mita

My tibbie girls meditate by taking a nap. Curled up on their big cushions, with nose tucked into fluffy tail. The cat is next to them, lying exactly the same way. They only come awake for a quick trip to the toilet outside. Then much rubbing of fur and wiping of feet, with nice warm towels. I guess they think that's one job they can give me on a rainy day.

No, I don't speak Tibetan, even tho' I own tibetan spaniels. Friends owned a tibbie who was born and bred in Singapore & finished up living in Brisbane....named Zou Chai. They were attending a festival in New Farm Park when Zou Chai took himself off to join a group of young people. Turned out the young people were overseas students studying at U of Q. And they were from Singapore & had been speaking in their native language. Seems that Zou Chai was a bi-lingual tibetan dog who 'understood' both Chinese and English. :) Funny thing is that one of my tibbies was born in Sweden. And, no, I don't speak Swedish! But her nickname is Abbaface. :)

My Tibetan Spaniels don't like wearing dog coats here in the Brisbane winter. They seem to make them uncomfortable. But what they do like in winter is access to their soft crates that have a pillow and baby blanket inside....and also a baby blanket thrown over the top. They take themselves into their soft crates at night and I can see brown eyes looking out at me from the warm 'cave'. When they come out, they feel as warm as toast. The soft crates are lined up in the bedroom at night... Looks like little motel rooms! :)

I read somewhere that the smaller, 'lap-dog' type dogs have eyes positioned to be rather 'human'-like as they focus on a person. I don't know the truth of that, but the way tibbies look straight into your eyes, was what attracted me to them, in the first place. I was at the Brisbane Royal and walked into a couple of rows of small dogs that calmly looked me straight in the eye. I asked what breed they were....& a couple of months later, I owned one, a tibbie. After years of owning pet tibbies, I still love how they do this.

You're not wrong. I saw a research paper on people requiring medical treatment for dog bites and it pointed out that the stats for people needing treatment for assault by humans showed hugely more cases. By comparison, it's amazing how most dogs, who live so closely with humans, don't do harm. But having said that, dog bites and attacks are a problem. Though, there's some good evidence how they might be prevented. So the emphasis should be on prevention.

That's dreadful there'd still be kennels where they lack the foresight to see that dogs could scale the fence into another dog's space. And, good on you, for designing your kennels so it cannot happen.

Yes, thank you, Aussielover, for a great post.

I remember that Rotti on the Show. It said he was specially good at police work, because his father had been an outstanding police dog. Silly burglar! No wonder he's nursing some wounds. And he's being charged with aggravated cruelty to a dog! Among other things.

Even if dogs are put in separate kennels, it's a good idea to check how they're constructed. Some people in Brisbane, a few years back, lost their tibbie who was in a separate kennel enclosure. Dog, in the next separate kennel scaled the high wire wall and killed the poor little thing. Each kennel had a closed section leading out into a little exercise yard. No top over the exercise section. I doubt if any kennel, these days, would have construction like that.

I'd agree it's important to be proactive. That's why I'd hope that the NSW Task Force would take into account submissions from registered breeders setting out exactly how they, as individuals, breed for temperament and raise for socialisation. And why this is so important for dogs who will always be living up close and personal with humans. And such registered breeders are not alone, in those aims. Military dogs, bred at Amberley, have similar good work put into them. Their puppies ares socialised from birth and then out living with families in the community from 4 months of age to when their military training begins. Good rescue groups caring for pregnant 'mums' and raising the puppies, equally emphasize socialising both mum and puppies. This common aim....and how it can best be done....should be central to whatever comes out of that Task Force. But that would depend on the membership, of course, and how open they are to outside submissions. And their willingness to find points in common or simply different ways of achieving aims. For those who hammer on about 'hybrid vigour', there's another 'perspective' from those registered breeders who continually seek to widen the gene pool (made much easier by modern technology). I dips my lid to many of the breeders of my breed of interest....who have added dogs from a variety of European, UK and New Zealand bloodlines.

I know my research science.....which is why I point out that statistically one group of breeders (registered) stood out (in a scientific study) in how they tend to socialise their dogs and puppies well. Important, because as the same study points out, lack of early socialisation has a link with later aggression. 'Statistically' means there's a greater chance of a certain group of breeders (registered) socialising their animals well. It predicts nothing about individual breeders, tho'. So it does not mean that every breeder in that group socialises their dogs/puppies well. There will be those who do not. Also, statistically, breeders in another group (unregistered) were found, in the same study, to be less likely to socialise their dogs/puppies well. Once again, this predicts nothing about individual breeders in that group. So it does not mean that every breeder in this unregistered group does not socialise their dogs/puppies well. There will be those who do. What is highlighted is the critical importance of socialisation....whoever does it. And the information that registered breeders are more likely.....but not invariably so....to do it well. We have good examples from individuals who do it well. Clearest descriptions I've heard, are from Jed here on DOL & the member of the Rottweiler Club of Victoria on Radio National. As this is a purebred forum that supports purebred dogs, such examples make good models. Your comment suggesting it's being said that one group...meaning all members of that group... 'stand out as a better example' is not true. That would show lack of knowledge of statistics. Stats show trends within groups...and examples are shown by individuals (whoever they are).

