tdierikx

@Papillon Kisses... I hear you about the difference in the amount of damage that larger dogs can invariably inflict, but is that a reason to place bans or ridiculous restrictions on them all? Then again, smaller breeds can inflict serious damage to a small child too... and I'm not bagging out smaller breeds in saying that. I'm with you on the need for education about owning any dog, because what someone may find intimidating or downright scary coming from a larger dog, might also be the exact same behaviour that is smiled upon with a smaller breed dog. Quite frankly, I don't fancy being bitten by ANY dog, and any owner who thinks it's amusing or acceptable for their smaller dog to act in certain ways, really needs to rethink their stance in that respect. T.

I read the discussion paper, and did not see any explicit reference to any breeds other than those already listed as banned from import. I can see the possibility of issues for people who own the traditionally "guard/security" breeds, as councils may wish to take the state legislation further by restricting certain breeds by default via their local laws - dog knows that most councils are already imposing local laws that make little sense other than to make things administratively easier for themselves with regards to animals in their LGA's. Who is to say whether councils may opt to list Rotties and Shepherds as automatically restricted in some way purely due to the ability to cause major damage if they happened to bite... not to mention that an approach from even a friendly dog of those breeds could frighten a person enough for them to make a complaint, then have the dog restricted/regulated... It would be interesting to see any evidence that any smaller breed dog has been subject to "dangerous" dog restrictions after one or more attacks on humans or other animals... I'd be tipping there aren't any... T.

This! Lots of councils in Australia now require anyone who wants to breed dogs - even only the once - to put in a DA to become a breeding business. This in turn can have a flow on effect that makes you easy to find for attention from RSPCA, who may decide they want to audit you against the codes of practice for breeding dogs in your state, so you may want to familiarise yourself with those codes, and any other legislation related to the breeding of dogs. T.

The problem I see is that anyone who doesn't own a pedigreed AmStaff, could face the possibility that their crossbred bull breed dog may be "identified" as a pitbull (or cross thereof), and will be subject to the proposed new laws - regardless if the dog is perfectly stable and appropriately mannered. Then there is the fact that DNA of the AmStaff and Pitbull are pretty much identical, so who will decide whether a dog is one or the other if there are no pedigree papers to definitively prove it? That is a can of worms I wouldn't like to open... I'm also not convinced about the reasoning behind limiting the right of appeal when a destruction order for a declared dog is made. On the face of things, the discussion paper reads like the declared dog problem has been well thought out, and is worded appropriately to give that impression, but there are some issues that can be picked up if one reads it carefully. All that said, I'm supportive of stronger penalties for those who actively encourage bad behaviour in their dogs - of any breed/size - where the dog has occasioned actual bodily harm... and custodial sentences for those who are repeat offenders. T.

I suppose at least they are on lead... my bugbear is the ones that pull up to the dog park with around a dozen dogs in their van, and unload them all into the park to run amok while they scroll on their phones... grrr!

Family pets while a child were Lab crosses... My own dogs have been several crossbreeds (all medium-large sized), a Labrador, and a bunch of Rotties... Hands down, my heart breed is Rotti. T.

My first dog after leaving home (Rebel) used to steal the salad off my plate if I was eating dinner on the couch... even if there was steak on the plate! She loved the oil/vinegar dressing on it... T.

I had a rotti female once who wouldn't eat anything except raw liver or lean beef (no fat) soaked in milk for the final 2 weeks of pregnancy... it was really bizarre, but didn't seem to have any detrimental effect on the resulting pups. T.

I've had 2 dogs who have developed thunder/storm/fireworks phobias over the years. One would settle if I put her in the bathroom with the door shut, as if she felt safe in there and the thunder/storm/fireworks couldn't get to her - the other was a trembling wreck who wouldn't settle unless she was leaning up against someone (human, not other dog), as if she thought you would keep her safe. The first dog would start trembling and acting weird hours before a storm actually came... we think she sensed the barometric pressure changes. The second one only reacted once the storm started, and if no-one was home, she'd panic and run out into the rain and get soaked to the skin, rather than hunkering down inside where she was actually safer - but she was a strange character even before the phobias started. If you aren't sure about DAP, maybe you could try a thunder-shirt for your boy? T.

