mita

... or ears. Deep-seated & long-standing ear infections & thrushy stuff can smell really bad ... if you're anywhere within sniffing range. A fair summary of possible sources of v. bad smells: http://vetmedicine.about.com/cs/dogdiseasess/a/stinkydog.htm

A vet behaviorist told me that taking the resident dog for walks with the new dog, is one of the best things to do, to help them settle & be at ease with each other. Whenever a new dog comes here.... it's one of the first things I do. And keep it up regularly, even if it isn't always far. About the bad breath ... I agree with Rebanne to check for gum problems. Also, just saying not suggesting, bad breath can be associated with respiratory system & also digestive problems.

Fantastic to read that positive story, meiz. Inspiring stuff. Should be more of it.

Get him to read this http://rufflyspeaking.net/puppy-buyer-ettiquette/ That is excellent. Good if that link could be got to all prospective puppy buyers. I know how over-enthusiasm can break out. Neighbours' little dog died & it took ages for the husband to consider another dog. When he did... he headed for the local pet store. His wife had to really put the brakes on his falling for particular puppies. Even tho' their previous dog was from a registered breeder.

Now off to her FB page hoping there'll be pics. Nothing like the Nana & Gramps dogs. A Gramps tibbie boy aged 11 1/2 years has been rescued & now for adoption. I'd give my eye teeth for Tommy. Trouble is... he's with his breed rescue in the USA! :)

I don't know if it still applies. But a breeder who imported tibbies told me that she nominated herself as the groomer who has ready access to dogs in quarantine. That was how she visited her dogs frequently over the period. I actually own a European-sourced dog who spent time here in quarantine. I think her Australian importing breeder could also visit like that.

Exactly, Diva.... I couldn't believe some of the things I read in that draft copy. One humdinger was something about dogs having to be let outside the confinement of their pens at least 3 times a week. Which I remarked at the time, seemed perilously in breach of Qld law which frowns on confinement without break for longer than a 24 hour stretch. The Vic proposed rule seemed to equate the dogs with 4- legged battery hens. Also it said that socialisation can be provided to puppies in the early weeks. Can? The research says 'must'.

Yes. I said as much in an earlier thread that was looking at Victoria's draft of new rules & regulations. Which falls over backwards to legitimize large scale commercial operations. Seems dog breeding is being viewed as.... if it's business, then it must be good. Even tho' ... how ironical... they even listed a research article in their References which pointed to smaller, home-style non-commercial breeding establishments as those more likely to produce dogs with less problems.

There's a great pic on AWL Qld Facebook page, where someone took their pug to work at a Robina hair salon. And pug got right into helping... :) https://www.facebook.com/AWLQLD Also Clark the Rottweiler went to work at Community Newspaper in Logan area. It said he helped get the paper rolled out by drooling on things & harassing staff for lunch: http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/dogs-will-join-their-owners-for-a-day-in-the-office-to-celebrate-take-your-dog-to-work-day/story-fni9r0hy-1226666915869

Yes. Sad as it is, for a man who so dearly loved his cat. And who was already in a state of distress because the puss had been attacked by dogs. One lesson to be learned, is to strictly stick to administration directions. Also how vulnerable to error we can be when acting under considerable distress. It's inappropriate to draw any wider conclusions about the vet's track record, from this case. Maybe it's just with the benefit of hindsight, but I'd say she might have stressed to the owner, the critical importance of sticking to that low dose.... & why. Because the owner had no experience with giving that med to a puss before. So I'd add a communication issue ... to one of human error.

Lovely pics & fantastic news about Bazza catching up to his littermates.

Yes, more & more retirement villages are including in their advertising that people are able tp bring their pet with them. One trap in the fine print of some places, tho', is that is says they can bring a pet.... but once that pet passes on, they can't acquire a new pet. I don't know how widespread this is.... but it has caught a few people. Caution is to read the fine print.

The site has been taken down. But you would have been okay with your details being listed, and having to meet his rules and thoughts on breeding before you could edit your details? And being listed next to puppy farmers both under the heading of "ethical breeders"? There's been advice on how to source a puppy on the Net since 2008. CHOICE (formerly Australian Consumers' Association) had done their research & come up with an advisory page. Pedigree dog breeders are mentioned as a group & a link given to Dogzonline. There's a subtle pointing people to AKC registered breeders & responsible rescue. 'Designer dog' breeders are mentioned but no specific links are given. What they do & claim in the 'crossing' is critically commented on by rep of AVA. I think, tho' a reader already needs to be a bit more informed to read between the lines. It would be great to see CHOICE review this page & produce an updated version. Especially one that gives an explanation of words like 'registered' & also mention more up to date relevant research. http://www.choice.com.au/reviews-and-tests/household/backyard/pets/buying-a-dog.aspx

I love those pics! Especially the attack of the Killer Cat & the pair of Sleeping Beauties. Our cat, Sarah, has a great friendship with Lily, the Tibbie next door. They run & chase each other, all over the house, with mats flying They don't care who's the chaser & who's the chasee. And when they catch up with each other, Lily covers Sarah with Tibbie kisses. In all their nonsense, never, ever do they hurt each other.

