gwenneth1

Your beloved Bionic Vet?? I don't think so, he's MY Bionic Vet!! I told my OH about Hollywood Brown, he laughed. I said, "But wait.... there's more..... " and finished the sentence with Roger Ramvet.... He laughed that hard he could barely breath. If there were awards for best nicknames given, that'd have to be a winner. Brilliant! Did anybody else (in my age group) get the ditty from the orginal stuck in their heads? "Oh, Roger Ramvet he's our man Hero of our nation For his adventures Stay tuned to our station......"

Hollywood Brown........... Okay, just spotted Roger Ramvet now

I know low testosterone can cause irritability in people. Just find it a curious co-incidence that when I re-read posts (properly!) it was mentioned since he was desexed? I've personally not heard of that in a dog, the dogs that I've had have actually settle more after desexing. ?? Maybe some DOL contributors will have some great input regarding this. Transient neuro (or pain)?? I know when my old girl started to act 'funny' every know and then (as in vague and irritable with other dogs more than usual). I took her to the vet which was a physical exam, but to be fair when I took her, she was perfectly fine for a 12 year old. For me to describe "vagueness and occasional unsteadiness going up the steps" was probably not a lot to go on, considering she was mildly arthritic. It was when she started to have seizures that it was found to be because of a previously undiagnosed lesion on the brain. Then your vet would have covered all those bases, I'm just speculating about the mystery of it all... If he was a stable and reliable dog before for a long time, there has to be a source to all this.... You poor things...

It's good to hear she's feeling well enough to try and put the whipper snappers in place! This really is a beautiful rescue story and I am so happy that she is going to see out her days in a happy place.

I hate to show my ignorance with all things showing, but why can't GP be eligible for Champion title?

I am glad that as her days on earth close she has somebody who has a tender heart and hand. (Okay, I confess, I start to get teary reading about her)

Very sorry to hear of your situation, it must be causing a great deal of worry and stress atm. Having nursed people post brain injury who cannot verbally express that they're in pain I have observed that out of character physical aggression often manifests itself from pain related issues or only very occassionally is traced back to their primary neurological injury. We used a particular pain scale chart to note physical and behavioural information, which then would assist with getting a diagnoses through physical exam and pathology work . Treatment would then appropriately follow. It has only been a few instances when there has been a previously non-diagnosed lesion present on the brain or a mental health issue, such as depression etc. Most aggression has been from infection; new medication; muscuo-skeletal pain; diabetes ;dental; then in the lower group of causes; dietary; stomach/bowel upsets which is causing varying degrees of discomfort and pain with the flow on effect of causing dramatic changes in behaviour.. Of course, I realise what I am referring too involves people not dogs. Horses are the same, a lot of horses become unrideable due to 'invisible' injury . Anyway, waffling on, it would probably be beneficial to first 100% rule out that there is anything physically wrong with your dog then focus on behavioural aspects. (Any new human members on the property?) If it isn't too rude of me to ask, if the cause is traced, could you post what the findings were?

here are a couple of my gang, she is 6 months old now, they grow up so quick What a good looking lot they are! I'd love to hear all the differences in character and training ........ ! I've had to GSD's (last one abut 18 yrs ago) . Came close to getting a GP but opted for a Schnauzer instead at that time. I really love the look of the GP.

They are a fantastic looking dog, with wonderfully expressive faces. ! I always wondered if they had a little stubborn streak in them (training wise), I call that 'added character". I really like the post with "...take a number and I'll get back to you later" .

