Mairead

There is a poem that may help you make the decision: The Last Battle (poem, not novel) It starts "If it should be that I grow frail and weak ...

Ten year old large/giant breeds dog. I wonder if it had undiagnosed or untreated medical issues.

In the days before widespread microchips, the Petsearch newsletter had many stories of dogs being "on the lam" for many days and travelled considerable distances. The Anatolian Shepherd I found was from a few suburbs away and had crossed a six lane road.

I heard a story of a tourist asking (in an African safari park?), why didn't they feed the lions a vegan diet? The tour guide replied that it was because there weren't enough vegans available.

The supplied photo from Virgin tells me I might not want to be on a flight with those owners.

"400 people applied to adopt Harry". I would like to know how many were suitable homes and if they went on to adopt another dog. Or were they only interested in a famous dog, or a broken dog? It sounds like the right decision was made for him to have a mentor dog.

Saying it was a terrier show is very poor reporting. You might be imagining a dispute over a stripping knife.

The NSW Police News site mentions Raptor Squad was involved. They deal with "serious and organised crime".

Something like a licence before you get a pet?

Not kennel hands, specially trained dog nannies. I looked it up.

And don't forget injuries (and worse) caused by that most dangerous animal the human. Often done with accessories such as ladders, power tools and cars. I advised people holding leashes, especially at lure coursing, to put the loop over their wrist for the dog's safety. When two St Bernards were dragging their owner towards my dogs I yelled out "Get at right angles to them". It would be interesting to know how many injuries involved harnesses and flexileads = no control.

Three puppies in one litter with cleft palate-cleft lip complex sounds like infection (lack of vaccination?) or toxins (poisons or medications) in pregnancy . Or someone accidentally bred two brachycephalic (shortnosed) dogs without health tests that they purchased from a eucalyptus tree site or similar. Inheritance for this complex is simple recessive or irregular dominant. Ref: Veterinary Pediatrics 3rd Edition Johnny D. Hoskins (Ed)

There was a segment on this on Radio National Breakfast this morning, Monday. The person interviewed, Michelle Robertson, said most of the dogs they had were mixed breeds, mixes of working dogs, Kelpies, mastiffs and staffies.

I have had this happen with adolescent sighthounds.There is nothing wrong with having a greyhound or sighthound build! If he is very active he may just have a marathon runner's physique, very lean, or his hormones are not doing him any favours. If he is otherwise healthy (and not losing weight) I wouldn't worry and wouldn't add anything except perhaps carefully add some extra oil, or feed another small balanced meal.

One post, to complain, and you chose that name.

Have the ears been examined for hair, inflammation, infection or poor anatomy? The ear itching may not be related to the allergies.

Seven News Adelaide says the staffy [the photo shows a blue staffyish dog on a harness] attacked their puppy "before setting upon" the girl.

If the owner was (or once was) a young man who needed to prove himself with a guard dog, or owned stuff or wares for sale that he didn't want stolen, the dog may have not had any socialisation "because we don't want him to be friendly". If it starts destroying stuff because of insufficient exercise because it can't be walked on a lead because it's not trained or too strong, then the dog park is an option. It might have been son's or boyfriend's dog, but he's gone to "the big house", or is renting somewhere he can't have a dog.

Potential Darwin Award winner.

Yes I have kept that in mind. Many more views than people in the discussion. But some careful reading and judicious questioning early on might reveal who is genuine. Remember the person who wrote they were doing right by their puppy having already bought it "four little outfits"?

And the dog has changed sex, so more issues for the poor dog.

They will have to get a control group of show Labradors. My version of "I control what she eats" is "Prepares his own meals, does he?".

I would not have known that a Behaviour Monitor is an electric collar with a button battery. I was imagining some camera/intercom setup.

Take note of what you liked/didn't like about all the dogs you have known well. Size, coat, drool or none, intelligence, independence or clinginess, ability to lift into vehicle or to fit into space you have in vehicle, trainability, interest in chickens, cats, livestock or wildlife, recall reliability, boarding or petsitting cost for when you are travelling to dogs-not-allowed area. Be aware that sizeable dogs with low body sensitivity can dent and escape colourbond fences, and the larger the dog the higher the vet costs. You might also need a balance between a dog that is independent enough to cope with being alone and not so independent that they don't listen to you. Also consider your experience of training - have all your dogs been considered well behaved? Good luck.

You might have attended on General Specials (Finals) day where at least one of each breed entered will be present. This year that is Monday 21 April. But depending on time of day and how the pavilion is set up, people may not have time to talk to you.