Kaz

Came across this on the AWL website Just thought I'd post in case anyone here is interested. http://www.awlnsw.com.au/careers.html?sear...arch_highlight1

I agree. Petition government bodies, work behind the scenes, do all those things that I am sure the MBDA is doing. However I personally believe that the most effective tool is to work to actively work the media to your own ends. The general public ultimately decides what is or is not PC and the governing bodies and people with the power to make changes are generally swayed by public opinion. Wouldn't it be great if we could find our own 'gardener' to create our own good press as well as simply counteracting bad press. If the general public hears something often enough it will believe it whether it is true or not.

Would be interested in that topic, Steve, as breeding physical extremes to the detriment of the health of a dog is my major issue with pure breds. Being a pet owner, not a breeder, I would be interested in hearing the opinions of breeders on this topic.

Isn't it ok so long as the bitch is having a good time...... and doesn't that apply equally to us human bitches whether or not money changes hands? Paptacular, sounds like your sister is simply trying to distract herself from her own sexual frustrations with such militant judgements on the morality of a little human or canine nookie! Maybe you should make her aware of that possibility in your next phone conversation

When did I say anything about mollycoddling? There is a distinct difference between coddling and offering reassurance. My girl was always better if she had someone to lie next to or close by. If she got very frightened I would sit next to her and put my hand on her. It helped. I never cuddled her or made baby noises at her or did those high-pitched noises people tend to do when they are being sympathetic. THOSE encourage fear. It's like saying to your dog "I'm scared, too. Definitely something to freak out about." But calm reassurance does not reinforce fearful behaviour. And the chief reason why is because you can't positively reinforce fear. It's a response to an aversive stimulus. Here's several blog entries by Patricia McConnell with her views on dogs and thunderstorms: http://www.theotherendoftheleash.com/categ...phobia-in-dogs/ Edited to fix links. Sorry but I disagree. A dog doesn't know the difference between mollycoddling & reassurance, all they know is that you are paying attention to them because they are scared. I used to do that with Kenny, but it didn't stop him panting, shaking & whining, since I have started ignoring him & sending him to bed, he is much better. But we all have different ideas on what works for our dogs, so at least new owners are getting many different approaches to try & see which works best on their dogs. :rolleyes: Oops, sorry Corvus. I know what you mean but I agree with Mantis that reassurance generally escalates the fear. I have had many foster dogs join the pack who are scared of thunder storms (mine don't give a rats ) If I have a scared foster, I will ignore it and have a really happy sit stay, drop session with the rest of the pack with the yummiest unhealthy rewards that happen to be in the fridge at the time. I haven't yet had a foster dog that didn't eventually join in even if it was still nervous. After a couple of sessions like this they would all be quite settled with the storms and start demanding treats instead I am lucky that I have other dogs around to set the example. However I am sure some form of distraction will work better than reassurance.

The reality is that if you have several young dogs, the chaos and destruction inreases exponentially

I had a couple of foster dogs that were scared of being walked and would drop to the ground at the sight of a leash and not budge for love nor money nor schmackos. I got them going by walking another dog at the same time. This seemed to reduce their anxiety.

Ok I too have to disagree with this statement. I have a desexed dane bitch and two desexed males. They are all very dog social and spend a lot of time on an offleash beach meeting new dogs nearly every day. Yet there have been problems caused by several (but not all) well trained undesexed males who have become so frantically intent on my girl that I have had to constantly intervene to calm the tension being created with the other males. With a large/giant breed I would wait as long as I could before desexing but if behavioural issues develop before then that could have a negetive effect on your lifestyle or on your dog's training and socialisation, I would desex at that time. Sas, you're scary!!!!!

Oh yeah..... that's my Bozley. Pound rescue, staffyx pigging type dog. Highly intelligent, independent, thrillseeking escape artist. He will try absolutely anything. He is trouble with a capital T. Sometimes I think he is going to drive me insane and he has cost me a fortune in damages and fortifications. But he makes me laugh and we bonded in that very special way that doesn't always happen however much you love your dog. Life is always interesting when you have a Bozley in your life :D :D Oh yeah - he gets bored easily and would prefer to be on the go all day. And he has an incredibly high drive.

