Gillian

I have been thinking of crate training Harley (8 month Great Dane)... He is already toilet trained and will wake us up in the night if he needs to go to the toilet (he sleeps inside in the night)... I need it more for travelling and when we take him on trips/ holidays... Is he too big to start crate training him? - Gillian

I cant wait Steve.... sounds like this is going to be one fantastic workshop!!!! - Gillian :D :rolleyes: :D :D :D

oh I thought it was going to be another fancy term I didnt understand :rolleyes:

whats BS???? :rolleyes:

gosh all you guys sound so knowledgeable .... I'm going to be a real ameture at the 26th workshop Steve! I hope the 26th has a "training for dummies" section :rolleyes: - Gillian

Hi guys, Not to keen on eukanuba - heard/read that the company does mean things to animals... Cactus what do you mean??? - Gillian

Thanks guys - will do more research and see how we go Cheers Gillian

Thanks Melissa and Melt for the advice - I've google searched "Barf diets" but could not find anything for giant breeds... I'm just really worried that I might get the amounts wrong... any suggestions on some good books... Thanks Gillian

We're not walking him anymore cause we're more afraid of him or us getting hurt in the process - I think we were just very lucky that there were no cars on the road when he decided to run across it!! I know things will work out once you see him Steve - I cant wait... ;) - Gillian

thought I'd give everyone an update on last nights events... My husband has been taking Harley out for his evening walks ... he still pulls like crazy Yesterday he dragged my husband half way onto the road (he was trying to get to the cat on the other side) . Thankfully there were not many cars on the road at the time. After that my husband turned back and started heading for home and then pulled my husband into someone else's garden to see if he could play with the dog in that yard. My husband cam eback absolutely fuming - Harley knew we were upset with him and he went to the back door and sooked because we would not talk to him. I dont think we can do this anymore.... we've decided to stop walking him till we get Steve to work his magic on him! - Gillian

Yes Julie - I am going to be at the workshop on the 26th... Looking forward to having that chat with you - Gillian

Hi everyone... my 8 month old Dane is on Supercoat but he seems to be going off it... He was a rescue and we kept him on the same diet that his previous owners had him on I feed him twice (morning & night) a day. He normally gets his supercoat and some pasta mixed in. In the morning I also give him about 200g of VIP meaty bite (log) He's eats it eventually but I know he's eating it because he's hungry - I dont think he really enjoys it. he doesnt come running upto his food like he used to so I'm thinking maybe he's needs a bit of a change. A friend suggested VIP muesli... so now I give him his normal meal in the morning and then in the evening he gets the VIP muslie, pasta or rice and about 100g of mince (chicken/beef) through it. I've been doing this for the last week and he's enjoying it. The vet suggested that I keep giving him his supercoat kibble (and adding anythin extra I want through it) because it will at least make sure he's getting all the necessary nutrients. Am I feeding him the right amounts - how do I know if I'm doing the right thing... I also need to know if I should just try a new kibble or should I try the BARF diet.... How do I know how much to feed him if I do go on the BARF diet? Thanks in advance - Gillian

I see tracking as more of a sport.... I really want to get myself (and my canine) involved in something that's going to be of some use to society (I know that sounds corny) - and SAR fits that well... will try and get to a workshop to have a chat with some SAR handlers - nothing like seeing the real thing! - Gillian

Not sure how I will be able to do this? I work 5 days a week and the puppy will most probably spend the day with my Dane. South East - Hampton Park - Gillian

Thanks for that SARDOG and Latisha... loads of information there... few more questions... what happens if you already have another dog in the house... use us for example - Harley will be no more than a dopey loveable pet cause... 1. he's too old (8 months) to be trained as a SAR dog... 2. probable not the right temprement (he's a big sook) and 3. he's a bit on the big size (Great Dane) but what if we got a second dog - a perfect little lab :p - then can we train him to be a SAR dog... it is ok to have a SAR puppy whos undergoing training hanging out with my big dofus?? Also where do training sessions happen in VIC? I work 5 days a week... so training during the week can be a bit difficult... Does this mean you spend al of Saturday and all of Sunday training/ travelling to various training areas... Waiting to hear back... - Gillian

I didnt think of it that way.... that could just be it - that he doesnt know who's in charge when it's a new place... anyways time to take Harley out now - let's hope he stays attached to his lead!!!

Steve, Harley probably is "rank aggressive"... see thats the funny part... when we take him out to someone else's house he is the most well behaved dog - will sit on command, will come to you when called - if you want him to sit and stay - he will happily oblige... so in those situations he know who has the Alpha status... but as soon as the lead goes on him - you loose all of control of him.... - Gillian

Hiya all, With all the talk about the SAR Workshop that K9 force just had in Sydney and the one coming up in VIC, I thought I'd ask a few really simple questions on behalf of a lot of people in here that dont know a lot about SAR Dogs... 1. What type of person/canine is best suited to this? 2. Is it certain breeds of dogs only? 3. Are there a lot of SAR teams out there? 4. I know a lot of training is involved with getting both dog and handler to a good level - but more specifically how much of time realistically should one be prepared commit? Thanks guys Gillian

My adoreable dog pulled half of my finger nail off last night - I'm glad I didnt loose my arm!!! - Gillian

Keep the faith Meriment - I'm sure Steve will make a trip there when he can... Harley is an absolute sweetheart - he just doesnt realise how big he is. Did I mention he is 4 kilos heavier than me!! He's been moved from one home to another so I dont think he understands who the 'pack leader' is... I think in his mind he sees being is our house only temperory and so he thinks he can still do whatever he likes cause in his mind he thinks he will be moving again. Anyway I'm sure Steve will sort him out soon!

From all that I've heard Steve - you're not capable of failing even if you tried! :cool: Anyways I will tell Harley to behave I am so afraid he's going to break his lead with the way he pulls - I think my biggest fear is him breaking his lead, running onto the road and getting hit! Let's hope this month goes quickly...

Steve - you are an absolute godsend!!!! you have no idea how much I'm looking forward to that workshop.... should I bring Harley to the workshop or is that not necessary? any tips on what I should do till then... the workshop is still a month away If I dont take Harley for a walk every evening, he has all this built up energy in the nights and he get a bit "active" at home. A dog his size running down the corridor at home is not safe for him or us!!! Cheers Gillian

we got Harley when he was 7 months - we had a lot of work to do wit him - he's alright with his basic obidence - still got a lot to be really good though. I know it's very much a listening problem - just not sure how to correct it. Is making him sit when he pulls, the right thing to do to correct the problem? - Gillian

Hello... Walking my 54kg, 8 month old Great Dane puppy is becoming a real problem. He pulls really badly and I'm really worried that he will either cut his lead or literally drag me across town! I think he pulls because he's fascinated with the big wide world. And when he sees another dog - he thinks it's play time and pulls even more. I do make him stop and sit but I have to repeat the Sit command at least 10 times before he even hears me. It's like he's got selective hearing (thought that was a complaint only my husband suffered from!) no but seriously this is becoming a BIG problem - I am really afraid to take him out but if I keep him home, he wont get enough exercise... any suggestions anyone.... Ta, Gillian

cant wait to go to the VIC workshop - have heard soooo many good things!!! waiting to meet you Steve!!!! - Gillian