moosmum

My breed? Likely gone, According to the Institute of Canine Biology. If the problems continue at the present rate, In 20 years 100% of them will be affected by a chronic heart condition. Thats only one of many conditions affecting the breed. And this a breed relatively safe from some the worst extremes of appearance, so far. As for working ability, Standardization of trials, traits and training - the push for predictable rather than responsive, has seen the breeds original purpose almost extinct. On the whole, It hasn't adapted to modern demands and Man has not been encouraged to explore how it could. With out 'environmental' input into breeding, the original purpose(s) of the breeds have a way of eroding away. Even the purpose becomes some thing not for the 'common' man. Heavily regulated professionals only. Until the costs of breeding animals that don't respond to their environment and its demands are too great for the environment to continue to bear. IMO,this is what we are seeing. As for selecting for less extreme types, that can't be done now with out reducing the gene pools available even more. Much more for some. Which will reduce available response of the breed to environmental factors even further. Increasing cancers, disease, immune disorders etc. While there is no recognition of 'environment' , no challenge can be met with out reduction.

Imagine taking the modern version back with you! I think some breeds would be raved about for appearance, but horrify for their lack of any real 'ability' for their original purpose. And others would plain horrify. If only we could, and change the course of history. I believe who ever could do it would also be horrified at we have lost, in other attributes besides the physical ones. The things we do not even see to know any more.

I think experienced and dedicated breeders for the most part are doing their best, but the culture created with the formation of the Kennel Clubs constitution has them trapped. There is tremendous pressure within the breed clubs to hold to a single perspective of their breed and what it should be- And judges are expected to uphold that to be a 'good' judge of the dog. Any going against that consensus of perspective is likely to feel that pressure and be made very unwelcome. That would contribute to to the attrition rate of breeders. ( I think most breed for only around 10 years give or take, just when their experience could be of most use to them and their breed) I doubt many, if any, of the modern alternatives to show bred dogs would be 'recognized' as their named breeds. There are no doubt a lot of issues that breeders try to address. But the pressures to 'see' the breed from a single perspective means that its very hard for any individual breeder to address the ones they see as most urgent. The focus is always going to be narrow at any given time. Thats far too slow to tackle issues as they are recognized by individuals.. And needed as a form of environmental selection.

I think some were mentioned in the 'credits' at the end of the film. They did mention the breeders of the Bassets at least. Not sure if other 'alternate' breeders were credited.

Surprised there aren't more people contributing to this thread. Agree with your last comment. I don't think dogs ( or any animal) should be treated as furry people, but I think too many underestimate them as well. There is a lot more capacity for communication than most give credit for or are willing to see. We don't breed for that any more, or even promote that ideal. We used to. Re my parents, pretty much, except they had accepted it as inevitable.

I can imagine the tongue lashing! That dog was pretty unique in his language skills and I used to brag I could teach him to do anything in 10 minutes. Lots of stories with him. He would lead the horses if we dropped the reins while riding. herd goats sheep or chooks, took part in parades on the float. There was a tip next to our property where we would catch feral kittens. I would meow till they came out of hiding and he would keep them rounded up in place while I scooped them up.

