Papillon Kisses

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.

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.

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

What a devastating story 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

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

How are you getting on with her shots? Any improvement in her response?

Based on what Tuft’s is saying I would stick with a commercial diet but supplement with fresh food, in particular high fibre food, that is kept consistent. You can switch up how it is given with enrichment activities. https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2020/01/whats-the-best-diet-for-my-dog-with-diabetes/

You could try AAMBR https://www.aambr.com/care And in the Pet Professional Guild Australia directory, go to the advanced search, select state is VIC, then click the relevant items under pet care services and see who is in your area. https://www.ppgaustralia.net.au/Member-Search?&tab=2 A lot of the people in the PPGA directory are also force free trainers, so if needed they could help you with an enrichment plan and any training she might need for apartment living, e.g. using a toileting area, navigating lifts, being ok with noise from neighbouring units or hallways, and building up her alone time. If you ever need veterinary help for behaviour (e.g. anxiety, dementia) or pain, I can highly recommend Dr Kat Gregory at Creative Animal Solutions. She has further qualifications in veterinary behaviour, and anaesthesia & critical care (and therefore analgesia), and has lots of experience with GSP. https://www.creativeanimalsolutions.com Might as well throw in this resource for you too. https://caninearthritis.co.uk/ I’d consider also whether supports could be put in place in the home. If someone came every day to do the yard clean up, a walk or other enrichment activity, feeding, and grooming as required, could they stay at home together?

Reminds me of this http://www.friendsofthedog.co.za/uploads/6/0/9/1/6091047/he_just_wants_to_say_hi.pdf

I feel the need to clarify that we want a DOG photo not a poo sleep nugget photo.

Welcome! I would go straight to a force free (also called rewards-based or positive) dog trainer. It’s easy to accidentally sensitise rather than desensitise our dogs despite best intentions. They can teach you lots of good things like how to read your dog’s body language, how to keep them under threshold, how to change how they feel about seeing other dogs using positive reinforcement methods (this in turn changes how they react), management skills for walks, and do some controlled setups with other dogs. Pet Professional Guild Australia is the best place to look for a trainer IMO. Either enter your suburb into the visual directory, or if using the advanced directory I find it best to stick with your state rather than being too specific with location. https://www.ppgaustralia.net.au/find-a-professional I see you’re in Tasmania. If you’re near Glenorchy, Everydog appear to have a suitable reactive dog course. I’m liking what I read on their website. It’s good to ask questions though. I like Jean Donaldson’s Transparency Challenge, example of answers from another Australian trainer: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NMTrHqfTMSI If everyone is too far away from you I know some online options. In the interim, choose times and places where you’re less likely to encounter other dogs on walks, and increase your distance well in advance if you do - don’t wait until your dog reacts as he inevitably will do. Don’t go to busy places, dog parks, visit other dogs, etc. We don’t want our dogs to keep practicing the behaviour or have bad experiences undo future training efforts. Practice makes them better at it, and they’re not having a good time when they feel they have to react that way either. If you’re stuck for suitable walking places, it’s totally ok not to go out and just bump up their at home enrichment. Lots of ideas over at the Canine Enrichment group on Facebook. The video below one of my favourite skills which you could start teaching at home if you’re so inclined. When used on walks, it taught my dog that he could move away himself to get the distance he wanted from another dogs, rather than trying to barky-lunge the other dog away. But with all these skills you want to first get them fluent at home, in the yard, and on walks when no one’s around. Don’t go looking for other dogs to practice against! Another favourite skill of mine is sniffing on cue. Hope this helps and enjoy your new family member. It’s a learning curve at the start when having a reactive dog, but they are worth it.