sandgrubber

I'd say your first priority would be a breeder who values performance more than showing. If you find such a breeder, and you demonstrate the dog can perform, you shouldn't have trouble getting to Main register with a dog selected for performance and breeding for performance. Shows are not necessarily a good way to determine sound conformation. In some breeds, shows select for exaggerated features that interfere with athleticism . . . or even health. With Labradors (my breed), particularly in the US, the show and field lines have quite different looks (some show dogs do well in field trials, but dogs bred for field have no hope in a confirmation show). German shepherds are even more extreme in split between working and field lines. The working line people don't much care about conformation show results. I don't know the Australian scene for terriers. If you were in the US I'd suggest looking for a rat terrier or feist . . . . those crowds tend to be more keen on hunting and agility than showing.

I think some of this depends on the breed. In breeds like Labs and flatties, (exception: extreme sport lines, bred for high drive competition) where most individuals are outgoing, biddable, and playful with good nerves and most puppy buyers have chosen the breed for its temperament as much as looks, I suspect most of the litter will be suitable for most of the puppy buyers. I'm not saying there aren't exceptions, or that a given litter won't have it's more and less outgoing pups. It's my impression that herding dogs and terriers tend to have more variation in nerves and drive, making some pups difficult choices for some families.

Diatomaceous earth, because it mechanically destroys the exoskeleton, should kill ticks if you could expose them to it, but I don't think their lifecycle involves a lot of time in the soil or in places where a powder will adhere to them. It would probably work topically, but I doubt it's going to give a high enough kill rate to be satisfactory for paralysis tick, and it isn't nice for the dog's coat.

That sounds like it would be perfect for me! The mozzies by pass the dogs and latch right onto me... It does seem like an interesting idea and would love to give it a try. Actually, it's Canadian. I don't know anyone who uses it and given the reviews by the skeptics community, I wouldn't bother. However, there are three positive reviews on Amazon . . . one claiming it does wonders for preventing spider bites. http://www.amazon.com/Mozi-q-All-natural-Homeopathic-Repellent-Tablets/product-reviews/B00IZGPJFM/ref=dpx_acr_txt?showViewpoints=1

Would be good to write Laura Hegarty and thank her for the article . . . and let the ABC know that Guide Dogs are in a sense, the coal mine canary. Attacks of other dogs by free ranging dogs is a widespread problem in Australia. This problem needs to be addressed, not only to protect the blind, but also to predict anyone taking their dog for a walk!

Research done at the University of Barcelona has not helped the Cocker's reputation . . .looks like there have been other studies of the same. http://www.journalve...e/S1558-7878(08)00140-8/abstract. ... Sandgrubber your link doesnt work,,,,,, but I do know the paper and it's been around for a while. It actually hit the press under the heading of "the Worlds nastiest dog breed" or something to that effect..... typical of the press and their journalistic hype. As a scientist, Sandgrubber, I expect that you would know that there are limitations and faults in every research report. This one has several, but of course the main one is that the study was conducted over a small area of Spain and many of the dogs were closely related to each other or came from the same human families. This paper has not attempted to analyse the family relationships ie the pegigrees of the dogs involved nor are they clear about the basic facts of the dogs in the study, originating from a small regional area. It's unfortunate that this piece of information has been excluded form the report. They do note that the majority of cockers with aggression were golden in colour. World-wide this is the colour most frequently bred by puppy farmers and BYB's and sold in retail outlets as it is the colour most in demand from the pet buyer. I think that the important thing is to remember that temperament in a breed is often different from place to place, region to region and country to country and is often influenced by regional breeding programmes. Many years ago there was a temperament problem in cockers in the UK. This was dubbed "Rage Syndrome" and there was a lot of research into the problem. UK breeders worked very hard to eliminate this problem and it has largely disappeared from the breed in that country. However, it seems that any cranky cocker spaniel that has a less than desirable temperament is now said to have rage syndrome, simply because people have heard the term used. Around the time that this isse was first noted in UK there were many cockers exported from UK all over the world and there has been high percentage sent to Spain where they were bred from extensively. The breed is immensley popular in Spain and of course this means that there is also a lot of indiscriminant breeding by those who simply want to supply the pet market.... buyer beware ! Australian breeders have worked really hard to ensure that the temperament of the cockers produced from kennels that are seriously involved in the breed are as the breed standard requires.... and the majority are sweet, gentle, happy and trustworthy. Perhaps things might be different in the breed in Spain and so I dont think that such a paper as this should be used to colour the opinions of people who are considering a cocker in Australia ! Many years ago, and long before your time in the breed Sandgrubber, there was a line of Labradors in Western Australia that were known to produce less than desirable temperament. The people who bred these dogs were either oblivious to the problems being encountered by the owners or just didnt care and they continued to chug out litter after litter of labs that were dubious in behaviour. The breed began to develop a poor reputation here and its popularity declined among the pet buyers. It made it difficult for those who were doing the right thing and I'm sure that if there was an internet and forums in those days the issues would have been debated heavily and many people would have had their horror stories of yellow labs with bad temperament !!! Thankfully, the kennels concerned are no longer breeding and the labs in this stae have a reputation for sweet and gentle natures..... as they should. Please read what I wrote. I did not endorse the paper, I merely said the paper has not helped the Cocker's reputation. Ie, the opinion that Cockers are snappy, voiced by someone in the discussion above, may be related to this set of findings which got a bit of publicity five years ago. As a scientist, it is appropriate to use Occum's razor and assume, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that breed temperament is the same from one region to another. You are producing evidence to the contrary. Good. IF the link doesn't work, the paper is easy to find using Google . . . .just use an author's name and Cocker spaniel. You'll have to pay to read the full text.

