mita

Our 2 shelties were like chalk and cheese. Shelley, the sable girl was bigger than standard, which was why she was sold as a pet. She had a BIG personality, too. Think Lucy in 'I Love Lucy' in dog form... and you have Shelley. Drama queen, bossy, no situation she couldn't make worse, & with something to say about everything. Her nicknames were 'Horse' (in' as big as a horse') and 'The Mouth from the South'. Danny, the tri-colour boy, was smaller than standard... & so pretty and sweet he was always being mistaken for a girl. Such a biddable, good & quiet boy that his nickname was Saint Danny. You can tell a lot from nicknames!

She's adorable. And doing so well, too.

Thanks, trifecta. I get totally confused among the types of Belgians.

I know, I know, Teebs. I feel your pain. I really, really want 10 tibbies, too. :)

Is he the type of Belgian Shepherd that is extensively used as a police dog? If so... & given he's still young, consider contacting the Q'ld Police Service. The QPS both breeds their own puppies and takes donated dogs. Couple of years back, a p/b male German Shepherd, also 12 months old, came up on DOL in a similar situation. In pound & ranger wanted to save him. Contact was given for QPS Dog Squad who took him on. If a dog should later fail its training program, the QPS finds it a good pet home.

Destiny sure is a survivor... and fast becoming a legend. My donation went in the snail-mail yesterday.

I want 10 tibbies but I don't need 10 tibbies. :) Separate out 'wanting' from 'needing'. One's a wish, the other's reality. There's a saying, 'If wishing were horses then beggars would ride.' Roll out the Good 'Ole Reality Check. :)

I spoke to Sally by phone recently about a tibbie in Grafton Pound. She's a very nice lady... & she mentioned her love of Belgian Shepherds. I've got her mobile phone no if you want it. PM.

I own 2, but have a Council permit for up to 4 (just in case). 2 is manageable at the moment, but in my dreams, I'd have a bunch of Tibbies like this Tibetan person :) :

Righto... you really love the puppy stage & are realistic about what comes with it. So sweet about the puppy breath. :) I think you're wise to take all the time you need in making a decision.

Just a suggestion... not saying you ought to. Why not consider a young adult pom being retired to a good pet home by a registered breeder? We've always got our pet tibbies that way. Presently there's a 2 yr old girl called Maddie, available from a NSW registered breeder (if the DOL notice is still up to date). BTW, our adopted tibbies came from NSW. In our case, the breeder was spot on in how she described their natures. We've always had 2 girls. http://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/mature/pomeranian.asp

Thank dog they got to you Ams! I think people who have 'interesting' guests in the bathroom are tops.

Denise's PAWS in Sydney sure often has little dogs in the 'squishy' face style. I've been grateful to her & her foster-carers for rescuing some lovely natured Tibetan Spaniels (Tibbies) over the years. They'd fit the 'Shih Tzu' type. Info on the breed here: http://www.tibbies.net/faq.html As retired people ourselves, we adopted adult age tibbies... with known personalities and mellowed past the puppy stages. In our case, we got ours as retired showdogs from good registered breeders. Because the dogs had been so well socialised by their breeders, they immediately slipped into the lifestyle of going in the car, going out anywhere, being happy to meet strangers and becoming inside close companion dogs. The foster-carers for good rescues, like PAWS & others, can fill you in on their little 'squishy face style' fosters who'd fit that same bill. Certainly, the little ex-PAWS doggies I know of, settled beautifully into new good homes. So maybe you could search on the Pet Rescue site (Small Dogs) for those available in your state and also the other states (depending on policies re interstate adoption). (Include ACT as I've seen lovely small breeds with the Canberra rescues and RSPCA over the years.) http://www.petrescue.com.au/

Yes, the problem has been well publicised here by both the RSPCA and AWL. There's increasing numbers of genuine pet lovers having to relinquish animals. Rental accommodation is in short-supply overall... and landlords willing to take pets are even fewer. You're right, too, that even when pets are allowed, there are weight limits. One case among many highlighted by AWL was a man living in his car, with his Ridgie-type dog, because even tho' he could find accommodation, there was none willing to take his dog.

