Monah

Check out the Animal welfare league at wingfield. We used them years ago when we lived at west beach for our very very spoilt :D lakelands and devon rexes and I was very pleased with their level of professionalism, cleanliness, heating, cooling, separate areas and high level of paperwork that covers EVERY single possibility. It may havve changed of course, at the time they also had an in house vet etc. and it IS completely separate from the refuge part (I was worried mine would get rehomed!! :D )

PF, the same thing happened to me with a novel I have coffee tables with 'matching' 4 corners, all chewed nicely at least it's uniform!! Years ago we had gorgeous, limed white very expensive venetians made to measure. Well, the lakelands were looking out the window (they NEVER chewed anything!!), they were sitting on the back of a settee, and they went off at something and leapt into the window taking thousands of dollars of window wear with them. Only lovely cheap ones for me these days :p lopolla, sounds like you are taking control back, excellent. It is difficult when others in the house do not abide by the rules... (like a certain OH I could name, but wont... :D )xxxxxxx

Have to agree, humans fault. 8 months is a baby. My kids learnt from about a year old, leave toys laying around = WILL BE CHEWED Mine even ate furniture We spent 3 years making sure NOTHING was available, one of our dogs even resorted to 'borrowing' books from my extensive library, to chew on so I pulled of enerything at her height and moved them all for a year. Management is the key. the dog will eventually grow up and more than likely not chew especially with a little gentle training later, leave! etc. and consitency. Many dogs are given away etc. between 1 and 2 years as this is a very challenging time, no longer small and cute, very strong, going through adolecence etc. Honestly, if you can manage to get through it with your beautiful dog, you will have a wonderful wonderful friend for many many years to come. I know it's frustrating, most of us have been in the same predicament, I hope you can take a few deep breaths and have another go at keeping everything out of the dogs way. She sounds very well cared for :p and lovely.xxxxxxx

Fab photos of Trixie I adore manchesters, lovely lovely Trixie looks great amypie! I'm so jealous. I've never met a DA manchester, gotta love terriers!!xxx

sorry,cut and pasted!! I'm not very tech savvy!!

Aust story is about factory farming practices tonightOn Monday Night, one of Australia's most respected programmes, ABC's Australian Story, will bring much needed attention to the treatment of animals in Australian factory farms. The story has been generated through the recent launch of the Animal Justice Fund (AJF) established by Kathmandu founder Jan Cameron. Over the past two months Jan and I have been filming with Australian Story. Animals Australia was instrumental in bringing the AJF to life and is administering the fund on behalf of Jan. Australian Story's interest was generated by Jan Cameron's involvement in the AJF. Jan, as one of Australia's wealthiest women, is notoriously private and media shy. This is one of the very few times that Jan has spoken publicly and has done so only to assist in giving a voice to animals in factory farms. Whilst Jan's profile and assistance has boosted the effectiveness of our public awareness work, as always, it is the financial support of our members that underpins our crucial investigations (footage of which will air on Australian Story) and all of our public awareness campaigns. In fact, Jan Cameron only learned of Animals Australia's work through our public awareness campaigns — so every Animals Australia supporter has had a hand in bringing about this important story! I wanted to take this opportunity of personally thanking you for your ongoing and much needed support. Without your generosity, the progress achieved in the past 12 months would not have occurred, nor would Australian Story be featuring the plight of factory farmed animals on prime time television. Click here to watch a preview of Australian Story on the ABC website. I hope that you will encourage friends, family and colleagues to watch. Once again, my sincerest gratitude to you for your support of Animals Australia's work sent to me by a friend.xxx

I'd go (if I were young and the opportunity arose) Your parents can care for your dog and I guess your dog knows them? Or if the job permits (ie. not a job where you have to be away a lot), you can certainly take the dog with you. Quarrantine may be non existent if you are able tto have the dog under a quarrantine qualified vet for the 6 months previous to moving etc. so your dog could get off the plane with you Or you could see how you go over there for several months and decide to bring the dog over or if the dog is doing fine and happy, leave it with parents. We have taken on several older dogs, none of us like to hear it, but they cope very welll without 'us'(owners) if they go to a good home I think we need them and miss them more than they do us!! You :D could start leaving him at mum and dads for overnight then longer periods if you need reassurance. Keep in mind that it may take him a week or two to adjust I have our daughter's BC often, he 'looks' for her for a day or two, then settles as though he has lived here all his life. OF course he is excited etc. to see her and her partner when they pick him up, but when I visit them he tries to get in the car and come with me He's 9 so 'set' in his ways, but still copes very very well. They were OS for 2 years, working after uni in 'career' type jobs too, and when they returned he just slotted back into living with them. Mind you, they are off again next year........and believe me, he IS their baby.. I think you are a wonderful wonderful owner, sometimes these things are a once in a lifetime thing, life's so short, your lovely dog will be fine.xxxxxx

