Her Majesty Dogmad

Will there ever be an end to this mass dumpage? People make me sick.

I rehome dogs and talk to people very regularly about what they want from a dog etc etc and try and make a good match. Most people think they want a puppy ... when that may not be the right thing for them at this time in their life. In your busy situation, I'd ask if you wanted another toddler around - most people say no, they are too busy to have that so I recommend that getting a puppy would be a bit similar in regards to the amount of attention/work required. Unless you want to wait, I'd recommend an older dog. One thing I've learned about cavvies this year is that they can be quite vocal. Probably best to find one that can cope with being left along for the working day ... and if you are honest, do you have time to walk a dog every day? That's what most dogs need and often what working, busy families find so hard to manage.

Is it too idealistic to expect that noone ever has their dogs off the lead in an unfenced yard or a yard where the dog can jump the wall? What if they don't see someone coming in time and their dog charges off across the road? This scenario happens on a regular basis in my neighbourhood, I don't consider it acceptable at all.

I hope the attacking dog is put to sleep. Attacks on Guide Dogs in the UK are very common, owners of vicious dogs deserve severe punishment for allowing such an attack to take place. imagine the terror of the blind person? People know what their dogs are capable of and yet they are also incapable of protecting the public and their pets - throw the book at them.

Puppy was too young at 8.5 weeks, we don't rehome pups until they are 10 weeks. Now blaming the puppy and the other dog for their failings is just typical of people. Makes me sick. They wanted a bond, now its developed and they still aren't happy. Selfish and ignorant people abound, and that's the problem.

I rescue dogs from the pound all the time and have no idea what their names were before usually. I make a list of names I like and slowly read them to the dog and see what the dog responds to best! At Christmas 2009, I took on a female JRT cross and the pound hadn't listed her name at all. She was through PAWS and so the paperwork was at the vet and I didn't see it. I read her my list of names and she didn't seem to like any of them. A name popped into my head - "Heather" - I said that to her and she responded really well. Some months later, I adopted her and received the paperwork - it turned out her original name was known and it was "Martha" - funny!

Funny - I say "Chewbacca's in the house" when I get home and my Foxy cross boy greets me, sounding just like Chewie!

Unfortunately he's in a home with people who are clueless. Another neighbour's husband saw the dog this morning after it had half killed a poodle wihch was being walked by a little boy. I really wish people would not let their kids walk dogs alone, it is really risky for many reasons and I've seen about 5 kids out with dogs today, on their own - worse than normal as it is school hols.

There is a large staffy type dog (this is what the owners have told me) on the loose since last night - they saw me with my littlies and came to warn me - very worrying. He has attacked two dogs since he's been out, council have been driving round looking for him. He doesn't have a collar on and is a brindle colour, white splash on the chest and apparently very overweight. He's too strong for the family to walk on a lead so for 18 mths since they adopted him and found he was dog aggro and strong, he's been kept in the backyard only. They got him from a Free to Good Home ad. Enough said.

Because you might have a shred of humanity??????????????????

Poodlefan is spot on. Separate IMMEDIATELY or you'll have a half or fully dead dog soon. there's no nice way to say that and if the behaviouralist says one will have to go then your BC pup will need to go back to the breeder unless you have something fantastic lined up with a family member for the JRT. This type of aggression in a puppy is completely unacceptable. Did you see the parents of the dog? always important to know that breeders aren't breeding with dogs that are DA.

In the time you take to type your posts, you could have washed your auntie's dog. You don't always have to sink a dog into the bath (once a week IS too much for a dog's skin, every vet will tell you that). You can get a wet towel and some gentle cleanser and wipe it over the coat. If you are ever going to leave a short coated dog outside in a VIC winter then you shouldn't throw water on it in the night, when temps are lowest. It shouldn't actually be out there at all but FFS where is it's coat and where is your heart? Let the chihuahua find a new home where it will be loved - they are lap dogs FFS and buy a crate, a coat etc for your auntie's dog - give her these suggestions. I really feel so sorry for your dogs.

Exactly my thoughts. You have posted in the rescue forum and you didn't impress me there either. You didn't listen to anyone's suggestions on how to be a good dog owner - you wanted to rehome your chihuahua that you keep OUTSIDE in a Victorian winter during the day together with your Auntie's dog and didn't reply to all the worried posters. What is the matter with you and your family? I don't think any of you should have dogs.

