Greytmate

That's a really good observation about this type of thread Woofen. Thanks for explaining it so well.

Totally. Most of these threads seem quite authentic. But this one and the recent ' which small dog' thread leave me with questions. Why the need to add to the number of dogs right now?

The OP has not started in dog sports. I agree with what you are saying, but it doesn't apply here. There has been no participation in dog sports, and there has been no battling on with training. I would say the OP will be in a better position to decide her next breed once she has tried the dog sport. And like JulesP I wouldn't encourage any young person that rents their home to keep more than two dogs as pets, as so many people have difficulty finding properties in convenient locations that will allow that number of dogs. Lack of suitable rental accommodation is a common reason why some people are tragically forced to surrender their dogs. The OP has said they have put in a lot of thought and consideration, but I think they should do some more thought and consideration after trying out dog sports.

All the dogs that died of parvo died because either they or other dogs in the community were unvaccinated. Parvo is a disgusting disease. I don't think you have asked the right questions here to determine what the pros and cons really are. The recommendations are now for three-yearly vaccinations. This recommendation was made after looking at much bigger samples of information than could possibly be gained from a thread like this.

You didn't say how you were going at agility with your current dog. Before you get carried away with buying a dog most suited to dog sports, wouldn't it be an idea to try out dog sports for a while? I don't understand why you wouldn't go further with working with the dogs you already have before deciding that you are ready for a third dog. You say you have thought about this for a long time, but only recently you asked about trying beginner agility with your current young dog. Getting out there and participating in dogs sports now will give you the answer to your question. You will be able to see for yourself the strengths and weaknesses different breeds have at dogs sports and how breeds suit various handler abilities and training styles as well as how they suit the sports. You will have a fair idea of what sort of dog does suit you. I can understand why somebody that doesn't have a dog that is able to do dog sports would start a thread like this. But the best way to find the information you are looking for is to participate in dog sport now so you can see and understand for yourself the various breed tendencies as they relate to dog sport.

You can buy properly fitted sheep skin covers for back seats. They are not cheap and you might have to order them in but they do stay clean and are very comfortable.

Car carpet and fabric upholstery really do hold the dog hair. You can use a soft scrubbing brush to get the hair up while you vacuum it. Dyson have a brush head attachment for car carpets which also works well. Sheep skin covers or leather seats are really good as they don't hold the dog hair. I keep car carpets covered up with large mats.

That is a good way to look at it. Lovemesideways, how has agility been going with your current dog? I think you will be in a much better situation to be able to choose the right dog for dog sports when you have been doing dog sports for a while. You have two young large smart dogs that could possibly benefit from doing dog sports, is there a reason you need to think about getting a third dog now?

Is she charging for advice? As long as she is referring people to qualified vets or behaviourists for advice outside her level of expertise then she might be offerring an excellent service. Somebody in her position might possibly be able to give basic advice on parasite treatment and prevention, grooming and nutrition, dealing with undesirable non-dangerous behaviours like toilet training, and basic dog training. Or she might have no idea at all about any of those things. The title "vet nurse" does carry some respect with a lot of people. But the quality of vet nurses can vary incredibly, much more so than in most other professions. There are some I would not trust near a dog at all. There are others that have a much more well-rounded knowledge of dogs than many vets do.

Possibly a terrier cross. I would be wary of using any breed name on a dog like that.

Of course they do! The only reason I say it in this post is that there is a concern about whether it will be too much responsibility for this particular family. They have young kids, as well as it being a bit unknown as to just how well the adults will be able take on a strong leadership role. The wrong dog could be a disaster. Having a dog in foster care instead of in a kennel does give an extra insight into how the dog will fit in to a family home. It is very hard for people to take a dog on trial and have to give it back if it doesn't work out, especially in homes with children. While it is essential (in my opinion) that pounds don't sell dogs without having assessed them, this level of assessment may not be enough for this particular family. A far more detailed assessment can be made about dogs in a foster program.

Pekinese remind me of large dogs. They have a calmness that you don't see in many other small breeds. A golden retriever is a gun dog. A Brittany or Cocker spaniel might suit you as they are also gun dogs, although different from a Golden Retriever and smaller. What is it about the Golden Retriever that you want to see in a small dog? What is it about small dogs that makes you ask your question?

