06/3/13

Where do puppies come from?

First there was Oscar’s Law, who have vilified the pet store trade, calling their producers ‘puppy mills’, and calling for people to adopt animals from shelters and rescues instead.

The RSPCA joined in, with “Close Puppy Factories” and PetRescue with “Where do puppies come from?“.

And the flow on affect was the sin of breeding dogs, with breeders as a whole being criticised, being called ‘greeders’, crucified for any profit they make from puppy sales.

The government had to act, bringing in codes that make dogs ‘Clean and Kennelled‘, which legitimises the practice of keeping dogs on concrete for sanitisation reasons.

And while the production of puppies in puppy farms is objectionable, does it really deserve this much attention?

Where do puppies really come from?

After a lot of research, the best estimate I could get is that there are approximately 450,000 dogs and puppies sold in Australia each year (source: ACAC paper 2009 PDF).

After even more research, I began to see where all these dogs and puppies were coming from. A complete list of sources is at the end of this post, but below is a table showing a breakdown of the numbers.

Table of Dog Sales in Australia

So the question Where do puppies come from? is best answered with We don’t know.

And that’s really case. If the 450,000 number is correct, then we have almost 250,000 dogs a year coming from an unknown source.

Let me put that in a graphic for you:

Graph showing where dogs and puppies come from in Australia.

So who are these unknown breeders of the undocumented sales?

Backyard Breeders

While ‘backyard breeder’ is a generic and undescriptive term, it is probably the most likely producers of the majority of Australian dogs. Backyard breeders are people who occassionally breed (accidentally or deliberately) the dogs they happen to have in the backyard, either motivated by profit or romantic ideals (i.e. “every bitch should have a litter” or “the kids should see the miracle of birth”). These sales are unrecorded. Puppies often go to ‘friends’ or ‘friends of friends’ or they’re advertised in classifieds and given to whoever shows up with a few green bills. These dogs can be of any breed or cross, especially when accidental.

Working Dog Breed

By ‘working dogs’, I mean dogs bred for working stock like cattle or sheep. While there are a few working dog registries, I had trouble finding the actual numbers of registrations (but I’m very happy to be informed!). These dogs are deliberately bred for their herding instincts, and are typically sold to working homes (such as other farmers who need stock dogs). These dogs are typical border collie, kelpie, huntaway or similar types.

Pig Dogs

‘Pig dogs’ are bred for hunting wild boar in Australia, and their ferocity and size are important factors in these breedings. Pig dogs are probably far-less common than the BYB and working dog bred types, and there’s probably some overlap between BYBers and pig dog breeders. These dogs are generally large crossbreeds, commonly large bull breeds crossed with sighthounds or scenthounds.

Camp Dogs

Many of Australia’s indigenous people live on settlements with a number free ranging dogs. Though these dogs are often owned (that is, there is normally a person or a family that identify a number of dogs as ‘theirs’), they are often unconfined and freely breed with one another. Some of these dogs get rehomed through rescue groups like Desert Dogs, and some get desexed on site through groups like AMRRIC. Camp dogs are often smooth-coated dogs with large prick ears, but not always. They are true mixed breeds which do not look like any breed in particular and come in a variety of colours, types, and sizes.

Flaws in the Data

While every attempt has been made to make this analysis as accurate as possible, some of the data used is inevitably flawed.

The figure of 450,000 dogs and puppies sold in Australia annually is an estimate. It is unclear if this is only dogs and puppies sold (so if it does not include ‘give aways’ or dogs that stay in the same home from whelping to death). I have also seen this figure of 450,000 quoted as being just the number of puppies sold in the country annually, and not inclusive of adult dogs. I have used this number in the broadest sense – that it includes puppies and dogs, sold and given away.

