mita

I had to do this with our tibbie girl who'd shriek like an insane banshee around my feet. Ignore her for 15 minutes coming home, I was told. Kind of worked. She started to ignore me for 15 minutes. Acted like I wasn't even there. I think the little wretch was saying... 'You ignore, you'll get ignored.' :)

Our cat had been in the vet clinic for a few days. She'd been as good as gold & quiet as a mouse. When my dad came to the reception desk to say he'd come to collect her.... she heard his voice from the cage room next door. Then she started... 'Dad? Dad? I'm here, come save me!!!!. And went on & on, obviously calling him. The receptionist & everyone in the waiting room collapsed laughing.

'Producing' pet dogs isn't just a matter of what the person who breeds them, is called. It's what that person does. But that gets left out ... & the various labels (BYB, puppy-farmer, registered breeder) are believed to be self-explanatory. Which they're not. Yes, 'pet' got translated into more jargon-y 'companion animal'. It tends to stop with the label, too... as if just saying it, means something. Which it doesn't. Recent US research pointed to hobby (small scale), home-style bred dogs going on to have less behavioral problems (in relation to living alongside humans) and less health problems. So that's what needs picking apart, in terms of both animal & human welfare. What exactly fosters that socialization & better health. And it's a scenario that's been around for yonks. There's some evidence that registered breeders tend to largely work that way. But not all. And so would some unregistered breeders. And there's also evidence that large scale breeding tends to be less able to reproduce those benefits. Large scale is how puppy farming tends to work ... to make it commercially viable.

I heard only a bit of the program & was curious to find out more. Very promising across a range of cancers: The vaccine, developed by researchers at Sydney's Kolling Institute, has been trialled on almost 30 dogs with advanced melanoma, bone cancer and liver cancer. Early results found the vaccine not only slowed the growth of the original tumour but also helped to prevent more developing. I think emerging treatments can be more quickly put into clinical practice with pets. There's more clinical trials before same can happen for humans. Shows we have good reason to keep a close eye on new treatments coming up well in vet practice!

Current RSPCA statement. This is what they said, too, in the situation DD talked about: What does the RSPCA think about the use of live animals as prizes? Article ID: 236 Last updated: 17 Mar, 2009 Sometimes live animals are given as prizes in raffles, competitions or other fundraising events. Examples include ponies or dogs in raffles, goldfish as fairground prizes, dogs in raffles etc. RSPCA Australia is opposed to the use of live animals as prizes as this creates a situation where a person is responsible for the care of an animal without any proper planning or consideration. Acquiring a companion animal should be the result of careful planning and prior consideration. The prospective owner should have a clear understanding of the responsibilities involved and carefully consider whether they have, and will continue to have, the facilities, time, financial means and level of interest necessary to ensure a satisfactory standard of care for their animal prior to acquiring the animal. If you know of a competition or fundraiser where live animals are being advertised as prizes, consider contacting the organisers to express your concern and ask them to provide an alternative prize.

I remember that, too, DD. It was a magazine aimed at teenage girls. The front cover had a pic of a cute little Lab pup as a prize. I think the girls had to write a letter saying why they'd like it? Then all hell broke loose. Much criticism from sections of the public. The final 'blow' was when the RSPCAs in several states came out condemning using pets as prizes & saying why. The magazine then printed they were withdrawing the competition. And said, no worries about the puppy, because it hadn't been born yet. It'd been 'ordered' so it'd be of the right age by the time the competition was judged.

That does make sense to make sure they have to chew & not just try to gulp down. Thanks for the tip. Turkey necks & more casserole-size chicken from now on. Now you've both mentioned this... I've noticed that happens too with Chews, like Dentastix. I've found if I cut the stick into bits... they try to just swallow. If the stick is left whole, they gradually chew it down.

Kirty, there was talk of maybe knocking on the owner's door & offering to groom. Or was it decided that's not likely to go down well. Neglected grooming can lead to medical problems with those more long-haired dogs, can be painful. I wonder if that's covered by cruelty/neglect laws? Just wondering.... not saying.

I'd say you're right, Aussie. I think the emergency vet hospital bill for well over a $1000 shocked me.

And, as the OP, you did, Teebs.

An RSPCA receptionist told me a while back that was the most common reason for people wanting to surrender their dog. Around the same time, the Brisbane City Council set up some talks for pet owners who were pregnant, on how to cope, so they mightn't need to relinquish their pets. I'd say the advice would've been the same as what you've posted. Also the AWL Qld started education programs to do the same thing.

I'm hoping people with smaller dogs might post their experiences. I've had some problems with my tibbies. Chicken wings & chicken necks are what I'd like to keep giving them. But there's been some scary moments with bits getting stuck. One girl got a piece stuck in her gullet. So a trip to the emergency vet hospital. Where they scared me with how even those raw bones can pierce the surface & be fatal. They were going to operate to get the bit out, but put her under sedation first to do scan. By chance, the relaxation from that, was enough for the bit to go down naturally. I've been trying to figure a balance between giving them chicken wings/necks to help their teeth.... but knowing there's a chance of a bit getting stuck. Just not sure how high that risk is.... or is it pretty rare.

