BigDaz

There's a number of animal charities in Australia - RSPCA, Animals Australia, World Animal Protection, Pet Rescue... and many more.

I'd like to know people's opinions on which charities are more worthy and why... which would you donate to?? Or which wouldn't you donate to??

Are you looking to donate or just starting the conversation out of interest, do you currently donate to charities? Which ones?

Personally I prefer to support smaller charities, but one requirement is that they are registered so I can claim a tax deduction.

Thank you for your all of your advice. It was very helpful. I won't be showing her as she is a blue and not a recognised colour. I checked her for temperament, structure, soundness and genetic fault. The breeder I got her from just bred blues and didnt seem interested in discussing genetic diversity. I won't be jumping on the current trend for breeding blue on blue for colours sake so I will definitely look into the stud option with no blue behind it and assess what traits I need for stinger pups. I still have a lot to learn and will explore all avenues to ensure I know as much possible before I start breeding. Thank you again.

What is driving you to breed, to make money or to enhance the status of the breed?

I was talking to a mum at my son's school who is very excited to be getting a new puppy. They had wanted to get a rescue puppy, but the process put them off, they felt interrogated and not really sure if they would be given the pup, from a well known Sydney rescue. So in the end they went to a BYB It is a shame that people end up feeling this way about rescue. I'll be helping them with some training once they settle the puppy in.

The felt interrogated because the answers they were giving were not in line with the rescues expectations? Now they have a pup the kids can play with when they feel like it otherwise it is left outside 24 hours a day? What I am saying is that your response is too short on detail to be able to judge the situation objectively, maybe there is a reason they found the process difficult. Mybe they were poor potential owners and with rescue puppies less common than older dogs there may have been much better families out there.

Good friends of mine, good jobs, well educated asked me about a rescue dog. I asked them why they wanted a dog, the answer was because their son wanted one. I asked if the dog would be allowed inside at all, the answer was no. The end result would be a dog left outside alone for 23.5 hours a day when the kid finds world of war craft more exciting. People have differing opinions on inside\outside dogs, but personally I would not want to see a dog living under these conditions.

just wanting to say hi and want to introduce my two terrors

They both look very cute, are you planning on getting them de-sexed or breeding from them?

Having two young ones is a challenge, but is doable if you commit the time.

Your timeline is probably a best case scenario, people cannot help but to exaggerate in their favour. In no way do I think you area bad dog owner but I dont think you are as great as you are trying to put across.

"This dog has really stolen my heart" - If this was me I would have the dog inside all of the time.

"On the weekends - an hour walk with me on the Saturday, then the girls hang with him on and off sporadically till dinner time but he still comes inside for my chemo nap." - So he is alone outside most of the day until the girls get off their iPhones.

"Sunday's - we take him to the beach for a couple of hours or to a labrador meet and greet. He's outside again until dinner." - So this and the above, he is outside by himself most of the weekend. Sure there is some quality time, but again, we are probably getting best case scenario with weekend time being prime time for an outside dog.

I am someone who believes that all dogs should be inside with their pack, which may not be the common belief in this forum. Just don't kid yourself that you are the perfect dog owner when you are not, your dog is often outside or inside in a crate. You are a hell of a lot better than a lot of dog owners out there, but you are seeking justification in a forum for agreement that your trainer is wrong and you are a great owner, which is not the case.

I don't know the Lab breed, I would not want you to own a Stafford though, having any Stafford as an outside dog is about as cruel as it gets.

No offense intended, I have subtlety issues! In no way do I think you should re-home this dog, but you need to be realistic in regards to how perfect a dog owner you are.

I was a Barko advocate until I moved to Black Hawk, which they only get in the morning, I feed RAW at night.

I thought my dogs like Barko, they would usually eat it, sometimes leave it, sometimes share one bowl and leave the other one.

I moved to Black Hawk and breakfast is now eaten right away, one dog literally jumps up and down on the spot while I am getting it.

I haven't used Barko for some time, but I never noticed a strange smell.

If I put them in their crates to sleep and they whinge or don't settle right away because they want to come to bed with me I don't let them on the bed again for a few nights.

Do the dogs know they are being punished for something they did a few nights ago?

I agree that the brother should be held accountable to an extent and encouraged to change his habits for the sake of the dog.

But, assuming the issue is then resolved would be a mistake as the dog may find something else it finds to consume. If there are additional training techniques that could be utilized to help in the situation it would be good feedback rather than just saying make the brother pay.

