Steph M

I can see how it would be a hard call to make, but for someone to be so happily ignorant and not get him vet checked or seen by a behaviourist is just madness. Frankly maybe PTS is the best option if she can't pull her finger out and do something. Once she might have a free pass, twice not so much but three tines and a bunch of surgeries? That's a lotta unpredictable dog.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2549112/Owner-needed-emergency-surgery-dog-attacks-insists-fault.html A dog owner is refusing to have her pet put down – even after it savaged her three times. One of the bullmastiff’s attacks left Angela Fielder needing emergency surgery to save her hand. Another mauling caused wounds to her face, ear and arm that required more than 60 stitches. Despite her injuries, the 39-year-old insists she will not get rid of her 10st dog Boris and will not even make him wear a muzzle. Angela Fielder with Boris+9 One of the scars on Angela Fielder's hand+9 Mauling: Boris the bullmastiff, left with his owner, mauled Angela Fielder three times but she insists she will not put him down - or even make him wear a muzzle. Right, a scar on Mrs Fielder's hand after one of the attacks A dog's life: Boris lives in Wallsend, North Tyneside, with Mrs Fielder and her gas fitter husband Rob, 39 ‘The bites were my fault,’ said Mrs Fielder, who describes six-year-old Boris as her baby. ‘He lashed out because I was telling off our other dog, Wallis. She is his daughter and he was simply being protective. After the attacks he showed genuine signs of regret, cuddling up to me.’ Mrs Fielder added: ‘Many people might have had Boris put to sleep. You wouldn’t put a child down just because it lashed out in temper. So why do people think differently about a dog?’ She and her gas fitter husband Rob, 39, who have no children, bought Boris as a puppy. He was no trouble until last February when Wallis – Boris’s pup by a friend’s bullmastiff – came to live at their house in Wallsend, North Tyneside. As Mrs Fielder told Wallis off for chewing the vinyl floor in the kitchen, Boris lunged at her and sank his teeth into her forearm. She was treated at hospital but left to be with her dog. 'Doctors wanted to keep me in,' she said. 'But I went home because I knew Boris would be like a frightened child worrying where mummy had gone – and he was full of remorse. Angela Fielder with Boris+9 Angela Fielder with Boris+9 Man's best friend? Though he looks placid, Boris flipped out when he was told off for chewing the kitchen floor Relaxed: Mrs Fielder raised Boris from when he was a puppy, and said she had no problems until recently+9 Relaxed: Mrs Fielder raised Boris from when he was a puppy, and said she had no problems until recently ‘Back home Boris was sorry. I could see from his eyes he was upset.’ But two weeks later Boris attacked again. Mrs Fielder believes Boris thought she was about to tell Wallis off again. Angela Fielder: 'The left side of my face was also slashed open'+9 Angela Fielder: 'The left side of my face was also slashed open' ‘I turned round to see him flying through the air at me. I raised my left arm to defend myself. It was only when I saw blood pouring from my arm I realised I’d been bitten and my left earlobe had almost been severed. 'The left side of my face was also slashed open.’ She had 24 stitches to her face and more than 40 to her arm. The couple discussed having Boris put down but Mr Fielder said: ‘Although I was so upset about what Boris did to Angela, neither of us could do it.’ In September, Boris attacked Mrs Fielder again and she needed surgery to save the movement in her left hand. But she claimed: ‘Boris isn’t aggressive – he was just overprotective. We’ve now solved this by ensuring he’s always behind a gate if I have to tell Wallis off.’ She added: '‘As soon as I saw Boris I fell in love with him. ‘Just a glance at me with those big soulful eyes he has always makes me melt. He’s like a child to me – my baby, especially as despite trying for ten years, Rob and I have been unable to conceive.' Mrs Fielder insists Boris is no danger to the public. ‘I don’t muzzle him because he’s never gone for anyone else. One woman who asked about my scars said she couldn’t understand why Boris was still alive. But most people say what a lovely, soppy dog he is.’ Just wow. When is enough enough?

I only looked at the photos when we got back and realised he's suddenly not a baby anymore! Haha. It creeps up on you!

I'm pretty sure Gus would eat through the tea towel and we would be at the vet with an obstruction ...

Oh and... Happy dogs!

