Little Gifts

It's funny because when we had the two foster pups I was smitten with the boy and my sister was smitten with Tempeh. The boy (Dweeb/Roan) would scream for me and couldn't help but cuddle and kiss him endlessly. I was joking I was going to buy a baby sling so I could carry him whilst doing the chores and on the computer so we could never be apart! But when he met a family he loved like a typical pei I became irrelevant! Tempeh on the other hand was always quite independent and less inclined towards babying. But I could tell as time went on that going to Peiradise events she was getting anxious whenever someone else had her out of my eye sight and as the day wore on she'd be trying to veer her way to my car so she could go 'home'. Everytime I'd get out the lime green gear she'd get a little stressed at the thought of another event. I still hoped her forever family would come along as imagined her in a family with kids to run around with and maybe even as an only dog, but nope, she decided she'd already met them and they just had to realise it! She is never more content than when the rest of her pack (humans and dogs) are all home and settled. It still excites me to see her change and become more confident (and dare I say it) normal. She is now ok to wear a dog coat on very cold nights (a big achievement!) but her most recent concern is people sneezing! It's apparently a very scary noise and unpredictably wet if you are in the way of it!

I've been unwell for over a year now with a few different health issues and am mostly home because of it. Last week I had man flu and spent pretty much the entire week in bed but wasn't critically ill so I'm not sure she was overly worried about me. I had Stussy (my heart girl) on nurse duties the entire time though! I spoke to my sister about Wolf last night and said that now she is getting older it is a good idea to have more regular vet check ups just so we can address any issues that might arise more quickly. I used the example on here that if her eyesight is failing then knowing that would mean we could monitor her more in unfamiliar areas and with the other dogs so she wasn't bowled over by them or didn't run into anything. I know that when she started losing weight a quick vet check discovered that the diet we were using, which was great for our other dogs, just wasn't right for her and we were able to rectify that very easily, so I reminded her of that. So hopefully she will organise a visit with a view on preventative measures to keep Wolf as healthy as possible as she ages. And if she is getting dementia then at least she is a lot nicer to be around! Thanks everyone for the advice. I just want to be supportive for them both.

I think we can speculate on this case all we want but the end result is that this extended family are all living a nightmare that could not necessarily have been predicted based on the child and dog's previous interactions. In aviation there is a swiss cheese theory relating to fatal airplane accidents. They say there are so many safety measures in place that all the holes in a block of swiss cheese would basically need to line up (ie all the safety measures would need to fully break down at the same time) for a fatal accident to occur. This situation reminds me of that - if the dog had not been there that day, if the dog had not been off it's chain and if the dog had not followed the child into the house then maybe this would never have happened. If, if, if. We are not always able to control every small aspect of day to day life and I am terribly sad for this family because killing that dog wont change their memories of the event. How do you even recover from such an experience? Sometimes really horrible things happen to good people. All we can do is not take our own, or other people's dogs for granted when they are around high risk humans like babies, kids, the disabled, frail and elderly because we will never be able to get inside a dog's head to find out what makes them snap and kill like this. As humanised as they are they are still canines with the instincts that go with their species. Big or small doesn't matter either - a dog attack is still a traumatic event for everyone involved that could see the death of both a human and the dog in question. We should never be complacent.

Not trying to take over Rebanne. My younger sister and her dog live with me and my sister used to be an SES team leader who did oodles of body search and emergency jobs regarding people with a level head but when it comes to her dog (her first dog ever I might add) she falls to pieces. She once locked Wolf in the car outside our house one winter's night and I had to call the RACQ because my sister was standing in the middle of the road just yelling 'help'. When Wolf had eye surgery last year I had to drive both of them to and from the vet's because my sister wasn't able to concentrate to drive. I know part of her is terrified of even knowing if there is something wrong because Wolf has always been in such good health. I am noticing the change because I am home more and I was pondering if I need to do more than just notice given I have spoken to my sister about the change and she has come up with her own reasons for it (that may just not match mine). We often take each other's dogs to the vet and also take mum's cat to the vet for her so that isn't as abnormal as it sounds in our family. She trusts me to care for her dog the same as I do with the other two in our house. I am kind of the problem solver of the family anyway - the organiser and breaker of all bad news, etc. If I took Wolf for an appointment to get her vitals checked at least I could prepare my sister if some change was found. I certainly wouldn't be asking for blood tests or anything of that nature without my sister's knowledge or consent. It was probably a dumb idea anyway because you can't do much to change old age and if it was anything more serious tests would need to be undertaken anyway. I suppose I just want to ease any trauma for my sister where I can and help her through the process given I've already experienced several elderly dogs and all that comes with it when the end is in sight.