Leaving socks lying around is not an unusual thing to do. I have always taken off my shoes and put my socks in them or on top of them.

Plus, this time it is socks, next time it mat be something even more dangerous, as such I think people concentrating on your brother is the wrong approach.Hopefully someone can offer some useful advice in regards to what you can do with the Lab.

Were the parents hip and elbow scored? .

Have you heard of many BYB's that hip and elbow score their animals? Then let the dogs go at 6 weeks.

There is also the Doggy Bag which Dognitive Therapy sell, http://www.dognitivetherapy.com/#!product/prd3/2051428885/the-doggie-bag

I like the look of it but haven't convinced myself my two Staffords are smart enough to work out how to get in and out.

I would call one Jackson.

Your best bet is to find the right Rescue, a good organization that understands Staffords will find a loving home for this dog.

What was mentioned earlier about a dogs situation dictating its aggressiveness and anxiety is a possibility. I have seen anxious or dog aggressive dogs thrive in a new situation where they are happy and not carrying the weight of the family on their shoulders....Staffy's do this.

Keep working at it.

I am not even in the industry and I know this happens, breeders want to have more litters than is allowed seem to do this often.

Assuming a registered breeder is ethical is a bit of a joke. If a regulated industry is in a mess, what hope if there of wiping out backyard breeders.

Sometimes owners just need a little education and support. I'm sure the staff assessed the situation thoroughly before releasing him.

That is animal abuse.

How can they be allowed to take this dog, I don't understand, unless he was missing for some time and they only just got him back.

Edited to remove some emotion!

It's a hard choice, the contrast of a Rottie and Frenchie together would be amusing.

Which ever breed you choose, have your thought about getting a rescue rather than a pup?

Firstly there's no point 20 separate people all calling the police at once

So everyone should "assume" someone else has called the police?

Is this the offical stance of emergency services....hope someone else calls the authorities?

So we have trained our Milly quite well (in my opinion anyway) and she knows the basics down pat. Sit, stay, down, shake with both hands and stay before eating. We were pretty stoked with ourselves and then she had a good little growth spurt and decided that jumping was the new "in thing". Unfortunately the jumping up to greet is actually causing us a lot of grief as the kids in our family now don't like Milly as much as they are constantly being licked on the face from her jumping up.

My fiance and I are a bit more stern with her when we greet her and ask her to sit as soon as we get outside. She does this willingly however the excitement is overwhelming with the kids.

Any ideas I can try out?

Is she an outside only dog?

I think no, either train you dogs better or keep them on a leash.

It's people I run into like you that really piss me off when I have my two Staffies on a leash and they get hassled by off leash dogs like yours. Probably lucky the other wasnt a SWF, it might be dead now.

Sorry for the strong words, but I really have trouble comprehending why people let their dogs with no recall off leash, the more people that start understanding this the better.

Does he dig under the gate or is the gap already big enough that he doesnt have to?

I made the mistake of buying two female Staffy litter mates and was given the same advice as you have been given on this forum, rehome one now or it will end in tears. Five years later I have two girls that have never even drawn blood, they do play rough but they know each other and get on extremely well.

Its doesnt always end up bad, you just need to be on top of it, just wanted to let you know it can work out.

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nothing happened and now this owner is being reported to the rangers/police. We know nothing about why or if there ever will be a next time for this owner.

Sorry if I'm upsetting some but it's my opinion and will leave it at that.

At least a visit from authorities may make this person think to not do it again. Discouraging such actions is what is it all about, and I think this person should be reported, he did the wrong thing, the outcome was ok but he still did the wrong thing.

This morning a lady at the local Milk Bar left her car running with 2 kids inside while she ran into the shop, I watched until she came out, as nothing happened this time do you think she should be encouraged to keep leaving the kids in a running car?

I say go for it, you sound like loving dog owners who will give this girl an extremely loving home and will do everything in your power to make her and you boy happy. If you have one dog you might as well have two as far as I am concerned.

The valid argument in this thread is what Persephone had to say in regards to pack instinct and is something you need to consider, I think the dynamic can change with the introduction on another dog. But I say if you think you can control that aspect, go for it.

My girls dont get out of bed for fireworks or thunderstorms, but Hot Air Balloons are a nightmare!

Still, I have had my dogs 5 years and havent been out NYE since.......just in case. I figure tomorrow night, I will go out the front, watch the fireworks and catch any neighbours dogs running past!