The Secret Life Of Dogs

If it's the same one i'm thinking of, that's been shown before, there's an amazing piece about this man who interacts with his pack of semi-feral wolves. He's just explaining about how they all have a role to play in the pack - his role is as mediator - when a fight breaks out over a carcass - this guy dives headfirst in amongst the pack of snarling wolves to break it up! Well worth a watch.
 
eatmyshorts said:
If it's the same one i'm thinking of, that's been shown before, there's an amazing piece about this man who interacts with his pack of semi-feral wolves. He's just explaining about how they all have a role to play in the pack - his role is as mediator - when a fight breaks out over a carcass - this guy dives headfirst in amongst the pack of snarling wolves to break it up! Well worth a watch.
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I think its a completely new one
 
What a fantastic program, I loved every minute (even when I was crying at Endel and at the bits that reminded me of my dog of a lifetime)!!!
 
Brilliant program- endel made me cry what an amazing dog, that man must have been so heart broken knowing he was to be pts after the dog saved him physically and mentally.
Also how cute was the springer feeding the lamb!
 
Am I wrong for feeling a little uncomfortable that they put the labrador in pup at 18 months? We have a lab ourselves and I was always under the impression that they are not fully mature until after the age of two. I just feel that 18 months is so very young.
 
Coblover63 said:
Am I wrong for feeling a little uncomfortable that they put the labrador in pup at 18 months? We have a lab ourselves and I was always under the impression that they are not fully mature until after the age of two. I just feel that 18 months is so very young.
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No, you are not wrong or alone in feeling that way. I was quite surprised and disappointed that she was put in pup at her tender age. Waiting another six to eight months before breeding her would enable her people to perform the necessary genetic tests that should be done before making the considerable investment that goes into these guide dogs (not to mention the emotional bonds with their ultimate owners).
 
Coblover63 said:
Am I wrong for feeling a little uncomfortable that they put the labrador in pup at 18 months? We have a lab ourselves and I was always under the impression that they are not fully mature until after the age of two. I just feel that 18 months is so very young.
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I thought the same thing, but I think the KC in it's wisdom says that 18 months is the minimum age.

Also I thought it had been proved that wolves and dogs evolved from the same ancestor and not dogs from wolves (that would mean the wolf had not evolved on from that moment, surely).
 
Endal as always was a tear jerker,he was the inspiration for the charity Hounds For Heroes
Check out their website for more info on the wonderfull work they do and to read all about Endal,also on Facebook. Thought the programme was superb showing dogs really are our best friends,and Martin Clunes is a great narrator
 
RutlandH2O said:
No, you are not wrong or alone in feeling that way. I was quite surprised and disappointed that she was put in pup at her tender age. Waiting another six to eight months before breeding her would enable her people to perform the necessary genetic tests that should be done before making the considerable investment that goes into these guide dogs (not to mention the emotional bonds with their ultimate owners).
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I too thought she was a little young, most larger breeds are better left until 2 years old imho. However, she probably had been hip and elbow scored, that can be done any time over 12 months.
 
MurphysMinder said:
I too thought she was a little young, most larger breeds are better left until 2 years old imho. However, she probably had been hip and elbow scored, that can be done any time over 12 months.
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When I was 'in' dogs eons ago, I had it drilled into my head (I worked at a small animal vet clinic) that 2 years was the earliest cut-off to evaluate hips. While X-rays can always be done at a younger age, the chance of bony changes occurring between 12 and 24 months was greater than for 24 to 36 months. In the US, the Orthopaedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the certifying agency which evaluates hip X-rays and grades the hips for certification as to their quality and soundness. The OFA issues a number for each dog's clear X-rays. Dogs must be 2 years or older to have their X-rays submitted and, hopefully, cleared.
 
Most people I know who use either the BVA scheme (which I presume is what GDBA uses) or the SV A stamp x ray at just over 12 months, as much as anything I suspect because they are anxious to know the score.:) Under the PennHip scheme the earliest they say it can be reliably performed is 16 weeks. I believe OFA do offer preliminary evaluations which are pretty reliable in that if the pups hips are good at say 6 months it is likely they will still be good when done at 2 years.
 
MurphysMinder said:
Most people I know who use either the BVA scheme (which I presume is what GDBA uses) or the SV A stamp x ray at just over 12 months, as much as anything I suspect because they are anxious to know the score.:) Under the PennHip scheme the earliest they say it can be reliably performed is 16 weeks. I believe OFA do offer preliminary evaluations which are pretty reliable in that if the pups hips are good at say 6 months it is likely they will still be good when done at 2 years.
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I've been out of the loop for so long...thanks for that info, MM.
 
I think you will find there was some artistic liecence to the programe, A qualified guide dog would not in fact go on to be a brood bitch and most are spayed before they even start training, it may sometimes happen the other way round ie a brood bitch may not turn out to be a good mum etc and then be spayed and go in to training but as you would not have a entire bitch being a guide dog as her seasons would be far too distracting for her and other dogs it just does not happen.

Also the puppy in the film was not the same all the way through, there was a lot of editing so I would not worry too much about her being bred to young.
 
itsmylife said:
I think you will find there was some artistic liecence to the programe, A qualified guide dog would not in fact go on to be a brood bitch and most are spayed before they even start training, it may sometimes happen the other way round ie a brood bitch may not turn out to be a good mum etc and then be spayed and go in to training but as you would not have a entire bitch being a guide dog as her seasons would be far too distracting for her and other dogs it just does not happen.

Also the puppy in the film was not the same all the way through, there was a lot of editing so I would not worry too much about her being bred to young.
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It was obvious there was dog switching but the programme saying that the bitch at 18 months was having puppies is the problem. This will now be quoted by every BYB who breeds their dogs as young as possible.
 
RutlandH2O said:
I've been out of the loop for so long...thanks for that info, MM.
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Well it does seem to be different in the States with dogs having to be 2 before the number can be certified. Over here its been x ray at 12 months for as long as I can remember, certainly back in 1974 which is when I remember being devastated at having a bitch done and being told she had atrocious hips and would probably be off her legs by 2 years old.:( This was before the BVA /GSDL scoring scheme started, she was done under this scheme at around 6 years of age and scored 96, so that initial x ray was probably right, although not the prognosis, she lived until she was nearly 13 and never had a days lameness!
 
Allen and EJ said:
Thank you for your kind words re Endal. Sandra and I wrote a book called "Endal" that tells the deeper story
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Endal-Extra...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1359755485&sr=1-1
Not a day goes by that I don't miss him but he was always about moving forward with hope and not back in sadness. EJ is as loving and even more clever than his mentor but he had the best teacher in the world
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Thank you for posting:)

It was amazing to see the bond you and Endal had and the magic that a dogs love can do. You had the privelege of sharing your life with an awesome dog - and I am sure he took aoiece of your heart with you as they all do.:(

You can never replace them or totally fill the dog shaped hole they leave but the next one always helps you heal a little bit every day when you see their smiley face and wagging tail.

I have shared my life with Labradors and spaniels and know just how healing and loving they can be:)

I am so pleased you have EJ to help you now and sure you get much pleasure from him as well as invaluable help:)

Please give him a hug from me and my boys - and virtual hugs to Endal who I am sure is still watching over you and making sure you are looked after:)

I am going to see if i can download your book about Endal to my Kindle:)
 
It was a tear enducing story about how our best friends contribute to our lives, Harry and Obi are as far removed from Endel as you can get, but I love them to bits, and hope the story of Endel will live on!
 
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