mita

We had 2 Shelties ... loved them. . One, Shelley, had something to say about everything. Her nickname was The Mouth from the South. Mute button OFF. But the other, Danny, was so good all round, including not being a barker, that his nickname was Saint Danny. Mute button ON.

The Goldies currently for adoption are gorgeous. I love Holly & Roddy, the seniors. But they're all ages. http://www.grr.org.au/current.htm

Story in the Maitland-Mercury from a journalist, Belinda-Jane, who helped rescue a lady, her dog & goat. Then got the police to help her rescue 2 teenage boys who wouldn't leave the family's border collies & a litter of puppies. She says she's not a hero. But she was a true friend of the animals & their owners: http://www.maitlandmercury.com.au/story/1848837/i-helped-save-two-lives/?cs=171

You didn't blame the breeder. Nor did you give that impression. The point was made earlier in the thread that breeders can't be God-like. Even with the best efforts, Nature throws curly ones. And you had no problem with that, at all.

The Sydney Morning Herald has pages that automatically update with news of the fires. The RFS Commissioner's update for 7.10pm is heartbreaking. He's got all the facts, so his picture of devastation & loss would be no exaggeration. http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/latest-nsw-fire-updates-thursday-october-17-20131017-2vo14.html

Yes, nicely said Marg.

I'm not a Rottie owner, but I'd back you all the way on these.

He's a lucky boy to have you looking out for him!

Cruzy's the word! He's gorgeous & knows it. Love his cheeky grin.

Brought a little colour into our drab black & white lives, Trina. :)

Glad you posted that, SSM. There needs to be a balance between the worst & the best. And the best was ignored. How can the general public get an idea of what good standards are in greyhound racing, if they don't see them in operation?

Maeby, the Animal Health Trust in the UK is a highly respected centre for reviewing & initiating research and also treatments. They have a neat summary on current knowledge about Mast Cell Tumours. http://www.aht.org.uk/cms-display/science_oncolres.html

I'm sorry, mita, what breed do you own again? I have forgotten. I didn't say because I didn't want to 'push' my breed, Tibetan Spaniels, over your loved breed, Pugs. :) I honestly think it's much the same case as me.... track down registered breeders of Pugs with experience & great interest in health issues. And find bloodlines that are reasonably robust. But I also think breeders can't be God-like. Even with the best efforts, Nature can throw curly ones. Here's the international work, re health, from tibbie breeders. http://www.tibbies.net/itswp/

Bit late to the thread. I picked a less common breed.... but not for that, just because I liked the characteristics. By chance, that meant a concentration of registered breeders serious about health issues. Also the breed standard says moderation not exaggeration in any features. This breed has an International Health Committee with representatives from many countries.... including Australia. So there already was a background where this breed was held to be generally robust ... & tending to age well. It was a case, then, of following up the experienced registered breeders. Results have been no major health problems with our pets until those of old age.

Racing greyhound owner next door deliberately socializes his puppies with other dogs & children. He says that one day they'll retire or mightn't be suitable for racing, so they'll need to be experienced & fine around people, children & other dogs. He uses our small tibs ... who love the greyhound puppies. And gets the neighbours' grandchildren to visit & play with them, too. Often the puppies leave him at 4 months & return a year or two later. And they remember their little tib friends. They run to the fence with tails wagging. I wish more did that! It would make life much easier. Something tells me his attitude wouldn't be widespread. But it happens in his circle of greyhound racing people that he calls his friends. Like, one family with primary age children now have their former sprint champion grey as the family pet.... but this dog always was. Greyhound owners like this are disproving a myth.... that for dogs to run well with high motivation, you can't 'sook' them iike pets from the time they're born. Our neighbour's state sprint champion, Harry, was noted for his fierce competitive spirit on the track. But at home he was a big, sweet pet .... intimidated by the tiny tib next door, Lily.

Edit Tibetan Spaniels? They wouldn't stand for it. It's not that I think they're perfect ... but they do. :)

My experience has been similar with our purebred Sheltie & Tibetan Spaniels ... all who've had no illness until well into old age. Like one Tib at the moment, who's getting on to 13 years but has never had a health problem of any kind. Same with 2 former ones. All have come from registered breeders who are top of their game. Tho' we did have a little mixed-breed dog, rescued as a puppy. Looked like a poodle crossed with some kind of spaniel. She lived until she was 22 yrs. First health problem of any kind, was some teeth surgery at age 19 yrs. Have no idea of her background, tho'.

Racing greyhound owner next door deliberately socializes his puppies with other dogs & children. He says that one day they'll retire or mightn't be suitable for racing, so they'll need to be experienced & fine around people, children & other dogs. He uses our small tibs ... who love the greyhound puppies. And gets the neighbours' grandchildren to visit & play with them, too. Often the puppies leave him at 4 months & return a year or two later. And they remember their little tib friends. They run to the fence with tails wagging.

So he's being retired, hopefully as a pet, because there's reasons his work as an explosives detection dog can't continue? If that's so.... then, of course, the focus would be on finding a pet home.

Good on you! Just a suggestion from left-field. If he's trained & experienced in explosives detection, would the police be interested in him? Maybe whoever's responsible for rehoming him, might contact the Police Service Dog Squad. Also include interstate. The Q'ld Police Service has a big security job on their hands with a hugely important gathering of international leaders coming up soon. Couple years back Qld Police took a young NSW GSD that came up on the DOL Rescue Forum.

Yes, Sam. Hence my earlier question asking did the program get around to showing the 'good' bits, like the fantastic greyhound adoption programs. I totally agree with you that might help Joe Average look at greyhounds differently. I hope that the excellent program is not the last word to the public.

I doubt it DD, I searched & found some strong words about improving greyhound racing, on the Aus Gov's Dpt of Agriculture website. But there's a huge gap between 'good' words & something substantial being done. Look how people have been banging away for ages about the problems associated with puppy-farming. And dogs are still 'puppy farmed'. Maybe, tho', the banging away leads to more public awareness.... & that can lead to higher standards. But seems greyhound racing has an enormous way to go ... http://www.daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/welfare/aaws/aaws_international_animal_welfare_conference/improving_the_welfare_of_the_racing_greyhound_-_a_grv_perspective

Thanks, Sam. Shall go look. I hope very much the 'outing' of those horrors leads to some tightening up of standards.

I didn't see the program but from what people have said, thank goodness viewers were shown the worst of greyhound racing. There's limited time in a TV segment, but did they show by way of contrast, what the best in the industry do? Having been a neighbour to a decent racing greyhound owner, I reckon these people should be the required benchmark. Anything less, should be wiped out. I've also seen the GAP (Greyhound Adoption Program) doing their stuff, via our tibbie being a 'small dog tester'. Greys with beautiful temperaments, from trainers/owners who've cared for them well & now in the hands of experts at rehoming. I can only rave about the magnificent dogs I saw. Again, this should be the required benchmark. Nothing less...!

One of the people in the article I posted said he thought dogs would be like people. People react differently to loss. And so would dogs. I've had dogs that haven't reacted in any way to the loss of one of their 'mates'.... but I've had another whose loss turned into permanent state of grief.