espinay2

Trying to get my dogs tested has been a complicated, frustrating and time consuming process. Not to mention expensive. The basics like HD are easy. But some of the others have only been done through sheet pig headedness and some have actually taken years to successfully arrange!! They don't make it easy.

For example there is no recognized national scheme or standardized testing for patellas and while more standardized (in terms of rhe testing run by a small number of breed clubs) for hearts either. Until recently people in nsw who want heart testing generally had to go to Melbourne. There are now to my knowledge a total of 3 (maybe 4?) cardiology specialists in total in this country. One of the DNA tests for my breed is not available in Australia as the company that holds the patent does not offer it. And because they have the Aust rights I can't send a blood sample overseas to the US counterpart to be done !!!

Yes I wish more breeders would test but recognize that blanket mandatory testing for all breeds is a difficult and in some cases counterproductive notion. It is important to note that testing in and of itself is not the answer but how you use it and it is equally important not to throw the baby out with the bath water by limiting genetic pool too much through overly strict application and reliance on some tests. It must always be remembered that for everything there is a test for there are multiple things where there are no tests available and these have to be considered too (it may not pay to eliminate a dog from the gene pool who is potentially clear in one jmportant area but tests as a carrier in another for example). Now do I believe in testing? Yes I do and in my breed I can likely safely say I have the most comprehensively health tested dogs in this country and also likely quite high up there worldwide. But I don't believe it is the answer ito everything.

IMO if she went home with a more positive attitude and then sought the help of a trainer then it was mission accomplished. Yes it is a tv show and tv is all about drama. Something to be expected. The shows premise is also all about changing people not necessarily about changing dogs I.e. a lot of dog problems are people problems and you have to change what underlies that before you can move on. It isn't actually a show about dog training it is about people training. The roo steaks thing. While a little weird that is classic adventure training psychology. Break em down and put them under stress to make them step up and challenge themselves.

Puppy Sniffer said: They are very protective and yes, they may try to mother lambs (important to teach them to let the sheep do it though so they don't take over!) Eating stillborn lambs is a good thing as it means they are removing dead bodies that might attract predators. It is a very natural thing for a LGD to do. If there were a serious threat they would know it. There is a big difference between a mild warning to keep away and an all systems go alert and they will know the difference. For those interested in LGD behaviour, you might like this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=67ObjymUif8

Always nice to see them at work.

Just watched it. While there were things I didn't agree with I do understand the basic premise. Leadership is very much about attitude, confidence and self worth and won't happen unless you have those things sorted for yourself. There were a lot of deeper issues with these two and it was more than about fixing their relationships with their dogs. Their relationship with their dogs was IMO in many ways a symptom of deeper issues. In a way working with the dogs was a bit of 'pop psychology' but it got them thinking about how they command themselves in general. It was IMO about stepping up and being more of a leader for themselves and their family as well as for their dogs. Do I think it solved all their problems? No - far from it. But IMO it gave them a starting point - to see that they had the power to influence things and that they COULD be a leader in life and to their dogs rather than just giving up.

The Mercure (formerly Olims in Ainslie) allows pets and is fairly pet friendly. They offer 'pet packages'. My sister has stayed there with her dog. From what I recall the pet friendly rooms have a courtyard as well. http://www.mercureca...m.au/index.html Very well located on Limestone Ave and a short walk to the CBD.

TM's are lovely dogs but definitely not for the average pet owner. They can be challenging. Also classed as a livestock guardian though can work a bit differently. Can be VERY territorial and need a very strong leader. Don't always get on with other dogs. Cute as puppies though that is for sure and a breed I greatly admire.

Pyrs will do both boundary patrols and stay with the flock depending on setup and dog/stock numbers. Boundary patrolling is something you will commonly see even in pets. Pyrs tend to be not quite as standoffish as most of the Tibetan mastiffs I know. No one breeding PMs at the moment. There are a few here and a few litters were bred but to my knowdge that breeder is not breeding them any more and no one else has picked up the ball. We will need more to be imported before that happens.

It is MAJORLY addictive LOL! I have everything from classic soft rolled english leather to all sorts of bling and colours. Of course then I just HAD to order a specially designed lead pouch/roll to hold them all :laugh: Pity I can only ever use a few at a time

Oh so glad you could get it sorted! You know you HAVE to keep us updated now on the mating and whether it was successful!!!!

I would love it if you could post pics of them at 8 weeks. 6 weeks may be too early to get a true picture but 8 weeks is generally thought to be the right age for the truest assessment of what they will be as an adult. So much can change in 2 weeks. Assess them yourself by looking at them in a mirror too so you are not looking straight at them. It actually provides a little more perspective. Thanks foir being brave enough to do the subject, it is interesting to see what people think and always a good learning opportunity!!

Also check out vebopet. Especially for things like a crate.

Not leather but Glamour show leads on Facebook. Lovely and made to your specs. They will have sizes suitable for a toy. These do leather though, but again, overseas : http://www.facebook.com/#!/OriginalShowLeads?fref=ts

Look at some of the comfort brands like hush puppies etc. there are some nice looking flat styles out there if you look around. A pair of basic black or brown shoes shouldn't be too hard to find. The other thing to do is make sure you sit down as much as possible. I was getting sore feet too until I realized too much nervous energy saw me standing up all the time. I now make an effort to sit so my feet survive the day.

video may be better?

