Greytmate

Me too. I never attempt to incite barking, that would be daft, and I'd be annoyed too if I saw anyone deliberately getting my dog to bark or teasing her. But if I'm walking on a public footpath minding my own business & a dog rushes barking at us from behind a fence, then I won't proceed along the footpath until my girl is walking nicely. I don't want to let her pull, even if another dog is barking, that just teaches her that it's OK to pull. If she's not walking nicely, sometimes we deliberately walk back & forth past the loud dog a few more times in order to get some loose leash walking practice in. I figure, we're allowed to walk on the footpath. If us walking on a public footpath upsets someone's dog, that's just too bad. The dog might think it owns the public footpath outside the property, surely the owners are smart enough to realise that they don't? If somebody super-soaked me, or said anything at all unpleasant to me as a result of their own dog's excessive barking, I would report their dog to council.

I am another one on the other side of the fence. I walk Woody around the streets, and I get a bit sick of dogs aggressively barking and lunging at us from behind front fences where ever we go. I am training Woody, so if he pulls or stares, he gets put in a sit stay, or given a right-about-turn, or some other exercise until he is paying attention to me. He has improved a lot, but it has taken a bit of work. I wish people with aggressively territorial dogs would restrict their dog's view of the street and keep them in the house or backyard. It would make for a much more peaceful and pleasant walk. I wonder how some of those dog's neighbours put up with them.

We have greyhounds, so yes, they are couch potatoes. Greyhounds have 'short twitch' muscle fibre. That means that they use up most of the energy stored in their muscles in one explosive burst, and completely rest for the remainder of their time. They also generally lack a (genetic) territorial drive that keeps many other dogs on their toes. Most other dogs have 'long twitch' muscle fibre that allows them to slowly sustain the release of stored energy over many hours. As long as they are fit and healthy, they are always 'ready to go'. Other things that will have an effect on how 'lazy' a dog is are the dog's fitness level and its routine. Many dogs are obese or suffer from conditions that restrict their movement and fitness, and unfortunately these dogs do not enjoy an active lifestyle. It either hurts them or is beyond their capabilities.

That's ok, you can all sing along with me to Coconut. Searching for some company Feel the rhythm dance with me Them Nut Girl blues seem out of place Now they want to party pace party pace Dance dance on the floor Dance dance move some more Dance dance feel the heat Hit that perfect Nut Girl, hit that perfect Nut Nut Girl I've got that feeling them Nut Girl feelings I've got them feeling the perfect Nut I've got that feeling that perfect feeling That perfect feeling all over me Nut Girl Nut Girl hit that perfect Nut Girl Nut Girl Nut Girl hit that perfect Nut Girl Nut Girl Nut Girl hit that perfect Nut Girl Hit that perfect hit that perfect hit that perfect Nut Girl Come come close to me I want this to be That perfect feeling all over me Come come close to me I want this to be That Nut Girl feeling all over me Too close for comfort too close for joy Girls in the back room their hearts destroy Touch and kiss a stranger if all else fails Hiding from the danger that's been sent from hell I've got that feeling them Nut Girl feelings I've got them feeling the perfect Nut I've got that feeling that perfect feeling That perfect feeling all over me Nut Girl Nut Girl hit that perfect Nut Girl Nut Girl Nut Girl Nut Nut Nut Nut Nut Girl Nut Girl hit that perfect Nut Girl Hit that perfect hit that perfect hit that perfect Nut Girl Nut Nut Nut Nut Nut Nut Nut Nut Girl Hit hit hit hit that perf- Nut Nut Nut Nut Nut Nut Nut Nut Nut Nut Girl I've got that feeling them Nut Girl feelings I've got that feeling that perfect Nut (Nut Girl Nut Girl) I've got that feeling that perfect feeling That perfect feeling all over me (Nut Girl Nut Girl) I've got that feeling them Nut Girl feelings I've got them feeling that perfect Nut (Nut Girl Nut Girl) I've got that feeling that perfect feeling (feeling) That perfect feeling all over me (hit that perfect Nut) I've got that feeling them Nut Girl feelings (feelings) I've got that feeling that perfect Nut (Nut Girl Nut Girl) I've got that feeling that perfect feeling (feeling) That perfect feeling all over me (hit that perfect Nut Girl) (all over me)

I don't have a problem with any of those laws. If people want to keep farm animals on small domestic blocks, council should be able to inspect the property to make sure the arrangements are not going to impact negatively on the rest of the community.

