mita

I understand it's in another state, but the people associated with rescue at the Poodle Club of Qld for years, have been magnificent. Once they provided fostering & rehabilitation for over 100 p/b poodles rescued in an awful condition from a maverick breeder via an RSPCA raid. And they came out looking like stars! Couple years back there was a gorgeous p/b Standard Poodle in a Sydney pound ... & attempts to help him were failing and time was running out. I sent the details about his plight & pic , to the Qld person, apologizing for my cheek. An instant reply came that they'd figure a way to help him. But, just then, someone in NSW came forward to adopt him. So even if it's a case of asking them if there's anyone waiting on their waiting list for small, older poodles? Of if they'd have any contacts in NSW. Here's their Rescue page.... I respect those 2 names, like I respect someone like Denise at PAWS. http://www.poodleclubofqueenslandinc.com/#!poodle-rescue/cov6

So glad that everything seems well with your sheltie. It must be a big relief.

Yes, a visit to the vet will sort if it's something simple that can be fixed or something that needs more attention. I'm not suggesting this is the case with your sheltie, but my 8 yr old tibbie girl periodically just won't eat her breakfast... comes on suddenly even tho' she generally loves food. When it happened a couple of times, a pattern emerged. She needs anal glands emptied about every 4 months or so, by the vet, for a very modest cost. And Annie gives the signal when it's needed .... she'll not eat her breakfast. I take her straight to the vet, the glands are emptied, we go home.... & she happily eats a meal. The vet agrees it's how Annie tells us her level of anal gland discomfort. She's never been wrong.

ABC radio reported this morning that a 13 yr old Cocker Spaniel named Timmy has had his doggie dementia reversed thanks to research at Sydney University's Mind & Brain Institute. Needed 2 operations, first to havest stem cells & second to inject the developed stem cells into the memory part of the brain. Not only might this lead to the treatment becoming an option for dogs, but it also focused on the most common type of dementia in humans. http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2015/s4361718.htm Here's Timmy with his happy & relieved owners.

Not recommendations but I just googled mobile grooming service Darlinghurst. A list came up that included 2 grooming services that say they go to the home... All Doggie Styles & Pupoose Dog Stylist. Have no idea what they're like, tho'. http://www.petshq.com.au/find/pet-grooming-dog-wash-clipping/nsw/sydney/1300/darlinghurst.htm

There's sometimes threads about people looking for a small close companion dog for an older person, or someone confined to their home a lot, or working from home. Please file Jazz away in case you should hear of such a case & pass his pic and details on. Jazz is a pretty 8 yr old Tibbie X whose owner has had to go into aged care. He's been very well looked after all his life & his vaccinations are up to date. He's inherited the sweet tibbie nature. Loves just being with his person & he likes chasing a ball for his exercise. His location is Brighton Victoria. The Tibetan Spaniel Association of Victoria are helping him find a new home, where he can continue his 'work'. Mobile phone no for enquiries to Phil is on their Rescue page or PM. http://www.tsavaustralia.com/rescue.htm

Midgy, Cody & Chucky prove that seniors are the best! I love all 3. They bring so much to a home, just by being there. They don't have to lift a paw. We've got a nearly 16 yr old & just looking at her sweet face brings so much joy. More precious than gold. Raving? No just look at those 3 wonderful faces.

Corvus, would a carefully selected sheltie that you keep clipped fit your bill? We once had a sheltie boy, Danny, who came via the breed rescue & he was a mighty little dog. The breeder's told us that he was the 'old fashioned' type & looked slightly less like the fairy, miniature collie. But almost a bit like your vallhunds (Viking influence on the Shetland Islands perhaps?). Danny had great herding instincts ... he was forever trying to practise with our cats. He was a sturdy, fit little fellow. Because he developed a severe skin allergy, the vet told us to keep him clipped ... & he looked handsome, too. Don't know how much we can trust Wikipedia.... but I just found this. Sure could see that kind of influence in Danny: The original sheepdog of Shetland was a Spitz-type dog, probably similar to the modern Icelandic Sheepdog. This dog was crossed with mainland working collies brought to the islands,[6]

So sorry for your loss. What a beautiful tribute to Ishtar.