Research done at the University of Barcelona has not helped the Cocker's reputation . . .looks like there have been other studies of the same. http://www.journalve...e/S1558-7878(08)00140-8/abstract. Aggressive behavior in the English cocker spaniel Marta Amat, DVM, Dip. ECVBM-CA, Xavier Manteca, DVM, MSc, PhD, Dip. ECVBM-CA, Valentina M. Mariotti, DVM, Msc, José Luís Ruiz de la Torre, DVM, PhD, Jaume Fatjó, DVM, PhD, Dip. ECVBM-CA School of Veterinary Medicine, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallés), Spain Abstract Full Text PDF Images References Abstract A high percentage of aggression problems and a tendency to display noninhibited aggression in the English cocker spaniel (ECS) have been suggested by many authors. The authors of this paper designed a retrospective study to analyze the aggressive behavior of 145 ECSs presented for aggression problems to the Animal Behavior Service at the Barcelona School of Veterinary Medicine's veterinary teaching hospital. Aggressive ECSs were compared with a population of dogs of the same breed presented for a behavior problem other than aggression and with a population of aggressive dogs of other breeds. The most common forms of aggression in the ECS were owner-directed aggression (67.6%), aggression toward unfamiliar people (18.4%), aggression toward unfamiliar dogs (10.1%), and aggression toward family dogs (3.3%).Owner-directed aggression was more common in the ECS than in other breeds, although in similar contexts. In the ECS, the golden coat color was more common in the aggressive dogs than in nonaggressive dogs. ECSs showed impulsive aggression more frequently than aggressive dogs of other breeds. The aim of the study was to analyze cases of aggressive ECSs seen in a referral practice.

The science here is complicated. X-breeds -> more potentially problematic genes, but and much reduced frequencies due to dilution effects. Yes, it's a mess for genetic testing. But lets face it, the genetic testing available to us now isn't all that hot. For the most part we pay separately for each individual test, and not tests are available for many serious or very common concerns (HD, OCD, patellas, epilepsy, skin problems, cancer . .. name your breed and pick your problem). The big potential gains via the genetic testing route will come when we have reliable ensemble tests applicable to all breeds. Anyone have links for this? I've heard of it, and had a link once, but not heard much about outcomes and can no longer find the link. . If an ensemble test were returning useful results at a reasonable price, I'd think it would be getting a lot of press. I haven't heard of it being done in Australia, but you can do DNA sequencing and look for all the currently known disease causing genes and also look for things like colour genes. There's been a price drop in human DNA sequencing but I wonder if it's a good price in dogs now. Does anyone have links for the ensemble DNA test for dogs? Does it work for multiple breeds? Is there any indication of its reliability? Edited cause the system somehow dropped my reply

The science here is complicated. X-breeds -> more potentially problematic genes, but and much reduced frequencies due to dilution effects. Yes, it's a mess for genetic testing. But lets face it, the genetic testing available to us now isn't all that hot. For the most part we pay separately for each individual test, and not tests are available for many serious or very common concerns (HD, OCD, patellas, epilepsy, skin problems, cancer . .. name your breed and pick your problem). The big potential gains via the genetic testing route will come when we have reliable ensemble tests applicable to all breeds.

