is better to get an older dog that has a history of getting along will with children. I would recommend you go with a Pug Rescue, and get a dog that absolutely loves children. But please, supervise carefully, small children can be unco-ordinated and clumsy, and might inadvertently injure the dog.

You have done wonders with him, his coat gleams with living a good life. A real Oliver Twist story eh? full of villians and heroes.

hahahaha yeah! If he was buying legal drugs he would have had a shirt on.... Ha 1 Ha 2

I wonder if we'd develop the urge to toilet outside? Or lift your leg when you walk past fire hydrants

LOL, when I was a kid I used to eat the chook pellets, and grow my own wheatgrass behind the shed. I can only assume it is not suitable for human consumption due to different handling standards, for example human food is not allowed to be on the floor at any time, maybe things like that. Perhaps also the bacterial load allowance too. :D

Any chance you can get a rental at a nearby country town? I guess it depends on the mine and the setup, but lots of people commute from a town to the mine. My brother works for a mining company and he and the family live in town. (I know some places like in WA there a dreadful shortage of accommodation so it's not always possible).

Here is the key I believe. It has become a habit. To combat it you need to break up the behaviour. Starting with acceptable behaviour prior to going outside. Then managing her when she is outside, I would suggest a lead and going out to the front instead of the back, and reinforcing the "toilet" command obedience. I'd guarantee there is a cat or two prowling along the top of the fence, or possoms, or both, she wouldn't be doing it for nothing. With my dog, in the day I can let him out in the unfenced yard to toilet with no problems. But at night, all the night creatures out there, he just wants to get these "intruders", so I always make the night toilet break very brief and he is kept on the lead, and they both know there is no mucking around with me at that time. I even say to them in a stern voice if they try anything on, "no mucking around" If that doesn't work, they go straight back inside.

Great photos, thanks for sharing. Geez, that bloke of yours is a keeper!