mita

You're not O/T at all. Just showing that 'magic' effect of dogs, even with one stroke along fur. Imagine the value to the children with autism, when they have that magic at their side, day and night (as DKD showed on TV). Similar story to yours from the US Tibbie people. A young soldier was in a coma in a US hospital. All things were tried to stimulate some consciousness....family voices, music etc. Then a staff member got a bright idea. She brought over a therapy dog (a little tibbie) from the children's hospital. She placed it on his bed. The dog neatly stepped over tubes to lay at his side, head resting against his hand. Nothing happened as time passed. But the little dog just patiently lay there. Then, the hand moved, touching the soft fur & giving the slightest of strokes. From then on.... stimulation (including using the little dog) was stepped up, & there was gradual improvement.

Couldn't agree more that DKD is worth supporting. I went to the Facebook page and saw that they're producing a 2013 calendar, which can be pre-ordered...and they also have auctions. tic, also agree with you about the amazing benefits from therapy dogs. I've just been reading a book about how present knowledge of brain function is forging ways to treat conditions like anxiety & depression. At one point, the author departs from technical words to say this about the 'magic' dogs can bring: "I have the deep-seated idea that some dogs are angels, because they bring such open & non-critical assessment of us and can forgive so graciously. At least my dogs always do."

Yes, there were tibbie people as far away as France clutching the furniture to stop from screaming, "I want Tashi!'. But PAWS says she's now trying out a new home. As I said before, PAWS always has the greatest little dogs of the Shih Tzu or Tibbie type... Tell Joyce to specially ask if one of them recently was rescued just pregnant....in case there are any puppies.

I have one word (said 3 times :) ). PAWS, PAWS, PAWS. They have such lovely little dogs of that type....and the information from the foster-carers is always spot on. Just as a sample of one just missed....seems she's trying a new home. The sweet and beautiful Tashi the tibbie (click to enlarge). But there are other equal sweeties still available.

Well done, Pickles That little dog has truckloads of spirit, which would be a great 'teacher'. BTW, I was just told about a Psychology Clinic in Victoria where therapy dogs are an option for sessions, especially with children and young people: http://www.ltw.com.au/psychology.php I once read a researcher's comment, re the wonderful benefits dogs have been found (with hard evidence) to bring people of all kinds & of all ages & needs. He said that if dogs were a medication, it'd be hailed as a wonder drug. With no side effects, either. :)

It was just wonderful. Not only did the gorgeous dogs do wonders for the children, but the whole venture helped the parents, too. As one mother said, the lady who runs the program had brought her such understanding and support, too. Specially so, for the mother of the severely autistic little boy, whose grief was still so raw. At the end of the segment, the Doctor on the panel remarked that dogs were contributing enormously all across the field of medicine.

Lovely updates to read, PS. I specially love the dad who seemed the least smitten at first, who now is Oscar's 'bestest'. :) Amazing how often that happens! Friends adopted a Siamese cat, Penny... well, the wife did, husband's position was 'I don't really like cats!' But who was it, within a few months was looking out the back deck at night calling, 'Penny, darling, come to bed!' Wife had to tell him maybe he could phrase it a little differently... for the neighbourhood's sake. :)

Our little mixed-breed dog, lived until she was 22 years of age. The UQ Vet Clinic monitored her health needs in the final years of her life. When she finally was helped to doggie heaven, the staff asked could they do an autopsy for learning purposes, as it was so unusual to get a dog that'd lived so long. I agreed. 'Grandma' (as Tessa's name had become since she was 15 years old), loved going to that clinic. She never failed to fling herself at the receptionists to get cuddles (yes, elderly dogs can 'fling'!). And she thought the vets were her personal Admiration Society. So Gran would've approved, too. Her ashes were eventually returned in a particularly lovely box. And she lies beneath the big mango tree in the backyard. She'd approve of that, too. She used to hide behind that tree whenever she saw a bath coming.

Yes, I agree with all of this. Which is why it was so easy to recommend the PR site to new users. No explanations needed on how to use the site... it was easy and self-evident, needing only 3 clicks. Now I find I have to do some explaining...like with the State option being on the advanced search. All was sufficient before, for people to find their way around...the profiles they picked from the initial search, told them the exact location. So no need for the 'within kilometres' option in the advanced search. In fact, the ease of search was one of the outstanding features of the original PetRescue site. With the profiles' formats then giving all the info a person would need to follow up on a dog.

Friends owned a Golden Retriever girl called Ellie along with a Tibbie girl called Yangze. Both had those soft temperaments and seemed to like the similar things that made them happy. Yangze was devoted to Ellie... she wouldn't get into the car unless Ellie was put in first. She seemed to think Ellie was her big 'sister' who needed special care.

To be honest, I thought some reasonable messages came to the general public from the program at the Lost Dogs' Home. Mindless breeding, failure to train and restrain & contain, bluntly lead to dogs' dying. And also that owners can love their dogs, but be setting them up for that. Good to see that someone with a seemingly helpless attitude to training.... could, with 'education'... make a big difference for their dog. But I'm with DD that more understanding of breed behavioural traits would've been very useful. Has implications for people matching dogs to their lifestyle. And also for not mixing up those traits with sheer naughtiness, even tho' they need management.

