mita

Mine also, which is why I was very surprised at the NSW CA taskforce recommending an exemption from the licensing proposals for "accidental" litters. As a piece of policy, that seemed designed to ensure that we always have a supply of unwanted back yard bred dogs. Yes. The licensing for responsible breeding from the Gold Coast City Council, doesn't cover 'accidental' backyard-type litters, either. They say their licensing supports planned/responsible breeding. In many cases it's preaching to the converted of what good breeders do, anyway. All they say is that breeders should counsel new owners on benefits of getting the puppy desexed. So there's absolutely nothing about the 'ordinary' person who is not a licensed breeder, allowing their 'pets' (wherever they've got them from) to breed & why. Couple years ago, the National Dog newspaper had a front page article. The AWL in SA & the Kennel Association in SA were combining to say that, based on the AWL's observations, a large number of dogs being 'dumped' fitted the commercially bred 'designed dogs'. And purebred dogs were not highly represented at all. Don't know if they based that on actual statistics. But they were confident enough to make that public statement. Bit old (1991) but paper by Dick Murray to an Urban Animal Management Inc conference, has many of the questions that are still being asked. He drew on research & statistics current at that date... but laments there's no system for data collection that will throw light on where the dumped dog problem is coming from. His own 'take' is that careless pet ownership is the culprit, rather that excessive breeding capacity as a single factor. He doesn't draw distinction between purebred & mixed breed sources. But he does draw interesting conclusions ... & there's reference to local research he did in the Townsville area sampling people who allowed their dogs to breed & why. http://www.aiam.com.au/resources/files/proceedings/penrith1993/PUB_Pro93_DickMurray.pdf

I love it. The more the 2 of them go on, the more the bub imitates the husky.

My tibbie girls have had non-Tibetan names, too. Adopted as adults from registered breeders. They have 'girly' names... Gracie, Annie, NinaZena. Tibbie who lived next door, who could run like the wind, was named Brock, after Peter Brock the racing driver. I think it's good for the Tibbies with Rescues to be given Tibetan names. It helps highlight their breed ancestry. A lot of their lovely traits are connected with that. Karuna's got a great name, now. A respected palliative care service in Brisbane is named Karuna (mercy & compassion) ... & was founded by Buddhist monks & nuns.

Yes. There's a saying that 'All generalisations are false, including this one.' As someone posted earlier, there's so many variables in each case. So sometimes 2 similar age pups work out well... & sometimes they don't. You've give a good example of where it's been fine & worked well. We've always owned at least 2 dogs because we think that dogs tend to need company because they're pack animals. Just by happenstance, we've never brought up 2 puppies of the same age. Our dogs have been adopted as adults. So I can't claim any experience.

I agree that another 'balanced' dog can provide a supportive model for behaviour. Also.... we had a 7 months old Sheltie who'd freeze in the opposite direction. As soon as she left the yard & was on the footpath to go for a walk.... she'd freeze. Background was understandable. Came at that age from a show breeder where she'd never been off the property to have experience on streets. Like what RP's suggested, I took her just a few steps at a time, at first. She loved food, so treats were a motivator, even in the face of such extreme anxiety. But it still couldn't be pushed. So, at first, just a step or two.... then treats & praise. A little more each day. Took a little while & lots of treats, but she learned to be confident faced with the street. Was fine, for then on.

'Fluffy' now has a true blue Tibetan name, 'Karuna'. Means 'mercy' or 'compassion'. Denise says he's loving being in foster-care. So here's another sweet-natured, happy little fellow. Cruisy Karuna. :) I hope he's got a secretary to handle his fan-mail. From France, Brisbane & Perth. :)

He's sure winning hearts from distant places! I believe his name was Fluffy. I don't know if PAWS will change it. I think he deserves a name that does him justice.

I've got a vague memory that, some time back, somebody tried to do something similar. I wonder if it's the same person.

Bertie, his new person has already shown up. Trouble is, she's in France. :) A retired French breeder was among the people asked for comments on this cute Tibbie X. She said, if he was in her area, she'd adopt him in a heartbeat. Her assessment's been passed on to PAWS.

Rosetta, I have no problem with debarking (which would better be called pitch lowering).... when there's a genuine case that a dog is impossible to stop from frequent, annoying barking for at least 2 neighbouring residences. Despite all management measures taken. And when the operation is done by a vet experienced & expert in the procedure. I met 2 tibbies who'd been debarked & I didn't know it. As I said before, I just thought they had 'sexy', husky barks. That's what the pitch lowering does. They were well able to express themselves via a bark. But the high-pitched tones that make a bark carry a long way.... & which are annoying to the ear... were taken out. Incidentally, women in certain jobs, get their higher pitches lowered, too. Not by surgery but by speech therapy. Maggie Thatcher, the UK politician did. So might newsreaders. My question in the OP's case, is if the complaining woman fits into a profile that comes up in psychological/psychiatric literature. She's already shown she hears the dog even when it's not there... & is totally resistant to any facts which question her case. As I said previously, the gentlest term used is 'unreasonable complainant' behaviour. Organisations that have to take complaints tend to be aware of people with that profile. Like the Commonwealth Ombudsman has a Mamual for staff on recognizing & dealing with them. If this woman does fit into that profile ... then not easy to stop her complaining. So a great deal depends if other neighbours, beside herself, agree with what she says she hears & when. Certainly any application for debarking would need that. And even if that were successful then, as the Code states, debarking doesn't mean that dogs don't make any sound.

