curly

Wow! Lots of responses. I don't know the details - as I said, it's not my dog. As far as I get it, the dog lived in the city, moved to the country, is not adequately fenced/supervised, and killed a sheep or lamb. I think it was a brand new, newborn lamb. I could see it happening easily, actually. It's small, squeaky, fluffy, bloody, the dog grabs and shakes, just like a toy. Only he did it again a few weeks later. He's otherwise very gentle, friendly, socialised and has at least basic training. I didn't think of the dangerous dog legislation. I was thinking you'd have to be absolutely sure the new owners understood to keep away from livestock, small fluffy animals, poultry, and small children (just in case - it's a big, active dog). Plenty of stock killers get moved to the city, and plenty of dogs never get free play where they can do damage. Maybe you'd go for a muzzle in the dog park, just in case. I'm just wondering, what's the best advice to pass on to the owners?

Here's a (fairly) quick question; If a dog is to be rehomed because it killed a sheep or 2 (or newborn lambs, I believe), should it go with a contract stating "the new owner is aware the dog has killed livestock"? Mind you, this is not my dog. It lives in the country. Wants to move to the city. Someone was adamantly telling me you shouldn't put it in writing. If you write it down, you'll be responsible if it kills again, because you knew... or something like that. I'd think the thing to do is make absolutely sure the new owners knows the situation, and you have proof you told them. Thoughts?

I've found an awful lot of pure pit bulls are now referred to as staffy x or lab x by their owners. At least, those owners who don't want to lose their dogs sort of keep the breed a secret. I love getting a booking to wash a 'lab x', sort of, sort of biggish. Right. They usually admit in the end that it's actually a pitty.

Diva, I agree. I've had I think 9 'lifetime' dogs so far (and 42 puppies)and only 1 has had any health issues. The rest just keep going, like the energiser bunny. We don't see the vet very often, pretty much only for injuries. Sadly, most of the bought-in-a-petshop dogs I see do have dicky legs, allergies and much more.

Actually, I've thought of that one! The dobermans usually walk early mornings, the mastiff late arvo, that maremma is usually on the lead now (that was a mongrel!). But... they vary a lot. I keep waiting for the horses to stomp invading dogs, but the girls in the closest paddock are good. They mostly just look. I guess my reply is a bit late, but I would install an offset strand of electrified high tensile wire on nose height on the outside and really juice it up. Like bull strength. Don't forget one of those little yellow electric fence signs ;) Cheap and, in my experience, highly effective. Actually, BlackJaq, that's what I did! I've got a good strong electric wire to keep my dogs off the fence, but I'd need to clear a lot of scrub to do the outside as well. I did, however, put a nose-height strand along the horse paddock. It seems to have worked really well on those dobermans! It's also zapped a couple of nuisance teenagers trying to come in and feed the horses. They can't read the signs :D Hope it was at crotch height, hit em where it hurts He he. The crotch height fence seems to have worked on the dad who would lift his kids over the fence so they could play in my paddock. Ok, so it's about 90cms high and on the inside, but I haven't seen him lately...

I'm happy to gently point out when my grooming dogs are overweight, and even happier to discuss suitable feeding. Sadly, it usually goes in one ear and out the other. I have had to refuse to groom dogs because they're just too obese to manage. That goes down well! Occasionally you'll get a too-skinny dog, but not often. What's really sad is those owners who want their dog really fat. One told me she hates the look of 'thin' dogs, and wants them chubby. She had to find another groomer - that dog about broke my back. Another sacked her old groomer because she kept 'going on' about the dogs' weight - the dog whose belly literally touches the ground. Then there's the woman who adopted a polite little dog in perfect condition. He rapidly became so obese he could barely walk, developed a number of health issues, and recently died (not from his weight, but it certainly influenced the end) I reckon most people just don't know what a healthy dog looks like.

Actually, I've thought of that one! The dobermans usually walk early mornings, the mastiff late arvo, that maremma is usually on the lead now (that was a mongrel!). But... they vary a lot. I keep waiting for the horses to stomp invading dogs, but the girls in the closest paddock are good. They mostly just look. I guess my reply is a bit late, but I would install an offset strand of electrified high tensile wire on nose height on the outside and really juice it up. Like bull strength. Don't forget one of those little yellow electric fence signs ;) Cheap and, in my experience, highly effective. Actually, BlackJaq, that's what I did! I've got a good strong electric wire to keep my dogs off the fence, but I'd need to clear a lot of scrub to do the outside as well. I did, however, put a nose-height strand along the horse paddock. It seems to have worked really well on those dobermans! It's also zapped a couple of nuisance teenagers trying to come in and feed the horses. They can't read the signs :D

