Her Majesty Dogmad

So sad, glad she was so loved though. RIP Jessica, run free of pain now.

BSL = Breed Specific Legislation, bans/restricts certain breeds such as pitbulls. In NSW it's illegal to breed or sell pitbulls.

Oh my God, who knows how many times he kicked the poor little mite, it's horrific. I'd like to do the same to this scumbag.

This was so very sick, unbelievable. Why the hell did he take their poor, harmless old dog? It's why I'd never leave my dogs tied up anywhere, you just don't know what sickos are out there. Glad he got jail but it's just not enough. He needs serious attention and who knows what other horrific acts he's committed previously?

We have some truly magnificent collars available at Italian Greyhound Rescue, DOL member "indigirl" has a thread on the Members Marketplace. We can get them to fit some other breeds.

Try Dog Movers,I spoke to them yesterday and they were fantastic! Good price for my transport as well.

Dogs parks are risky places, that is for sure. However, I'm serious when I say that if a particular dog is dog aggressive, whether it's with all other dogs in all situations or just when it is approached whilst on lead in a dog park and it is likely to do serious damage to the other dog, it shouldn't be there. When walking my dogs, I'm approached by off leash dogs in the street regularly and that's a different story and they have been attacked. Of course the owners should not let their dogs wander, they can be attack or be attacked by dogs who are being walked on lead by responsible owners or hit by a car. Taking a dog aggressive dog to a dog park, even if on the lead is not responsible. It's like giving a paedophile a job in a kindergarten - something's likely to happen sooner or later. At one of our large local dog off leash parks a couple of years ago I saw a woman with a staffy on a lead in the middle of the park. I was picking up one of my dog's poop and walking towards the bin when I heard a yelp. Yes, it was one of my friendly little dogs weighing about 4.5 kilos who'd gone up to say hello to the staffy (not bounce, not attack but yes, guilty of being friendly with other dogs). I rushed over and the woman said "My dog doesn't like other dogs, I told your dog to go away but he didn't". Should I have walked in reverse towards the bin so I could have watched 100% of the time? It's not realistic. I still cannot understand why she put everyone elses' dogs at risk and told her just that. Antisocial dogs don't belong there.

I don't believe in interfering with a dog that's eating. I've had well over 100 foster dogs in the last 5 or so years. Some are food aggressive and some aren't. I don't punish them for it, sometimes they've come from a place where they've been forced to compete. Eventually they often learn that food is going to come regularly and frequently they improve. I don't believe as the owner that I have to be able to stick my hand in their food! It sounds like he's a very good dog overall so I hope you enjoy him for the rest of his days.

The man with the vicious dog should not be in there, even if he is on the edge of the park!!! Why would you even tempt fate by doing this? He should also have his dog muzzled at all times.

In NSW, if your dog attacks another dog then you pay the bills. In January there was a horrific incident at a dog park. A lady with two shihtzu types had one of them severely mauled by an off leash staffy being walked by the father of the owner. The poor little soul underwent several surgeries, one at my own vet and a couple at the vet specialist centre. Bills totalled $7,000. The man paid but the dog still died. I sincerely hope the staffy was euthanased. There would have been a council warning on it. The attack was completely unprovoked and savage in nature. To my amazement on one blog I read, someone blamed the shihtzu's owner for the incident as "she placed her dog in a dangerous situation". WTF??? The staffy's owner/walker was 100% responsible. You don't take that sort of dog to an off leash park unless you are a complete moron do you? If any of my dogs had behaved in the way described, they would no longer be with me. If any of my dogs looked like they'd ever attack another animal, they'd never be given a second chance, they'd never go off lead again. Far too many morons out there who do not think of others and know what their dogs are like but don't give a stuff. Hit them in the hip pocket and protect society from them and their animals, not nearly enough is done in this regard because we hear about these attacks all the time.

The 2 dogs you've had but rehomed, were they adults? Were they the same sex or opposite sex?

This can happen, it just happened to me with my old cattle girl. It was liver failure and it can cause them to act aggressively. Could be a brain tumour, dementia, failing eyesight. Consult your vet and get some blood tests done.

Sorry to hear this. Bloody people and their aggressive shits of dogs. Hope you catch them.

Some dogs don't like puppies at all and will attack them and even kill them. I don't think this will ever work personally in your situation, it is plain dangerous for the pup. Whatever you do - for God's sake, don't leave them "to sort it out" - this phrase worries me when I hear it. The pup is defenceless against your Dobe!! If dogs don't get on, they don't get on and usually nothing will change that. Is your Dobe desexed? The other issue that I can see is that the puppy will remain entire if it is going to be a show dog. This doesn't work quite often. There will be someone that will post that this can all be fine but generally, in my experience, it isn't.