The way to be careful would be to select a dog from an organisation that has its dogs living in foster care while being assessed. It is fairly easy to avoid getting a dog that would require as much work as a pup would - if you get one from the right place. Getting a dog from a pound isn't going to be suitable for a situation like this, as it is unknown how the dog will behave in a home. But buying an adult dog from a good source is often the best way to avoid having to do all the training that is inherent in puppy ownership. There is a world of difference between buying a dog from a reputable rehoming organisation and a pound, same as there is a big difference between buying a pup from an ethical breeder or getting one from a pet shop. The OP will have to be careful no matter where she buys her dog from, and it may be that an adult dog is a lot more suitable in her situation right now than a puppy would be.

I don't think so. That sounds more like a conspiracy theory than anything based on reality.

A dog will 'guard' mostly because of an instinctive tendency to be territorial and protect their perceived territory from intruders. The dog will show this naturally, and then needs training and good leadership to ensure the dog is under good control and knows when to stop guarding. This is something that is a genetic trait. So by choosing dogs from the right bloodlines, you can choose one that is more likely to have this instinct and behave in the way that you want it to. Can I ask why you think it is clear? Some dogs are born with nervous temperaments and are easily frightened by things despite being treated well. The simple answer is no, you cannot 'undo' your dogs temperament. You can just modify its behaviour and teach it that it is rewarding to perform certain behaviours. Dogs don't 'grow into' decent guard dogs. Genetics determines their level of territorial defence drive. Aside from this instinct, dogs are either born to be fairly brave, or they are born to be a bit nervous. They could be anywhere in between. The important thing to remember when buying dogs, is to buy the dog to suit the purpose. Do your research and find a breed that suits your needs and your capabilities. Then do further research by finding a breeder that is breeding for the qualities that you want. If you want to rescue a dog instead of getting a pup, get one from an organisation that assesses the dogs and cares for them in foster homes. That way you can find out whether the dog you are going to buy will act in the way that you want it to, before you bring it home.

Whether a person is showing dogs, or whether they have a dog that competes or works in the field, the advantages are similar for breeding. The dog is being tested. Only by putting a dog to a fair test can we tell which are the champions, which ones are good, and which ones have flaws. That way we know which ones are worth breeding from - with the objective being the betterment of the breed. If you are not testing your breeding dogs out, you have no objective way of knowing whether you are breeding for the betterment or to the detriment of the breed.

I agree with you Tobie. It is a concern that somebody would be so embarrassed by their lack of knowledge that they feel they cannot even show their dogs, and yet they have gone out and bought a 'breeding pair' with no knowledge. Is showing really the main interest? Why isn't the grandmother providing better mentoring? I think the OP is going to need to get a lot more knowledge before they are in a good position to decide whether to breed from their dogs or not.

Jump into the show ring, that is where you get the knowledge. Don't jump into breeding without that knowledge, without knowing what you are breeding for, because that really would be embarrassing. You won't really know until you have done the showing whether the bitch you have bought is suitable for breeding. If not, enjoy her as a pet.

Not sure if it has changed, but the 1994 Act in Victoria said that pups under twelve weeks were not to be on correction chains at training establishments.

Nylon can burn your hand if the dog pulls. Canvas feels much better in your hands. Good quality leather is even better

Yes there is an equivalent QLD state act. ANIMAL MANAGEMENT (CATS AND DOGS) ACT 2008 Council enforces the act. If this animal is reported, depending on its behaviour the owner will either be required to keep the dog enclosed in the backyard, or the dog may be declared menacing.

Yes we can. Every dog is different to train, but the way this dog behaved was really the owner's fault. Some dogs have inherent temperament flaws, but this dog's behaviour was basically a result of lack of effort. Each and every owner has a different personality, and some train dogs easier than others....

I agree with Poodlefan, and I could not finish the book either. Especially the way that the author behaved in obedience class. Just not a likeable character at all, so arrogant. I felt sorry for Marley and some of the things they did to him. That dog could have had a much better life if its owner had a different attitude.

Whether we know or not, we are going to reply anyway. I hope this helps. I assume you are in Brisbane and not in Logan or somewhere else? Brisbane City Council law

Yes. To promote something, you need to be able to point out the features and benefits, and dispell any doubts. Some purebreeds, some purebred lines, and some dogs fail to live up to a crietria I would have for 'family pet'. So I don't think it's ethical to promote them as such. There are some purebreed lines that are the best dogs ever, why should every purebreed dog, even the badly bred ones, get promoted alongside them? They are not a similar thing of a similar quality. This is common practice in any breed with a commercial value. Except that you are wrong about ignorance of welfare. Most greyhounds get much better nutrition and exercise than pet dogs do, and greyhound breeders are producing sound animals of high quality. The breed is very healthy. Contrast that to the sad lives of the badly conformed matting SWFs crammed into wire cages at puppy farms and thei pups in glass cages in shops.