Elina

Like take voting rights away from colored people and bring slavery back to business But seriously. If you look at many old photos of dogs, we have changed so much. We haven't really protected many breeds, we have done lots of harm. I don't think leaving tails to dogs cause anymore harm, quite opposite.

Hi, thanks for clearing out these facts. I haven't said even once that tail docking is cruel. Haven't I? All i have said is that there is a reason why dogs are meant to have tails.

Hi Elina , tails are not actually crucial for balance, otherwise all those docked doggies would be constantly falling over, and they just don't. To OP, I am getting used to tails, but still love the look of the docked dogs I see out there. Not many left now though. Damn, it's really hard to express myself with foreign language. But not are four legs crucial either. I have seen many dogs walking and running very well with three legs. Anyhow, what i try to say, is that there is a reason why (most) dogs born with tails. And reasons why most in this thread are saying they don't like tails are not because they are afraid the tail will get hurt, it's because it doesn't look good.

1. No. 2. I have had giant schnauzer. 3. No, but how on earth is this relevant?! 4. No, but i have owned dogs who have broke their legs while stepping to something sharp. That has been painful for a dog and needed many weeks care. Maybe we should cut one leg as well while docking tails. This would diminish the risk that one leg will get hurt. Leg is not VITAL (sorry about my previous mistake, it's this language barrier) part for dog either. Just very crucial for balance just like tail. It is quite impossible to discuss about topic with someone, who is so fanatic of something. I haven't said that I think docking tails is cruel. I have just said that attitudes in my country has changed after 15 years. If Australian countryside is so dangerous for dogs tails, why kelpies and dingos have tails? And I have understood that most people live in cities nowadays? We have lots of hunting dogs in Finland. I have heard of a few GSP's has had tail damages while running in a thick forrest during hunting. I could approve docking for that breed. Do you hunt with dogs?

My answers to your questions are very irrelevant about the matter that I just wanted to tell that maybe long tails doesn't feel so bad anymore after 15 years. Maybe that bring a little comfort to someone.

I just told what replys I got from a country where has longer history of banning docking. Sorry, no needs to attack to me. We just have already now new generation of dog owners who are shaken that docking has been approved before. It sounds so absurd nowdays for many people. Sorry, I didn't realise this was such a sensitive topic that I wasn't allowed to anwer this at all...

I just told what replys I got from a country where has longer history of banning docking. Sorry, no needs to attack to me. We just have already now new generation of dog owners who are shaken that docking has been approved before. It sounds so absurd nowdays for many people. Sorry, I didn't realise this was such a sensitive topic that I wasn't allowed to anwer this at all...

Well, that's totally different topic, but in my country desexing is not so popular and is usually made because of medical reasons. I have hardly ever heard that dogs under one year old would have desexed.

This was so interesting topic that I had to make an inquiry about docking in Finnish dog forum. How has attitudes changed after 15 years (docking was banned in 1996). I remember there was lots of all kinds of discussion after banning. I have got over 60 replys and only one said that she would like to go back for docking. Many told that they still think that especially dopes looks better without tail but they still think docking is wrong. Almost all mentioned that it feels now ridiculous that tails has been ever docked from pet dogs. What an arrogance to cut away one vital part of the body. Maybe there are more similar thoughts in Australia after 10 years.

Is docking banned in Australia recently? I don't own docked breed at the moment but i bought giant schnauzer puppy in 1997 just after tail docking was banned in 1996 in Finland. It took just a while to get use to the look, but i preferred my dog as a whole package.

^Many thanks for your generous offer but we are already very close to Sydney

Hi Aannie, We are leaving from Australia at the end of this month, so we can't help you I don't know if other house sitter "do" kids, but it doesn't cost anything to try. If someone will need house sitter in Sydney in April, we would be more than happy to help.

^It seems that we could come to visit Very kind words from Dodo Her dogs are lovely and we really loved the beautiful garden. It was very nice week in the countryside We are still looking for a house sitting place from Sydney. At the moment we are in Melbourne.

Shame, I wouldn't have had any problems walking dogs twice a day and have very recent references.

And when were you travelling overseas? Me and my boyfriend are looking for a house sitting place from Sydney for April, but you propably are not going anywhere with such short notice. We have done house sittings for three dog owners who all have used house sitters also previously. They all said they haven't ever had any problems.