And I enjoyed your post & pics! Interesting to learn about Rottweillers & herding. A great sight to see! I may be a Tibetan Spaniel tragic, but I love, well-bred, well-raised Rotties. This pic gets it: Also agree strongly with HW's comment about lifestyle going with certain breeds. Exactly why we once owned working breeds, but now own tibbies.

Someone I know found a child's bed mattress at a Vinnie's shop & used it for their large dog. They pushed it into a room corner, so walls made enclosures on two sides.

Good questions. Original purpose of tibetan spaniels was to be close companion dogs to buddhist monks in monasteries of Tibet & also, with their acute hearing & eyesight to sit on the tall walls and alert to approaching danger (for which the tibetan mastiffs could be let out to sort). Both those are important why I like the breed. Tibbies are so good at being clean, calm indoor companion dogs who love a routine ... which fits in well with our present lifestyle. Also they're sensible, but not mindlessly yappy watchdogs. Our tibs have lived up to that.... twice detecting & hunting out thieves coming into the house & also trying to steal the car. But, it seems like many Tibetan breeds (including the horses!), they tend to have a strong mind of their own. I suspect this was because survival in harsh Tibet depends on quick initiative so tibbies can, in the 'gentlest of ways', follow their own assessment of a situation. Now that's good to work with in that they don't tend to be panicky dogs.... but it's got implications for training. Anyone insisting on obedience 'because I said so'....even with the addition of rewards... might find a tibbie is not for them. But anyone willing to train differently will get a joy of dog. Trick is to work 'with' the tibbie... to convince them that the wanted response is actually what they want (if you're lucky!). So different from the working dog breeds we used to own ... in a different lifestyle. Also their hare feet make Tibbies great runners & confident climbers (like little mountain goats). Was very useful in mountainous, rocky Tibet. So I tend not to let a Tibbie off-lead & when they go missing around the house, I've learned to also look up! Not me, but one of the US Tibbie owners was involved with aircrash rescue & he'd turn up at practice simulations of aircraft wreckage with a little Tibbie under each arm (to laughter at first). But his little dogs were able...& confident.... to get inside & over the mountains of wreckage, taking in camera leads & searching for people.

Rayhay, I'd understand your worry. Coming out of our local Library, I saw a huge Rottie boy alone on the footpath & enjoying freedom. Went back inside & asked if anyone would come help me secure him, as a major road was nearby & there'd be people who'd start screaming. 2 librarians, another lady & me went outside (a couple of men made themselves scarce at the word Rottweiler). I called him to come & he looked at me suspiciously. Then I bent down & said, 'Come on, sweetheart" 'Sweetheart' he knew....& his face lit up & he thundered across to me. Another lady said, 'Can you sit, darling?' And 'darling' sat with a thud on my foot. A librarian went inside & got a piece of string (yes, string) to attach to his collar & he happily trotted into the office with her and lay down while she called the owners from his ID. He was adorable!

I'm so pleased for you that it turned out well. But what an awful time you had after you saw Scottie was missing. I'd have been frantic, too! Only times my tibbie girls have escaped, I mercifully didn't know it, until people phoned up to say they'd found them. Both cases, a tradesman had been in the yard (& I hadn't realized it). And they managed to leave 3 gates open. First time, I got a call from a nearby day care mother. Both my girls had turned up scratching at her front door. They wanted to join the children. Second time, I got a call from the real estate office in the next block. They were having a staff meeting & my tibbie Nina Zena walked in to join them.

For my two tibbies ... no. We could try but with their short muzzles, even soft muzzles would fall off revealing their funny underbite that shows their teeth. I can just see aisles of people scattering with fright. :) So I'd have to pick up one in each arm & ask kindly strangers to pick things off the shelf for me to put in my kick-along trolley (now that'd be an accident waiting to happen). :) Seriously, I think you've got a point about trolleys possibly posing a danger for paws & tails. And just to be a bit careful.... Back to the question of 5 year olds & if they can read the posts or not. It reminded me of Groucho Marx who was told something was so easy that even a 5 year old could do it. And he said, 'Send out and get me a 5 year old!' Also, stellnme, you have my support in what you wrote. Me, too.... re the classrooms. Don't think we really need Groucho's 5 yr old ...

