mita

I haven't been online for a couple of days. First thing.... was to check on the Gnarla posts. When I saw the updated pics, I got a surprise. Had someone put in her place a very pretty girl, with a sweet face & a nice coat. Where'd the emaciated Gnarla go... with the sad expression of a dog just holding on thro' pain & malnutrition? There's a definite difference. And it's thanks to you & your husband. It's all up, for this lovely girl & her babies, from now on.

That is so sweet! And practical. A stable 'cave' that keeps the body heat inside.

And yet the more 'towards- homestyle' practices of the registered 'hobby' breeders are linked with better socialised companion dogs. Less likely to be people-aggressive and to be excessively fearful. Commercial 'factory-farming' of dogs... no matter how 'good' all the infrastructure is ... does not have that research backing. Quite the opposite. So it'd be a great loss to the pet-buying public if regulations push hobby registered breeders out.

Learning is always a combinaton of pre-disposition and environmental factors, Anne. It's not possible to say either, that all dogs of a certain breed will invariably be good with children.... nor that all dogs raised around children will be fine. As you say yourself.... there will be exceptions. Either way. The advantage of looking to puppies & dogs that've been raised around small children, is that socialisation (as in familiarity) with their sights, sounds & smells can be ticked off. And the experience has provided a testing ground for exceptions to show up. Whatever the tendencies are in a breed ....like, mostly good with children ... that doesn't predict for individual dogs. So I was agreeing with Aloysha's point to look at an individual dog within that breed. And gave examples from my own breed that's generally (& rightly) said to be good with children. From the Australian Veterinary Association, 2012. While genetics are an important factor, the impact of the environment and learning are critical to the behaviour of a dog. The tendency of a dog to bite is dependent on at least five interacting factors:  heredity (genes, breed)  early experience  socialisation and training  health (physical and psychological) and  victim behaviour

Yes, hay bales are good. Also, as it's inside a barn, see if someone has a roomy but still compact pop-up tent to put their bed in... with flap open, so it's like a cave. That'd help keep the combined body heat of mum & pups in. It's also possible to get at Op shops, those padded quilts for toddler's beds. Would be great on the floor as they don't get as scrunched up as blankets. Putting blankets underneath the quilt helps hold in heat.... & also goes easy on the poor girl's bones which are sticking out.

Very sensible. You're also doing a valuable community service by making that move.

Yes, it's what a dog learns during its developmental time from birth. Puppies & dogs raised and managed where there are babies & small children (& good experiences), learn to be socialised with them. I had 2 Tibetan Spaniels. One, Gracie, had been born & bred at a registered breeder's where there were babies, toddlers, & small children. She was passionate about babies & toddlers, absolutely adored them. But the other, Angel, came from a registered breeder where there was little contact with them. She was wonderfully social with older children & especially adults.... but totally ignored babies & toddlers. Same with the 2 Tibbie girls we have now. Both came from a registered breeder who had small grandchildren so both are just wonderful with babies & toddlers. In fact, they get invited to have 'meet-ups' with those age groups. When people I know are searching for a p/b for addition to their family .... & they have babies, toddlers or young children... I tell them to find, within their breed of choice, those breeders who've been able to socialise their dogs & puppies, thoroughly, with those age groups. I'm pleased to see that some breeders advertising on Dogzonline, point this out.

We own Tibetan Spaniels. Yes, they shed. But, as others have said, dog owners have their own preferences. The sweet, sensible Buddhist nature of these dogs... so peaceful to live with ...goes top of my list. And there's something that can be done about the shedding. Some of the Australian-bred purebreds seem to have silkier-layered coats, so not as much undercoat to shed. We have one like that.... But we have another, born & bred in Scandanavia, who has a very full undercoat. As she's now a pet, I get her clipped. More because it's comfortable for her in this sub-tropical climate. But best of all, the tibbie looks very good when clipped. They have solid, well-shaped bodies & don't look like plucked chickens.

Shel, that sure spells out an important detail.... the context the dog was in. Only 16% of dogs & 13% of cats getting out alive, either via direct adoption or transfer to rescue .... if they're unclaimed by owner. Surely the huge percentage who didn't make it into second chance, would not have been in some unadoptable condition where PTS would be merciful.