I pulled up at the back of Coles carpark one day, a woman departed with three kids and Gran in tow and left her Golden Retriever in the car with the top of the windows down about four inches. I elected to wait, because it was 10am and already 30 degrees and straight away I was concerned. After twelve minutes or so, the dog, it had started become very heat distressed so I called the Police with location and number plate to be greeted with "A dog?! Well what do you want to do about it, we're very busy you know?" I'm sure they are, but I basically asked for the Policeman's name and gave him mine and said "Well, I'm going to smash the windows in in five minutes and when you get a call about vanadalism and my description, I want your name to verify I called for help and NOTHING happened. Either that or this dog die a pretty horrible death" . Suffice to say he would send a car as soon as one returned from a call (busy holiday period). Five slow minutes ticked by and I was walking back with a tyre lever in hand to start smashing windows, the dog had started crying in distress by this stage and out floats this woman, kids and grandma. All looking at me standing next to the window, with a couple of lookers on, tyre lever in hand. I told her I was about to smash her windows in and had called the police with her vehicle details because of her dog, which she had hurriedly got out at this stage and I helped get this lovely GR to a shady bit under some shrubs.This woman was a well dressed and articulate woman, I may add ,and she said angily "All right, I was only gone five minutes,you didn't haveto call the Police". I told her the exact time she left and the exact time she got back and that it was actually twenty minutes. I told her to ,get the bottled water they just bought and start cooling the dog down and get it to a vet asap because it needed attention. The thing is, I really do think that woman honestly thought it was five minutes and even five minutes given the right circumstances will seriously effect a dog or kill it. The last view I had was the dog laid out on its side under the shade of a shrub with water being poured on it, panting furiously , it was too distressed to drink and I hope it didn't end up with any long term internal damage. As I was driving away from the Supermarket, I saw a Policewagon headed towards coles and I like to think it was to investigate my complaint in the record time of fifteen minutes after notification. Sorry, I'm not trying to lecture but aside from five minutes in Summerheat being potentially deadly, it is sooooo easy to lose track of time.

Nice post Poodlefan :D I've learnt lots of tips and handy hints from reading other people's posts. Anything from training to what to use of flystrike. People are happy to share information which is really nice. Even when I don't agree with some things, it is always interesting to hear other people's points of views to sometimes get a different perspective.. oh and following links to dog products that I never knew existed prior.

I got mine custom made from a Saddler.

Yes, I boarded with a family that had an out of control Pom'. He was aggressive to his own human family, barked incessantly, urinated on everything, jumped on the table frequently to grab things off your plate. Wasn't Peppe's fault entirely , he was given the job of being the brains of the outfit and was one stressed out dog. It did, however, take me by surprise that I could really dislike a dog (obnoxious coupled with neverending yapping tipped me over the edge I think.....) as I think most have redeeming features of some sort.

Its not uncommon for domesticated pets doing attacks as opposed to feral animls and for me there are a lot of variables whether I would personally shoot a domesticated animal or not. For me, it all boils down to circumstances involved and one's own personal philosophies on the matter. Again, I use the word "personally' , because these are just my views, which aren't wrong or right necessarily but just how I see things. I can't point the finger and yell "A-hole ' for shooting the dogs and I can't say 'way to go'. Bigdogg made a decision, followed through and but had the grace to indicate they still felt awful about the outcome, especially for the young girl whose pets they were. There wasn't any gloating or joy in the original post from what i could see. Fortunately, people can make their own choices how the resolve a situation and even if I would have chosen a different path, doesn't mean others would necessarily agree with me or I with them.

Open sights mate.. And, there was no warning shot.. Yes have seen feral dogs take off and yes have seen feral dogs stand their and look at the other one. Just to clarify, i have no issues shooting feral dogs (not pets / domesticated dogs) Thats part of my life / job in managing a cattle property. I totally understand where your coming from though.. Thanks for your reply. slightly off topic here... I have no issues with feral animals being shot (and that includes feral cats) , most people that can handle a rifle make it pretty instant and humanely. My issues are with feral animals is being hunted by city type folk dropping in and blasting away, leaving animals to die slowly. It was a bun fight here at my place over this topic, so thanks for that

