Simply Grand

Canetoad do you mean he wouldn't kill small dogs or that they are safe because you prevent access?

We know there are dogs out there that have high prey drive and would kill other animals if they had access to them. To me it is acceptable that prey driven dogs may catch and kill small animals and cats that come into the dog's own yard - very sad, and I would hate for one of my own dogs to do it (my current dogs wouldn't, they are not prey driven at all) - but acceptable and understandable. However I would expect owners of dogs that would kill a cat to keep them on lead in places where cats might be (ie. when walking in suburbs, at the vet). You could still do all sorts of things like exercising the dog, training, parks, beaches etc knowing fairly safely that you won't encounter a cat. Plus a cat is not likely to approach an unknown dog voluntarily and they are pretty quick and nimble so have a decent chance of getting away if you did come across one. What about dogs that would catch and kill and small dog if it got access though? Yes, you can keep the dog on lead wherever there might be other dogs but what if a small dog approaches? We know how often people encounter off lead dogs where they shouldn't be, either alone or with owners that don't prevent them approaching other dogs. What if a stray dog ends up in the prey driven dog's yard? Is that still acceptable and understandable because it came about through prey drive? Thoughts?

We say it all the time to new members who feel upset with comments they've received on the forum, you have to take what works for you and let go of what doesn't, people are always going to disagree with each other. And this is stuff we all care deeply about, sometimes things are going to get heated. I think it's a shame for any long term member to feel they have to leave because of what others have said, but having said that of course if any member isn't getting more good than bad out of it then stepping away is probably a good idea.

Oh also she is Pet Rescue of course but like you say, there are so many "large female mix breeds" listed, and at the moment there are lots of Greyhounds in Qld (probably everywhere) and they are probably more front of mind for people wanting to rescue/adopt.

Thank you guys, excellent ideas, I really appreciate it. PL we are fortunate to have some pro photographers who voluntarily do photos for us so she has had a photo shoot and got some really good photos - which is a godsend because she is not photogenic and I could not get good ones of her! She definitely looks better in real life. I do have an Adopt Me collar and I'll be getting a lead too soon but I think I need to get her out and about to more places to get her in front of people, like you say Thistle. We do have a pretty good FB presence luckily but as we are new the number of followers is still growing, and the number of dogs is growing faster so there's only so much exposure to go around. I like the idea of doing more for her own individual presence on social media so I'll work on that too :D

Now I'm thinking about memorable dog names I've know in various contexts - Spud (boxer) and his sister Mash (bitsa) Bruin (handsome brown standard poodle) Donkers (!! Quinn's litter bro, the couple got him and another unrelated pup at the same time, she named one Dexter, he named Donkers :laugh: ) Cleo and Kylie (call names of two of Quinn's litter sisters) Olive (known a couple) Hamish (my best friend's Iggy) Kean (kee-ahn) and Roya (two lovely dog park dogs) Biggy (tiny Chi x Dachsie) Shayle (dog park puppy friend) Sneezy (my foster baby who was born in the shelter and was named as one of the 7 dwarves, wasn't meant to stick but her owners kept it) I already mentioned Tupug :laugh: And (best for last) Meatwad ( a super cute Frenchy puppy in one of my classes )

Just wondering where private rescue groups advertise or promote their fosters to generate interest in the individual dogs? I am working with a newly established (not by me) private rescue group and have had my foster girl for over a month now with no enquiry. She is big and black and has a couple of behaviour issues so understand it could take a long time to find her somewhere but I want to do as much as I can to get her out there and known about. Everything I've done previously was through RSPCA so there was much wider exposure, and of course the shelter where people were actively looking to adopt. I'm discussing it with the group as well but just wondered if anyone here has any good suggestions? Thank you :)

Oh kirty, don't feel bad about what you're doing! You are in the home with the dogs, no one else so you know best how everyone is coping! I still have foster dog Molly despite the universal advice that we are not the right foster home for her (has to be totally separated from my three dogs due to an inclination to fight from both sides) - I trust my ability to know whether all the dogs are coping ok and the good outweighs the bad, and I trust you to do the same in your home. Re the humping, it just seems to be SUCH a complex behaviour that means different things to different dogs and different things to the same dogs at different times, so I really have no advice there, sorry!

That's crazy. And on a suburban street.

Hahahaha when I named Saxon I SWORE he would only ever be nicknamed Sax, never Saxxy, of course he is now my Saxxy. And Quinn is Quinney. I couldn't help it!

I had a cat who came with the flat I bought (ie was left by the previous owner) and I called her Chops coz she was so bitey at first, after a tough start in life, she became a more affectionate Choppy after she settled in.

I think Pugs are really suited to names like Barry and Brian and Kevin :laugh: I know one at the dog park called Tupug (as in the rapper Tupac, but he's a Pug lol). When I was considering a Pug I had the name Sammie in my head for a fawn female. Actually I also knew a Pug x called Puck, now that I think about it. I don't really have any names on my pet names list at the moment, I'm hoping the name will come if/when I decide on the dog.

