trinabean

I agree with this post. Whilst the little brown dog was clearly terrified, the husky looked pretty relaxed to me, especially at the beginning of the clip when she first came in. The ears, upright tail etc just looked like a normal husky to me. The husky and Rat terrier interaction seemed more tense to me. I do think that owners should have stepped in to prevent the little brown dog being chased. She clearly wasn't comfortable at all and didn't want to interact with the other dogs, let alone be chased by them. I have to watch my dog around huskies, only because he has a bit of a thing for them (not sure if it's because both breeds have an upright stance etc?) He adores them at the dog beach, and I'm sure would go home with them if I didn't call him away!

Cute pictures! I had a Siamese cat (a small one) who used to do that. I can't help with the why of it though.

i think it relates to dogs ability to read each other and preferred play styles. The more different the dog, the more challenging it is for your dog to 'read' it. Look at Boxers - they tend to spark a lot of reaction from other dogs. I think its because their expression tends to look challenging when its just their head and eye shape. Oh gods yes, boxers might as well be from Mars as far as my 2 are concerned! Same with my 2 guys. Between their upright stance & their goofiness I think they think that they are directly from Mars. Interestingly, herding breeds tend to give a strong reaction to my Boxer more than other breed types. I respect that some dogs may not like/ read each other well, and give plenty of space to any BC's kelpies, ACD's when out and about. At the dog beach with a group of Boxers last weekend (all were well- behaved, just bouncy) many people and dogs gave us a wide berth. A few random dogs joined us at times, most notably a cruisy little black Stafford, who fitted right in, and did some beautiful 'sits' for me. To the OP, I hope your pup bounces back from the experience. Find some stable, well-mannered and compatible dogs to socialise your pup. And obedience lessons can be a great way to meet others who are putting effort into training their dogs too.

I totally agree and that is a very good post There is a big difference between disagreeing with someone and thinking they shouldn't be entitled to express an opinion. And, just for the record, I wasn't trying to humiliate anyone into my way of thinking - that's not my style and I have always thought that that kind of behaviour is pretty disgusting. Excellent post Dogmad. And for the record Maeby Funke, I've never once seen a post by you that was humiliating or belittling. :)

OK. Memo to self. Never ever do anything for fun incase of a disaster. You do realise that people experience disaster every day of the year just 'having fun' right? This guy was an experienced hiker who frequently spent weeks alone in the wilderness. Ofcourse no one forced him to go out there. People do stuff like this all the time. What should we all do - lock ourselves in our houses just incase we become victims of something catastrophic? Just watch out for that meteor that might land on your house. What irks you - that he had to resort to eating his dog to stay alive or that he's still alive but in critical condition? Actually Raz, I'm acutely aware that people experience disaster just having fun. I wish I wasn't. My friend lost her father, 14 year old brother and brother in law in a boating tragedy. They were experienced, and had the required safety equipment on board. Everything that could go wrong did. Sadly, the wetsuits which could have insulated them against the cold water, weren't in the boat. In the 22 hours before rescuers spotted them, her three loved ones succumbed one after another, to hypothermia. Only their family friend survived. Nowadays, EPIRBS are available that can help searchers immensely. Nowhere have i suggested that people shouldn't have fun. I'm all for being prepared though (god, I even travel with a first aid kit, talk about fun police). Especially if others/ my dog is dependant on me for safety. Ok, so this guy was experienced and ended up in dire circumstances. All the more reason to invest in some backup plans that you hope you'll never need (like a sat. phone, emergency beacon etc). You can have all the experience in the world, but it's good to be able to get help when you need it. I hope he recovers. I'm not one to wish death on someone. And thanks for the tip on the meteor. :laugh: ETA: And yes, well said Coogie.

Yes, I think that's what bothers me about this story too. No one forced this guy to go adventuring in the wilderness. In fact the locals and the Cree man who lived at the mouth of the river actually warned him against it. Still, of his own volition, the man went ahead anyway, chose not to take a satelite phone, and got himself and his dog into difficulty. I have sympathy for the civilians in Syria who, through no fault of their own, are facing starvation because of a brutal civil war. This guy went trekking for fun. It was a disaster of his own making. His dog paid the price. That irks me.

I think it was Trina but I'm pretty sure she has cats. He will be well looked after at our shelter, he sure is a stunner! Oh cats, yes, well Bruno is of the same opinion I'm afraid. I do hope he finds the right home. Please give him an ear scritch from me Stan's mum and Gillbear if you meet/ care for him. :)

I agree Dogmad, a lovely looking boy. He's my kind of dog. Unfortunately, I already have a male and am not able to take another dog. Tempting though! I seem to recall another DOLer might have been interested in a Boxer recently? Was it Witheverythingiam?

Yes, boxer had had enough of the magazine. His owner got inspired to get rid of the comfy sofa, start exercising and serve up new food. I love his 'you're kidding' face when she gives him a tiny bit of sushi.