You're sure right there!

Now you know what turns us into Tibbie Tragics. :)

I'll pass on those details to the Tibbie Pets people. Also, didn't kirty know someone looking for a tibbie?

Thanks for that info, Mel. That article also said the dogs were found with the body. So they mustn't have challenged whoever did it. I wonder if the dogs knew him/them. Like an associate of the bloke. Also didn't seem to have a grudge against the dogs.... left them unharmed. I agree with Mrs RB ... may have been about something else entirely.

I was about to say the same thing. Isn't there something in that State's law which could've been applied to ban this man from owning dogs? If not, there should be.

Ethical rescues are still for the most part recycling the same stuff from the pet shops, puppy farms and the like placing product from irresponsible breeding's of unknown ancestry......a mutt through rescue means it may have a had quick vet check and the temperament is tested pet worthy, but the background and nitty gritty on the dog is not even close to what a registered breeder can provide who has years of breeding and bloodline experience of their respective breeds. Good rescues do a great job, I admire their work, but it's not in the same league as a good registered breeder. Read what I wrote.... take a good hard look at the word 'direct'. I put that there to help along readers' comprehension. I said I was not interested in buying designed mixed breeds direct from pet stores, puppy farms & backyards. But I would adopt mixed breeds from ethical rescues.... wherever those dogs have come from. Got the difference? I don't give direct support to the pet stores, puppy farmers & backyard breeders.... but I support homeless dogs that ethical rescues have taken in.... wherever the dogs have originally come from. Didn't I also indicate that our preference has been adopting from the ethical registered breeders? And I even spelled out the reasons... which are unique to that sphere. I indicated clearly that we still retained a spot in out hearts/home where we'd help out a dog, not so lucky to come from that world .... thro' rescue. Those 2 positions, as I've spelled them out, are not incompatible. It's possible to keep two thoughts in the mind at one time.

Thanks for that, Rosetta. I saw a pic of that segment on the Facebook page of one of the experienced tibbie breeders...obviously praising it. But I didn't know what it'd been about. Just a general comment... there's a pile of reasons why we've got purebreds as pets from registered breeders. And it's just as much about how they raise & keep their dogs, as it is about the care that goes into their breeding decisions for conformation, health & temperament. Our adopted ex-show dogs, come with the most amazing good, well-socialised natures. And that doesn't mean we'd ignore as pets, mixed breeds, like those that come thro' ethical rescues. But not designed mixed breeds, direct from pet stores, puppy farms & backyard breeders. We loved our little mixed breed dog that was thrown from a car as a puppy. Our 'star', Grandma as she was eventually called, lived until she was nearly 23 yrs old. Lovely little dog, with exceptional health (she looked like a poodle that looked like a spaniel :) ). Our purebreds we've got from the good registered breeders have had good health, too.

Yes, I've heard it so many times. Many pet people think that 'show' breeders only sell puppies to other 'show' people. They're surprised to find out it's not so.

He's lovely! RP, I think he may want to take your Pug, Cheddar, his new 'bestie' with him when he moves on. :) Shows that he'd love a new home with another happy, good-natured dog to play with. Once again, huge thanks to all.

PM, I was wondering how the situation was going, re your daughter's dog & the Council's visit. I don't know about the various Councils in Qld, but the RSPCA here comes out strongly & publicly, now, saying the approach should be 'deed not breed'. I've certainly noticed among the many lovely, good-natured dogs for adoption from AWl Qld, quite a few are distinctly bully types. Few years back, when the hysteria & witch-hunting were at its worst in Qld, dogs like that would've been condemned on sight.

You're right. Many pieces of codes of behaviour start off with a Glossary of Terms... like saying, 'In this code, X will mean abc'. Sounds pedantic but everything hangs on exactly who & what a code is covering. I think it's crucial in any Australian code relating to rescue to define who a 'breeder' is.... & also any sub-sets, like 'registered breeder'. Same with other relevant terms.

I'm so sorry, RP, I've been out since early morning. There was a medical emergency in the family. So it's late afternoon before I can get to the computer. Thank you ... & kirty & tibbie_tabbie... for being there for the tibbie & getting it to safety and to the attention of the Tibetan Spaniel Club of Victoria. Please let me know if there's anything I can still do.

Thanks, Mel. So what's been counted is reports from members of the public to Council.... & it's not necessarily being injured. And includes harrassing/chasing/ rushing. So that's counting fear as well as injury. Not that I'm saying you have to do it.... but there'd be a different picture of dog bites in the community, if reporting came thro' medical treatment sources. That would only pick up actual injury. Because in-home bites, of all levels, would be picked up... & they're the most common, especially of children. Owners would likely never report their own dog to council (under a serious level)... & would make their own arrangements about getting the injury treated & what to do about the dog. Pity both systems don't exist because both sets of information are useful for doing something about problems.