Only one of my dog has songs, and she has two. Coconut's songs are Frontier Psychiatrist by The Avalanches, sung with the correct words, and her other song is Hit that Perfect Beat by Bronski Beat. Except we substitute the word 'Beat' for 'Nut' and the word 'Boy' for Girl.'

Usually isn't good enough if dogs lives depend on it.

Can't they? Do you think there is not a highly effective PP method for training this? Or is this just more divisive, one "side" spreading misinformation or misunderstanding about what the other does? Well I wouldn't have said it at all if it wasn't for this topic giving a one-sided view from another angle. I am thinking of particular (highly qualified) trainers and their inability, and my own view of that. I don't know all PP trainers, and haven't seen all PP methods.

I laugh at PP trainers, having to 'baby-proof' their homes,because of their inability to train the dog not to steal their valuable resources. Is this only a problem for PP trainers? No, but it is much funnier when it happens to PP trainers. Who cares what amazing things they can train their dog to do, when they can't even have a piece of cake sitting on their own coffee table.

Some of you people should get a greyhound. For some reason, many (untrained) small dog owners are scared of them. Even when the greyhound is doing absolutely nothing at all. It is hilarious to see people in a blind panic, trying to catch their ignorant untrained little dog, as it runs around the greyhound. You can stir them even more by pretending that urgency is required. Look concerned and say There! Quick! Quick! Run!" Make them move a bit faster than they normally do. Awesome times!

I laugh at PP trainers, having to 'baby-proof' their homes,because of their inability to train the dog not to steal their valuable resources.

Dr Christine Kidd at Manly Road and Dr Greg Sternberg at Laidley are both repro specialists if you don't want to use a normal vet.

I would go a step further. Not only would I not breed from an allergy prone dog, but I wouldn't breed a mostly white to another mostly white (in breeds such as greyhounds, staffies, danes etc ). Not only are these dogs way more prone to allergies, but there is a higher chance of deafness if the ears are not sufficiently pigmented. I have never met a greyhound with contact allergies that wasn't white.

I wanted a GSD when I was a child. I had met a few people that had extremely well-trained GSDs, and that is what I wanted. The closest I got was to convince my mum to buy me buy a large silk handkerchief with a beautiful GSD on it, from the haberdashery shop in Glenroy. I used to get it out and look at it all the time.

You are going to have to do the research yourself. This is not an academic forum. It is a community forum. I feel that my opinions are backed up by the experiences of many here. This statement is contradictory (in my mind anyhow). You are saying that they dont need to be PTS and that its not the dogs fault, but that it cant exist in our society. Where does it exist then? In doggy heaven. No. They probably are not completely aware. Normal pet buyers don't want faulty dogs. Those that do either are unaware of what they are in for and/or unrealistic about what can be achieved and probably acting out of their own need to 'fix a broken dog' at the risk of the rest of the community.

It is unethical to offer a human-aggressive dog for sale.

Hell, why don't we just keep lions and crocodiles as pets too?

Once the litter is born, you work with what you have. The work needs to go into selecting the right (proven adult) dogs to breed with and the right dogs to desex. The very act of showing a dog successfully is an adequate test of nerves for most breeds. If a dog can handle that environment and being handled by a complete stranger repeatedly without any aggression or anxiety, then that is a good thing.

When we talk about 'weak nerved' here, we are always talking about a genetic tendency. Good breeders will try to cull weak-nerved dogs from breeding programs, and there is less risk for puppy buyers buying from these breeders. However there are a large number of bad breeders, breeding from weak-nerved dogs, and producing more of them. Buyer Beware! (or come here for advice). Which breeds have a tendency to be 'weak nerved'? I assumed that 'weak nerved' was the result of poor treatment in most cases (ie. an adopted 'weak nerved' dog probably got that way from being mistreated by its former owner or being sheltered in poor conditions)...? I don't want to name breeds, because any breed can contain examples of people not culling weak-nerved dogs from breeding programs. No. At the moment there are many dogs being sold that are not of merchantable quality. They are not capable of fulfilling the role they where purchased for. I believe that dodgy operators are able to get away with selling anything, as long as there are people continuing to believe the myth that it is always bad owners that cause bad dogs. We have a real lack of regulation to protect puppy buyers, and too few people are prepared to put that responsibility to produce good dogs back onto the breeders where it should be.