Not wrong about the graphic images. I followed the links about the hunting dogs. They get a horrible deal in Spain. Hope for some dogs, tho'. Stumbled on a story & pic where Queen Sofia adopted a little dog from a Madrid rescue group when she was attending a Companion Animal Fair. Now lives in a palace. http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2012/05/queen-of-spain-adopts-shelter-dog Found list of Madrid dog rescue groups: http://madrid.angloinfo.com/information/family/pets-and-animals/local-animal-organisations/

I googled Dog Rescue in Spain & a few sites came up. I know nothing more than what would be on their websites. But I notice there's a UK group that rescues stray dogs in Spain & resettles them in the UK. If someone could do a Search in Spanish, others might come up: PAWS Patas Home www.paws-patas.org/‎ Welcome to PAWS-Patas - Animal Rescue in Spain. PAWS is located in the Mojácar-Los Gallardos area of Almeria province, in south-east Spain. It was formally ... Puppy Rescue in Spain | …Because it's a Dog's Life www.puppyrescueinspain.org/‎ Puppy Rescue in Spain is a registered charity that has been saving, caring for, rehoming, and transporting puppies since 2006. Are you looking to adopt? SOS Animals Spain www.sos-animals.org/‎ SOS Animals is a registered charity based in Coín near Málaga, Spain. We rescue and rehabilitate abandoned dogs for placement in forever homes in Spain , ... Spanish Stray Dogs UK www.spanishstraydogs.org.uk/‎ We search for kind, caring, patient forever families in the UK to adopt Spanish Stray dogs that have been rescued from the streets of Spain. Our SCIO charity ... Animals In Distress helping Stray, Abandoned Dogs & Cats www.animals-in-distress.eu/‎ In order to further help the animal situation here in Spain we network with several ... All the animals that we rescued were always placed at the shelter and in our ... Home - Pepis Refuge Pepis Refuge www.pepisdogrefuge.com/‎ The aim of the refuge is to ensure that all rescued dogs are cared for in a safe ... Since the start, Pepis has been able to re-home over 500 dogs in Europe to loving ... Alan Brian, Lista de Correos – Apartado 21, 41566 Pedrera, Seville, Spain.

She's a very beautiful chook! I've got a nearly 16 yr old & I hope she follows in Penny's footsteps (er... pawprints).

Westie, that's the kind of bed my tibbie girls like.... same reason as Andy's. But they like the addition of a pillow on top as they love having their heads elevated as they sleep. Only variation is 16 yr old Nina Zena's habit of sleeping with her body up on the bed & her head down on the floor. Other tibbie owners have told me their dogs do that, too. I can't understand how it can be comfortable! My girls with their short legs & long backs don't like trampoline beds.... but our shelties loved them.

Yes, I apologize all the time to our tibbie girls. It amazes me what they sometimes seem to understand. Lily the tibbie next door was staying for a few days... & I muttered as I was going to call her in from the garden ..." OK you next, Miss Roberts.' (using her family's surname)'. Her head shot up & she came flying in. I didn't even get up to calling her 'Lily!' How did that little dog know she's 'Miss Roberts'?

Russia's offered to send France a German Shepherd puppy that's bred to be a police dog as a gesture of solidarity. Video here: http://news.yahoo.com/russia-gives-france-puppy-replace-police-dog-killed-112930593.html

Hills News article about the RSPCA charges: http://www.hillsnews.com.au/story/3507260/farmer-dave-charged-with-animal-cruelty/?cs=12

I saw Tumbles on ABC TV News Channel. It showed him at the University where they're figuring out a roll-along device to take place of his missing front legs. Just my opinion, but I think creative use of technology (& engineering!) like this, is a good thing as it explores possibilities that can have wider application. Tumbles looked like a happy little puppy. The ABC newsreader said (tongue in cheek) they could have given him a more optimistic name than Tumbles.... & that now it should be changed to Roller. Boronia, that news video might be on the ABC News site.

There's a post about Diesel on the NSW Dog Unit's Facebook page. They say the French Police Dog Unit are friends & some members have visited them in Sydney in recent years. https://m.facebook.com/NSWPFDogUnit

Diesel, you served your country well at a terrible time