Interesting Conversation At Work Today.

[Pollywaffle]

what never ceases to amaze me is how people never attribute their dog's poor behaviour to anything they're responsible for...I have overheard so many conversations where people comment that their dogs are naughty/badly behaved/bark a good deal etc..but never do they suggest that they might be responsible...our two dogs hardly ever misbehave because we spend the time with them and they're too bloody tired to play up!

[JulesP]

Sigghhhh. Yep - new job and first three people i talk to have designer duds.

One is a dacshund (sp?) cross shitzu - only 10 months old - already had surgery on teeth, jaw, back, etc.

Um - wonder why..............

Haven't said anything yet - but will work on it.

Have photos of my dogs up - looking the picture of health...........slowly slowly.......

There is absolutely no point in saying stuff about dogs people already have. Apart from to give advice about feeding & training etc.

[mita]

It can be a hard task, persuading puppy/dog buyers that there are ways to go & traps to avoid. There's already so many wrong ideas ingrained in the pet buying public.

A very good document that gently points people away from puppy farms, unregistered backyard breeders & producers of designed mixed-breeds, is the Dog Buying guide from CHOICE (the Australian Consumers' Association). Which points out the lack of scrutiny on those 'breeders'' practices, and quotes the AVA that their claims about the 'good' of mixing breeds, don't stand up.

It doesn't take much reading between the lines, to see they're pointing people towards registered breeders of purebreds. And they specifically add competent rescue, too.

And, bless CHOICE, the websites they recommend dog buyers go look at, include Dogzonline and Pet Rescue.

OK, this guide mightn't be perfect in everyone's eyes, but it's damn good at saying the basics. It should be pinned up & passed around, all over the place. People are happy to look up the CHOICE guides for buying just about everything....well, tell dog buyers that there's recommendations for them, too.

http://www.choice.com.au/reviews-and-tests/household/backyard/pets/buying-a-dog.aspx

Edited September 30, 2011 by mita

[LizT]

Sigghhhh. Yep - new job and first three people i talk to have designer duds.

One is a dacshund (sp?) cross shitzu - only 10 months old - already had surgery on teeth, jaw, back, etc.

Um - wonder why..............

Haven't said anything yet - but will work on it.

Have photos of my dogs up - looking the picture of health...........slowly slowly.......

There is absolutely no point in saying stuff about dogs people already have. Apart from to give advice about feeding & training etc.

Not necessarily. Alot of these people have just got their first dog and are looking at "getting some company for him". Usually in the misguided hope that that will fix their dogs "issues" the "easy way"!!

[dotdashdot]

I work in a pet store, there's a mine field for you! I'm a pure-bred/responsible breeding fanatic, I love mutts too and had a great rott x lab, but those oodles are another thing. Last year I worked in a pet store that sold pups, I was naive, and now knowing what I do I would never have gone in there.

Anyway, I overhear SO many things that I must just ignore and bite my tongue (it'll fall off soon)...whenever people ask us about pups too I guide them to the RSPCA or this site for responsibly bred pure breds. Its all I can do for now!

[Guest Black Obsession]

I have a friend who bought her Poodle cross from a pet shop. He was 5 months old when she bought him, and he'd been kept in a glass display case his whole life.

My friend thinks she "saved him" by buying him. However, I don't think she saved him because he has a whole range of behavioural problems that she isn't addressing. And I actually think this is making him worse. She genuinely loves him but she seems very ignorant (she's one of those people who treat their dogs like a human baby), and I find it upsetting to be around him because he is so neurotic.

Should I try and offer my advice? I'm worried she'll think I'm just being a pure bred snob

PS I hope I'm not derailing your thread. I think this is relevant.

Edited September 30, 2011 by Black Obsession

[indigirl]

Ahh yes one of my work colleagues told me she was going to 'breed purebred maltese terriers'. I told her there was no such breed and did she mean maltese? Yep she has had the breed before and knew a good breeder where she could get one. Fast forward a few months, the 'purebred maltese' only cost her $200 and its the 'special miniature sort'.

I explained there are no miniatures and suggested maybe her dog was crossed with something smaller. No no its a purebred maltese she says. The dog now lives in the garage 24/7 as 'it wont toilet train itself', and shes hoping to breed with it as soon as it comes on heat.

I am wasting my breath trying to talk sense to her so i dont even try. Poor bloody dog

Oh this is the same person whose 'stupid cat kept having kittens' and she was complaining the local rspca dont like her as she is always surrendering litters of kittens.

[happypaws]

Ahh yes one of my work colleagues told me she was going to 'breed purebred maltese terriers'. I told her there was no such breed and did she mean maltese? Yep she has had the breed before and knew a good breeder where she could get one. Fast forward a few months, the 'purebred maltese' only cost her $200 and its the 'special miniature sort'.

I explained there are no miniatures and suggested maybe her dog was crossed with something smaller. No no its a purebred maltese she says. The dog now lives in the garage 24/7 as 'it wont toilet train itself', and shes hoping to breed with it as soon as it comes on heat.

I am wasting my breath trying to talk sense to her so i dont even try. Poor bloody dog

Oh this is the same person whose 'stupid cat kept having kittens' and she was complaining the local rspca dont like her as she is always surrendering litters of kittens.

