mita

6 hours ago, The Spotted Devil said:

Dr Debbie Calnon is excellent if they want a vet behaviourist. Otherwise I would highly recommend Amanda Murcutt (Pawsitively Great Pets) or Jo Bates (Crazy Canines). Jo has one of Em’s pups from her first litter  

Thank you.  I'll pass these on.  Owners are caring, committed people who'll make use of good information.  Very useful to consider a vet behaviourist.... in case medication can help.

Thank you, PK.

Devoted owners of a Tibetan Spaniel have asked for recommendations of a good dog behaviourist in Melbourne.  Doggie has a high anxiety/aggression problem.  Owners would like someone who'd understand the Tibbie nature.  If you prefer PM.  Thanks.

I agree, Mel.  What most relinquishing owners value is information that will help them.  

1 hour ago, melzawelza said:

Just a comment on the advice to people rehoming their dogs that I keep seeing crop up - to try and get rescues to take on their dog. 

I don't understand this suggestion. Rescues are limited in space and focus on dogs in pounds at immediate risk of euthanasia. There is no reason why people can't rehome their own dogs (different if they are on a big time crunch or some sort of urgent situation has come up). We should be encouraging people to take responsibility for their own dogs and do everything in their power to rehome them themselves. Rescue is a last resort and has no space or ability to take on all the dogs in the country that are simply needing to be rehomed. 

I agree with that generally.

 But in the case of Tibetan Spaniels, we try to steer owners to the tibbie community because they'll reach people who are familiar with the breed & rehome with someone there (with full responsibility for who they choose).  There's often tibbie owners looking out for a companion for their present pet.   In fact, several have responded to that latest ad.   The relinquishing owner was delighted when tibbie community mods contacted her & said they'd spread the word among members.

A tibbie personality is not for everyone so it can help to go to someone experienced.   There's also a red flag if the tibbie is not yet desexed.  Small attractive breeds can attract people with 'commercial' interests.

Another area where people can be helped to rehome their own dog,  is providing tips for how to do that best and most safely.   Even if experienced rescue doesn't take the dog, their advice about that can be valuable. 

Ye gods, another one!  6 yr old (looks purebred) Tibetan Spaniel.  No mention of desexed or not.... tho' does say all vet work up-to-date.  People are trying to contact owner.  

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/newcastle/dogs-puppies/tibetan-spaniel-6-years-free-to-good-home/1152183909

You are so right!  It's often that people don't know the information that will solve their problem.  So I can understand why the people were grateful.  Again, onya.

S & M,  did the ad say if the staffy was desexed?   Good suggestions you messaged the give-away owners.  Onya for caring.

I asked the question from the other angle.  Why have Tibetan Spaniel changed so little?  They've been represented in Tibetan art for yonks & from the 19th century in photography.

Seems to me, it might be the role they were always given in Tibetan Buddhism which linked their appearance with their nature and purpose.  The later breeders outside Tibet... in the UK & Europe at first... saw these little dogs strongly in their historical context and didn't try to shape them into European 'spaniels' (they're actually not spaniels at all).  The pure-bred lines have not been mixed with any other breed.   And they still have 'cat'- like qualities.

I've also heard the registered breeders say their guiding principle about conformation is 'everything in moderation, no extremes'... just like their Tibetan forebears.

The history of Tibet is important to the understanding of the Tibetan Spaniel. The country's political isolation together with the rise of Buddhism which did not permit the killing of animals, are all factors leading to the importance of dogs in the lives of the Tibetans.

Tibetans have their own Lamaist form of the Buddhism, in which the symbolic lion plays an important role and represents the power of Buddha over violence and aggression, since Buddha tamed the lion and trained him to "follow at his heels like a faithful dog."

The small monastery dogs, ancestors of the Tibetan Spaniel, were regarded as "little lions", giving them great value and prestige. 

The Tibetan Spaniel has a unique personality, described by many as "cat-like." The breed is known to be extremely intelligent, sweet-natured and affectionate & family-oriented. 

That was interesting about the Bassett Hound.  It was a reminder... to me... that they were originally a working dog with specific tasks to perform.   So I'll look up their history... should be very interesting.

Tibetan Spaniels have changed very little.  This group from 1899 just look like today's tibbies.  I'd say only change would be the greater variety in colours & parti-colours.   Click enlarge.

2 hours ago, Kajtek said:

Ohhhhh  

What a glorious athletic BB. 

Thank you mita for sharing the picture

I agree... isn't that a gorgeous dog!  Strong & ready to go.

'Surplice' a p/b bulldog for the times when born 1880.

Evie's coat shines like satin.  I also think I'm in love with Dodge.  Always look forward to your pics & updates.

9 hours ago, Mjosa said:

You are most welcome to share Helen and Banjo's story with the Tibbie pet owners' page.

Helen does not use the computer, but please do share this amazing little boy's mission in life and that is to look after his Mum.

Thank you, Mjosa.  Even if Helen doesn't use the computer, the Tibbie Pet Owners would be supportive if ever there was anything they could ever do for Banjo.   Just PM me, if needed.

3 hours ago, Mjosa said:

I know what a wonderful breed the Tibbie is, I have a niece in her late 50's who is almost bed ridden now with Myotonic Dystrophy, she now has her second Tibbie, Banjo, when she first got diagnosed with this dreadful disease her husband bought her her first boy, Jasper, sadly he passed at a good age and she felt so lost without him so her husband, who works full time, went and got this magic little boy for company, he is her carer basically, her Mother lives next door and should our niece have a fall, which does happen on occasion, he runs next door to her Mum and lets her know that there is a problem, other than that he sits on her lap all day or if she goes to bed he is right there with her, he knows that his "Mum" is not well and has taken on this job of looking after her with much gusto God bless him.

