Cosmolo

Interesting comments everyone, thanks to all who have contributed. We are about to completely restructure our classes and while there are some things we can't change (distance to travel etc) there are lots of things to take into consideration.

For those who have attened clubs or classes that they have found 'depressing' what do you think would be the best way to create change in these situations?

Is that directed at me? That's not what i said.

This may be an unpopular position but breed does play a part too. This includes the breed of one of my own dogs that i don't leave unsupervised with fosters. The potential for more serious damage increases with some breeds. Size imbalances are also worthy of consideration- leaving small dogs and large dogs together increases risk of accidental injury as well.

I finally watched the video KTB posted. I didn't have an issue with that dog being rehabbed by experienced people- prior to rehoming. I have seen dogs MUCH worse, who displayed aggressive behaviour outside their pen while being assessed be rehomed without a second thought.

Support networks are very important- moreso with particular dogs.

I used to work with a shelter where we made some dogs training compulsory after their assessment. It meant that at the time of adoption the adopter and new dog would be signed up for training with the shelter (they had a number of venues where training could take place but they were all associated with the shelter).

This had the benefit of maintaining a relationship with the shelter for those dogs that were either going to be great dogs with training or a disaster without. It meant we could make sure training happened- it was more than just the adopter saying they would, it was a condition of adoption, paid for at time of adoption.

For those who did not want to do this, that was fine- they could still adopt. But they could not adopt 'training compulsory' dogs.

I liked this system and thought it worked very well but am yet to find any organisation since then who is willing OR in some cases, able to implement it.

Daschunds can be VERY prone to barking.

Of those mentioned those more predisposed to barking would be the Pomeranian and the Bichon. My top pick would be the Havanese. (though i adore a couple of bichons i know well too- wonderful dogs)

I do know a few apartment pugs but just be prepared for the shedding, snorting and activity level- also, many will disagree but i have found black pugs to be much more active than their fawn counterparts!

French bulldogs are another option but you may have a long wait and they will be pricey.

I've been working with dogs and puppies in inner city Melbourne for the last 7 years and have seen a number of dogs and pups in apartments- some have worked well, others have not.

Breeds i would consider depending on how much training you're willing to do, whether you want something 'easy' to train or happy to have something more independent-

Havanese (i think this breed is seriously under rated)

Cavalier

Japanese Spitz

Bichon frise

Tibetan Spaniel

It sounds like you could offer a great home for a puppy. Choose your breeder carefully- a good breeder will be very valuable in helping to choose a puppy with a personality most suited to your situation.

Agree with Ams- i have run large packs when i am there and it's been fine. But you're there to interupt tiny things as neeed- things don't ever have the opportunity to escalate. When you're not there and there are large numbers or a group of dogs not terribly familiar with each other's body language etc- it's easy for things to get out of hand.

Never heard of him- though have heard of Ausdog. I noticed he says government licenced- what does that actually mean? Interesting that he was the director of Ausdog- wonder why he changed.

Does the group you are fostering for have a behaviourist or trainer that can come to see you? Has the dog been behaviourally assessed before coming into foster care?

Temperaments aren't formed at 8 weeks so i don't like to refer to it as temp assessing a puppy. Choose the lines, choose the breeder (who will do the degree of socialisation that you want and assist in your selection) and then all i'd do when i get to see the litter is look at degrees of boldness and timidity and pack drive present at that point in time. Everything else provided i got the first two things right can be moulded.

While i don't regularly foster anymore, 2 of my dogs would never be left alone with any foster or visitor. They are not aggressive but they are assertive and having had a terrible experience leaving an assertive dog alone with a visitor who didn't take kindly to it, i won't do it again. Of the remaining 3 dogs of mine- they can be matched with certain dogs after variable periods of time depending on the visitors age, sex, size, breed and behaviour and whether i have known them for a period of time prior to them coming into the home.

I get very worried when i hear how quickly some people leave strange dogs alone together. Make one mistake and the results can be tragic.

For what it's worth i agree with Vickie re: right lines, almost any pup in that litter would suit. That combined with a knowledgeable breeder to help you make the final decision is ideal i think. It's how we chose our JRT and he is perfect.

Good for you Ams- i think its a good decision.

Really interesting responses so far- thank you.

Minimax, could you elaborate with regards to places seeming 'too professional'?

For those that wish to have smaller class sizes and more experienced instructors, would you be willing to pay more to go somewhere where this is offered or do you think it can/ should be accomodated within a cheaper price structure?

Oh no, not Bailey we have fingers and paws crossed for you here.

I'd love to hear from those who have NOT taken their dog to training (group, private- some kind of organised training) in the last 3 months.

What was the reason why you stopped training your dog? Do you feel your dog is well trained enough? Did you not get results from previous training attempts? Is training too far away/ too often/ too expensive? Are you simply too busy? Did you find training boring?

What would prompt you to start training again or would you not start training again regardless?

Everyone encouraged to comment. :)

For an issue like this i would go straight to Dr Robert Holmes- medication may need to be included as part of a behaviour modification program and i wouldn't leave it any longer- the worse it gets the harder it's likely to be to resolve.

I assume he has no fleas or skin conditions?

Guide dog was on lead. It slipped from the handlers hand when he became spooked and ran from the other dogs.

I cannot believe some of the posts in here. This is disgusting, disgraceful, irresponsible behaviour on the part of the attacking dogs owners and utterly devastating for the owners of the killed and injured dog.

I just saw footage of the cocker spaniel on the news- it had at least 2 drains in it that i could see. But who cares, can't have been that bad of an attack right. Disgusting.

I don't have an issue at all with a dog that assesses in a shelter/ pound as timid going into experienced foster care for further assessment. Further assessment instead of the need for crossed fingers.

You have a really tough one Ams, thanks for sharing.

Just looking through some of the urgent rescue threads. Some descriptions concern me greatly- so emotive and such little real behavioural information.

Megan- Lucy would be unlikely to pass our behavioural assessment (not done by us as she knows us of course). Alot of people think their dog would fail an assessment when they wouldn't or that they would pass when they would not. There is a lack of understanding about what a quality behavioural assessment is and is not capable of.

And this is part of the point- who is conducting assessments? Do they have any training? Do they enlist the help of a professional when they are unsure? Those that do significantly reduce their risk of rehoming unsuitable dogs.