If I were younger I would seriously consider working on new breed creation. I figure you have to have at least 20 years and a lot of resources to pull it off . . . or a good group of likeminded people. I don't think existing breeds fit all 'market' needs. Breed standards simply don't let dogs evolve to suite new geography and new tastes. eg, as a Labrador breeder in Australia I often hit people looking for Lab x kelpies. Lab for temperament. Kelpie to make the dog less heat sensitive, and maybe a little less prone to shedding and gluttony. I've heard the Australian defense forces particularly looked for Lab x kelpies for tracking work in Vietnam. In general, many of the wonderful coated Northern breeds could stand to be reworked to make them more fit for hot climates. eg., There's a lot of demand for the dog who is like a pug or Frenchie in temperament, but without the breathing, eye, skeletal, and whelping problems. Iggies and whippets sort of work, but not everyone likes the greyhound look.

Are you sure they are fighting and not play fighting. I have neighbors whose dogs sort of attack one another when I walk past with my dogs. It's annoying and loud but they never hurt one another. I think it's more play than serious fighting. I remember reading a book about sled dogs where the author flat out stated that they like to fight. I think this is true of many dogs. (not mine, thanks to doG).

Bad question! It implies that pet quality is a reject. Some dogs, including many small terriers (terriors) are unfit to be pets due to excessively aggressive temperament. Some such dogs might make good ratters, but they are a menace in the average home. Breeders who sell dogs as pets should actively work to make sure their pups make good pets, and are matched to the puppy buyer's needs. With many breeders treating 'pet' as a reject category, it's no surprise that the general public has developed a low opinion of breeders. <div><br></div><div>p.s. Nothing personal. I doubt the OP meant the question the way I interpreted it. But the pedigree dog world must get out of the habit of thinking of pets as rejects.</div>

I usually just refuse. I occasionally bother to explain that I plan my donations rather than giving them in shops. No point to get into debating the value of this or that rescue outfit in the store.

Thanks everybody! T. virginiana has an erect flower stalk that may get as tall as 400 mm. It doesn't like mowing, but seems to have developed resistance to roundup. I am sure it would do well in Eastern Australia. Pretty blue flower, looks lovely growing in the field and along roadsides. If you see anyone growing Virginia spiderwort, ask them not to. I spray my fencelines and virginiana is practically the only thing growing on the fence. The other species we have just goes to ground when you mow. Guess I'll have to get out the spray bottle. Hard when your dog yard is a couple acres.

There have been many studies, eg., of breed as affecting temperament. These tend to show, as most pedigree dog people will tell you, that some temperament features vary greatly between breeds. They also vary within breeds, and can be shaped by training. I particularly like the work of Svartberg because the sample size is huge and dogs were assessed by trained evaluators in a laboratory, as opposed to surveys of owners. I hope this link still works. Breed-typical behaviour in dogs—Historical remnants or recent ... homepage.psy.utexas.edu/.../Animal%20Personality%20PDFs/... /Svartbu...‎ People's opinions are a dubious source on this subject as many people filter their observations by their agendas. Eg, if you have dogs who may be threatened by breed specific legislation you tend to downplay 'nature' . . . but if you are breeding dogs specifically for herding you tend to work hard to breed 'nature' in to your dogs.

I've concluded that the reason my dogs are so itchy is because Tradescantia virginiana, aka Virginia spiderwort, a close relative of Wandering dew/Jew is all over my property; it's having a bumper year, and is now in full bloom. There's no hope of getting rid of it all this year. I think I'll be able to greatly reduce numbers in coming years by mowing close and weed eating around the margins. (Unfortunately, it seems to be naturally RoundUp ready, and poisoning won't help). Question: What to do this year? Are the dogs still going to react to cut flower stalks and leaves? Will the allergy-provoking compounds go away as the stalks wither, rot, and dry? (It's starting to get hot here . . . .daytime temps hitting 32 or 33 . . . we can expect periodic rain). Is the problem likely to subside as the flowering plants die back, as they do each year. I've got Calendula on order (and some seeds in the ground) and will try bathing the dogs in tea solutions. Is it worth dosing them with Benedryl or some such?

