he'smyhero

Hero and I have just started training for agility. The club we go to runs a "relationship" class and then you go on to foundation class. In the relationship class you go no where near jumps and it really is just about building your dogs drive and get it wanting to work for you. Foundation Class expands on this but you do get to use equipment. From what I know most clubs have these sort of build up classes - you don't just start running the courses straight up. Hero already had done basic obedience but like you I'd never really had him off lead out side of home and his recall was crap. We did a lot of stuff off lead including restrained recalls which really built my confidence with him. There are alot of people around that could help if your dog decided to take off but I haven't seen any one's dog do that, the dogs are so pumped and invovled in whats going on. I really think she will suprise you! It is alot of fun too!

I have always wanted to do something like this with Hero he is a strong little bugger and can hold my entire weight when we are playing tug! So I would be very interested in joining in! I'm off to google it now for some more info.

Mine are usually fed three times a day. During the week they get a bone or lambs neck or chicken carcass or wings in the morning. I come home at lunch time and let them out to have a run and when they go back into their runs they get either a pigs ear, some chicken necks or some kind of treats. Then they get their mince and veg or biscuits and fish in the evening.

I would say with your boy pacinf the fence there are probably rats in the next door yard- hence why he only does it a night. My staffy sits on our back deck staring and will go and pace like this at the rats that have started to run along our back fence. It is nearly impossible to get him inside or get his attention when he's doing it. He's in "Hunt" mode. I don't know about the sibe bitting him it may be that he wants to play or something??Trying to get his attention?? I would go next door and tell them you think they might have rats- I'm sure they'll do some thing to get rid of them. Once they are gone your problem will probably go away.

We had some aggression issues between our two about 6mths back but haven't had a fight in a couple of months now. Our main problem was Hero resource guarding toys, chews, me, anything he thought valuable but they were still ok with having their meals together. We obviously removed anything they would fight over and kept a close eye on him. He got a correction (just a "ahh") if he showed signs of aggression and was crated in a covered crate in another room if it escalated. But we also built runs and seperate them during the day. I have 2 bull breeds and don't want to come home to a dead dog! Also if they are together during the day and Hero starts and we aren't there to correct him, even if it doesn't turn into a fight, then the training isn't going to be as effective. Could you possible leave one dog inside while your out? If not I would be getting a removable run you can get them from bunnings and petstock. I am also pretty small and I have trouble seperating my two, who wouldn't weigh close to your two. If you flat mate has them out by herself make sure she keeps a close eye on them so she can seperate them before a fight breaks out- there a usually a few signs.

Hero humps Lola occasionally (funnily he only started after he got desexed!!) it ends up turning into a bit of a game she let him sometimes or give a little growl and he starts jumping around and they'll box each other (all in fun no growling or anything). She's never done it to him although she does lean over his head and shove her rude bits in his face I don't know if its the same thing or not. I also agree with there not being a definate dominate one between our dogs- it depends on the situation. They swap food bowls and Lola will even occasionally stand back so Hero can eat but other times will get a bit growly if he trys to take over her food. But Hero's more toy oriantated and possessive so she will usually let him have it and just lay down and watch him but if she wants to sit on the lounge where he is she just climbs on top of him and sits down. We try to treat them as equally as possible and if there if a dispute we'll let them sort it out between themselves- of course if it starts getting serious we step in. We tried the whole "Lola gets everything first because she's the bitch so she's dominate" but alot of times she isn't as interested in the bone or what ever as Hero so he gets it.

I can't access the video's?? Will try again in a bit- am very interested as I'm one of the people wanting to start agility so thank you!!

Hi laffi- congrats!! Start house training straight away she probably won't get the hang of it until she's about 12 weeks but there's no point in letting her think its ok to go to the loo inside then have to train her out of it! Depending how long you will be out for I would move the crate into the bathroom then back we you get home. If its only going to be for 1/2 hour I would either not worry about it or just put her in her crate in the lounge room. And I would use the big crate from word go.. Others might have better advice but this is just what I would do! Goodluck and enjoy your new baby!!

We often find socks laying around in the front yard- always my boyfriends footy-type socks. I now tell him I take no responsiblity to what Hero does to them, if he can't pick them up their fairgame as far as I'm concerned!! Needless to say he now has countless odd socks!! (why does it take men so long to learn LOL) Lola used to have a thing for shoes and socks when she was a pup. She learnt how to undo your shoelaces remove your shoes, run off have a bit of a chew, and come back for the socks!!

I have really just start to feed bones recently so am always on the look out for new things. So far some we have tried and that the dogs loved were; chicken carcasses, chicken wings, chicken necks, huge marrow bones (only once a week though cause I worry about the damage to their teeth) lamb flap, lamb necks, whole raw sardines. They have some brisket bones at the moment so we'll see how they go with them.

Both my dogs have had this Hero once and Lola twice with no ill side effects. Hero is actually due again soon but am a bit wary from what some people have said on here- I'm just so darn forgetful that the injection means I don't have to worry about it.

if its just your bedroom pillows it may have something to do with them smelling like you- the same way they sniff undies and all those lovely things dog do. ..lol

hehe my mothers rottie humps the air sometimes when she is really excited. She's 7years old and got desexed at 6mths. She used to try and hump peoples legs when she was little- really embarasing when you have to explain that yes she is a girl and try and pull her off. She doesn't do it very often at all now but did try to hump our bulldog girl the other day while they were playing. I wouldn't worry to much, she will probably grow out of it and even if she doesn't there could be worse things right? Maybe see what happens if you remove her access to the pillows?(to see if she starts humping other things or is it just this particular pillow)