Quick Gus update! Few photos while out early camping last week. He was so ready to do some work and I was still half asleep. He had fun though... And a few fun ones; Rosie did not like unsealed roads... This was the first and only time we've exhausted her... only took 3.5 hours of running and swimming non stop. Will keep that in mind...not. They're both doing really well, they had their first bicker the other day when Gus stole Rosie's dinner and she snapped at him so he went to sit a metre away and look sad at her and I. Don't really blame her, but they eat further apart now. Gus is still the wart king, as you can see. He's growing really well. We did have one dipstick in a caravan next to us who let his staffy in a big studded harness come over and get his hackles up at my two and then add 'oh he really doesn't like other dogs' (am I the only one that sees those studded harnesses and thinks they just scream d*ckhead?) So after we politely asked that he remove his dog from mine, who do like other dogs and are on lead and are doing the right thing his peed on our tent on the way out, so being a bit of a smarty I asked if he wouldn't mind getting a bucket and some morning fresh and rinsing it off, please. He told me our 'little brown one' peed on his. I politely reminded him she is a girl. He washed the tent. Haha. That was the only drama! They were so good, so patient and didn't steal food or bark. Settled happily in the tent and Rosie spent most of it free-ranging as she just wanted to sleep in the tent on the second day, so we took her off lead and let her. Gus stayed on his as I had a vision of him collecting all the tents...

ooh wow interesting. I wish there were more info like this available in such a fab format!

Agree. Gus wouldn't do much to ward off an intruder but he has a big bark and will let us know when something is amiss outside. A few weeks back we woke up to him barking in the lounge and we let him go assuming it was a cat and he'd give up pretty quick, woke up and he was asleep on the couch and there was a police car next door. They'd broken into next doors car, meanwhile mine was unlocked (oops!) in the drive and totally untouched. Anyone who knows him knows all that will happen is you'll get mauled with love, but I don't mind onlookers not knowing any better.

Yup, this is what I wrote in the original post but I deleted it because it was a bit long-winded :laugh: bulldogs aren't considered to be a very smart breed but some of the stuff Odie figures out scares me. She is so cunning sometimes. For example if Hank is playing with a toy that she wants, she will pick up a stick, run around wildly in the yard with it until he chases her and then she will make a mad dash for the toy and disappear with it :laugh: JUST LIKE THIS! Hahahaha!!! I should also mention that for all her brains, Rosie is a nervous wreck. If I could just reason with her...

Yes. Rosie the whippy x koolie is as smart as they come. Knows how to solve problems, beat obstacles, knows how to get Gus in trouble or get a toy she wants from him (she will pick up another one and throw it about like she's having a blast and when he comes to investigate the fun she zooms back to the original toy). She learns in no time at all, yet only uses her skills when she knows the reward is worth her time. If I'm eating a bag of chips she will offer me anything I ask for, yet if it's kibble. She will half-ass it for a while and give up. We had so much trouble training her recall when we got her. We were treating her every time she would come back but if we had a treat that wasn't up to scratch she would do it two or three times and you could see her change and realise that was all she was getting and she would just go deaf. Meanwhile, if you have ham or steak she was there like a shot... She's great to train as long as you're keeping it interesting, if you get bored or slack off even for a second you'll lose her. Gus on the other hand is like Hank. Slower to learn, happier but never forgets or faulters in what he knows. Not so good at problem solving, will do anything to please but picks things up slower and requires more repetitions and reinforcement, which is easy when he will work for an ear scratch or a scrap of kibble, probably even rocks if I tried. Biddable as anything, but perhaps not the brains trust. They complement each other really well though! I get the slower one for obedience this term too. Brooke thinks he got a good deal....heh heh heh.

Exactly. Hard to be prepared when that is just so far outside the realm of possibility for us sane people, Next time a swift kick to the goolies...

What a total effing idiot. I would have smacked him one right back. If your dog has a medical issue the dog park is the LAST place he should be. I would never ever ever ever smack someone elses dog. Holy shit, I can see how you would be furious. Lucky Nix is such a good guy. He could have quite easily got bitten or scarred him for life. WTF is wrong with people?!

Hi guys! I’m taking over from the lovely and irreplaceable Snout Girl this month as she’s too cool to hang out with us. Haha. I’ve pretty much copied and pasted last month’s stuff, so let me know if there’s anything I’ve missed. I’m smart like that! If you're keen to come along, please add your name, your dog/s' name, and what you'd like to bring, to the list! Or, feel free to ask any questions. For those who haven't come along before, our DOL booking includes exclusive use of the Lagoon Pool, the main grassed run (with shade) and the newly built bbq pergola area in the run from 10am-2pm, and use of the other runs where available. A few of us also tend to hang around later than 2pm (Kepala are fine with that, there are always runs available). We will plan to have a BBQ for lunch, will post a suggestions list of what to bring For anyone who does want to come along, there a few things to know: 1. We are going to have fun and let the dogs have fun (this is a big one!) 2. If your dog is not so good with others, it is ok because there are other runs you can use 3. We want ALL the dogs to have fun, so no humping, fighting etc allowed. And as above there are other runs we can use. 4. The more the merrier 5. Not restricted to DOL members 6. $15.00 PER dog (Sorry, but there is no discount for bringing multiple dogs/puppies, its $15 a dog/puppy. Has been this way since we started). 7. BYO drinks 8. We usually each bring something. 9. I am happy for those who do not bring food to pay $5.00 but i need to know how many are not bringing anything so I can make sure we have enough. Contact and Location Kepala Canine Country Club is located next door to Kepala Pet Resort. We are just off the Calder Hwy, directly opposite the Good Year Thunderdome. Refer to map below. Address: 55 Edwards Road, Diggers Rest. Melways map ref: 3, A1 http://www.kepala.com.au/country_club