I just looked at her Jed, right in the eyes and nearly burst into tears. I might take her to our vet (we share the same one) without my sister knowing and just get them to give her a check over. But I suppose the nicest thing I can do for my sister is be here for her fur baby and for her when the time comes. She would be inconsolable to discover her dog passed away with no-one by her side. Hope I'm just over sensing the changes in Wolf, but? I just took this pic of her (with bed sticks!).

My sister's heart dog Wolf is a husky/shep cross. She turned 10 earlier this year and apart from surgery on a couple of eye growths she has had absolutely no health issues. She still zoomies and plays with the younger two every day. Her appetite is far better now than it was when she was younger, she's got no mobility or joint issues and she has only just started to grey a little around the eyes and snout. I think one of the reasons she hasn't had any mobility probs for a large breed as that she was always a smidge on the underweight side. She did start losing more weight earlier in the year when we changed her diet but have since adjusted it again to something more suitable to a mature aged dog and her body weight is good again. Wolf has always been a little aloof and what we refer to as 'the fun police', always dibber dobbing the other dogs for having too much fun or playing too rough. Now she is the one stealing toilet rolls and tug toys off them and starting the zoomies! It's nice to see her having a second childhood. But what is worrying me that I can't tell my sister is that instead of being all aloof and playing the household guard dog Wolf is rarely more than a couple of steps away from me at any time these days. At present she is lying on the floor next to me on a bed covered in chewed sticks. Her Highness would never previously deign to lie on a bed covered in sticks! Particularly ones chewed by the other lesser canines in the house! If I have a nap she is on the bed with me. If I am down watching tv then she is next to me in Stussy's usual spot. Stussy then comes and kind of lies on her and Wolf never, ever likes sharing her personal space but just shifts over to accommodate it. She isn't asleep either - she's just lying and watching me most of the time. She has just started sticking to me like this over the last 2 weeks. Normally she couldn't give me the time of day unless we are leaving the house, giving out treats or doling out dinner. She's always been very cat like - you can give her a quick scratch in a location that she will indicate but after that she moves to her spots, usually in rooms away from where the humans and dogs are. I'm really starting to wonder if her time is close and she is sticking close by me because she might need medical help or to just not be by herself if she falls asleep and doesn't wake up? I'm home a lot more than my sister, but even when she is Wolf will often still be with me at present. My sister will not cope at all well when she loses her dog. I've raised with her that Wolf is suddenly spending more time with me and she has just said she is mellowing in her old age or that she is just looking after me (I've been sick recently). My gut is unfortunately telling me something else. I can almost see it happening in my mind. Despite her good health do you think Wolf knows something we don't? It doesn't feel like she is looking after me (ie like something is going to happen to me). It feels like she needs me close by her for some reason. Any thoughts or similar experiences?

Poor love might just be a bit lonely or not getting enough family time at her usual place of abode because at 'daycare' she looked to be enjoying herself immensely! Glad she was quickly reunited with her family but I bet it's not the last time she ends up at your mum's place!

