mita

Info from the US Government's Center for Infectious Disease Control... re pets. They mention the campylobacter bacterium being associated with puppies. I'm guessing, but maybe puppies' developing immune systems are still 'learning' to deal with that bacterium. They also refer to the necessity for good hygiene, like washing hands. On another page they say it's still OK for young children to be around their household pets, like puppies. They even have a pic of children with young puppies. Maybe it's considered that the weakened immune system of the elderly are a special case. http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/animals/dogs.htm BTW My tibbie was one of the pet therapy dogs chosen for a children's hospital. I remember the meeting when the doctor in charge of disease control in the hospital spoke, He was much in favour of the therapy dogs. They had to be above 12 months old. And I think, most of the dogs selected were 3 yrs or older (more settled in behaviour).

Double post.

Good on you for checking at the source.

'Termperament' is used wrongly in the dog world. 'Temperament', in relation of humans, refers to a constitutional pattern in behaviour that tends to remain constant throughout life. So with humans ... no tester would ever front up to a person about whom they have no history, ignore the fact the person is in a situation of high stress, then apply a single test of how the person behaves during that test ... and call the results 'temperament'. (But this is done with dogs.) Those results would only reflect behaviour during that testing time, in that testing environment and with that tester. There has been no observation of patterns in the person's behaviour, over time and in a variety of natural situations. Which is, of course, temperament. Cosmolo is one of the people, associated with the testing of dogs whom I've heard grasp the difference between temperament and single event behaviour. From what Leema's written, so has RSCPA ACT. Seems they recognize that the 'temperament' test is of single event behaviour ... & so use the results to explore further how characteristic or malleable some of that behaviour is. If so, thumbs up to them.... and the assessment resources they've set up. Resources are related to funding. Getting such approaches into Council pounds would require funding they don't presently have. And would local government have the will to provide those funds? I wouldn't count on it.

I hope any threats will be referred to the proper authorities. Pound staff, even when trying their best, have a terrible job. Pounds are the places where a huge number of dogs are being dumped, for many reasons. Ethical rescues & pound rehoming processes do what they can to help the rehomeable. But even for the rehomeable, 'tickets out' aren't guaranteed. No wonder, as UQ reported, it's a risky job for pound/shelter staff in terms of mental health. The general community turns a blind eye ... while those who are unrealistic about the huge problem turn a highly critical eye. There has to be balanced ways of dealing with it. And less choruses from the armchair warriors who aren't the ones who have to work face to face with the dogs... as the pound staff and people from ethical rescues do. BTW It's a fact that temperament tests given in the usual pound environment are in the context of high stress for the dogs (evidence for that). We wouldn't test humans' temperament in a situation where they were under high stress. BUT it's also a fact that large numbers of dogs are dumped in pounds. That's the only starting point the pound staff have to work with. In an ideal world, the dogs could be placed in a more natural setting before being tested. And any rescue offering a more natural setting, would need to be highly skilled re dog behaviour... as well as realistic about risk posed by any dog. Or pounds would be organised in ways designed to reduce stress. BUT, meanwhile, back in the real world, pound staff & ethical rescuers can only do what they can in the face of considerable problems.

I heard the report about this on the ABC News. Seems it recommended that dogs must be over the age of 1 year before being used for pet therapy in aged care facilities. Makes sense when you think about the puppies' still developing immune system & the older people's weakening immune system. (Small children under 1-2 years also have a still developing immune system.) So adult, health-checked dogs are fine.

:) :) Cruel, isn't it. To the human!

Good on you, macklemad & T, for spelling out actual reasons why it's not wise to request, or to give, information on a sketchy basis, like in the OP & following. And good suggestion, T, that it's more appropriate, on a Net forum, to look at ways in which concerns can be handled & hopefully resolved, without naming any individual vet clinic.

Beautifully said. BTW I read a letter in a magazine from a woman who said she nearly got a thrill one evening. She was getting dinner at the stove when her husband came in from work behind her. He said, 'Did you have a good day, my darling?' She started to answer but he interrupted, 'I was talking to the cat.'

Yes. What goes in, comes out.

Just lovely pics, Nina. Their mum has done a great job. Big cuddle for her.

So that's how they do it. The fridge-openers must get a good grip & give a hefty shove, because of the suction on the doors. Maybe these dogs could get a job testing fridges for the state of the door rubbers.