So sorry for poor Brock and for you, that is such an awful thing to happen. Hugs to you. Fertilisers and compost can harm a dog, I had to have 3 of mine in the vets after they ingested some fertiliser wihlst we visited a friend. One nearly died that night, after the first vet visit and I had to rush him to emergency again. I was lucky again with him, he'd been given rat poison by a neighbour a year before that and spent 2 weeks in the Vet specialist centre.

I'll confess that I haven't looked on Gumtree for months (causes computer to crash for some reason), it certainly was full of moronic bybs and puppy farmers before. Most people don't know what to look for really and some just don't care - they just want what they want now and no questions asked. People getting rid of dogs can be just as awful - I found a purebred, papered Golden Retriever advertised as "Free to good home, not desexed, OK for breeding" - it was a new and I rang straight away only to be told by the owner that "I gave him to the first person that called and I've had lots of calls since". My reply was "I hope it wasn't a puppy farmer" and the owner said "no" but how would they know? Person probably seemed Ok when they turned up to collect the dog, who knows where the poor soul is now, let's hope it is a good home. In this part of Sydney it is all too easy for them to turn up at some pounds and pick up the purebred young dogs who are sold undesexed and freebie ads are even more appealing, no paperwork to worry about.

Interesting and good to know that education is starting to finally take root in people's minds. I was surprised when the last two enquirers on some foster dogs this week have both brought up the subject of puppy farms etc. Good on Gumtree, it's a start.

I was asked about finding care for a dog for a few months, I asked a colleague at work and it was agreed at $100 per week for 4 months with owners providing all vet care, flea treatments etc and some food. My colleague does the daily walking and care for the dog, he's in a lot better shape now than when he came and is allowed inside and has another dog for company. The 4 months has gone on to become 6 months and to be honest, i don't think the people really want him back. He's 14 yrs old, poor old boy but at least he's happy.

I'm very experienced at housetraining. I'd like to ask a few questions: Are they locked in the laundry or do they have access to get outside as and when they need to go - ie is the door open or is there a doggie door? Could your dog possibly have a urinary tract infection? This is what happened to one of my dogs, she suddenly started going inside and had an infection. What is the problem with putting newspaper down? During wet weather I put towels down, sometimes mine have gone on them and they are all fully housetrained. Could there be an issue of dominance between the two dogs? This can cause inappropriate urination. Is the other dog desexed? To clean up, just use a mixture of white vinegar and water or bicarb of soda and water. For my concrete paving, I sprinkle bicarb powder over any marks and then pour vinegar on. I also use a Napisan and water mixture sometimes. The trick is to remove the smell of the wee for the dog - you can clean with disinfectant and think its OK but dog can still smell it. You need to use the things I've suggested first and then you can use other cleaners on top.

I've owned a Lakeland Terrier in the UK. Lakelands used to go with a pack of foxhounds and when the fox went down a hole, the Lakeland was sent in to grab the fox and bring it out. They have strong back legs and are completely fearless, it was easy to see how the boy we had would have operated. Lakelands are really not the dog to suit many people. I love terriers though, they are certainly frequently busy and reactive types of dogs but super intelligent.

Some IGs and Chi types aren't all that keen on walking. I've just rescued and rehomed a poodle/IG, he can run round but he can also enjoy a 20 min walk as his daily exercise. Normally with a dog under 5 I'd be walking them for an hour but some littlies just don't want it.

Poor little Stella, so sorry she didn't have longer in her happy home. Thank God you found her and decided to do rescue, she found a new life, love and happiness through you.

And if import bans can't be imposed this would be a disaster. Any breeder wanting to breed this type of dog needs euthanasing really for they are responsible for creating and distributing a menace to society.

It is absolutely the biggest nightmare for other dog owners, the thought of your dog being ripped apart. Even if one of your dogs is Ok with other dogs they will often act as a pack and attack another dog - you simply don't have any control even in your own backyard so how you can go out and put other people's dogs at risks is something I find very shocking.

I'm staggered that you have ever let her off the lead knowing she is aggressive to other dogs? Very dangerous.

That made me cry, poor man but how wonderful that all those kind people worked together to enable his dog to visit him.