mita

Yes.

We & the other neighbours have been stressing about who will rent the house at the back ... especially their attitude to dogs. On one side, is lovely American Bulldog, Dooke, that ignorant people 'worry' is a Pitbull & threaten reporting. On the other 2 fencelines are Tibbies. New tenant & her 2 small children were looking around the property the other day. AND her father bent over the fence to play with Dooke & she came over to pat the Tibbies. When I spoke to her, she said they have a big dog & a little dog. All the neighbours (& us) now happy... new residents will be comfortable with all sizes! :)

Not any reasons we knew, BJ. The person might've had some connection with Singapore. It wasn't an Australian registered breeder. He finished up being adopted by a wonderful family who adored him. The dad was a Vietnam Vet with severe PTSD & they became very close. He said this tibbie helped him more than any professional.

Yes, check first with your vet. When we had a sheltie prone to itch & hot spots, our vet prescribed antihistamines. He advised getting antihistamines from the chemist as the veterinary ones were more expensive. He said Polaramine for humans was the same.... & cheaper. I can't remember the dose, tho'.

Interesting about the Tibetan Terriers, Marion. Recently, a Tibetan Spaniel registered with the Singapore Kennel Club turned up in Australia (in rescue, the person who'd imported him dumped him). Named Zou Chai. He was bigger than the range with Western tibbies. More the size of a Damchi. Enquiries revealed he was one of the Tibbies that did not have Western genes.... but came from a line which had come down from Tibet thro' India. One of the Qld registered breeders said she'd have loved to use those genes. But Zou Chai had been desexed. Sad for the Damchi.... as you say ... there's not been a big effort to get them more widely spread than Bhutan. The Tibetan Spaniels in Tibet may have included bigger ones. Photo taken in Tibet in 1899. The bloke in the middle is a big boy, just like a Damchi. (click, enlarge).

That was like our rescue sheltie, Danny's coat, too. He was a tricolour so the flaky skin would show up in the coat. And, yes, he had that tendency to skin allergy, too. The vet told me that, as soon as he showed any sign of itching to give him some Polaramine (the human allergy stuff). To stop him scratching skin, thus irritating the skin, making it more itchy & maybe break the skin so bacteria gets in & forms a hot spot. Can't remember the dose, tho'. Later on a vet told me to mix plenty of cooked sweet potato in with his meals. He said the rich vitamin content was good for skin complaints. To be honest, I found that Danny did better on natural foods, rather than processed dog food. It wasn't from a belief.... it just worked that way, for him.

Here's the eye-witness account by Lieutenant Mark Synge describing, in 1904, how the British soldiers marched out of Tibet, taking with them Tibetan dogs that they'd adopted as pets. "Many of the troops had acquired pets of various kinds...mainly dogs. It was a touching sight to see great bearded men sometimes leading, but as often as not carrying, dainty little lapdogs, of kinds that resembled the Pomeranian or the King Charles Spaniel. One or two Tibetan mastiffs...more like huge Welsh ponies than mastiffs...also accompanied us." (Interesting, because even today in the 21st century those 'dainty little lapdogs' (Tibetan Spaniels) are still often misidentified as pomeranions or king charles spaniels.) These Tibetan dogs were taken back to the British Army base in northern India. The wife of one officer, Colonel Younghusband, is credited with bringing some tibbies back to England. If the British had occupied Bhutan, maybe we'd be owning Damchis now. :)

TT, the British Army were in Tibet for a while. I have a lovely excerpt from the diary of a British officer, describing the troops marching out of Tibet, back to home base in India. It was the wife of a senior British officer, back in India, who was responsible for the first of those Tibetan 'spaniel' types to go back to the UK. I think there were 3 of them, at first. The British were never in occupation in Bhutan .. so the Bhutanese Damchi, didn't get into a Western context.

Glen, I agree with you. But understanding of the other side can be helpful. There can be reasons for the reaction of some people with smaller dogs. First, they may have had a bad experience. When I owned 2 shelties, I had a bad experience with one German Shepherd that came flying at us at high speed (its owner's back was turned talking to people). I'm not afraid of dogs, but my heart nearly stopped that time! Second, older ladies can feel more physically vulnerable about all sorts of things. And don't feel as sturdy to deal with any possible argy bargy. Third, numbers of those who react, old or young or of another culture (or whatever), are just not familiar with bigger dogs, so carry an inaccurate stereotype. And can't make a realistic assessment of a big dog... like what happens with the OP's harmless dog. Add on some understanding for the owners of the innocent bigger dogs... just like the OP. Must feel horrible to get a response that your dog is a natural born killer! Now, I own smaller dogs... all of whom have had good socialising with big dogs. Their best friends are the racing greyhounds next door! So, when out with them, I'm always happy for them to socialize with 'good' big dogs we meet. I've found the big dog owners pleased for the opportunity. There's not a lot of time to go into history, tho', when strangers meet strangers with their dogs... so I think your last sentence is great advice.

Even Buddhists celebrate Christmas. But in their own way ... peacefully. Click, enlarge:

Christmas shot is gorgeous. Madam Georgia got herself top seat!