I have several. Here are two. When I was about 12 I noticed a black dog sitting on the corner near our house. There again next day. For around 2 weeks I would see the dog off and on, mostly right there in the same spot. I told a neighbor friend and we went looking for it thinking it was odd to be sitting on the corner staring across the road so much. It was there and we experimented with names till she came to Lady. We took her home just around the corner and explained to our parents. Mine said we could keep her. She often went to the same corner to sit. About 3 weeks later we came home to our house destroyed after she had been chewing the door and window frames to get out. Our neighbors explained that man had turned up looking for his dog. He lived 350 miles away and had had to rehome her. A friend had always admired her and asked that he have her if she ever had to be rehomed so the owner had driven her to him after asking if it was a serious offer. Seems he hadn't said anything to his wife. I don't know if he had ever told her he had the dog, or if she just refused to have her but end result was 'Gypsy' ( her real name) was on the street and she had waited weeks for her owner to return for her. He didn't know what was happening. He knew she was safe now even tho he didn't get to see her that time, but my neighbors ended up taking her themselves.We sort of shared her. The owner returned several times over the years and she always remembered him with a tail going a million miles an hour. Another is my own dog. I'd had him 5 years when my parents took our family back over seas for a year. Mum found a home hat would care for him. A couple who weren't sure they could cope with a dog but wanted to see if they could.I refused to go at all unless I knew I could get him back. I told him I would be back, and to stay. As we drove away he chased the car and we didn't know till we got back home that he was missing. He turned up back there 1 hour later and we went over seas. A year later we went back to get him only when I insisted. I had promised. My Dad was trying to tell me the carers wanted to keep him and he wouldn't remember us. I said if that was true, he could stay. It would be his choice. When we pulled into the drive he ran out barking at the car till I opened the window and called his name. Right away he sat and howled. When the car came to a stop he jumped in and refused to budge when we went in to talk and visit with the carers though we left the door open. I had him another 12 years after that. On a visit to that town for a funeral 30 years later people I ran into kept saying 'I remember you and your dog' He went every where with me. Not so dramatic as your story, but faith all the same. The neighbor girl mentioned earlier was the victim of a dog attack one day as we were getting ready for school. The dog had jumped up with both paws on her shoulders while it bit her around the neck chestand arms. I didn't know what to do to help, but told my dog to get it and he did.

Lol, They are fun aren't they? Years ago, If we ignored her wanting to instigate a game ( watching t.v, reading ) My old girl would hold a squeaky toy on your ear and press it it mostly worked on every one.

Gooses first coats. socks!

Brings back memories for me. ( as assistant for those types of jobs, usually the one doing the restraining) Some awkward counter lunches with mess and bruises to be over looked. Lucky me for a working mans publican who liked me. Never dull at least.

Yes! From a standing position and wouldn't repeat when asked. And not what I would call an active and athletic dog normaly. One of those dogs who suddenly develop a severe limp when asked to do some thing she didn't want to do. My O.H who is very strict on the no bludging rule was a sucker for her charms. She could look so pathetic and mistreated. Loving these. Such characters we have in our lives.

My sons dog was recently given her wings at 14 yrs due to an aggressive growth in her abdomen. Waiting on pics to give her a tribute in the right thread, but she was one of the quirkiest dogs I have had the pleasure of knowing. When she was happy ( like coming home from shopping and yelling ' Bones!" ) she would do a complete back flip ( self taught and unasked) She would answer when we called her. She loved cats and would look confused that those she saw on the streets always ran away.

Not sure, but there may have been a young female advertised in the older dogs section? Docked, not cropped, but could be worth a check. Importing a pet for the sake of cropped ears and docked tail alone, to me would be too great a risk for the cost.

N.S.W still has life time registration. With that, its worth paying the extra IMO. even with out a refund. A refund might encourage some to spey or neuter at a later date. Tho' I think switching to life time would do more to encourage rego. in the 1st place.

Time to truely mature can be essential too, to find what a dog has to offer. I would think the costs of enforcing such a practice would be be better spent on finding ways to bring dog owners together. Regularly, not just annual events. I think this would help massively in education by providing the forums needed. Assuming every one is a fool who shouldn't be trusted with their own decisions- gives you people who haven't the tools to form their own judgements, or can't recognize what tools they have. Responsible dog owners who register are essentialy paying taxes to own dogs. I think that revenue would be better spent promoting those responsible owners in providing and showing the benefits, instead of only using those funds to punish irresponsibility.

I don't think it would. But I agree its unlikely to happen, and even more unlikely to be accepted with out corruption. Self regulation can work. But only when there is integration with community/environment interests. With out that all they get is entropy. I can't see that change happening. (See organizational physics.) Doesn't mean I like it. Or that I could support the industry in its present form. But I argue for the lessons to be learned because there are others in the same boat. We lose purpose, diversity and a lot of value by ignoring integration as a requirement for success.

