BlackJaq

Well, I guess I would have to check with a solicitor if a "Do Not Trespass" sign applies to police or not.

And fyi, this article says Vic Police now carry a 40 cal. pistol. That is nothing like a 9 mm, which is what some people have been saying http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-04-29/new-pistol-chosen-for-victoria-police/415184 This is a 40 cal round we are talking, I seriously doubt that dog was shot with a 40 cal hollow point because the head would probably be missing. Where do you people get your information?

Yea you can, unless they bring a warrant

Re the bolded bit: I have noticed this in my breed and actually had people (just regular people, not dog breeders or show people) comment on how they always thought Weimaraners are a nervy breed when they stop me to ask about Foxy and pat her. I have a personal suspicion (no hard proof or anything) that maybe when a strong breed becomes popular with the general pet owning public, some breeders, or even the majority, may attempt to alter the temperament to be more suitable for a pet lifestyle. This would not be easy with a breed with strong guarding and/or hunting traits (Weimaraners are actually a perfomance breed in their country of origin Germany, only after health checks, a temperament assessment/test and passed hunting exams can a dog get a licence to breed registered offspring and guarding an item of the owner's is part of the temp assessment, some handlers also choose to get their hunting Weimaraner titled in Schutzhund, so a large number of the dogs are suitable for bite training and quite successful as well). My personal thought is that in attempting to breed dogs better suited to pet homes, maybe dogs with weaker temperaments (i.e. less dominant, less drive) and less nerve were chosen in a mistaken belief that their offspring might be more easy for a pet owner to deal with. Of course good nerve and confidence are very important in a pet dog, too, but maybe that was a realization that either came to late or never. Anyway, this is the only reasonable explanation that I have been able to come up with, that explains why a breed that was originally strong, confident and possibly "combative" (for lack of a better word) has now got so many issues with anxiety, timidness, fear biting etc. I can't say the tendency to separation anxiety is different in pet lines to working lines as far as I know though, it seems common in many if not all gun dog breeds if the dog does not learn about alone time early on. I mostly hear about pet homes having issues with this though, as the entire upbringing and level of handling/training are often completely different and there may be issues of unawareness in those who do not thoroughly inform themselves in advance. Many gun dogs would spend almost all day most days with their hunting owners and so today's lifestyle of full time jobs away from home or dogs staying in backyards on their own is very different. I don't think most gun dogs make good backyard/outside only dogs at all even today. BTW I don't think Great Danes and Weimaraners are the only ones affected by this, German Shepherds come to mind as well and I am sure there are more breeds which I am not as familiar with, which are also suffering from issues with poor temperaments such as this ETA: Now that Foxy is nearly three years old and pretty much matured, I actually find her temperament not as confident as I would like and I am very happy with my decision to spay her (she was done at 18 months) as I would prefer a stronger temperament to breed with. It is not an issue on the pet side of things as she is well socialized and had extensive training but on the hunting side of things I do wonder if she will hold up under stress or on big game if we ever decide to tackle it and I definitely don't think she is the best that the breed can be, hence my saying earlier I would like to import a proven dog from Germany one day)

Your comment about selection for behavioral traits in working dogs differing from what would be selected for show dogs, is borne out by this research paper. http://homepage.psy.utexas.edu/homepage/group/AnimPersInst/Animal%20Personality%20PDFs/S/Sa-Sc/Svartburg%202006.pdf Interestingly, sandgrubber posted this paper up in the research papers section of DOL. No, what I meant was that the standard Labrador Temperament would be completely incorrect for a Working Anatolian Shepherd for example. Just because the OP prefers the particular temperament that their pups have, does not make it correct for every dog. Sorry if I was not clear on this before. Yes, that's the consequence of those findings. A dog with a 'working dog' breed label that's bred for showing tends to have certain differences in pattern of behavioral traits from any of the breeds that are actually used as working dogs. Because the actual working dogs require certain traits, to do that work. Those certain behavioral traits tend not to be consistent with what's required for dogs to be shown... The Conclusion section of that research paper neatly summarizes it. And I think your comments are spot on. Ah ok, sorry for the confusion! Sadly this paper then confirms my opinion that some breeds are less suited to be purely pets if the breed standard is adhered to. Which unfortunately means that compromises are being made to make those breeds suitable to be pets anyway (mostly for breeds that are not commonly used for their original work anymore, obviously you can always have a dud who may be suitable as a pet but not as a worker). I struggle a lot with this concept, as one day I hope to become a breeder of my breed of choice, but the correct working temperament would make the pups all but unsuitable for the average Australian pet owner. This then leaves me in a position where I can either not breed and avoid the whole issue, cull numbers at birth, struggle to find working homes for each pup(seems unlikely with litters that tend to exceed 10 + pups vs number of people using the breed to work) or I can compromise on the quality of the dogs to make the "excess" suitable for pet homing. Neither option is currently particularly attractive to me so I may end up importing a working dog for my own needs and probably never end up breeding it anyway. An expensive bit of personal indulgence though that would be... Anyway, don't mind me too much, it is not exactly a crippling issue at present