I'm amazed that a dog could do it, too. I've heard of lots of dogs opening cupboard doors, but never a fridge (even the suction should work against it). Maybe it's the advantage of having a long snout. We had a largish sheltie with a long snout & she could use it like a safe-breaker. But couldn't bust into the fridge. Happy locking up! The fridge, not the dog.

My tibbes (& our shelties before that) go to Samford Pet Resort. It's northern.... but they have pick-up points at numbers of vet clinics in northern, north-western & inner south suburbs. http://www.samfordpetresort.com.au/pet-transport/'>http://www.samfordpetresort.com.au/pet-transport/ These people are the best IMO .. all our little dogs have loved going there. It's a family-owned business for two generations now & they genuinely love the animals and give them best of care. They have one option of care (which costs a little more) where the dogs can be housed in a room that looks exactly like a room in a home. http://www.samfordpetresort.com.au/

A late but heart-felt agreement to what you've said, Moody. And well done, again, to Nina & Rhonda.

Definitely some decency going around here. Good on you all.

Now that's decent.

There's a national & also state-based poison information centres with hot lines to call. The West Australian one is the only one that says they'll give limited advice about pets (covers SA & NT, too). The national one tells pet owners to call their vet. http://www.scgh.health.wa.gov.au/OurServices/WAPIC/index.html

Video of the Souska Tibbie winning best of breed. For those who say showing is 'cruel'.... look at how this sweetie's tail wags. And the reaction of the breeder Ian Blackshaw when she wins.... & up into his arms she goes. That little dog is loved.... & knows it. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10200243237915600

Dog behaviour follows the same general principles as human behaviour. There are individual differences and it's never context free. Which means that unpicking the variables in specific situations come down to educated guessing. And it's why individual cases are not considered generalizable. There is no way that some scientifically rigorous interpretation of the GSD's behaviour can be made. All that's factual is the outcome ... dog's behaviour knocked a gun away at a crucial moment. Why the dog acted like that remains educated guessing. Those who say it had nothing to do with any 'awareness' that it was a dangerous situation, are making an educated guess.... same as those who say the dog reacted after scenting danger.

That's how I'd describe our little dog's bark when she spotted the lost toddler ... I'd never heard her make such a noise before, or since. More a scream than a bark. I bet if someone collected similar stories like we've experienced, there'd be a lot of them. Dogs of all sorts & sizes, picking up that someone is in mortal danger & summoning help. Somehow they pick up the signals ...

I'm so sorry, Ripley. I remember the stories you used to tell about Millie. Like a happy little foster tibbie boy who had a great time playing with her. I can still see in my mind the photos you posted at the time. Millie taught him how to be a good housepet. She was such a clever, gentle, good little girl and so pretty, too. You gave her a wonderful life & my heart goes out to you how much you'll miss her, She will forever be in your heart. Take care.

I can understand your attitude. We've lived next to well cared for racing greyhounds for years. Their owner socialises the puppies with children...and our small dogs. They're truly lovely dogs ... totally trustworthy. When his puppies come back a few years later, they still have the lovely natures they went with. And they remember us & the small dogs. Only yesterday, one of our tibbies was busy up at the fence 'talking' to a new greyhound.... who was wagging its tail like mad. Best doggie neighbours anyone could have.

Funny you should say that. Some time back, our tibbie, Angel, screamed ballistically, from the side fence. I thought a snake had got her. Found her attention on a lost toddler standing in the middle of the road outside... & we live on a blind corner in a street used as a short-cut. I just got her off the road, when a van flew around the bend. The little dog saved that child's life. But my question was.... how did she know the child was in danger. She never barked at people on the footpath or street outside. When I asked the vet, he said the same as you. Dogs can smell anxiety. The little girl had 'frozen' with fear, we think, when she wandered away from the house she'd been visiting. Angel didn't even know her. There's presently a p/b tibbie boy, Willow, who's come into rescue (family devastated by Bundaberg floods). At his home property, one of the children cut themselves very badly...& the little dog ran from the child up to the house, then back again... & kept on doing this screaming barking until someone realised something was wrong & followed him. How do dogs know? Is it being able to smell the anxiety?

I followed up your suggestion of checking for something physical. Found, on PetMed, that there's a condition called Polyphagia where dogs are continually ravenously hungry. It says cause can be either psychological where it's a learned behaviour... or it comes from some condition. Can be associated with increasing age, early diabetes, some condition where food is poorly absorbed etc etc. Some good reading & suggestions: http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/digestive/c_multi_polyphagia#.UT7QFxw_-yM