Yes, the owner should first contact the Jake's original breeder. And, yes, also contact the Bullmastiff Club of South Australia. The contact details are on their website. Also have a look at the Pet Therapy page on that Bullmastiff Club website. Fantastic pic of Mungo, the BM, doing pet therapy with a man who's had a stroke. The website makes the suggestion of contacting the Delta Society to get involved with pet therapy. Jake as a gentle, mellow giant could be perfect.... and someone at the Delta Society might know of someone who'd like to take him on, in that role. http://www.bmcsouthaust.org/ I'd keep trying all options, including also contacting the Bullmastiff Club of Victoria... could know of someone interested in taking as a pet a BM as gorgeous as Jake. Just a drive across... http://www.bmcvictoria.com/ By the way, the availability of rental accommodation for people with pets is becoming a serious issue. Just ask AWL Qld.

Donatella, wise lady not to look into those scrumptious puppy eyes before having made a decision. :) I think it's up to the individual owner. I know that some people are very happy to go along with taking a p/b from a registered breeder & will make the dog available for stud duties (or also some showing?). But they're prepared to deal with all the things that go with it... as Rebanne said, some extra training. But also, as others have said, with every detail written down in a clear contract. My own preference is not to do this. I prefer to adopt the p/b after its showing & reproducing 'duties' are over, so it has a clear life ahead as a desexed pet.

Exactly! Me, too. Then, when the new one was here and soon settled, I wondered what on earth I'd worried about. One of the great things about adopting from a good registered breeder.

Whoops. Double part of post.

Definitely, the general rule is 2 dogs better than one. With exceptions for individual circumstances. Biggest pro, IMO, is that 2 are company for each other. Dogs are pack animals and like company when their owners are out. Once again, there may be individual circumstances, depending on the nature of the dog. Honestly, not all that much more work.... you're doing what you do for one dog, so keep on going & do for two. :) One sobering thought is that it does add on to vet bills, double cost of registration and doggie essentials. But I've found that the pleasure of the second dog is worth all that. Cost, tho', is a real issue for some people. I tend to get 2 dogs of the same breed... tibbies, of course, in my case. When I've been adding a second one to a resident dog, I'd done all sorts of worrywarting if 'they'll get along'. Needn't have worried... within a couple of months, they've become like 'born sisters', BTW my doggies have all come as adults from registered breeders who wanted to retire them to a good pet home. Their natures have already been known (breeders proved spot on re that) and they've been well socialised in all ways. I remember that your pom girl, Lucy, loved having the little rescue foster chi, for company. They were great mates. Look forward to pics and stories of your new doggie. Sounds like probably a pom? Any interest in a tibbie?

You are truly Destiny's 'Mum'... and she'll know that. Keep us up to date on the money needs.

I endorse your every word, bossanova. It's why I find it so easy to temporarily look after friends' tibbies. They think out the situation for themselves and form themselves into a little 'pride'. We used to have working dog breeds but these tibbies have a totally different kind of intelligence. More reflective and self-sufficient. But still amazingly loving and loyal. BTW our very experienced dog groomer said the same as you. Tibbies are the one breed that inevitable people tend to have in pairs. When we took one of ours to her for the first time... she said, 'I bet you've got another one at home!". We did and would have a dozen, if possible.

Thank you! You'd be keeping us dinosaurs happy and in the loop. :)

I'm not on Facebook. Is there a way for people like me to follow the situation & to contribute? Bless you for helping Destiny.

Our Border Collie, Peter, years ago used to get carsick, even tho' he loved going in the car. It always happened a certain distance from home.... where he'd go glassy-eyed and still. Like another poster said, this was time to stop, get him out of the car, where he'd throw up. Once that was done, he'd be fine for the rest of the journey. Years later, a breeder told us that chewing a gingernut biscuit would've helped him. We were also told that both people and dogs are less likely to get carsick if they can see the horizon line all the time. Obviously we never had a chance then to try those out.

And a jolly good nutshell it is, too. I'm saving your post because it answers the question 'What is a purebred?' with precision and clarity.