I have a little dog and I'd wonder if she had lost her mind if she tormented a larger dog, she's never been that way inclined fortunately. :) I think it's excellent that the local council reacted so well, I'm guessing they were the strange guys hanging around in the park :laugh: sometimes the rangers having a word with someone is enough to make them see the light. Your experience shows it's worth reporting to the council. I only report the scary aggressive dogs, the other ones who are all fanfare, who do a 180 when you shout, I don't bother about them, they always have an owner in hot pursuit anyway. With the two shih tzus one would be in front and th eother would try and circle around behind and duck in. By the 4th time I came across them from behind bushes I just charged them with all intentions to land a kick and they went from charging at me to run flat out the other way. Owner still did nothing - even changing around the edge once you saw them made no difference as this owner took them off lead to the park and they acted as if the park was their own backyard territory (I watched as a young submissive dog came across them - our younger dog we have now would not have tolerated them in the pack attack which was the exact defensive bigger dog behaviour I wrote to the council about. Yes they were young blokes that were similar types to the rangers that had been seen around the area and just hanging out in the park but not regulars so always suspected they were rangers blending in. Of course the little dogs were never around when I saw the blokes there. The owner of those two shihtzu's must be nuts to let them harass other dogs. Of course they shouldn't be off leash in the park either. It's the small dog syndrome, they are harmless so they can be off leash, thing is if there's more than one they do what you described, work as a pack. Shihtzu's are very fast, my girl out runs many of her playmates, dodges and weaves, stops on a dime and changes direction, not easy to catch. If she was I undisciplined she'd be a problem off leash anywhere. I do hope the rangers catch that Shihtzu owner in the act. I've had similar things happen to my dogs on many occasions. One lovely day in the dog park we even had one of the local rangers hanging around as my large poodle was hassled by 2 small white things. They rushed him barking and snarling. He walked away. They chased, snapping at his heels. He trotted to me. As I was putting his lead on and leaving the area, the mutts were still yapping and chasing. Do you think he'd be blamed if he retaliated? It's lucky he's well trained, well socialised, careful of little dogs, and I keep a very close eye on what's going on.

Take photos. Call the police. This. Who does that?! Little serial killers in the making Yep. I've caught the buggers in the act. They stand there saying "Not doin nuffin" with a rock in hand. The problem is getting out there in time to take a photo. I'd so love to put security cameras up, sadly, it all costs $$$.

So here's an update on the phone call to council. To briefly recap, I get many, many off-lead dogs wandering into my property, going my dogs through the fence and so on. The lovely council rep is making a report to go to the rangers, who will look into things. This may result in signs being posted, random patrols, whatever. The person I spoke to was right on to the 'dogs off lead' issue, as we all know it's not allowed in public (except designated areas). The idea was to get it on record that these dogs are loose, are creating a nuisance, chasing stock etc. I don't know if it's already known that people walk dogs off lead here, but now it's official. So the moral is, make that report to council! Even if the dog in question can't be identified, there will be a record of, say, a black lab chasing people on x street. Now, if anyone knows how to stop mongrel teenagers throwing rocks at horses, I'm all ears.

And now the neighours dog is barking. They keep coming over, too, but at least they're aware of it and trying to keep them in.

Actually, I've thought of that one! The dobermans usually walk early mornings, the mastiff late arvo, that maremma is usually on the lead now (that was a mongrel!). But... they vary a lot. I keep waiting for the horses to stomp invading dogs, but the girls in the closest paddock are good. They mostly just look.

I'm planning a chat to the council tomorrow about off-lead dogs in general. We live beside a bushy track used by many people to walk their dogs. The problem is it's not an off-lead area and all these dogs are, of course, off lead. So I get dogs chasing my horses, dogs leaving steaming piles around the place, dogs trying to attack my dogs. Today while walking my lot in the dog-fenced paddock, another pair of off-lead dogs went walking past. My boy ran up to the fence and barked. Once. Naughty. Then I hear the other dogs bark. Then mad snarling and fighting. Yep, these dogs had run through 20m or so of scrub to go after my boy, who needless to say went back at them. Luckily he can't get through the fence (although they could manage it from the outside). If those dogs had been under control, we would have had a look, a woof, and a speed back to me. I'm a bit over it. And if anyone's wondering, half the property is entirely dog-fenced, the other half is being done gradually. The problem is, what can be done? I don't know where these dogs live. I can identify '2 dobermans', or '2 chow x' - they were a worry, I really thought they'd attack the horses. But if I can't 100% identify the dogs, then what? Get the council to put signs up?

The problem is, it's really useless suggesting a person like this contacts the breed club, or visits shows, or does research. They get their mind set on course and go ahead, no matter what. All that happens is there's another half grown, untrained dog needing a home in the near future.

You've got to feel sorry for the poor dogs. They don't really want much, they're pretty easy to care for and so many people just don't get it.

I've got a friend who thinks she's a 'dog person', goes through dogs like dirty undies. Nothing anyone says will stop her buying another one. She doesn't just buy inappropriate breeds, she can't even manage small, lazy, inoffensive dogs. I'd say she's had at least 15 dogs in the last 15 or so years. None have lived with her till old age. Many have been PTS for aggression and/or stock killing (really bad at building fences, too). The others are rehomed because they're too active, not active enough, not good with kids, escape, make a mess... Plus the ones killed on the roads. Do you think screaming "STOP BUYING DOGS!!!" (for that matter "STOP KILLING DOGS!!!!")makes any difference? She wants a dog. She wants a big dog. She'll buy a dog. I'm expecting the latest puppy to last 6 mths, until it hits those teenage years.

