Adnil444

I did the Hinkler Reserve, Manly to the end of Manly beach (though I didn't go right around to Shelly Beach). I think everyone else in Sydney decided to do the same thing on Sunday - it was so crowded but great experience for my girl (dobexrottie), she was just sooo good and didn't put a foot wrong. I often do the Long Reef point walk too - but add my own parts to it to make it about a 3hr round trip. Tiring but well worth it, especially when the hang gliders are taking off at the point. I'm waiting to see the whales go by, but I always seem to miss them!!

Some Australian dog clubs are like this. Mine is one. ;) Oh how lucky - I would really like that opportunity and am happy to pay. I might have to look into this and see what can be done in my area.

There is another thread today on this subject as well. I have purchased the book by Katie Whiffen and it is great. The walks so far have been really enjoyable and my dogs have improved out-of-sight. The walks are mainly on-lead walks, but there are usually off-leash parts to the walks. Katie has timed them, gives good directions for parking etc and advises if there are bags/bins/water etc. Dogs parks should be avoided at peak times - there are just so many irresponsible owners and dogs going wild that it is not worth the risk.

Oh I forgot to add, that I think that dog parks should be segregated into small and big dog areas. From my experience, this would solve an awful lot of issues. In the US and parts of the UK, there are members only dog parks - dogs and owners have to pass a test (and pay a membership fee) to use the facilities (and from what I've seen are very good). I'd be happy to sit a test and pay a fee for controlled off-leash exercise.

Hi, I go sometimes to a fenced dog park which is relatively close to me - however as others have said, there are just too many idiots and irresponsible owners. One of my dogs now does have an issue (which I have been successfully working on) with swfs - unfortunately the park that I go to has so many of these that have not been properly socialised and are fear aggressive and have gone for her on numerous times (the owners doing absolutely nothing!!). My girl started to think that it was ok for her to go back at them (and who can blame her, she is being attacked, she wanted to defend herself), but because she is the bigger dog, she will always get the blame even if she didn't start anything. One swf owner told me "my dog is frightened of other dogs", my response was, why bring her to a dog park if she is afraid - I suggested play dates, walking groups, obedience classes until the dog was better, but the owner had no desire to do that - too much effort. My dogs love to run and play (especially with big boisterous labs!!). I have now been frequenting another dog park that has separate runs - 3 (all with water, good parking and high fences) that give the dogs a great workout, and other dog owners there are responsible and will always ask if they can bring their dogs in, before entering - what a relief, responsible dog owners. I've also purchased a book by Katie Whiffen - Great Sydney Dog Walks - which is great. I'm taking my dogs on lots more leash walks to different parts of Sydney and have been enjoying them immensely. They are mainly on-lead walks, but some have off-leash parts to the walks. Both my dogs have improved out-of-sight with these walks, not only do they get to explore other areas, but they are meeting other dogs in a controlled situation and are learning good manners to boot. Many dog trainers and breeders do not like dog parks for the reasons that have been stated here. You can provide dogs with lots of exercise and stimulation, it doesn't have to be in the form of an off-leash dog park. You only have to google "dog parks, good or bad" to see the many different responses and from what I've read, the negative wins.

Classic - you can hardly recognise it's a rottie!!!

Ahh got to love these photos - classic. I love the last photo - I'm also lucky, my dogs are black and tan and also seem to be teflon coated - just drops off or easily brushes off.

Actually I think people are becoming less educated. Dogs are toys, fur children, best friends before being dogs. We cant train them with corrections or put them in their place because we may hurt their precious feelings. Maybe if people treated dogs like dogs and developed a dash of common sense they wouldnt be bitten as often. How true you are. With so much information nowadays, classes, dvds, etc, we seem to have more and more incidents than ever before. When I was growing up, you hardly ever heard of dog attacks, but nowadays it seems to be every day. The amount of pampered molly coddled dogs (especially little ones) amazes me. You are right, they are no longer dogs and are treated like accessories - it's similar to children too IMO. So many kids are not disciplined and run riot and are rude little people. Perhaps if their parents gave them boundaries and some discipline they would be much better (and to think these kids will be future dog owners!!).

Hi, my ten breeds would be: Rottweiler Dobermann Great Dane German Shepherd Golden Retriever German Short Hair Pointer English Pointer Bullmastiff Rhodesian Ridgeback Bassett Hound

Agree, but the other dog kept coming back for more - to me that would mean that the dog enjoyed playing with the OP puppy. If the other dog didn't like it, he wouldn't keep going back for more. The OP did do the right thing and move away, but the other woman was over reacting in my opinion as her dog obviously was enjoying the game but she wasn't.

