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You are describing anatomy. Physiology relates to the basic cellular function of the body at molecular and hormonal levels, and in that instance, there is not much difference across breeds. Yes, borzois and other sighthounds have certain physical characteristics, but in terms of personality, I...

Well, from my perspective, it sounds as if you have made great progress with Biddy, and what a lucky little dog to land on her paws with you. You are clearly very observant (I love how you noticed she wanted to walk on the 'non-bag' side - that is incredibly perceptive), and how all the beds...

Just to add, that several solutions have been proposed in this thread, so my next question would be whether you have considered adopting any of them? For example:, doing a 48-hour diary to pinpoint flashpoints adjusting the home environment to discourage reactivity to sound and sight having...

There are three things I notice in your post. I hope you don't mind if I quote some of what you have said. This isn't intended as criticism, just to try and help you see things from the perspective of someone who doesn't know the background and who might meet you and Robin on a walk. One is...

There's always something that prompts a dog to 'take off', but my concern would be in terms of your safety and that of other people. I assume the dog walker is reasonably fit and strong, so it is a big red flag if s/he has been pulled over. One thing I know after 60 years of living and working...

I agree - there's absolutely no shame in seeing that a dog might be better served in a different situation, especially if an owner has physical limitations or just other problems in life that weren't a factor when the dog first arrived. The first consideration that matters more than anything is...

I don't know whether this Forum supports Millan's methods, but I would be very, very surprised if it did. (I would also delete my account.) Methods of domination, control and punishment (which is essentially what Millan's methods amount to) have been shown over and over again to be very...

Well, it's certainly true that the consequences of a dog running into a busy road are always potentially fatal, for the dog if not the driver of a vehicle and/or the owner. From my perspective, no dog, however 'bomb proof' and however good their recall, should ever be off lead if they are able...

Thanks JudyN; that is very useful to know. I was wondering how big/strong Robin is and his genetic background. I get what you are saying (having always favoured sighthounds myself), but I would also add that although genetics and function do clearly play a part, physiology does not differ...

Bless you, just sending sympathy because I too have owned 'explosive' dogs, and it is a long road to travel. There's obviously loads of advice on here, but one thing I have found from experience is that letting dogs 'run off' energy and high reactivity is often counterproductive. Running and...

Robin's mum, I appreciate you have good intentions, but that seems to me to be an awful lot of trouble with training, hand feeding, leads on (potential for tangling; also no way you could prevent a scrap by grabbing a lead as you would never be quick enough) and faffing around, with attendant...

I've always had multiple dogs, and always feed separately. Not worth the risk in my view - they are separated by stairgates and can see each other, but there's zero tension as they know that the gates keep everyone safe. Even if there are no 'incidents', the last thing you want is adog feeling...

Just wanted to congratulate the OP on asking the right questions, and trusting your instincts. Sounds like a highly suspect set up, and I agree with the previous advice to avoid what is likely an unscrupulous breeder, and possibly heartbreak and expense for the buyer. If you aren't intending...

Yes, I agree. My old Lurcher could not get close enough to me on the settee - he loved to be held in my arms, whereas my little collie doesn't even like being touched. One possibility is pain - eg arthritis) if a dog doesn't want to be touched, but it sounds like that's just her character. I...

I know a little dog, also from Cyprus, who is very similar. Her owner, who is elderly, walks her every day on the same field as I walk with my Romanian dog. He described to me how his dog, Toots, doesn't interact at all with him in the house, and spends all her time upstairs in his bedroom. She...

I agree with the very good advice above and also commend you for seeking advice. My perspective is that dogs are not robots: they make mistakes, and they have their own priorities and interests. I have never met a dog with 100% recall. This means we have to take responsibility for our dogs at...

Welcome to your new puppy! It may or may not be the use of indoor toileting, but I personally am not a fan of teaching dogs to toilet indoors, whether on newspaper or puppy pads, as the ultimate aim is for them to toilet outside. With any luck, your Labrador could even help new pup to learn...

Some very good advice on here, primarily doing health checks, as it sounds as if he may be unwell, and also looking at the quality of his food and not letting him know how annoying you find it! If health concerns are ruled out, you could think about communication with your dog: are you reading...

Wow - totally spot on. Just joined on seeing this post quite at random on the Internet. Could not put it better myself; perfect description of many street dogs, Romanian and otherwise. The point regarding dogs who look okay but are in fact shut down is one that goes widely unrecognised.