My link

Thanks Sandgrubber, it's been bugging me ever since I posted it. :)

Royal Australian Air Force Military Working Dogs considered for retirement By Courtney Wilson Updated 1 hour 7 minutes ago Gallery: RAAF dogs Photo: Turk poses for a photo during his time as a military working dog with the RAAF, April 2009. (Australian Defence Force) Map: Amberley 4306 Man's best friend is being given a new lease of life within the Royal Australian Air Force. For the first time at RAAF Amberley, a new program is allowing Military Working Dogs to be considered for retirement with their handlers. Historically, the animals have been put down at the end of their service as they were considered too dangerous to go back into the community. What are your thoughts on the RAAF's plan to retire Military Working Dogs with their handlers instead of putting them down? Sergeant Russ Durre, who heads the Military Working Dog Unit at RAAF Amberley, says it is "a big step from what we've done in the past". "We now can release dogs from military service into their handlers' care and they can spend the rest of their years out in the home environment rather than the service environment." Video: RAAF Military Working Dogs considered for retirement (ABC News) Military Working Dog (MWD) Turk is the first animal from Amberley to successfully complete the assessment. Turk has switched the base for the backyard and now lives with former handler, Corporal Bruce Ross. "To have him home is extremely important not only for me but for every other handler in the defence force," Corporal Ross said. "They can see if the dog has the right temperament, then they can be actually brought home." You've got the psychological effect - nobody wants to get bitten by a dog, (especially) a well-trained German Shepherd or Belgian Malanois John Baguley, RAAF Military Working Dogs Supply Manager After eight years of service in the RAAF, Turk's gentle nature made him a prime candidate for retirement. However, the highly-trained German Shepherd still had to pass a rigorous assessment process to prove he was suitable for civilian life. Turk underwent testing on base to see how he reacted to stress, and was assessed both in public to see how he handled attention and at the RSPCA to gauge his interaction with other dogs. Not all dogs will be suitable for retirement But since the animals are bred and specially trained to detect and detain intruders, not all dogs will be suitable for release. "Some dogs just can't be let out into public," Sergeant Durre said. John Baguley, the RAAF Military Working Dogs Supply Manager in charge of the breeding program at Amberley, led the push to have Military Working Dogs considered for retirement. He said the benefits extend beyond those for the dog and handler. "The dogs provide tremendous psychological deterrent for would-be intruders onto military bases," he said.. "You've got the psychological effect - nobody wants to get bitten by a dog, (especially) a well-trained German Shepherd or Belgian Malanois. "It's obviously a morale tool, but it also will affect retention of the military working dog handlers." Photo: Military working dog puppies are bred and specially trained to detect and detain intruders. (ABC News: Giulio Saggin) Sgt Durre agrees the program is a positive move that brings the RAAF in line with other agencies that use working dogs. "I think one of the hardest parts of this job was handlers losing dogs," he said. "Seeing Turk go through this process has been a positive experience for me and for Corporal Ross. "It's good to see a dog who has given most of his life to RAAF finally go home with his handler." After a distinguished career, Turk has passed his assessment with flying colours and is now enjoying a quiet retirement at his new home in Ipswich. "He will not be used as anything other than a pet in this backyard," Corporal Ross said. "He'll be going for walks, and it's a normal life for the dog like anyone else has their pet dogs. "That's what [Turk] will now have." Edited: Tried to fix the title to RAAF, but can't seem to edit it, sorry.

Yes, it's the constant foot-chewing until bleeding, that had us back at the vet recently. We had to resort to prednisolone (on top of antihistamines) to settle things down. Ouch! Nasty plane trees!

Yes, I agree that there is probably a link to general health and what we feed our dogs. My dog has had GI issues his whole life. I was seeking vet help for GI issues long before he became an itchy dog. It's a bit of a chicken and egg situation though. Having had the intra-dermal and blood serum tests done, I know exactly which pollens and allergens make Bruno's skin itch. The dermatologist has been guiding us through an elimination diet and a sequential re-challenge of foods that are commonly problematic (chicken, beef, lamb, dairy, wheat, soy etc). We can only learn which foods Bruno can tolerate during winter. His spring/ summer severe itching makes it impossible to guage whether he is reacting to a food or just the environment, or both. So far I know that chicken, beef and lamb are all foods that make Bruno itch. We got up to testing dairy and had to abandon the challenge as the pollens hit Perth in full force. It's so laborious and frustrating. So Bruno is one of the unlucky ones with both food and environmental allergies. I thought I'd share the news story as many more 'normal' dogs (don't tell Bruno he's a lemon :laugh:) are affected by seasonal allergies. After seeing how badly Bruno has been hit this spring, the news article helped explain the reason for the severity of his symptoms. I was surprised (and a bit horrified) to read that Perth has one of the highest pollen counts of any city in the world. We have such a long season of spring/summer weather conditions too, - even autumn is hot. And Perth is windy, so pollens really get around.

