This is our (almost) weekly segment where we review the content posted on our Twitter over the course of the week. It’s a long post! So make sure you grab a coffee and prepare yourself for some serious reading.
Before we get started, though, here is our current foster dog “Bandit”. More details on his adoption are available on his listing on PetRescue.
Bandit the crossbreed is 3 years old. He is looking for a new home and is located in South Australia.
Tweet of the Week
Joanna starts with the premise that puppies should be able $20,000 each, to cover the costs of many overheads associated with their rearing. However, the dog breeding world looks disdainfully on people who charge a high price for their puppies. Indeed, Joanna describes a competition-like scenario where getting less for puppies is in some way admirable. Here’s a quote;
In dog breeding… self-abnegation becomes the real pride. I lost more money than you did; I neutered more show prospects than you did; I charge $1000, well I charge $800, well I charge $600, well I give them away and also donated my kidney to a puppy buyer. I breed twice a year, I breed once a year, I breed once every five years, I’ve owned this breed for fifteen years and never once have I even LOOKED at a dog’s genitals with intent to use them.
I had no hesitation in calling this piece the Tweet of the Week. It’s well written, humorous and covering legitimate subject matter, too. If you read nothing else this week, please read: “How much do puppies cost? How the “breeders wars” hurt our community“.
Breeds and Breeding
Fast action ratting with terriers (video).
And then, in direct conflict: Swedish study found no link between modern breeds and their traditional work.
Soundness – understanding correct pit bull conformation and why it is correct.
Hybrid vigour – fact or fiction?
A commentary on the COA Crossbreeding Programme from a Chinook Owner.
Breeding Dogs for Intentional Defect.
Dog Training and Behaviour
Operant Learning Illustrated by Examples.
Why does my house trained dog pee-poo indoors?
Why is training recall so difficult for dog owners?
Criteria in training.
Dogs’ Sexual Behaviour (video).
Sheltering, Rescue and Associated Links
‘It’s not us, it’s you’ – The Lost Dogs Home discusses high kill rates.
National Desexing Network – List of participating vets in Australia.
SC Shelter attempted to cover up killing of family dog.
RSPCA and the Moorook Debacle 2013.
Bandit, 3yo crossbreed, for adoption in SA.
Dog Health
How the veterinary vaccine model is broken.
Spayed or neuter dogs live longer.
Win a 150g bottle of Rose Hip Vital.
Dog gets around with four bionic paws.
Other Dog Stuff
Upcoming Canine Science Conferences.
Working dogs, working together.
EB White and the Crime of Harboing an Unlicensed Dog.
What drives the evolution of brachycephalic dogs? – this one was almost the tweet of the week just because it articulated something I’ve been thinking about for along time.
Hero dog saves girl from icy river.
Other Animal Stuff
Why the mantis shrimp is my new favourite animal.
You have to watch this one – Suki the cat at 8 months.
Why ferns have more chromosones than you.
Myrtle kept jumping on the grooming table to be groomed!
Myrtle constantly on top of me!
Chloe all set to go to her new home
