Salukifan

Hence my broad answer :cool:

The other thing to consider going forward is (and I would say this to anyone with a dog that's challenging to manage) ... if you've got to the point where you are having to take such measures to manage your dog's behaviour, is it time for some top rate professional help??? I have a view that dog ownership should generally bring joy, not stress and having to constantly arrange your life and important life events around your pet. Is professional help something you would seek or have you already gone down that route? It's great that you are so committed to her welfare but perhaps some assistance can lessen her issues over time.

I was going to suggest a locked car also. My dogs are very comfortable in "their" car.

Are they talking about recessive genes? Genetics is not my strong suit but the words "visible" and "second generation" point me that way.

The percentage is not the only issue - its feeding it IN BALANCE with phosphorus. This article provides further information. There is plenty of reading about on the whole cal/phos balance issue. The only thing I'd say about that article is that I don't have an issue with "homemade diets". Its when people feed them without the right research that pups have issues. Cooking up a stew of mince, pasta and veggies is a classic example. The convenient thing for raw feeders is that meat on digestible bone (eg. chicken wings) has the appropriate balance. Feed a lot of raw meat off the bone and you start to get issues.

I fry up blade steak, cut it into little pieces and freeze it in bags. The dogs go nuts for it, I know what's in it and I will, if necessary, put it in my mouth (sure wouldn't with some stuff). It also doesn't fall apart and it's pretty cost effective. :)

The most important thing for a growing pup is a balanced calcium/phosphorus ratio. If you took that chart literally and fed 80% meat and 10% RMBs, you have a major calcium deficiency on your hands. Meat on digestible bone is the go.

I would discuss this with his breeder. IMO unless you are confident you know what you're doing, keep a decent kibble in his diet. Feed lots of RMBs and you can't go wrong. It's not rocket science feeding raw but if you get it wrong, it can go VERY wrong for a growing pup.

I just hope such dogs don't end up chained to an engine block in a yard somewhere as a 'watch dog'.

If they like the gun dog temperament, I'd go for a smaller gun dog or even a CKCS Terrier temperament isn't for everyone - you have to want that. Why not visit a dog show and look around. If they like terriers, there are smaller, lighter ones than SBTs. Personally I love a good Fox Terrier (Smooth) - attitude to burn! ETA: Agree with Wreckit that a younger SBT is likely to overwhelm an ageing Lab. They don't tend to be gentle. How old are they? Smaller dogs aren't necessarily ideal for older owners. Why not a mature Lab?

In Queensland and warmer places, "under the house" can mean a room!!!

If you didn't want a social pack animal to "rely on you" for companionship and comfort, why would you buy a dog and a gun dog in particular? I find that genuinely puzzling

Madness. This is not a breed you want to see in the wrong hands. They are a LOT of dog.

A half size Foxie or a Tentie? If she was flexible on gender... there's this girl

Ditto when I use mine, which is rarely.

The average weight of a mature male Fox Terrier is 7-8kg. What this lady is looking for is half that size. Perhaps she is talking about a Tenterfield Terrier - commonly referred to as a "mini Foxie"???

Buscopan??

Friends of mine have recently acquired a "staghound" pup from rescue. She is 5 months old and only knee high. I suspect she's as much a IW or Deerhound cross as I am. That wiry coat can come from a range of breeds and neither parent has to have had it. Witness the raft of poodle crosses with it. I'd prefer to see dogs described in terms of temperament, coat and activity levels. A lot more helpful to a potential adopter than an often inaccurate breed ID but I appreciate that labelling dogs as "crossbred" isn't going to find homes as readily as some breed info. Oh and one more thing. If you want to try to ID a dog's breed heritage, start with the top 5 most popular dogs in the area and the most likely to be BYB. That's where the crossbred pups come from.

I'd say padded bedding is the norm. Provided you spell your dogs from the trailer periodically they will not pee in there. Pups may be a be different and accidents happen but urine in bays would be unusual and, to me, a sign you need to stop and toilet dogs more. It's not like horses who will toilet in floats (although few will pee after some experience). Dogs have significant inhibitions about peeing where they are lying. Some folk have special canvas covered beds made to measure. Most I know use vet bed and normal dog bedding, remove it and wash it after a trip way. Some put marine carpet as the bottom layer and then bedding on top. Dogs move around a fair bit in there - they need some padding IMO. Waterproofing is about build quality. A will built trailer should not leak into the inside.

Oh, yes Shitty Whippet figured out quite a while ago that she could use my chair to get up on my desk. And once up there.. oh, the things we can steal. She also figured out that the best time to do this stealing was when I was taking Idiot Dog out to the toilet- something which gives her a good five minutes to get up on the desk, pick something interesting, take it to her bed in the lounge room to hide and be back sitting innocently in the kitchen (as if she'd been patiently waiting for me the whole time) when I get back inside. And that ain't dumb!!!

This. There are other colour genetics that can see greying as dogs age. My poodle who was Bb, (Black, brown recessive) rather than BB (just black) silvered and went a very slatey grey all over from around 4. My other boy at 12 has not silvering whatsoever. I have a whippet who has a very silver muzzle and that started at around 2 like Kirislin's girl. My other boy is 3.5 and no silver hairs at all. They are the same colour.

I've always thought Poodles were the smartest breed (not bagging other breeds) but I do remember reading a really interesting article years ago about them and to be honest I always thought of them as primped up, poofy (as in fluffy) looking dogs that walked around looking embarrassed that they had a bald arse and a pom pom on their heads I've seen dogs of all breeds, mixed breeds included that are what I would call smart as an average dog owner but if someone asked me the question of which is the smartest breed I would have said Poodles. They learn very fast but a big part of that is their desire to please you. The Whippets need the WIIFM box ticked. If they can figure out there's something in it for them, they are keen students!

For biddability (which is often what we equate with "smart") my poodles leave the Whippets for dead. But if you want persistence and sheer rat cunning, the Whippets reign supreme. Talented and patient thieves, that's for sure.

I find the concept of "best and worst" in the context of dog breeds to be a total nonsense. The "best" breed will be the one you want to live with. The "worst" breed will be the one you wouldn't give house room to. That's going to vary so widely it's not worth even ranking. If you buy a dog simply because its popular or "smarter" you're going about it all wrong! And I know what the best breeds are anyway.