Thanx guys. I haven't started Hero on the Ivomec yet wanted to at least wait til I had some time off work to watch him. Still not 100% sure what to do, I haven't been able to get in contact with his vet just yet but will try again tomorrow. Will also be asking her about the advocate- thanx staff'n'toller. Thank you for that Jed it's reassuring to know. Am still a bit worried about using it as the vet didn't say much and from what I've read may happen. When I was little we had a miniture foxy that had a really bad infestation of fleas the vet insisted that she have these dips done as it was the only way to get rid of them (sorry don't know what the product was as i was pretty young) any way after that she was always sickly, skinny and died a few years later- the vet admitted that it was probably being exposed to the chemicals in these dips. So I was a bit apprehensive that it hasn't been aproved yet. If any one has anymore suggestions on what might help boost his immune system or help eleviate the demodex or any advise at all. I would really appreciate it. :D

Thanks Puggles I will be calling and discussing all this with her, although I already know that my vet is pretty old school and will probably laugh at a holistic approach. But will discuss it with her any way. May get a second opinion from another vet also. Just hoping to get adivce and opinions from any one on here that has dealt with mites, Ivomec, and treating dogs holisticly. Any advice on what I can include in Hero's diet to boost his immune system?

As hero's symptoms are at the moment very very localised I am wondering if is it best to take a long term approach and treat by changing diet and adding supplements to increase his immune system?? Alot of what I'm reading suggests that the Ivomec is used to kill the existing mites in severe cases but that they can come back at any time. Adding a chemical as strong as Ivomec appears to be, would it not be a hindrance to his immune system? Meaning once his round of meds is finished I would have to start to rebuild his immune system all over again making him more susceptible to a re-occurrence?? What would you guys do??

The vet did a skin scrape which confirmed. Also wondered about the anti-biotics as he definately doesn't have infection- maybe they are to prevent an infection? although she knows that he hasn't scatched or chewed on them at any point. He doesn't have any on or around his face or on his chest or front legs- where they usually appear. The first one he came out with is on his side near his hind leg and the other is on the same side a bit down fron his shoulder.

Found out yesterday that Hero has Demodex mites (mange) it is extremely localized with only two spots no bigger then a 5c piece on his side and shoulder, the spots aren't red and don't have any raised lumps but the skin does become flakey if you scratch at it and hair has thinned out. He has been prescribed 600mg of cephalexin (antibiotic) daily, Ivomec starting off 0.1mls orally daily steadily increasing to 0.5mls and sebazole washes twice a week. He has had the two spots for quite some time they haven't gotten any bigger and he doesn't itch or chew on them so I don't think their bothering him. The fact that Ivomec is unregistered bothered me a bit, so looking it up on the net found that it can cause liver problems in some dogs and that "It is NOT recommended for use in dogs, and the manufacturers go to great lengths to tell vets not to use it on collie type dogs, as it can have particularly disastrous consequences, even coma and death." I have also found that demodex is primarily an immune issue and that localized demodex mange can clear up on its own with the use of vitamins and an improved diet. Has anyone had experience with Localized demodex mange? Has any one used Ivomec and how did your dogs react? Does any one have any suggestions as to what I could do to help my baby over come this quickly and painlessly(i.e. supplements, change to diet)? Has anyone successfully treated Localized Demodex Mites without the use of Ivomec? Hero is a 1y/o Stafford. He is feed a mixture of Eukanuba(sp?) and eagle pack dry food, with alternatively 4leg's chicken and pasta, Natures gift canned food, Salmon once a week, sardines once a week, 2x eggs a week, plus any appropriate table scraps incl veges and fruit. He is also on Glucosameine (sp?) and Calcium Fluoride for an old ligament injury. I don't want to give some thing to Hero that may make him sick or cause problems later in life for an issue that seems small and isn't bothering him at all. But if it is the consensus that this is the best or only way to treat then I will. I just want to do what's best by Hero. Other then these two spots his coat is extremely shiny and healthy. P.S sorry for the long post

All my dogs have done this- it happens less frequently as they get older. I think it might be them dreaming about suckling from their mother- its very cute.

I have been told that all black staffords have brindle on them some where even if very slight, so there is no such thing as a pure black stafford. Is this true?

IMHO I would not leave your pups alone with this dog especially if it is a big dog. I know of people you have done this with the train of thought that a grown dog won't hurt a pup. It does happen and with dire consequences. Most dogs will be fine but you just never know. Make sure hyour dogs are secure and safe in your yard. Also if you pup was holding up its paw its probably hurt it. I'd watch her.

I don't have any suggestions about the bitting but when my bulldog bitch was a pup she also used to bark and growl back when she was disaplined. We tried everything; walking away made it worse as did growling back and smacking. We eventually used a "naughty room" technique (very super nanny I know). When she behaved like this she was put into the spare room for about 3mins and only let out if she was being quiet. When we let her out no one was alowed to look at or speak to her for a little bit. Pups hate being seperated from the pack, she soon stopped.

I'm so sorry. Go be with your daisy she needs you now....

Both of mine have the yearly injection. Never had a single problem (they are a staffy and a bulldog) use it mainly out of convienence (sp?) and it seems to work well. With every thing else that they need (intestinal worming, frontline for fleas, etc etc) it's just one less thing to think about!!

Hi jn I would personally recommend a staffy they are great with children very stable if socialized, they are highly recommended as family dogs (they have been given the nick name "nanny dog"). Any breed that you decide on would of course have to be socialized with children from a young age to know what is acceptable behaviour around kids. I have a staffy and he absolutely loves kids and will put up with a lot more then most other breeds I know (he will sit calmly while they prod and poke and cuddle him). Though no dog should be left unsuppervised with children no matter what breed. Good luck.... ;)