We had one or two over the years I was involved in rescue... great dogs... T.

Call me a cynic, but I'm thinking that there may be a bit more to this story than is being told here... something must have instigated such a violent response from the man who struck the dog. That said, I'm not defending his actions, as they were somewhat extreme. I've personally witnessed "professional dog walkers" rocking up to a dog park and offloading a van full of dogs to run completely amok and causing much chaos in the process, so the fact that the owner of the injured dog is a dog walker by trade doesn't necessarily mean that she had effective control over the dog(s) in her care that day, and the man's reaction may have been one that had built up over time being subject to unwanted approaches by other people's dogs. I firmly believe that the man's actions were over the top, and he should be charged over the incident, but I also believe that there may be a reason that he reacted the way he did. As for the bit where people were anthropomophising that the dog looked depressed in the photo supplied... quite frankly, an eye ablation is a pretty big surgery, so the dog would have been dosed up on medications to keep it sedated/quiet and pain free, so that photo actually was less confronting for one who has experience with post surgery animals. T.

Back in the days when dogs were fed table scraps and the like, the incidence of allergies was definitely less reported, so there may be something in feeding a varied diet rather than sticking to a particular brand/mix all the time. Gonna be hard to break the current thoughts on pet nutrition though... when I was studying vet nursing, there was a whole subject dedicated to making sure we all knew how to convince pet owners to feed the premium packaged pet foods. The constant mantra of "complete and balanced" - even when that "balance" is primarily gained by additives/supplements - is hard wired into vets and nurses to espouse as the optimum for feeding any pet. As any long time pet owner will know, the best feed for your pet is actually the food it does well on, be that cheap supermarket kibble right up to the most expensive premium brand, or table scraps, or a well-planned raw diet, etc. Let's not forget that the pet food industry is HUGE and has far-reaching influence, whether that be for altruistic reasons or otherwise (can anyone say profit margin?) As for other types of allergies, I can only say that in my own case, regular exposure to allergens I reacted to (cats) has actually seen my allergic response go from severe hayfever symptoms and hives when exposed to nearly ALL cats, to only reacting with more minor discomfort to the odd cat. I would say that if one's allergy is not life threatening, then exposure therapy might be an option to try. T.

Not particularly a Jane Austen fan, but I am fairly well-read... *grin*... if I had to choose my fave period fiction book, it would be Wuthering Heights actually. As for the pup, many questions come to mind based on the photo posted. If the photo is recent and the OP says the pup is 20 weeks old, I'm thinking maybe not from showing lines, as the photo shows a pup that would be quite underdeveloped for that age bracket, and displays many faults that might not really make it great showing material... but I'm sure he will make a lovely family pet. T.

8-9 weeks old and various breeds/mixes... most likely some sort of seller arrangement or pet shop offsite. Could be completely legal reason, like out of hours care site of pups from a pet shop, as you can't leave them in store outside business hours as far as I'm aware. T.

You may have a point there, but vets who are experienced in fixing ear haematomas will have the odd trick up their sleeves when it comes to taping for a good sit. I still reckon that if the cute little dude isn't going to be shown, his ears are pretty darned fine... *grin* T.

Firstly... OMG... how adorably cute is that puppy?!? *grin* Even as you say that your pup was a runt, are you 100% certain he's 20 weeks old? Or is the photo you posted above an old photo from when he was younger? At 20 weeks of age, your pup should have almost finished his teething stage. Have his puppy teeth been replaced with his "big boy" teeth yet, or is that process still happening? Ears can be really bizarre during the teething stage, so I wouldn't be panicking about them just yet, OK? If you are really concerned about how his ears are set because you are looking to show him, then you could talk to your vet about maybe applying tape to his ears in specific places in order to "train" them to do the right thing. I wouldn't advocate trying to tape ears yourself, as it will require a bit of knowledge about anatomy and growth patterns of the ears to get right, so a vet may be your best bet for advice there. If you are not wanting to show him, personally I'd be embracing his individuality if his ears aren't perfectly set... it adds a special jauntiness to his countenance, wouldn't you agree? T.

