Animal Management (cats And Dogs) Act 2008

[Sticky]

This seemed to have slipped in under the radar. Major changes for restricted dogs.

http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN...008/08AC074.pdf

S

[Jimmay]

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Edited December 25, 2008 by Jimmay

[Sticky]

Explanatory notes here:

http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/Bills/52...alMgtB08Exp.pdf

The Act is a vast improvement over Chap 17A

S

[Greytmate]

It didn't slip in under the radar, it was being talked about in this thread here in the BSL forum a couple of months ago.

It has been mentioned in the General Discussion forum too, since it was passed acouple of weeks ago.

I reckon it is fantastic, finally our greyhounds don't have to wear muzzles anymore. :D

I have been working for four years to get this exemption, and now it has finally paid off.

[mita]

I have been working for four years to get this exemption, and now it has finally paid off.

It's brilliant for dogs.

Shows what people can achieve by lobbying & persistent hard work.

[bj2circeleb]

One thing I find strange is that it makes it illegal to microchip a dog under 8 weeks of age. Most responsible breeders have the pups microchiped at the same time as the first vaccination is given at 6 weeks of age. This is going to mean that breeders have who by the law will not be able to sell or even give away a dog which is not microchipped, will have to take the dogs back to the vet at 8 weeks of age to be microchipped, which will make it more costly and time consuming for the breeders and/or it will mean that pups will not be vaccinated until 8 weeks of age which will mean they will not be able to start puppy preschool until at least 10 weeks and will not be able to recieve the 10 week vaccination until 12 weeks as they are given about 4 weeks apart. I wonder if this has really been thought through properly and what the ideas around the 8 weeks was.

[Just Midol]

One thing I find strange is that it makes it illegal to microchip a dog under 8 weeks of age. Most responsible breeders have the pups microchiped at the same time as the first vaccination is given at 6 weeks of age. This is going to mean that breeders have who by the law will not be able to sell or even give away a dog which is not microchipped, will have to take the dogs back to the vet at 8 weeks of age to be microchipped, which will make it more costly and time consuming for the breeders and/or it will mean that pups will not be vaccinated until 8 weeks of age which will mean they will not be able to start puppy preschool until at least 10 weeks and will not be able to recieve the 10 week vaccination until 12 weeks as they are given about 4 weeks apart. I wonder if this has really been thought through properly and what the ideas around the 8 weeks was.

Vaccinating at 6 weeks does nothing anyway.

The most current vacc schedule is 8week/12week...

[WreckitWhippet]

Can't chip before 8 weeks = can't sell puppies before 8 weeks

[Ashanali]

which will mean they will not be able to start puppy preschool until at least 10 weeks

Pups shouldn't be out of their home yard until 12 weeks anyway.

[mita]

which will mean they will not be able to start puppy preschool until at least 10 weeks

Pups shouldn't be out of their home yard until 12 weeks anyway.

Agree. The U of Q research report says that the critical socialisation period for puppies, is between 5 & 14 weeks.

[Just Midol]

which will mean they will not be able to start puppy preschool until at least 10 weeks

Pups shouldn't be out of their home yard until 12 weeks anyway.

Why?

Some of the most vital socialising is done before 12 weeks. I've taken all my dogs out immediately, and will do it with them all. Keep them inside till 12 weeks and you leave 2 weeks for socialising. Not really sufficient.

[Jed]

Midol

Keep them inside till 12 weeks and you leave 2 weeks for socialising. Not really sufficient.

If the pup has correct temperament according to the breed standard, and has been raised in the correct manner, which should include sights and sounds at home, and socialisation by the breeder and with the other dogs, there will be no problem. "Socialisation" does not necessarily mean to be out and about in public, and "5 - 14 weeks" is dependent on the breed, and the temperament and development rate of each individual pup, but providing the temperament is satisfactory, there should be no problem

[wherezaball]

Midol

Keep them inside till 12 weeks and you leave 2 weeks for socialising. Not really sufficient.

If the pup has correct temperament according to the breed standard, and has been raised in the correct manner, which should include sights and sounds at home, and socialisation by the breeder and with the other dogs, there will be no problem. "Socialisation" does not necessarily mean to be out and about in public, and "5 - 14 weeks" is dependent on the breed, and the temperament and development rate of each individual pup, but providing the temperament is satisfactory, there should be no problem

While in a perfect world this statement would be absolutely correct, we all know we don't live in a perfect world. It is the same as confirmation. Responsible breeders strive to improve the breed and breed to standard and also for temperament etc. though in reality a confirmation fault could be found on many if not all dogs. The same goes for temperament. While the base product (temperament or confirmation) as a puppy may appear to be good. The end result as an adult will not be known until the dog reaches maturity.

3 things influence a dog behaviour and temperament;

1. genetics

2. past learned experiences; and

3. the environment/situation the dog is in.

No socialisation does not necessarily mean to be out and about in public. Socialising is learning social skills i.e. from other dogs and people etc. Habituation is exposing a dog to the things and environments it will encounter as an adult is extremely important from puppyhood through to adult life. Though the ideal time is around 5-14 weeks.

Socialising and habituating a puppy are still extremely important even if the temperament appears correct because temperament is influenced by many things over time and it is an on going development process and not set in cement at an early age. Depriving a puppy of important life learning experiences may contribute to behaviour/temperament problems later on in life.

Every puppy I have is taken out under controlled situations. Though I am aware of some element of risk. However, behaviour and temperament issues kill more dogs everyday than parvo ever did.

[Just Midol]

No socialisation does not necessarily mean to be out and about in public. Socialising is learning social skills i.e. from other dogs and people etc. Habituation is exposing a dog to the things and environments it will encounter as an adult is extremely important from puppyhood through to adult life. Though the ideal time is around 5-14 weeks.