Have pmd you re Narooma

Mmmmmmmm....... you know your dog is special when it looks like this........ http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?show...&start=4185

........when you unexpectedly meet a seal on the beach and your dog ignores your recall and follows the seal for the next twenty metres, nose glued to its bum because he thinks it must just be a really big dog with stumpy legs. :p .... when your dog goes ape trying leap up and bite the full moon because he thinks its one of those pesky hot air balloons that keep buzzing the house :D

Possibly 'time to move on' could mean they have to go into a nursing home. Could possibly be a planned suicide Just kidding. I am glad these people are attempting to find this dog a home as so many oldies are just dumped at the pound.

So glad you are looking out for the little guy. Just check that your name is officialy down for him and he will be ok no matter whether the owners collect him or not. Cordelia is right - could be all sorts of reasons for the confusion including human error.

Unfortunately I'm a four hour drive from Sydney or I would gladly petsit. My dogs are used to other dogs staying as I have spent the last four years or so fostering rescues. All dogs have free run of the house and sleep with me at night. And I live next to a dog friendly beach If you happen to be interested, pm me

A definite NO from me. I don't want every aspect of my life legislated by a government body or the general masses. Having said that, all my dogs are desexed and I wish that the majority of pet owners would do the same for the simple fact that there are far too many crossbreed puppies ending up in pounds due to accidental matings.

What do you think of a staffy or staffyx? Some of the sweetest dogs imaginable in my opinion. You could check out Staffy Rescue's website and contact Mina directly to let her know your requirements so she can recommend specific dogs of the right temperements. Having an actual kennels, there are many dogs to meet and choose from. Any breed can be good around livestock - it depends on the individual dog. Having just moved from Western Sydney to a rural area, my dogs are encountering horses and cattle for the first time. Two are rescues, a rottyx and a staffyx and one is a great dane. They are all totally unconcerned with these strange new species and seem to treat them as if they were very large dogs that warrant no more than a sniff or two.

So sorry for your loss, Horus. ;) Run free sweet beautiful Ellie.

Allerzeit, pm me if you still need accomodation. I'm at Mystery bay maybe an hour south of Tuross heads. Depending on how our dogs get on, you are welcome to the guest room or at least you can camp in the yard and use the faciities here.

Thanks Willow - that's interesting to know

Ok, I'll take him round to a vet......although I will probably have a better idea than the local vet as to how well it's healing

Well my Staffyx got into a punch up 10 days ago and I had to take him to an emergency vet for a small but deep laceration. Unfortunately he got stapled instead of stitched and I've never removed staples before. Any advice appreciated

Ok, I'm going to be cheeky and put in a plug for my holiday cottage at Mystery Bay NSW. It is situated between Narooma and Tilba on the far South Coast, I went to Mystery Bay for a holiday two years ago and the entire area is so spectacular that I bought a place and plan to move there as soon as I possibly can. In the meantime I want to share it with other dog lovers. There is a huge, fully fenced back yard. Dogs are allowed inside and all I ask is that you bring some coverings for the furniture and beds if your dogs are like mine and like to claim all the lounges. You have your own beach four hundred metres away down a lovely bush track. It is off leash before 10 am and after 4 pm during peak season and off leash .24 hours for the rest of the year. A 10 minute drive to Narooma will bring you to more spectacular beaches which are off leash areas all year round. At this time of year humpbacks come right into Mystery Bay to play so bring binnoculars if you want to see them up close and personal Here is a picture of Paddy at Mystery Bay Beach taken a couple of days ago http://www.benbate.com.au/f_hol.htm It is on page 3 of Holiday Accomodation. 'Stormhaven' 12 Poole Pde Mystery Bay ETA - the advertisement is incorrect as the the main bedroom has a queensized bed, second bedroom has a double bed, and the third bedroom has a doule plus two single beds. It will accomodate 8 although at a pinch we can fit another on the sofa bed in the loungeroom. ETA SORRY GUYS BUT STORM HAVEN IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AS ACCOMODATION. ............ because it is so gorgeous I have chucked in my job and am moving there in January :D So please delete this post, Ravs - ta

Joanne, not a fan of Steve Austin, I'm afraid :D I'll check those others out online, luvsdogs, thanks. Didn't get the time to go anywhere last weekend but will hopefully be able to this weekend.

Thanks Pip, but Sutherland is too far. All the others are doable although I would be interested if anything is available at Windsor, Emu plains, Richmond or the lower Blue Mountains. Simply because it's a more scenic drive