The rescue sales are hard to conceptualise. Though many rescues use PetRescue for rehoming, not all do. Those that do don’t necessarily list all animals available on PetRescue. It’s possible that PetRescue data duplicates some of the rehoming by the other rescue groups listed. So, all the rescue stats, from PetRescue and others, are sketchy at best. This especially true considering many groups do not publish their statistics.

While all dogs bred by ANKC breeders out of ANKC dogs must be registered, that doesn’t mean that they all are. The number of dogs bred by ANKC breeders is probably higher (but not much) than that listed.

I tampered with the greyhounds figure a bit. While national registrations are put at about 13,000, we know that many greyhounds aren’t registered. If we work on greyhounds having an average litter size of 6.5, then the figure of 20,000 is a lot more conceivable. (The figure of 13,000 has the average greyhound litter size of 4!)

I just wanted to acknowledge that my data is probably partly inaccurate, but I don’t doubt the overall conclusions I have reached from this data. That is, while some bits may be a little bit off, the whole thing is probably not a lot off.

So what does this mean?

By far the biggest producer of dogs are unknown. We can speculate that they are the backyard breeders, the working dog breeders, the pig dog hunters, or the free ranging dogs on indigenous camps, but without more extensive research we can’t really work out who is our biggest dog-sellers, except that it is likely to be one of these groups.

But it raises the question: If we are concerned about the breeding and sale of dogs in Australia, are registered breeders and pet shops really the people that we need to be going after?

Further reading:

How puppy mills contribute to killing in our pounds (conclusion: they don’t).

The National Animal Interest Alliance produces similar statistics, but for the USA – most puppies come from ‘amateur’ or ‘mixed breed’ breeders.

Why getting pets out of pet shops doesn’t stop puppy farmers

References: Continue reading →

06/1/13

The Week in Tweets – 1st June 2013

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.

But before we get started, have a look at Daisy from our 2012 litter, all grown up (and on a horse?!).

Border terrier bitch riding a pony with two small girl children helping.

Tweet of the Week

Our favourite tweet this week goes to a video showing training a dog for a voluntary blood draw. This is something that is not that amazing – plenty of zoo animals are taught to do similar behaviours. However, as dog owners, we get into habits of physically manipulating our dogs to ‘do what we want’ instead of training them to do it voluntarily. This is just a lovely example of what we could achieve with our dogs.

Animal Sheltering

Why do people surrender dogs to animal shelters?

Vets told to hand stray dogs into council or risk $700 fines.

Reducing Shelter Admissions with an Animal Help Desk.

Why PETA Kills.

How about a tax time tummy rub for PetRescue?

Group protests over death of dogs at Blacktown pound.

RSPCA, do they protect all animals in need?

Jackson, looking for a new home in Sydney area.

The Saving Pets Honour Roll

We shared an awful lot of Saving Pets posts this week – enough to give them their own category in this little round up. They just produce great contact week-in week-out.

Vets who reunite pet and owner to be slugged $700 – More genius animal management from Vic.

RSPCA NSW gives a big FU to rescue groups.

Companion Animals Taskforce – same same & not at all different.

Two young children injured by roaming dogs.

At the RSPCA NSW, a broken leg is fatal.

Moorook Animal Shelter inspected by the RSPCA.

Dog Breeds and Breeders

DogTime’s Slobbering Hatred for Breeders II.

So you want to breed your bitch…

Border Collie Epilepsy.

Dog Breed Identiifcation Study.

It’s who you know: Breed stereotypes & handler appearance.

Glen of Imaal Terriers.

Confusing Hoarders with Breeders.

Dog Training

How to watch a training session – this is a horse blog post, but it was very close to becoming the Tweet of the Week. It uses some great examples of horse training and asks you to critically appraise them.

The Best Teachers from Lessons from Layla.

“Is punishment an effective way to change the behavior of dogs?” asks Stanley Coren.

Sit, Down, Stand – Game from the Dog Trick Academy.

Useful dog tricks performed by Jesse – this was close to the Tweet of the Week, too, because it’s just cute!

