mita

If only we could bottle Bonnie's amazing spirit! I just love the 'stare' that can 'laser' the other collies out of her bed.

I agree with all this. Plus, it's important to make every day of his life count. Just the same for humans, the best way to deal with the fact life will not go on forever, is to make it as good as possible. So, share & enjoy, the special relationship you have with your dog.

I agree with that, in principle. But I found as I kept walking briskly, not looking back.....suddenly the brake would go on because Angel had sat. However, dogs are individuals & something like keeping up the momentum might work with another dog. I also think our other suggestion about looking into collar settings & types is worthwhile, too. In one of the Cesar Milan programs, he showed how putting the collar up high on a dog's neck made a difference with one uncooperative walker.

That's a good suggestion to try. And it's why I started taking Brockie the tibbie next door with Angel. They both adored each other & Brockie was a keen walker. And Brockie even tried hard to encourage Angel when she did the Big Sit, by trotting back & licking her. But it didn't work in this case. Each dog is different, tho'.

Tell Oscar you'll swap him for a portable tibbie, if he doesn't put his best paw forward But I know from experience that it wouldn't work. Besides, if you did, you'd be likely to wind up with a great-great grandson of Angel. And it'd start all over again. I just looked at Akay's pic of Bailey, bailing up. Was that familiar!....except Angel would firmly plant her bottom on the ground. But she wouldn't look anxious, she'd look determined. The behaviour sure beat me. And to this day, I can't understand why a dog would be so consistent in not walking & walking....according to her own 'pattern'. And how I couldn't fool her with all sorts of changes in direction for the walk. I agree, you don't even have the choice of doing the 'walk', then 'pick up' routine.

Just heard on the ABC. Qld's chief vet says it's believed that the dog caught the virus from exposure to an infected horse on the property....& not directly from bat activity. He also said that the virus is an evolving one. NSW & Qld have set up joint investigative committee & both governments have just added 3 million dollars each, to the research.

Good suggestions from others to check for any muscular-skeletal problems or any scary (to him) dogs on the way. But I admit I had a Tibbie girl, Angel, who'd do exactly what your dog is doing. She had no physical problems & wasn't frightened of big dogs. She was actually a small dog 'tester' for GAP. On a 'walk', she'd go for about 10 feet, then firmly sit on her bottom & refuse to go further. Treats & encouragement wouldn't budge her. Brockie, the tibbie next door, who used to come with us (& loved his walks), would trot back to her & lick her as if to say, 'Come on, Angel!'. No luck for him, either. After a while his attitude seemed to be, 'Leave the blonde & keep going!!'. Once I tried dropping her lead & walking on with Brockie. She won the bluff because she stayed with her bottom 'nailed' to the walking track....while we disappeared into the distance. Yep, back we went to get her. Weird thing was, that as soon as we turned to go home, she'll trot along without a worry. I used to try to trick her by going in different directions. But she must've had an in-built compass, because she always knew when the direction was towards home. Another weird thing was that in other settings, she never baulked at walking on a lead. She'd been a champion showdog & was a 'working' pet therapy dog (where she was brilliant). And she'd walk, trot & run, on lead, like a real professional when testing greyhounds (which she loved!). After a while, I accepted that I couldn't change her. And we used to do a form of the scout's pace.....I'd carry her for 10 feet then let her walk for 10 feet (or near enough!).

Coming from another angle, could it be that the dog is of more value to science, alive, rather than dead? The news report said it is developing antibodies to the disease, at this stage. If the dog's own immune system proves to be able to deal with the virus, then the nature of those antibodies would prove important. I guess, tho', that would mean keeping the dog in the very tightest quarantine. Maybe that'd be too difficult....& even inhumane. Especially given that blood samples could suffice for study, after it's been PTS . Very sad, tho'. And very worrying for dog owners in SE Qld. Bats are all over the place. Like, they come to the mango trees in suburban backyards. I hope the authorities are going all out to fund the research into this Hendra virus. I agree 100% maybe useful to develop a vaccine?? Trouble is the dog's antibodies can be taken & studied in laboratory conditions via blood/tissue samples....without the dog needing to be kept alive. It's already developed them. Keeping the dog alive, I'd guess, would be an overwhelming problem for any quarantine & high risk. As hard as it is for people to see a presently healthy dog being PTS. I wonder if it's possible for a dog to become infected on property where there are no infected horses. Or do they have to catch it from an infected horse. It'd be a huge worry if dogs can 'catch' the virus directly from bat activity. Just heard on the ABC News....the state's chief medical person says that humans need to be exposed to a lot of the virus in order to catch it. She said that dogs being smaller animals than horses, would give out less amounts of the virus, thus decreasing the risk of humans catching it from dogs. But, at the moment, any risk at all means PTS for dogs.

Coming from another angle, could it be that the dog is of more value to science, alive, rather than dead? The news report said it is developing antibodies to the disease, at this stage. If the dog's own immune system proves to be able to deal with the virus, then the nature of those antibodies would prove important. I guess, tho', that would mean keeping the dog in the very tightest quarantine. Maybe that'd be too difficult....& even inhumane. Especially given that blood samples could suffice for study, after it's been PTS . Very sad, tho'. And very worrying for dog owners in SE Qld. Bats are all over the place. Like, they come to the mango trees in suburban backyards. I hope the authorities are going all out to fund the research into this Hendra virus.

