Steph M

This leaves me cold to be honest. I'm sure most of the people are awesome but so much could go wrong! I see one girl on my Facebook who does it and the dogs run off lead with hers at a dog beach and she leaves them in the yard together while she works and her cats free range around strange dogs. Too much potential for disaster for me. I'd rather board them somewhere excellent where I know they're safe.

Would a loud personal alarm or similar be of use as a deterrent? I imagine those would be quite cheap too.

And Gumtree etc! Can't forget that! Also they're not bound by any code of conduct so there's no requirement for anything they post to be true at all, which makes it very easy to paint a picture of dogs romping together through grassy fields and all coming in to sleep by the fire at night etc.

They really do though, have you seen the websites for puppy farms or dodgy kennels? They sell themselves amazingly, respond to any and every enquiry (easy when you're not at all discerning) and post constantly. I actually think they market themselves better than ethical reg breeders a lot of the time.

Yes that pretty much sums it up for me too. Lots of demand...not so many suitable homes. Your dudes are a bit more work than the average though! I can see how there's less people willing to put in what they want to get out, I certainly can see that side of it too.

Not suggesting that's the only reason, and that people don't need to wait or be vetted but there's got to be a middle ground between breeding once in a blue moon and a litter a season. All I'm saying is I'd love to see more people with more purebred dogs from fabulous ethical sources and for that to happen in some breeds there needs to be more dogs.

The way I interpret the information from RSPCA, the reason they discuss the market/demand is so over breeding is not done when there are plenty on sheltered dogs to be adopted. so I read it as don't breed unless there is a need for that breed example the first reply to this about the greyhound. But again that is how I interpret the information. I actually don't have a problem with a litter being bred to fulfill a waiting list as long as all care is taken, with no difference to a litter bred when you want something. If people want a well bred dog of a particular breed then they shouldn't be forced to go to a pound. In fact a lot would just not own a dog. I wholeheartedly agree. People who can't get the purebred pup they want will just go elsewhere, which is no good for anyone.

I had the mental image of some nutter swinging a shopping trolley at someone. WTF. Haha. Happy I was corrected!

HIT HER WITH A TROLLEY? I'd say no way, but it IS Franskton...haha.

Mine think its an easy source of treats! No objections here! :D

Bahaha. I have a big black doofus dog, a flat coated retriever, I die laughing when anyone is scared of him as he's the sweetest thing BUT he does have a big booming bark/is happy to use it when someone is lurking and I actually find it quite comforting to know he wouldn't do anything if we got broken into, he would just be a pain in the ass bringing the burglars toys and balls to throw. Shedding isn't too bad, he's very eager to please and needs to be with you all the time, wasn't at all hard to socialise him but I don't think he meets your protective criteria. Haha.

Tell you what, if you want a toy that lasts for eternity have a look here. http://www.pets1.com.au/dog/dog-toys-plush/tuffy-plush-dog-toys/ We got the goons an Octopus last year, it's been the fav all year and its suffered the elements, the dogs playing tug and Rosie determined to shred it and it doesn't have a single pulled thread. Bloody amazing! They're getting another one this year.

Oh wow! They look like little snowstorms!

...Just wondering what the relevance of your neighbojr's choice of future dog breed my choice of school / pre-school / Kindergarten is to...well, anything really Uh, because this... Again, you start something and get annoyed by its presence.

Pretty sure you started it...

That is the most horrific thing I've ever read. Jesus. And I'm sorry. I don't buy the people saying you wouldn't know which dog was guilty. That's BS. There would be blood all over the dog.

As someone who works for a pet transport company you would not believe how often the little buggers know something is up and take themselves for a last hurrah the night before. Glad he decided to come back, lucky dude!

Gus and Rosie get them regularly, no dramas so far!

No Labrador should have blue eyes - not even the chocolates. Perhaps OP meant as pups

Tree of life recreations on Facebook are doing them!

Any reason he can't have the whole yard and just pen off any bits you don't want him getting in?

Sure you have the right to ask but what I meant was you can't watch every kid and be sure nothing surprising happens. Even the best behaved kids can act up, it happens. You have every right to ask but damage might already be done, kids are quick!

Because your dogs are yours and you have control over them, random kids are not yours, and sadly you cannot exercise control over someone else's kids. You never know what they're going to do but you want to make sure your dogs don't react with teeth if you can, if you can't be sure its better to leave them home.

Sounds like Gus. We joke if anyone broke in he would help them out with the TV and bring them the smaller valuables.

Rosie hides from my brother, he wants so badly to win her over though so he sucks up to her with all he's got. From day dot she wanted nothing to do with him, we thought just let her go and she will come good but over 2 years later nothing. She let him pat her a few times but then skittered if he moved. Loved my partner from the second she saw him though. She's got some pretty big gaps in her early socialisation though.