My viz is the same, she's extremely focussed, always on the left, off lead when we are on tracks, doesn't bother with all the roos and hares around etc., When she's on the lead she stays very close and always makes sure she is on my side of any poles, letter boxes, trees etc. I've come off badly once, heaps of stitches, I was not concentrating.... Loads of people bike their dogs here, many many bike tracks around town that are not anywhere near roads and go the whole length of town, about 15 ks or more. We are near a reserve that surrounds the airport, so can go for miles , well, could if I were fit!!!!

My viz loves to run by the bike. SHe's very savvy, stays with the bike, always on the left to be on the 'safe' side not the road side. She has a 'bike ' collar, high vis, and OH has his high vis shirt on. It's really the ONLY way to wear her out properly, apart from the beach which is not always suitable. My spin likes a short trot but is unable to go too far, so I would like a 'trailer' for her when she needs it. I remember seeing a photo of prince fredercik with his son, on a bike with a border collie . the bike had 2 wheels at the front and between the 2 wheels was a perspex 'box' with the little prince sitting in it really cute and he could see everything etc. very safe too. I'd LOVE that, especially as I am awful and wobbly on a 2 wheeler(only having ridden in the last 3 years) and have come off a few times. At my age it's not great!!

(relief!) Thank goodness, so relieved, could not post before, far too frightening. Wonderful news, reallyreally wonderful. xxxxxxxxxxxx

Very true, lots of studies have been done on this going back as far as the 1950's. Of course, genetics can also be part of it. Puppy pre schools are such a recent 'invention'. Before parvo we could take our young puppies out to general obedience for young pups where there was plenty of room and no 'in your face stuff'. Many puppies play very rough, others may not realise it's play. I'm not a fan of them.

Iz a Viz!!! Yes, the tail injury problem is a worry

Spin does big slow wags, Vizsla wags whole body, ALL the time, there is NO unwaggy time, They are the absolute wiggliest breed ever

Maybe people should take that into consideration before buying an animal and factor it in to the overall cost. Vets dont run a charity - it's their livelihood. I agree, I'll be paying $800, just for x rays tomorrow. It is what it is. I have to travel 3 hours, leave at 4am. The specialist is wonderful, so I don't mind. Just hope the alarm goes off.................................

I have heard they are VERY active and require a lot of mental and physical exercise. It is quite hard to think of a dog that is robust but can be carried around by a 10 year old! Esepcially a short haired one! Maybe a toy/mini poodle but I;m not really sure how you would classify the coat- it doesn't shed as much but is still high maintenance. mini schnauzer lakeland terrier Boston terrier West highland I too would not allow a 10yr old to walk a dog. I've had Lakelands, I don't think a child could walk them. Stubborn too :D although really fantastic kids dogs They also would not take kindly to being picked up and treated like less than a BIG DOG. they are feisty and very very busy, and love to be a DOG. like most terriers....... ;) although they do have that 'cute fluffy look', DONT BELIEVE IT!!! underneath they are a huge dog in a small body! ;)

I too believe it is mostly nature. You can see a dog who has been tied up, ignored, fairly ill treated and not socialised and it can still be trusting, affectionate, friendly etc. Then there are dogs (many on here ) who have been very well 'brought up' and still have plenty of issues. Genetics plays a huge part in all make ups, and if we take a look at humans who have been separated etc. , maybe twins, and had completely different upbringings, but are still very alike, I think this proves genetics have the major input. Studies have been done, I think on english pointers if I remember correctly, on how the dams' input can change temperament and it appears this also has credence. It is not clear if the behaviour of the dam is because the pup is born physically or mentally 'weak' (for want of a better word), or if the pup turns out that way through the dams' behaviour. THe dam or other siblings may make it difficult for one or two pups to feed, or bully them, or not give them as much touching etc. , leading to temp problems later. They also studied fearful, timid etc. temp dogs and their offspring over a few generations, and found that one or two fearful animals could turn into dozens by the fifth generation. ie. a slightly timid dam could throw 3 timid pups, who then throw 5, who then throw 6 etc. so if 3 pups each throw 5 timid pups, you have 15 animals out there throwing more of the same. Nurture can help manage this, but does not change it. Temp comes from genes, personality can be changed through ill treatment or good treatment, but the genetics are unable to change. This is very obvious to guide dog, police dog etc. trainers and behaviourists who I'm sure could add an awful lot of interesting posts here if we had any on Dol.

