All Activity

Did the breeder offer to take the pup back and give a full refund on return? Have you got veterinary reports stating that said pup is deaf, or is her condition based only on your own observations? I would look into getting a BAER test done on the pup to find out the true extent of her hearing/deafness. It is not a very expensive test, and will unequivocally prove deafness or not. Without definitive proof of the fault in the pup, you will find it difficult to proceed with any claim against the breeder. T.

My brother went through a similar situation although the puppy he bought was going blind. The vet confirmed that and the breeder took the puppy back and he was lucky to get another one which was fine. The dog actually lived to 14 with no health issues. Im not really in a position to comment on how much you should be reimbursed. I’m no expert on consumer laws etc but as the owner of an older dog who has lost most of her hearing I can vouch that owning a deaf dog is hard work. I couldn’t imagine owning a deaf dog right from puppy age. People may not like me saying that but I’m just being honest in my feelings. I certainly hope you work something out, both for you and the puppy’s sake.

Firstly do you have veterinary proof the dog is deaf? You may have some recourse under consumer protection laws that apply to things like appliances. Do you know what testing was done? For example DNA testing of the parents? If you have a receipt or proof that you have paid the money, you could return the puppy and ask for a refund. If you keep the puppy it will only encourage that dog supplier to breed more dogs without due care. People on this forum with more experience in consumer law and deafness may have more advice for you.

Hello, I've recently just taken home a 10 week old Cobberdog puppy and with 24 hours I've realised she is deaf. I was not notified of this before pick up and the breeder is claiming it wasn't picked up in the testing. I've paid $5,750 for the puppy and the breeder is offering to refund half the money. While the puppy is very sweet, it seems alot to pay close to $3,000 for a deaf puppy. I was wondering if anyone else has been in a similar position? Or if there is any advice on if I keep her what a reasonable price to pay is? Thank you for your thoughts.

Dog was found at a property not far away

Just to reopen this on something practical that can actually be done. If the goal is to gradually re expose farmers to the fact that Australia has its own purpose built cattle dog, then demonstrating capability publicly seems more effective than arguing theory. Border Collies clearly have their place, but trials are one of the few spaces where different working styles can be observed side by side. I have been considering entering cattle herding trials at rural shows during breaks. Not as a novelty, but as a way to demonstrate what an original type Cattle Dog is capable of when allowed to work with initiative rather than constant direction. If people are ever going to take the offspring of such dogs seriously as future workers, this seems like one of the few visible pathways. I have watched a number of cattle trial runs and noticed that handlers speak very little. My dog works confidently and independently but he does respond to verbal input, such as coaching while working. I am unsure whether that would be penalised under trial rules or simply seen as a different handling style. Based on the working style shown in the video I posted earlier, would this be considered a valid or interesting approach in cattle trials, or are the courses designed in a way that favours a more guided, pattern based style of work?

To clarify what I meant without it sounding like a call for anyone to go educate farmers. Cattle Dogs and Border Collies tend to change stock behaviour in different ways. Border Collies apply pressure through eye posture and presence which suits situations where cattle are already responsive. They are highly sensitive workers and generally avoid physical confrontation because they were not bred to absorb or cope with being kicked. Cattle Dogs were bred for the opposite conditions. They work closer apply pressure through proximity and have the physical and mental resilience to cope with being assailed when necessary. Bentley type dogs in particular were selected for nerve toughness and the ability to take a hit and continue working without escalating stock. When a Cattle Dog is pushed too hard, worked too close or micromanaged cattle often show more stress and that gets blamed on the dog rather than the fit between dog handling style and job. The same dog worked calmly and allowed to make decisions produces a very different outcome. So this is not about one breed being better than another. It is about matching the dog the handling style and the job so the strengths of each can be used properly.

https://www.9news.com.au/national/rare-dog-breed-chow-chow-feared-stolen-in-perth/2d984eb1-8426-4912-803e-0aa944707543

We are watching this show and were just gutted when we saw the message come up at the end. I personally didn't think the winning art work looked much like Frank but it definately captured Annie beautifully. It was her time to shine.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-08/muster-dogs-frank-finger-annie-portrait-artist-of-the-year-tv/106073124

excellent work, dog patrol

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-07/seagulls-learn-to-knock-food-from-peoples-hands/106043826

https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/animals/lifethreatening-grim-warning-to-pet-owners-after-poison-allegedly-found-in-food-at-sydney-park/news-story/72d2219e26b758c174c9f4bc04c84ee1

Great - hopefully the rest of Australia will follow

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-05/greyhound-racing-legislation-passes-house-of-representatives/106090430

Not much detail as yet. Happened in Whyalla. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-04/sa-woman-dies-after-dog-attack-in-whyalla/106103542

Cruelty to animals is a sign of violence and DV. Plus lying and all his other red flags.

https://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/crime/nathan-mckeown-hit-with-new-charges-after-arnie-the-german-shepherd-found-dead-in-ute/news-story/fc6f668cb81cad6430829785bbe0089d

Covering the crate also makes it more cosy and den-like for them... and they can settle faster. T.

Hi all, I posted here about 6 months ago totally stressed out because my 3-year-old rescue mutt (we think he's part cattle dog, part who-knows-what) was destroying my apartment every time I left for work. I'm talking shredded couch cushions, scratched up door frames, the works. My landlord was NOT happy. I got a lot of great advice from this community back then and wanted to share what ended up working in case anyone else is dealing with this nightmare. What didn't work for us: Leaving the TV on (he couldn't care less) Those thunder shirts (waste of money for us, though I know some people swear by them) Puzzle toys (he ignored them when anxious) What actually helped: Crate training - I know it's controversial but he actually seems to feel safer in there Exercising him HARD before I leave (like 45 min minimum) Practicing leaving for just 30 seconds, then a minute, building up slowly This is going to sound weird but I tried some CBD treats after reading about it here. Was super skeptical but honestly I think it takes the edge off for him. I use ones from Innovet that my vet's office actually had a poster about The biggest thing was consistency though. It took like 3 months of the same routine every single day before he started to chill out. He's not perfect - if I'm gone for more than 6 hours he still gets stressed - but he's not destroying everything anymore. Small victories, right? Anyone else have a dog with separation anxiety? What worked for you?

...and with a job Nice story.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-01/last-dog-on-christmas-island-shiloh/105722366

Tell who? So if I can follow this. You posit that Heelers are out of favour, replaced by BC. But the BC isn't built with the strength or nerve? Making the herd sketchy and stressed? And the meat a poorer quality. Is that the basics?

i think it just gets worse every year despite their reports.

Sounds familiar. Does Australia Post repeat this story every year?