Eeeek ... This is the scary kinda pet owner . Poor dog , it is a shame the "stupid cat can't desex itself " - get a clue lady !

[lilmisssascha83]

what never ceases to amaze me is how people never attribute their dog's poor behaviour to anything they're responsible for...I have overheard so many conversations where people comment that their dogs are naughty/badly behaved/bark a good deal etc..but never do they suggest that they might be responsible...our two dogs hardly ever misbehave because we spend the time with them and they're too bloody tired to play up!

I couldn't agree more. I only have the one dog. My beautiful Sasha. But she gets walked before I go to work ( includes playtime and training) and also when I come home from work, She goes to obedience training once a week and we practice what we have learnt every day. And when I have to go to work, she always has lots of toys ( which are rotated regularly), a kong toy or a marrow bone.

I have spent this week at home unwell and let me just say I think she is the most well behaved dog when I'm not at home. Meanwhile the neighbour's dog has not stopped barking the WHOLE week. While she is out in the backyard I just hear the neighbour's dog bark and she does nothing. ( I think she is too tired LOL )

I have a friend who got given a gift ( a puppy from a pet shop) and she regrets it everyday. The poor pup is cute but does have a few behavioural issues. Which she has tried to sort out and be responsible for. Another person at my old work got a choc lab puppy from the pet store. He died within 3 weeks. Don't know the cause but I can imagine.

I do admit that I have a soft spot for puppies and kittens ( I don't mind what breed or cross they are) but I won't ever get one from a pet shop. I did get my current dog from a rescue group which I think was the best decision I ever made. She was fostered by a family, lived with other cats and dogs before I got her and although her history is unknown ( she was at the pound and the ranger just couldn't put her down and contacted the rescue group asking if they could find her a home ) she is the most beautiful and smart dogs I have ever owned. She wasn't desexed when they got her ( but she was desexed as soon as the rescue group got her) She was health tested and temp tested.

I know that if I didn't do all the things I do with her she could be destructive, she would bark all day when she was left alone so I to get annoyed with people who don't take responsibility for their dog/s.

I have managed to steer a collegue at work from getting a dog. He wants one just like my dog( a lab). I sat him down and asked him why? He said they are such smart dogs and are so friendly and cute and that he could guard his house. ( LOL)

I explained to him the COST of actually owning a dog. desexing, vaccinations, toilet training ( he initally wanted a puppy but didn't want to toilet train it), obedience training, food, toys, treats, bedding, etc.I also explained to him that yes I think my dog is pretty special and obedient ( most of the time LOL) but I put in alot of effort, time and energy in making sure she behaviours appropriately.

He just couldn't beleive it. He just thought she came to me trained just because she was from a rescue group and a bit older. I"m like no.

We also discussed pet shop animals and byb. I'm not an expert on this but when I see ads where a dog is (not desexed as it can be used for breeding) or if I ask for health records and there magically isn't any for no good reason or if I ask questions about the dog ( i.e. how is it offlead or with other dogs) and they can't tell me ( alarm bells should ring).

I also steered him in the direction of this website and told him if he wants a dog he needs to seriously think about it properly. If he wants a definate purebread to contact a registered breeder. Once I totalled up figures for him, he has decided to not get a dog right now. ( as it is too costly and he doesn't have the time).

All I do now is direct people to either a rescue group or to this website. I was lucky in that case cause I was able to really talk to him about it and use my dog as an example. ( thank god he listened.)

[LizT]

I have a friend who bought her Poodle cross from a pet shop. He was 5 months old when she bought him, and he'd been kept in a glass display case his whole life.

My friend thinks she "saved him" by buying him. However, I don't think she saved him because he has a whole range of behavioural problems that she isn't addressing. And I actually think this is making him worse. She genuinely loves him but she seems very ignorant (she's one of those people who treat their dogs like a human baby), and I find it upsetting to be around him because he is so neurotic.

Should I try and offer my advice? I'm worried she'll think I'm just being a pure bred snob

PS I hope I'm not derailing your thread. I think this is relevant.

Not saying that spending all that time in a glass cage wont have had an ill effect on the poor dog but, there a plenty of people out there who can turn a perfectly well socialised puppy into a neurotic without any difficulty.

ps. Offer advice when it is asked for. Sneak it in in casual conversation.

[Guest Black Obsession]

I have a friend who bought her Poodle cross from a pet shop. He was 5 months old when she bought him, and he'd been kept in a glass display case his whole life.

My friend thinks she "saved him" by buying him. However, I don't think she saved him because he has a whole range of behavioural problems that she isn't addressing. And I actually think this is making him worse. She genuinely loves him but she seems very ignorant (she's one of those people who treat their dogs like a human baby), and I find it upsetting to be around him because he is so neurotic.

Should I try and offer my advice? I'm worried she'll think I'm just being a pure bred snob

PS I hope I'm not derailing your thread. I think this is relevant.

Not saying that spending all that time in a glass cage wont have had an ill effect on the poor dog but, there a plenty of people out there who can turn a perfectly well socialised puppy into a neurotic without any difficulty.

ps. Offer advice when it is asked for. Sneak it in in casual conversation.

Well, I won't be offering her any advice...because she won't be asking me for it

Anyway, people who offer unsolicited advice are really painful, and I'd hate to come across like that

PS Her dog hasn't had ANY socialisation

Edited October 1, 2011 by Black Obsession