OP: Also there is are a lot of comments about finding a good breeder. Can anyone steer me in the right direction? I have looked on dogzonline but any additional advice would be welcomed. Figure out what is important to you and study the breed; not just the standard, but also what people say about it. Get together a list of your priorities and concerns: most breeds show a range of temperaments. Where on that range do you want your dog to be? What health/grooming concerns are you most worried about? Don't forget things for which there are not obvious tests, like allergies; I also like to ask about health of related dogs (grand and great grand sire/dam, brothers and sisters, etc.). A good breeder should know these things. When you speak with breeders, ask them to describe the ideal toward which they are breeding BEFORE you tell them what you're looking for (some people tell you what you want to hear). Make sure to get them to touch on the things you find most important or worrisome. Try to find a breeder whose aims and priorities match your own. I hate it when breeders talk about show vs. pet quality . . . and would avoid breeders who are so obsessed with the ring that pet = reject for them. If your question is more about how to get started looking, I'd try the breed club and talk with a few people who have been around the breed for a long time. They may be able or willing to give you suggestions, directly. But it's just as good if they can refer you to breeders who share your priorities/concerns for the breed and may be happy to steer you toward finding a good litter. Eg., someone who has a popular stud may not have pups available, but will know everyone who has used their dog and has litters coming. (Alternative way to do this is to go to shows and find a stud you like . . . then ask his owners what bitches he has serviced lately).

If you have a garage and don't have the stomach for a legal fight, turning the garage into a living space sounds like a good option.

The Bullarab is one. :) Rat terrier, another. Though they've now been accepted as a breed by the AKC.

Frontline is off patent and there are now several cheaper equivalents available in the US . . . check to see if you can get Fiproguard (made by SENTRY) or Pet Armor Plus. It looks like you can get it on eBay, shipped from the US. Unfortunately, fleas have become resistant to the active ingredient in many places. I find the stuff useless.

Very sorry to hear about Frodo. RIP little guy. I've lived in places in California where vinca (aka Periwinkle) went wild and grew everywhere. (We called it vinka stinka as kids). I've never heard of a dog being poisoned. Local poison control rates it as 'mildly toxic'. I hate to question you in a time of pain, but are you sure of the diagnosis? http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/periwinkle/

check for generic capstar. It's getting much more common in the US and is less than half the price (both Amazon and eBay are sources here). Try eBay or google for Nitenpyram, the active ingredient in Capstar. Sentinel is also available as a generic here.

The Lagotto is a breed rescued from near extinction. My impression is that some breeders have been using anything they can get that looks like a Lagotto, and the working aspect of the breed has not been well preserved. From what I've read, they were used for truffle hunting, but modern truffle hunters generally use other breeds, commonly Labradors. It has been many decades since they were used as gun dogs, and the ones I've met might have been used to flush game, but otherwise were not calm enough for gun dog work.

I find crates a nuisance for housekeeping and I personally don't like them. But if others want to use them, that's their decision. Crating for many hours at a time seems cruel to me, but if the dogs still happily go into their crates, it couldn't be that bad. As for the 'other' . . . I use crates for air freight, and occasionally, for taking puppies to the vet.

Breed temperaments are tendencies. There are many dogs who don't meet the breed norm, some are better, some worse. I would be very careful to learn about the temperament of both sire and dam for any of the breeds you list. I've known a fair number of both Bostons and Lagottos; there are calmer individuals and more reactive individuals in both breeds. In Australia I had a Lagotto breeder next door whose foundation bitch was super-reactive, even after months of work with a behaviorist . . . but she won lots of show ribbons. The rat terrier is starting to fill some of the Boston's niche in the US. The rattie was bred, originally, for rat killing, but also to downplay some of the terrier traits. Hence, way back there, addition of some beagle and whippet blood. (They were recently recognized as a breed . . . the cross breeding was done many many generations back). Bostons (another breed created by cross breeding, but this back around 1900) tend to be expensive cause about 90% of them require Ceasars to whelp; you can expect a long wait and a big price tag if you want to get a Boston pup in Australia.