When we talk about 'weak nerved' here, we are always talking about a genetic tendency. Good breeders will try to cull weak-nerved dogs from breeding programs, and there is less risk for puppy buyers buying from these breeders. However there are a large number of bad breeders, breeding from weak-nerved dogs, and producing more of them. Buyer Beware! (or come here for advice).

Lamb flaps are great. People with young greyhounds should look to see if there is a local greyhound meat supplier. The meat they sell usually has a good level of fat in it. The meat commonly known as "Racing Mix" is usually kangaroo with 20% pure beef fat added. They will also have a chicken meat for pups and breeding dogs, which is less expensive and slightly less nutritious, but still has adequate fat levels for greyhounds.

Mastiffs are guarding breeds and it is normal for them to display guarding behaviour on maturity but it is up to the owners to control who and what needs to be guarded, and to be able to switch off the guarding. From what you have said above, it is possible this dog thinks that your husband is pack leader but that he (the dog) comes next in the pack, ahead of you and the children. This causes him to believe he needs to protect you from everyone outside the family. I have seen this happen with many dogs and it is easily fixed with a small breed but this is a very large breed with the potential to do a lot of damage if not handled correctly. I agree that you need the help of a good behaviouralist immediately to assess this dog and work out if a shift in family pack structure would correct the behaviour or not. +1 I can't believe the people saying that they would take their dog to the vet (I'm assuming to be destroyed) because of a behavioral issue like this. Sounds to me like this is a problem with the OWNER, not the dog (which I believe is the problem in most cases - especially when the dog has been in the care of the same owner since it was a puppy). A dogs behavior is determined by its environment, just like anybody elses. If you create an environment where your dog will be aggressive, then the problem is yours, not the dogs Anyway, sound advice IMO from dancinbcs. You've already made a couple of steps forward which is good to see (those being coming on here and seeking advice). It is determined by genetics and altered by environment. A large mastiff was chosen as a pet, a dog with that breeding requires a different environment to manage it properly than many other breeds do. It is an owner problem in that the owner seems to have chosen the wrong breed of dog (let's revisit that topic about breeds for inexperienced owners) for their management style and knowledge level. A behaviourists can't turn back the clock and fix that. The dog has to be assessed by a behaviourist, but that doesn't mean the problem can be solved.

It is the different exercise they get as well as the early desexing. It is why greyhound pups are generally raised in small groups in very large runners, this exercise builds bone and muscle. When they are broken into race the exercise intensity goes up, and they can bulk up a lot more. By two or three years of age you see the full dog. Stop the exercise and hormones before this and the dog will be shaped a little differently. It is only a must for sick greyhounds. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism may include sluggishness, skin sores, higher rate of heat loss, symmetrical balding on head and chest, as well as weight loss. This dog has none of those other symptoms. The dog sounds perfectly healthy, but thin. That is normal, given the age, breed, diet and upbringing of the dog. There is no good reason to suggest spending money on diagnosing a problem that nobody is having.

Dogs on lilos are all good. It's cats on surfboards that we have a problem with.

If it is a thyroid problem there will be symptoms other than a failure to gain weight. I wouldn't bother taking the dog for a thyroid test unless there was something else wrong as well. If you do that, go to a vet that is experienced with greyhounds, as greyhounds have a naturally low thyroid level and hyperthyroidism is over-diagnosed in the breed. At that age you would expect the dog to burn off a lot of energy and need a high fat diet. With a diet of Bonnie and bones, you could expect to have a skinny dog and mountains of poo in the yard. Greyhounds need a more nutritious and meaty diet than most other breeds. Their muscles burn the energy in a different way to other breeds.