mita

And here's the evidence. All sorts of breeds from Pitbulls to Pekes were studied at the University of Cordoba (close to 1000 dogs). The findings put the trend towards developing aggressive behaviours squarely towards human factors. What the owners do (or not do). And that starts with the first owner who is the person who breeds & raises the dogs as puppies. Where the evidence again is strong that a puppy must be socialised in the early weeks. And that's also linked to the degree of socialisation of the mother dog. Then, when a puppy is adopted.... whatever the 'forever' owner does, or does not do.... begins from whatever base it's got: Dr. Joaquin Perez-Guisado University of Cordoba. Many dogs are put down or abandoned due to their violent nature, but contrary to popular belief, breed has little to do with a dog's aggressive behaviour compared with all the owner-dependant factors. This is shown in a new study from the University of Córdoba, which included breeds that are considered aggressive by nature, such as the Rottweiler or the Pit Bull. The conclusions, however, are surprising: it is the owners who are primarily responsible for attacks due to dominance or the competitive nature of their pets. The research team from the University of Córdoba has determined a series of external factors that are inherent to the dogs, in order to understand their aggressiveness, and they have observed that external, modifiable and owner-dependent factors have a greater influence on the animals.

It isnt a bull breed bashing thread, its a stupid owner bashing thread. Mantis, gillbear is right. And the evidence.... not opinion .... supports it. There was a study done covering different dog breeds, & the factors connected with a dog's predictability to be aggressive were largely what humans did.... or did not do.... with the dog. It's good to see the human factors getting emphasis in a thread like this ... in a world, that so frequently believes that a dog's behaviour is totally linked with specific breed. Human factors that have set up a 'dog attack' incident are never mentioned in media accounts of dog bites/attacks. But the label of some 'breed' always is.

The UQ vet behaviorist who dealt with our sheltie.... described her separation anxiety as 'demand behaviour'. By ripping soft furnishings to shreds when left alone.... she was demanding 'I want you here with me!'. It's not just a case of attention-seeking.... it's a case of what the dog is actually 'seeking' by behaving the way it is. Which is why the training strategies included huge doses of teaching her that she could not demand anything... & that she only would get attention of any kind (treats, pats, cuddles, meals, toys) when she was quiet. And had first obeyed the command 'Sit'. The second part of the training strategies was to set a day bed place where she was trained to get used to spending time there.... even when I was at home. With treats, Kongs & items that had my scent on them (like old unwashed T shirts). She needed to learn tolerate not having my attention. The need is to have specific strategies which fit the behaviours that a dog is showing. As I said, best thing we found was to go to a well qualified vet behaviourist at UQ. Took one session of her explaining what the dog was actually doing & setting out a list of not complicated strategies. Then we had to put them into practice.... consistently... until the dog's behaviour changed along with our behaviour.

Maybe the vet could just gently get them out. Tooth infections don't always show on the surface.... but can be right down where there's injury to the root. At the least, they could be just very annoying & giving a bit of a sharp 'tug' as she eats.

If she's pretty OK inside the house.... except for the weeing & pooing... can you keep her to one room only? And in that room, put an 'inside' toilet for her.... as well as a day bed with the things said to help separation anxiety. An 'inside' toilet for a small dog, can be made by finding the biggest plastic lid (for a box) at somewhere like Bunnings. Put good quality artificial grass in it. And train her to use this toilet. I've heard some people put some of the outside grass & soil on the artificial grass at first.... if you get some from a spot she's used in the garden.... it'll have the scent for her to follow. Dogs follow their own scent to go back to their 'toot' spots. I don't know what advice you've got from behaviourists.... but I assume it's similar to what we got for our sheltie. Set up spot in that room which is her day bed. Always leave something with your scent on, like your unwashed T shirts. Rub your palms over all her toys, chewy treats etc to transfer your scent. Owner's scent can comfort. And she is left here sometimes with all her 'good' things, even when you're home. Make it the only place where gets all the 'good' things.... including meals. We were also told to emphasize obedience. Dog must obey 'Sit' before getting anything she likes.... meals, treats, any attention. And she must be quiet & sitting. Any jumping up, squealing etc to demand your attention.... don't keep eye contact.... turn back until she's quiet. We were told to keep doing these things consistently and, with time, the penny should drop with the sheltie. We saw changes in the first few weeks. Finally, she had no problem. BTW with a later little dog that also had SA, some low doses of Valium helped during the re-training period. It's a muscle relaxant and doesn't fog the brain so the dog can still learn OK.

BTW, before I took our furniture-ripping (when left alone) sheltie to the behaviourist vet, I'd thought she was doing it because she was being starved of affection. . So she got heaps more cuddles & attention. But, the behaviourist vet explained the dynamics behind the problem & said by doing this, I was making her worse. Among the strategies the vet gave, were big doses of ignore .... & cuddles and attention only given for specific behaviour. I was glad I finally went to someone with expert knowledge.