I have terriers and they are certainly vocal when playing but you can tell when things aren't right. My old cattle girl would only growl if she was getting annoyed but generally, in my experience dogs are pretty noisy when playing.

I saw the Panorama Documentary on this while I was in England staying with family. It was very disturbing but I've certainly come across a vet here in Sydney that operated in a similar fashion. This is based on my own experience and thankfully on the final occasion, I sought a second opinion and ended up moving vets. Can't tell you how many thousands I'd spent until that point.

Here you go! DOG_PARKS.pdf

Well it's just lucky that the SWF wasnt ripped to shreds by a pack of dogs. A small poodle was killed by a labrador in our local park just recently. You can tell people that the dog park is dangerous and their dogs shouldn't be there but what the heck, everyone thinks they are entitled to do what they want to do, when they want to do it. I've actually written an article on do's and don'ts in dog parks. I rarely take my littlies who are very well behaved and placid but it's simply too dangerous for them. I'd recommend to the SWF's owners that they don't take their dog in unless there are only dogs of the same size there. I'd certainly pick my small dogs up if they were being harassed - sometimes it's that or a mauling. The large dog's owner needs to have better training, as you say. Every dog in a dog park should have excellent recall although if they are in prey drive (they shouldn't be there either) they probably won't listen.

How awful, that's so sad, RIP little cat.

Yes, do not bath 48 hours BEFORE or AFTER a flea treatment if it is a spot on the neck treatment.

I guess you do like the idea of a puppy, I'm not sure why you asked the question really, I think you had already decided. The reasons you give for not wanting a rescue dog, particularly when you have previous experience of an excellent example don't really convince me that you hadn't already made your decision. Someone referred to my mention of crating being unkind. Yes, I crate 2 of my dogs at night because if I didn't they would be outside barking. They are dogs who can manage with not going to the toilet for many hours but only have to hold on for 6 or so, they are toileted before bedtime and are used to the routine. During the day, they are free to sun themselves and interact with each other, chase the birds or whatever they want. I believe they are very happy dogs, people often comment on it. What I really disagree with is having a puppy or other dog locked in a crate during the day, popped out for a few hours during the evening and put back again for the night. A dog is a living thing, not something to be put away when not convenient to have it around in case it does something we don't want it to do.

I use Advantage or Advocate and haven't had a flea problem. Frontline no longer seems to work. Might be OK for ticks but not fleas. Feed a tiny amount of garlic in the food, that's a natural repellent and you would have to remove the fleas from the environment.

I didn't have any luck with the DAP Diffuser or the Bach Remedy with different dogs I tried them on (I foster care). The best result I had for a stressed dog was with Chinese herbs, prescribed by a vet in Sydney. A friend had troubles with her dog and got them so I went there with my dementia dog who wouldn't stop waking me up all night. Within 2 days, he was back to normal, it was a miracle! They are the "All Natural Vet", at Russell Lea, NSW. Not cheap but who can put a price on peace of mind?? By the way, are they left in their crates the whole time you are away? Have you got a doggie door? Mine can go out the dog door when they need to but spend most time inside although have the occasional sunbathing session on summer days.

Sometimes it is the right thing to do, sometimes not. It is a dilemma but the advice to let them get to know each other is fantastic, that's what I do with troubled dogs usually. I agree that you shouldn't do anything until after they move. It is always good for a dog to have more attention and she certainly seems to like the family. Just give it some time and I'm sure you'll know the right thing to do, she'll probably let you know herself! I had a dear little girl here for a few months and one day a family looked at her and they just loved her, she knew she was leaving I can't explain it but she was very happy and it was so much better for her than my home.

posshutt, it doesn't matter whether you get a dog from a breeder or rescue where children are concerned. Any rescue dog you would take on would need to be properly assessed. Any dog can go for children, that's my point. It can grow up with you, from a puppy, and still go for kids. I knew a lady that researched very carefully on breeds because she wanted one that would be a hospital/nursing home visitor. She picked the ideal breed and had the puppy in her lovely home for quite a few months before embarking on the training required. The dog was a disaster, nipping and getting agro with any strangers so was hopeless for the reason she'd purchased the dog for. She didn't get rid of the dog as some would have but did give up her dream. One of the best breed with children, breed wise, is a greyhound actually. They are so mellow and gentle, it's why they are used in experimentation sadly. They are used as blood donors. They are known for being fantastic dogs but most people wouldn't have a bar of them. They are missing out!