My understanding is that the Damchi is the Tibetan Spaniel of Bhutan. But bigger, more like a small-medium dog. There's a Damchi on one of their stamps. Some people in Germany imported some: http://pages.rediff.com/damchi/1004655 This one on a greetings card seems pretty accurate ... & shows how Tibbie-like they are. http://www.zazzle.com.au/bhutan_damchi_dog_portrait_blank_greeting_card-137039857014688534 Edited, found an English translation of this European page (in French). Tells about Chotu, a Damchi imported from Bhutan to Germany. There was discussion with the International Tibetan Spaniel Working Party about relevance to Tibetan Spaniel bloodlines: http://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://tibby1538.tripod.com/id39.html&prev=/search%3Fq%3DPrimoz%2BPeer%2BDamchi%26biw%3D1022%26bih%3D599 A terrible English translation (from Finnish?) tells more about that: http://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=fi&u=http://www.tiibetinspanielit.fi/cms/images/artikkelit/bhutanin_damchi_ja_tiibetinspanieli.pdf&prev=/search%3Fq%3DInternational%2BTibetan%2BSpaniel%2BWorking%2BParty%2BDamchi%2BChotu%2BBhutan%26biw%3D1022%26bih%3D599

Thank you! Both you & your gorgeous dog are absolutely darlings.... & so is the elderly lady who you've made so happy. That pic was so beautiful, it had me in tears. Honestly, it's a keeper.

Yes.... as reported in the 'regular' media. Which loves to produce its own creations which are far more dramatic. Small Dog Syndrome is more attention grabbing than.... "More reason not to judge any dog by size alone.' And there's nothing new in the finding. It replicates a huge study done at the University of Cordoba. But that tended to be reported in better science journalism sources. Where no one shrieked 'Small Dog Syndrome'. But where the lead researchers concluded... Get into training & managing your dog appropriately.... whatever the size.

You're right. Bonnie going for the bra is a darn good sign of being attached to her 'people'. Dogs love items that strongly have the scent of their owners on them. Which is why they specially like underclothing, socks & shoes. Can you give her soft toys that you & your family have rubbed the palms of your hands all over? When she's lying around or in her crate, that'd be like having 'her' person/people close. Would bring comfort. Wonderful news about the walking!

The study has not said that over-indulging & under-training is limited to little breeds. It has picked up a statistical tendency .... not a situation that applies to every individual dog, of any size. A good lesson about how not to apply statistical patterns to everyday life, is: "Did you hear about the non-swimming statistician who drowned while trying to wade across a stream, the average depth of which he knew to be 4 feet.' The average depth did not apply to every individual step he took. The problem is not with the study.... nor with science. The problem is how the results are being given by the media to a general public not familiar with interpreting results. They've turned it into a stereotype. Which is what doggie-wise people are then reacting against. Studies like this actually refute coming up with single-factor stereotypes about any individual dog .... of any size.

You would like science in relation to dog behaviour to stop? This finding about a tendency in small dogs was also found in a large study at the University of Cordoba. A statistical pattern means 'more likely', doesn't mean it would apply to every individual small dog. So it's not saying every small dog will be aggressive. The value of these studies is to nip single-factor stereotyping in the bud. Like big dogs, as a group, are intrinsically more likely to be aggressive. And like, every individual small dog will be non-aggressive. Size is also related to the environment provided for the dog... as the professor in this Sydney study pointed out. Environment interacts with genetic factors to shape behaviours. As he says, people tend to treat small dogs differently ... & even consider the provision of training differently. All of which results in how a dog will behave. BTW, most people on forums like DOL are usually pretty doggie-wise in raising their pets.... big, small & in-between. But many people aren't. Of course, when a bigger dog develops aggression problems, they're more capable of inflicting more serious damage than a smaller dog. But even a small dog can cause nasty injuries around babies & small children with their finer skin & tissue. So studies like this can lead to useful messages to pet owners. But, too often, the media report will turn the results into another stereotype, as seems to be happening in this case. Quality media sources usually employ science journalists who do a better job in 'translation' for the public. BTW I own small dogs.

Agree with what you said, Luke. Isn't Lupo a lovely little dog :) ... sure can see the appeal of a working line cocker, for some people. I loved that pic of him sniffing along the ground. As you say, people need to research the requirements that go with the breed.... which is the same in considering other breeds as well.

Just a detour for some celebrity stuff. I heard that Lupo, Prince William & his wife Catherine's dog, is a working line cocker spaniel. Only reference I could find quickly: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/pets/10254934/Sorry-Lupo-unlike-Prince-George-youre-not-fourth-in-line-to-the-throne.html AND a caution from the UK Kennel Club that they're sure William & Catherine researched well the nature of a working line cocker... but people shouldn't just copy their choice, without doing their own research. Like what showdog posted: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2111626/Kennel-Club-fear-abandoned-dogs-Kate-Middletons-Duchess-Effect-sees-spaniels-sales-soar.html

SG, I hope you chased yourself with noise-making machine right out of the yard! Well spotted, Riley. :)

Great to see a thread about the positive, best sides of registered breeding. The pics are delightful.

I loved the pics of Adi & Teddy. :)

Look what I found, in the Canberra area. Calvary retirement services. Includes visits to private homes & lists assist with pet therapy among what they do. Maybe enquire if they'd help in a case like the OP. http://www.calvary-canberra.org.au/volunteers.html

I agree. That's no plan for the dog. Look for any community group that does pet therapy visits... which might include to a private home. My tibbie, Angel, was 'used' in such a program. She'd be taken to visit & spend time with a young boy, about 13 yrs old, who had a terminal illness & was in his last months of life. Rest of the time, he had a photo of her on his bedside table. He really loved her. Angel loved visiting him... they'd just happily chill out together. When he died, his mother put the pic of Angel in his coffin.

Just shows what someone who is extraordinarily good at what they do, can achieve. Brilliant work, Garnali!