IMO, because its public standards the Industry must be accountable to. Either its got nothing to do with you, ( or 'us' ) as members of the public, or we all take a share in the responsibility. If the community takes no responsibility for 'Identities' , No one can. Identities are set from within. Thats their Nature. The Nurture part can only happen with some level of integration with its environment. Responsibility in common, to each other.

Fools if they think thats who they need. Maybe should be 3 strikes and your out, by law.

Dementia is every bit as bad as the more physical deterioration. You have done whats right and he knows and loves you for that. take care of yourself now, you need it. The sacrifice you made for him hurts you, not him. Hugs

I was about to make the same comment.

There was a thread about this a while ago. I would remove loose and poorly attached dew claws on the hind legs, other wise no. Touch wood, But I have never had them removed, never had problems that a quick clip wouldn't fix. My dogs clearly use their dew claws much like thumbs to hold or grab.

He is gorgeous! And yes, he does look like he is sturdy inbody and mind, like hes been here before.

Dissapointing they weren't asked to address the problems instead. Too hard to promote expectations, easier to get rid of the problems altogether. No wonder thats what what people expect. Who needs PETA.

I disagree. Ones purpose is cruel ( and Illegal ) practice. The seconds purpose is to race greyhounds. There is no reason it should be assumed that purpose must involve cruel or illegal practices on the grounds that some belonging to that culture use them. You mention earlier an industry or hobby is not like a religion. I think there are similarities in this case, in that both foster exclusive member cultures to support their purpose. Unlike most hobbies or industry. But I don't think just because its cultural, it should be considered O.K. either. As a human society, we work to change and improve our culture. That can only be done we accept it, as a human culture. Not by accepting arbitrary cultures as some how exclusive of others. Cultures are just Human Conditions with a degree of choice. You can be born into them, but you can also leave or improve on them. They are open to influence of the cultures and societies surrounding them. Once they are considered exclusive though, that culture has taken steps to ensure they will not be influenced by by the society or cultures around them. Isn't that the purpose of exclusivity? So they are built from within and not open to 'corrupting' influence from other cultures or society in general? Exclusive cultures by nature are not accepting of change or ideals not included on the beliefs it was founded on. Its Based in its own past, on what was accepted truth in its past. There are beliefs being protected by exclusivity.

Again, I think this is a modern identity problem that will apply equally to pedigree breeders in the long run if we don't learn from it. Agree with your post Woof. Its as a Society we redraw lines as to what brings us benefits or what costs we will no longer bear. So its as a society that we promote and teach those benefits and the responsibilities that come with participation. The problems as I see it come when we accept that there are 'identities' within society that are exclusive. As has been the case within the grey hound racing industry, and is also the case with pedigree breeders. An exclusive 'identity' within a society is not open to to the expectations imposed by society as a whole. Only to those of their own. An identity by its nature is built from within. It takes nothing from without that doesn't re-inforce or nourish whats there to begin with. It built on experience, in response to experience. Of its past and what was proven to work at the time of its inception. So change can't be "recognized" as meeting societies or common expectations. Instead those expectations are perceived as demands on an exclusive society from a hostile environment intent on destroying an identity. That identity is gone if its changed. The internalized 'identity' of the industry must rebel against a societies expectation of it, when that society has no understanding or experience of the realities inherent to that environment. Exclusivity closes the avenues of communication our expectations must be based on. So I believe the solution is to find ways to recognize a broader and more inclusive society than is allowed under current rules and regs. Because Asal is also right, this IS all connected and will continue . Exclusivity creates an environment divorced from the expectations of any society out side its own. BY choice of exclusivity. Yet it can't police its own. Not effectively. It must accept expectations contrary to the responses its identity is based on to maintain any purpose to the broader society it exists in. Individual response has no place in an identity. It doesn't fit unless it conforms. Society polices its own, and promotes whats expected . If its exclusive, its not our own. We we have no part of it and can not affect it. Only reject. We can't even accept it, because it serves no purpose to us, it only imposes costs.