Bluefairy

Wow I have never heard of this in an animal, except for Hyenas....but I guess it can happen. I can't answer your post as I have no idea. I just wanted to say sorry that you are now stuck with medical bills, that if you had of known about her condition, you could have had a choice or at least been prepared. I am still about it. At least she has a loving home, I could imagine she might have been PTS if someone with no money to afford the vet bills had of picked her. BF

Wow it could have been sooo different. I think the what if scenario was so much more frightening. Yes they should of stopped to see if you needed help, and I am sorry to say not a lot of people would have. I am so glad it was a friendly dog, but Grrrr to the owners letting it nearly get hit by a car, and for allowing to to escape in the first place. I have had one dog escape, but it was the first and last time, we made sure it was impossible to do it again. I hope the pram didn't get damaged? BF

I have had 2 dogs in my lifetime that would for no apparent cause loose weight quickly. All the vet visits resulted in being told they would need a high protein diet for a few weeks and then back on to normal food. This did the trick every time. It happened 2-3 times a year, no reason, it just did. I was told it mostly affected the muscular breeds. So 2-3 times a year my 2 dogs looked like they were being starved, you could see their ribs, it was so saddening, but I would start feeding the high protein food and within a week or two they were back to their old weights again. So being skinny isn't in itself a bad thing. I agree with the others its best to ask first, and see what they say. Good Luck BF

I entered this through another web site. I am hoping to get a Pug puppy next year, so this will be great. I love your range of pet supplies, they are amazing, I could do a lot of damage to my credit card being in there too long, I'd want heaps of things. BF

I also have had several dogs that I have had to travel hours to get. As we use harnesses in the back seat with a blanket on the seat, the pups have not been any trouble, they snuggle into the girls and they keep them company on the trip. We stop several times for toilet stops and a drink of water, no food though as this can make them sick. Once home I take them outside to see if they want to go to the toilet. Then I bring them in and allow them to go in the dog friendly areas. I allow days to familiarise them with everything.....its a huge new world they have come into, so expect mistakes, being scared, excited, laid back, and sleepy within a short time. Good luck with your new puppy and yes pictures are a must here. BF

I don't have a dog at present. I had to return my Pug so she could live a healthier life than here (we have had 3 dogs in 10 years, the first 2 died of cancer, my 3rd was also getting sick) The reason was never found. So we are hoping to move soon and then get another Pug. But my dogs changed my life: I could talk to them and not feel like I was talking to myself. I could look at them and smile, knowing how much I loved them. I could laugh at their antics, and wish I could be that stress free. I could cry in front of them and not feel I should hide it. I could go for a walk, not because I needed the exercise, but because I loved their company. I could watch TV while they sat at my feet or at my side, and they never talked through the movie. I could share my snacks, and know I wasn't eating too much. I could feel safe knowing that they were there for me. I never felt alone or scared, as I knew they were by my side. I never felt stupid or dumb in front of them. I never felt I made mistakes, just learned a better way of doing it. I always had a true friend when I had a dog. I can't wait to get a friend again. BF

I've seen a few ads for "Puppies for Sale" everyone of them crossed breeds....but thankfully none with stupid made up names...that annoys the crap out of me. But I always watch Animal Precinct, usually all American and usually its the ASPCA. I am at how they can tell what a mixed breed is crossed with unless it looks like one breed, but you know its not quite pure breed. They had a largish pup, all over tan with a white chest, short coat, narrow pointed face, rather thin, but gorgeous....they said it was a German Shepherd cross...another here....not one tiny little bit of this dog suggested a GSD......how on earth do they get that???? My girls and I are always arguing with the TV telling them there is no way that dog is that cross breed.....don't they actually know what a pure bred dog looks like?.....for example anything with a blue or black tongue is definitely a chow mix it may have had Chow in it from 20 crosses ago....but now looks like a Beagle cross to me (just from one show we saw). BF

I don't have a dog atm, but I'm hoping to get a Pug soon. A Pug was my last dog, and the breed I love. There are two other breeds I'd love to own though, but way out of my price range.....British Bulldog and French Bulldog.....can you tell I love Bracchy breeds BF

Another here who thinks medium sized. Usually you can tell if a pup is going to be big by how overly proportioned the paws are to its body. Your little guy has average sized paws. Definitely Amstaff or Staffy cross, and I reckon he will 'fill out' when he's a little older too. He is gorgeous though, your very lucky BF

looks like the colour is coming out in the wash BF

I am from SA and one of the vets I used to go to, refused treatment on my dog until I paid up front for care. They had no idea what was wrong with her, but they said they had a new policy where you had to pay a large some (about $200) before being seen, if the treatment was less you got a credit. I told them I wasn't going to get paid until the next day, they still refused to see her. I ended up speaking to the main vet at the clinic and he checked her out, even operated on her, when another vet told me to put her down. She was riddled with Cancer and there was nothing this vet could do, but he tried his best and I will be forever grateful to him. But not the the rotten so and so who refused to see my dog. I have since gone to another vet clinic, these now do a 0% interest payment plan over 12 months. So long as you stick to your payment amount each month you can pay it off. I now have pet insurance, so I hope to never be put in that situation again. It the most horrible situation to know your dog is in pain and suffering, and the only thing a vet will offer is PTS if you can't pay up front. BF