Article in the Sydney Morning Herald, October 2011, refers to a Living Ruff program that was aimed at providing care for the pets of the homeless in Sydney. Rather like the Brisbane program I posted about. http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/homeless-pets-to-get-helping-paw-20111005-1l938.html I also saw a reference to another Sydney group which helps the homeless....and it, too, included some care for pets.

I love how you're giving her Kitten Physio. :) And the hot water bottle. Your vet sounds like he's determined to give Cookie her best chance.

The man who started the Brisbane Pawprints Program said he came up with the idea because he'd seen how the homeless put their own needs aside to care for their pets. From Courier-Mail article: Footprints Homeless Outreach Program co-ordinator Jade Conan-Thompson came up with the idea of "Pawprints" after seeing clients sacrificing their own needs to look after their pets. University of Queensland psychologist Judith Murray said having a pet had a lot of advantages for marginalised people. "One of the strong things of human beings is to be needed," she said. "A lot of people don't feel like they're needed . . . and an animal provides that."

There's a charity group in Brisbane that looks after the interests of homeless people. Called Footprints. From time to time, they have a 'pet care' meeting in New Farm Park for homeless people. Along with RSPCA, they provide vet checks and treatments, care products, food, dog coats and other accessories. They make the point they don't encourage the homeless to have pets (because of the hard life) but understand how much their pets sustain them. So every support is provided to help them care for the pets. One man living in his car, with a lovely boxer-like female dog, commented that she saved his sanity. He slept in the front seat in much less comfort than his dog....she slept stretched across the back. The service extends to vulnerable people who live in special accommodation (but who can keep their pet). Like people with disabilities etc. It's called Pawprints. Here's the Courier-Mail story about the Pawprint pet care support day in New Farm ParkL http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/paw-fect-match-for-the-lonely-and-disabled/story-fn6ck45n-1226347196984 I think this model of care is well balanced for all concerned, including the pets. Info on the charity group that works with RSPCA to provide Pawprints. http://www.footprintsinc.org.au/index.html

I'll meet you half-way, Jed....with 'companion pets'. (OK, I know that's redundant! :) ). Your description of a 'pet', is spot on. I only want to add 'companion' to stress that pet dogs have to be developed to be alongside humans in their lifestyle. And that 'development' is in the hands of humans....the decisions they make about breeding, how they raise, socialise, care for, and train puppies/dogs to be 'companion pets. (OK, I know it sounds clunky :) ). But it's all those requirements that get left out of media reports and public comments, after 'pet' dogs go beserk and cause serious damage to humans (or other dogs). There's evidence that these dogs just didn't have effort put into them, from the earliest age to the present, to make them safe 'companions' to humans. But, just because many people are using the term 'companion dogs', it doesn't mean they know what's required to develop dogs into trusted companions. And this OP report is a good example. From a case of (truly horrible) dog against human aggression.....they go right to blaming lack of mandatory desexing and anyone who breeds dogs. Not one word that shows knowledge of how dogs have to learn from humans in their lives how to be safe alongside humans. And managed accordingly. Nor is there a mention that, statistically, one group of breeders has been found to be more likely to give their puppies an essential base of good socialisation. And so less likely to develop dog against human aggression. Even tho' I've just argued for 'companion pets'....I think it could be equally argued to bring back 'pet'....as it's a simple and realistic word, which means a very special closeness. Like you've said....a pet cuddles up to children, grans and other family members. It could even be a potent weapon against 'puppy farming'. Puppies destined to be 'pets' should be bred and raised in their early weeks by mother dogs that are treated as 'pets'. Evidence (and commonsense) is that mother dogs are puppies' first model of doggy behaviour.

Good on you! I hope lots of NSW folk take up your suggestion. I don't know the specifics of the NSW 'taskforce'. But such a group should exist not just for individual members to press their their own agenda. It should be a 'round table' affair where members step outside their own agendas to listen to other perspectives. And there would need to be some review process that oversees their work.

That dreadful incident where the young woman was injured by the 2 dogs hasn't got anything to do with mandatory desexing. It's about the dogs' behaviour and how they've been raised and managed by an owner. Why is the focus going on to mandatory desexing as a remedy....? The remedies for dog aggression against humans lie with how puppies are bred and socialised, and training and management by owners. When all this is covered well, entire dogs are no more human-aggressive than desexed ones. The pet therapy team from Dogs Victoria has 'show' Rottweilers who moon-light working with the elderly in nursing homes as much loved 'visitors'. And they're entire....the rotties, that is. Best summary I've ever heard on how to breed and raise a well-socialised, human-friendly dog, came from the registered breeder who owned the Pet Therapy Rottie....speaking on Radio National. It's people like this who already 'live' the remedies against dog-on-human aggression. And have the evidence.

There's differences among the states.....especially about mandatory microchipping. In states where it hasn't been mandatory, dogs still turn up, not microchipped. The example I gave was from Q'ld where microchipping has been a gradual development and there are still dogs (including purebreds) that are not microchipped. You'll notice someone has posted another thread where RSPCA Qld is conducting microchipping 'clinics' around regions of Brisbane to assist in a 'catch up'. There's also movements of unmicrochipped dogs between states....and microchips that have 'moved' in a dog's body. For a number of reasons, there can still be instances where a dog of a certain breed (including less common ones) can turn up with no background information. Tho', it should be getting less common. If a particular State's law requires all puppies be microchipped before sale, it can only be a good thing. As far as I know, all the microchip data bases require a breed label be recorded.

She's sure got the personality that makes some of us 'tibbie tragics'. :)

Good on you for posting the rule about no 'What's in my dog?' threads. But you're right about how important 'wotami' can be in rescue. Rescuers see so many dogs that come with no background information. It challenges them to know all sorts of breeds....and some dogs can be purebreds of a less common breed, or a purebred but not show quality, or an ungroomed example of a p/b. My own breed is vulnerable for being mislabeled...tibetan spaniels get called pekes, peke crosses, shih tzus, shih tzu crosses, cavalier crosses. I'm always grateful when an eagle-eyed DOLer queries if there's a mislabelling on a rescue list. 'Spotters' have never been wrong yet! One DOLer famously saved a p/b tibbie from being sold from a pound as a peke....while the owner was still searching for it (including phoning the pound). The pound had labelled it a peke. A DOLer spotted the error & the pound notified. Fortunately there was a day cooling-off period before the new purchaser could pick it up. Tib was returned to a very grateful owner.

Tuppy, don't forget to leave things with your scent on.....in the place where he'll spend Being Alone time. And rub the palms of your hands all over his toys. The owners' scent brings comfort to a dog. The dog behaviourist stressed this, to us. You said your Cocker spends a lot of time with your husband so it'd be his scent to get on the Being Alone items. If you train him, first, to be in his Being Alone spot in little bits....while you're still home....it won't be such a big step-up to leaving him there when you go out. You don't always have to close the laundry door when you do it. If he has a bed there.....that's where you'd go to give him a treat, a bone, a new toy or whatever. Where he'll happily settle to deal with it. You want that Being Alone spot to be somewhere that your dog happily goes himself. Every dog is different and everybody's set-up is different, so you could always consider getting a dog behaviourist to come figure out a plan.

The only time your Cocker is confined to that outside area under the covered verandah, is when you are out. So he associates that place with your not being there. And he's barking to 'demand' you come back. We had a sheltie with separation anxiety like that & we were advised by a dog behaviourist to set up the place where the dog would be, when we were out. But to train the dog to spend some time there.....even when we were home. Could you use the laundry for that? He's already used to being alone there at night. Make all the good things happen for the dog there....like gets meals, chews bones, has toys etc. Most importantly put some items there that have you scent on them....old unwashed T-shirts & rub your hands all over his toys to transfer scents. The owners' scent makes a substitute for their presence, to a dog. Leave a radio playing way up out of chewing range. If toileting is a concern....rig up a simple indoor toilet using landscaping grass. If your dog gets used to the fact that this is a 'good', Being Alone place, which isn't just connected with you not being there....then it's less a big deal when you go out. It also makes less a deal out of it...if you settle the dog in that place a little while (15 mins?) before you go. After that you ignore him completely until you go. When you come home, ignore him for 10 mins after you leave him out of his 'place'. No eye contact, no patting, turn your back if he jumps up. Only when he's quiet, then call him for his pats. Also, your Cocker is using his voice to demand your attention 'come back', when he's alone. So, when you are with him, never reward him with attention if he uses his voice. Only give him good things when he's quiet....like treats, meals, pats etc. If he makes a demanding noise, turn your back. Only when he's quiet, give him the good thing. The penny will eventually drop that using his voice to 'demand' something doesn't work. But being quiet makes good things happen. We were greatly helped by the dog behaviorist. It was money well spent, because our sheltie's behaviour changed.

Have a look at Genevieve, listed with a Victorian Rescue group as a Tibetan Spaniel X, but she looks close to the real deal Tibetan Spaniel to me. Sweet face, warm and affectionate nature so she gets on with every human being. And she loves being with another dog in the family. http://www.petrescue.com.au/view/158540

Even tho' it's another state, why not contact the Rescue Service of the Boxer Club of Q'ld? They could know of someone waiting to adopt a Boxer in need. In fact, that Rescue says that they will 'act as matchmakers'. Ned is so beautiful and stunning & from a well-cared for background. I'd imagine any Boxer lover would be very interested in him. By the way, my tibbies came up to us in Brisbane from Canberra, as mature adults. Contact details for Boxer Rescue Q'ld on the Club site: http://www.qldboxerclub.org/rescue.htm