ellz

Throwing this out to the wider DOL community…… scenario is Chihuahua littermates, 2 x males. Went to new homes at 14 weeks, now 17 weeks. Both puppies live in same household but have different owners. Puppies are fed separately but have access to each other during the day for play. At night both choose to go to own areas of the house, own beds and own owners. They have to squeeze between the bars of baby gates to do so, so it’s a very conscious act. The same automatic separation applies when sitting on the couch watching television. Each puppy is normally found next to, or on, their human. one of the puppies is taken out regularly in the car with his human and will soon be starting at doggy school (albeit beginners because he’s too old for puppy classes). both puppies play well with the other critters in the house (doggos and kittehs) and know their names. Is there anything else that can be done for these guys to eliminate the risks of littermate syndrome?

Funny that this topic is current… I had a memory pop up on FB that’s kinda relevant. I was watching my son play rugby with my occasionally reactive rescued American Bulldog (RIP ) on lead (council recreation area so leads required anyway). We were sitting well away from everyone and my boy was happy, relaxed and comfortable. Next thing, he’s literally attacked by an off lead bull breed dog who roared in his face and then attached herself to his jowls (pierced straight through it was later discovered). Her f-wit owner was screaming that my dog attacked his, despite the fact that my boy didn’t even get up from where he was laying at my feet). Luckily I had witnesses and the idiot was reminded in no uncertain terms that his dog was off lead (in an on-lead area) and was the aggressor. They advised the f-wit (rather bluntly) that the dog be removed from the situation or the council and police would be called about the aggressive dog. My poor boy was (despite his very large physical size) quite rattled after the event but soon recovered from his woes with generous gifts of steak, hamburgers and snags from the club BBQ. He earned many brownie points that day because of his level head and sensible attitude.

Harnesses!!!!! The worst thing that could happen to many (not all….but many) dogs. I am currently in Hobart, dog sitting my youngest son’s manic, brain dead Cocker Spaniel. My son has finally grasped the reason why I never put dogs on harnesses while he was growing up! Unfortunately, he caved in to his partner’s wishes and because she’d only ever had dogs on harnesses….he opted for peace. So now, while his owners are away, their dog is in boot camp and is learning how to walk nicely on a lead, sit calmly on a grooming table and sleep in a crate without throwing tantrums that upset his female owner so much that she’d immediately let him out!

No. Just no!

Wrong country for that. Freedom of speech doesn’t exist here and freedom of expression isn’t freedom from consequences.

It has.

I found it interesting that when the story first broke, the animal control officer was quoted as saying that the dog was able to be identified as a pit bull because it had white tips on its toes And again for the gallery…..bull breed jaws do not have the mechanism to “lock”. Bull breeds have very powerful masseter muscles which provide incredible bite force. And that, coupled with a determined mind can create untold damage in a fight situation.

Two wrongs don’t make a right. Pay up, move on and don’t make the same mistake again. simples

Have always fed chicken necks to dogs and cats from early in their lives. Freezing them slows many piggies down and hitting them with the meat mallet changes their shape so they’re less likely to be a choking risk.

It would be Greyshaft all over again!!

Personally I am of the opinion that type IS type. It’s what makes the breed standard. Variations of “type” are “styles”. I will use vehicles as an easy analogy…….a car is built a specific way that makes it easily identifiable as a car and not a truck. That’s the “breed standard” or the blueprint/plan of the vehicle. Within that “standard” are variations of “style”….ie a Hyundai i30 is as correct as a Kia Cerato…..both unmistakably cars, just different styles……

Absolutely the first thing that the person who told me and I said. The owner’s experience with this breed and other large breeds is well-known and previously positively demonstrated. I put my hand on my heart and say that I would be very very surprised if any human action or interaction had been the cause of this tragedy!

I’ve been waiting for this information to be made public since the day after it happened. I was given the information and promised to keep it to myself. I have had to sit on my hands and bite my tongue. Some of the comments and speculation in various places has been nothing short of disgusting. What has happened is tragic and pouring criticism and venomous comments inferring that the dog was mistreated or “misunderstood” is absolutely ridiculous and completely and utterly untrue! The victims were well known and very popular members of the Australian dog scene. Many people will be greatly impacted by this incident and I wish Maree the very, very best for her recovery.

I’m probably in the minority but my first question is “have this dog and this child had negative interactions previously?”

Hiya! A few of us oldies have started popping back in from time to time