I too think you are doing the right thing. Yes it is hard, but just keep reminding yourself you have done all you possibly can, and Ollie will be in a better place. No I don't think you are a failure, I just think some dogs for what ever reason aren't suited to some people or houses, but have no problems at all in others....its not that you failed at all. Give your self a hug for doing the best and kindest thing you can for Ollie. Good Luck BF

As I mentioned in my post I can't walk a dog as I can't do any exercise because of my heart. I can though throw a ball and teach them to bring it back. Pugs do a lot of exercise doing Zoomies (running like a nut round and round something) then they just flop down and sleep. This is why I picked the Pug breed to begin with. It wouldn't be fair on the dog if I chose a GSD, Rotti, or even a JRT and expected it to get enough exercise from what little I can do. BF

I was told that during WWII they bred Alsatians from German Shepherds, as they were fighting the Germans and didn't want to use their dogs. So according to them Alsatians and GSD are two different breeds.....I never laughed so hard. I must admit they were so adamant that they were right they left BF

No I don't believe its cruel for a dog not to be walked, so long as it had other things to do. My last Pug, I never took for a walk, I have a heart condition that stops me doing any exercise at all, and Zoe was very happy to just play, chase and do her zoomies. I chose a Pug because they didn't need regular exercise and loved being a couch potato. If there is no other activity for the dog, especially larger breeds and those smaller active ones, then yes it would be very cruel to never to walk them. BF

With other visitors she is the same, but very quickly settles down, when she is told to stay. But me she gets so excited, she jumps up, bounces off me and runs off and comes back repeating this behaviour over and over until she is placed outside.....it is very unsettling to see a dog go 'nuts' like this. I have also seen other visitors (not many) ignore the dog from the start and she just walks away from them, like she can't be bothered. Maybe its me.... I will try the toy throwing and she what she does next. I don't mind playing with her so long as she doesn't jump up or on me, and so long as I don't have to touch any part of her. I know that sounds so horrible, and I feel horrible I can't just pet her......but I have tried and I can't. I also can't wear gloves at all, again its a thing to do with my hands....I can't even use hand cream. Its a tactile avoidance thing. Oh and on the very rare occasions I have actually seen her calm when I was in the room (after she has been put outside and brought in a lot later), she sits on my foot or under my chair for ages. I love dogs, I have always had them, but never a wire haired one..... Thank you for the suggestions BF

I've actually never tried to do anything with her, she never stays near me long enough. I don't like the constant jumping, as she once ran at the back of my legs and nearly knocked me flying, it was an accident but left me feeling scared that she'd do it again. I do talk to her, when I come down, but thats it. I know cats tend to make a point of making you touch them, if you ignore them at all....maybe this dog is trying to get this across but in the only way she knows how. I have done this to several dogs I have met, but I have never ever had this kind of reaction from one. I'm just glad she is a small dog and not a large breed.

Hi, My daughter has an Australian Terrier, she is about 12 months old. When she is with my daughter, her husband and her 3 energetic kids she is fine, loves to play, will settle down and be quiet when told to, and sit still when told. She is calm 95% of the time.... Now every single time I visit, she jumps up at me constantly, if I sit down she runs, jumps on my legs, and jumps down. She will not do anything that is asked of her by me or my daughter. In fact she becomes so hyper that she has to be moved outside otherwise she won't stop. Now I have never stroked this dog....I can't I have an OCD avoidance to touching wire haired dogs, its the feel and even if they are soft in coat if they look wire haired then I can't bare to touch them. Its something I have had for the last 48 years and I can't get over it. But I need to know why she goes crazy every time she see's me? She doesn't bite or hurt me in any way, she doesn't growl or bark. She just seems to me she desperately wants me to pay her attention...which I can't. Can someone help me understand why she does this? Even my daughter doesn't get it, and she thinks I may be a bad influence on her dog She has never done this to anyone but me. BF

I have owned 2 Aussie Bulldogs, they are the perfect family dog, though a bit like a lumbering giant The original web site for this breed is: http://www.australianbulldogsociety.com/ Don't go to any other web sites, as some of the past members have started their own breeding plans and introducing more breeds into the breed than was originally started with. The original breeder, Pip Nobes, started this and they were up to their 6th generation since I was there about 18 months ago. They have to have so many generations of a particular heritage before the ANKC can recognise them. So its still an ongoing breed. BF