Yes, Fernleigh Kennels. I just phoned them on (02) 6931 2518 http://www.dogcatboarding.com.au/contact.asp

I'll follow your sensible suggestion of trying to support the pair where they already are & will pay a week's board directly to the kennels ($160). I hope they'll still look around for a possible 2nd best...generous offer of local foster-care. Glad, too, you've given a worst-case scenario of offering foster-care in Sydney. LATER: Done.

Tibbies have confidence around heights....combined with sure-footedness. They have the same hare-feet as a mountain goat. And their intelligence means they don't do things for the risky heck of it. They'd be the last dog to 'merrily hoon around on the edges of cliffs.' That would fail the famous Tibbie test of, 'And the point of this....is?' With their self-possessed nature, an owner prone to heart palpatations would drive them nuts.

Just adding. If you happen to be riding a horse on your long trek, get a tibbie. They're brilliant at riding on the saddle in front of the rider. They have no fear of heights (well, when your ancestors had Mt Everest in the backyard ) I've heard of a several cases now of people who, as a matter of course, have their tibbie riding with them.

What a lovely family in that the daughter cared about finding her dad's elderly dog. And what a lovely rescue to help out....with success. Full marks to the wonderful trilling Patches who sang to save his life.

I'll check back later today to see if there's any firm way to help. Later. Any updates?

I've had 2 dogs with tendency to separation anxiety. Neither played with toys, but they liked soft toys on their beds. I was told by the behaviourist vet to rub the palms of my hands all over those toys, regularly, to transfer my scent on to them. It's the owner's scent that can give a dog a sense of his owner's presence....like how humans use a photograph. I was also told to have a regular 'day bed' place where the dog would spent time alone....& also have him use when I was home. And put there, those toys plus an old unwashed T shirt or sock, to emphasize the owner's scent even more. I had to make all nice things happen for the dog, on that spot....like whenever he got a treat, or had a bone (chewing can keep it occupied). So he associated the place as good. Also in one case, I'd leave a radio (up out of reach) tuned to a 'talk' station. The other advice was not to make any fuss with the dog, either when I was going out or coming back. I had to ignore him, for 10 minutes before going & after returning. That was to take any emotional hype out of being away. Even tho' it sounds tough....just for a while, pull back on attention so he doesn't get to expect it all the time (including wanting it when you're away). Cool things a bit for a couple of weeks. When he gets more calm about his relationship with you, you can 'uncool' things. And when the dog's anxiety is reduced, by doing all those things, he'll usually spends plenty of time snoozing, on his 'day bed'.

Thank you, Melissa, for phoning up & getting some information about what can be done in the immediate situation. Some extra time in the kennels, via donations, might give more time to find someone willing to provide fostercare. And/or if efowler (thanks to you, too) can talk to the nun & get firmer information about the options. Also the nun might be in a position to use catholic networking in Wagga to ask for offers of fostercare. I notice they've got a Micah place down there. That lovely kelpie looks like a very sweet temporary guest. Nice puss, too.

Tibetan Spaniels have an extremely wide range of colours....as all solid colours & partis are acceptable. The ones I've had, have been gold. But each one's gold has been different. Like Angel was yellow-gold, Nina Zena is platinum gold & Annie is a reddish gold. The tibbie next door perfectly matches our cat who is tabbie-torti. Lily has similar colours. Here's a big bunch of p/b Tibbies, showing the variety: http://www.dolforums.com.au/uploads/monthly_07_2011/post-3304-0-64054000-1311215236_thumb.jpg

It's that length of hike that would rule out a Tibbie. They're fantastic over short distances....with their hare-feet giving them traction for speed and for climbing. My tibs climb like mountain goats! But they're a short-nosed breed & would have problems with getting rid of body heat over a long haul. Unless (as I do) they're picked up at intervals & carried for a while to allow them to cool down. I think others have made some excellent suggestions, anyway.

Well said. You're right that it can be a good opportunity to clue people in.

Is this the Fernleigh Kennels? I agree with the person who said it's not all that long until September. Even buying them a bit more time until fostering can be found locally. Is there an email address for any offers/info. (Thinks to self, I wonder if the nun could ask the local catholic churches for the need to be announced in their newsletters & noticeboards.) http://www.dogcatboarding.com.au/contact.asp

If so, you could get her to watch the many videos on YouTube of dogs (including labradors) having a great time, nearly up to their shoulders in snow.

We've had a particularly harsh winter in Brisbane. I take my tibbie girls for a brisk walk each afternoon....we do the rounds of a couple of blocks. On the bitter afternoons, I noticed that all the usual runners & joggers were not there. Only person I met was a nice man who walks his 2 shelties in the same circuit. We were joking that we 2 dog walkers were the only non-wusses. And our dogs were set up to deal with extreme winter conditions. His shelties from the Shetland Islands north of Scotland & my tibbies from the land of the Himalayas. After our usual brief walk, it was back home where the tibs' first order is, 'Dinner, now!'. Then it's off to snooze off in a warm bed. By the way, tibetan spaniels are one of the 10 most popular dog breeds in the Scandanavian countries. I've seen photos posted by owners there, of tibbies having a whale of a time walking in the snow. I'd better carry one of those pics, in case I meet a lady like you met!

I adopted a Tibetan Spaniel who was sent up to me, in Brisbane, from Canberra, in the middle of winter. I was amazed to see she had a white nose. At her first vet visit here, the vet commented with enthusiasm, 'Look, a winter nose!' He'd worked for a few years in Chicago, where he said he saw lots of winter noses. But he wasn't so used to seeing them in Queensland. He told me it'd fade when summer came....& would not be likely to occur again, in our milder winter. He was right.

My impression, too. So she's a Good Looker. Or, as the Irish say, A Fine Stamp of a Girl!