Clyde: Unfortunately we have to be already in Sydney during that time period Well, it has been quite difficult to find houses to sit since we have had certain places where we want to be in certain dates (NYE in Sydney, F1 in Melbourne etc.). Also that we can't stay in places where is cats has narrowed places. We really can't afford hotels in Australia (we are travelling around the world, nine months in total)! We have our campervan where we can sleep and we have stayed also in hostels. I wouldn't count on just house sittings when you want to travel from place to place. Those are more like very good extra for our travels

That would have been great! But yes, we are in the wrong side of the country Unfortunately we couldn't be able to help even if we would have stayed longer in Aus, because Tomi is really allergic to cats. Dogs are ok (even many) but cats and horses are really bad I still really appreciate your offer about the spare room. That DOL dinner sounds fun

Hi all, we have done so far three fantastic house sittings in Australia and enjoyed very much. Now we also have excellent references House sitting is absolutely best way to see Australia. We have met many lovely dogs and their friendly owners. You really have great country We are at the moment looking for a house to sit within 100 kilometers radius from Melbourne (or could be even further away if it ends before 27th of March). This would be from next week to at the end of March but anything shorter would be great too. In April we need to stay in Sydney because we have to sell our car and Sydney would be best place for that (it's a campervan). We would like to find a house sitting place near public transport (because hopefully we don't have car at the end of the month ). We leave from Australia 28th of April. Please feel free to contact Greetings from Grampiens, Vic.

I didn't vote because I am not going to trial in obedience here in Australia. I just don't understand the whole problem here. In Finland you are allowed to use any language you want (Swedish is other official language). Many people compete in our neighbour countries as well and there is also European championship competitions etc. I haven't ever heard language would have been an issue even you can hear multiple languages in one competition. Rules are same about commands, have to be only one word.

Hello guys Me and my boyfriend are at the moment in Sydney. We have been house sitting last month but when we leave from this current place day after tomorrow, we don't really have any plans until we get next house sitting place. We are just planning to drive coast south toward Victoria. We are wildlife buffs and would love to see as much wildlife as possible. I am sure there in this forum are many persons just like us and I would love to get recommendations of good national parks, wildlife sanctuaries etc. We love to see all kind of animals. Please feel free to add photos of those place I start with this eastern water dragon which I saw at the Lane Cove National Park.

Me and my boyfriend are looking for a house sitting place at the moment especially from Victoria (and NSW), but we are coming to Queensland as well. If you or anyone else is interested visit: www.finnishhousesitter.wordpress.com

I have to say, I don't know for sure how these goes. I don't have any experience. I though am quite sure owners disability is not an excuse. Sure you have to get someone to walk your dog if you can't do it by yourself. Basically authorities can't take anyone's dog in to the custody unless things are really bad. They can just give guidelines and warnings. But most Finns respect authorieties quite well. And nobody wants that your neighbour think that you don't care of your dog :p Problem barking, hmm... Do you mean in apartment or in suburb? In apartment it is a matter of the deputy landlord. Neighbours can complain to him/her and in worst case you can get an eviction note. In suburbs things are more complicated and in worst cases neighbours have seen each others in the court house. But usually animal welfare organisations doesn't have anything to do with those. *Edit* I just read here the other thread about problems with dogs barking outside. Most dogs in Finland sleeps inside during days and nights so that is not usually problem.

I don't be shocked Sure I have to do sometimes just like that as well, but I always feel bad about it ;) But I have active Border Collies and they are used to have a lots of activities. They don't want to just spend time with use while we watch TV, they think it's boring. This is of course also matter of breed as well. Many breeds are happy with much lesser activites, but I have to chosen bc's and I go for at leas a one hour walk even it is raining hard or there is -15 degrees. Somethimes I do think how grazy that is :p

I don't understand what is so difficult to take dogs for a walks three times a day? For me it has been self-evidence since I have dogs in apartment. Me and my friens all have dogs in apartment and work fulltime. None of us can't unfurtunately take dogs to work. I take dogs out before work. That is very short walk, just 15 minutes or something like that. After work it is time for a longer walk, usually 1-2 hours. Then last walk is before I go to bed, also short walk just like during the morning. That is the normal day rutine. We also do obedience and agility often and many times spend whole evening outside with my friends and dogs. Dog owners who cares about their dogs don't usually hand around in cafes after work if they work fulltime. "What if you played sport" Why would you take a dog if you don't have time for it? "...or went out to dinner" Does it take whole evening? Why can't you choose to go on your day off? "or had friends over" Sorry, I don't understand? Of course you say that you have to walk your dog first and tell them what time they can come over. "or had another hobby?" Again, why would you take dog if you don't have time for it? If you want another hobby, then I hope there is someone else in your family, who will walk your dog. If I would have a big yard, then you maybe wouldn't need to do the first and last walk of the day, but of course dogs need to have at least one good walking adventure every day. I hope you will enjoy Finland in your honeymoon :p Which are the other where countries you are going?

Thanks for your comment. I am not going anywhere Though because writing in English is not yet as easy as in Finnish, it keeps me not interfering to many threads. Thanks, climate is not so great, but otherwise Europe is quite nice Greece, Italy and Slovenia has very good dog culture, I think. I have been only in Italy, but there was lots of dogs in busy streets of Venice and many of them off-lead walking with their owners. Then small correction: Finland does not belong to Baltic States. Finland is just part of the Northern Europe. Dog culture in Baltic Countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) is very different compared to Finland. Those are economically really poor countries and it is also seen in their dog culture. Finns rescue lots of dogs from Estonia where abandoned dogs are living in really poor conditions (especially winter is horrible for dogs, since they live mostly outdoor) but they refuse to euthanize animals.