Scrappi&Monty

For mixed breeds you use the original one I'd love to do the test one day. The one for breeders is new and for purebred pedigree dogs that breeders want to breed.

Ouch!

I never knew that labs were prone to entropion/ectropion. I've seen a few shar peis having to get surgery for entropion

I would recommend an in-home trainer, but make sure as Persephone said you get recommendations on here. I feel like they are a brilliant resource & service, just make sure you get the right one that you click with & understand, and ones that don't make you do things you aren't comfortable with. Positive is best where possible. Some family members with good intentions kindly bought me a voucher for an in-home dog trainer for Christmas once, but although the website looked good, and the guy was a reasonably nice bloke, I really DIDN'T like his methods. I tried to keep an open mind and try what he said, but after the 3 lessons I haven't done any of it since He seemed like he was going to be a somewhat positive trainer, which he is for obedience, but he considered our problems as "behavioural" so went full on dog whisperer. He poked them in weird spots to get them to settle (it worked though somehow... probably found it uncomfortable?) and used slip collars and corrections I feel like a slip collar isn't a great idea when we were working on fear-reactivity on walks So yes, would recommend a one-on-one trainer but just make sure you get the right one

I had a look at all the things they test for yesterday, so fascinating!

If transport is still needed I would still be interested in helping out, depends on the area though. If it is in NSW and not too far, would be willing to help if I can.

Cool. For the regular tests as well? I would be interested in getting Scrappi tested, maybe Monty... It would be fascinating to find out their breeds, but also their genetic health results that are included.

My little cousins got a puppy about 6mths ago. My youngest cousin is 12, and on the autism spectrum with some learning & behavioural problems. Also often likes to be naughty & push buttons despite knowing what's good. (He's a sweet boy and loves to help me with my dogs, but he completely disrespects my mum & his own mum, and sometimes just does naughty stuff; like feeds the dogs his food and gets in their faces.) He adores the puppy, and helps with clicker training him, which is going pretty well. Their puppy is a work in progress you could say, cheeky little bugger who is naughty yet obedient if that makes sense. Would DEFINITELY recommend getting a more mature dog though. I have seen Service dogs/Pets As Therapy dogs for adoption whose owners can no longer have them for various reasons. https://www.petrescue.com.au/groups/10850?listings=rehomed http://www.assistancedogs.org.au/pages/autism-service-dog.html https://www.guidedogs.org.au/autism-assistance-dogs

Yes, as Rebanne said, you will need to do a lot of work BEFORE you get the dog. You can't have a naughty kid & a dog living together, especially if you don't understand dogs very well yet. Will need to make sure both you & kid (how old? Is it your child?) know about dog body language. Make sure you set the boundaries of what the child can do around the dog. e.g. So the child knows: - Don't go near dog while it's eating. - Don't feed it human food (could accidentally feed poisonous food or at most get a fat sick dog) and no leaving food wrappers around. - no climbing on dog/pulling ears/tail/fur etc. - Dog body language (which is of course very different to human body language. E.g. A dog showing teeth is probably not happy & smiling) - (Get a dog crate as a safe spot for the dog to get some peace & quiet) and no-one is allowed to hassle the dog while they are in their crate. It's like the dog's bedroom. And of course all the other rules When I was a little kid I was scared of dogs, so my parents got me some books about how to act around dogs and dog body language. I used to see a dog and squeal and run away, climbing up the nearest Adult's leg haha. But many dogs would see that as a game of chasies and bigger dogs would try to jump up at me. Now I love dogs! I will see if I can find the book or one similar: https://www.amazon.com/Can-I-Pat-That-Dog/dp/0207198047 Also maybe: https://www.dogwise.com/ItemDetails.cfm?ID=dtb1029 https://www.rspcaqld.org.au/~/media/files/animal training fact sheets/kids/kids_and_dogs_12_v2_13988.ashx?la=en

Oops accidentally posted

Maybe if you contact a few rescue groups on Petrescue they could help you find a dog suitable for you. A greyhound might be a good fit... You would need to walk the dog more often though in my opinion, and it may not be a good idea to have a dog with a naughty little child. You would need to do lots of teaching them about how to act around dogs, and not to climb on them and not to pull tails/ears etc. Have a look in your area, there may be a kids class run by RSPCA or similar that teaches kids about how to treat animals safely. Good luck, do lots of research and ask lots of questions!

I was just having a look at the Embark DNA tests for dogs, and noticed they have new versions specifically for Purebred dogs and breeders, some of you might be interested! https://try.embarkvet.com/breeders/

Best to get them both done anyway I think. I haven't owned a female dog yet, but I know that if you aren't breeding her it's usually best to get them speyed. (Prevents things like mammary tumours & uterus/ovarian tumours. Also if desexed she won't go on heat.(if she's not spayed she could still get pregnant if a neighbours' dog finds out she's on heat of course))

As he's doing it right now it reminded me... poor old Kelpie next door is a sweet boy named Banjo. When he was a puppy they used to live next door to a fire station. He's around 11yo and he still will howl every time he hears a siren, I think it hurts his ears a bit poor buddy. I couldn't hear the fire engine just then until it got fairly close, and I have great hearing but old banj, who's going a little deaf (supposedly), could hear it a mile away and is 'awrooo-ing' his little heart out.

