Chris the Rebel Wolf

Crossed Maltese or some kind of spaniel would be my guess.

I have found Jetpets very helpful up here Dogtainers I have have highly reccomended to me by some of my customers as well.

Oh good god. That poor dog. Those poor people. The poor driver. The dog. How cruel and heartless a person must be to throw him out on a road, to die in strangers arms. I hope through this heartbreaking letter, somebody who may have seen this driver, and taken the plate number, comes forward, and that this monster will pay. I believe in karma, and that he will get what is coming to him, either way. May you rest in peace now my unknown four-legged friend, carrying with you that comfort, love and kindness shown to you in the very last minutes of life.

Very true. I know somebody who goes to the trouble of padlocking their gate (more for rare birds kept than worry their dogs will escape) and somebody managed to cut through it, in broad daylight, without any of the neighbours seeing or hearing. Obviously that is an extreme example but sometimes the best-laid plans go astray is my point. What a relief for the man who only got a broken ankle; though it's bad enough, when I read the title I was worried me might have died. I feel very sorry for the Jack Russell owners, imagine coming home to that. Hopefully the ridgeback owners will take more care with their dogs, though it will be too late for the poor terriers.

What a beautiful little girl!

Not that you are biased or anything, right? :D I take it you do agility with them? Ooooohhh. If they are held in Brisbane 2014 I may have to schedule a "coincidental" trip at that time to come spectate :D

'In the meantime, the KC’s online health test results finder will indicate that the dog has been screened and that results are available from the owner' - from this I understanding that the dog in question will be displayed online with the fact it has been scanned, but the results aren't displayed, contact with the owner needs to be made. Which is fair enough, I think, displaying the results as well might result in some avoiding the scan as Peri says.

Wow, what amazing photos kja! So clear and full of life, Dora is a beautiful girl

How excellent :D We have these on a walkway up here, they have a little tap you turn on to fill the dog bowl at the bottom, much like that one in style So nice when our four-legged friends are provided for, especially for walker up here in summer!

I can see what you are saying Steve where if DA's aren't being given out, it will force these types of operations underground, and yes it does make sense that they are licensed and monitored. But I would still not support a commercial breeding operation that houses dogs in cages all their lives, does not breed to improve the breed, and will sell to anybody with the money to buy - weather or not they were licensed to keep that many dogs. I don't personally believe the laws we have, nor those who enforce said laws, are sufficient as they are to prevent this sort of thing happening in commercial (or any other) type of breeding operation. That's why it bothers me when I see these things start up. And Lilli I know you are not a puppy farm; you have your breeds best interests at heart from the get go. I think a responsible number of dogs to own is determined by a number of things - the amount of time, property and money one has, which is going to vary from person to person. Raz I did notice that balloon release; while it wasn't the issue foremost in my mind I certainly agree it's not exactly environmentally friendly. I am not meaning to upset anyone with my opinions, I know I can get passionate in topics I care about, I apologise if I am treading on anybody's toes.

Unfortunately Zuri, vets are just another victim in all of this mess. They can get into trouble both ways - if they certify that a dog is NOT a Pit Bull, and it does bite somebody and the new laws starting screaming 'It's a Pit Bull!' they could be legally accountable. On the same level if they say a dog IS a Pit Bull and it's seized and destroyed, they could also be accountable. The AVA is currently seeking legal advice about the situation, but it's one of those doubled edged swords for the vets

That's a really excellent point. I hadn't actually thought of it in those terms before now. This is another reason that everybody should be standing together on this issue. Thanks for putting that into words Spot

This example really concerns me - because it shows exactly where we are headed. So over here, the Staffy is regarded as one of the most popular family pets, and in Germany the average person is viewing them as steel-jawed killing machines? This shows that the Pit Bull is only going to be regarded as more and more dangerous in time

