Papillon Kisses

I just want to caution against purchasing two puppies at the same time and age, regardless of progeny. It’s best to wait until the oldest has reached adulthood, well out of teenage years and settled, before getting another puppy.

Dog trainers see problems all the time with anxiety and aggression from pups raised too close together in age. The outcome is often needing to rehome or euthanise one of the dogs when problems explode around the time of social maturity. Some people successfully prevent these problems occurring, but they tend to be those already heavily invested and experienced in dog behaviour and training. It is way more than double the work to raise two behaviourally well pups at once. Pups need to be socialised separately, they need to spend time alone from each other as well as from you, among other things.

Like Dogsfevr, I also wouldn’t wait 12 weeks. I’d want pup in the home and enrolled in a quality, force free puppy preschool at 8 weeks. Pet Professional Guild Australia and Delta Institute are good places to look. If there is no one suitable near you, I’d do the Polite Paws Sydney online course as the content is excellent. Please read the AVSAB position statement on puppy socialisation as socialisation is likely more than you think it is: https://avsab.org/resources/position-statements/

Sorry I don’t have any breeder recommendations, but I wish you the very best with your search.

Suprelorin effects hormones. I know a number of dogs with anxiety disorders for whom it has been used before deciding whether or not to desex. If their condition/behaviour deteriorates the effect is (hopefully) not permanent; if nothing changes or there’s an improvement then you have more confidence going ahead with operating. Sometimes despite best breeding and puppy-raising you can have an anxious dog for whom those hormones are important for behavioural wellness.

Hi Nesa, time to book a vet appointment so they can get to the bottom of it. I hope he feels better soon.

Cobberdog breeders didn’t like the reputation that Labradoodles were getting so they made their own name to try to distinguish themselves.

I think they may have added in more breeds, pointer being one. Unless I’m getting mixed up with the “Australian Labradoodle” people.

I’m unsure whether they’re working towards ANKC recognition, which requires a unique name (see also: Australasian Bosdog).

Aww she’s gorgeous. Welcome, Frankie. 

There is this…
 

https://theconversation.com/amp/chocolate-labradors-die-earlier-than-yellow-or-black-and-have-more-disease-105366

Link to the actual study https://cgejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40575-018-0064-x

Sorry for your loss. He was a special little man. 

A couple more thoughts.

1. Check out Sniff Space to see if there are any secure properties you can take her to.

2. Ensure you are providing adequate mental enrichment opportunities. Canine Enrichment FB group has lots of ideas, or use this page as a starting point: http://www.allpetseducationandtraining.com.au/enrichment.html

3. Consider walks on a long line in a more natural area vs street walks. https://www.dogminded.training/blog/2019/5/27/the-life-changing-power-of-decompression-walks?format=amp

With those things and seeking help from a force free trainer for things like muzzle training and engage/disengage games, you might decide that your home is a good home after all. Presuming you can’t find her previous people.

I think we can get caught up in this idea that dogs need a big backyard or trips to the dog park to be fulfilled, when that’s not necessarily the case. Especially dog parks. 

Again, just some thoughts. I don’t ever want people to feel bad about needing to relinquish their dog and am not coming from that angle. I don’t think that helps anyone, least of all the dog. And I have tremendous respect for people who break their own hearts to give their dogs a better life. It’s more from a place of curiously and wondering whether with a bit of a rethink about ways to meet her needs and keep everyone safe, whether you may not be the mismatch you think you are.

Seconding Powerleg’s comment about talking to AWLQ. Your feedback about how she has fared in your home combined with what they already know about her will help them find her ideal home.

2 hours ago, WanaHavanese said:

I wonder if maybe laws should require a control and containment class after an event like this. If this dog was so fixated on taking down a horse, what chance does a child or even another dog have? Muzzles are great tools and so many different types are available now. This dog should absolutely have one on in public, especially if the owner cant control it. 

They’ll likely be hit with a Dangerous or Menacing Dog Order. These orders include stipulations such as having to be on leash, muzzled and wearing a dangerous dog collar if outside the property, only being handled by adults, not transferring ownership, not moving without advising council, and in the case of Dangerous Dog Orders they also need a special outdoor enclosure. https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/public/dogs-cats/responsible-pet-ownership/declared-dangerous-and-menacing-dogs/

I think it would be a good idea to have input from a specialist if that’s an option available to you. If you’re unable to travel to a referral hospital and there aren’t any specialists that will travel to your local vet, you might find they’re happy to give your vet (or a second opinion vet) some guidance over the phone. I wouldn’t know whether you’d need an internal med specialist or a neurologist or other sort of specialist, but it seems this is a complicated case where a vet with further qualifications and perhaps more diagnostic capabilities could be useful.

