Alison03

I've had a large black crow visit, it used to sit on the back of a chair on my deck, but my resident bird killer (my shihtzu) chased it off by nearly knocking it off the back of the chair, gave it quiet a fright, I don't think the crow realized how high a small dog can jump. I haven't seen it since.

Good advice. Years ago I was walking my Bull Terrier and was approached by a woman who asked if she could pat him. I said yes and she proceeded to drop to her knees cooing in a baby voice and cupped his face and kissed him on his nose. Just as I opened my mouth to tell her not to do that he freaked out and snapped at her. Lucky he only pinched her skin and didn't do any further damage. Honestly, who does that? As soon as she dropped down I could see he was uncomfortable and that's when I tried to tell her to back off but she was so quick and I didn't have time to get the words out. He was normally friendly dog who enjoyed a pat from anyone but this was obviously too much for him, and fair enough too. I get this happening with my small dog, kids will get down on the floor with her and try to go face to face, I immediately pick her up so I can control how close they get. I can't count how many times I've said "Don't ever put your face close to a dogs face", in the early days I had a little girl run up, kneel down and start kissing my dogs face because she was just like G'ma's dog. I don't think my girl would snap but I don't want to take the chance, she does a fair amount of avoiding when she sees kids approaching, so I know she's not comfortable. I remember being head butted by a dog when I was young, it's easily done, I just bent slightly to look at the dog and it jumped up at me. It's part of playing for some dogs I think.

The vet nurse I knew told me that the "dead" rehomed dogs were given away with strict instructions never to let them escape and always bring them back to them for any treatment. The recipients were made fully aware of what the rules were. Apparently it hardly ever goes pear shaped and when it does the vet seems to get out of it one way or another.

A friend of mine was a vet nurse for years in different practices and this kind of thing was not a rarity. Any puppies left by a breeder to be PTS, if they were healthy would be desexed and re homed to people who were in the know, it's a way of getting a purebred dog without paying the price. Adult dogs were rehomed too, dogs left by family members to be euthanized after the owner had died for instance.

I've noticed you hardly ever hear of any other type of dog attack, it does lead the general public to believe its only certain breeds of dogs that attack, which we know just isn't true. I can think of many dog attacks I know of personally that didn't involve bull breeds, cattle dogs seem to rate highly in the biting stakes for instance, I found a list on the Internet somewhere compiled by various councils of dogs most likely to bite, cattle dogs and Labradors (which surprised me) were right at the top, along with JRT's. I think the press don't turn up for those types of incidents.

The vet is definitely in the wrong and I'm sure they charged for the PTS procedure too.

Someone at Greencross Vets thinks they are the Dog Whisperer me thinks. : ( They should watch his show, he has a number of dogs that are never to be rehomed, because they can't be trusted with livestock or children. I've heard of this pretend PTS before, it was with a litter of puppies that a breeder left to be euthanized because they weren't show quality. Two of those puppies turned up at the pound when they escaped from their home and the pound rang the breeder. Oops. : )

Thanks for posting the photos BlackJaq, at least I know what a bull mastiff type looks like. It's a pity these handsome dogs are being misused by people, like the terrible person in Calamvale. Creatures like that man are the ones who are casting a black shadow over all bull breeds, no one else, definitely not the victims. In defense of the people who attend a dog attack, the police, paramedics and members of the press, it is traumatic for them also, particularly if someone has died or is badly injured, they are bound to have an aversion to the type of dog involved in doing the attacking. Instead of putting photos of the type of dog in an article, they should put photos of the type of maggot that owns the dog. Anyone who uses a dog as a weapon or allows their dog to be off leash knowing or suspecting its capabilities is irresponsible in some cases and criminal in others. Any type of dog can be used as a weapon, perhaps the people with evil intentions prefer to use the bull breeds or perhaps the press zero's in on those attacks only, whatever the reason it's the owners of those dogs who are at fault. As usual it's the few screwing it up for the many. I don't know what the solution is, banning the breed won't work, the wicked will just swap to an unbanned breed. As always human beings prove themselves to be the worst predators of all.

The dog was described as an alleged bull mastiff, why should bull breed owners be worried this will cast a bad light on their dogs? Shouldn't bull mastiff owners be the ones who are concerned? I think somebody else has already mentioned that "bull mastiff" is the new buzz breed that seems to pop up a lot in news articles atm, whether that is because reporters don't know the difference or because bull mastiff is actually the breed of the dogs in question I don't know. I readily admit I'm no good at "Spot that dog breed", I am aware that "bull mastiff cross " and "bull breed cross" are the phrases constantly linked to dog attacks in the media, which can only make anyone with a dog that has bull in its name a little apprehensive. The general public won't know which dogs are which either.

In the end all that matters here is that a dog was killed, and it looks like it could have been deliberate. Anyone who has a bull breed must get anxious when they hear of attacks like this, it casts a shadow on their dogs too, which is unfair. Anyone that uses their dog as a weapon, no matter what breed it is, should be locked up and when released banned from owning any dog at all, big or little, they do not deserve the companionship of a dog. : (

Well done Maeby, it took me 12 months to get the courage up to walk my little dog after an attack. It's not easy to do it but I can't let the irresponsibility of other dog owners spoil me and my dog's life.

Jokes aside, people must be really naïve to think that there own pooch wouldn't consume them as a means of survival. It actually happens more than we realize, if someone dies alone and they have a dog in the house with them, chances are the person will get chewed on when the dog gets hungry. Not unlike when a bunch of humans survive a plane crash in the middle of no where, eventually someone gets eaten, it's not just dogs that get peckish.