Socialising and habituating a puppy are still extremely important even if the temperament appears correct because temperament is influenced by many things over time and it is an on going development process and not set in cement at an early age. Depriving a puppy of important life learning experiences may contribute to behaviour/temperament problems later on in life.

No no, you've got it all wrong. It's 100% genetic, environment plays no role in this at all. A well bred dog should be fine with:

- Helicopters.

- Jets.

- Huge parties.

- Trains.

- Boats.

- Cars.

- Loud noises.

- Storms.

Without ever experiencing them before, it doesn't matter if the dog is in a highly stressful environment when he experiences them, good breeding will see him through. Socialising (or neutralising) to these things is irresponsible and should be avoided at all costs.

[Greytmate]

No socialisation does not necessarily mean to be out and about in public. Socialising is learning social skills i.e. from other dogs and people etc. Habituation is exposing a dog to the things and environments it will encounter as an adult is extremely important from puppyhood through to adult life. Though the ideal time is around 5-14 weeks.

Socialising and habituating a puppy are still extremely important even if the temperament appears correct because temperament is influenced by many things over time and it is an on going development process and not set in cement at an early age. Depriving a puppy of important life learning experiences may contribute to behaviour/temperament problems later on in life.

No no, you've got it all wrong. It's 100% genetic, environment plays no role in this at all. A well bred dog should be fine with:

- Helicopters.

- Jets.

- Huge parties.

- Trains.

- Boats.

- Cars.

- Loud noises.

- Storms.

Without ever experiencing them before, it doesn't matter if the dog is in a highly stressful environment when he experiences them, good breeding will see him through. Socialising (or neutralising) to these things is irresponsible and should be avoided at all costs.

I agree with you to a certain extent. But even in the best-bred litters, you can still have an individual who is more prone to anxiety than others. Also, if a dog is in a new and completely unfamiliar environment and a savage storm hits, I would expect to see very subtle symptoms of anxiety in even the best dogs.

Also, you can have a dog have a terrible or painful experience that it unfortunately has associated with one of the things on your list, and that thing will bring on anxiety in the dog.

But on the whole you are correct. Correct temperament is 'bomb-proof', recovery from startling should happen within seconds (provided a threat does not remain) and anything else would be seen as a fault by me.

But I only work with one breed. A breed that almost without exception has had very little or no early socialisation or neutralisation with things that do not exist on a rural greyhound property. Yet we continually get dogs with near-perfect temperaments that fit straight in to urban life without blinking an eye. That is thanks to genetics.

[WreckitWhippet]

Gotta love sarcasm , combined with zero puppy raising knowledge and first hand experience

[Greytmate]

:p Gotta love sarcasm , combined with zero puppy raising knowledge and first hand experience

LOL.

How confusing. Was Lord Mouth being sarcastic?

Whatever, I just spoke about all the dogs that I do have experience with.

Edited December 29, 2008 by Greytmate

[mita]

Habituation is exposing a dog to the things and environments it will encounter as an adult is extremely important from puppyhood through to adult life. Though the ideal time is around 5-14 weeks.

Socialising and habituating a puppy are still extremely important even if the temperament appears correct because temperament is influenced by many things over time and it is an on going development process and not set in cement at an early age. Depriving a puppy of important life learning experiences may contribute to behaviour/temperament problems later on in life.

Every puppy I have is taken out under controlled situations. Though I am aware of some element of risk. However, behaviour and temperament issues kill more dogs everyday than parvo ever did.

I thought your post was excellent.

I like the way the folk who breed the military dogs at Amberley Air Force Base, emphasise socialisation from the time the puppies are born. Being handled by people & starting life in a specially designed area....where they've even included steps. Apparently, they've discovered, when they used to source dogs from 'outside', many were nervous of steps & stairs.....because they'd not been part of their kennel environment.

Unitl the puppies go out for further socialisation with foster families from 4 months of age, they are given exposure to life around the RAAF base & general area. Living a typically happy puppy life.

The officer in charge of puppy raising tells how he often has to remove a puppy that's hanging on to a passing woman's skirt. Flapping skirt hems are very tempting for a game!

From 4 months, the puppies live with foster families in ordinary homes who treat them just like much loved pets....going to the beach or the football, wherever the family goes.

When they return from fostering, they start their actual training in earnest. Given differences in temperament etc, some dogs may not prove suitable to continue. So they get adopted into pet homes.....for which they've already been given a great start in life.

(Midol might like to know that these puppies do become familiar with helicopters & jets from an early age .)

[Ashanali]

Socialisation obviously has different meanings for different people.

I breed my dogs, they get human socialised within my yard from an early age being handled by children and growing up around a rowdy family and handled by our many visitors. They are let in with the older dogs for supervised dog socialisation from about 4-5 weeks of age.

They leave my home at 8 weeks. The dogs I keep do NOT go out in public until 3 months of age (what other owners do with their pups is up to them but I advise keeping them home until 12 weeks).

Can't say that I have any dogs that are ill tempered, aggressive, shy, freakish etc and out of over 50 puppies I can only recall two being 'sour' in some way... ( a few that were very exciteable, but not bad, just in need of firm owners).

I don't know, but I'll trust my years of experience and keep doing what I am doing. It's obviously working for me and I haven't lost any pups to parvo or hookworm due to the 'need' to get out and socialise them earlier than 12 weeks.

ETA: Socialisation within my yard because I can control that environment. I can't control what people do outside my fence.

Edited December 29, 2008 by Ashanali

[NorthernStarPits]

Its the shiznit very few dogs of the future will be singled out now, mostly deed not breed

glad it went through.