mita

Good move. Re Hip Dysplasia, specially look at the work of Jerold Bell from Tufts University. There's an earlier paper which remains good as a starting place about what's involved in hip dysplasia....so what has to be dealt with in the 'battle' (his word) against it. http://74.125.153.132/search?q=cache%3AHXn...hl=en&gl=au It'll give you ideas on topics to research further....& specially to follow up his later work & that of the other researchers he refers to.

MDBA Pacers 349 transmitter Rd Wooroolin Queensland 4680. Thanks, Steve. And I urge my fellow dinosaurs to get their envelopes & stamps out for a good cause.

I won't be able to go. But someone else's got to bring along a Tibetan Spaniel or two....

I'll take 15 tickets. As I'm a dinosaur, will need a snail mail address to send.

Why so defensive? It's irrelevant what the original post was anyway, the dog has HD, no one will ever know how it got it, both the parents were hip scored then at least the breeder was doing the right thing to start with, one would hope the breeder would give you some support and advice upon finding out though? Not defensive, IMO, but descriptive of the behaviour. The general nature of the Original Post led people to believe it was a general question about reasons for buying a purebred dog. That's why people...like me...posted about temperament & trait predictability. If I'd known the OP's specific interest was a specific health issue (HD), I'd have posted about that issue. I'll do so, now. HD is genetically mediated to a certain percentage. There is also the fact that HD can be related to the vulnerable period of development when the spurts of tissue growth & joint growth are out of sync. Certainly caution re diet & exercise can reduce that. But there is no sure eradication. It also helps to remember that cats & mixed breed dogs can also develop HD. All of that is cold comfort for the OP, whose dog has developed HD. And I can understand the OP's disappointment in feeling the breeder acted coldly when it was reported. As well as the disappointment that the OP had thought buying a purebred was the safest track. Yes....safest, I'd agree...given breeders who monitor their stock & who advise puppy buyers re health & exercise. But the reality is that, even given those breeder interventions, a heath problem such as HD can emerge.

Steve, you're sure dealing with all creatures, great & small, with Pacers work. And this explains why the lady's chi's & rottie are so well behaved. Wish I were closer to do something practical.

There's a Wagga Rescue Inc. Even if their fosters are full, the people at that rescue might know of dog owners in the area who'd be willing to offer temporary fostering.

Spot on comment. ;) Both my purebred dogs, as retired showdogs, came from a breeder who socialised her dogs well & treated them to a life the same as the best of pet homes. I keep seeing the results all the time....as strangers remark on what lovely dogs they are, in how they behave with people & with other dogs. I'd love to be able to take credit for this! But I tell the truth....this is how these dogs came from their excellent registered breeder. She did it! I just keep it going.

The British Police made a submission to the UK Government's inquiry about tail docking. They said, for drug/product sniffing dogs, they wanted to continue docking their tails. Their reason being these dogs have to go searching in confined spaces...where there are injury hazards for an enthusiastic, long wagging tail. I was reminded of that when I saw the docked 'sniffer' beagle & gsp on the New Zealand program last night. Seems NZ may do the same as the UK. The beagle had a reasonable amount of tail left....so he could still do some happy wagging. I loved the way the officer rewarded the gsp with a game with a tea towel. And he commented wouldn't it be great if everyone worked for a tea towel. :nahnah:

Very true. Young lad we know bought a 'border collie' from a pet store....a breed of dog he'd always wanted. This dog grew into a giant, nothing like a border collie. More like a specially large labrador/german shepherd X. He was so big that our shelties would run underneath his tummy when playing. Fortunately he had a good nature.

I agree with you about needing to learn to go outside as well as feeling safe inside. She sounds such a dear chook....& with her comfort blanky. She'd made a great companion for a retired person or a person working from home. But even then, dogs need to be comfortable being outside, too. Amazing how these dogs' good natures have survived living in that huge puppy farm.

I was so keen to watch it....I got dinner over quickly last night (hurrying everyone along) & dishes done. Settled down to watch....& then realised I had the wrong night. Note to self: Must learn that Tuesday comes before Wednesday.

Ams, just some thoughts. We had a sheltie come to us at 7 months of age, very well bred, from a good breeder. She had been kept entirely in kennels, tho' out in the yard for exercise, of course. She'd grown a tad larger than standard so hadn't been to shows. The breeder told us she wasn't used to going out. So we were happy to take on socialising her in a wider environment. Yes...she too didn't like going out on the footpath, away from the house (but happy in the car!). Fortunately, she loved treats. I remember I persuaded her to walk step-by-step out on the dreaded footpath, with a treat as carrot! But she became quite clingy, wanting us to be always in the house & home with her. A behavioral vet told us to give her a 'safe' spot, that she could have access to, including when we were not at home. So she had a dog matress with her rug on top....& soft toys. That sounds just like your lab girl. Could she have access to her blanky like this, when she's home alone & not in the house? We were told to give her soft toys that we'd rubbed our hands & feet on, to get scent transferred, because that would make her feel we were with us. We were also told not to make a big fuss of her in the 5-10 minutes before we left home & when we came home. To take high emotion out of our being there or not. She soon settled very well into this routine. I hope a perfect home comes up for your lovely girl. Her new owner will be assured of loyalty!

