Her Majesty Dogmad

What is the matter with people? They want these big macho dogs well that is fine but they have to protect the rest of society from them. Not good enough at all. I'd sue their backsides off and I'd want to see the attacking dog euthanased without question.

I'd recommend you contact Petsearch Kay. Are they wearing collars and tags? Are they microchipped? Go doorknocking and put posters up. Ring all the local vets. I think it is Blacktown Pound that would take from your area - you need to go there rather than rely on the staff letting you know, if they are not microchipped with your current details.

Someone surrendered their unwanted dog to me, for reasons of privacy I won't give any more details but the owner turned out to be a nutter. Anyhow, the dog had led a pretty awful life and was a basket case. None of what I'd been told about the dog was true and I hadn't been told about it's extreme anxiety. In the 3 weeks or so I tried to help this old dog, I was back and forth to the vets, the dog went on Clomicalm but it got worse in its distress and after 3 weeks, my vet said the kindest thing was to let the dog go. I came home that particular day to find the dog had reduced it's basket to matchsticks, it was bleeding from the mouth. There was no storm or anything like that, the dog just couldn't stand being left, not even for 2 minutes. It is very hard to live with. I didn't take the "easy option" - I spent a lot of money in the hope that I'd be able to rehome this dog. It was so stressed out, even on Clomicalm that I had no option. I cried and cursed the awful owner that put me in that position.

good news!

My male peed blood and it was an infection. Hope it's easy to fix.

Apparently the dogs were with their owners. Obviously major f---wits as the camel drivers asked them to get their dogs on a lead and they ignored them. Council is considering if they did anything wrong. It seems very obvious to me? Dogs should be euthanased. As for their owners, well ..... they should receive massive fines and pay the vet bills as well. Not good enough - shouldn't have happened and people and their pets/other animals need to be protected from people like this. They may well have attacked other dogs if they are that vicious.

Ooh yes please, next time I'm having a hormonal surge would be a great opportunity ....

How terrifying this would have been and the poor camels be in great pain from the bites. Shame they didn't have a gun with them, I'd happily shoot dogs like that if it was me, they are a menace.

I wonder where this store is? I'd like to go in a give them a good talking to, the dogmad way - don't aim to be popular, just educational. :D

I spoke to an old friend tonight who is related to another old friend of mine. I am horrified that they both went and got "designer dogs" from back yard breeders recently. They've known me for over 20 years, the last 15 of which I've been involved in rescue. They've seen all my dogs, they've come to Doggie Rescue's shelter with me ..... they've read the DR magazine. Yet, neither one of them told me they were about to get a dog. One of them went to a puppy farm. I was speechless.

I'm so very sorry, it is an awful accident to happen. Please don't blame yourself, sometimes things happen that cannot be forseen, no matter how hard we try. She looks like a real darling who was very treasured on this earth, I'm glad she had such a wonderful and loving family.

Is your dog a purebred? Perhaps the behaviour is typical of the breed? In my experience (I've had over 80 foster dogs in the last 5 years or so), timidity doesn't necessarily equate to either human or animal aggression. If the dog is purebred, perhaps you could discuss with the breeder in case one of the parents or siblings showed similar behaviour.

I certainly blame the neighbours for not doing the right thing. Unless these dogs have disappeared or the neighbours have suddenly become responsible (I would hope the council/police would be enforcing this), I would be wanting to reinforce my side of the fence somehow.

Is the timidity worrying you the most? Is dog timid with other people or other dogs or both? I would get a behaviouralist myself and work with them rather than send them away to improve that particular trait. You can do this after you've recovered or is the dog being boarded because you are having surgery? Perhaps there is a behaviouralist that has them in their home?