Your comment about selection for behavioral traits in working dogs differing from what would be selected for show dogs, is borne out by this research paper. http://homepage.psy.utexas.edu/homepage/group/AnimPersInst/Animal%20Personality%20PDFs/S/Sa-Sc/Svartburg%202006.pdf Interestingly, sandgrubber posted this paper up in the research papers section of DOL. No, what I meant was that the standard Labrador Temperament would be completely incorrect for a Working Anatolian Shepherd for example. Just because the OP prefers the particular temperament that their pups have, does not make it correct for every dog. Sorry if I was not clear on this before. ETA: Just looking at this study now and it is certainly making for interesting reading!

A temperament that conforms to the breed standard is a correct temperament for that dog. However, your "beautiful" temperament, whatever that may be in this case, may be completely incorrect for other breeds, especially if they are going to be a working dog. I have not spoken to any registered breeders who were not highly aware and selective about the temperaments of their stock and their puppies and who were not matching the pup's temperament to the puppy buyer's requirements. I seriously wonder what kind of people you are hanging out with

Just thought I would post this for the OP's enjoyment :)

Bargain hunting does not sound like a good approach when you are looking to spend an entire lifetime of an animal with that animal. Not to mention buying a BYB pup encourages those people to breed again and guess where a buttload of the pups end up due to lack of proper screening of buyers and other issues (health and temperament )...

We have one of these. We live on a property and right now we do not leave anyone outside the house or dog pen when we go out but we will be getting another dog around the end of the year who will have access around the house and sheds, so we will add a sign to alert to the presence of a dog. Our front gate is also locked. Anybody who jumps the fence here is pretty much on their own. We also have a "If you can read this, you are within range" sign near the top of the driveway, just at the corner where you can see the house hehe Hope that is clear enough for everybody

I would definitely recommend taking them on outings separately. Separation anxiety in a dog that never learns to be on his own for reasonable periods can end up in fibro walls being completely destroyed, doors eaten in an attempt to get out and the damage a panicking dog can do to itself is not pretty either.

Funnily enough, I find that people will often assume that if you have an ex poundie, the dog must have been abused previously, regardless of behaviour. I have a dog from a rural pound who could sit, come and was house broken when I got her. Her socialization was definitely not up to par as she was timid with strangers (humans) but she snaps out of it quickly and has been doing agility with me recently without issue. I don't think she was abused, she is not scared of yelling and she is not worried about being hit. I suspect she was probably well loved but wasn't claimed because she was entire and unreg and thus expensive to bail out. And yet, when people hear she came from a pound, they feel sorry for her and usually will drop a comment about the abuse she must have suffered... There may or may not have been abuse but she certainly isn't showing any indicative behaviours as far as I can tell

"Do you want an English staffy puppy? We know you will look after it, it's free and we have like 15 of them. This is her fourth litter, we just can't afford to fix her!" True story that

I noticed this also and if true, then I do not believe there was any justification for shooting the dog. What, was it rushing at them backwards?

They have eaten an adult albeit skinny brown snake before. The others looked like baby or juvenile snakes as far as I can tell. I also have a peacock and they will supposedly kill them, too, but my fella is too timid to get in the Guinea's way. Not sure if he would have a go if he found one first Regardless of size, the Guineas will surround the snake and mob it. A very large snake might get away if there was cover nearby I suppose

I have oodles of Guinea fowl as well. I saw a couple of snakes last summer but the Guineas saw them too and all were eaten within minutes. I dug up a red belly black with the excavator during winter (by accident) and it retreated further into the warren it was in, so it got away. Hopefully it will not re-appear but if it does, I expect the Guineas will eat it. They are very noisy when they see a snake and all the other Guineas and the chickens come running for this delicious treat, so I feel quite safe (except at night when the birds are roosting)

Well, anybody who believes that commercial farmers will be the only target has got to be kidding themselves.

