Rosetta

My first thought is that she needs to see an experienced veterinary behaviourist or at least a vet who is experienced in anxiety medications. Only a professional can really give you some guidance as to how the medications may work. She sounds a lovely girl and worth giving a chance :)

Louise, the only option for you now in this situation is to do your best to buy the dog. As the dog is in heat and the neighbours at some stage expressed an interest in her having puppies you can only hope that was a random thought. If they bought the dog on a whim and find it now more of a nuisance than anything you may have a good chance that they will let her go. Either way its best to tread carefully and try not to make enemies of them. In the meantime you can tactfully provide the dog with a warm coat and second hand kennel. Are you able to also provide some enrichment toys for her to have in her yard so she at least has some distraction apart from digging under the fence?. Other than that there is not much else you can do but attempt to educate the neighbours tactfully about what a dog needs to lead a fulfilling life that will not result in annoying behaviours. Its a difficult situation and I wish you well with trying to resolve it. Perhaps concentrate on chatting to the daughter as it is her dog

I do have to point out what a crap blanket statement this is. There is no 100% this will happen at all, a lot of off lead park bashing goes on in this forum but some of us go and have no problems, enjoy our walk and come home and think nothing of it. Gus was pretty much raised in our local off lead park and the only issue I recall us having was with a dog who broke off his leash at an on lead park and got a swift kick to the head from me. These are valuable community resources to some of us, please don't spread fear and false statistics. I just have to point out what a crap statement this is. Oh sorry was that rude? I hardly think people are going to stop going to dog parks because of my opinion. What statistics are you referring to? I can't see that I quoted any actually - just my opinion which I am entitled to do on this forum. Yonjuro I didn't think you were offended at my response? Honestly I just won't bother posting again.

For puppies and small dogs in particular I can see absolutely no benefit whatsoever in taking them to dog parks and plenty of negatives.

that it is Lucien. Poor little fella

Thanks Rosetta You are 100% right, I should have know better but thought socialisation would benefit Ronin, I made an error in judgement that I hope don't come back to haunt us It is so difficult to find a safe way to socialise and exercise our dogs when there are so many morons about

The only way to avoid your dog being attacked at dog parks is to not go there. It is guaranteed at some time your dog will be attacked if you go to dog parks. Owning dogs and taking them outside your own yard is nerve racking. Sorry Ronin was attacked and hope he does not have lasting effects.

Do you have separate areas for small dogs?

That could be the key - perhaps she is not quite as hungry and less prone to be over-excited? Do you feed once or twice a day? I feed morning and evening - keeps blood sugar levels even and gives him something to look forward to :) It sounds like she is coming along wonderfully now she is back with you :)

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He is gorgeous - poor little man Fingers crossed they find him.

Simple desk calendar. The main thing is to use something you know you will look at every day :)

He is well known in Brisbane and one of the few vet behaviourists around. I agree with some of his views such as the idea that not comforting distressed dogs is "nonsense". However his methods of consulting are a bit confusing.

Puppy farms and poor breeding is a great place to source unstable temperaments. Do people not know that many registered and dedicated breeders go to great lengths in parental selection and early puppy imprinting to produce pups of stable coping mechanism. Maybe so but I doubt that separation anxiety is limited to cross breeds. Indeed, we have seen recent threads about purebreds straight from breeders that display the same behaviours. Irrelevant to this topic anyway. Sylvie the owners obviously care enough to pay a behaviourist so hopefully things improve with a few simple strategies.

If that is the case I think the neighbours are being a bit intolerant. Hopefully the trainer gave the owners some good general guidelines around straight forward strategies to try first and not just a lengthly program which is a challenge for even the most dedicated people.

The trouble with those programs is that they are very lengthy and require a lot of dedication. These people do not sound as if they would be willing to put in that amount of work if they can't even be bothered creating a secure place for the dog to be contained. Is the dog left alone all day? The dog would probably be better off in another home with another dog for company. It seems too early to condemn the dog to PTS without trying other options such as a secure, confined place for the dog, anxiety wrap and other such aids - even a vibrating collar. It sounds like the dog is just lonely. It is a very stressful situation but worrisome if neighbours are threatening the dog and I can understand that you want to help.

Please don't worry about "offending" anyone. You and your little dog have been through a deeply traumatising experience and from the look of those horrific injuries your little dog was lucky to survive. You have every right to be very angry. I hope your little one recovers and you are able to take her out and about safely again.

Yes, groomers would not see many at their best especially if their grooming has been neglected - they would find the procedure painful and traumatic

You are obviously in shock at what happened to your poor little dog. I hope you have reported the attack? Attacks at dog parks a very common. I hope your little dog recovers and I would avoid dog parks in future - you can never guarantee something like this won't happen there are so many irresponsible people out there.

I can't stand the term personally and would not use it. However, I am guilty of referring to myself as Mummy and occasionally call Jack bubba as well as other baby names. Why judge people for babying their dogs? Thats what many people have dogs for - something to lavish affection on. Doesn't mean they necessarily allow them to become obnoxious. Its better than having an "its only a dog" attitude IMO.

I agree with others - either try to work through his problems or PTS. The dog should not be further traumatised by another plane flight. It was not a bad decision on your part to take the dog - but unfortunately it is left to you to do the right thing by him one way or another.

Boss and Diamond. Diamond was found at home mutilated and Boss found a few days later just hanging on. Bianca is a friend of mine, it was devastating for anyone to endure Dang saw his pic on fb was hoping he'd be found and ok No him and his girlfriend never made it. They found him alive however he was not well and had multiple bite/puncture wounds and died at the vets. Police are saying dog fights but seems a bit far fetched. Sounds a probability though if there were multiple bite wounds? Makes me feel sick to know there are such sick humans around.

Absolutely disgusting Those poor dogs Even if they catch the mongrels chances are they wouldn't get much penalty anyway.

I'd agree with Jed. I've adopted out a dog when it didn't quite feel right and it ended up being one of the worst decisions I've ever made. Now, if it feels wrong, I give it a few weeks to think over. So far, this method has helped me dodge an irresponsible owner who is now starving her new rescue dog (from another group) to death. :( This has been reported to the relevant rescue group and/or RSPCA I presume??

Not sure what that means Anyway, was the dog there to see the vet? Could have been a health issue that was causing the dog to act like that. That they buy into the rubbish claims oodle breeders go on about? The majority of them are neurotic and hyperactive, such unpleasant dogs. I've yet to meet one that I like other than one cav/poodle I housesat a couple years back. And it was in for a general checkup, but it was obviously not a dog with good nerve. That's as much a generalisation as the one used by the oodle brigade that all purebred dogs are inbred and going to die of heritable diseases. I agree. There are some breeds that I have never met a nice one of - won't name them :) - but I certainly don't think you can make a blanket statement that xyz breeds are "unpleasant" because you haven't met a "nice" one.