Erny

In Victoria, it seems that the way our laws have been written, even if you have got papers to testify your dog is a pure-bred "xxx", it does not grant you an exemption from the "fits the description" law UNLESS your dog is certified as an AmStaff. Only pointing this out for Victorians. Don't take me as the gospel - I'm catching up with all of this but the Government have made such a circus of the laws that it is incredibly difficult to tease it out to make sense of it.

Have passed this on to some friends of mine who live in Mt Evelyn.

Glad she is found and at least outwardly, appears ok. Have the owner take her to the Vet. I think if it were my dog and provided it was with the Vet's recommendation, I'd do what I needed to do to have a pregnancy confirmed or negated and, if confirmed, have the pups aborted. Talien - we all make mistakes. In my younger years, I made mistakes that I regretted and the guilt from those mistakes lives with me, even now, near-on 40+ years later. It's the not learning from those mistakes that makes you a fool and deserves criticism and scolding, not the mistakes themselves and from what you have said here, I don't think you fit that category. Your friend needs to listen up, by the sounds of it, and if she refuses to do so, then perhaps that category is hers. I don't think having an entire/intact dog automatically renders a person irresponsible. I think it is irresponsible to not have sensible and responsible reasoning for keeping a dog entire/intact and I think it is irresponsible to not have a secure enclosure where the dog - intact or not, cannot escape nor where others might manage to enter. You were brave to fess up to what had occurred and come out in the open to broad-cast the news in the hope of it assisting with the dog's return.

Personally, I think the rallies should take place on a day when the MP's are sitting. I can only speak for Victoria, but I imagine that, given where Parliament House is located, it would be a quiet day as far as foot-traffic is concerned, on a Saturday, not to mention that the Pollies won't be there. It could end up feeling as though we're talking to ourselves. I know it is hard for most getting the day off work if it's during the week, although I do think that is the best. But if we're going to do this on a weekend, what's the point of being at the deserted perimeters of town rather than where the public is? For the Victorian one, isn't Brad Griggs organising it?

You always start it . That's excellent, PME. Glad to hear things are working for you. It's a start .

Regardless of you stipulating "as long as it's better than what I've been getting", I'm just pointing out that I disagree with you in this instance.

It is not so simple and black and white, dancinbcs. The laws are so poorly written, much is reliant on the trust of Council authorities, in Victoria, at least. And THAT is not good enough, nor fair, not clear and gives no-one definite reliable guidelines. The Councils don't have to accept registrations if they don't want. That leaves those dogs open to being seized, just because of the way they look. And there are so many dogs that could fit the standard they prescribe eg. lab x boxer. These laws are NOT just about PB's, AmStaffs and Staffies (not to suggest that it wouldn't matter if it did), but the letter of the law has made a far more reaching sweep than you might be thinking.

And it can increase the state of arousal the dog is in. Sometimes what you think you are shaping is not what you are really shaping. ETA: PME - in this event, act calm; yawn; let your body language permiate that you think she's being dumb.

And that's the truth. And to all, please help where you can and will, whether you have a 'targeted' dog or not. These laws have the very real potential and ability to spread to other breeds like cancer, and that could include yours. We all have jobs to do and money to earn, and we're all tired. So please don't presume your assistance wouldn't be appreciated. And this is not the public's fault. It is the Government's. Not arguing with you, Snook. Just adding comment. And slim hope that this won't be too late for many of the dogs. Financial grief and a public that can't understand what's happening will pressure many into seeing no option other than to giving up on their dogs.

Excellent, PME. I hope it isn't just a temporary improvement in her behaviour. Just to add .... if she is calm and relaxed, take the occasional opportunity to tell her she's a good girl. If she's tense (even if she isn't barking or otherwise carrying on) just ignore her.

But the only dog whose Pedigree Certificate will excuse it from the full strength of the laws (here in Victoria) is the AmStaff. Any other breed, even if ANKC registered .... if it fits the standard put out by the government, is caught up in the loop. So, all those who own other pure-breeds and have papers for them .... if your dog could by any stretch fit the said "standard", please don't be lulled into a false sense of security. You need to be out there working with the best of them in their efforts to plead the Government into a sense of procedural fairness and natural justice. Saff - I sent you a message.

Scheduled for 11 am on 22nd October on the steps of Parliament House. However this Rally is to be confirmed. No dogs to attend. A lead and an empty collar to symbolise, preferred. This is what I know to date. Stay tuned.

Why are the girls with him standing there and smiling as though it was something amusing? Where are the horrified by-standers?

This ^. Why do the Govt seem to use the word "education" but then don't seem to do anything about promoting it? Not just now, but in numerous things that have been occurring over the years.

Thanks for the info, Aussielover.

That's news. Do you happen to know the reason for it being discontinued?

Let the trainers at the Club know you are having problems (they'll see it anyway). They'll help you. I find lure to the drop from a stand is easier. There is a technique to it in the way you hold the food in your hand and what you do with your hand to get the dog to push its weight into its butt so that it follows into the down position. Sometimes lure on its own doesn't work. There are combo's of methods that can be used. It's a matter of working one that suits the dog. They'll show you how, so don't worry about it at the moment.

I agree with the above. Leaving dogs at home would be the responsible and sensible thing to do.

The following is a copy/paste of a post that I also put up in another thread running here in General Forum about the same topic. I'm sorry if I added to the confusion. I'm also confused at where I've said what, as there are many conversations going on in numerous different areas. Again, my apologies.

Hold up everyone. I may have misheard or am mistaken. I've now listened to audio replay of the Minister's conversation with Neil and can't pick up the part where I thought I heard him say the Council could de-register. In my defence, the speaker on my laptop isn't particularly loud and this time I ran the audio replay through twice with my ear almost to the keyboard to hear. Would someone else like to confirm that I was hearing things by double checking word for word what the Minister said? My apologies if I sent anyone into a bigger spin and panic than they already would be. I would run the audio replay through once more but I'm done in for tonight and need to turn off.

Peter Walsh didn't say much about the de-registering .... it was almost like a slide-in comment. I've included a bit of the before conversation so you can follow the gist of the conversation, but the one I'm referring to is "The Minister discusses ban with Neil Mitchell" one. Neil Mitchell wants to ban the Pit Bull The Minister discusses ban with Neil Mitchell And then there was the Talk Back section : Talk Back

I have just heard Peter Walsh say that power/authority has been granted to individual Councils to decide as to whether they want to register "these types" of dogs and if they don't they can de-register them (and therefore seize them). This was via an interview on the radio. Is this old or new news to anyone?

I have just heard Peter Walsh say that power/authority has been granted to individual Councils to decide as to whether they want to register "these types" of dogs and if they don't they can de-register them. This was via an interview on the radio. Is this old or new news to anyone?

Cesar Milan is not a dog-trainer - he admits this freely himself. Let your Mum know this and explain that what she is watching is him dealing with problem behaviour, not training failure.

Try an anxiety wrap. I actually use my boy's PJ's for this. I tend to find they do calm him down in some circumstances when his behaviour would be over the top (and when, like the instance you describe, I am not in a position to work with it). What you do need to be mindful of is how warm it is in the car as you don't want to overheat her. This suggestion might not work but if it did it would be the easier of anything that I can think of, off the top of my head. So I'd go for that first. Don't hold your breath though, and I wouldn't be spending a tonne of money to get the real mcoy anxiety wrap .... at least not until you try it. Experiment with a T-shirt which you tie a knot in at the top to make it sit firm. Also, try a harness restraint. Depends on your dog and the reason for the reactivity, but having too much freedom within the confines of the car doesn't help.