Elina

IngeK: Very good post Me and my boyfriend have been travelling around Australia with a campervan and what has been the most unbelievable thing is that you are not allowed to take dogs to all caravan parks! I just can't understand it! You are staying in your own vehicle and still can't take dogs (or any other pets) there with you. I don't think there is any caravan park in the whole Europe where you couldn't take dogs with you.

^^Nice pic Most breeders and dog owners have only indoor dogs in Finland. Well, usually dogs are left home if you are supposed to go to the restaurant since we are not as lucky as eg. Germans. If you are travelling or making day trip with your family, then your dog can stay in the car (if it's not too hot, but that's only about 1-2 months during the year) or can be tied up outside so you can see it (during winter it would ne too cold). Some restaurants and cafes allow dogs to the terrace.

Whaaat? You can't do that?!! That is so strange. I have been so many times at the airport with my dogs waiting for my home-coming parents or friends. How on earth it is forbidden to take dogs to airports?! Like dogs are terrorists or something

Yes, just like that :rolleyes: My dogs love snow.

Nothing is more beautiful than -5 degree winter day with sunshine sparkling in the snow. As much I wanted to be one winter away from the cold climate, I really miss walking in the crystal white forest with my dogs during snowy winter days.

Almost meter of snow, all roads icy and -25 degrees. If that is your idea of paradise, happy journey :rolleyes: Tell you the truth, only reason why people don't abandon their dogs, is because who could have a heart to abandon your dog in the middle of the horrible winter Well, summer is beautiful and it will be light whole night as well.

Yes, I know about puppy farms. We have been horrified to see those from telly. I haven't heard that we would have those in Finland. I am sure there are breeders who breed only because of profit and they don't register all their litters (you can't register unless there is a certain time period between bitches last litter) but puppy farms, I would say no, we fortunately don't have them. One reason why those wouldn't be success in Finland is that we don't have pet stores which sell puppies.

Dogs are not allowed to restaurants in Finland. In other parts of Europe, where this is allowed, all dogs what I have seen, have been on-lead. In Finland in common dogs should be on lead in suburbs and in the bushes dogs should be on lead or so well trained that they you will be able to call your dog when ever it is necessary and take it on lead. I never go for on-lead walks. My border collies are always off lead. Because we live in apartment, I quite often drive a bit further from the all hustle to the forest where they can run as much as they want.

Interesting thread. I was in Germany recently. One thing that I'll never forget is being in a pub. At one table was a group of young people, drinking and smoking. At the next table was a family with young children eating dinner. At the next table was a man with his dog. All inside! Can you imagine! Although, and the fact it was winter may have had something to do with it, I don't remember seeing many dogs around generally. And apart from that, I don't really know anything about dog ownership in Germany. I have stayed six months in Germany as an exchange student and I can confirm that what you saw wasn't uncommon. It was totally normal. Germans have dogs everywhere and they also smoke everywhere :rolleyes: It was also for me to really amazing to see many big dogs meeting each others and even playing in McDonald's! Not going to happen in Finland and what I have understood it definately not going to happen in Australia. I forgot to ask, is it compulsory to desex pet dogs in Australia? Even it is on compulsory in Finland we actually don't have too much unwanted litters. Again with cats it is more bigger issue and desexing is recommendable. Have to say that I really had to come to the other side of the world to understand how well things with dogs are in Finland.

No, absolutely no compulsory. Most dogs goes without desexing but it is not uncommon either. Usually reasons for desexing is more behavioural (male dogs excessive sexual behaviour etc.) than 'just incase'.

I don't know if that makes people value dogs more but I like it. I don't think it does, but it makes dogs more social. Unfortunately Finland is not as dog friendly as Neatherland or Germany. It is not allowed to take dogs to restaurants or cafes in Finland. Still Germany has huge problem with abandoned dogs so it doesn't solve problems. I tried to find recent information about how many dogs there is in Finland, but couldn't find. If every other household in Australia has dogs, that's shocking. Me and my boyfriend have been house sitting here and it always surprises me that there doesn't really are other dog walkers in suburbans :rolleyes:

This conversation started from 'Caucasian Ovcharka thread' and I was asked if I could start this new thread which I can willingly do. Warning, my post is Hi Elina Do hope you're still tuned in, or will be soon! I'm very interested in your comment above, from page 3 of this thread. Can you explain why Finland does not have an abandoned dog problem please? As it is off-topic, it would be best if you could start a new thread. Many thanks! I have found this thread very interesting - I had not heard of the Caucasian Ovcharka before. What a difficult question and I don't know if I can give absolutely correct answer but I can try. I just want to let you know that this is not 'which country is the best' conversation. I just tell about Finnish dog culture. I know there is people from other European (or other continents) countries as well. They could tell about their countries. First a little background information. Population in Finland is a bit over five million and estimate is that every fifth household has a dog or two. You are allowed to takes dogs all parks, to buses, trains etc. It is allowed and common to keep dogs in apartments even in city CBD's. It is not allowed to sell puppies in pet stores so most puppies are purchased from responsible breeders who are very thorough to whom they sell their puppies. People train dogs a lot. We have loads of dog clubs and also commercial training companies etc. Even Finland is a very small country breeders from all over the world respects Finnish dogs, trainers and breeders whether it is about dog shows, obedience, agility or schutchund. We have won world championship and European championship contests in many dog sports. It is easy to travel outside the country border for dog shows and other competitions. It is also easy to import (and export) dogs since we don't have quarantines in Europe. Of course we have problems as well, but we have quite strict Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. If you don't take your dog for walks, you may soon have someone knocking on your door and ask some questions. There really isn't many abandoned dogs. With cats situation is a bit more difficult. In greater Helsinki area (about 1 million people live in that area) there is one place where all free roaming animals are taken and they have capacity for 100 animals total. This includes places for cats and all other animals as well. They have told that there haven't ever been a situation that there won't be room for new incoming animals. Basically all dogs who's owners won't come to pick them up, will found new homes, which is just great. We don't really have so many situations that people just abandon their dog. With cats that happen more often, especially after summer :D There have been many campaigns that people wouldn't take "summer cats" and those have worked quite well. I think what I have said about Finnish dog culture will fit quite well also to Sweden, Norway and Denmark. I don't say that we don't have problems with dogs in these countries, but I think we may have have lesser problems. Because situation in Finland is very good, people who wants to help dogs which have been taken on the custody or are abandoned, travel often to our southern neighbour country Estonia, where situation is totally different. They have very different dog culture than in Finland and many dogs are abandoned and won't find new homes. Finally apologizes about the misspellings.

Warning, my post is Hi Elina Do hope you're still tuned in, or will be soon! I'm very interested in your comment above, from page 3 of this thread. Can you explain why Finland does not have an abandoned dog problem please? As it is off-topic, it would be best if you could start a new thread. Many thanks! I have found this thread very interesting - I had not heard of the Caucasian Ovcharka before. Oh, sure I can try to explain. Just give me a little time ( it takes a while to write proper text in English) and I start a new thread.

Hi Mollie10 I hope you'll get a chance to travel to Finland next time. Finland is quite similar with the climate, but everything is more expensive There are many easier LGD breeds, for example Pyrenean Mountain Dog, do you have these in Australia? We have had those in Finland for ages as a very good pets. They are almost as big and furry, but much more easier by their temperament.

What a coincidence, I just have been reading thread about CO's in Finnish dog forum and then I come here and found this thread. We have CO's quite a lot in Finland. It is easy to import them from Russia since Russia is just across the border. People have been really excited about the breed the last ten years. Today we are in trouble. These dogs has killed lots of other dogs, they have bitten many people and caused so much sorrow just because wrong people buy them. These dogs should be in the middle of nowhere looking after a farm and animals. They should not be in the suburbans. Never! What I have learned about aussie dog culture within these few moths I have been here, those dogs are not suitable to your environment. You already have too much abandoned dogs (we don't in Finland, instead people are resquing dogs from Estonia, Spain etc.) that you don't want these dogs to mix everything even more. Most of the caucasian ovcharkas won't live long in Finland. They are too difficult to handle for most of the owners that they will be put down because their behaviour. This is very sad, because dogs haven't done anything else than what they are developed for, they are just in wrong environment.

Damn. I haven't read this forum for a two weeks. If I would have, me and my boyfriend would have definately helped you. I am the one Burkes referred at the first page. Backpacker with dogtrainer background even though I am from Finland not from Germany ;) We were staying from 2nd till 7th Jan at caravan park quite near to you. Now we are already at the other side of the city and will start two weeks house sitting on Wednesday. But if anyone else have similar cases or need house sitter, please feel free to send personal message.

