WanaHavanese

Yeah you missed my point entirely @Powerlegs

Looking back over these forums today, the oodle debate has been going on for over a decade. Yet the poodle cross has only increased in popularity. There are so many reasons for it. People will pay for convenience and choice. Cutting out pet shops just cut out the middle man (and gave the methhead up the street a steady income selling $500 staffies).  Plenty see the same thing as me, the extreme gatekeeping and hoopjumping required from some rescues and some breeders sends puppy buyers straight into the hands of backyard breeders. 

On 03/08/2022 at 6:48 PM, Papillon Kisses said:

They’ll likely be hit with a Dangerous or Menacing Dog Order. These orders include stipulations such as having to be on leash, muzzled and wearing a dangerous dog collar if outside the property, only being handled by adults, not transferring ownership, not moving without advising council, and in the case of Dangerous Dog Orders they also need a special outdoor enclosure. https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/public/dogs-cats/responsible-pet-ownership/declared-dangerous-and-menacing-dogs/

This is good to know! Its bloody scary to think there are dogs like this being allowed so much freedom. 

Yeah some rescues do good work, dont get me wrong. Being human is the key! Not deciding the home must compromise to the rescues will because they know best in every situation. Often rescues get it right enough. Thats a great outcome. But I know many people who feel stuck with their rescue dogs and wont give them up for the shame of it. The quality of life for the owners and dogs has suffered. Some friends have just put dogs down instead, vowing to never do it again (in these cases, it should have been done by the rescue organisation if not the previous owner). 

We see articles every week about rescues being overrun. I duno much about the euthanasia debate in this sphere. What makes a dog get 100 applications and another none? People like to make the choice when applying. A choice they made is easier to live with than a choice someone else made for them. Thats my point. 

One the rescue dogs I applied for before I got my pup is still advertised, my pup is almost a year old! I start to wonder, if they havent found a suitable home in that time - is there a suitable home? 

Now that I do have my little companion, the next one can be waited for. But if I didnt get my dog when I did, I probably wouldnt be here at all. 

Yeah I get what you are saying @coneye I've seen similar set ups with dogs in a stable-like complex with free access to patios, paddocks and dams in the day rather than being kept in someones back shed or laundry. And I agree for professional breeders, thats exactly what I would want to see. Almost a luxury breeding establishment.

But when it comes to a crossbred pet, I'd rather pay an elderly pensioner doing a litter every few years to keep her beloved pet line over a big business crossbreeder churning out litter after litter in the carport. In saying that, I am not "in" the dog world, in any way, so this is purely personal opinion. Perhaps, the story I tell myself because I couldn't get a foot in the door with pedigree breeders. (Or rescues before that).

Another thing, that is slightly off topic but still a reason why people pay for oodles, is that there is choice. People like to make their own choices. Imagine going into a shop and being told there is only ONE jacket suitable for you in the entire range and its the only one you can have for 10+ years. If the dogs are of a good and stable temperament, it shouldn't matter too much which the buyer is attracted to. 

Its one of the things that really grinds my gears, the god complex of some breeders and rescue organisations. They think after a questionnaire or quick meeting, they know you and exactly whats suited to you. I HATE that as I am not articulate and do not present well, so people do not get a fair understanding of me.

This happened to me as a teen looking for a horse. Pony club set me up with a big TB gelding to take me up the levels. He was just SO boring to ride. Push button with no personality, no spark. I told him what to do and he did it, like a robot. I am neurotic and do well with similarly neurotic animal companions that are always asking "why should I". If there is no challenge there is no point. Ended up falling in love with the total opposite of what was deemed "right" for me - a little bay broodmare pony with quick feet and no education - we had the time of our lives together.

I mean, I get it, I used to take tourists for horse trail rides in the 90's who claimed to know how to ride because they saw the Man from Snowy River on tv, but to generalise and decide one knows best for another person - for the animals entire life - is so patronizing. Sure, offer traits of the dog and try to match it up to a suitable home, but to say this is it, this is yours and thats that, would have me leaving in a flash. For the dog I have now, there was a choice of 4, I narrowed it down to two and from there the owner told me some personality traits.

I picked the one who liked to watch tv, like me! So now we get annoyed watching The Dog House do exactly what I have described together  

On 16/08/2022 at 4:49 AM, tdierikx said:

 

I think you will find that they are still selling for between 4k and 8k... and still flying out the door at those prices...