Parvo can have a gestation time as little as 24-48 hours, depending on the strain... so depending on exactly when your pup started showing symptoms after you took possession of it on Sunday, it may be that it did NOT already have it when it was delivered to you. Another thing to note is, as Powerlegs has noted, if your pup was vaccinated within the previous week before the parvo test, that can throw a false positive reading, as the vaccines use a modified live virus to elicit the immune response required. Another option to look at could be vaccinosis. Vaccinosis is an adverse reaction to being vaccinated - similar to how some humans develop a bad cold soon after they get a flu shot - but is often less likely to be fatal to the affected individual. I have personally witnessed vaccinosis that presents with similar symptoms to, and tests positive for Parvo - this is more prevalent if the pup was also wormed the same day as they were vaccinated - essentially the pup's system has been overstimulated by all the preventative substances it has received within a short timeframe. Usually with vaccinosis, a day or two on a drip will see the pup supported enough to recover fully... Parvo may not necessarily have a positive outcome in very young pups, despite all efforts to treat the issue. I suppose it all comes down to the following factors... was pup vaccinated within the previous week immediately prior to the Parvo test positive result, was pup sick before or after 24-48 hours in your care, and is pup responding really well to supportive treatment by the vet (expected to make a full recovery)? Another thing to note is that some pups will get serious tummy upsets from a sudden change in diet - to the point of vomiting and diarrhoea, which can look very much like Parvo symptoms. Were you feeding pup the same diet as the breeder had been up to the point you took possession? All that said, if pup does have Parvo, and it can be proven beyond any reasonable doubt that the breeder knew (or suspected) that fact... then I am truly sorry for your predicament, and hope that the pup has a good outcome. T.

I always found his prices to be somewhat cheaper than other vets in the area... and his prices were more than reasonable for the service he and his staff provided. T.

... and he was an exceptional vet. He treated my dogs and pet rats for years... was a shame when he retired... T.

Great news @Adrienne... take care of yourself and Jilly now, and rest easy knowing that Spanner and Ham will be in the best hands ever, and will get their very own perfect forever homes. T.

Back in the day when renting with pets wasn't as unpredictable as it is today, and council approval for pet numbers wasn't even a thing, I had 5 dogs... and they are large breed dogs. What I will also say is that my only real requirements about any rental property were good fences and that the house didn't leak... so that left my options much wider when looking for a place that would accept me and the dogs Since owning my own home, my magic number has been 4 dogs... give or take the odd dozen foster pups at any given time. I found 3 was actually fiddlier to manage when 2 of my dogs developed a dislike for each other, and I had to play swapsies with regard to giving them all my attention one-on-one. I live alone, so the swapsies was relatively easy to manage so that the 2 that hated each other never accidentally came together, but that would be incredibly hard when one has a family to consider, and all need to be highly vigilant about keeping 2 dogs separate and safe from each other. I learned that even when 2 dogs have lived together happily for years, things can change with that dynamic, and it was my job to keep them safe, happy, and healthy. Rehoming was never a consideration, as the behaviours I witnessed from both dogs when they had their last spat were not the behaviours I would be comfortable imposing on a new family, and I did also consider the euthanasia option for one or both if I couldn't manage them effectively... luckily that didn't eventuate, and both lived out the rest of their lives with me. As my dog numbers dropped from 4 down to 1, I actually found it refreshing to have only 1 dog for a while... not to mention feed and vet costs being so much less during the current financial situation and me becoming unemployed due to Covid restrictions and then health issues of my own. I am currently waiting patiently for my chosen breeder to have a litter with a pup for me in it, and I will probably stick to only the 1 dog for a good while simply because it will be easier for me to manage financially... if my financial situation changes, I may add more dogs... or not... it depends... *grin* T.

Plenty of room here... and happy to foster both pup and Spanner... T.

The article is from 2018 though... errr! T.

It is no real secret that she worked in promotions/marketing for PETA for some years prior to running as AJP candidate for the upper house... but reminders like this are gold... thanks @asal T.

None of the proposed legislation being put forward by AJP in Victoria suggests that rescued ex-racing greyhounds will be exempt from the export ban in relation to whole-of-life tracking, as once an animal leaves Australian jurisdiction, it is not subject to Australian laws any more, so the tracking may cease once the dog leaves the country. T.