IMO I would ditch the Artemis if you can't get a full analysis panel for it to check it. Pro Plan Performance, Eagle Pack Large and Giant Breed Puppy and Innova Large Breed Puppy are the only three I have found so far to have a sufficiently low calcium level with sufficiently high protein without through the roof calories to suit large breed growth issues. I gather David Lidbetter at Parramatta Veterinary Surgical Specialists comes highly recommended. Make an appointment ASAP. This is NOT normal gangly puppy stuff at all.

What is the calcium % in the Artemis? Can't find it listed for them and it always concerns me when you don't have a full analysis. Where are you located for the specialist? I can't recommend one in particular, but perhaps others can. Also when did you first notice he might have a problem? Was it before or after you switched to the Artemis?

Yep, a very common Pyrenean trait and from what I understand many LGD type dogs do it. My Pyrs are certainly leaners. Not really a dominance thing in their case IMO. They lean during cuddles mostly. Though it can be accompanied by 'blocking' behavior at times and in this type of situation they are trying to 'control' their flock - part of guardian behaviour though and should be understood in that context rather than as any type of 'attempt to dominate' in the context of rank climbing.

Agree - read it folks!! I don't care about repeated subjects if they are helping someone. I encourage speople to post if they have issues or questions. New people coming for help with real issues is never old. This however is about VOYERISM style posts which cry ooh look at this horrible thing that is happening on gumtree! It is RUBBERNECKING and IMO getting your rocks off on a bad story. Look look I care! Look how shocked I am!! If someone REALLY wants to help, then contact rescue privately if appropriate. Easy enough to find out how to do that in the rescue forum. Become proactive - not someone who gets off on telling people about the bad things they saw on another website. rant over........

For the most part, a Pyrenean Mastiff is a much heavier boned, heaver set, and Mastiff-like (molossoid) breed than the Pyrenean Mountain Dog which is 'lupo-molossoid'. Pyrenean Mastiffs tend to be a les prolific breed than the Mountain Dogs and certainly in France at the Nationale d'Elevage (Pyrenean breeds specialty held in the Pyrenees mountains every year) there are less of them shown. You can see the difference between the two in the attached photo (PMD on left (2yo bitch) and Pyr Mastiff (about 14mths male) on right) and also on the RACP (French breed club) site here: http://www.chiens-de...com/Acceuil.htm Pyrs in temperament can vary, but are generally considered the less 'sharp' of the LGD breeds. While needing a good leader, a Pyr of good temperament who is well socialised is for the most part easy to handle off territory and social with other dogs. For the most part they accept what you introduce as belonging on their property including other dogs. They are a breed inclined to use 'appropriate force' which means if barking keeps the flock safe that is all they do (they bark to warn predators to stay away, perhaps being the most prone to barking of the LGD breeds). If issuing a warning sees the predator go away, they won't do more. They will generally only kill a predator if the predator persists and makes it necessary. If the predator runs away, they will generally stop the chase rather than pursuing. Pyrs are perhps one of the breeds best suited to a 'family farm dog' situation where there are people coming and going through the dogs territory as they tend to be quite discriminate once taught what is to be guarded against and what isn't. They are known to be good with children and small animals and generally quite tolerant of them.

OK, this thread is worrying me greatly. This is NOT normal and needs way more than a chiro. It is highly unlikely from the description you have given that this will just 'go away'. This needs SPECIALIST help IMO. Get an appointment with an orthopedic specialist ASAP. You need a proper diagnosis! (and likely x-rays) What is his diet? (and what has it been?). A change of diet may be called for and IMO I would actually probably be feeding this dog similar to feeding a giant breed growing dog with issues. That means SLOWING growth, making sure the dog is lean and not creating problems through over nutrition. If feeding dry food your dog should be on a suitable adult food. I would suggest Pro Plan Performance which is also suitable for growing large breed puppies and does not contain too much calcium (too much calcium is a big problem with growing large breed dogs). If feeding a raw diet, you may need to adjust that too - let me know if you need help with that If you can monitor his urine adequately, then Vit C may be worth adding - use either esther C or sodium ascorbate as these are the only two types shown to be effective. 900 to 1000mg a day if he can take it. HAve a read of info relating to large/giant breed growth issues. While a Dally is not normally considered in this category, it really does sound like your dog is displaying all the issues that in my own breed would have me VERY concerned. There are also some red flags in your post - 'forced' exercise and stair climbing for example - that in a larger breed would be an indicator of trouble and it may well also be for your dog too. Below is info cut and pasted from my puppy packs on exercise which IMO could be relevant in your case. Also an article regarding exercise. As mentioned, this needs a SPECIALIST opinion. I would not be stuffing around. This really needed to be dealt with earlier than this, but you may be able to do something if you do it now. Leave it longer and a good chance you will not as the earlier you correct it the better you can fix it.

It never was that. But it was new and experienced dog folk talking about purebred dogs and all the issues that sprang from that... breeding, choosing, buying, feeding, training, care, grooming,history.. lots of stuff. Rescue was here then too. i came here as the newish owner of two purebred dogs. Since then I've titled dogs in conformation, obedience, and agility, trained as an instructor, registered a Breeders prefix and become involved in my local Breed club, and my Canine Control. I've also added a second breed to my home. A lot of that has been with the advice and encouragement of more experienced members here. I've evolved as a dog owner, furthering my knowledge of a lot of aspects of dogs. You don't get to do that by reading forums mainly populated with vents, whinges and finger pointing at poor dog related practices. Yes, it certainly used to be a LOT easier to find the USEFUL threads here! Discussion was purposeful and positive. I too know a lot of great and experienced folks that have left because the majority of the posts are just whinges, people with noses out of joint and people getting off on how horrible some things are. It would be nice if we could turn it back into something a little more proactive and purposeful.