 

Yeah still selling for high prices here. Good marketing on social media goes a long way. Interacting with and accepting online enquiries gets them a lot of business. 

I house sat a few years ago at a cavoodle (pet registered) breeders place and if that wasnt a puppy farm, I duno what is. They are extremely popular on social media and have pretty photo areas that make it look 'top of the line' ethical. I never thought a dog with known heart problems crossed with a hyperactive dog was a good choice, but they made the big bucks and get all the online love, so they must be doing something right. 

If there had been anything else available to me in the 4 years I was searching, I would have got it. But I got an oodle (not cavoodle) from a family who had bred the mum and kept the aunt and had the uncle of the two just in a family home as pets. I was happy to support a pensioner set up like that, but I never actually wanted a baby puppy to begin with. They are just available and that makes it easy. And being such small, easy care dogs, not many are ending up in shelters here as they sell for high prices "second hand" too. 

Well like I said, I have only ever met one Basenji   He was in a family with absolutely no dog or animal experience at all, in a tiny backyard and he was just a good boy. He came to mind because it sounds like a similar lifestyle to the original poster - they took him for runs along the river daily which was enough exercise, although he made full use of the vertical space for the lack of backyard! He wasnt noisey at all. Hardly any grooming requirements (middle kid was allergic to dogs but was fine with him). Extremely tolerant guy who got along well with kids and my selective dog at the time. Better recall than her too! 

He must have come from a good line, as he lived until almost 18 but did have skin issues in relation to some foods. My friend who owned him visited recently and the way she was interacting with my current dog made me realise just how tolerant her old Basenji was!  haha. I just thought it was worth mentioning as a breed to check out. A really nice size too. 

Personally, I'd not want a dog that needs excessive grooming once the arthritis sets in the hands and wrists but I do live 200kms from the nearest groomer, so that factors into it! 

Have the buttons arrived yet @Animal House? It will be fun Im sure! 

I have been looking online at alternatives to the fluent pet set too but think I will just wait until the current sets are out of fashion. It looks like a new set that can be connected to a computer or smartphone is on the horizon for study purposes. 

I have a "ding dong" button that we used for training touch, my dog absolutely loves that game. I dropped the button in the kitchen and havent picked it up from where it rolled to. If the dog wants attention or is bored while Im eating dinner, she goes over to press it. She knows it makes me laugh. The other day I heard it from the toilet! 

It looks like Bunny and Otter the dog have been finishing each others sentences on Instagram. Otter certainly seemed to have pick it up quicker than Bunny did but perhaps that was because the owner knows the ropes now. 

What about a Basenji? I've only ever met one. He was great. Always on top of the garden furniture though. Not too small but not too big either. Didnt have a small dog personality. No real bark. Low shedding. Would tolerate your weather too. Not sure about the cats though. 

11 hours ago, sheena said:

That would have been Kelly Gill with her lovely border collies & Alex, the Pap at the Dog Lovers Show.  A Google of The Wonderdogs will bring up lots of videos of Kelly & Alex

Yep that was them! Very cute doing the tricks. 

Yes fronts. Hers arnt unusual or deformed, I did only want them done for injury prevention and if its not the done thing anymore then I accept that, as much as it worries me. Probably just residual trauma from my old girl going through so much pain with hers ripped. One of my buns sliced his right off, took him to the vet and they said its already healing and he'd be fine. A year later it had grown back! So I wouldnt want that to happen either. 

I should be used to being talked down to, I do appear more disabled in real life than I do online. She read out the consent form to me as if I couldn't read as well  so I was feeling a bit crap when I got home today. This was probably half a rant. Thanks for the info from everyone. 

Thanks for the info. I guess there is no convincing the vet then, thanks for helping me accept that before the appointment  I'm already nervous about the op, so knowing the facts is helpful. I just assumed it wouldn't be an issue as I have met plenty of dogs without them. 

My dog doesn't get bones but she does run and chase her ball, which is how the previous dog injured hers. Very different breed though, the current one is mostly poodle and far more an indoor dog. I do think it is inevitable for her to get them caught as its already happened with my crochet cushions but luckily no blood, just a yelp for help. 

My girl is going in for her spay tomorrow and I requested she get her dew claws removed at the same time. I got a very condescending lecture from the vet nurse today about it being a thumb and they will not remove them. 