Nothing wacko about confusion between flattie and golden. Quoting Wikipedia "Golden Retrievers were first accepted for registration by The Kennel Club of England in 1903, as Flat Coats – Golden" . . . it wasn't till a couple decades later that the two breeds really got separated. No you're right, but they're generally not black! Haha. That is certainly one of the least odd ones though. We were away camping last weekend and got asked if he was any good for pigging. No, no he wouldn't be….

That sounds slightly like rubbish to me. Who told you that?! Haha. I think perhaps what they were getting at is a dog with pent up energy from not enough stimulation is more likely to escape? I know my dogs aren't nearly as worn out from an on lead walk as they are a romp off lead in the park, but still that's a long drawn out connection there and I wouldn't put any real stock in that. Mine have never bothered to escape, even with the gate open, they just go sit by the car assuming we're off for a drive...haha. I have to say, I would be seriously pissed about this one. Perhaps it's worth telling the neighbour you won't be tolerating it any more and if it continues will be contacting the relevant authorities. Please don't forget that the people who may or may not tell you might not be well versed in how to spot a dog that isn't having fun. They're also relying on return custom.... One of mine is as social and happy as can be, loves other dogs and playing with others but he lost his shite at daycare, spent the day in a corner whining and barking and being generally miserable. I got the most awful report at the end of the day, they described a dog I wouldn't even think was mine, they told me he was poorly socialised, fearful and dependant (he's none of these things when we leave him with friends or when we are at the park) We have not been back since. We had Gus out alone at 8 weeks for short bursts and he often takes himself out to laze in the sun. Puppies need to see and experience and feel everything, they're like sponges. You gotta get everything in now while you can to avoid later dramas, we have a rescue who is the very proof of that.

Holy crud. Where did that come from! He looks awesome!!!

You should hear some of the wacko ones I get with Gus the Flat Coated Retriever! Black Long Haired Lab, black coated retriever, Straight Curly Coated ret, black golden ret, cross between a lab and a goldy, solid black border collie, once someone even asked if he was a staffy! I have a pretty well-rehearsed spiel now. The tone doesn't even vary when people asked. I don't mind people asking though, happy to spruik the benefits of a flattie little spoon to the general public. Plus it gives him an opportunity to meet people he might not normally and vice versa. He has a lotta love to give....

Ooooh we would be in again! Might find a babysitter for the other one who attempted to eat her way out of the laundry and into the house while we were out last year though….

Sometimes the fluffy owners are just so special... We get a bit of that too. And you know what? Regardless of size you can usually tell how nutso the dog will be by watching the owner interact with it. Haha.

Oops! I'm a little behind, Brooke's just got out of hospital so we have been slack! Will catch up this week!

Me too! We are also having a birthday party, I'm less ashamed now! Haha!

She seems to think she's really good at it, we call her the AquaDog with a degree of sarcasm. All you see is this pointy little head and lots of splashing, she does the vertical swim rather than the horizontal, so perhaps a jacket would balance her out a bit. I'm with you there, it's funny to compare the two.

Might get Rosie one before we go camping. Ahem.... And then we have the other side of the coin.... She is going to drown herself yet. Ignore the rude Husky too. Haha.

Massive sad face to the woman I just saw walking her SWF in a fleece coat 'so she didn't burn'. Perhaps you should go out in a jumper today. I told her she was totally irresponsible and the dog looked very hot and stressed.

I don't really like her running in a harness if I can avoid it, I worry about it impeding her movement and causing an unnatural gait when she runs, and she so loves to run. Haha. We’ve found the best fitting one we can for her oddball body, but it’s still probably not perfect, looks fine for walking but I’m not comfortable letting her wear it around the park for a few hours if it can be avoided. Good question....I don't have that at work! I will get those and come back! Course she did! She is evil! We looked and looked... THAT! That looks ideal! The trouble is where it sits, I think. Too high and it's too tight for my comfort, too low and they just slide off. Where, dare I ask, did you get that fab collar? Would leather withstand swimming and salt water ok? We went the nylon for that reason but I have a feeling that perhaps they stretch out a little when wet, and that might be part of the cause?