I know I'm biased, but Tibbies are great as mature=aged little dogs who are in their Buddhist element living in a quiet home. Don't know if there's any in rescue in Victoria at the moment. And my tibbies' best friends happen to be the greyhounds next door!

Yes, again. Seeing she likes raw mince, try mixing a little bit of the Pedigree tinned food in with it. The smell of the raw mince will still be strong. Then, over time, as that goes down OK, add a little more of the Pedigree. My apologies if I'm repeating what you already know ... but keep to that regime of small meals frequently across 24 hours. The small meals can add up to a reasonable daily intake. Another trick is to try to get highly nutritious sweet potato into her. Grate some, cook in the microwave & put some in the raw mince/Pedigree mix.

Just adding that it helps if the elderly person has back-up with medium to bigger dogs, for the bathing, walking & getting them into the car to go to the vet. I know of an elderly lady with a lovely pet greyhound.... arranged by her family with links to greyhound racing. Works wonderfully, but the family have sorted someone to do daily walk & they do any vet runs. A caller who didn't know she owned a pet, was amazed when he saw this big grey standing beside her, when she opened the door. He commented what a good thing it was ... that the lady had a big 'friend'!

Friends of ours took in a p/b Doberman puppy that was to be PTS for being the runt of a litter. Husband's brother was the vet who got permission from the breeder to give him a go. Well, that Dobe boy grew to be exactly the same as the ones you describe. When our friends had their babies, he was the perfect nanny dog. As the children grew he was just as you say.... patient, tolerant & gentle. Totally trustworthy & helpful in being a 'walking' instructor. He lived to a good old age & helped his 'kids' into their teenage years, too. Some dogs truly deserve the title.... Best Dog. He did.

Exactly. Sounded very familiar when I read it! You'd already made the same points. But adding extra calcium for baby feeding

There's a comprehensive article by a vet on PetMd on how to care for an emaciated dog. Some things mentioned by other posters. But even more, of interest: http://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/evr_dg_care_of_the_emaciated_dog?page=show#.UZA_Yxw_-yM Of course, added demand on Gnarla is feeding her puppies.

That lady's response you've given, is abusive. As her rescue is advertising thro' PetRescue, I'd imagine the PetRescue team would like to hear how she spoke to a caller. As you rightly point out, behaviour like that can turn callers off ever going near a rescue again. People, like your MIL, who have above-average homes to offer. So consider advising PetRescue. There are other rescues in Victoria to pick from as other posters have said. Hope your MIL finds just what she's looking for at one of them. ADDED: Their website: http://www.tars.org.au/index.htm

Agree that dogs will happily eat weird combinations. Also good idea to check with vet if she could have post-surgical pain that might be helped. Meloxicam might be suss, tho'. Hasn't been rigorously evaluated with lactating animals. Also risky when the current health status is poor. So vet check critical. See Precautions: http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=ed2227e6-8c69-4057-a8b2-94f74cb11264

Thanks for the info about Young at Heart, anna. I'd not heard of it. I looked up a full description & it sure covers all supplementary nutritional needs. http://www.vitaminking.com.au/K9-Young-at-Heart-by-Animal-Naturals.html

Just supporting what T has said about vanilla ice-cream. Good quality vanilla ice-cream can be great for humans who are in a wasted state. And it's the one magic ingredient to hide dogs' pills in. If there's any powdered vitamin supplement for dogs, it could be mixed in with the ice-cream.