Same here. I have my dogs securely fenced but sometimes accidents happen. I would be very upset if they got out once and someone shot them. Not likely to happen in my area thanks goodness. Stock would be a different story as I am in a market garden area! This isn't aimed at the OP btw as they said they would have called if they had seen the collars. Accidents do happen and though I understand the law of the land (and I live on land too), I'd like to hope that where possible people would give the benefit of the doubt initially. Especially as it is the human's fault for containment rather than the dogs. I am not condoning lack of containment and know how important it is, I have a fully fenced houseyard plus very secure dog runs (I, like my neighbours, have stock). Interesting reading some of the responses, I wonder if the same goes for chickens/cattle/horses that wander onto another person's property - if it is okay just to shoot them just for being there? Is that different to a dog just walking (not attacking/killing/harrassing) in the law of the land or the law generally? I do feel sorry for those people that lost their dogs, though can understand the situation and am not flaming OP but hope that animal loving people would give a second chance rather than just shoot on sight (OP said she would have called if she had seen the collars). Of course, if it is a dangerous situation then it is right thing to do. Yep I agree. Even in my house, as I've said , we were split on this one. Half vehemently argued the absolute right to shoot the dogs, the other half opposed that just as much. I'm amazed that the first shot didn't send the surviving dog running, most dogs aren't conditioned to gunshot noises and are scared witless by it and take off at a warped speed. Then I wasn't there, so maybe it wasn't about scaring the dogs off but shooting them to ensure they never had another chance at doing it again. The consolation for me here is from what i've read, I assume there was a scope on the rifle and they were cleanly and humanely shot at a distance and werent cornered to do it, shame the scope wasn't powerful enough to make the collars visible. Killing a couple of chooks( for me )is different from hunting down sheep and stock, especially sheep which can die enmasse whether mauled or not. My daughter shows/breeds poultry and they all have names (yeah, not a word people ) so it was personal when I had a dog wander onto the property (gate left open by delivery man who obviously doesn't connect that livestock etc won't stay home) and kill one chook. I was really ticked off and would be a liar if I said otherwise, but caught the dog and called the owner. Owner apologised profusely, the dog had been missing for three days and offered to pay for the chook. It was a family dog so for me personally, I was ultimately glad of the outcome and unless it was something I considered drastic, I would not shoot . I've really good fencing and my dogs usually has somebody here, but if the extraordinary happened and they escaped and somebody shot them for that, intellectually I would know they had the right, but emotionally I would not accept it. My own family can't agree on this one, so I'm guessing others won't be able too either.

Can anybody recommend dog training books/dvd's (obedience, agility, tracking,behaviour etc) that they picked up interesting tips and learnt a lot from?

LIved on the land most of my life growing up rescued unwanted dogs dumped by passing tourists and also failed working collies, kelpies and hunting dogs left on the stock route to die. They have been successfully rehomed. One was a border collie that lived to nearly 17. Wild dogs and those that form a pack are a different kettle of fish altogether......

Agree 100% Australian local councils, state governements et al are extremely dog unfriendly-from transport; beaches;parks etc. Mostly all I see is signs with an icon of a dog with a line through it "No dogs". Our council actually sets up rangers with cameras to catch unsuspecting tourists walking their dogs (on lead) on the beach. There are not too many places where you are actually allowed to take a dog on lead or off. Even tying your dog (not that I would, I'd be afraid they'd get stolen) to duck in and buy a newspaper will get you a fine.

It seems that abusers of the most vulnerable in the world get very light to zero punishment for the most disgusting inhuman behaviour . I just don't get it!

Ditto.

Good god, where I have I been? Never heard of them til now. How long of these existed?

I grew up on a rural property where there was (and are) about eight working dogs. Mum's two dogs has access to kitchen/living area but are penned at night. Dad's six dogs are never inside, they work anywhere up to a thousand head of cattle on two seperate properties about six thousand acres. Dogs are rotated and rested in order and in would be impossible for them kept inside the house for many reasons, aside from the fact my Father would point blank refuse to do it. I can't say they seem unhappy because they regularly get their "buzz" from working. I'm considered soft as I have my dogs inside with us and my own philosphy is they are extended family (not saying I'm right, just my own philosophy) . My 20 yo daughter has her dogs with her inside and pens them about 10pm at night . Where we go, our dogs generally go, they have a fantastic life (even if I do say so myself) I always argue against the dogs are dirty theme because if one follows basic hygiene measures, treats their dogs for parasites etc it's okay. In fact, the human race carries more communicable diseases (no reverse zoonosis) than dogs. The only dog that did not enjoy being inside, for other than half an hour, was (strangely enough) a rough collie that was a rescue (15 yrs ago?). She could in and out as she pleased but chose to be out most of the time, even if we were all inside.

Split down the middle about this in our family about this-sparked a huge debate though and at the end none of us would budge.We had to agree to disagree.

What disturbs me is that a lot of rangers are unqualfied morons who have to make an intelligent, informed decision. BSL is rubbish, there is no evidence to support that this draconian legislation has reduced bite statistics one iota or that bullbreeds are indeed responsible for a lot of incidences. (but the moment a bullbreed does, you can bet it makes the headlines). I recall that a man who was disabled had his dog seized by an idiot ranger who id'd the dog as "Pit Bull type". (wtf...?) This played itself out in the court system and the man was awarded his dog back, court costs and the ranger/council criticised. Ridiculous! I wish I was in a financial situation to help with your costs. Perhaps you could ask help via legal aid or get somebody to take the case on? I feel very sorry for you.