mita

I looked up HGE, out of interest. I'd not heard of it before. Whether it's what King Tip's got or not, handy to know about it. http://vetmedicine.about.com/cs/dogdiseasesh/a/HGEindogs.htm

What showdog posted made sense to me. It parallels what sorted our tibbie girl who seemed to have acquired some food intolerance or irritable bowel syndrome. The vets were still conducting tests when diet hit the jackpot. But their thoughts had been this would not 'go away'. To my amazement, the symptoms have. No processed food, chicken breast fillets, plenty of sweet potato, dollop of good quality yoghurt (for gut bacteria), fish couple times a week, sprinkling of physillium. When I was casting around for advice, a number of excellent breeders (both here & overseas) remarked to me that a number of small dogs, in their opinion, just didn't do well on the usual dog foods. And it was best to stick with a fairly 'natural' one which suited the individual dog. An unintended outcome has been that the groomer has twice asked what I feed this dog. Because her coat is now so healthy.

If you have any references filed away somewhere handy, I'd love to see them I've mentioned them in the past on DOL. Had significance when we were discussing banning dog breeds. Both were US based, one listed along with articles about aggression on Duke (?) University Vet School website. I guess not entirely surprising given that we know that socialisation of both humans & dogs is relational. Now...to remember sources!

It's looking brighter, thank goodness! King Tip, I like the ring of it. Who couldn't fall in love with that sweet little face.

The issue sounds like an Hegelian Tragedy to me. Hegel argued that not all situations were right against wrong. Sometimes a 'good' value was up against another 'good' value & the contest was to the death. So a discussion would tend to keep circling on.

There's some research about the personalities & adjustment of owners of dogs that are involved with serious attacks. Those owners are characterised, among other things, by tending to have more than average traffic violations. There's also a higher incidence of not complying with law, generally. In other words, the owners tend to have poor impulse control and consideration of consequences. There were also findings re the traits of owners of dogs which were classified as aggressive.

He's absolutely beautiful. Everything crossed here that he pulls thro'. Gentle cuddles coming down to Tip. Bless you for & the vet staff for giving him every best chance.

Cardigan Corgi.

Panto, thank you so much! Now I got to see the picture. The link wouldn't click thro' for me.

No. I gave that advice based on the fact that the OP already has a mature female (Rottweiler). That makes good sense.

Labrador Retriever Club of Victoria would probably a good place to start enquiries. If going for a mature dog Haven, I'd opt for a dog rather than a bitch. Just as an exercise in giving examples. Here's the current entries in the DOL Breeders' Community pages for adult labs available. http://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/mature/labrador-retriever.asp Is there something particular about female mature labs as opposed to male adult labs (after desexing), that the former would be less suitable for a family? Or is it that the males might offer a bit more of the security that the OP also wants? I don't know anything about the lab breed. All our adult adoptions have been female (just worked out that way). Raised with contact with children, by their breeders. They've been excellent with young children. But that's another breed, of course.

People seem to be pointing to a black lab & you (rightly) want one with a proven good temperament. So, why not look for a registered breeder who wants to place an adult lab in a good home? A breeder whose dogs are integrated with his/her family life, where there may even be children. Some time back, a good registered breeder, not far from here, was looking for such a home for a lovely natured 4 yr old black lab girl. I've had adult tibbies from breeders like this.....whose dogs were integrated with their family lives. And the dogs have been super, socially & temperamentally (health-wise, too). I only wish I could claim credit for all this, but I'd be lying. I just keep up the good work already put into them.

This is good advice. I know it can be hard to sit down with an OH when things have deteriorated to the point of, as you said in your first post, 'tearing' each other. But there's one thing you still share. You love your dogs. For their sake & only with them in mind, sit down & try to work thro' options and a plan. Posts, so far, have given good ideas. It can help to brainstorm all sorts of options before picking out ones that will work for Plan A. Like, is there any way, you can cohabit without being in each others faces, until you've got thro' your surgery? Yes, I know that might get a big thumbs down. But, as a temporary measure until your health problems are dealt with, it may give you (& the dogs) some time. During that time, you can look around for a potential housemate, to share your present house or another one. Another idea is that some retired people (with secure premises) can be happy to mind dogs during the working day. For the company, without all the costs & responsibilities of ownership. Lad in our family & his wife did something like that for their Newfie while they temporarily had to live in a unit (connected with a job) until they finally were able to move to a house. Also re dog-friendly accommodation, AWL Qld, has a link to finding dog friendly rentals.

When we were kids, my brother read somewhere that it was not good for dogs' health to run after bikes. So he made little carts that were attached to our bikes. His border collie, Peter, rode behind him & Pauline, my maltese, rode behind me. They looked like Romans in their chariots! Not a serious suggestion...just some nostalgia.

Kirsty, my heart goes out to you. What state are you in? That might help people come up with some specific ideas.

It's best to buy from a registered breeder because the pedigree allows tracking BEYOND parents & grandparents. Heritable conditions in both animals & humans can have shown up in siblings (brothers & sisters) of those parents & grandparents. The fact that pedigree dogs are registered means that tracking can be done. Connections amongst dogs are documented in the system of registering purebred dogs. Generations of dogs can be tracked. So better informed decisions about breeding can be made. The researchers looking at conditions which can affect both dogs AND people, praise the pedigree dog system to the heavens. Because it so efficiently & accurately allows them to track. And, hopefully, develop testing protocols. Without that possibility of tracking, breeding is the 'luck of the draw'. With the possibility of tracking, there's room for some reduction of risk. Medical science can't take away all risk for heritable conditions in humans. Best we have is working for reduction of risk there, too. And, when a child is born with such a condition, or it's developed later in life, we don't conclude that going to medical doctors is useless. In fact, it provides more reason to go to and support medical science. Also there's some role in environmental factors being needed to trigger underlying genetic conditions. (Once again, same for humans as for dogs). Breeders who are aware of certain such conditions can advise on how to better control the environment. Like diet, or caution re over-demanding physical activity during the period when young dogs' bones are in their most rapid growth phase.