Mjosa, that's beautiful & you're right, Tibbies become devoted to their person using a lot of intelligence.   Could I have your permission to post  about Banjo's work as a carer on the (Australian) Tibbie Pet Owners' Facebook page?  It would warm tibbie owners' hearts!  

Also, if your niece is on Facebook, she might like to join that group.  Lots of sharing pics, stories, tips etc. Let me know & I'll tell you how she could join.    

48 minutes ago, Mjosa said:

What an amazingly touching story is this, that little dog is just the best, I think that David guided him to Len, may they have a long and happy life together.

I think so, too.  It's like David guided Creedy to Len.   Creedy is normally aloof with strangers...as his breed can be.  But he firmly & consistently went to Len as if he'd known him all his life.

Several months back, Creedence the 4 yr old tibetan spaniel, came to live next door...by his choice from an amazing background.  He was originally owned by registered breeder, David Laird who was a retired Qld police officer who showed tibbies.

 David, with another officer, had started the Qld Police Dog Squad years ago with 2 german shepherds donated by the RAAF.  With tibbies later in life, Creedence was his favourite boy.  He said if he lost Creedence, it'd be like losing his own left leg.

Tragedy struck.  David was killed in a house fire while recovering from surgery.  Fortunately his tibbies were being cared for by other breeders. Then, those breeders looked for good homes.

Our neighbour, Len, went to look at the tibbies because his wife's beloved tib, Lily, had died.  So he focused on the females.  But a beautiful male, gently but firmly, pushed his way thro' the crowd & settled at Len's feet.  After more general chat & looking....this male tibbie did it again.  Straight to Len.

A bond instantly developed between the 2.  Len phoned his wife & told her.... she said go with that little fellow who's chosen you.

That was Creedence & he came home with Len, absolutely devoted to him.

The amazing thing is that, as the other breeders pointed out, Len actually looks like David Laird.  They are both Vietnam Vets & both suffered from PTSD.

Creedence has proven a devoted,  loving & intelligent companion for Len... who said recently that the tib had raised his spirits out of the PTSD.   Same as David before him, he said losing Creedy would be like losing his left leg.

One final thing... Len took Creedy to be enrolled in the Qld Police Service Dogs on Patrol program (for people who walk their dogs & observe).  So David would be proud of his little man wearing the tag on his collar that says ...'Initiative of Qld Police Service

http://www.assistancedogs.org.au/pages/paws-program.html   There's a program where dogs have been trained to live with children with autism.  Paws Program.  If you read the website, you'll see that families first get training, too, in all that's entailed.  Phone their enquiry number and you could at least get expert, practical information on what's involved with a dog in a family which has a child with autistic behaviours.   Just my opinion but it's not a good idea to just take pot luck & wing it with any dog acquired, without some input from expertise.   

Best wishes and good on you for asking the questions and researching.   You are looking for a track that'll lead you to something that's fair for child, family and dog.  

Thanks, Mel.  You're right, on the Pound website, they do list him as Tibetan Spaniel.  That's good to know Michelle will put 2 and 2 together if someone phones enquiring about the Peke. 

48 minutes ago, melzawelza said:

I know the Companion Animals Officer at the Council, Michelle, and she's absolutely awesome. She'll be doing everything to get this little guy home and I have no doubt he'll be safe if they can't find an owner. Camden prioritise rehoming from the pound direct if possible but work well with a lot of rescues - I'm sure if there's any breed specific rescues that are able to take him in she'd be happy to chat. That said I doubt they'd have an issue rehoming him direct given he's small, cute and at least looks a lot like a purebred. 

Mel, thank you for that reassurance.  Bless Michelle for being there!  

My main concern is the label.  Two experienced tibetan spaniel breeders say he's more likely a short-haired Peke.  So, just in case his owners are searching for him as a Peke.   His facial folds & very foreshortened nose are more in that direction than a Tibbie.    But, on other hand, the owners may have originally got him labelled Tibbie & think he is one.  And always the chance, he's a cross between the 2!   

Another experienced Tibbie breeder has said this lad looks more like a short-haired Peke. 

Lovely little male dog at Camden Pound.  No sign yet of being claimed by an owner.  The Pound says he's microchipped but no details are coming up on any register. He's listed as a Tibetan Spaniel, but when a very experienced tibbie breeder looked at his pound photo, she says he looks like he could be a Pekingese.   

If he is a Peke, an owner could be phoning the Pound & asking if they have one... and the Pound would say no, having him listed as a Tibbie.

One of those cases of Peke or Tibbie .

I'm also wondering if his chip doesn't come up on any register because he's been imported????  Very outside chance, I know, but just wondering.

Does anyone know who, if anyone, rescues from Camden Pound (phone 0437 637849)?

1 hour ago, Papillon Kisses said:

 

If you know what attracts them to this mix you could also suggest other crossbreed rescues or purebred dogs.

Good suggestion, PK.

Someone posted on the Tibbie list, the video of this tibbie, Buddy,  being reunited with his owners.  It was so sweet how he gently but firmly went straight to his mum & dad.  He hadn't forgotten them.

Similar thing happened to tibbie, BJ Malone, on Gold Coast, but he was lucky his microchip brought him home in only 8 months.  He'd got out when a storm blew gates open & his family were out.  They did all the right search things & his dad arranged for his microchips data base to have the word MISSING added.  So any person scanning would know he had a family looking for him.

Months passed & they'd given up hope.  Then someone dropped a tibbie into the AWL on the Gold Coast, saying they were doing it because 'someone else didn't want him any more.'

Tibbie was scanned during routine vet check...up came his  chip with MISSING.  So AWL called his family.  In their magazine, they said the family took off from home like a rocket!  And there was a wonderful reunion with BJ Malone flying into his family's arms.