Double post.

I looked up the Victorian Code re debarking. There has to be written complaints from not less than two occupiers of neighbouring residences. If this woman is hearing your dog barking, even when the dog is not there... & you've never heard a complaint from any neighbours... then her 'word' alone is not enough. And, if the council has picked up already (& told you) that she's 'odd' ... then she may well have the kind of profile that is hard to shut up her complaining. At the gentlest.... known as 'unreasonable complainant'. The Code itself points out that most debarked dogs can still be heard up to 20 metres, tho' subdued. Again, this is a lady who even manages to hear the dog when it's not there. And again, typically of people with that profile.... when the council (or you) provides facts that disprove her 'case', then she says she'll go to another authority.... the Ombudsman. As someone else said, that has to be about the council's actions, not yours or your dog's. Meaning of debarking For the purposes of this Code 'debarking' means the surgical operation performed by a registered veterinary practitioner to reduce the noise of a dog's bark. When a dog is debarked its ability to communicate with other animals and human beings is reduced. Most debarked dogs have a subdued "husky" bark, audible up to 20 metres. Circumstances in which a dog may be debarked This code recognises that debarking a dog may be necessary for therapeutic or prophylactic effects, or as an alternative to euthanasia for a dog declared to be a public nuisance because it barks persistently. A dog is a public nuisance where – there have been written complaints from the occupiers of not less than two neighbouring residences or in isolated areas two written complaints from persons occupying the same residence, submitted to the Municipal offices, and investigation by an authorised officer of the municipality confirms that despite every reasonable effort by the owner to discourage the dog from barking by considerate care, training and management the dog continues to bark persistently.

I'm a tibbie tragic, but I'd snaffle Daisy in a heartbeat, too. She's a real babe & has so much personality in her face.

Prepare for cuteness overload.... again. PAWS has this lovely boy who came in microchipped as Tibetan Spaniel. Age is 5 years. Click to elarge:

You're up against a person who has personal problems. It's not really about your dog. As you say, the other neighbours have supported you. There's been reality testing via that, as well as your records .... & it's on your side. You say she's recently moved to your area. I'd bet my bottom dollar, this person has a history of making vexacious complaints. People like that, are no stranger to most councils. Just out of interest, the Commonwealth Ombudsman has produced a manual about dealing with 'unreasonable complainants'. http://www.ombudsman.gov.au/docs/better-practice-guides/Online_UnreasonableComplainantConductManual_CwthOmb.pdf BTW Debarking doesn't silence dogs. It changes the pitch so the noise doesn't carry as much. When I first met debarked dogs (& didn't know it), I thought they had naturally sexy barks. Without the high pitches, the bark sounded husky.

Yes. Isn't he a splendidly gorgeous dog! Great to know that it seems his breeder has been alerted & a new home arranged. Frankly, it's great to see 'breed' alerts like this one & people rallying to find a new home. IMO, breed rescue. Great to support.

Yes, animal hoarding is notoriously difficult to stop. Top notch research from the US Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium, says recidivism approaches 100%. They set out the characteristics & behaviours of the main types of animal hoarders. And it's clear that what would stop regular folk, in their tracks, would be water off a duck's back for hoarders. This report is worth reading... even just for that. http://vet.tufts.edu/hoarding/pubs/AngellReport.pdf

That's looking good! The privacy laws really do put professionals & organizations in curious binds these days.

Is he in NSW or Qld? There's not huge numbers of Shibu Inu breeders listed on the Dogzonline breeders page (4 in Qld). Maybe circulate the boy's pic & details to them. A dog that's obviously been so well cared for.... like having eye surgery... might be owned by a person who's kept in touch with the breeder. Coogie, that's a good thought that school holidays sees dogs often out of their routines, home locations & not with owners. Just the time for things to go wrong...

Instant Daisy fan here, too. :) She's such a little doll that even rolling in the grass can't stop her from looking beautiful. And that sweet, intelligent face!

She's beautiful with lovely colouring. I like the pic on the couch as it gives a good idea of her size. I think she's a Rosie Dog. :)

My Annie's eyes go like that. When she gets anxious, it's like she pulls back her face & ears, making her eyes look big & poppy. It's how I can tell she's anxious. That first pic looks very like Annie, too.

NBN News site has the story & a video. http://www.nbnnews.com.au/index.php/2013/09/13/dog-saves-family-from-brown-snake-at-willow-vale/

Someone's got themselves a beauty! She looks purebred. Amazing that an owner wouldn't have claimed her.

Yes, thanks. My goodness, she's a pretty girl. Looks like a purebred.