Salukifan

All I can say is do your insurance and legals carefully. You don't want to lose everything you own due to a bad decision on a dog or an adopter.

Mantis: Dont mean to single you out Mantis but this is precisely what I was talking about. There are definitely other, more likely reasons for this. Angus could have lived in a lovely home and developed EXACTLY the same behaviours. Angus was either a fear biter or extremely intolerant of such behaviour. Confronted with situations in which he felt threatened, and if forced to take action himself to remove the threat, he bit. Ot alternately, he was an intolerant little shit who used his teeth to end behaviours he didn't like. Mantis, EVERY one of my small dogs dislikes being patted on the head by strangers. One of them is frightened of small kids and would, if put in the situation, snap at them. They have never been abused. It's just how they are. Frankly, those more familiar with tiny dogs probably wouldn't have reached the same conclusions about abuse because the behaviour isn't uncommon. And again, it doesn't matter how Angus got that way, surely the solution was the same?

I agree. It manifests very early in pups and is definitely more common in some breeds than others.

"I care more than others" Tarope? Interesting assertion but hey, whatever rocks your boat. From where I sit there's a quite a difference between being compassionate and being speculative. You don't need to know a dog's background to care about it. I have seen rescue dogs whose owners are so busy feeling sorry for them that they can't get past excuses for behaviour and actually deal with it. Pity is a poor substitute for action, particularly when the behaviour is dangerous. Shyness, timidity, aggression - all of these could have a range of origins and frankly WHY a dog behaves like it does isn't necessarily key to how to fix it. As a well known behaviourist remarked at a conference I was at some time ago said "if we put as much energy dealing with behavioural issues as we do into labelling their causes, there would be a lot less problem dogs in the world". I can think of a raft of reasons why a dog might be aggressive but frankly the technique for managing that aggression isnt' going to vary that much. I'll give you an example. Rover growls like mad and will snap if a treat or bone is given and a dog or a person gets too close. It's clear Rover WILL bite if pushed so the owner backs off. "Poor Rover" says the owner, "he's a rescue dog and I bet he was starved or had to fight for his food with other dogs". "THATs why its so precious to him". Nope, Rover is a good old fashioned resource guarder. Would have been born that way and perhaps its been exacerbated by interference with food. But starved? I recall Sue Sternberg commenting that she saw far worse cases of resource guarding in well fed surrenders than in starvation cases. And in the end the treatment is the same. Don't make excuses for it. Manage it. And wonder why the hell a severe resource guarder was rehomed in the first place. In my experience most challenging dog behaviours are genetic or caused by what the dog didnt' get (socialised, attention, training). The resource guarder I know that put 20 stitches in its owners arm never missed a meal in its life. So my view? Speculate about your dog's past to your heart's content but acknowledge that there are many causes for some behaviours and that abuse can be but one of them. Ignorance and indifference are far more common. They, along side with poor temperament are probably far more likely than abuse to be why a dog has issues. I think it's best to keep an open mind and remember that dogs don't dwell in the past. It's their futures we can make happy and that's what we should focus on.

That behaviour could just as easily be interpreted as submission by a very soft dog and/or lack of socialization at critical times in puppyhood. . She might never have been hit or kicked. My dog used to pee herself when patted and she's never had a hand lifted to her. Just like a dog that "hates dogs" could be innately dog aggressive due to its genes, this was exacerbated by lack of socialization and this became more apparent on maturity. Analysing such behaviour needs to focus more on rehabilitation than origin. Perhaps the thought of an abusive past makes challenging behaviour easier to tolerate but it rarely helps the dog move forward.

Ditto. She has a lovely manner also.

I'm sorry to read this RV. RIP Toby.

For those who have African origin dogs, there is this one that a RR owning friend of mine has and loves. Be sitting down when you google it for a price though

Can you recommend one for those who can't? Always a challenge with a breed from a country of origin that isn't English speaking I know.

I know when I was breed tyre kicking, I was always interested in finding GOOD books about the breeds I was interested in. Some were a bit hit and miss - often some breed specific stuff up the front and then a lot of general dog husbandry stuff that I didn't really need. Sooo what books would you recommend about your breeds? For Whippets - The English Whippet is to me, the best of the best. Probably the best explanation of a breed standard for ANY dog book I've read. It looks like this: Bo Bengston's Whippet book is also very good and contains a section on the breed in Australia. I did the groupie thing and got him to sign mine when he judged out here.. and I noted quite a few other Whippet folk did too. :) Here it is: For Poodles - I like the "Complete" series (US books). There's a general poodle one and also a Complete Standard Poodle for lovers of the big guys. I have quite a few of the Complete series books and would recommend them a start point into any breed. So what are other people's recommendations?

What a tragedy

Gawd that's a bit much isn't it?? I don't think anyone on here is regurgitating food for their dogs *sigh* Twas a joke. Its why pups lick adult dog's mouths - to stimulate them to vomit food for them. *sigh* twas a joke between you and Pavlova...don't treat people like fools. Seriously, WTF??????? What are you shocked that people feel intimidated by you both??? Agree Stan's Mum. I feel intimidated. One word wrong and you can get torn to shreds Well enjoy the effect you've just had on me then. Anyone else fancy putting the boot in? Time for a self imposed DOLiday it seems.

I'm AM shocked that my light hearted post made without any consultation with anyone including Pav Lova was taken seriously by you and has since has been construed by you as "making people look like fools". And yes, I am a little shocked that you, a person with whom to the best of my recollection I've never actually engaged with here before is "so intimidated by me". Clearly I've missed something. Colour me more than a little stunned at your reaction actually. My bad for forgetting to add a smiley emoticon to my first post. But well done, you've certainly intimidated me clean out of this thread.

Oh crap, that's so tragic. RIP Larry. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Depends entirely on the breed standard and to some degree on the judge. Few FCI judges will forgive anything less than full detention.

Gawd that's a bit much isn't it?? I don't think anyone on here is regurgitating food for their dogs *sigh* Twas a joke. Its why pups lick adult dog's mouths - to stimulate them to vomit food for them. *sigh* twas a joke between you and Pavlova...don't treat people like fools. Seriously, WTF???????

Gawd that's a bit much isn't it?? I don't think anyone on here is regurgitating food for their dogs *sigh* Twas a joke. Its why pups lick adult dog's mouths - to stimulate them to vomit food for them.

Nope. I'm not planning on vomiting up any food for them so I don't really see the point.

She's denying the other dog access. Nothing odd about it.

If you crate train him, the one thing you NEVER want him to do is toilet in the crate. If you want him toilet trained, you need to get him outside when he needs to go. By 12 weeks, he could be sleeping through the night if you make the effort to get up to him now. I would worry about a Jap Spitz pup being cool enough sleeping outside in summer and in winter he'd need an insulated kennel. Have you considered sleeping him in the laundry and putting in a dog door?

What kind of shelter would he have? How would he go to the toilet?

I think it would be hard to bond or remain bonded with a dog if you got no pleasure from the relationship. Certain breeds leave me cold and I know my breeds leave some others feeling the same. Best thing for the dog if its suitable is a new home. Sometimes you won't know that home is out there unless you look.

I have heard similar stories from folk who've had a dog maim or kill another one of theirs. Under those circumstances it would be hard to feel the same about a dog I think.

OMG - can't think of a LESS suitable breed for a dog park. She should steer clear of occupied dog parks FOR LIFE. Small, fragile, fast - likely to inspire prey drive in quite a few dogs and they can snap a leg at home on their own. If she needs further convincing and she bought from a responsible breeder, tell her to ask the breeder what he/she thinks. They'd veto the idea on the spot.