I'd want to know if these proposed laws would apply to all dogs? Would that little fluffy mongrel that gave me a deliberate, aggressive, painful bite be declared dangerous and it's owner banned? Bet it would only apply to big dogs. Specifically, big, 'scary' looking dogs. Sorry kids, I can't let you pat my dog, I have to protect him.

I'm wandering if anyone might have any ideas - various dogs around here aren't interested in eating. 'Around here' being the Mornington Peninsula. One of my dogs went on a hunger strike a few weeks ago. She's hungry, but would just look at her food. She's actually eating tonight (woohoo!) but she lost an awful lot of weight. A vet check and blood screen found nothing wrong. Her brother, who lives nearby, is also just looking st his food. Hungry, but won't eat without a lot of encouragement. At the vet we met a little dog who just wouldn't eat. Also quite healthy seeming. I've come across a few others who sound the same. I'm wondering if it might be a bug of some kind. I'd imagine the dog's white blood cell count would be high if so, but my girl was normal. I've had similar symptoms in horses from time to time, caused by a mozzie borne virus, or bacteria in the creek water. Any ideas?

Thanks for your replies. I'll look up both of them and have a chat.

CAn anyone suggest where to go? I want to give my girl some tracking training, not so much for competition, but for finding cats/birds/people and things. You see, I've always had great trackers, the dog you tell to find someone or something and they do. Every time. They'd either follow the trail or search till they found whatever. Unfortunately, those girls are gone now and I've had enough of the fun 'Hunt the Cat' game! I've got a dog who has a great little nose, follows a scent accurately, finds hidden clutches of ducklings etc (then goes 'Hey! Ducks!' and runs on) and so on. She's never had any training though and doesn't take direction. Stupid me always relied on the good girls to do the job and didn't bother with the other dogs. So my idea was to find someone who could help with some basic training, enough so I can put the dog onto a scent, keep her on it and have her indicate when she finds it. Around Mornington, or a reasonable drive would be perfect.

I've a few suggestions to look at... - some dogs can't handle those spot-on flea treatments, like frontline. It makes them very itchy and sometimes sick. - If he's getting the usual poodle trim with shaved feet, he may simply be irritated. Have the groomer leave his feet fluffy and see if it makes a difference. Leave his face a bit longer, too. - if he's mostly chewing at his feet and legs, it may be a contact allergy. Look for redness and swelling between his toes, red and scratch marks on his belly and the back of his hind legs - if he's allergic to something he walks, sits, or lies on this is where you'll find evidence. - Seeing a dermatologist is a very good idea. You can find out what he's actually reacting to, and ultimately save a lot of money and hassle. - If no cause can be found, it could even be a nervous habit. PS, have a really good look around your garden. I can't tell you the number of dogs I see who chew at their feet and legs 'for no reason', when a glance at the garden reveals ivy climbing the fence, or any number of irritating plants just where the dog likes to sleep!

He he. My Very Large Poodle acts like he's been beaten to a pulp every time I leave the house. He creeps around the gate with his head and tail down, back away if I call him inside, cringes when I go to get him, creeps on quivering legs to the front door... then bounces happily inside to play with the cat. Of course, if I mention the C.A.R word he's instantly the happiest dog in the world! He's not really a petrified wreck, he's just a boy who wants his mummy. All the time. Other people, dogs and cats just don't cut it. I'd hate for anyone to see him when I leave every morning!

Interesting article. If you read the whole thing, the results are based on averages and percentages, so the numbers are different from what we see in the real world. For instance, I've found that 14 is the average lifespan out of all the poodles I know. There was one toddling around at age 17. Few well cared for dogs are going to die of 'old age', simply because we care enough to put them to sleep before they start to suffer. (Unless the question was something like 'did you put your dog down because it was old?' rather than 'did it die in it's sleep of old age') The percentage of bloat seems very high. Although big dogs, especially with deep chests, are more prone to bloat, there are many other factors which you'd expect owners and breeders to be aware of. Yes, the tendency to bloat is considered to be inherited, so 'has this dog ever bloated' should be one of the important before-breeding questions. Like 'is this dog nervous?' - another possible cause of bloat. (I actually go further, after looking at health tests, with 'does it have allergies, lack of brains, hyper-active and so on. But that's just me.) Interesting, too, the results regarding inbreeding. The least inbred group had lower incidences of bloat and longer lifespans.

Thanks for your replies. I do think there's some fibbing going on on the part of the breeder of this pup. American cocker mum and black poodle dad. Gorgeous puppy, even if a bit excitable and bitey, (every spoodle I've ever groomeed has been severely lacking in bite inhibition. Odd, that.) The owner was happy though, which is what matters.

A quick question. Do american cocker spaniels come in brindle colours? Do they carry a brindle gene? If not, how can a 'spoodle' be brindle? (ok, I do know the answer to that question).