We are still looking for houses to sit. Please feel free to contact We really would like to find a place near Sydney during New Years Eve. Otherwise our schedules are quite open. At the moment we are at Monkey Mia (WA) and leave after few days toward Perth and from there to Albany.

It is so sad that dogs are prohibited from so many places. Finland is propably really "undogfriendliness" country in the Europe, since dogs are not allowed to cafés, restaurants or shops, but still dogs are welcome to all parks, outside malls and to public transports. It feels like waste of good park that you are not allowed to these places with dogs, but maybe there is a good reason for that... Australias wild animals I guess? I though saw two dogs at the Kings Park but maybe their owners were just rebellious And yes, I hope I will be able to visit a dog show and other dog events as well

Hi all, I arrived to Perth last week. What suprises me is how few dogs there is!? I am from Finland but have been travelling around the world and haven't been seen so few dogs about anywhere else in a city. We have been walking through the city, Kings Park etc. and i've seen less than 10 dogs. How is that possible? Are all dogs in the country side? Well i hope we soon will find a car and start our journey around your beautiful country. Hope I see then much more dogs and other animals By the way, if someone is looking for a house sitter near future or knows dog or other animal related short period job, pls visit: www.finnishhousesitter.wordpress.com or pm me

^Hope you got my PM Ooh, let me know if you're interested in a bit of insider action - I work for the Grand Prix ... which is unfortunately the only time I could really use a dog sitter! Hi, Tomi just saw what you wrote and he is soooo excited :D He actually would have liked to be a volunteer there or something. I could do dog sitting for you (i am not so interested in F1...) if you could help Tomi to get an insider action

We are planning to come NZ in January ;)

^We already changed pm's but it looks like we still are available. I can't believe how amazing people you Aussies are I have got many pm's and welcomings to a night or two stays to your houses. Many thanks to you alla! And apologizes if there is someone to whom I haven't replyed, we have had quite limited time for an internet since we have been travelling here all the time. I will though try to answer to everyone asap. We are still looking for houses to sit Actually there might be a change for this plan. I don't know for sure yet but we maybe won't be in the city during the F1 races because if we want to see East Coast, we should be there during that time. At the moment it looks like, we might come and stay around Melbourne already during Nov / Dec.

Hope you got my pm

Seven maremmas, goats and sheep! We could see live stock guardian dogs in their work?! You can be sure we would love to I will pm you. I have answered Cockerlovers mail and sent pm to MonElite. t-time: Thanks for your offer. We most likely will come to Brisbane and I let you know when Flashsmum: Arvasin, että talla foorumilla on varmasti muitakin Suomalaisia. Kiitos tarjouksestasi. Hyvin todennakoisesti ajamme ainakin Nowran lapi jossain vaiheessa, joten pidan teidat kylla mielessa claireybell: All I can tell at the moment is that we need to be in Melbourne during F1 race which is 27th of March.

I started this: http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=202842 thread here a while ago and because many people here were so supportive I now dared to open this new thread. Me (27 years old) and my boyfriend (30) are from Finland. We have resigned from our jobs (project manager and truck driver) and have been travelling since end of August. We have two Border Collies which are NOT travelling with us. They both compete in obedience trials. I previously had an own dog training company and organized dog seminars. We both love animals, especially dogs. Since our own dogs stay in Finland while we travel abroad, we would love to look after other dogs to relieve homesickness even a bit. I have used to do long bush walks daily and watch telly while scratching dogs bellies Since we are quite old working holiday travellers we are not party persons but very reliable people who respect others property. Here am I with our Border Collies, Tomi's mixed breed and my friend's miniature schnauzer We arrive to Australia (Perth) at October 27th. We don’t have much plans yet. Before moving to East Coast I want to visit Monkey Mia and see the dolphins as well as visit at the Kangaroo Island. Spending new years eve at the Sydney is must for Tomi as well as being in Melbourne during F1 races at the end of March. Most likely we travel to New Zealand between those two dates. Believe or not but this is pretty much all plans we have at the moment. We prefer shorter (1-3 weeks) housesitting positions, because we have only limited time to spend in your beautiful country and it’s so huge that we can’t stay at one place too long time. But don’t hesitate to offer a longer house sitting place either. Because when I am doing something, I usually go deep into it, that's why I created a homepage about this: Need a house sitter? There is more information for them who are interested in to know more about us. I hope it is ok to post this here