sandgrubber

Some cultures regard dogs as something other than "man's best friend". If you were raised to regard dogs as unclean beasts, an energetically playful dog could be frightful.

Multiculturalism is hard sometimes. Glad the dog wasn't immediately impounded and the kid only had a few scratches and trouble getting to sleep.

I've owned many dogs. At least half of them delighted in toilet paper rolls. Can anyone explain why these are so attractive?

They're easy to breed. Large litters. No problems finding a stud, escape artists so cross bred woops litters relatively common.

It should be law that owner of aggressive dog pays vet costs, or massive reparation if the attacked dog is killed. if the law considers dogs as property, those responsible for property damage should be required to pay for repairs along with punishment for violation of property.

Cats shouldn't roam free. More get killed by cars than dogs and many get wounded in cat fights. Do we fine drivers who run over cats? Or cats that fight? Not to mention the way cats routinely kill native animals and owners are never held responsible.

It's cute, but is it safe to put your dog in a Halloween costume? https://www.npr.org/2022/10/22/1129963410/its-cute-but-is-it-safe-to-put-your-dog-in-a-halloween-costume?sc=18&f=1001 Extract: More than three-quarters of owners plan to put their pet in a costume this year, and more than half plan to take their dog out trick-or-treating, according to a recent survey published by Rover. But these same kitschy costumes could be affecting the physical, and psychological, health of a canine. Hmmm!

$10000 (if someone is injured) is an enormous fine for a dog attack? It's not an enormous hospital bill.

Note, the article refers to INJURIES. Jumping onto hard surfaces is very bad. There's some evidence that free exercise on soft surfaces is good.

I echo much of what has been said above. My biggest problem with PDE is that it has been too limited. I've been on many FB dog groups and complaints about allergies, ear problems (Springers), anxiety and other relatively minor but very troublesome problems take up a lot of space. Such problems should be RARE in well bred dogs. I've never seen Jemima say, for example, "don't breed an itchy bitch (or dog)". Too much focus on the most visibly obvious extreme defects, too little on more widespread and less photogenic problems. I'd love to see more attention to how pedigrees can be used for good, eg, by combining them with health and longevity info.

You're probably aware, but the castration contract isn't the only hurdle with pedigree dogs. If you want to end out with papaes for the pups, you need to buy a dog/bitch on Main Register. Lots of breeders are vety picky about selling in Mains. If you want to breed a purebred bitch who isn't on Mains, you will find it difficult to locate a good stud. It's against Kennel Club rules to use a stud over a bitch that isn't on Mains. My own feelings on this are libertarian, and I agree that it’s effect is to limit entry and stifle competition. It also makes things very difficult for people who want to do quality cross breeding. Not to mention that pedigree dog numbers and kennel club membership numbers are declining everywhere.

I'm now listening to Stephen King's latest novel, Fairy Tale. Quite surprised. It's a fantasy tale about a late teen's journey to a fantasy world in attmpt to save a much loved, old, arthritic dog. Typical of King, it's weird and imaginative, but I've never come across a more feeling description of the emotions that come from watching a dog who is on its last legs.

I agree on need for vet check. You can provide stairs or a ramp if it's a problem that can't be corrected.

Based on working in a boarding kennel, some blueys are good with other dogs, some aren't. They are famous for bailing people up

Cobberdog, as I understand it is a new breed. It's several generations past the first cross and shouldn't show the random trait mixes of F2 and F3 generations. MDBA has testing standards, though I haven't kept up with them. Any Lab poodle cross can be called a labradoodle, regardless of how many generations of crossing are behind it. The Wikipedia article is good.

https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/08/15/1057697/scientists-extend-lifespan-pet-dogs-owners/?utm_source=Nature+Briefing&utm_campaign=0ee1356685-briefing-dy-20220816&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c9dfd39373-0ee1356685-45542558 Some interesting projects.

Not so different frto the situation with avocados. High prices. Established breeders breed a few more and newbies get drawn in. Oversupply. Prices crash. But dogs are sentient. Before dumping on backyarders, though, remember that many established breeders began as backyarders. And without new people coming into breeding, the kennel clubs will go extinct.

Can happen with all sorts of breeders. I knew a lagotto breeder (now deceased) who did a lot of showing who made a fortune selling pups.

I expect you'd fine most trendy dog breeds/colors have health problems. When prices are high, indiscriminate breeding increases, as does puppy buying by people buying for the wrong reasons. A recent study gave Frenchies a life expectancy under 5 years https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-10341-6

Color is determined by a few genes and there's no reason to think the color genes are cross linked to temperament. However human factors do influence color choice and may affect temperament via breeders decisions. A century ago, yellows were (according to my mother, b. 1923, USA) less common and considered ladies dogs. Guide dogs likes yellows because they are more visible. Chocolate, were extremely rare a century back. Two decades ago they became trendy and pricey, so no doubt there was some less good breeding going on, though there were also some lovely choco studs and frozen semen imported to Oz, and some breeding for chocolates was done quite well.

Black. It's the original. Plus I live in NZ and Kiwis have a thing about black.

https://fox4kc.com/news/missouri-spelunkers-find-missing-dog-in-cave/ old dog, missing for 2 months, found miles deep in a cave

Need more information. Ask for four numbers, eg hips 3/4 elbows 1/1. 3 is terrible for a single elbow and very good for a hip. Is this for a pet?

Puppy prices are dropping as well (in NZ anyway).

All sorts of stuff. I've read toxicology studies (herbicides, pesticides) where they were used. Beagles are standard as animal models. Low maintenance, easy to keep a pack of them. They'll eat anything. Laboratory strains have been developed.