We have three dogs - all different breeds and obtained through different circumstances. My sister has her heart dog Wolf, I have my heart dog Stussy and then we have our foster failure, Tempeh. We weren't even supposed to foster Tempeh. Based on what works best here we took only young male pei (no puppies). Because Ams was getting her new dog Ammy we offered to take a male puppy and then his female sibling at the last minute so it would free up Ams time to enjoy her own new puppy. The pei pups were surrendered by a BYB with a third male pup and their aged mother (who had different care arrangements). There was even someone else who was supposed to take the female pup from us to foster a couple of days later but she never showed. The male pup rehomed fairly quickly. After a couple of months there was a possibility the female pup was going to fly interstate, so I prepared her for that, but it never happened. Then she went for a sleepover locally but coped very badly and was back with us again in 24 hours in a difficult predicament after exhibiting fear aggression during the sleep over. She was literally immobile with fear when she came back to us and it was really our other dogs that were her comfort over the first few days until she started to let down her barriers again. We shed a lot of tears over that. Keeping her meant we would have to stop fostering, but we loved her and couldn't bear suffering any further trauma, so she has stayed and ten months after she arrived she is still changing and learning new things, as well as teaching us quite a bit too. I remember the sleepover mummy saying to me when I picked her up that Tempeh had already decided we were her forever family. She said late that Tempeh saw me and just crawled into my lap and fell to sleep exhausted, when nothing they had tried in the previous 24 hours had given her any peace or comfort.I still look at Temp some days and wonder how the heck she managed it as it seems like she has been here forever as well as it feeling like she has just arrived, given she is still learning and moulding herself into our home and lives. Given heart dogs exist for us people could heart people exist for dogs? Were we meant to be a family despite the odds of it happening initially? Are we just the family (inc our dogs) that Tempeh needed for her to grow into the dog she has the potential to be? Are we the family that is able to understand and deal with all her little quirks and fears? She still presents us with new challenges (this winter she learnt to snuggle rather than shiver alone in the cold!) and whilst there have been times when we've worried if we could give her everything she needs she has continued to place her trust in us 100% and proved that together we can. Has anyone else had an experience like this, where a dog just seemed fated to be part of your family for the dog's benefit rather than your own (although that obviously comes too)? I think Staffluv's Ziggy might fall into this category - he was born to be a foster carer and to distract SL from the huge hole in her heart! And maybe even T's Pickles because she treats her like a dog rather than a dog with a disability and is able to give what was just a neglected camp dog a more fulfilling life. I'm sure there are others. Well I hope there are or that means I'm just weird for even thinking all this!

I've loved each and every dog that has been in my life and organised my world around them but my heart girl Stussy found me and she just has this connection with me that can't really be explained. She knows how I feel and despite the fact that for the first three years of her life with me she was a nightmare that chewed everything I owned I would not trade her for anything. No amount of money or stuff would ever be a fair trade for my chunky monkey. She only has to look at me to make me feel better. I also love that she wants to be with me. It is a blessing that I try not to take for granted, even when she is being naughty! And when I go on holiday I don't just worry that she is doing ok without me, I miss her. As an example of a heart dog's behaviour, I've been sick all week with the flu (or something of that nature). I rarely got out of bed for several days and nights and I had the sweats and kicked the blankets on and off and hacked up a storm, but Stussy stayed by my side the whole time except to eat and toilet. She stayed guard in case I needed help or warmth or just a friendly face. She didn't try to drink out of my cup or eat my cough lollies or chew up the dirty tissues, and she made sure the other dogs didn't either. But now I'm mostly better all bets are off! One thing I still remember was when she was only a pup and I was having a really, really bad day. I was lying on the bed and she jumped up and put her favourite toy at that time on my chest, kind of like she was telling me that since the toy made her smile it might make me smile too. So you can love a dog but if you are lucky one will come along that gives itself to you in a much more special way and it will be your heart dog.

Even all plastered and in the recovery stage you can imagine how much better she must be feeling. It must be horrid for an injured animal to not sense that anybody cares to help them when they are suffering. Great work!