I'm with Black Obsession in that I think it's wrong to breed dogs in a commercial setting while the dog overpopulation issue is so rampant. If a commercial operation is on a level that it has enough staff to ensure the dogs and puppies are getting exercise, socialization, training, enrichment and attention on a daily basis, as well as providing proper levels of nutrition and health care, then that would be, if not perfect in my eyes, then acceptable in terms of care for the dogs, though I would still not support this kind of operation on the basis of the overpopulation issue. But I am yet to see any facility like this. The current laws that are in pace do not ensure that these things are happening in commercial operations and that's why I do not support them - weather or not they are applying for council permits to breed hundreds of dog a year. What would you do, Steve? Support the fact this puppy farm is opening, you think it's ethical and responsible to commercially breed 50 dogs? Let him go ahead, and only act once the dogs were suffering? I ask because I'm baffled by your stance, that's all.

Ragdoll would have been my second guess Please post here is you update this, I'll be happy to look over these anytime :D

Why are you happy that they are protesting the decision? Because I believe in speaking up for your beliefs. I believe that dogs should not be bred in commercial settings, they deserve to be part of a family - locking them in cages is not the life for a breeding dog.

That was the exact impression I got when reading this. As with Shep fan I don't blame him but it just lets the public know there IS something wrong with Pit Bulls, here's an expert saying so. *sighs* At least they did include the 'Blame the deed not the breed' point but it clearly was not the focus of this article. None of this should be happening. Hopefully the public outcry against these news laws will be heard.

Interesting thread! I'm going to keep track of October purchases for Zeke now Although he has his meds - Interceptor, Comfortis and his glucousamine tablets, so it won't be as expensive as some months!

Unbelievable, another one... more complaint letters on the way from my end. Three hearty cheers for those protesting this decision.

Oh what a beautiful pair, and some lovely photos! My fave is the tug-of-war photo :D I spot a fatcat toy! How are you finding they like that one?

MC, nice to see you exploring options for you and your little guy's new best friend Hopefully you'll be able to find just the right dog for your situation and family. I really wish my little guy Jayne was still around and we had lived a little closer to you, I think it would have been a great experience for you to meet one another. Jayne was my Jack Russell x Chihuahua, though to look at and nature wise, he was very much JR. He was a very sweet, loving dog who was equally at home lying on your lap all day or running around after his favourite ball. During his life I kept small birds and guinea pigs and while of course anytime they were out together they were all strictly supervised - I wouldn't have left them all in a room together all night or anything - he never hassled them at all. From a puppy, he was introduced to my small animals and birds and he accepted them as part of his pack. Once I recall one of my most active guinea pigs jumped out of his pen and I found him, Jayne and my big dog Zeke lying peacefully together under the rental house! I was {pleasantly] surprised that his training had held out that even unsupervised he hadn't even gone for them. So even though he wouldn't have been the logical choice for me, he ended up being perfect, though of course I did heaps of socialization when he was a pup and reinforced his training all his life. Certainly naughty sometimes (we went through escapee periods, I had to strictly keep the fence JR proofed, and there was the digging episode when he was young) but he had the most willing, trainable nature. The reason I shared this story is just to highlight that with work, patience, and training, even a dog that wasn't recommended for my family situation, fit in perfectly well. I am hoping you will find one equally as perfect for you. I'm not trying to say 'Go for a Jack, or just expect any terrier breed to work' because it won't, of course, but you already know this, and that's why you're asking questions, which is great :D My next advise really is for you to get as much exposure as possible to the dog breeds you are looking at, because it'll give you good experience to draw upon when you begin to meet puppies

Those photos are amazing, as is the subject

Here here. Nothing much to add that hasn't been said already... any dog can be dangerous and there is numerous evidence to support the downfall of BSL.

It shouldn't need to be happening at all... and it's only going to get worse from here on out. My thoughts so out to the dog owners of Victoria.

What a lucky break for the little guy! I would be strongly suspecting that somebody nicked him and took him car travel, and then let him go or he escaped. Realistically I don't see a dog travelling 3000 miles when he's Chihuahua-sized! But hopefully his owners will be very happy to get him back.