If you want to have a puppy to raise then I have to ask why you did not purchase one from a registered breeder, instead of considering contributing to the problem? Sorry, I don't mean to be rude, but breeding a litter of staffy x, which are a dime a dozen where I live, and one, if not THE most killed dog at our pound, seems incredibly selfish and stupid to me, when you could instead purchase a health checked puppy from a registered breeder, who puts in about a thousand times more effort than you have, in selecting and health checking and matching their breeding stock. If you just want to play with puppies, why not volunteer at a pound, shelter or rescue? Were you going to keep them all? Even if she had ten? Or did you think you were going to sell the excess to make some cash? I hate to disappoint you, but by the time you pay even just for food, you will not get enough money for a staffy pup to cover that basic cost. They will crap and pee everywhere, the will chew your things and dig up your garden. They are not legal to leave your care until 8 weeks old. Where are you going to keep ten 7 week old, active staffy puppies that are looking for something to amuse themselves with? Are you going to pay to have them all chipped? Vaccinated? Vet checked? What if they have health issues or Mum does not want to nurse them? Are you going to hand feed and toilet ten puppies? If you do not have time or money for this, are you going to euthanize some of them? Half? All except one? I suggest you think about all of these things BEFORE you have a bitch in whelp and about to drop them under your house or in your lounge room...

My 4 yo has been roughed up and badly frightened twice by agility dogs at agility seminars with top OS presenters. People who should've had an effective recall and should've known better. Foxy has also been attacked at agility several times. We are a small rural club and a lot of the dogs have had no previous training or socialization, which I believe was the problem with all the dogs that reacted so negatively. Every time except once, all dogs were on leash but the attacking dogs' owners still could not stop their dog launching The once was my fault, when we had some off leash play time and a new dog came on the grounds (on leash) and Foxy approached it before I saw it. I think it is a bit of a vicious cycle, where owners are reluctant to take their dogs out because of unfriendly roaming dogs and then their dog becomes one of the problem dogs due to lack of training and socialization. Often dogs can also become reactive as a result of being charged by strange dogs, friendly or not, which is why I think many people need to gain better control of their dogs and I am not a fan of dogs off leash unless in designated off leash areas

I actually disagree. Unattended dogs can form packs and do things that each individual dog would never dream of doing on their own. They are not only a danger to motorists due to causing accidents and pedestrians due to attacking them or harassing their on lead dogs, but they are also a problem for livestock and pet owners because a pack of dogs will often go hunting together. All dogs need to be contained, even the friendly ones. A friendly dog will often kill just as many sheep, and just as fast as an unfriendly one. ETA: I am referring to dogs who are not under effective control, with or without an owner present basically.

Agree, this could be any dog who feels threateed by an uncontrolled off leash dog, regardless of size or breed. What might have only been a nip to the other dog's cheek can easily hurt a human hand and badly and I also think the woman should be fined. I find it outrageous that the Bully is being made out to be the bad guy, but I guess that was to be expected. I also can't believe how easily "Pitbull" flies off the keyboard these days. A Pit and a Bull Terrier look nothing alike and I'd bet the reporter probably wouldn't recognize either if shown a photo....

Wow, this thread is so depressing. When we were living in town I used to kick and chase any dog that approached off lead, with owner or without and always went the same way so the resident dogs knew me and avoided me like the plague. We still got into trouble and even had dogs charge me when I was out on the horse but I used to follow them home and go past their place the next day whilst leading the horse and with my dressage whip in hand.... Most of them learned quickly but I will never know how my horse stayed so dog friendly, even after being nipped by various cattle dog crosses when I couldn't get off quickly enough and assume the defensive position (with the horse behind me lol) Of course when the owner was around there was usually a lot of bitching about me hitting their dog but that's just tough titties, that's what leashes are for, protecting their dog from the crazy horse whip lady...

I am glad the victim spoke out about the dog's living conditions, he sounds like a kind, caring individual. I wonder if he will receive any community help since he said they are now struggling to make ends meet. I think the owner should have to pay some compensation to help undo some of the damage they did to this guy and his family. And a ban on owning dogs would not go astray either

This. There is n update at the link now: Update: Twenty-two-year-old Akeem Bernard was arrested and charged in Brooklyn today with the shooting of three-year-old Tharell Edward. Prosecutors say Bernard had kept his gun in a shoebox near the bedroom crib where Tharell slept. Tharell's mother, Nichelle Edward, was not home at the time. Bernard allegedly told a witness not to call an ambulance until he had time to stash his gun away.

Holy shit. Aren't there any private gun owners who could help out?