mita

In fact, a service like that might be welcomed by a number of people. Better still, a vet nurse with that level of knowledge/skills, working out of a vet practice.

Good for you for writing & getting a reply. I noticed in looking up DS's background that he's not only a lawyer, but was also a barrister. So I'd speculate he may have had issues about drug searching rolling around in his head for some time. But with concern about the methods, rather than the means (the dogs). Seems like the issues warrant more than a brief newspaper article where the methods & the means got flattened into one simplistic statement. It'd be interesting if those responsible for sniffer dogs were given a right of reply.

Delightfully put! It seems, tho', that not all Greens agree with DS. I looked up his FB wall, where someone says she's a devoted Green, but has concern about what he's said. http://www.facebook.com/DavidShoebridgeMLC

My pick you've already got on your list. Kelpie. if you were in Qld, AWL on the Gold Coast has a few fabulous kelpies at the moment. O/T, but AWL Qld is having a special screening of 'Red Dog', the new movie about a kelpie, to raise funds. The canine star will be attending.

Couldn't agree more. And the education should include that puppies must be raised to be socialised right from the start. Which requires that the mother dogs must also lead a well-socialised life. If that's missing, then it's puppy farming, not puppy raising. And no different from pig farming. Great post, zenchel, for pointing out the administrative issues, which leave a huge hole where welfare considerations should be. Staranais's post spelled out, exactly, those welfare needs.

It was a great segment! I was trying to figure out what AWDRI stood for on the lady's T-shirt. Bill is star material.

Strike off my suggestion of a Tibetan Spaniel.

I like Tibetan Spaniels because they have a self-possessed quality that's usually associated with big dogs. Our tibbie girl, NIna Zena, has a slightly less snubby nose than usual & carries her tail slightly lower. With her golden colour, strangers sometimes say she looks like a shrunk golden retriever. They're very much household companion dogs, thro', thriving on being housedogs with a garden for toileting & play. So there's lots of other factors that'd go into considering a small dog.....of whatever breed. So I guess you'd be thinking of those, too?

The breeder I got my 2 girls from as adults.....often asks, 'How are my girls?' No, that's no confusion in ownership. I am just so pleased to hear it. Because it was how she raised my girls that makes them, not just beautiful, but the loveliest-natured little creatures, who are so calm & confident about everything. When people admire them, I always say that they came like that! Recently I got an up close look at the very opposite of raising puppies & treating the adult dogs....a spot of puppy farming. I got compelled to write to my girls' breeder & thank her all over again.

The tibbie next door, Lily, is very catlike like some of her breed can be. She & our cat, Sarah, are the closest of buddies, they genuinely love each other.

Sydoo, that's just luverly!

My gentle tibbie girl, Nina Zena, does this, too. When something needs 'fixing', she literally hurls herself into my lap, when normally she steps up daintily. It's as if she's saying, 'I'm in big, big trouble!'

I have tibetan spaniels & find they make superb alert dogs. When they bark, it's for a reason, like a stranger is on the property. Not surprising, because that was one of the purposes they were kept for in the buddhist monasteries of Tibet. Over the years, our tibbies have alerted us to a thief who'd come up into our verandah deck....& then tracked him when he fled at the sound of the dogs. And also interrupted another intruder who was breaking into one of the cars in the driveway. They're a good dog to have alongside another that provides visual deterence. Like, a builder we know owns a dobe (who's actually a big sweetie) & his wife owns a tibbie. He finds them a good 'security' team. The tibbie is sharp in warning about an intruder....& then the dobe wanders out to take a look.

I'm here, esky. I've got no idea why you're getting that message re PM. I'll PM you.

And another 'yes' to that, aussie.

A number of years back, our local police issued a warning via the newspaper. They said a bunch of people were going around, in our area of Brisbane, stealing attractive small breed dogs from people's front yards. It was assumed they would then offer them for sale.....somewhere else. Advice was to keep your dog secure behind side gates or inside. Since then, there's been a greater emphasis on microchipping. Wasn't so common then.

Good to someone suggesting being proactive. I'm a card-carrying member of the Greens & can't see the point of this foray into sniffer dogs. I'm wondering if it has more to do with a proposer's views on drugs.

Yes. As Christina's added, too, there may have only been 5 to find. Good point, Tapua....they're not considering how quickly drugs can be discarded. Surely, there'd be controlled testing over a sniffer dog's career to monitor performance level. BTW Merlin is gorgeous.

Whilst I absolutely agree with this statement, I fail to see how out of around 60 dogs (as the OP said there was) not even one was suitable? Especially if the OP is as responsible and caring as they appear on DOL. Yes... I wasn't there. And have no knowledge about the nature & needs of the estimated 60 dogs. Nor was I the person making an assessment of potential adopters. So I can't say I fail to see something that I don't know about. If the OP, who was there, believes she was not given a fair go, then I agree with the DOL'er who's suggested bringing her experience to the attention of the management. First step of problem-solving is to go the person who can do something about it.

That is so sweet.

That's a good reminder that breeders who willingly take back their dogs (or another of their breed) are helping to prevent dumping. And keeping some dogs from adding to the already greatly stretched rescues & shelters. I can't speak for the OP's experience with Keysborough. I wasn't there. But I'd rather a staff member spoke directly to the needs of the dogs for adoption (as this person seems to have done, from the telling), than gloss over an individual dog's needs & just hope it all works itself out by osmosis. When I've adopted adult dogs from breeders, I've wanted a frank disclosure about individual rehoming needs for a particular dog. And have been grateful for any discussion about whether a dog might be suitable (or not) for the lifestyle we offer.

I've also seen how quickly dogs, adopted as adults, learn to answer to a new name. And also a host of nicknames that soon follow. I haven't always chosen a new name that rhymes or starts with the same sound. I've picked the new name because it suits the dog in some way. Like 'Chance' became 'Gracie' (golden blonde), 'Sunny' became 'Angel' (pretty, smiling face), 'Zena' became'Nina Zena' (too sweet to be a Warrior Princess!). But 'Annie' I've kept....she sure is a Golden Annie from Sweden (in her pedigree name). As others have said, just use the new name....& often they seem to 'get it' from day 1.

Good on all who are getting on to this. Some years back, a breeder of my breed of interest, spotted an ad in the newspaper that offered a purebred 'breeding pair' for sale. That triggered off some action, too. After some sleuthing, it seems a couple had tricked another breeder into selling the pair to them. Then one week later, here they were advertising them for sale in a paper, at a much higher price... to be sold to anyone who'd pay the money. It was managed to get them back. When picked up, the dogs were in a filthy cage in a backyard. Fortunately, they themselves were still in good condition. They recognised the voice of the person who came to get them (a friend of their breeder)....& she heard them literally 'calling' to her as she walked in. They were both desexed & now live happy pet lives in another state.

Yes, this was my impression from the telling, too. If it's a private club, with some kind of restricted entry to the area you were in, then there should've been a sign at the entry point. That would have saved you a lot of grief....& the lady a lot of scolding strangers.

Specifically, in our dogs' case. The Tibetan Spaniel Network (health) recommends including yoghurt in tibbies' diet, because it was among their staple foods back in Tibet. But, generally, what jakeyjangels posted.