Little Gifts

I'm so sorry Anne. Some dogs just steal our hearts and make even the naughty things endearing. I'm sad that you are pugless at present. That in itself is so hard to come to terms with. Olivia was very lucky to have landed with you and had her medical needs attended to. It was meant to be. Take care of yourselves.

Thank you for clarifying SAS.

I didn't mean to imply yours wasn't cared for just that I think it is possible some poorly fed dogs who end up in rescue could have a growth spurt or fill out once getting adequate nourishment.

I am no expert but think it could depend on the breed, and of course their diet and exercise regime (particularly if they were a poorly cared for rescue). I have a rescue pei and she has been here since she was about 5 months old. She is now 3 and every single winter (including this one) I've had to make her new coats. It is all over growth too - not just taller or longer. She looks like she is wearing an older siblings hand me downs! I don't recall having this same issue with the staffords I've also owned - after they were a year old the adult coats lasted for years.

Are you sure that's an Animal Physio? They are Human Physio's with an additional degree in Animals. Certified in: Equine Massage Equus Muscle Management Animal Husbandry Levels 1 & 2 Artificial Insemination (A.I.) Reiki Master Equine CST Levels 1,2 & 3 and dissection Emmett Technique Level 3 Member of IICT I don't actually know what all these mean of course! She studied and worked in America for a long time and has worked with racing horses and racing dogs for a long time. She's also involved in horse and greyhound rescue. Very interesting to watch her work. The dogs can get away if they want to but don't and she keeps at the bad spots until she feels some kind of release and often the dogs will do a big sigh or yawn to confirm it. They are definately calmer and more limber. She was recommended to us by a doggy hydrotherapy business who didn't feel our old dog was a candidate for their services. Sounds very positive is she in Vic? Queensland in the Logan area.

Are you sure that's an Animal Physio? They are Human Physio's with an additional degree in Animals. Certified in: Equine Massage Equus Muscle Management Animal Husbandry Levels 1 & 2 Artificial Insemination (A.I.) Reiki Master Equine CST Levels 1,2 & 3 and dissection Emmett Technique Level 3 Member of IICT I don't actually know what all these mean of course! She studied and worked in America for a long time and has worked with racing horses and racing dogs for a long time. She's also involved in horse and greyhound rescue. Very interesting to watch her work. The dogs can get away if they want to but don't and she keeps at the bad spots until she feels some kind of release and often the dogs will do a big sigh or yawn to confirm it. They are definately calmer and more limber. She was recommended to us by a doggy hydrotherapy business who didn't feel our old dog was a candidate for their services.

We have a physio (who also does reiki). She charges $70 and is here for at least an hour. Massive difference in the dogs overall (and not just sore areas) after her visit too. She goes all over the body to pick up the compensating areas. Huge difference in price (and outcome). I'd also be updating your physio on what the xrays say. How dissappointing all round.

Jemappelle I also had a dream once that I was paralysed - couldn't get up and walk and I was dragging myself along the ground with my arms. Turns out a 20kg dog was sleeping on my back! Rozzie don't get me wrong - I find it very comforting to reach over and feel the fur kids close by as I sleep but I wouldn't mind some personal space is all! And my linen choices revolve around the dogs - is there enough fluffy blankies on one side for Tempeh to burrow into? Is there enough doona space on my side for Stussy to get under? Have I left enough doona on the right of me in case someone wants to swap sides during the night without getting cold? Who cares about my needs! There is half a queen sized bed that never gets used!

Love the Petris! How many of you (like me) will fess up to sleeping with an uncovered limb so you don't disturb the dogs cause they look so comfy? What bugs me most is if you try to move them they turn to immovable stone until you give up. But if you get up during the night to pee you can be certain they will move as fast as they can to be the first one into your nice warm spot. I wonder if they are worse deprivers of sleep than sharing your bed with kids (or a snoring partner)?

I've given quite a few meds and supplements to rescue groups over the years. They are always very appreciative.

My two are so bad I have been known to get out of my slither of a side and get back in on their side (which is empty) so I can get some sleep. In summer they want to sprawl and take up all the space and in winter they huddle in hard lumps pushing right against me until I fall out of bed. I often complain to them when I get in bed about where the hell I am supposed to put my legs. They don't care.

Thank you to Steve and other DOLers who commented on my post. I appreciate being able to expand my thinking on that issue as it is outside my range of personal experiences.

Is it right to expect higher standards of a breeder who is secretary of her club and who has successfully shown? I think it is because she has probably been using that status to sell her pups. Of course it will be up to the courts to determine what is and isn't true but there are certainly some concerning factors. Even having dead dogs on your property concerns me. Most normal people would dispose of them appropriately (even burying so they can't be dug up by predators) and immediately simply for hygiene and emotional reasons. Steve can I ask a legitimate question please and your personal opinion based on your experiences. It is an offshoot from this particular issue. Having spent some time with a couple of award winning breeders and having one who has been a good friend for quite some time (all different medium and large breeds) I can see the work that goes into creating a quality litter. All these breeders have other jobs and two have partners to share the work load with. They focus on only one breed. The maximum number of litters they might whelp in a year might be 6. The number of breeding aged dogs they keep might vary each year depending on their breeding goals. Lets say they might have no more than 10 adult dogs at any one time. Based on this, any time I see someone with more than say 30 adult dogs plus puppies I get suspicious about why they need that many and how they adequately house and care for them. When they are breeding and selling over 100 puppies a year I am suspicious how they have the capacity to do it well. And if I hear they breed several types of dogs at the same time that makes me even more suspicious it is just about making money rather than bettering the breed. It starts smelling puppy farm to me regardless of who they are registered with as I just don't think the majority of good breeders can achieve all of this. They'd need to be employing a crew of people to do everything necessary and any corners they cut will not be in favour of the dogs. Based on your knowledge and experiences though is my thinking wrong? It is possible to be breeding quality pure bred dogs in bulk? Are my thoughts about numbers too low?

