Salukifan

I think you will find it easier to isolate your dog from 'feeders' than to convince people that "a little treat won't harm them". You could attach a billboard to your dog and some folk would think they know better.

I can only speak for myself. A front leg amputation on a 12 year old Whippet would be challenging for the dog. At that age, the ability to adjust will be less than in a younger animal. This is a quality of life vs length of life decision that only you, knowing the health status of your dog and informed by your vet's advice about the prospects of recurrence, can make. But I'd be hesitant to put an old dog through this - it is going to be painful and learning to walk missing a front leg won't be easy for an ageing dog. If you proceed I strongly recommend regular chiro and bowen therapy to help him cater for the imbalances that will occur and will tax his remaining legs. If you go ahead, I hope he bounces back and gets a few more years out of it. I'm just not sure I could do it. The only person I know who had a front leg taken off a sighthound (much larger breed) says if she had her time again, she's not sure she'd go through with it. ETA: I'm sorry you find yourself having to make this decision.

How old is the dog?

Get someone who understands dog behaviour to assess your dog. It could be no more than a dog warning boisterous pups off. It could be more. Unless someone knowledgeable about dogs assesses your dog, the advice you get may be completely misguided. However, if you got an SBT thinking it would greet strange dogs happily all its life, you may have got the wrong breed. Your dog is now maturing. He may never be all that thrilled at interactions with dogs he doesn't know. If that is the case, avoidance is the best response. Good luck. Keep him out of offlead situations where other dogs are involved until you know what you are dealing with.

Keep an eye on it. This can be a symptom of kennel cough, particularly if it is worse with exercise.

Strongly recommend you learn to train your dog yourself. That way you learn to train the dog and the product of that is a dog that is obedient to your cues and that looks to you for direction. Otherwise anything the dog learns is unlikely to last long.

The absolute "no fail" food around here was My Dog Puppy.

Yes. They don't come cheap. In the absence of other symptoms, I'd not go that path yet.

Serious risk taking based on zero scientific evidence as far as I can see. If it works, it would titre. It doesn't. When it goes wrong, animals pay the price.

What breed is the puppy and how long are you talking about containing the pup for?

When it reaches the age of sexual maturity. But definitely by 12 months.

Hunting is not coursing tho'. Danes were used to hunt a variety of species, and only one that I can think of is a coursed species as well (deer). Is Lure coursing not the act of chasing prey and catching it on speed and sight i.e. what a sightound does? I may have the completely wrong end of the stick... Please correct me if I am wrong but as I understand it, the Great Dane was a pack hunting dog bred to chase down and kill wild boar using scent and finally sight. Given the habitat of wild boar (forest) the use of scent as the primary hunting sense by dogs for boar hunting is unsurprising. Certainly the head shape of the Dane facilitates the use of scent for hunting. Noting the ferocious reputation and armoury of a wild boar, the size and courage of the Great Dane was formidable. There is definitely an argument that Danes belong in the Hound group (plenty of online discussion of that) but I've never seen a suggestion before that they should be categorised as a sighthound. By contrast traditional coursing breeds were bred to hunt by sight alone, released onto prey once it was sighted by the hunter and taking that prey on open ground. I think this is quite different to pack hunting by scent. Certainly the shape of a sighthound is unique in the dog world with most sighthounds developed for speeds unparalleled by other breeds. I think its commendable that a sport taken to the ANKC by largely sighthound people has provided space for all breeds to participate via Coursing Ability Titles. That inclusiveness is unique among the "function" sports. My sincere hope is that this may grow a new appreciation and ownership group for the sighthounds as people get bitten by the coursing bug and look to those dogs breeds developed specifically for this kind of chase. :)

Again, you are confusing bite inhibition (which must be taught) with jaw structure. Nothing "weak" with a gun dog's jaw. You don't carry large game birds with a weak jaw. Gundog puppies are notoriously mouthy because they are predisposed to it. Fail to channel that mouthiness in constructive directions and you end up with a real issue with young kids. NO dog is child proof. Golden Retrievers are high in bite statistics in Canada. My guess is that the idea that they are naturally kid proof and have 'soft mouths' is part of the problem. I think Flatcoats are an undiscovered gem of a family dog provided the family can channel their energy and need for work in positive directions. An untrained Flatcoat pup or a dog a child is allowed to treat like a big plush toy is a recipe for trouble. They ARE dogs.

I'm a bit lost as to how you want people do respond? Clearly if you are not happy with the questions asked, don't answer them. However, getting a "set" against someone whose views on what are appropriate questions to ask are different to yours seems somewhat over the top. Are you upset because your assurances haven't been sufficient for this breeder? It certainly sounds like it. You don't have an entitlement to a pup from any breeder. You have to pass their standards as a puppy owner. It has to be a mutually acceptable arrangement between breeder and buyer. Either can say "no".

Herbie my old Whippet has incontinence issues. He has early stages of renal failure and cannot concentrate his urine. It's kept under control with Propalin.

Not happy with the questions? Then don't buy from that breeder. While we probably all think we're the perfect home, it's the breeder that gets to determine that. For some breeders this is more than a transaction. If that makes you uncomfortable, move on. I see the advice about visiting the breeder hasn't stuck.

I'm open to either a Japanese Spitz, Shetland Sheepdog or Chihuahua. In this case, the pup with a couple of missing incisors is a Chihuahua. They're supposed to have 6 incisors and this pup has 4. Beautiful in every other way and exactly what I'm looking for. If you're open to any of those breeds, I don't think you know exactly what you're looking for. Not breeds I'd consider similar in temperament or trainability. Is the pup missing incisors or pre-molars? It's only got baby teeth anyway so I don't consider it important but you need to listen the advice you have been repeatedly given about visiting the breeder and seeing the pup in the flesh. You know nothing about its appearance or temperament other than what you have been told on the phone. PLEASE don't be one of those DOLers who fails to heed sound advice, buys the first pup he/she can get their hands on and spends the next six months posting problem after problem that could have been TOTALLY prevented by more thoughtful, careful buying.

Yes. Evap cooling in summer and heating in winter.

I think they also make great pets when entire! Don't fall for the 'they all mark in the house' rubbish or any of the stereotypes put about by people who, frankly, know very little about dogs. My BITCH also cocks her leg LOL

Mrs Rusty Bucket offers sound advice. Do your thinking BEFORE you go looking at pups. You do also want to meet the breeder and the mother (and possibly father) of your pups before committing. Of course, you should also spend time with the pup. I'd never buy a pet dog sight unseen from someone I didn't know. Never.

Have had a GSD tow a young child into my dogs and I've had to intervene, grab that dog's lead and string the dog up to stop it aggressing. Father/owner abused me, wrenched the lead out of my hands and got bitten by his own dog redirecting. Did he think I had it strung up for fun? Agree that the solution is two leads on the dog. Hope you and your dog are OK Labradore - its bloody frightening stuff. Yet to see a child under 10 pick up after a dog and I have seen a few little dogs run almost to exhaustion by kids without parental supervision.

If the coat is heavily matted it will be in the dogs best interests to have it shaved. It would be hell on the dog otherwise. She should take the dog to an experienced groomer and seek their advice.

That's some classic Whippet stink eye you're being given in that photo. :laugh: Fingers crossed they didn't actually drink that much of it. And maybe now is the time to switch to a hard floor in that room. Good Whippets are just helping you out with the start of redecorating.

State.

Ask the breeder to consider a vasectomy instead of removing the testes. The pup will still be infertile but retain an important source of growth hormones. Breeders go for EAD to protect their dogs from unscrupulous breeders. However I'd not buy a pet desexed that young. Vasectomy is the middle ground.