My last dog ripped hers horrifically when she was 14 and it was awful, finally resulting in removal (many smaller dew claw injuries before that). I've known at least a dozen other dogs with similar stories. My family members dogs have been able to get dew claws removed during desexing in perth recently but I am using my local usual vet. I am wondering how I can convince them to do it for me as it seems inevitable it will need to be done at some stage anyway. (Probably out of hours too!)

My dog does this weird thing where she rubs her face on my face with her paws on each shoulder - never had a dog do it before, thought my breath must be super bad for her to want to roll on it!  But in looking it up online people have said its a sign of affection so I havent discouraged it, but I am concerned her dew claws are going to rip my face or ears.

She'll be getting spayed tomorrow regardless and probably left this too late for suggestions but I did not think it would be such a big issue to get done. Is the risk of injury (to me or her) not a good enough reason to want it done? 

12 hours ago, asal said:

I suspect this breed is so smart they will train you if you dont realise it.

Absolutely! My girl taps my knee with her paw as a warning she is about to sit on my lap, so I better get comfy! Carbon copy of her Mum, right down to the markings. Bouncy, licky and over the top happy like her auntie. 

I wish i knew how to embed videos, I saw a super cute one of a Papillion and Border Collie doing a trick show over the weekend. Very cute. 

The retirement place near me accepts existing pets only. I've already decided I will get a generic looking lop bunny and just replace it with the same colour over and over until the end of my time 

This would also work with a Bichon Friese,  haha.  

Some of the dogs I have seen up there include cavaliers, Moodles(maltese poodle), chiXjack russel  (yappy),  Pomeranians and a very small Lhasa Apso. My 86 year old neighbour has a huntaway and another elderly lady has a big blue heeler, although neither of these are in the retirement village, they cope with their big dogs fine. The 86 year old has already said shes getting a standard poodle as her next dog. 

I love the Havanese dogs, but cant get my hands on one. So I got an oodle (mostly poodle) and she is the perfect house dog, I cant even believe how good she is with the house buns. Non shedding, no yap (a surprisingly deep bark when it does happen), active yet also very good at obeying "settle now".  I have read on these forums that more of the poodle cross dogs are in shelters over east now. In saying that, I am leaning towards my next dog being a bit more on the slow and stubborn side as the all too eager to please bouncy poodle nature is a bit much sometimes! 

I used to ride at a school as a kid that just renamed the new horse whatever the horse it replaced was called  

Crazy that the attack was caught on video and all the owner got was a $330 fine. I wonder if maybe laws should require a control and containment class after an event like this. If this dog was so fixated on taking down a horse, what chance does a child or even another dog have? Muzzles are great tools and so many different types are available now. This dog should absolutely have one on in public, especially if the owner cant control it. 

Awful experience but glad the horse and rider are ok. And how good was that horse not to bolt right out of there. Whats the bet the dogs owner didnt take it to the vet after it was kicked in the head to get checked out either 

Sometimes the area around a lipoma can swell, so if inflammation has reduced the lipoma may seem to be changing size too. 

I feed royal canin and advance, just what the breeder and vet recommended. If its not in store, I order online and if its not online (yet to happen), the vet stocks it. I tried black hawk but it made the puppy spew so Im sticking with what works for now. Goodluck! 

On 30/07/2022 at 4:11 PM, Papillon Kisses said:

Maybe it’s just me but I’m more concerned about how the rabbits would feel with the smell of dead rabbit in the house.  
 

For Malcolm (~4kg chi terrier mix) I liked dried mackerel tails. They were just the right size to be a long lasting chew without being so big that he got overwhelmed and cached them instead. 

Oh good point! I didnt think of that. We live rural so occasionally there is a waft of dead rabbit in the air.  The buns tend to sleep all day, oblivious to the world until sunset when they want to play. The girl bun would definitely be horrified, but the boy bun would probably try to steal some. He stole bacon off my plate and hid under the couch with it once, so if we're talking bad farts, that one was right up there with the best of them! He also tried to get into the puppies snuffle mat and treat ball for dog biscuits. I've had to rearrange the spaces with fences to stop the bunnies finding dog biscuits! 

Im going to look out for mackerel tails too now thanks for that suggestion. She just tried sardines this week and they were a hit. There were no air dried rabbit ears at the shops today anyway. 

Found a photo to fit! Not the best but the most recent. This was from yesterday, all of them eating their carrots. The fence is to stop the bunnies from stealing the puppies food! 

Horrible there have been so many dog attacks in the news lately. Are they happening more or just reported more? 

