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So Beautiful

Oh and i also forgot to add that you should crate train the puppy. The crate is a place that your dog sees as a safe place.

Hi Prajeena. I'm very sorry this has happened to you and your family, but I do agree with some of the comments i have read that the breeder is right to take the dog back into their care. Breeders have a duty to care for all their puppies and it sounds to me this is what they are doing. It sounds to me like your family was not really ready to take in a dog. You said your husband had a pretty busy work load at the time. Many things will scare a little puppy when they leave their mothers and littermates. They have had that protection for around 8 weeks and to be taken from their mother and brothers and sisters and into a very strange new place they do get scared and should be carefully done. I believe that when you bring home a new puppy you should allow 2 weeks, when you are not so busy, nice and relaxed, and spend some time with them and to start on their training slowly. Make the training fun and don't train too long, about 10 minutes each time. Don't overwhelm with too much. Training your dog should be fun for both owner and dog. I wish you and your family the best of luck if you decide to get another dog.

From where di you get dog? Did you get as a small puppy?

More information needed. How old? What type of breed of dog? How long left alone?

https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/companion-animals-act-review/#:~:text=Why is the Companion Animals,neglected animals across the state. Submissions close 4th May 2025.

Ummm... I find "show" Labradors are generally heavier set than some pet Labradors... just sayin'... and no offence intended here. T.

It depends on why your dog is becoming destructive. If he is suffering from some form of separation anxiety, that would require one approach, but if he's just bored, that would require a different approach. Maybe a cctv type setup might indicate what is actually going on with him while you are away? The knocking over of items and scratching at doors seems to me that he's possibly looking for you or a way out of the house, so maybe separation anxiety? If that is the case, then he needs to do activities to build up his resilience to being alone... start with very short periods, and as he masters those, extend the time you are away in small increments. Make sure he has things to do that divert his attention from chewing furniture or scratching at the doors. I have found crate training to be quite beneficial if you are only leaving the dog for shorter timeframes (say less than 4 hours), but if you are away a lot and for longer timeframes, containment to a crate might be a less attractive option for the long term wellbeing of your dog. If that is the case, then maybe a pen option could work, so that the dog is contained to one area, and you can leave him with puzzle toys, chew toys, interactive toys to exercise his mind and chewing instincts while you aren't there. T.

Either Ian parsons (Feather Edge) or Jarrod (Extreme Edges).

Hopefully not toxic to our dogs as well!

I had the same with a border collie puppy. It took time, but I found a few things helped. A very good run followed by a very satiating meal (I feed raw which I believe helps with this, but same principle for regular dog food). Wild carnivores run, catch, and devour prey, then sleep for hours, so it makes sense. Another technique I found helped was to quietly leave the house while my dog was finishing off the food. This is better than your dog seeing you leave and immediately feeling anxious. These days I have a eufy indoor camera, so I can see what my dog's up to and talk to her over the speaker - although I have to say talking to her over the speaker doesn't seem to cause much of a reaction, but makes me feel a bit better. She mostly sleeps while I'm out at work. I also have the eufy doorbell (a bit like Ring, but no monthly fee), and solar light camera in the garden which detects my cat going in and out. It's pretty cool.

My guess is you joined the forum just to post a link to your GST calculator website. It's such a daft question, and there are no legal ways for you as a consumer to avoid paying GST on any product. If you have a pet-related business it may be possible if it's a justifiable business expense, but that's it.

I would say dogs are definitely more carnivore than omnivore, and I am a scientist (nutritional science). We're omnivore, right? Even simple scientific facts like coefficient of fermentation suggests a dog isn't far off a cat in terms of biology and dietary needs. Short digestive tracts are inherently geared to digest animal matter. Plant matter requires a longer digestive tract to absorb nutrients, which is why we're omnivore, whereas these nutrients would be mostly wasted on a dog. Needless to say it benefits the pet food industry if we believe dogs are omnivores, as plant matter is a far cheaper inclusion in their products than animal matter.

Hi everyone, I’m having some trouble with my dog when I leave him alone at home. He’s a playful, energetic pup, but whenever I step out, he starts chewing on furniture, scratching at doors, and sometimes knocks over things around the house. I’ve tried giving him plenty of toys to keep him busy, and I make sure he gets a good walk beforehand, but the destructive behavior doesn’t seem to stop. I’m wondering if anyone has any advice or techniques that have worked for them in curbing this type of behavior? I’ve heard of crate training, but I’m not sure if that’s the right approach for him. Also, are there any calming aids like sprays, diffusers, or other tools you’d recommend? Additionally, I’ve been exploring What is Power BI for work, and it got me thinking could it be useful to track patterns in my dog’s behavior, like when the destructive actions are happening, to help understand triggers? If anyone has experience using tools like this for tracking pet behavior, I’d love your insights! Thanks for any advice! michael

They will have to get a control group of show Labradors. My version of "I control what she eats" is "Prepares his own meals, does he?".

Looking at their scale of charges, the discount is substantial IF the fee is paid before the first of August. For a desexed dog, the RDOL drops the fee from $124 to $74 before 1st August but is $162 with no RDOL available if paid on or after 1st August. I wonder if it means that anyone who acquires a dog during the other 11 months of the year can’t get the RDOL discount for that dog. I agree that their fees are steep. The enforcement process seems even more harsh,,, two months from sending out initial notices to handing over the infringements to the court system for enforcement does not allow much leeway for people who are in hospital or struggling with homelessness, for example. In either case, it might take more than two months for the initial notice to catch up with them. I also wonder about the cost/benefit ratio. I don’t see how it will enforce responsible dog ownership, or even payment of fees, by irresponsible people. Some responsible people will hurry to pay overlooked fees but will those payments come close to covering the enforcement costs for those who don’t pay?

