Sonic

I'm finding this thread very interesting. Rusky, how would you handle, with purely positive methods, a dog that chases stock? I can't see how it is possible but am always willing to learn. If the dog in question finds the thrill of chasing the stock greater than anything you can possibly provide him, how would you handle that?

Thanks Poodlefan, I appreciate your reply. If you have been through all of this training but your dog still finds the distraction of another dog greater than any aversive you can legally use or nowhere near as great as any incentive you can provide, what would your next move be?

Poodlefan, how do you train for a reliable off lead recall?

Ernie Said: Thanks for that, Sonic. I believe that NDTF has applied for and attained qualification with the DPI now. Thanks Erny, I knew my info was old which is why I put the date on it. Myska, it is a case of people applying and being approved by the DPI, not just someone from the DPI understanding their years of experience and putting them on the list. If they don't apply, it doesn't matter how good people believe the likes of Steve Austin or Garry Sommervile are, they will never be on the list.

The qualified trainers required in Victoria are as listed by the Department of Primary Industries. 1. Australian Association of Gentle Modern Dog Training Instructors 2. Victorian Canine Association 3. Australian Association of Professional Dog Trainers Inc. 4. Delta Society Australia As at September 2004. At this time NDTF had not applied for qualification with the DPI.

K9 what advantage would I get from the ball over the soft bumper I am currently using?

I think you'll find that they are banned by the ANKC and as the GSD Club would be governed by the rules of the ANKC then the club could get into trouble for allowing you to train on their grounds with one. The terminology "illegal" is probably wrong though as it infers that it is illegal in your State, not just by the Canine Council.

Hi Kelly Louise I found with Zach that after a while the Rimadyl didn't work too well, that's why we changed to Metacam. The Metacam was brilliant. He was on it for a few years but, as he became very old and his back end was starting to struggle my vet mentioned the new drug on the market, Previcox, and that it might be worth seeing if he got more of a boost out of it. I can't say that I've seen any difference between the Previcox and the Metacam. The hardest part I found in changing Zach to Previcox was that he had to get the Metacam out of his system before he could start the new drug. This meant 48 hours with NOTHING. It took Zach about a week to recover from this and I will not ever do that to him again. As he hasn't gone backwards on the Previcox he will stay on that until the end. I've heard brilliant reports of Previcox but these have been from people with dogs younger than Zach. I have found it quite a bit more expensive than the Metacam but you can cut the dose of Previcox down depending on how your dog is responding which would make it cheaper in the long term.

My Labrador, Zach, has elbow dysplasia and, unfortunately, not the best hips in town. He started on Rimadyl when he was around 6 years old and he turned 16 back in August. He hasn't spent the whole time on Rimadyl as a few years ago I changed to Metacam and, more recently, onto Previcox. However, he has been on one form of anti-inflammatory or another for over 10 years. Zach has regular blood tests, ALL of which have come back normal. While I agree that there can be risks associated with any of these anti-inflammatories, I believe you do need to weigh up the risks with the benefits. Zach certainly wouldn't still be with me today if he hadn't taken these drugs. He also gets a cartrophen injection once a month. I'm not sure that it makes that much difference but I'm just not game to stop it!! At his age he deserves all the help he can get.

I'm curious to know where you all exercise your dogs where there aren't any other people with their dogs. I have nowhere near me like that so if my dogs are to be exercised we have to accept that other dogs will be around and try to make the best of it. I envy those people who have exercise areas all to themselves.

Can I ask what dosage you use for a 30kg dog and how often you would put it in their food? Also, I see that it is recommended to dilute it, in what parts would you do that. Thanks guys, this is very interesting.

K9, I also compete in retrieving trials and have removed all toys, however, my young dog is now fixated on the cushions on the dining chairs. As he can't get anything else to run around with he has decided these cushions will do the job. He doesn't want to play with them, just carry them. When I've removed them he's taken something from somewhere else. He seems determined to hold something, anything. Do you think this is a problem?

Sorry to steal the thread for a moment, but there is a company in Queensland called Dogmaster that sells e-collars and containment systems. Could this be you dogmaster?

My vet wanted me to switch from Metacam to Previcox (sp?) because it is supposed to be a better drug but at over $190 for 60 days worth it was just way too expensive. The Metacam is expensive enough!! If only I could win Tattslotto....

Myszka or K9 can you let me know how you go about training the recall. "I have used the sequence of command, wait for comply, correct reward in the past." I have also used this method but am always willing to learn a better way. PS: I tried very hard to put that quote in but couldn't get it right so ended up just copying and pasting. How on earth do you do that??

Hi Trifecta I've got a nearly 16 year old Lab who has been on Metacam for quite some time. I get the largest bottle available which is only 100mls and this has just gone up from $111 to $120. I go through a bottle every 6-8 weeks, depending on whether he's having a good day or not. Can you tell me more about the Mobic tablets as the price of the Metacam is killing me. I've had to take my other two dogs off premium dog food just so I can keep buying the Metacam. I'm surprised that my vet hasn't mentioned this as an alternative as I've discussed the expense at great length with her. Are the tablets proven to be safe for dogs and have the same effect as the Metacam - I've tried a lot of the other anti-inflams but nothing works like the Metacam. Thanks

I agree with everyone else, loved the seminar. Steve is a great teacher and showed us there is a gentle way to train these dogs. I appreciate his "after seminar help line" too which I have already taken advantage of - thanks Steve. Jade I've had a look at the photos and think they are great. I'll be in touch. Anyone who can take such a good photo of a black dog has got my vote. PS: Did anyone leave behind a canvas water bowl? I've got it so if it's yours email me and I'll organise to send it to you. Leanne

I looked at the Purina One 30 Day Challenge and my understanding was that you only get reimbursed for one 1.5kg bag of food. That may last a month with a small breed but would last my dog only a few days.

I have two on Supercoat and one on Eagle Pack. I wish I could afford to have them all on Eagle Pack but I can't so I have found Supercoat to be the best of the cheaper brands - at least for my dogs. I do also feed tuna, bones, carrots, red meat, etc, as well so they don't just get the dry food.

I have seen some horrendous assaults made on dogs with plain old correction collars at the local dog obedience club by people who should have known better, ie. instructors. Any equipment in the wrong hands is open to abuse.

Here's a contact email address for Eagle Pack. They will be able to send you out a list of distributors in your area. Some areas offer free home delivery. [email protected]

I was feeding my dogs a premium dog food for a long time but at $79 for 15 kgs, I was going through a bag every 3 weeks - this just made living difficult - wish it wasn't so, but that's life. I changed to Supercoat and can't say that I've noticed a difference AT ALL in their condition, maybe they poo a little more, but that's it. I have also heard of Cobber and have wondered about it as it is very cheap but I've had no problems with Supercoat so will probably just stick with that.