Run free beautiful babies. XXX

I've been to quite a few doggy/pet events now with Peiradise. The things I like are new small businesses having the opportunity to show off their new products whether they be hand made or commercial because some of us are always looking for either something new or something of superior quality. I prefer they are grouped with the same though - small businesses or hand made together and commercial together. Contests with giveaways on the day for owners and dogs (at one event we had to provide a couple of small gift baskets which were used as give aways). The doggy psychic Amanda de Warren did some free sessions (very popular). Things need to be spread out so there is open space between all the dogs (or pigs, birds and ferrets) that might come on the day. No-one wants to stand in the hot sun to watch fly-ball or doggy dancing. But if you choose to have something going into the late afternoon you could always have sunset animal movies. There are companies that hire the gear out. I'd recommend food and drink vendors be spread out where possible. It is difficult with kids and dogs to be in a queue amongst other queues to get food. Ams has told me that at one pet expo they had a lot of second hand but working dog gear like retractable leads and they sold really quickly and they got feedback that it was great to have affordable items like that at free events for people who couldn't afford new items. I can't say your local RSPCA is the same but there have been some who get donations of things like retractable leads that they can't use and they donate them for re-sale/use to rescues. My last idea is one I desperately want to try (but can't talk anyone else into it!) - a Petcasso stall. Supply small canvasses and the paint and put clear plastic over the top so the dogs don't get dirty and charge a fee for people's dogs to create their own art! I reckon it would be a real goer and a lot of fun to do and watch! Oh and what about a story time spot for tired mums and kids? Somewhere cool with maybe a fairy and a very calm dog just reading an animal book?

Atlas gave us all a lot of joy and laughter. I also can't believe a year has passed. We lost a lot of great dogs last year.

Pers your link has one too many https in it.

I hope your bubba is ok! That looks awful! I couldn't help myself - I'd be calling my vet!

Qld's whole political system is set up differently to the other states as we are run under a corporation (Brigalow). No idea how they got away with it back when, but they did! Anywho, this also isn't intended as RSPCA bashing but as the body responsible nationally for the welfare of all creatures great and small I really can't understand how/why they aren't involved in protecting pet dogs seized under BSL who haven't caused any actual harm? Surely someone needs to be championing the needs of these dogs? How can keeping them confined and without contact with their human families be in the dogs best interests while court cases are going on, sometimes for a year or more? How can their owners not being there with them when they are pts be in the dog's best interests? Sorry, but sometimes I just don't understand what they do that is so different from all the other independent animal rescue groups out there? They can get involved in legal stuff where others can't. They have the push to get a foot in the door with councils that no-one else can. I think they have spread themselves too thin with all the activities they do and are losing sight of their legislated responsibilities that no other key body can perform.

According to a 2005 article in the HSUS magazine All Animals, 75% of the shelter population is comprised of mongrels. Now I'm no math wizard, but I can extrapolate that only 25% must therefore be purebred animals. If this is true, then random bred dogs are the real cause of shelter overpopulation, not “puppy mills”, breed enthusiasts or “backyard breeders” of purebred dogs. Yet this same HSUS article praises the mongrel as superior because of its' larger gene pool. One that may very well be polluted with unknown genetic defects. They even go so far as to market them as a “designer” product. Sort of a haute couture, one of a kind canine fashion accessory. So what is a mongrel to me? A dog that is not verifiably a pure bred. Even if there is a predominant breed evident so you can say it is a kelpie cross, that still does not make it pure of its breed. So if the mongrel is the majority of dogs finding themselves in the rescue system and pts then we still need to work on reducing that. Even with all the laws in the world there will still be a percentage of mongrel/crossbreed/designer litters happening, along with planned litters of registered pure bred dogs (which can be raised home style too rather than in a farm style environment!). But to identify and not reduce the risk area by doing nothing is murder. I don't want to see breeds become extinct but I also don't want to see beautifully natured, healthy dogs being pts day in, day out because there are not enough rescue and rehoming options. And I don't accept we can't change opinion on what is good dog ownership in a disposable society. If you can't look after yourself, your kids, your home then I'm fine if you're missing out on also owning and neglecting a dog! Let's face it, if you can't afford to buy, maintain and care for a top of the line Mercedes you learn to do without. You learn to lower your standards to what you can afford and maintain, like maybe a Nissan Pulsar made last century. Elitism is every where - the clothes we wear, cars we own, houses we live in, holidays we take. It has been like this since the dawn of time. I do appreciate the article's POV but to me the definition of what is a mongrel and what is pure bred are the key. People are buying false goods and not taking responsibility for them so we need to reduce the number of false goods available and educate the people on better options available. OR we make the sellers of those false goods take the responsibility? You can guarantee a toaster so why not an animal?

