tdierikx

It's not about keeping them with mum, it's about keeping them with their siblings! The pups socialize each other. No one s suggesting you try to force mum to keep feeding them. By all means if she's over it then wean the pups. However the pups need to remain together and can still have visits from mum. It's like you think the only value of mum to these pups is as a milk machine. Seriously if you think removing pups from mum and spitting up the litter at 4 weeks if age is the best thing for them, then your lack of knowledge about raising puppies really does concern me. I've stuck my hand up for however many pups they want to send me... happy to take all 12 of them actually. And for the last time... I am NOT advocating removal of ANY pups from their mother or siblings before they are ready... Jeebus people... please READ other people's posts FULLY before coming to the wrong conclusions... My posts relating to my puppy rearing experience were anecdotal - I'm certainly NOT asking to be sent 4 week old pups! T.

Tiger is very cheeky, but he also does lovely snuggles... actually ALL of them give great smoochies. Tori is such a little sweetie. Toby is the kiss and run boy. Tango is usually the first to be asking for a cuddle. Tiger is mischeif personified. They are doing well here, eating well, and playing up a storm. Harper is competely enamoured with them and has been spending every daylight hour she can kissing them through the pen fence. They think she's great too, calling her back whenever she comes inside to check that I'm still here... *grin* T.

Let me set the record straight... I am NOT advocating shipping off these pups at an early age. If they are fine with their mum until 8 weeks of age, that would be great (and desirable). We've had our share of end stage pregnancy bitches come into care and whelp - and the fact is that some large breed dogs that have large litters can be "over it" by about the 4 week mark... to the point of actively detering the pups from suckling with force. Leaving pups with a bitch that will attack them because she's sick of them chewing on her boobs isn't the best way to socialise them either, right? Only the people who actually have this girl and her babies in care will know what kind of mother she is, and as the pups get older, they are going to have to make the best choices for them to maximise their chances of growing up happy, healthy, and well adjusted canine citizens. Berating them about whether the bitch should have been desexed before whelping is moot really - the pups are here, and now they are looking for help when the pups are old enough to go... that's all. I've still got my hand up for however many of the pups they want to send me... and I've got plenty of pup rearing experience... *grin* T.

When were they wormed? Vaccinated? T.

If the behaviourist's methods aren't working, and Nekh's methods have had some success so far, I'd be inclined to thank the behaviourist for their efforts and going with Nekh's method only for a while to see if Roo keeps improving. Whatever the long term outcome, your patience and dedication is incredible. Roo is the luckiest dog alive to have you as her mummy. T.

Run free and chase all the rabbits you see Tip... Hugs to you and your husband tikira. T.

Whatever the outcome for Roo, you have my complete support Jelly... T.

You know that you are now obliged to put up regular photos of these pups showing us their progress? *grin* How are they all going so far... and how is mum dog coping? T.

If it makes you feel any better, my Lab's name is Trouble... *grin* ... and she was actually expelled from obedience classes when she was around 12 months old... errr! What I did was to start taking her out more, but the minute she started acting up, I took her straight back home again... she quickly worked out that we would stay out longer if she behaved herself. I also would walk a few steps then stop, and make her sit - changing up how far I would go before she had to sit - she also started paying more attention to me when she didn't know what I was going to do next. T.

Yeah - the PM's other half bought her a puppy farm "oodle" pup... no rescue or rehoming program other than the buying price was met... T.

Well said Sheridan... Is it possible that Roo's issues are boredom based rather than actual separation anxiety? Nekh? What are you leaning towards? T.

Rach and the boys have done an awesome job with these little guys - they are really nicely adjusted doglets. As Rach needs to focus on Blacky and Jack right now, I was happy to help her out with the pups. Here are some pics of them in my yard yesterday afternoon... they adjusted to the change of scenery like true little pro's... Toby is wearing purple, Tango in orange, Tori in pink, and Tiger in blue. I think the colours suit them, don't you? T.

Looks like Abbot has an "oodle" dog too... http://www.smh.com.au/national/margie-abbotts-policy-pledge-home-stays-a-politicsfree-zone-20091204-kaxh.html T.

The "Roo & mum" photo sums it all up, doesn't it? T.

Are you male Big D? Rescue desex ALL animals leaving them because so many people out there don't desex their dogs/cats... and we can then guarantee that no animal leaving rescue can be party to making ANY pups/kittens with ANY other dog/cat. T.

Along with beautifully raised puppies. Why thank you kindly mita... we do try our best... *grin* Seriously though, we mostly take in small breed adults - many with special needs when they arrive into our care. We don't always have all of our dogs up on our website, but we do have quite a few that are ready for adoption... all one needs to do is call and ask, and we may just have a dog to fit the new family. T.

Hey Jelly... I think we need another Roo photo fix... *grin* T.

Bloated? It's just a fattie having some fun in the mud... lol! T.

NSW Animal Rescue has quite a few small breed dogs too... T.

... and if we desex them all... even simpler maths. T.

As for the bolded part - Gussy is only going for a walk with you and the dogs - she doesn't roam at any other time, and she sticks with you when on walks anyways. T.

It's not illegal for cats to be out, but that doesn't mean that they can become a nuisance by doing whatever they please at another neighbour's property. Personally, I'd call council and have a chat with the ranger and see if they can maybe have a chat with Tippy's owner about his/her roaming and being a general nuisance in the neighbourhood. Note that I'm not advocating seizure of Tippy. DD's cat doesn't roam - she stays in the front yard of her own property. She's a lovely and well behaved cat, and shouldn't be having her dinner stolen by the neighbourhood guts... T.

I can see where you are coming from WIW... I have a neighbour who was a bugger for reporting my dogs barking, when it was her bloody cat taunting them by walking along my back fence and meowing at them... grrr! T.

The problem is that the term itself doesn't imply the actuality of how it is supposed to work... it's catchy, but way too easy to be misunderstood and taken literally. Our rescue is no kill also - but as we do take in our share of special needs cases, there will be the occasional one that is just too broken to be able to be rehomed responsibly no matter what we do to try to "fix" it. Some dogs that we take in end up being palliative care cases also - their time is limited due to things like cancers left untreated until it's too late, etc... Rescue isn't all sweetness and roses and full of the feelgood vibe - sometimes it's a dirty and thankless job... but with good management, you can make the good times outnumber the not so good times. T.

No-one likes to have to PTS an animal in care, but sometimes it's the only responsible thing to do. And it's not only shelters that need to understand this fact... rescue does too. It's bloody soul destroying when you have worked with an animal for months in order to try to make it viably rehomable, and you finally realise that you are never going to be able to responsibly rehome it out into the community. If you've never been there, then please don't start dictating to those of us who have... I'm well over the armchair warriors that have latched onto the No-Kill Movement as their cause du jour... so until you've walked the walk, I don't think you're overly qualified to talk the talk. (Responsible rescuers exempt) T.