Well said!

I didn't mean that the vet's opinion would hold any water in ID'ing this girl for the authorities. I meant that her looking like a fine specimen might make it easier to trace the original breeder. I should have been clearer.

This case sure shows how thinking getting papers doesn't matter.....can come back to bite. By the way, the vet thinks this amstaff girl is a very fine specimen of her breed.

Another one! Isn't it lovely to see their beautiful natures bloom as they see they're safe now....& lovedl. :D

Just saw this. Love it! :D On topic, the outcome from the Gold Coast case is sure causing worries. People I know of....lad at 18 yrs always wanted a staffy. Went to a breeder to get a pup, but it was an american staffy (didn't want to get the papers). The lad thought all staffies were the same, so he registered the dog with the Brisbane Council as a Staffordshire Terrier. Couple years later he won entry to officer training. Passed his beloved dog over to his aunt as new owner. This amstaff, for 5 years, has proven to be the best of dogs, in every way. But now the ruling is that an amstaff & a pitbull are the same....so she's worried where this places her lovely dog. Innocently registered as a staffy...& with no papers saying she's an amstaff. Meanwhile, the lad is trying to remember the name of the breeder....!

I'm hearing great updates about the lovely TibbieXCav boy, from the Wondai raid. He went out for coffee at an outdoors cafe, with his own towel to sit on....& behaved as if he's been going out to dine always. Two nice primary age children approached & asked could they talk to him. Down on their stomachs they went & were gentle and calm. (That would reassure a shy dog.) And he responded brilliantly. Loved the children & the pats & cuddles. Quite a few heads together here, sussing out possible leads to only the best of homes. :D

Yes, to all that. The Brisbane City Council goes along with finders who will hold the dog safely while all means are being taken to trace owners. Details on their data base, photo & details on RSPCA website. It's a great system that saves trauma on the dog & owners & finders. Also the Arana Hills Vet surgery....next to Ferny Hills...keeps a data base of Lost & Found reports in the area, for a period of 4 weeks. Phone no here: http://www.aranahillsvet.com.au/Home/ I live in the general area where you've found this little one.....& I have a vague memory about a notice re a small dog lost. Best way to reassure a scared small dog, is to get down low on the floor with him.

We've got polished hardwood (original) floors in our Qld'er. They've stood up well to dogs, no doggie scratches. But our dogs haven't been heavy. Shelties & tibbies. The shelties did find it difficult sometimes to get a grip on the polished flloor....especially as one of them aged. But I found large cream cotton mats (in various shapes) which I laid down in the 'movement' tracks. Those mats easily wash in the washing machine. The tibs don't have the same traction problem....I think their hare feet get a better grip.

Yes, & the University of Qld vet facility will be on that new RSPCA Wacol campus. And the U of Q is already involved with the program where prisoners raise assistance dogs. So, with all the players close to each other...prisons in Wacol area, too....here's hoping there'll be more programs set up.

I agree. Liza & Lois from Cav Rescue and Sue & the other breeders from the Poodle Club Rescue are my heroes when it comes to breed rescue. These people never overlook the dogs that are in the biggest trouble. Sounds like other rescues & breed clubs are alongside them with the Wondai dogs at the RSPCA. Agree, positive links make things happen.

roses, the pic with the kittens is just beautiful.

We have a domestic short-hair cat, named Sarah. She came via the University of Qld Adoption Program. They rescue friendly cats from pounds & keep them in the Centre for Companion Animal Health for up to a year. The pusses are used for non-invasive, non-hurtful research.. They get the best of care & have their own playroom at the uni with loads of volunteer attention, cuddles & play. The professor even has them spending a day with her, in her office. So these pusses are very well socialised. We asked for a puss that would be happy living with tibetan spaniels. A stroppy puss could strike out & injure their prominent eyes. The uni tests all the pusses on a rating scale of how they get on with dogs. Sarah scored the 2nd highest level of being quite happy to have a dog around....without being pushy. So she gets on wonderfully with the tibbies & has become the very best friend of Lily, the tibbie girl next door. It's wonderful to watch these 2 playing & teaming up to do insect hunts. And it doesn't matter how hard they play, they never ever hurt each other. I've never seen a dog & a cat so devoted to each other.