On 29/06/2022 at 2:41 PM, Powerlegs said:

Health issues are so established as normal there is even an oodle specific food brand.  
 

 

I thought these breed specific foods were a scammy marketing strategy, a smart one at that! But if they aren't I might get some breed specific food. Cheaper than home cooking with nosh like I am doing now! 

For me, becoming disabled as an adult, I would never write off a dog just for developing health issues later in life. Sure, its not breeding stock, but neither am I. When it comes to that we will deal with that. A companion dog is enough.

The fact is, if a purebred dog that met my needs was available at that time, I would have got a purebred dog. I am sure I am not alone in that. I watched the dogs overeast jump from $3500 to $5000 overnight and that was well above my budget. The oodle was cheaper and local. 

On 27/06/2022 at 7:38 AM, Selkie said:

Well, we know that some dogs (usually border collies) can have receptive vocabularies of thousands of words, and this is very easy to prove, at least for names of objects. You can certainly debate about exactly how much Bunny understands what she is trying to convey, but I don't think that it's surprising that a dog would use these buttons to communicate basic ideas and needs with humans. They do that without buttons, usually with body language. Mine can tell me when she wants to go outside, go to bed, or go for a walk, just through gaze and body position. 

I've seen videos of a dog that knows sign language and can fetch each toy by its name, signed by the trainer. Its super cute. 

Yeah some of what Bunny says is debatable, especially when they talk dreams. Im not sure she gets that one yet. The easy words and concepts I rekon she absolutely gets. The "bird go belly" video is hilarious. I do love seeing her new dog Otter pressing buttons like "bunny friend" its so beautiful. 

On 01/07/2022 at 10:38 AM, Little Gifts said:

@Anne I've watched lots of Bunny vids over the years as I find it fascinating. She does actually seem to understand words and sentence structures and communicate back. There are more dogs and vids besides Bunny too when you start down the rabbit hole.

 

I've actually thought about trying it with Jonah for a while now. He is a dog with supposedly simply needs but I know he has a lot of rules for himself too and really seems to conciously think and choose his behaviours at times. Not sure if that was due to how Duane trained him but pei are also known to be an intelligent thinking breed. He has a particular strategy he tries on every night for a treat and we can literally see him thinking he's won and suckered us in again! If he had a treat button would he just push it or would he go through his ritual of deceit first? I'd like to see if I can discover some of what goes on in his head.

Bunny rabbit hole Im super interested in it too.  There are so many dogs doing it now, and a program dedicated to studying them. I really like Mila, who seems very intelligent as well and pressed the buttons with her nose instead. It will be cool to see the data down the track, patterns of speech, choice of topics and if the dogs ever get bored of it as they age. Or if they can tell their owners of aches and pains as they age. It would be great to know what is going on if a dog is worried or frustrated about something. 

I agree body language is generally enough for most of us. But I am so tempted to try these buttons, if only they were a bit cheaper! Its not a cost I can be bothered with, I think any dog could easily pick up an "outside" or "walk" button if they were interested. My dog would sit herself on a "brush" button, I am sure. She asks for a brush all the time without a button! A treat button may be a recipe for disaster haha

Ah Greenies! Thanks @Deeds for the reminder, I do have a bag of them. Shes funny with greenies, dances with them and then carries them around, burying them under couch cushions for two days before she eats them. 

Great info thanks @persephone I was a bit worried they might be like chewy rawhide so its good to know they are crunchy.

I think I will give them a go next time I see them in store. I did a bit of reading last night after the post and they seem to be ok for toy size dogs. Shes ten months old now so not a baby puppy anymore but still small. 

I have about a billion photos but not many good ones. I've never thought to get them all to pose together but I should for a family photo! My photos are getting a "too large" notification when I try to post.

Im looking for something other than carrots for the puppy to chew (no bones). I have seen air dried rabbit ears in the grocery store and was wondering if anyone knows anything about these? A good option or bad one? 

I have pet house rabbits and the puppy gets along great with them, would air dried rabbit ears make my little lop bunnies too appealing to start chewing on? 

I am sure the attention is a big part of it! TikTok would have an even bigger audience than Instagram. 

I think you tube can be viewed without an account - here is Bunny early in her communication 

https://youtu.be/IxneYBVzQ9Y

I have heard of maddington meats being the place for bulk, but have never been there myself. Not sure if its what you are after but thought I'd mention just in case it is. 

What a cheeky cutie