I was just thinking about Tapua and what they do asides from breeding amazing labs is community work and advice, including in schools. They even helped build a great dog park in what is really a rural community more used to working dogs). I wonder if there are other breeders who might benefit from a better community profile, not just for their breed but dogs in general? Sorry I meant to add that I have seen some breeders have marquees at a Pet Expo and there was a huge difference in the stalls that had actual people visiting them. They were the ones where the people and dogs were out from behind crates and tables, providing an open environment for the public to come in and see/touch the dogs and ask questions about the breed. I understand some animals are very valuable but perhaps they are not the ones to bring to a pet expo or perhaps you rotate them from public interaction (like we do our foster dogs at these events). And you never leave them alone with strangers anyway.

I love all your videos! I am personally very drawn to black dogs because I don't think there is anything more beautiful than a shiny black coat! Even with the shar pei's wrinkles you get all this light and dark and texture that I just want to touch! I also love dark eyes hiding in dark fur! Yep, I'm a sucker for the black ones!

I wonder if they have a Sam Man?

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. Sorry but I take offence to this. You can't compare the two like that and make those assumptions. Rescue is not in competition with breeders but it is part of the continuum of dogs being bred and abandoned, regardless of who has bred them. I am with a specific breed rescue group and some of the numerous dogs we have come through have come from a registered breeder. A lot of blood, sweat and tears goes into bringing them back to good health and assessing their suitability for rehoming. A lot of time is also taken by the person who runs this rescue working with owners to try and avoid them being surrendered in the first place. Our vet bills are astronomical because it is felt a dog in pain and poor health is not going to show its true personality. When we do public events people are shocked that a rescue group for this breed of dog is even needed. It is and with a lot of effort and money many beautiful dogs have gone to their forever homes. In a perfect world this breed would all be well bred, without health and behavioural issues and if an owner could no longer keep the dog then the same registered breeders would take it back and rehome it. We are far from living in a perfect world.

I think that is a misconception that goes back a long way when people who bought pets with pedigrees were likely to be better off and a bit snobby. My parents only ever bought from breeders because the cats and dogs they liked were not super common, even though they had no interest in breeding from them. But we also took in strays of different varieties as well, just because we've always been a family of animal lovers. Back when I was a kid, even if the puppies were cute a bitsa was still a bitsa and you had to give them away - no-one was going to pay you for a dog that wasn't purebred and didn't have papers! Things of course changed when people started breeding supposed purebreds that just didn't have papers and offering them at a cheaper price than a breeder. I really don't think a lot of people still have a clue about the importance of what they are getting from a breeder when they get a dog with a guaranteed lineage, good vet care and socialisation. And the value of that in the long term! I've recently joined an international shar pei page on FB and the questions on there shock me some days. If these pups were coming from a breeder they wouldn't be asking people on an FB page about diet and skin/coat issues. There is even one on there recently that is definitely crossed with something else but the owners are convinced it is pure bred because they were told it was.

Yep, one of ours has a dibber-dobber bark and we call her The Fun Police! And Mita your story reminded me how when my heart girl was young she had a tendency to run and run and run and not realise how far away she'd gotten from us. We'd say to my sister's dog Wolf "Go get Stussy" and she go and round her up and bring her back to us.

So very sad. I'm sorry for you both. Run free Cloud. XXX

I didn't even know you were pregnant so I'm very excited to get all the news in one go! Tyrone is rather handsome already!