Yes, the Tibetan Spaniels and the Tibetan Mastiffs formed a great alert/guarding team back in Tibet. Which explains why Tibetan Spaniels are so comfortable perched in high places, gazing out at the world. A builder & his wife that we know reproduced this effective 'team' with the wife's Tibbie and the husband's Dobe (who really was a big sweetie). The Tibbie would alert to any suspicious stranger (& they don't yap mindlessly), then the Dobe would wander out to take a look. Here's a pic of a Tibetan Spaniel between his two Tibetan Mastiff team members....the big ones are chilling out while the little one is alert. Click to enlarge:

One of the Tibetan Spaniel pet owners here, now has a Tibetan Mastiff puppy.... a few months old now. She's more the sweet type, just interested in a happy life. Very good looking girl. Recently, I walked around a corner with my two Tibbie girls on leads and walked straight into the loveliest big young black dog with the most gorgeous coat. The Tibbie girls and this dog just quietly sniffed noses... & then my little dogs started to wag their tails. Seems it was a 12 month-old Tibetan Mastiff. Wouldn't be surprised if it came from the same registered breeder as the first one. But I agree with your caution that a Tibetan Mastiff would not be a dog for everyone.

This is a tibetan spaniel, but not show-standard, that had been clipped. It looks a bit like a daintier-faced version of the OP doggie (so I can see why you ask 'Tibbie X?') Which is why my guess is something bigger and chunkier. But I don't know what !

Padraic, looking back the one thing I'd have done differently was not to take the vet's advice that most dogs get over it, after 3 weeks or so and to just ignore. When I did that, the watching and waiting behaviours just grew into habits that eventually after a couple of months grew into something worse.... heartbreaking crying (not barking) for hours on end when left alone. That nothing, medication or training, could stop. So I wish I'd asked a good behaviourist for some training ideas right from the beginning, like the kind of gentle diversions and rewards you're thinking of. Lottie, being so much younger, would be more flexible in being coaxed away. Best wishes! Let's know how you get on.

Well said.

I understand what you & Lottie are going thro'. One of our 2 tibbie girls died suddenly at home because of a medical error. After a week, the other girl, Angel, started to lie for hours at the side gate waiting for her 'sister' to come back. The pet cremation people had taken her body out that gate. When upstairs with the door closed, she'd lie for hours looking under the door. I took her to get the vet's advice. While we were talking in the examination room, Angel lay looking under the door. The vet said most dogs get over their grief after 3 weeks so don't take any notice... just routine as usual. Except Angel didn't get over this behaviour for a couple of months. Then it changed into crying... a real keening sound...whenever she was home alone. It was heartbreaking to hear. Tried all the things for separation anxiety, as well as medication, but they make no difference. The one thing that's was different from Lottie, is that Angel was 13 years going on 14. Lottie is much younger and may have more flexibility in coping.

, HM.

There's good information on Tibbies on Tibbie Net, which is maintained and contributed to by registered breeders in America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. General info about tibbies as pets here: http://www.tibbies.net/faq.html On the same site, there's a page setting out why the tibbie might not be a match for someone. Tibs have a very unusual nature, very unlike the border collies & shelties we've owned previously. Imagine a dog that's 1/3 like a cat, 1/3 like a dog and 1/3 like a monkey...& you have it! I've had to deal with our tibbie pets in a totally different way. There's a Tibetan Spaniel Association of Victoria where they're very happy to provide more information. http://www.tsavaustralia.com/ Best wishes finding whatever breed suits you and your situation.

That struck me when I looked at it. The old Pet Rescue was exceptionally easy for anyone to use. Straight-forward search Menu, on the main pages. Took you straight to your State's list, then any entry you fancied took you straight to the Profile which had all the info you needed to know... and for contacting. (Only thing is, I wished 'Senior' could be added to search choices.) Quick & crystal clear. I've thought that such ease of use played a big part in Pet Rescue's success. I could recommend it to people looking for pets, knowing that the site was self-explanatory.

You're right. There are good listings on the web, like this one: http://www.holidayingwithdogs.com.au/listings/region/mornington-peninsula-2/ But it's great to get recommendations from people who've actually stayed there with their dog. Or have direct experience from living in the area. It's a beautiful area. Enjoy!

Heaps. And nobody is reading the Adoption Procedure, as suspected. I was wondering how users will be responding to the new site.

Well said, Lollipup. The law about animal cruelty carries possible criminal penalties. it shouldn't be left to a charity to do. There should be public service-employed inspectors whose job it should be... like we have a police service to administer the criminal law. Fat chance, tho', in a time when the existing public service is being cut to the bone. But I think somewhere in the Q'ld animal welfare law, it says that, not only the RSPCA, but also the police & officers from the Dpt of Primary Industries can be called in to cases of animal cruelty.

Or even provide all the basic information behind all the issues. I totally agree with your idea.

Good point, asal. Many people think that 'good' behaviour and the 'perfect' pet dog should just happen. They have no idea that behaviour comes with training...and, as you say, also knowledge of breed characteristics. The main reason given for surrendering/dumping, in a study by UQ, was that the dog didn't meet the owner's expectations. And those expectations were likely what you've suggested. Should be pre-programmed to become 'good'! To be fair, many people respond well when given support in understanding and training their dog. And have a big 'Ah ha!' moment. Like with our first Sheltie who had Separation Anxiety... except I didn't know that condition... I just thought we had a psycho dog who'd rip the sunroom cushions to pieces when left alone. But, when a behaviourist vet explained to me what was involved....and how it could be fixed, I had a big 'Ah ha!' moment. And the vet was right... with consistency & time doing the fairly simple things directed, the Sheltie became fine. That UQ study had a suggestion that maybe a 'remedial behaviour service' could be provided by pounds/shelters to owners who wanted to dump/surrender, so that fixable problems could be fixed. They said costs could be looked at because, that could prove cheaper than the cost of taking those dogs in. But, of course, that approach would still require an owner who's willing to put in the time and effort of training. And there'd still be some (many?) people who aren't.. or can't.