I'm glad I'm not the only one wondering this Getting a puppy was so simple back then. There was always a friend of a friend with a female who was weaning puppies (I'm talking about heinz variety dogs here). You got one home, fed it 3 times a day with weetbix and milk, and Pentavite was given if you knew about it. Then adult dog food and scraps, I can't remember if they had puppy food back then. Most dogs were flea treated and wormed, many weren't vaccinated that I remember. Desexing was done mostly for females and then not often. You just kept your in season female inside for that time, until it was safe. I agree because of the internet everyone just about is more aware of nearly all problems that go wrong. I have had dogs die of cancer, had allergies but found out it was sarcoptic mites, had vomiting and diarrhea so constantly changing diets (via vet instructions) only to be put on a highly expensive vet food that seemed to work for a while (but always wondered if it could have been something else). Vets too freely suggesting all these expensive tests and drugs, only to find it was something simple..... Are we better off now than then? I don't know, sometimes I feel we aren't BF

Maybe your right. As a kid, though the dogs were always with us, inside and outside the house, we didn't pay as much attention as I do now. Maybe things my mother would hold off taking the dog to vet, is why I and other dog owners I know always seem to be at the vets about. We tend to panic more about little things....I never thought of that. Maybe because life was a little more laid back than it is now and we worried about every little thing....Hmmmm I think your right BF

OH and I were discussing the dogs we had as kids, and all those we have had growing up, then dogs we have had together in the last 15 years. I remember as a kid having cross bred dogs, Doberman X, Long Haired Terrier type Heinz variety, and how robust and healthy they were, being fed normal dog food from the supermarket and scraps from our plates. About them hardly ever getting sick or needing diet changes. And about how they lived into their old age and died from that. OH has said pretty much the same thing growing up as me. Then as I started to have more Pedigree dogs, Rotti's, GSD, Foxies, Mini Foxies, Pugs, etc....over the years the diet a dog is recommended to get, has changed from just plain dog food and scraps to high end specific breed expensive dog foods, scraps are mostly out as not being good. And dogs seem to be more sensitive to diet change. Getting ill a lot more and lots more vets bills. Making having a dog out of most peoples expense budgets. Both OH and I wondered if its breeding that has caused this? Knowledge of healthy diet, but is that a good thing, as it never harmed dogs years ago? I'm not stating an opinion, I am just curious and it has got the better of me, and I wanted to discuss it with other dog lovers who have had dogs for years. Dogs have changed, some for the better in the pedigree's health wise, some for the worse as in BYB's. I just find it curious as to why dogs of years ago seem more robust (only because I can't think of a name thats better) than most (not all) of dogs in the present.... What do you think? BF

Thank you everyone so much, We have thought of having the new pup inside, like the cat, but I'm not sure how to make that work. Zoe was a mainly indoor dog, only going out for toilet breaks and the occasional play.When we got Zoe (a pug) OH had filled all under the decking, the yard was fenced, and we had removed all non friendly dog plants. We were just about to start buying the plants from a list for the Fairy Garden (for the grandkids). We have removed a large section of the soil and replaced it with sand for the above ground pool we hope to have put up for next summer. The yard is a smallish one so we have been working on ways to either replace the soil or cover it over with pavers. Its a work in progress, its a slow process but a safe garden area is the goal. I keep telling myself I did the right thing for Zoe, but it doesn't help much, its like losing her as well. I know our next dog will be so wanted, so prepared for, and so loved....I know there's a light at the end of the tunnel, its the waiting thats the hardest. Thank you all for understanding. It has been so nice just to get it out there, to speak it out loud. Unfortunately I can't volunteer to walk any dogs, as I have a bad heart and exercise is a big no no. Thats why we chose a Pug, they don't care if you are a couch potato or an exercise nut, they will love you and love doing what you do plus she was small so she was easy to handle. A lot of thought went into getting her with me in mind. I will be hanging around DOL, and I always read the Pug Thread so I get my fix every now and again Thank you again BF PS ~ Lablove - My older dog was penned down the back of the yard on a 1 acre block (away from the house that was buried). She was allowed to run over the whole yard every day or two, but penned up in the afternoon for the night. So she didn't really spend as much time in this area as the 11mth old pup. We have since subdivided the block and the yard we sold is safe. The vet told us she would have tested Zoe for lead poisoning if we lived in the town your thinking of, but as we live the other side of the ranges she didn't think. And because we didn't think about all this until the end, our only thought was to get Zoe out of there before she got worse. It all makes sense now, I just hope we can get this fixed.

Thank you, No time line yet. We are hoping for the end of next year maybe. The breeder of my last pup (Pug) has offered us a replacement pup as soon as we are ready....but just not sure. When second to last pup (11 month old died) I could hardly get past the 3 month mark before I started looking. I did say I wasn't going to get anymore dogs.....but my life is so empty without that slobbery face being shoved into yours, or them trying to sit next to you on the armchair when theres no room, or you have a shower and someone is patiently waiting at the door when you open it.....I miss it so much I could cry.... mokhahouse ~ the old man we bought the block off has since died (old age). I live in a tiny town of 500 people, so no shelters, pounds, anything near me for 300kms. :ange: ~ moving isn't an option either. We are tied to this place, OH has retired and we are both on pensions. BF

http://www.australianbulldogsociety.com/ The other web site you gave is an off shoot of the original breed.