I'm so glad Earl is OK. How worrying for you, and now a big job removing all the stones!! ;) ;) The things we do for dogs....... xxxxxx

My cattle dog was also just like this, truly wonderful and underestimated breed!!!! I will never be without a Vizsla, but they are extremely full on for the first 2 or 3 years and do require training. The odd one maybe a bit more chilled out, NSW hungarian viz club has excellent resources and advice available for anyone interested in one and also offers a lot of support (which most owners find they NEED ;) ) You may also be able to 'take' your friend through some breed threads on here, of breeds they are interested in, to see the comments etc.

OMG! I'm so terribly sorry and very upset. ;) xxxxxxxx

I woulnd't go with either a PWD or Vizsla, both are 'spethial' in the nicest possible way A PWD breeder once told me, out of sight = in trouble......Both breeds do need a lot in the first 2 years, I know all dogs do, but these are over and above!! I have a feeling GSPs could be similar, English pointers may be a bit easier. Friends with pointers tell me don't get one unless you are prepared for EVERYTHING to be covered in little white hairs ;) I'm sure they are worth it though, lovely. I have relatives who do endurance, tracking and agility, and are at the top of the game, with tenterfields!

Apparently labs are considered as fast to mature? Perhaps that is refering to physical growth though? Maybe, although they physically mature a bit later than some breeds too. Some labs are puppies forever (it's a gundog thing!! )

I'll take a wild guess and say that the primitive breeds would be more 'grown up'. Canaan Dog, mexican hairless, Basenji, Dingo? I've found some sight hounds very grown up, and maybe the stockk guardians who have to be on their own and make decisions? Ibizan and Pharoah hounds are meant to be primitive, and probably are, but I've seen some really funny, crazy, lovely ones, so maybe I'm BARKING up the wrong tree My cattle dog was very very grown up. My two now, spinone and vizsla , are extra extra NOT GROWN UP

Wonderful and responsible posts You both did the unselfish thing, both loved the dogs but realised it was not to be, and the dogs in turn ended up in the perfect homes for them. Very considerate and generous.xxxxx

definately on lead if you are worried. they can be anywhere, if in longish grass, the dog wont even see it. we narrowly avoided a massive red belly last summer when we allowed ours a swim in a creek, the snake was swimming. snakes will also swim in hte ocean(I'm not talking sea snakes either). I was iin our pool last summer with the dogs when a snake appeared, lucky the girls did not see it and I called them out fast, it was a whip snake, not deadly but very nasty painful bite. vigilance is really the safest way. LOVE pointers ;)

I was one who suggested you may want to return the pup. I was not saying that to be abusive at all. You said yourself that it was the wrong time re dad etc. to get one, you clearly are having trouble coping, and also have a toddler, which is very hard work even under normal circumstances without a sick father and brand new pup etc. By saying to return the pup, I honestly meant it as a good thing, no bearing on you and how you are or are not caring for the pup. Many many people return dogs to breeders for all sorts of reasons, it's not a 'bad' thing at all, definately not meant to be abusive I feel too that by you posts about 'you could have bought a car' re pup money and that you expected more because you paid more, that maybe you are also under financial stress, which is another reason that now could be an inconvenient time to have a pup as mediicines, vaccinations, desexing, worming, unforseen expenses are very expensive and ongoing. Really if the pup has not lived up to expectations or promises, maybe you should contact consumer affairs or something? I have an extremely expensive rare breed, the price certainly did not stop her eating her way through all the furniture, along with 80 prized imported bromeliads, several hundred loo rolls, books, uni assignments etc. and digging holes that could be used for dams ;) ;) ;) and yes, all under supervision! she's quick and 'norty', but now completely trustworthy and wonderful, phew, grown up at last............ :D I apologise if what I said got your back up, honestly, if you ever read through other threads you will see that returning the pup is nearly always given as a could be solution. I can see you have a lot on your plate ATM. It has nothing to do with 'giving up'. My cousin has an amstaff and a 1 yr old baby, the dog is wonderful, does agility and tracking. THey are lovely dogs Please take note of PFs comments re the dog chasing the child. I wont say more, PF has stated things very well.