Silly woman - if her puppy didn't like it, it wouldn't have come back for more! Simple as that. The woman probably hasn't been to puppy school etc to find out what is normal play behaviour and what is not. You did the right thing and I would just ignore that woman in future. Take your puppy away to play with other dogs/pups at the park. The more your pup meets and plays with the better.

Flat collars and strong cotton leads. Martingales for obedience classes. Also use the sporn harness to stop pulling and they have been great. I also don't like the retractable leads but as lovemesideways has stated, they can be useful as in the case with the standard poodles and it works well for her.

Sheridan with due respect, unless the Court ordered a specific fence, the owner complied with putting up a fence. As I have read it this is not a boundary fence. It is now up to the the owner/s of the dead dog to pursue the matter or the locals file a more formal complain with the council. Yes the complied with a totally inadequate fence - lattice wouldn't keep my mini schnauzer in, let alone two very large, neo-mastiffs. If you can't afford to do the right thing for and by the dogs, then in my opinion you should not be allowed to have them. Containment is part of owning a dog. The boundary fence was also totally inadequate. They had two options, put up a totally secure boundary fence, or put up a totally secure internal fence. They failed on both accounts. If it were me, I would have done both.

Totally agree - and researching the breed which they obviously didn't do at all. The poor man. These idiots should now be banned from ever owning another dog (or animal) for a very long time. Perhaps a lawsuit might shake them up a bit to realise that there total ineffectiveness caused this and they are totally to blame.

Hi, I have a 12yr old mini schnauzer and a rottiexdobe and a dobexkelpie. They all get on well together. If the big ones are getting too boisterous, I take my old girl inside, not because they would attack her, but because they have sent her flying when they ran past her!! They all snuggle up together, I supervise at mealtimes. The mini schnauzer is the boss (well most of the time anyway), however they all know that I'm the boss of them all and what I say goes.

My god what a terrible week for you, especially the last incident. I can only hope that things will get better and not worse - such irresponsible people and here you are trying to do the right thing. At least you know that you are doing the right thing.

Great thanks - not only does DOL provide great info and advice to dog owners, but great bargains as well.

I agree. While it isn't nice, you can't have that many dogs wandering the streets causing havoc. As Nekhbet states, if it is a clean shot, it's got to be better than what they are living through now. At least the vets and police are doing this and not just anyone. Thank god we live in Australia!

Totally agree with you - I cannot imagine not being grateful and would offer them something for their time and effort. Also, having a dog running on the road, not only could the dog be hit and possibly killed, but the driver could also have a terrible accident as well. If you have a houdini dog, then you need to go to further steps to ensure it can't escape - a fully enclosed run. Also lots of exercise and stimulation for this dog as well. I'm sure the OP is correct - it is probably pregnant now and they will have the added issue of puppies that may not be wanted and how to find homes for them etc. OP did the right and responsible thing and the owners really need to look seriously at how they are raising and caring for that dog.

Funny, my girl just had one on for about 1.5 weeks and she didn't even notice it was on her - she did bash into everything, but she was so relaxed with it on - and my other two didn't even seem to notice she had it on!!

Hi, having read the posts in relation to this, all I can suggest is to contact the council and keep doing so. Hopefully, once the area is developed fully, with proper fencing etc, you should see a dramatic decrease in the number of loose dogs around - hopefully it is just a case of fences haven't been put up yet, though if they were my dogs, I would certainly make fencing a priority or put up some other sort of containment (pen, hire some fencing) until the permanent fencing was completed. Good luck.

I have exactly the same problem - I will use the idea of the blankets from the op shop and see how that goes - I'm sure one of mine will still chew and drag around the yard though!!! Someone also mentioned using doublesided tape and stick down hessian or some carpet. Maybe worth a try too.

Really well put noisymina - I couldn't agree more. You are right, there is no perfect dog, just as there is no perfect human, and who would want everyone or every dog to be the same!! All 3 of my dogs have their own traits, but I love them all and they wouldn't be the dogs they are without their traits. It's a work in progress, just like parenting and we are educating ourselves all the time.

Totally agree - not only do responsible owners provide the mental and physical needs for their dog(s), but also ensuring that they are properly contained and do not cause problems with other members of the community.

I responded as soon as I got the email and it was too late!!!