Crufts 2013 Dancing video.

Shadow handling for agility.

Being Tough from Eileen and Dogs.

Dog Behaviour

Guilty Dogs on the Radio.

Free Training Resources.

Mounting by Any Other Name…

Moving with a Reactive Dog.

It won’t be the machines we have to worry about… (On dogs who know when to beg for food.)

Pavlov inverted: reward linked to image is enough to activate brian’s visual cortex.

Relationship capital.

Children and Dogs

Tips for your dog Before and After your baby is born (PDF).

Bringing a baby into your home.

A boy and his seizure dog.

Other Stuff

Siberian Art Jewelery.

Simple home made diets for dogs and cats with renal failure.

Does your dog eat anything & everything?

Veterinarians and Vaccines: A Slow Learning Curve.

Cool dog collar from the Warlukurlangu Artists’ Aboriginal Corporation.

The 49 Most WTF Pictures of People Posing with Animals.

From Our House

Friends – Myrtle & Breaker on Instragram.

Our latest foster, Bandit, on PetRescue and on Gumtree.

05/30/13

Are they good with kids?

The common question: Are they good with kids?

What it is really asking is: Does this particular breed bite?

And the answer is: Yes. This breed, and every other breed, bites.

Puppies in a pen with a child peering in. Dog bites are a lot more complex than simple ‘breed’. Families with children and dogs need to recognise that any child-dog interaction can end up in a bite, regardless of breed. However, there are a number of ways that dog bite risk can be minimised.

It is very possible for dogs and children to live safely together, but it involves setting the dog and the child up for success, and managing interactions to ensure they are positive.

The Dog

Dogs need to be selected with care as they form an important part of the picture. For a dog to be ‘good with children’, they need to be adequately socialised, trained, and have a stable genetic personality and temperament. Your role, if you’re looking to add a dog to your family, is to select a breeder using stable dogs with good temperaments who socialise their dogs and puppies to all people, including young children. Once you’ve added one of these well-bred, well-socialised puppies to your family, the next step is to continue to socialise the puppy well with all people, train the puppy appropriate behaviours (e.g. not to jump up), and police child interactions with the dog.

That is, a dog needs to be selected, socialised and trained to be the best dog they can be, and then well managed – for life.

The Child

Children need to be taught to interact appropriately with dogs. Dogs with stable temperaments should not then be an invitation for children to climb on, poke, or otherwise tease or irritate the dog. Even good dogs have limits. Children should be taught to:

Always leave dogs alone that are sleeping.
Always leave dogs alone that are eating.
Always leave the dog alone when they go to their special place (which could be the dog’s crate, bed, or kennel).
Always leave dogs along that are acting fearful (and how to identify a dog that is scared).
Always leave dogs along that are acting aggressive (and how to identify a dog that is angry).
To pat dogs on the chin and chest, and avoid hugging or squeezing a dog.
Never do anything that could hurt the dog.
Never grab a dog by its collar.

All these interactions are high risk for children, as dogs don’t like being interacted with in these ways, and it may lead to them biting. Children need to have rules concerning their interactions with all dogs, for their own safety.

Management

As the dog’s owner and child’s parent, you play an important role in managing the interactions that take place between the dog and the child, and ensuring they are appropriate and safe. For example, it is your job to ensure that children know not to approach a dog that is eating, while also ensuring that the dog is always removed from the children while eating. If you think your dog may be fearful during a child’s birthday party, perhaps putting the dog in boarding kennels for the weekend or otherwise confining the dog would be an option. Management also includes alert, conscious supervision of all dog-child interactions: The mantra of “Supervise or Separate”. If you can’t watch how dog and child are interacting, then separate the dog from the child.

If you know there are deficiencies in your dog’s temperament or your child’s behaviour, then your management attempts should be set up to prevent these deficiencies giving rise to a dog bite.

A young border terrier sleeping with a child reading the puppy a story.