We had a sheltie girl who'd rip the soft furnishings to shreds when I went out. UQ dog behaviourist vet said it was separation anxiety & gave me an understanding of the dynamics. Then gave us a list of things we had to do.... they weren't hard, just had to do them consistently. To my amazement, there were differences within a couple of weeks. In this case, the vet didn't mention medication....so it wasn't used. Sheltie came good. But, in a later case with a tibbie, the vet suggested a low dose of valium along with the same behaviour modification. Apparently, valium just acts as a muscle relaxant & doesn't fog the brain so the dog can still learn. This dog came good, too. If you'd want it, I could type out the list of strategies the vet behaviourist gave us.

Thinking of you both. It does come down to day by day.

I saw a near identical dog to him on Pet Rescue recently.... & he was described as Kelpie X Ridgeback. Of course, I realise that's probably just someone's impression. Just as it's only our impressions of this boy.

My tibbie girls walk along the narrow, raised brick edging on the garden that runs up the backyard. They look like sure-footed Sherpas in the foothills of the Himalayas, avoiding landslides. But it's to avoid the wet grass. At the end they hop off onto the grass, & go to the toot. Then return by the same method.

Well, my puss, Timothy, went to lectures at the University of Qld.... when I was a student. For a short period he had to have daily injections at the UQ Vet Clinic. So I'd put him in my ordinary basket & he'd happily sleep his way thro' lectures.

That's so sad. Such a beautiful photo. Only bright thing is that it says police dog, Figo, will be retired to live with the officer's family.

The concern expressed seems to be large scale commercial 'farms' that exist solely to supply puppies. Research finds that this type of operation produces dogs at higher risk for behaviours that affect adjustment as companion dogs. So there are links with aggression problems... & higher rates of dumping. Can't see that licensing is going to stop that. In fact, the proposed Victorian legislation actually supports such operations, And shows ignorance of what's required to raise puppies to be of lower risk.

By coincidence, he looks very like a lost dog I saw on my walk this morning. Only that fellow was overall, more like the colours in this fellow's tail. I described him to the Lost & Found as a bit like a Kelpie (in shape) but also a bit like a German Shepherd (in heavier bone). BTW Tried to call the lost fellow but he was frightened by then.. & kept running on. Had a blue bone-shaped ID on his collar.

That's such a beautiful but sad photo as Kaiser is saluted by lines of police officers as he takes his final walk up the path at the vets.

Brilliant site. Thanks for posting. And bless them.... there's the research that found companion dogs from non-commercial breeders do far better in behavioral terms, than those from pet stores which are sourced from commercial breeders. The more home-style hobby breeding/raising done by the majority of registered breeders, allows for better socialisation. Our own UQ research spelled that aspect out, too. For some reasons, this information is not used by legislators nor is it got to the pet-buying public. http://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2013/05/on-puppies-pet-stores-and-behaviour.html

Just saying. I think one of the most beautiful dogs, is the Welsh Springer Spaniel. But, as you've wisely asked for inside information on the breeds.... can't add more because I've had no experience with them. http://www.google.com.au/search?q=Welsh+Springer+Spaniel&client=safari&rls=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=MDWtUbP7DoeQiQeZ_oGgAQ&ved=0CDgQsAQ&biw=1024&bih=599 Oooh, Zug Zug, just saw you also suggested adding Welsh Springers!

Good to hear, Tazar. Only an owner can make the call because only the owner knows what the situation is.

Ages ago, before things got more rule-driven, one of the shelter breeders used to take one of her shelties to the high school where she worked as science teacher. The sheltie would snooze on her desk. The teacher said that the big rowdy adolescents in her classroom would always automatically walk out quietly at the end of the lesson. So as not to wake the dog. Not like other classrooms where they'd thunder out like a herd of rampaging elephants. :)

She's very pretty. And she's got that look in her eye that says, 'I'm loved!'

And that's where it's possible to be proactive. Get the information to the consumers.... about companion dogs & how they're best bred and raised to be so. Information that's based on evidence. CHOICE (the Australian Consumers' Association) took a first step back in 2006 with their advice on how to buy a dog. Gently & rationally, they point people towards registered breeders... & to responsible rescue. Away from a 'farming' style of producing puppies. With a little tweaking to add more explicit evidence .... like socialisation of both puppies & mother dogs, & what constitutes a home-style setting .... this kind of information should be got out to the public. http://www.choice.com.au/reviews-and-tests/household/backyard/pets/buying-a-dog.aspx Better information will allow pet owners vote with their feet when getting a puppy/dog. And also gather support for criticism of any proposed laws that could reduce the best sources for getting sound companion dogs.

LG, :)

Must add... 'Good on you, corvus, for bringing up the thriving profitable 'industry'. Always follow the money trail to factors at work. :)

Yes, the evidence.... not opinion... is on the side of registered breeders tending to produce sounder companion dogs... in the very practices that their home-style hobby allows for. This model should be being supported by legislation about companion dogs. Rather than forcing registered breeders to fit into the very opposite, a commercial business with all the added costs. There's more to fear, in this country, from capitalism that's lost its mind about companion dogs.... than Reds Under the Beds stuff associated with Peta.

So sweet! And I'd believe that.