This is an excellent post, IMO. I'd only add that it's not simply necessary to look at depth of pedigree when checking for highly heritable conditions (that is parents, grandparents etc). But also breadth of pedigree (that is siblings of parents & grandparents). Which shows that a highly heritable condition can, seemingly, pop up out of nowhere. (Curiously, we do the same thing in tracking if there's any other case of dyslexic type problems in a child's family. It's not unusual for someone like that child's uncle to have experienced the same.) I'm really sorry for the OP's situation. And also for the dog. As Greytmate said, the nature of the conditions don't auger well for a happy, healthy life as a pet, either. I think the OP did the right thing in contacting the breeder. That breeder may use the information to do some further tracking. And also to inform their future breeding decisions. Any refunds or whatever are a matter for negotiation between the two parties involved.

I like the way so many people have been adventurous in looking at the less well known breeds. Like, I'm happy to see at least two people putting Tibetan Mastiffs on their list. If you ever get one, can I have visiting rights? I'm just adding 4 breeds that I think are hidden gems in the dog world: Cardigan Corgi Smooth Collie Welsh Springer Spaniel (where did that glorious colouring come from?) Standard Poodles

There's something missing....should be 'Owner-created small dog syndrome'. But that shorter phrase is being used in many places. It needs filling out. Yes, smaller dogs can tend to be given a different type of attention from owners, because they're portable & less seen as dogs that need training and management accordingly. And, being small, these dogs can get more intimidated by the 'larger' bodies around them, reacting with timidity or defensiveness. So tips for handling smaller dogs can be useful (like, get down low when calling them, don't swoop down on them). Also, as they tend to be housedogs, & kept close to owners, they can get demanding of their owner's attention. Might come out in 'bigger than their boots' behaviours or separation anxiety issues. But, having said all that, small breeds well understood & well managed are delightful pets. I wouldn't swap our tibbies, for the world. They often get praised by strangers for their good behaviour. I'd like to claim full responsibility for that. Truth is, they were adopted as adults from a registered breeder...& they came like that! I just maintained the good work already put in!.

There's good information on AWL Q'ld's puppy planning webpage. Scroll right down to the bottom. First, there's the Friends for Life Help Booklets. You can download any you like. Next, there's list of helpful articles which can be read on online. Last, there's recommended books & DVDs. http://www.awlqld.com.au/puppy-planner.html

Me, too! Seriously, that's a decent thing you did to rescue her out of more traffic danger. I hope things turn out well for her.

You chose the first dog, so I'd let OH have a big say in the new dog. I'd ask him to make a list of 5 breeds that he'd be keen on...& why. They I'd go thro' the list with him & see if there's one I'd be very happy to live with (& look after!), too. I totally agree with folk who've advised going to dog shows to actually see the breeds & talk to the breeders about what's involved with owning them as pets. If you can't agree after first go, then send him off to make another list of 5. I've got a feeling this could go on forever. But you never know....might hit the jackpot at first. Whatever...best wishes! That's a really good question about bonding. And a hard one! I've had dogs I didn't bond with at first, but within a few months I couldn't imagine life without them.

A very good letter which is cleverly really addressed to the tiny dog's owner. It also shows how dangerous an unmanaged and uncontrolled tiny dog can be. That was a frightening situation. I'd like to see a letter written to the idiot owner of a big dog, too. I was walking my 2 tibbie girls (on leads) & we'd just turned into my street. I spotted, down the other end, a young bloke walking his large, lithe dog, unleashed. The dog was dashing back & forward, racing into people's front yards. I'm not afraid of big dogs, but it wasn't good to meet up with this dog which was uncontrolled... with 2 small dogs. So I hurried to our house & was soon behind 6 ft front fences & 4 ft side fences. Just as I got the leads off my dogs, I heard the tiny tibbie girl next door bark, from her side fence. In a flash, the big dog came racing up that neighbour's driveway & was poised to spring over the side fence straight at her. I screamed 'No!'. Bloke who was ahead of the dog heard me, came back & whistled the dog which took off after him. It's not rocket science to keep your tiny dog on your own property....nor to walk your big dog on a lead. As the law requires. Owners who find it too hard to comply should get fined. And a big fine, too.

She gets more & more beautiful. I love the 'Breakfast, please!' stare. She's doing so well & loving her retirement years....thanks to you.

Confession time. I'd thought that Standard Poodles with those esoteric grooming cuts must be mindless fluff. Until I actually came across p/b standard poodles in the hands of people who knew the breed well & loved them. Now I know the opposite is true of such dogs. They're a wonderful breed, highly intelligent, & just all-round wonderful. I've also learned there's a variety of grooming cuts and I find them extremely handsome. Some time back in Qld, over 100 p/b poodles in dreadful condition were seized by the RSPCA. The registered poodle breeders under the leadership of a wonderful poodle club rescue person, took over care & rehabilitation of these dogs. I saw these dogs at a function to celebrate that they were all now fine. They were magnificent, in looks & nature & beautifully groomed. And so happy! I wish I'd had accurate, rather than stereotypical, knowledge about standard poodles a long time ago. I would have loved to own one. And I would like to have gone to one of those registered breeders who did that rehabilitation, to get him/her.