Any breed that is described as ‘good with kids’ is, at the very least, being deceptively advertised. Dogs are living individuals, and there’s no guarantee how they will behave with children.

As you can see, the question “Are these dogs good with kids?” is a complex question. Any dog can be good with kids, provided they are come with a genetic ‘good temperament’ and are well socialised, and well trained. However, this dog can only be expected to be ‘good’ if the kids interact in respectful and safe ways with the dogs, and all interactions are constantly monitored to ensure all parties are safe.

Having a safe home environment for children is a lot more than just choosing the right breed – it’s an ongoing commitment to education and management of both dogs and children.

If you want your dog to be good with the kids, you really should be asking, “Am I good at management?”

Further reading: See Resources for New Puppy Owners, particularly the links under ‘Children and Dogs’.

05/28/13

Product Review: Rose Hip Vital Canine

I have mentioned occasionally my first border terrier, MacDogald, and how he now lives with my parents. What I didn’t mention is that my elderly grandmother, who lives with my parents, somehow let Mac out of the yard. And when we found Mac again, he had a fractured pelvis. His pelvis break went straight through the socket for his femur (his ‘hip joint’). We knew Mac would never walk the same again, but after 6 weeks of crate rest, at least he was walking.

Our next step was reducing Mac’s pain as a result of the healed injury, as it was inevitable that he would develop arthritis in that joint. He was started on a course Cartrophen almost immediately, and when he was due for the next course, his behaviour indicated that he was in pain as he was hesitant to engage in some activities. But even then Cartrophen was having a limited effect – as an 11 year old dog, it’s possible that arthritis was starting to creep into his other joints.

Container of Rose-Hip Vital. So, of course, when Rose-Hip Vital Canine contacted me for a product review, it was only fitting that Mac sample the product to see if it improved his comfort.

I must note that I’m very much a skeptic when it comes to herbal-whatsits, and come from a family of skeptics. Though I was reassured when I received a bunch of research papers with my trial sample, I was still skeptical.

But: We were amazed at Mac’s improvements on Rose-Hip Vital.

One of the most obvious signs of Mac’s pain was that he would hesitate to jump on the couch or the bed. Within a few days of the supplement, Mac had stopped planning his jumps and started easily hopping up.

A few days after this, Mac then stopped groaning when he moved in his bed or got up from laying down. Presumably, the pain that was making him groan was now reduced.

Then, after about 10 days of first starting the supplement, he started running around the house, grabbing toys impulsively and using the couch as his race track.

Not only did Mac’s pain-symptoms decrease after taking Rose-Hip Vital, but it did so dramatically over just 10 days.

Indeed, my skeptical-dad then went out and purchased Rose-Hip Vital (for people). His results were less dramatic, but when he forgot to take his Rose-Hip Vital away with him on a weekend trip, he certainly regretted it! It seems that perhaps Rose-Hip Vital built up more slowly for him and so the results were more subtle, but obviously cumulative.

Mac is not the only dog who has seen incredible results on Rose-Hip Vital Canine. My friend has a border collie with ongoing unresolved lameness issues which saw improvements with the product (see: Kenz’s Story – A Rose Hip Vital Success). Indeed, the active Rose-Hip Vital Canine Facebook page has countless success stories of dogs doing better on the product. A DogzOnline thread shows a number of people having success, too.

Mac continues to take Rose-Hip Vital Canine, and we have no plans of taking him off the product. I would very much recommend Rose-Hip Vital Canine for any dog with joint related issues. The results seen with Mac were significant and fast-acting.

Rose-Hip Vital Canine is responsible for dramatic improvements in Mac’s mobility and significantly improving his quality of life. We are so grateful for finding this product and finding the Mac we used to know again.

Mac going for a run!

Rose-Hip Vital Canine provided Some Thoughts About Dogs with a free sample of the product but all thoughts and experiences expressed in this blog post are my own. Genuinely very happy with this product!