Ahh ok. Tricky situation. If worst comes to worst you could get her a little light muzzle, or on Etsy they sell "Smuzzles" which are soft mesh muzzles which don't look 'mean', are comfy & allow them to pant and drink water, but they can't eat through them. They were designed for a dog who had an obsession and would eat naughty things while the owners were out (like rubber or stones, and actually ingest them). I was contemplating getting one for Monty to stop him eating things in the yard (macadamias which are poisonous, mulberries, lilli pillies etc.) http://smuzzleme.com/

I've never had a dog small enough to really pick up in a situation like that. So I'm not sure if it's bad or not, but I think you'd have to watch out for springy big dogs jumping up near your face level to get to her... It probably is a good idea to pick her up if the dog seems super rowdy and could squish her, but also at the same time you don't want a dog to bounce up and snap at her or your face.

I'm not sure if this is right, but it's more or less what we did. Since my dogs know leave it in other circumstances (ie accidentally dropped food or waiting for their dinner bowls) if I am walking and there is something on the ground they try to sniff/eat that they shouldn't (like sniffing dog poo, eating chook poo, a dropped chocolate ice cream etc) I will just say "leave it", and keep on walking and they will have to come with me (which I rewarded at first) and won't have a chance to grab the worm or poo or whatever. You can practice in the backyard. Practice Loose Leash or Heel with distractions set up at a certain distance where they aren't quite able to reach it on leash (e.g. A bowl with a few bits of low value treat, some kibble crumbs in the grass (smelly), or just some kibble scattered on the grass. Then practice LL walking or Heel and ignoring the yummy things, reward with much higher value treats.

Aww thanks

Maybe these doggies? https://www.petrescue.com.au/listings/548245 https://www.petrescue.com.au/listings/509668

Would a pure beagle, pure cav or other beagle cross or cavalier cross be out of the question? There are a few pure beagles on Petrescue, there's a beagle rescue group. Pretty sure there's also a CKCS rescue too.

Reading these I can't resist sharing; When Monty is excited he also does that "happy dance" consisting of lifting his front feet up one by one really fast and tap dancing around while wiggling his bum and happy howling. Even though walks are probably Scrappi's favourite thing, and he has been wearing harnesses since he was a pup, and I have also taught him to be comfortable with each new harness, he still will run away the second I get it out. I will say the 'W word' and he will get all excited, then I will grab the harness and he will run away from me over to the spot that I taught him "harness" haha And if anyone is ever leaving or being suspicious, Scrappi will get all excited and want to come too. If anyone has an open car door, he will jump in and snuggle himself up in the footwell. Even the drivers side Even if it isn't our car, or even our house (we live on a quiet street so sometimes if we go see the neighbours we would bring Scrappi over off leash to have a play with their dog in the front yard. Once their car door was open and after a while we noticed Scrappi was missing, looked all up the street until we found him snuggled up in the driver's side footwell, ready to go And off topic we used to have a lorikeet who learned to whine/howl from baby Scrappi as they used to sleep in the laundry together.

Interesting article! Will keep an eye out for the others to follow. Hehehe you all are just a tincy bit older than me... I feel like I'm probably the youngest on here! I'll be going to University to become a vet soon hopefully. It's something I have a keen interest in and I have thoroughly enjoyed volunteering at the vet hospital. I'm very lucky that I have the option to follow my interests and passions being born when & where I was. Won't be easy though!

What temperature do you put coats on your dogs? We only used to put a coat on Scrappi (corgi x terrier) a few times a year when it was really cold, but now I'm thinking probably should more often as he is getting older and probably a little arthritic. Monty is a staffy x and only has a fine smooth coat and seems to get cold quite easily, so the past few mornings I've been putting his coat on (like a horse rug style one from Kmart with weather resistant outside and fleece inside.) Today was the first time I've left their coats on while we're at work as it was 3°C this morning. Chilly! Silly boy is going to melt! haha

Yes, when the dingo population declines, there aren't any predators for the introduced species like foxes, feral cats etc, so the cats & foxes eat the native small animals into endangerment. Ways to protect livestock without harming the dingo population and therefore the ecosystem are a much better move!

Sorry for your loss I reckon she could have mini foxie in her, she looks a bit like a dog I know who is JRT x mini foxie. Could have some chihuahua. Bit of a mix Ours are mystery mutts too, we go by 'staffy mix' and 'Corgi X terrier' although I think the rescue chipped Scrappi as 'Corgi x Maltese', no idea where the Maltese is!! Haha. Would be cool to get a DNA test done like the Embark one, tells you their rough 'pedigree'/family tree and also if they are affected/carriers/prone to any genetic diseases. Costs a few hundred though.