Steph M

He didn't seem to notice in the first place, he hopped up on the bed with his teddy and I practically had a heart attack at the golf ball sized lump on his face, I assumed bee but thought if it were a wasp and he'd swallowed it, or had an allergic reaction he might have trouble breathing, or it could be an infection from a broken tooth... of course, the more you think about it the more panicked you become... I had his leash on and in the car in a flap and he was bounding about like 'HEY YES. WALK TIME, GOOD THINKING!' The vet said 'bring him back if he stops eating' I had to laugh, if Gus turned down food I would assume the apocalypse is coming...

I ate a bee! Thanks to the Lort Smith Animal Hospital for the antihistamines and fun game of 'how naughty can a puppy be in the waiting room' I think I won! I couldn't have cared less, I just wanted to get to the damn park! -Gus. Iiiiidiot!

Hahahaha of all marks, Gus chases Magpies as well. Clever boy. The minah bird things do that here, and they're not even scared of him, they just sort of waddle out of the way or sit on the fence til he goes back inside,. Hahaha.

We'd be keen to come along! The mudbeast has been wanting to check out Kepala.

We haven't had one since! We even met some chooks (from behind wire) at the farmers market, and he was keen but not overly. He did give one little silkie such a groom through the wire while I was talking to the lady who ran it (asking if it was ok) and I looked down and he'd drenched a chicken with love, I pitied the next kid to pat that one... Still wouldn't trust him terribly, but perhaps one day we can have chickens yet...sigh

The cursed Birdurers! Haha.

Ok I'll make a deal with you I won't repeat myself as you all know where I stand. Lets not forget I've been called crazy and it's even been alluded too that I've made everything up. I had a very traumatic event and because I live in a semi rural community there seems to be quite a few loose dogs. I'm not sure why we attract rushers, my dog is very well behaved on leash, perhaps that makes her weak and a target, can't really do much about that can I? Off leash she mixes very well with friends dogs and at the kennels, where she's described as easy going but doesn't submit readily to other dogs but is not aggressive. I readily admit I die a thousand deaths when I see an off leash dog and imagine all kinds of horrors that never happen. Being made to feel vulnerable makes me cranky, you may have noticed that bit. For the third time, It was me who made the crazy comment and it was in regard to feeling like you needed a weapon to walk your dogs safely, it was widely directed, not solely at you and I said THE ACTION of carrying this out stank of craziness. It seems to suit you to adopt the tag like a pouting child though, so carry on. I don't think anyone alluded you might have invented anything either.

This sounds totally different to this Not every big dog wants to eat Fluffy. It really is all about the big dogs being demonised and it isn't your defence I have a problem with, a swift kick should be enough but in the latter instance where you've assessed the situation and feel it's GENUINELY required, not as in the latter because a big lolloping playing dog runs at you wagging its whole back end. Genuine question though, do any of you not feel that lashing out at dogs who are off lead, although shouldn't be, might create reactivity if you do it enough? That big lab x who just wants to sniff and can get out of his owners gates gets enough kicks and it could well fulfill your prophecy of doom and gloom? It's just all so contradictory and depressing, with one member saying they wished they had a gun for roaming dogs and in another post saying how hard it is to see dogs killed on the road, that is a huge leap there. I was totally on board with this thread to start with, and we can all relate but people are letting this fear run and ruin their lives and the lives of others. There are so many posts on here declaring their dogs bomb proof, but then going on to say they wouldn't stand for any dog, friendly or none approaching you. This sounds like something I would be seriously thinking about rectifying. Incredibly stressful and damning. And for the record I said the actions were all kinds of crazy, which I stick by. Again, hugely contradictory.

Yes accidents happens. But we don't need to go and drive on the wrong side of the road just because we're confident drivers. If people want to live on the "wild side" they should do so in their own little space and shouldn't be putting the public at risk. Now I know people who've witnessed off-lead dogs tear up an on-lead dogs in front of it's owners. Guts flying everywhere. I've had many close calls myself. Little dogs rushing at us. My quick thinking has saved many off-lead dogs lives. So yes I do scan a head and I am aware of my surroundings. So I'd rather be aware then ignorant. I agree wholeheartedly, aware and alert beats the hell out of panic stricken. I can not personally justify carrying a maglite or a stick or cattle prod no matter how many unfriendly dogs we've come across. It honestly stinks of all kinds of crazy to me and I really have to bow out of this ridiculous thread now. It's infuriating from both sides of the argument, you should not have your dogs ambling free off lead, there's not any real need, however if shit happens and my dog happened to say get out after a break in, or snap his collar or something else happen and some loony beat him or sprayed him I would be beyond furious and as much as you have a right to defend your own, so would I. And I would. Friendly off lead dogs don't bother me in the slightest, but it's law as the majority are troublesome or less than controlled, but from the other side of the fence you really need to assess the situation at hand before losing your mind and whipping out a cattle prod. Perhaps if you really are considering arming yourself because walks in your neighborhood are so traumatic for you, it might be best to think about a dog treadmill or an acreage or something. I really would be more concerned about some unauthorised person carrying a concealed weapon than a dog. Oh and I'll just leave this here too, from www.police.vic.gov.au

The point I'm making is shit happens, leashes aren't infallible and things can happen. FWIW I'm an on-leash person. I'm not disagreeing. I just think arming yourself and being on high alert and panic stations is a really dangerous standpoint.

I have to say though, if my lovely friendly (albeit large) dog ever happened to break off his leash outside a shop, or his collar suffer a failure (highly unlikely but always possible) and approach you or your dog and someone either sprayed him with citronella or kicked him or 'beat the crap out of' him. You would certainly have something to answer to from me. You have the right to protect your own, sure. But when you're in such a high state of what sounds like (in some of the described cases) somewhat hysterical panic how carefully are you judging body language and intent? Just because a dog is moving at speed toward you, does not a vicious killer make. I find this attitude of fear really frightening and depressing. If every person were to walk around with a stick or a bloody CATTLE PROD to beat approaching dogs away from them I would be less inclined to walk my dog at all. That concerns me much much more than off lead dogs. It's very 'vigilante justice'.

I have no problem at all with friendly, well mannered, sociable off lead dogs. It really is an owner prerogative, whilst not for me to walk my bouncy puppy next to a main road I've seen many dogs do just fine for many years. Sure there's probably unfortunate road incidents and what not, but not my place to judge nor to panic. It does neither of us any good. It is against the law, and inevitably shit does happen so it comes down to their risk, their fault. If they get fined or their dog injured or killed it's awful, but a risk they took. Obviously applies differently to those dogs who are known to be nasty or a PITA etc.

It is awful luck! Hopefully he's getting all the back luck out of the way early!

They absolutely do. How could you dispute that there's humour in dogs having fun? Gus gets such a grin going!

Males are massive smoochers usually! Be prepared for some serious lovin! :D Congrats~!!!!

I discovered the busy road safety zone, also large busy parks , although some diehard off leash folk persist in using the small local park on the weekends, they ignore the parents and on leash dog walkers comments or respond with rudeness. They bring their large dogs and throw tennis balls ballistically so their dogs can run at great speed around the park scaring everyone. Just another case of people being inconsiderate to others and feeling entitled to do it. I had one female say to me that the park ranger had told her she could use this park for her dogs, I said "Really well lets get the police here and see what they have to say". She then left the park with her wolves, shouting obscenities as she went. She was actively teaching her dogs it was ok to rush human beings by throwing the ball into the play area and over people's heads. Dogs chasing after balls are not rushing people or other dogs usually. They are chasing after the ball. I am always quite relaxed when I see a ball focused dog as they tend not to bother you at all. I have to agree, I don't see the link between playing a game of fetch and teaching a dog it's ok to rush people. I love watching really sporty dogs play fetch down the park. The focus can be amazing, but hunting mode is a whole other thing in my mind, and the sportiness of it all is very impressive. Beats my mud wallow-er who falls over his own feet still.

Or a hoist! Gus does the same most of the time. Looks back woefully half in and half out. Mind you can leap almost a metre straight up. Sure, Pal...

Clever marketing from Pal/Pet Rescue and promoting/celebrating adoption with an already pretty big fad, being those my family stickers. I saw them in a magazine not long ago and thought how smart that was. Here's the link, and I'll stop derailing now http://www.petrescue.com.au/library/articles/make-your-rescue-dog-the-best-ad-for-adoption-ever

I would think between that and the many maltese/jrt/etc etc terriers and their crosses that is a huge whack out of the market if they had all boycotted. Ouch!

Oh good heavens those Goose Barnacles are attractive! Lucky Louis, hope he picks right back up again! He's a total spunk.

Hahaha that's insanity. How stupid.

It's just such a PITA in a spot where he knocks it on toys or squeezing through doors etc. Might see if he'll keep a corn bandage over it or something. I read vaccination as well, small price to pay in my mind though!

Ah! The shame of it all!

I'll put some tinsel on it. Rudolf the red nosed flattie.

It's been there since we got him, which worries me. 12 weeks feels an eternity! I've read the same, they only seem to last a few weeks. Perhaps we just have the luck of the draw here. Haha.