Although the story is about people, and the hayfever, allergies and asthma triggered this season in Perth, it is relevant to people with dogs who are allergic to pollens. Just thought it might be helpful to anyone else whose dogs' allergies have flared at the moment: Hay fever season shaping up to be one of the worst in years Updated 5 hours 8 minutes ago Photo: A plane tree in East Perth which dumps lots of pollen. (ABC News) Map: Perth 6000 The hay fever season in Perth is shaping up to be one of the worst in years. Weather conditions are ideal for pollen production and health experts have issued a warning for those who suffer from allergies and asthma. The city has one of the highest spring-summer pollen counts of any in the world. Curtin University palynologist Lynne Milne says weather conditions for pollen production are ideal and there is little relief in sight for sufferers. "I think the season has started a little bit late but I do think it's probably going to be quite bad because of the extra rain that we've had," she said. "Now the sunshine is here, we've got the easterly winds like we've got today, and for me, today's a bad hay fever day." About 20 per cent of Perth's population suffers allergic rhinitis. Symptoms range from a runny nose to watery, itchy eyes and frequent sneezing. Clinical immunologist Michael O'Sullivan says, in some cases, hay fever can be debilitating, particularly for those with asthma. "A lot of patients don't really appreciate just how bad their symptoms are and so a lot of the time they're actually under-treated," he said. "And, we do have some quite effective medication treatments available for them." The Lung Institute's WA director Philip Thompson says the treatment approach should be simple. "If you sneeze a lot you need an antihistamine, if you're blocked up you need a decongestant and if you want to prevent the problem because it's a chronic issue for you, you need to use nasal steroid sprays," he said. Health experts say changes in the climate are resulting in a more allergic environment in Perth and future hay fever seasons are likely to be longer and more severe.

My dog's joyous approach to life, and his ability to exuberantly 'live in the moment' is a daily lesson for me. I over-think things sometimes, and get caught up being 'too busy' to enjoy small moments. Bruno's gentle nose nudge in the morning, and our early walk is one of the best parts of my day. His happiness (even at the vet) is infectious. Even the crappiest day is made better by spending time with an adoring, loyal dog.

Yay!

I just wanted to wish Louis all the best CC. Luckily it sounds like you've caught things early, and the prognosis sounds quite good. Stay as well as possible little Louis. :)

Oh Jelly, such beautiful photos of you and Roo. I'm crying too. Thanks for sharing the photos and the update. Like many others, I have been thinking of you, and hoping that you are ok. Rest in peace now sweet Roo.

Yes, a sad, and sobering fact Aussie. A friend works in the burns unit here in the childrens hospital. Many more kids are admitted for burns than dog bites too. Mostly innocuous accidents ( 2 minute noodles, hot drinks getting knocked over) that could be prevented by supervision too.

Yes, and I'm wondering if your vet has talked about doing an elimination diet to work out which foods may be causing skin issues? Grains may be an issue, but to be honest, some of the meat proteins tend to be bigger culprits in allergic dogs. Chicken and beef are often allergens, and are common ingredients in many kibbles. I'd be asking about doing an elimination diet to tease out exactly which foods are problematic. The skin issues may be from food, or from environmental allergens. Or a combination of both. A referral to a canine dermatologist is often a good way to go to work things out. Good luck. :)

Yes! Not really sure why people buy them in the first place - same goes for cheap imported lollies/treats for humans . I keep well away! Yes, I even avoid seafood imported from Asia for us too (like the Vannemei prawns in Coles) I suppose that there are tests done on them to ensure they are ok, but I'm just suspicious of food that has been made/ grown in countries that may have lower health/safety standards than Australia. I used to feed my dog some chicken jerky as a puppy, but stopped after reading about adverse health effects on a boxer forum. Up until then, I had presumed that pet food was proven fit for consumption, with laws and checks in place much like human food. Gaznazdiak, I'm so sorry for your loss. I have signed your petition. ETA: I now buy treats made by a vet nurse at the specialist clinic i take Bruno to. She works with allergy dogs and makes jerky from human grade meat.

Brought a little colour into our drab black & white lives, Trina. :) Haha Mita! It's the only way my simple brain can keep track of who said what bits in a multiquote reply! :laugh:

The breeds you've listed are all lovely, so I can see why you're having a hard time narrowing it down. Something you wrote struck me though: I love Boxers, but typically their play style is rough and tumble. I know that they can be taught to tone it down, and some adjust their play style to suit other dogs (particularly as they mature). But inherently, they tend to play roughly. I wonder if Abby would find a Boxer a bit too much? Just a thought. :)

Different news article to the one you're thinking of I think Snake Catcher? This was a US story. :)