Maybe it’s just me but I’m more concerned about how the rabbits would feel with the smell of dead rabbit in the house.  
 

For Malcolm (~4kg chi terrier mix) I liked dried mackerel tails. They were just the right size to be a long lasting chew without being so big that he got overwhelmed and cached them instead. 

If she previously lived the life of Riley, then I imagine something terribly wrong has happened with her health and/or in the lives of her previous owners (severe illness, death, poverty, family violence, who knows).

I’m reminded of how we can look at morbidly obese dogs in rescue who are unable to walk with the pain and weight on their joints, and wonder how the owner could have abused them in that way. Then we learn that they had dementia and not being aware of things just keep feeding the dog.

I’m glad she’s getting the help she needs.

Papers could mean anything. Are they are ANKC breeder?

Good idea. They’re in groups to which I’ve seen this shared but I’ll message in case they’ve missed it.

Wish I could sign but I am not a member. This is so important!

It’s understandable to be nervous and scared. Our dogs can be our whole heart and soul. All I can say is take one thing at a time as your vet works through diagnostics. I imagine there are many things far more likely to be the cause than cancer.

2 hours ago, auir said:

yeah since moving over to the mfm he has been fine, the kibble is larger so needs to chew it ,so he isnt a fan of that all the time, but stomach wise all back to normal

Are his teeth ok? Might be worthwhile getting them checked? Glad to hear his stomach is feeling better!

What a devastating story 

1 hour ago, ~Anne~ said:

Be careful about assuming the breed sandgrubber. Media articles always claim they're 'pitbulls' when they rarely are.

I wonder if it’s also or alternatively a case of the people reporting attacks misattributing breed, and journalists just running with the description. When my parents’ toy poodle was attacked, my mother said the attacking dog was a pitbull. When I asked her about the dog’s appearance, her answers told me that it was actually a bull terrier (a strong, stocky, medium-sized white dog with a football shaped head). Sure enough, it was a bull terrier that was restrained by passersby and taken away by council.

Somewhat related… 

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0219918&fbclid=IwAR2OrWDQtjxbbnwh32dzFL8fBIfgArSGFawrNqQ7HYtaJwBPwBmHm8fU92U

1 hour ago, Amazetl said:

I am considering a home visit and have looked up a couple trainers in the area.  

It’s a good idea to seek help, but please be careful who you engage. Dog training is an unregulated industry, and there are sadly a lot of ’trainers’ using harmful, outdated methods, often based on long debunked myths about dogs.

Here’s a good place to find a dog trainer: https://www.ppgaustralia.net.au/find-a-professional

You’ll also want to ensure pup is enrolled in a quality puppy preschool - don’t wait until all vaccines are done. https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Puppy_Socialization_Position_Statement_Download_-_10-3-14.pdf

Hopefully a BC person will respond but something you might like to look into is line brushing.

If you like Purina Pro Plan I’d give it a go, see if your current dog does well on it. It meets WSAVA criteria. As do Hills and Royal Canin, which is why vets recommend these brands.
 

WSAVA nutrition guidelines and Tufts veterinary nutrition websites have lots of info.

I hope your dog’s tummy feels better soon.

I imagine it’s especially fresh and tender with all the rain.

Here’s the study itself as reporting can be a bit off sometimes

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abk0639?fbclid=IwAR2RGK-aVl8NNdyjj3sMHJdx8re066PrGxBIn06FnM0ULkNn03bChfI3wJQ
 

Cog-Dog Radio has an interview coming up with one of the study authors. Will be out Wednesday by the sound of it.

https://thecognitivecanine.com/the-podcast-cog-dog-radio/

Edited to add direct link https://m.soundcloud.com/sarah-stremming/dogs-personality-and-breed-with-dr-jessica-hekman/s-OA2uda4KDG7?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing&fbclid=IwAR3vYtfOnQ3T0xqrx4ttJ8B-LSsGTmr_AQxQqopuXWhrK0wRYaezShPZtMc