Jeez, you're taking on all 9?!? 7 week olds?!? You crazy

I can see how it's a slippery slope! I currently have my three, foster dog Molly, who doesn't get along with my three and is a massive escape artist so we therefore require a complex juggling routine to keep everyone separate yet safely contained, and my rescue group currently has several puppies still in pounds needing carers and I'm contemplating taking one... Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately??) I only have two more days of full time work then become a full time student so will have the time (tho not the money) to devote to the doggos :D

It's creepy with those revolting grey tentacles I hope they've taken the dog to the vets now, instead of asking for advice on facebook. You probably don't want to Google Images canine oral papillomas then, because it can be about 10000% more gross Don't click this if you ever want to eat again. There's a forum somewhere (Google probably knows) where a woman described squeezing out the contents of the warts and then feeding the warts to her dog to cure them. Pictures included. I've seen/heard some pretty gross things but I think that one might actually be the blue ribbon winner. Although that in itself might be the topic of a whole other thread.. Ooooh I'm so torn, to look or not to look!!!

I do hope the breeder considers very carefully before producing more pups of this breeding given that this is an issue that has come up more than once

Yes, you need to find a good veterinary behaviourist who can work with you to find the right medication/s to work for him. Medicating him if he needs it isn't cruel, regardless of age, like PK says if he needed medication for a different medical condition would you not give it to him?

Are you set on a puppy? Would you consider an adult rescue? No worries if not, I am a huge puppy fan, but if you would be interested in an adult let me know, I have a 2 year old foster big black dog (bull Arab type desexed female) in Brisbane who may suit :)

I'm fine with 8 weeks, from what I've seen by then mum dogs are happy for pups to leave them alone by then, especially if it's a large litter. Of course any puppy at any age CAN go on to have a good life with the right care but I think for average pet dog buyers 8 weeks works well.

Ooooh I hope so! Of all breeds to get early, they've got a mix of two mouthy herding dogs, eek.

What a little cutie!!

You can post photos of her!! Plenty of people on the forum have cross breeds, not that I personally think of the Cobberdog as a crossbreed, like you say it is a breed in development, just like any other breed in development, and it isn't a poodle x Labrador. But to avoid the issue you can just call her her name, rather than any particular breed/s :)

I've been saying this for years and it's only in the last year that a few people have started to agree with me. Quite a lot of prominent DOLers lambasted me for saying so because I'd never bred a litter and didn't show dogs. I didn't know what I was talking about. But you have had only negative things to say about the development of a new breed specifically developed to be predictable, family pet friendly, healthy, PR positive and pedigree registered through the MDBA, the Australian Cobberdog. There is support out there for healthy, happy, well cared for, predictable, manageable dogs. We, as knowledgeable dog people, know that can only come about from pedigrees, health testing, careful breeding and good early socialisation. What we need to convey is the benefits to pet buyers in finding someone that takes all those thing into account.

Yep, that's exactly what it is. Our management routine/juggling act has been working and given Molly's limitations when it comes to a suitable home (ie. she's a massive escape artist, she broke a window to get out the other day and I now have her in a bedroom with metal security screens on the window when I'm not home or have the other dogs out with me, and she needs someone with dog experience to help her learn to interact appropriately with other dogs) I haven't been keen to to move her. I suspect that if I left them to "sort it out", which I NEVER EVER would, Quinn would actually realise she is outweighed and would give in, although she wouldn't be happy about it. And they are 18kg vs 30kg so at least Quinn would have a fighting chance in a confrontation. However tonight Riley (7kg Sheltie) slipped past me when I opened a door and Molly went straight for him and grabbed him. I got her off and he is fine, but I can't risk a slip or a disaster with dogs getting through doors when I'm not home and coming home to a dead dog So I've asked the rescue org to find her someone else. I'd already put in her profile that she wasn't suited to living with small dogs/cats or another female as I'd seen the signs but I thought the prey drive issue was more with small dogs running around. She went straight for Riley the moment she saw him though. I think the tension and frustration of them all has added to her prey drive and made it too much. Thanks for all the advice everyone :)

Just thought I'd update a bit... Now that I've gotten to know Molly better I get the impression that she hasn't had a whole lot to do with other dogs before. She is still learning how to interact with other dogs and seems to take her cues from how they act, plus looks to me for guidance. She has discovered playing with a couple of dogs and her play style is very puppy-like - massive play bows then crazy zooming, and she has befriended a 4 month old puppy who she gets along great with. On the other hand her instinct so far has been to greet in a very upright, confrontational manner and to move to stand over other dogs' shoulders or to mount them. She is quickly learning more appropriate greeting behaviours and becoming more relaxed but I don't think she will be one to tolerate rudeness towards her or back down from a challenge so I don't think she and Quinn are going to become friends. I'm more comfortable about Molly and other dogs in general though. It's very interesting watching her learn and change her behaviour.