karen15

Another thing you could do is see if there is a breed specific group near you and go to one of their days. I think the breed clubs have days and we've got a social weekend westies group in Brisbane where people meet up at a location and go for a walk together. Very popular. A recent one near me had around 50 westies, all playing at park before heading off for a walk. Even the Facebook page is a good way to see lovely dogs and ask their owners about them (pm is best as they don't want to promote breeders). You can certainly tell the dogs from my breeder, they have a very consistent look.

Why would you vet someone out for asking for references? I'm always happy to provide references on me as an owner (physio and vet) why would breeders think they are immune from this? If I got such a negative reaction from such an innocent question, I'd be striking the breeder from my list.

My dogs have never nipped me and I'm not sure why or what I do to stop it. I'd say I'm probably pretty quick to discipline if teeth use is inappropriate - it doesn't take much with babies. I also handle mouths and if one connects with me, in go my fingers. It's good training for when you have emergency removal of objects. My boss recounted a potentially horrendous situation where his golden retriever pup somehow got hold of a razor (don't ask how that happened, I don't know). Mouth handling is essential as is training them to let you take things away IMO

Max used to have his wild times. He'd go hell for leather around a little track he made up, which of course went past me. Meg and I would just sit on the couch out of his way. After that he'd murder his teddies. I love watching them have fun. He did crash onto his pen one day - it was a soft pen, so no damage done. Lead outside definitely a necessity if the fence isn't up. She can still explore and it keeps her safe. She can run and play unrestricted inside, so it's fine. Safety first

Yes animallover, i groom them myself. I'm fussy clipping ears out. One stroke down and away from ear canal so hair doesn't fall in. Try to avoid going over them as risk of short hairs falling in would be pretty high I'd think.

I'm not a groomer, but have a cocker, so a breed prone to ear issues. I keep top third, inside and out, clipped short (#15 blade). Westie ears trimmed with #10

An alternative to Thistles suggestion is to read to dogs if your child is up to it. I've seen a few stories about children reading to dogs. Apparently good for the childs confidence as well. Here's one link that came up on a quick google https://www.storydogs.org.au My thinking being your child can experience a dog whilst not being so hands on that a dog would be overwhelmed. It would be good practise on how to behave around a dog. You would need to talk to whoever you saw beforehand so they could be prepared.

Rural pug Teddy O'Connor was a shetland x TB (I'm pretty sure). Competed high level international eventing. There's video everywhere of him. But it isn't an ideal cross, I'd agree with that. ETA just googled him and he wasn't first cross. Was TB x (shetland x arabian x TB). So nowhere near a straight TB x shetland.

I think this phrase may have something to do with the responses "Unfortunately we returned it because it was too active and seeking attention, we couldn’t concentrate on work." "When locked, I want the dog to stay quiet." All dogs like and need attention. It would be a rare dog that doesn't, as you've already mentioned. I'm not quite sure what attention a dog could seek that would impact your work from home? Mine (previously staffy, now Westie and cocker) tend to sit and sleep at my feet when I work from home. They say they're working for kibble - 10 pieces an hour is apparently the going rate it is probably a trained response, but not something I've deliberately done. We usually have quiet time on the couch, so they're used to being quiet and calm with me. yes a dog saved from a pound or rescue is a good thing. But it isn't good for the dog if it isn't included with the family. Plenty of people have a dog that's solely outside, rarely interacted with. Doesn't mean it's good for the dog.

Like that last game Tassie. My staffy was very clever and would associate names with people without specific training to do so. I could send him off to find anyone, as long as he'd met them previously. He was such a super cool dog

Agree with Dogsfevr and Tassie. If the gold dog (Meg) gets a waist like Max, her ribs are way too prominent, so she's too thin. Westies and staffies have well sprung ribs, the cocker is more streamlined. But the waist is still a great first check and once you get to know your dog, you will know what is right for them ETA Meg puts on weight very quickly. If I think she's thin, it's less than a week with a tiny increase to feed to get her ribs better covered. Responding so quickly to small feed changes makes her a bit trickier to keep at ideal weight.

You'll find everyone has their own way. Listen to suggestions and try what works for you. My westie was in a crate beside the bed. If he was upset, I'd put my fingers in and stroke him. As it was winter, he had a hot water bottle in a soft turtle cover to keep him warm. Night time toilet was when I'd get up to go myself. As he got a few weeks older (nearly 10 weeks old when he came home) if he needed to go out he would growl and if it was an emergency, one single bark.

No waist

Waist

I asked my vet that exact question when I got my staffy. He advised to monitor his weight daily by looking down while he's standing and making sure he has a waist. As long as there is a waist (straight line from ribs to hips) he's the right weight. My staffy was 20-21 kg. He was fed up to one cup of kibble daily (1/2 cup am and pm), plus a small amount of fresh mince and fresh bones. Depending on how he looked, weight was easily managed by adjusting kibble from a scant scoop (lose weight), normal cup (maintain), good cup (gain weight). Doing that weight would change in 2-3 weeks.

I agree with you there RuralPug. If the rescue got the dogs from a pound and scanned and found owners details, the only ethical thing to do is to call the owner. Unless council advised the owner was contacted and said they didn't want the dogs. Unethical practices just make you wonder what other unethical things are done as part of normal business.

Having a case discontinued by one party does not create a legal precedent. Legal precedent is only created when judges rule on cases. Same as Thistle my first thought was owner ran out of money.

So a terrier eg westie that goes to ground to kill vermin would be a hunting dog as it is not "used to locate, flush, point or retrieve". I'm not sure if that sort of ratting exists in Australia any more but I certainly used to use my corgi for killing mice - which would have made her a hunting dog under that wording.

Funny story. I had a vet script for my dog to be filled at the chemist. It was made out to Samson (canine). The highly intelligent girl behind the counter says "is canine his nickname?" I looked at her and said "canine means dog"...

Would be interested to know what their definition of hunting is. One would assume hunting includes retrieving dogs?

It doesn't sound expensive to me. My staffy had a number of ops, two for teeth removal, and apparently teeth removal is a big surgery. I can understand why vets won't quote without seeing the dog. They need to assess what needs to be done before knowing what it might cost.

If the youngster is trying to climb up the ranks, they won't challenge the head dog. They'll start down the ranks, in this case with dog #2.

That was a good read sandgrubber

The difference in your scenarios is that in the first you were home. When you leave he isn't silly. He knows he can't get your attention. If you're just upstairs, then he knows you can hear him.

It's a reality of life that people work. If she wants a Cavalier, talk to more breeders and find one that accepts that. ETA when I was looking for my westie I encountered a number of breeders who told me the same - if you work you can't have a westie. I found it very narrow minded. My vet and dog physio were more than happy to give references on the home a dog would have with me. They knew how my staffy was cared for and what a beautiful dog he was. I have my westie and he's gorgeous. I took three months off work to stay at home woth him and the mature cocker I got to be his friend. As noted by the poster below, I had a transitional plan to ease the change with me going back to work so it wasn't a shock. We went to the monthly westie walk on the weekend (about 53 westies) and there were lots of comments on Max's lovely outgoing nature and friendly demeanor. His vet also thinks he is a beautiful dog as do my neighbours. His is a nice, well adjusted dog. Properly socialised and happy in himself.