Hi Jess5, sorry to hear about your bad experience, its something you will never forget and could have lived without I'm sure. I'm a bit bothered that the dog owner seemed to be encouraging you to pat his dog, its not like it was your idea. That was irresponsible of him as he admitted his dog was unpredictable. He knows his dog better than anyone. I would ring your local council's animal control dept, even if you don't know the man's name and address, it's worth alerting them to what happened, as it may not be the first time. If it isn't and they know who he is, because he is on a muzzle order, it doesn't matter if he denies it, he'll still get a phone call or a visit, which will all go on record. . Always report this kind of incident, the next person he asks to pat his dog may not be so lucky. It's alarming that he wasn't more concerned after the dog snapped at you, almost like it had happened before. : (

"Entirely responsible" they must have a new breed of 12 year old, I haven't met one of those. :laugh:

Actually a cat would be perfect in an apartment or house with small courtyard. Even if you have a small dog they need to be exercised everyday, mine does and we have half an acre. I can't imagine a larger breed coping in such a small area, especially if the owners are out most nights. I had in laws go through two big fluffy puppies, a cavoodle and a groodle, both very high energy, slightly loopy dogs, I'd never get one, if that's hybrid vigour I don't want it. However on the dogs side, the in laws had no idea how to train them, walking was once a week and more dog skiing than dog walking, consequently they hated walking them. We don't live near them but once on a visit I got the groodle to walk at heel and generally behave itself, it was a very affectionate dog, no aggression at all, the in laws just couldn't (be bothered I suspect) replicate what I was doing. Needless to say that dog has disappeared "to a good home"

Wow I wish it was that easy. If that's all you do with a little dog it will be biting the grand kids in no time. You have to treat them like you would a big dog, or there will be problems.

Similar thing happened to me a few years back. I was out walking one of my boys when a woman came running over with her little girl absolutely gushing about Misty, asking if she could pat him. Turned out she used to have a Sammy and he'd died just before her daughter was born. The poor woman was in tears telling me about her boy and explaining that "this is what my boy looked like" to her little girl. It was a bittersweet moment. I had another woman tell me she owned a dog just like mine but she wouldn't have another one because she can't take it when they die : ( That was a bit depressing.

I always thought Shihtzu's were a well known breed, when anybody asks her breed I take a deep breath because I know I could get many different replies like "Shit what, oh you are kidding, what is it really" and from the elderly "Pardon dear". One deaf old guy just couldn't hear me and I didn't want to shout Shihtzu any louder, he came to my rescue by saying "Is she a miniature Pekinese". I said "Yes close enough" and took off. The sweetest enquiry was an old lady her walked up to me, burst into tears and said "She's a Shihtzu,she looks just like my Molly, she died last year". We were both weeping in the end.

I don't understand cruelty to animals or children, it makes me angry to see it. I have a hard enough time dropping my dog off at the kennels, I feel like I'm leaving her at the orphanage every time I do it. Even though its a great place. I couldn't work in animal rescue, I'd be useless and crying all the time. This lady obviously needed to get her story out there, perhaps it might make someone who is thinking of dumping their dog think twice. One thing that does bother me these days is how some parents don't teach their kids that animals aren't just things. The phrase "It's just a dog" really sets me off.

If your dogs had got worked up she would have had a go at you for that too, I'm sure some people just go out so they can find someone to pick on. The cafe I go to brings a bowl of water out for me and my friends dogs, but the owner does say to any person with an off leash dog to please leash your dog for the comfort of other diners. I think that's fair enough, sometimes they don't like it but its the cafe owners decision. I have hauled my dog up on my lap to get away from passing dogs who get under the table, you can't do that with a big dog though. Well you could but it would be uncomfortable.

You're right, Alison. The Tibbie face is less snubbed than a Peke's, doesn't have folds in the muzzle, & the eyes are almond shaped not distinctly round like a Pekes. Top of the head shape is different, too. Most people aren't really familiar with Pekes, either.... which is why it's so easy for them to think a Tibbie is a Peke. It's strange how people get so insistent, they decide what breed your dog is and won't give up. I clip my dog because she gets hot easily, so she doesn't look like a classic Shihtzu with a long coat, so I get "She can't be a Shihtzu she is short haired". I tell them I could stuff cushions for a living with all the hair I clip off her. I don't try to guess a breed, if I don't know I ask, like I did this morning. Here's another one I get "Aren't Shihtzu's black and white". I just say "This one isn't".

Just took my dog for a walk and talked to a lady with a puppy she said it was a Tibetan Spaniel, lovely looking dog, it was mostly black and some white. It was only a puppy and bouncing around. :) I wouldn't say it looked like a Pekinese, perhaps a bit in the body but not in the face.

Walking my Shihtzu the other day, a woman said "Is that a Maltese" I said "No it's a Shihtzu", she looks at me like I swore at her "a what" she says. "It's a Chinese breed, the name means Lion Dog". "Whatever, it's a Maltese I think, someone is having a lend of you". I was waiting for her to ask me what had happened to its face.

What I find heart wrenching is a dog that's been barking for hours that starts to yelp and cry, I can stand the "Hello I'm here" barking but the "I'm really distressed" barking I can't live with. I've knocked on a neighbours door (after on and off yelping for half an hour) to ask if their dog was ok and got "He's on a long leash and gets it wrapped around stuff, I'll look in a minute". My response to that was "He sounds like he's in pain". The guy then said "Yeah yeah keep your hair on, I suppose you are going to report me". I walked away saying "I'm definitely thinking about it". I don't understand people who are mean to their animals. On the up side I haven't heard the yelping since, just the "Hello I'm here, is anyone there" barking, which is bad enough.

I know the "thank God your home, where the hell have you been bark" or "Come quick there's a panther in the garden". I've got those figured out. :laugh: