mita

At this stage, I'd only mention the outstanding performances of Muswellbrook and Wyong 'shelter/pounds'. And suggest this should be the means & standard for all unspecified pounds. It's that benchmark which ought to be got into the public mind.

Good on you for looking at stats. There should be public recognition and praise for 'pound/shelters' like Muswellbrook & Wyong. How about a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald? Someone whose knowledge and opinion I trust, commented to me how impressed they were re the conditions and attitudes expressed when they visited Wyong. So bouquets to the councils that allow the pounds to work to that model, the staff that make it happen and the rescue folk who so willingly take some of the load.

Great article about Malachy going home after his win. There's definitely a sturdy-bodied little Lion Dog under his fur. His owner/handler says Malachy trains 'like an athlete', going up and down their long driveway every day. He also likes butter on toast....not margarine. Sardi's, the posh restaurant in New York, got permission for Malachy to have dinner there after his win, cooking up chicken and rice for him. Lovely pic of Malachy, later at home, posed in his winning cup. The evidence is that this purebred Pekingese lives a happy, mobile & healthy life. I got this link from US Tibetan Spaniel breeders who are delighted for Malachy & his win. http://www.ydr.com/ci_19988379#.Tz8mv8IG18Y.email

I'm so sorry. That would've been a huge shock for you. I'd be doing the same trying to make everything as comfortable for her as possible. What I'd suggest, it seems you're already doing, especially using the nutrigel. Only additional suggestion is that liquids can be a bit easier to take in and digest. Like, the juice out of cans of salmon... or chicken simmered in water to make a tasty broth. Put some small diced sweet potato in with the chicken and blend it in with the strained liquid. My Tibbie girls have a spoonful of Vaalia Natural Probiotic Yoghurt on their meals. Would your girl like some, too?

I told you he should be in the movies. :)

There's a variety of 'cuts' that people can choose for their pet Shih Tzu or Poodle. Just out of interest, here's a sturdy little 'crouching lion' shape of a pet Pekingese that's been given a cut not unlike one that pet Shih Tzus can get. I have no idea of this little one's background.

IMO, this is very good advice.

There's an article in the Sun Herald where George Clooney tells how his late pet pig, Max, used to climb up on his bed to sleep.

You've further supported my argument. Lootie & Ah Chum.....nicked by the British from China during the late 19th century did not match the premium standard for a Court small 'Lion Dog' described by the ulitmate breeding manager for that Court.....the Empress. She left a clear documentation of that premium standard (& the behaviours and lifestyle which went with it). It was from that Empress's description that the 'Pekingese' was developed under Western Kennel Club supervision via selective breeding. So it's no surprise that the description is close to today's Malachy & also to the photos of developed Pekes posted by Aloysha. The Empress also placed this conformation within the activities of a particular lifestyle. I can't see any evidence that Malachy would have any impediments in living a similar, but modernized life-style. What is needed is more public education about the histories and development of today's purebred dogs. Including the fact that the development is not just related to appearance or conformation.....but to different activities in different lifestyles. All of which is actually one of the strengths possible in pure dog breeding. O/T photos of 2 Tibetan Spaniels winning their section at Westminster. http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2012/results/breed/tibspan.html

Speaking only for myself, I have no problems with Tibetan Spaniels being clipped, when they live entirely the life of a pet. They have well-shaped little bodies & look like lambs.

O/T, but we had a Cardigan Corgi when we were kids. She was a great, versatile family dog. A great choice when someone wants a family dog that's up the bigger end of the smaller breeds.

Tibetan Spaniels were bred for particular jobs in the Buddhist monasteries and homes of the nobles, in Tibet. One job was to be bed warmers. That was for practical reasons, to keep people warm in a cold climate. Here's a tibbie in Tibet saying, 'Is it time for bed yet?' I saw an online ad for lovely bedspreads made by Tibetans in exile in northern India. On each bed, sat a lovely Tibetan Spaniel. So, to Tibetan people, think 'bed', think 'tibbie'. BTW Our Tibbies sleep on cushions beside the bed. We don't want them falling off a bed while asleep, with their short legs & long backs.

Methinks those same teenagers have been well taught, by that same mum, what really has value in life.

Lootie's appearance does not match the 'premium' features described by the Empress herself....a strict breeding manager of her small 'Lion Dogs' in that very Chinese Summer Palace. There were other breed types in the Palace & its kennels, including Pugs and Shih Tzus. Even Tibetan Spaniels were present in China & only ever given by the Tibetans to royal courts or monasteries. There is no evidence that Lootie was actually one of the Empress's premium little 'Lion Dogs' (called Pekingese by the British). As I said, he doesn't entirely match what the Empress wrote....but Malachy would be closer, so would Aloysha's Peke pics. (I've posted the Empress's description earlier). Lootie was nicked by British soldiers when they over-ran the Palace. He was not picked out by show judges basing their choice on the Empress's standards for a premium dog. At that time, other eastern dogs had a general 'look'. As a result, Lootie has a similar look to some Japanese Chins and Tibetan Spaniels of the period and location. And which may have been in the huge Palace precincts and/or kennels. As I understand it, a great number of the Empress's actual dogs were killed by the invaders. Also is there any evidence that Malachy is 'unhealthy' relative to the activities in his lifestyle? As the Empress pointed out, these dogs are lapdogs, or better still, sleeve dogs, living an ordered & well-cared for life as (largely) a woman's indoor pet. Would any of Malachy's features make him unhealthy living that way? All dogs, just like people, have physiques which lend themselves to different activities. No one screams to high heaven when sporting coaches or dance teachers, look at body features in relation to how well they can carry out certain activities....or not. Not all dogs have the physical attributes to go racing after their owner's galloping horse.....or even go on a brisk 3 mile walk. Just as not all people have the physical attributes (long arms & long legs) to do competitive rowing. BTW, Sandgrubber my opinion is that you made a case based on what you considered to be evidence. I don't agree with it, in its entirety, as I looked at some other evidence and comparisons. But I found you were civil in what you had to say.

There's a wonderful heritage left by the Dowager Empress T'zu Hsi (of China, of course). She wrote a description of what Pekinese dogs should be like ( & why) ...because they were much loved & admired members of her court. Her description would fit Malachy. It starts off: "Let the Lion Dog be small, let it wear the swelling cape of dignity around its neck, let it display the billowing standard of pomp over its back. Let its face be black, let its forefront be shaggy, let its forehead be straight and low, like unto the brow of an Imperial harmony boxer. For its colour let it be that of a lion,a golden sable, to be carried in the sleeve of a yellow robe, or the colour of a red bear, or striped like a dragon, so that there may be dogs appropriate to every costume in the Imperial wardrobe. .... Let it be taught to refrain from gadding about, let it comfort itself with the dignity of a Duchess. Let it learn to instantly bite the foreign devils! Let it wash its face like a cat with its paws, let it be dainty in its food, that it shall be known for a Royal and Imperial dog by its fastidiousness. Let its eyes be large and luminous let its ears be set like the sails of a war junk, let its nose be like that of the Monkey God of the Hindu. Let its forelegs be bent so that it shall not desire to wander far or leave the Imperial precincts. Let its body be shaped like that of a hunting lion spying for prey. Let its feet be tufted with plentiful hair that its footfalls may be noiseless, and for its standard of pomp, let it rival the whisk of the Tibetan yak, which is flourished to protect the Imperial litter from the attack of flying insects. Let it be lively that it may afford entertainment by its gambols, let it be wary that it may not involve itself in danger, let it be sociable in its habits, that it may live in amity with the other beasts, fishes or birds that find protection in the Imperial Palace. ..."

That's good. You're already in the information loop. Only problem I can find with Tibbies is that they're so damn easy to live with, that it makes it too easy to keep adding one!

I love the photo. All eyes, including the Police Commissioner & the Police Minister, are on Zac. While Zac is looking firmly at the camera....as if to say, 'Yes, I did good!' And he did... a very brave police dog.

I'm so glad Hera's been found. Lucky girl to have a breeder like Peta, who went all out to find her.....& will now keep her safe. I agree with you that 'knocking' doesn't help, when there's no knowledge about circumstances. And well done, Hera, you found the relative safety of a park!

Good option. We owned working dog breeds & were not small dog people. Then I walked into a bunch of calm, self-possessed little dogs at a dog show. They looked me straight in the eye as if they were summing me up as much as I was summing them up. Found out they were Tibetan Spaniels. Did research by talking to the registered breeders.....who were generous with time and information....& honest. We adopted a 3 yr old Tibbie that a breeder was retiring from showing. We thereby discovered the beauty, intelligence and unusual personality of these little dogs. And have never had anything but Tibbies since. Our long-term neighbours also caught the 'tibbie bug'....and now only have the breed as a pet. All these Tibbies have been past the puppy stage & retired from showing by their registered breeders. Which means they showed the effort put into their breeding, and also socialisation from being around other people & dogs....and their individual personalities were developed. The Tibbie personality is said to be 1/3 dog (loyal & loving), 1/3 cat (clean & self-possessed), 1/3 monkey (intelligent & playful). I've found each tib's personality is combinations of those. Like, one may be slightly more playful, while another might be a bit more cat-like. Prey drive? None of our Tibbie girls have had a high prey drive. But the Tibbie boy next door specialised in catching flies & beetles! I've heard US breeders say they have some Tibs that expertly catch mice. (The breed has hare-feet, like the sighthounds, & can move fast.) If you'd like some contacts to registered breeders to talk with, PM.

Good to hear about this dialogue.

Great news! Keep up the good work, Uno. You must be so proud of him.

Put piles of Lost posters around the general area she went missing in. With a line saying 'Information welcome....'. As someone may have just seen a dog like this suddenly turn up in a neighbour's yard....or spotted it hanging around a park. Specially ask places where lots of people go, to put up a poster.....garages, local shops, library. Even some schools will agree to put one on their noticeboard (kids have a sharp eye for dogs around the place....& they walk & play in local places). Also posties will sometimes accept a notice. All that on top of the usual checking with pound, notifying vets in the area.... Hera is very beautiful. I hope she's found safely.

Just wanted to say there's great advice & spot on knowledge about dog behaviour, in this thread. It's the kind of information that should be spread around the pet owning public.

He's so gorgeous he ought to be in the movies! Onya, teekay, for fostering him.

altho I have reservations about this , being there is a small dog also in the yard . I think adding a high value treat might not be ideal... Guess who once owned a Sheltie with severe separation anxiety! And had to get help from UQ vet clinic where a behaviourist explained why she ripped up the sunroom sofa cushions when we went out. Our smell strong there....& Madam Sheltie ( a very dominant girl) was using the cushions to show how cranky she was at us for leaving her home alone. Bless the OP's new boy, he's just sitting on the owner-smelly sofa for comfort....no sign of cranky destructiveness aimed at his owners' scent. (Only at the doggie door, to get to it!!). I agree with your comment about not using a long-chewy treat, when there's a smaller dog also there.