I did the fee calculator thing on their website, and having the RDOL didn't reduce the fee at all. The biggest reduction was desexing your dog. The lowest renewal fee I could get it to give for a desexed dog with an RDOL and a microchip was $162 - if you aren't on some form of concession or own a working dog. I reckon that an annual renewal fee of more than $100 is a bit steep - here in NSW it currently costs a $78 once off lifetime registration fee for most pet dogs, less if you are a concession holder, and $0 for service or working dogs. Note that there are people who think that one off fee is too expensive (and they can't afford it). We also require dogs to be microchipped BEFORE registration, unlike NZ that requires it AFTER. T.

A friend's husband once told me that Trouble (my Labrador) couldn't be a Labrador because she wasn't fat. I reminded him that she didn't dictate how much she ate, I did. T.

1. What is my connection with the breed? New owner, a breeder, or someone who wishes to know more about the breed, depending on your circumstances. 2. Where and why was the breed originally developed? The Beagle was originally bred in England to hunt small game, particularly hares, because of its keen scenting power and endurance. 3. Is it common in Australia? Beagles are fairly widespread in Australia, both as companion animals and working dogs because of their friendly temperament and tracking ability. 4. What is the average lifespan? The average lifespan of a Beagle is usually between 12 to 15 years. 5. What is the general temperament/personality? Beagles are friendly, alert, and even-tempered with a generally even temperament. They are intelligent and independent but also extremely affectionate and family-friendly. 6. How much daily exercise is required for the average adult? Beagles require moderate daily exercise, usually 1 to 2 hours of walking or play to keep them physically and mentally stimulated. 7. Is it a breed which a first-time dog owner would find easy to manage? Yes, Beagles are usually laid-back and well adapted to first-time owners, although they can need regular training because of their keen hunting nature. 8. Are solo dogs of the breed easily able to entertain themselves for extended periods? Beagles will become bored if left alone for extended periods, as they are a working breed and can require toys or activities to keep them entertained. 9. How much grooming is required? Beagles have a short, dense coat that needs little grooming, usually a weekly brushing to remove loose hair. 10. Is it too boisterous for very young children or for disabled individuals (unless the dog is well trained)? Beagles are lively and boisterous, and therefore may not be suitable for very young children or disabled individuals unless well-trained and well-handled. 11. Are there any known hereditary issues a puppy buyer should look out for? Shared genetic problems with Beagles include hip dysplasia, epilepsy, hypothyroidism, and intervertebral disc disease. 12. What are the questions you need to ask a breeder when you're purchasing a puppy? When purchasing a Beagle puppy, ask the breeder about health tests for conditions like hip dysplasia, eye disorders, and thyroid health. Ensure they can provide health clearances for the puppy’s parents, and request details on the puppy's lineage and temperament.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-13/stonefish-toxin-could-help-fight-parasitic-worms-in-livestock/105160120

It'll be interesting A Fit, lean lab just doesn't look 'right' to a lot of people ...

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-15/qld-research-obese-labradors-golden-retrievers-dogs/105175018

I’m sceptical. I doubt if they’re targeting the people who never bother to register, desex or properly care for their dogs because there is no easy way to identify those people and their dogs and it might be challenging to enforce payment. The fact that they’re able to quote such precise numbers and their stated goal of “helping ensure they had the most up to date information for dogs and dog owners” lead me to suspect that they’re targeting dogs which were previously registered but haven’t been registered this year. That’s fair for those who haven’t bothered to re-register but it seems a harsh outcome for those who are grieving but have failed to notify council of their dog’s death. I also feel sorry for those who, in these harsh economic times, may have to skimp on necessities to pay the annual registration fee. With this group, the enforced payment of the annual registration fee may backfire if the owners can’t pay so are forced to surrender the dog to the council pound. Edited to add: The substantial discount for holders of a Responsible Dog Owner License is an excellent idea. I hope they make it accessible for people who are not literate in English. https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/dogs-animals/responsible-dog-owner-licence/Pages/apply-responsible-dog-owner-licence.aspx

It says dogs must be registered with council by the time it is 3 months old, and microchipped within 2 months after that. Interesting. How does that work for breeders who may have pups from litters that take longer than 12 weeks to get new homes? $213 for first time registering, then annually between $48 and $213 depending on desexing status, whether the dog is of a certain category (service, etc), concession card holder... funnily enough, microchip status isn't on the list of things in the calculation for annual fees, but a responsible dog owner license is (but doesn't change the annual fee at all if you have one). The average annual fee for a pet desexed dog is $162. I'm thinking the annual registration fee is a little high. Maybe a lower annual fee might attract more renewals? I'm also a bit leery of having to register by 3 months of age, as most dogs will not necessarily be desexed by that age, and thus "justifies" the $213 initial fee. I can't find anything that says cats must be registered with council though... just that they recommend microchipping and desexing. T.

I would not have known that a Behaviour Monitor is an electric collar with a button battery. I was imagining some camera/intercom setup.