Steph M

I'd be curious to see video and what he actually said. He's had a rough trot the last few years and is probably ready to retire and prrhaps out of touch, but I wouldn't trust Oscars law as far as I could throw them. Wouldn't be the first thing they've blown out of proportion because it suited their agenda.

This is near us but I've heard similar horrible things happen at that park too, so we avoid it. Last year people were baiting dogs there too.

Could he have not made the association between courtyard and balcony? Perhaps taking a few steps back and starting fresh won't hurt. Sounds like maybe he just doesn't know where to go yet?

I'm having a similar issue but it sounds like a LOT of little dogs howling every few hours. Maybe 4-5 minimum? They bark and natter through the day but the howling gets me. I can't pinpoint where they live either, but it sounds like they're all together and fairly miserable. I worry some.idiot has a breeding set up at worst, at best a backyard full of sad little dogs. It isn't an area known for its doggy welfare, the dipshit across the road still has her nasty, balding terrier out to hassle the neighbourhood and attack my car if I try to honk him off the road, and another up the street exactly the same as StaffyLuv's neighnours , two pointers in cages in a.muddy yard who spend all day whining and barking. You can see them through the gate and they go at each other and the cages when anyone walks past, its very sad. Both have been reported to council and nothing done, as usual.

This is spot on for us too.

Has he got access to outside? Where was he going before and where is he expected to go now? Perhaps he doesn't know where to go now, I know mine won't go on concrete, as they've always had grass. Perhaps you need to go back to step one when you're home, watching him and taking him out every half hour and making a big deal when he does it outside? Does he have a 'wee word' or anything you use to cue him to go pee? I find that's invaluable too. Makes life a lot easier when you know they've gone. Haha. Just out of curiosity, is he desexed? Could be marking behaviour.

Ooooh this is cool.

And keep an eye on the other pup. Its often really hard to spot when its coming up and you want to get on top of it. Also contagious to humans, won't kill you but not nice to have.

I'm not at all surprised most incidents involve females. Our male doesn't give a toss about much, but the female is bitch by name and nature! Haha.

Woohoo. Glad to be of help. Hope the cream doe it and that's the end of it! Keep an eye on the other pup too, Google tells me its not known for contagiousness but has been seen to happen. Fingers crossed you're in the clear!

Hi! I live in Laverton and called into the police station after we had notes dropped in our mailbox over the weekend warning us of a white van seen driving the streets, including a rego number, and the lovely guy working the counter said there had been no reports from our suburb, but they aren't happy people are circulating rego numbers with no proof/reports to them. There was a statement from Werribee police on Facebook that said pretty much the same thing, other than this awful thing there's been no reports that can be substantiated and if anything suss happens they have an officer who is collating info and working on it. I believe its become a bit frenzied. There's a dog theft tracking page on Facebook that's downright scary, people talking about taking a baseball bat to anyone who walks down their drive, posting photos of door to door salespeople who casually ask about their dog when they come calling and people following cars and posting 'the chase' of who rouse suspicion (on a hare trigger mind you) I'm actually more worried about the nutters on Facebook than anyone after dogs. So far so good, obviously we are still cautious but I've unliked those pages and dont want to buy into the hysteria. Cautious and aware beats panicked and paranoid. Call your local station if youre worried, they would be best to ask and are probably happy to answer. So far I've heard nothing but rabble from social media.

Silly question, but could it be ringworm? Have a quick Google and look at the images. Our cat had ringworm when he was a kitten (and only child, thank gosh) and its a real pain!

He could come hang with us if you get stuck, I know a few good ones in melbourne itself but let me do some googling for names and proximity etc. Haha.

Hmm. Dodgy.

Gus would find it alright. And then treat himself to a tasty poop treat...

That face says 'ON THE WAY OUT WHERE?!?!' Can we have a 'caption this Stan photo' thread. Haha. He's so expressive!

Its a catch 22. Those allowed to wander learned how to behave or were wiped out, those not allowed to wander do not, and there's no thinning of the herd, so to speak, of those who don't play well with others. Plus the people seem to be stupider with dogs/penis extensions at the moment, and the dog thefts and the like would be more rife. Not for me thanks, I've had more than enough with one little d*ckhead terrier in our street who does as he pleases and bites passers by. I do wish dogs were better integrated into society and the next generation to be taught how to keep, approach and behave with dogs but I don't think free range doglets are the answer. I wish I had the answer!

Agree, even without the muzzled dogs. I'd go mad, how could you leave the house?! Just asking for trouble, as awful as it is perhaps this will at least be the catalyst for (positive) change.

Well, that's assuming you can. We have a friend who is very uncomfortable around cats. She accepts we have indoor cats and we go see a band or have dinner when we catch up. A friendship can go both ways, like I said, some falls back on the guest in some occasions, not suggesting this necessarily is one, but you come to someones house and you don't expect them to bend over backwards, you cater for yourself a bit. I wouldn't ask someone to put their birds outside as I don't like birds. The birds live there, I can suck it up or suggest something else. If they choose to put them away that's lovely, but I'd never expect or ask that they do.

Yeah same here. Or just say the kids cant go outside. Or the guests can stay outside if its that big of a deal. I'm mostly kidding, but some onus lies on them, what's wrong with saying let's go have a picnic in a park or something?

Be very careful. Dogs on Melbourne trains need to be muzzled. http://ptv.vic.gov.au/getting-around/luggage-bikes-and-animals/animals-on-public-transport/

I get that all the time with no muzzle. Sometimes I say yes just so see their reactions, then after they jump back in horror I say I was kidding and he means no harm unless you're bacon. That's usually the best way to point out that's a stupid thing to ask when you're already patting him.

Argh! Adorable!

I don't imagine it could hurt, but might be worth a skin scrape just in case?

No, you're probably right but I'm glad there's another 12+ months to do some research and work our what would work, this all only happened last month, plenty of time to have a change of heart. We have a trip to the Melbourne show almost entirely planned for checking out dogs (and showbags. Duh) I've never been so proud of my dog for being a grotty pig and doubt I ever will again. Haha.