I'm with you Blink. I've only cared for breeders dogs while they've been on holidays and done a couple of overnights at a home based rescue set up. The most I cared for was 2 litters of different ages plus a couple of breeding bitches. Dogs had to be kept seperated but still moved, exercised and fed. They also needed some one on one time. Then the litters needed to be cleaned up after, fed, played with. It is a lot of work. How many seconds of attention a day could each dog get if you had 120 dogs? It is just not a sound breeding and raising environment for a companion animal.

This whole story makes me livid. This breeder was just fine about her breeding practices or she would not have let potential buyers on her premises. How many governing bodies does a person need to report to before something gets done? So many rules, regulations and codes of practise in place and no-one doing a damn thing to enforce them (happy to take money though). What is the point of Dogs Victoria and being able to claim you are a registered breeder if you can still do that to dogs? What is the point of council rangers if they don't inspect and fine for inappropriate facilities? What is the point of the words 'Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' in the RSPCA's title if they let that go on for 6 years? Did they not go back for follow up visits to ensure the ongoing safety of those animals? Many probably died from neglect over the past 6 years. I hope some people get their arses kicked for what they didn't do. Actually I hope they come back in their next life as a dog confined to a cot with only their own shit for company.

So sorry Huga. Huge personalities leave big holes. I hope Sid will come to terms with Life Without Lola just as you and your family have to. XXX

There's a special place over the bridge for her.

I don't think a decline overall actually reflects how many individuals or households still own pets though as 1 dog does not necessarily equate to only 1person. We used to be a 3 dog, 2 adult family. One recently passed away and we are unlikely to get another. But that is still 2 dogs in this one household. In NSW people can own far more than 2 dogs per house as well so that also skews data. And what about other companion animals? Pet guinea pigs and rabbits would have to be good for people's mental health too. Not surprised if stats are dropping though as so many people rent and simply can't have pets anymore.

Do you have Grey Army in your area? I find them very reasonable for small jobs. I wouldn't buy the Gumtree door- you'd need to be handy to hang it so the lock part met given it is a bit smaller.

We have been lucky with all our dogs living good ages. Keeping their weight under control is important. I am not a big fan of giving dogs people food as we have so many additives in our foods and there can be hidden sugars, fats and salts. Our oldest was getting massage/reiki treatment for arthritis and was on Sasha's Blend. Our massage therapist recommended we start the same for our 9 year old girl even though she doesn't have identified arthritis or joint issues. It has made a huge difference to her activity, flexibility and general health. So maybe think about trying something like SB to see if there is a difference. Our oldest lived to almost 17 and never spent a day just sleeping. She was in the thick of it with the other dogs all day every day - she was just a little slower and did a lot of it sitting on her butt rather than standing up! She even refused to stay behind on walks so we had to buy a pram so she could go in that when she got tired. Let Bubby do whatever Bubby shows interest in doing and just adjust it according to his age limitations as needed.

I think people are being a little harsh. The OP did ask the questions they thought they needed to ask from several breeders, including the one who bred their pup. They then asked the breeder for clarification on this particular issue but still didn't quite understand the response. I don't think they have damaged future communication with the breeder. For some this is a lot of money and unexpected costs need to be understood. I am also someone whose dogs have all come through rescue for decades so this is as clear as mud to those of you who breed or who have recent experiences of of registering and transferring ownership but it took me a full read through to say I think I understand the entire process. The OP just needed some assurances and I'm sure they feel a lot better now you have explained the situation.

Could set an interesting legal precedent. I don't get the RSPCA. We hear about all these cases of hoarders and puppy farms and how things were borderline and no charges were laid. Everyone knows things could go either way for the animals yet they err on the side of caution and things continue unchanged and the animals continue to suffer, making them less suitable for rehoming in the future if they are seized. On the other hand you have this case where so many animals are determined unsaveable and have to be immediately shot to save them from a more horrid death. Where is the balance between these two situations? I had something similar happen to me with them. I rang and spoke to an inspector (I think in Orange or Bathurst) for my older sister after she was bankrupted and removed from her farm. They had to leave a whole heap of sheep due to lamb on the property who couldn't be moved and they were not legally allowed to return to the property to check on them. The maremma who stayed with them had also been removed by the ranger. So I called asking for assistance on my sister's behalf to see if the RSPCA could assist in legally monitoring these in limbo stock (the org who bankrupted them was not interested in the stock and obviously my sister was hoping/trying to have the eviction overturned and return to the farm). A senior RSPCA told me that if my sister and her husband were still responsible for them and if they did not adequately care for the sheep they could and would be charged with neglect. She was quite threatening and not at all helpful. Not what I was expecting.

Gosh she is cute! As for the box - we bought these little plastic foot stools for our old dog and it withstood Stussy trying to eat it numerous times. It folds up and I think it was one of those garden seats for people as they weed but it looks a little too flimsy for most human bottoms but perfect for food dishes!

Being property I think it is clear even though nothing may have been in writing between them that she left the dog with him. She left the relationship and country. He desexed and trained dog under his name and there will be evidence of this. He bought it food. She would have to show evidence of it being a temporary care arrangement in her absence and evidence she was reimbursing him for monies spent. She won't be able to of course. Sad she is being so horrible and has taken advantage of him.

...does a big, fat, smelly poo right beside the clothes line while I am stuck there trying to hang 3 loads of washing.