Thanks for posting the good news! AWL Q'ld's Denise Bradley sums it up well. She says she's so glad that the wonderful staff & volunteers have been cleared of any cruelty to animals. But she adds that the accusations & necessary investigation have cost them financially & led to many animals losing their lives. http://www.qt.com.au/news/animal-charity-cleared-of-abuse-councils-inquiry-c/1863995/

I could be wrong, but my reading of the Victorian Code is that it's trying to make 'respectable', & control, commercially farmed puppies and dogs. They have to be kept in large numbers to make it financially viable. It's not for nothing that the word 'business' is repeated constantly. Which explains the emphasis on regimentation of stuff like dishes & bones & toys... but none on socialisation which requires close & daily interaction with humans. Can't do that with such huge numbers. That is, farmed dogs not socialised companion dogs. So lots of regimentation... which knowledgeable, experienced registered breeders do not need. Pity they didn't read one of their own References that pointed out what happens if mother dogs & puppies are not suitably socialised. Aggression & timidity problems. As so often seen in 'puppy-farmed' dogs.

Exactly. I gave feedback to the NSW Companion Animal TaskForce... and said my interest was as a Q'ld consumer who'd researched the best source to get pet companion dogs. And it led me to directly get purebreds from NSW registered breeders who followed evidence-based ways of breeding, raising & managing their dogs so they develop suitably as companions alongside people. . However, I pointed out, their NSW TaskForce paper doesn't deal with that socialisation at all. A serious deficiency, given their own title was 'Companion Animals'. If NSW & Victorian registered breeders are unable to continue their work, it will affect how informed people from within & outside those states can obtain well-socialised purebreds.

I'm just as stunned by the NSW Companion Animal TakForce doing the same thing. Totally jumping over the very thing that makes a puppy grow into a dog that can live with confidence alongside people. Socialisation. That's what makes a companion dog. Dishes???? These Victorian Code-writers have not even read carefully one of their own References. They list a research article by Appleby et al 2002 in the Veterinary Record. This study found that problems with aggressiveness towards people & timidity around their contexts, can be traced to a lack in the pup's early experiences. But also to the fact that the mother dogs were not domestically socialised. Non-domestic maternal environments, and a lack of experience of urban environments between three and six months of age, were both significantly associated with aggression towards unfamiliar people and avoidance behaviour. Yet the authorities twitter & fret & regulate about people-aggressive dogs.... but never make the connection with lack in early socialisation experiences & in the degree of socialisation of mother dogs. And this Victorian Code is setting out 'raising' and 'managing' practices that are deficient in socialisation. They haven't understood that one of their own References points to its importance, if you don't want people-aggressive and excessively timid dogs.

Yes, Black Jaq, those practices the Code is advocating re puppies 0-16 weeks, fit a 'farming' approach to rearing dogs. To make dogs, companion dogs for people, early socialization is necessary. And it's not there, in that Code. From the University of Q'ld's, Vet Connect, School of Veterinary Science News & Events, Summer 208 (p5). Referring to a study conducted by their Centre for Companion Animal Health: If the puppies have not been socalised with people before 14 weeks of age, they are unable to form normal attachments with people. Research at the Centre has shown that socialisation experiences with people and home environments are richer and more varied for puppies bred by registered breeders ... Puppies with better socialisation during this critical development period will likely be less at risk of relinquishment to shelters for behavioural reasons. The one aspect of the Code that fits the above, is that the small scale breeder can raise their puppies in a home setting. Far more likely to enhance early socialization. So a tick for that.

I found the section on management of dogs also troubling. First, there's no understanding of the critical role of early socialization in laying a foundation for a puppy to develop as a companion dog. Scroll down & look at the schedule set out. Environmental items & exercise get headings for puppies 0-16 weeks. But there's only a passing reference to specific human interaction... & it only says 'can include' (rather than 'must include) '. That scenario fits classic puppy farming. http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/pets/about-pets/breeding-and-rearing-code-review-public-comment/draft-proposed-revised-code/management-of-dogs Also for older pups, the Code says: "Every dog over 4 months must be removed from their pen a minimum of twice a week for the purpose of handling, socialization, enrichment or exercise." 1. Why does handling by humans & socialization only become important after 4 months? When, according to the Unversity of Qld (Vet Connect, 2008): 'If puppies have not been socialized with people before 14 weeks of age, they are unable for form normal attachments with people.' 2. Why is the minumum for release from pen for handling, socialization & exercise a mere twice a week? I could be wrong, but would seem to contravene Q'ld cruelty laws. Again, this scenario also seems to fit puppy farming.