In our local paper, there was a story about a Mother's Day incident at a local dog park. A little dog I have seen when I go there, who is tiny and completely inoffensive, just happily plays ball with his owners and goes home, was attacked by two greyhounds who rushed him from the other end of the park. They were not muzzled, as is required by law but worse than that, was the attititude of the owners. The young man that owns the tiny dog is a fit guy and he managed to get the greys off (how I don't know), got over a 5 ft fence with his little dog (who required surgery and many stitches) and had his ankle ripped by one of the greys. The owners of the greys said "You should have come and checked with us before you let your dog off lead". I mean honestly, WTF??? :p They should not have greys in an off leash park and should have yelled, gotten their dogs on a lead and left, but no, they've got to blame the innocent party. I wish I'd been there because I would have had words with these people before anything like that had happened. As much as I love greys, owners like this give the breed a bad name but whatever breed/dog you have, you must acknowledge that if it isn't good with some or all other dogs, you must not go in a dog park and put others at risk. The council are looking for these morons, I hope they find them and throw the book at them. Worse than this was the death of a poodle in the same park 2 weeks before by a "labrador". I hope it's not the dear little mite that I have seen there with his elderly owner. I hope it is not the same "lab" that is actually a staffy/lab cross that attempted to kill a bigger dog before that. The owner of this particular dog has another really savage dog and let them both off the lead having told the bigger dog's owner that she couldn't do that as they'd kill another dog and then she lets them go. I only go in if there is noone else there and am vigilant about other dogs coming in - I go every few months. Couldn't go in today as there were two large staffs in there - my dogs are too precious. Dog parks are so very dangerous.

My boss got one as a puppy but was told the long hair would come out eventually - WRONG!! She's not happy.

Humping other dogs of the same sex is a sign of dominance - females can do it to other females for instance and can do it to males. It is unacceptable behaviour and will likely cause fights. It should be stopped immediately and if it happens in a household of two dogs, they should be separated when you are not there. Should not take a dog that does that or attempts to hump other dogs to a dog park, definitely unsuitable, unless you can get this urge under full control. Undesexed dogs should not go to dog parks either - not because they necessarily are going to behave badly but because other dogs will. I've seen it happen on numerous occasions.

My advice is to put them in touch with Golden Retriever REscue - Wendy will put them right on just how many GRs (including young ones from puppy to elderly) are gotten rid of. ALways a good idea to check out the marketplace before you create the "goods" so to speak.

Unless the old owner has transferred ownership, the new owner cannot LEGALLY rehome the dog. The old owner sounds like a real idiot I'm afraid - advertising an undesexed dog that is far too old to be bred, encouraging people to do just that and then thinks, oh, perhaps that wasn't a good idea? Too late then. YOu could buy the dog, get the old owner to transfer ownership to you or a rescue group and organise the desexing before the dog leaves your hands. Perhaps the old owner would pay for that if you had to pay to get the dog away from the new owner?

I had this problem with a rescue dog, was really having trouble managing. Telling him off or prising him off didn't work. Finally, a fellow rescuer suggested getting some ice cold water in a squirty bottle and squirting at him whilst saying "aaahhh" when he started. I think it took just a couple of goes and that was it - he's never done it again.

Well I just came across a 6mth old Lagotto pup in rescue (actually advertised by RSPCA here on DOL) and a 5 mth old cattle dog. Best to ask because you never know. There are some other breeders advertising dogs under a year that have been returned to them too.

You really need some specialist assistance here, this problem is only going to get worse. Do a google search on separation anxiety in dogs and how to deal with it. I'd also recommend Chinese herbs, they can calm a dog right down. Dogs with Sep Anx feel terrible.

What can they do to stop these dogs getting through again? Can they afford colourbond and put something underneath to prevent digging?

First thing to do is contact your breeder. Second thing to do is contact JRT Rescue which you've done. I haven't read the whole thread - JRTs are a special breed, they are not for everyone. I just adopted a very typical JRT type - she's a cross, probably bought in a petshop and dumped. I didn't particularly want a JRT type, I've fostered a few over the years and would rather have something easier now! Still, they are terrific little dogs in the right situation but best placed by someone who knows about the breed. If you do decide to go it alone, your dog should be desexed first (if not already), ALWAYS do a home check - ask where the dog will sleep, how much exercise etc (JRTs need a lot) and ask for a reference from their vet.

I deal with Ridgie Rescue in NSW - they are fantastic, very proactive and will even help a Ridgie cross if they can. Let me know if you can't find help in Victoria because I can give you the NSW contact.