Yes, I thought local council regulations was first off the block in determining numbers, per se. I wonder if registered breeders could do what many European breeders do ... & have some of their dogs living with other people, in urban areas (in accord with relevant local laws). I notice that one of the responsible Qld rescues does that with 'retired' dogs. And, of course, there's adopting mature dogs. All our dogs are retired from good breeders. Given increasing emphasis on numbers, per se... with not necessarily referring to condition of dogs & property ... then maybe different models of operation could be looked at. And numbers do count in what hard-wiring is laid down as a result of extent of interactions with humans. US research found puppies from small scale, non-commercial breeders do much better later, in behaviour terms, than those from numerically large scale operations. http://www.upenn.edu/pennnews/current/2013-05-16/latest-news/penn-vet-study-finds-pet-store-puppies-come-increased-risk

Silly question .... but very relevant around here sometimes. :) Do dogs snore & dream at the same time? Lily the tibbie next door who comes to stay, is tiny & pretty, but snores like a bull-dozer at work, during periods throughout the night. I imagine even the creatures in her dreams would put their fingers in their ears.

I agree with this. But only add, I always feed the cat separately from the dogs.... who are also fed separately. I was able to ask for an adult cat that would be fine with our Tibbie girls, when I got a cat from the UQ Adoption Program. They had 30 cats that'd spent a year at the Uni (with loads of stimulation & socialisation) in a non-invasive research project (diet). All were rescued from pounds. The staff tested the cats to see how they got on around dogs & put them into 4 categories. First group were super-friendly around dogs. They initiated friendly contact. Second group just accepted a dog in the same area. Third group were a little reactive... a hiss or spit or two... but it was felt they'd adjust to their 'own' dog in their 'own' environment. Last group were labelled... 'never to be rehomed with a dog.' We picked one from the second group who just watched & accepted a dog. This 'nature' was very like the Tibbies themselves (who are a bit cat-like). We didn't pick one from the super-friendly group as it could be overwhelming for them. And.... yes.... they worked out fine. And the cat, Sarah, actually identifies with the Tibbies (& her bestest friend, the Tibbie next door). It's like owning a Tibbie that's dressed up as a cat.

The window of early socialisation goes up to the 14 week stage. The UQ researchers recognised that....pointing out that new owners of any less socialised puppies from non-registered breeders, should deal with that. From their Abstract (Conclusions): People purchasing puppies from nonregistered breeders should focus on socializing their puppies between the time of purchase and 14 weeks of age So these puppies start with a Risk Factor.... but, depending on new owner behaviour, a Protective Factor can be introduced. But lack of socialisation by new owner would compound the Risk Factor. Also individual temperament (still highly debated) would also either add element of risk or protection in terms of responding to socialisation efforts. As to the RSPCA failed working dogs.... the breed attributes, like high energy for purposeful activity, would also constitute a Risk Factor when placed in a domestic setting which doesn't/can't cater for it. Or not so, in one that could. The notions of Risk Factors & Protective Factors makes a great deal of sense in looking at the path of individual dogs. And what we can best do for them.

No. Their frustration was that most of the dogs they got in were failed working dogs from livestock properties. If I understood correctly, the shelter was trying to get the adoption rate up for all the right reasons, but at the end of the day had dogs that weren't really suited to the homes available. Corvus, would this be bearing out, at least in part, the UQ (& other) work on the importance of early socialisation? Dogs from 'livestock properties' would not be socialised early , in a more domestic setting. Given they were deemed not suitable for working in such places, then the potential new homes would be those with a domestic lifestyle. Individual dogs with individual owners could well adjust. But there'd be some risk overall. All the RSPCA could do, would be to base rehoming on training success within the shelter & test the dog in a real home. With reference to new owner skills/attitudes, of course.

It's not a long bow.... it's simply one risk factor in a repertoire of risk factors. It's not a prediction of what will happen in every individual case. In real life, it's the aggregation of risk factors which counts. Which is why I continually put bred/raised/homed as the fuller context where the full range of factors kick in. Either putting the dog at risk or providing protective benefits. The caveat cases you've brought up above are all related to aspects of those. And pick up on either further risk factors or bring in protective factors. So we may, at base, be saying much the same. The way we approach the realities of human problems by drawing on research findings, does just that. Say, for something like drug addiction. Risk Factors which up the likelihood of such a problem developing are listed.... as are Protective Factors which tend to decrease the likelihood. Then each individual case can be charted according to what's ticked. Actually, that could be a good way of approaching problems in dogs. Like, dumping. Could be done. Like, your examples would neatly fit. And the RSPCA is quite correct that a dog can have & be trained in, reasonable behaviour in one setting... that is, the shelter. But when taken into the new environment with a new owner, things can unravel for a number of reasons. Change in environment can present risks... or can offer protective benefits.... for all dogs BTW. And they could be listed. Could be a good research study for someone ... to produce a Risk Factors/Protective Factors charting to connect with dogs' real lives. As how human behaviour influences how dogs behave & what decisions are made about them.... then owner behaviours/attitudes would be strongly represented. (The breeder being the first owner & shelter/pound staff are temporary owners).

I did a good old Google search & up came an article from Psychology Today's blog by Dr Stanley Coren (the bloke who did the work on intelligence in dogs). Do Dogs Dream. So many of the things in it, bear out what posters have already said: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner/201010/do-dogs-dream He even tells how you can tell when your dog starts to dream.

Whoops, good question, stans mum. I just assumed that the day-care foster grey was a GAP dog. But, of course, jelly didn't actually say that.

Onya .... & the GAP folk, too ... who are helping you work thro' things. Nothing like real life testing!

Yes, the research I mentioned. The UQ work which found the link with lesser socialisation... which the researchers pointed out, is linked with the development of later behavioral problems. So it constitutes a risk factor. You will notice I carefully used the term risk factors. As is done when applying research to real life. It doesn't predict for every case but indicates risk. And aggregation of risk factors counts. Why have you only now asked that question. Since that research appeared a few years back, I've mentioned it many times on DOL... & quoted a summary statement from the source. Why haven't you said something before? Has something happened?

It's got Australian Kelpie under 'Breeds Coming Soon'.