persephone

Great to hear!

I like this one a lot , DSO . http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5185/5741986005_02f1b0570f.jpg

hey, melstar - Glad you came on here and asked - there is lots of advice for you to act on already . Stick around!! as you are just starting out , and have a LOT to learn - perhaps try & find yourself a mentor amongst breeders of your chosen breed! Ask the breeder/s from whom your sourced your dogs - they should offer you lots of advice, and may know someone who can help you fill in the gaps in your knowledge ...who can show you/teach you things Pups of the age of your two may indeed mate - and even if the male is not fertile - it is not something which should happen, IMO. they are only young - and may get hurt/scared - which is NOT something a future breeding dog wants to do.Whilst those knickers are good for mopping up drips - total separation for the three weeks is what's needed for your two now.Knickers are NOT birth control. Being unsure of how to proceed now, and not being ready for your bitches season occurring, does indicate your lack of experience ..and basic research, sorry . Get your phone dialling finger going, and the computer keyboard clicking - and research, research, research!! Dog anatomy, oestrus cycles, management of entire dogs , dog behaviour , first aid - these are all useful basic things which, if/when you do decide to have puppies will mean a lot more calm and a lot less panic ;)

Good start Just make sure he has plenty of running around off the tether - he is young ,and needs the exercise/stimulation . he wasn't imitating you petting the chooks - pawing like that is a precursor to play ;) he was testing you!!..and you let him actually touch the chook . NEXT time - warn him as you see that first look/ movement!

or the other alternative - fighting, and not being able to escape

*imagines how long it will take a JRT to dig out of a soft crate * 2 solid crates ;)

if this is a very recent change - then an infection could be the cause ... and bladder irritation may make him feel like still peeing even after he;s 'empty' If he gets the all clear at his vet check then erny's advice is excellent - your FRIEND is in control of the walk ..and how often dog pees

phone a vet , I would think - or take the dog in - he might need a shot to calm things down quickly ?

*nods*

Now we have possibly another GD who will be too reactive to work safely again . Poor owner, poor dog. It would be scary for a blind person .. I remember one of the tests ( for the dog) when I was learning to train GD's _ i was blindfolded and had an earpiece in .. and my boss suddenly said in my ear .. " Just be calm, and encourage your dog - there's a big GSD sunning himself on the footpath " Uh, Huh. Calm.Yep. My dog , and the GSD ,didn't bat an eyelid .. ( my dog did get a good bum-wiggle going tho ;) I will never forget that - not being able to see a thing ..and waiting for the worst :p

That doesn't sound a bad setup for a tether just as long as there are no fences or anything he might try & jump yay - you thought of smooth chain!! and two swivels ! heavy linked smooth chain works really well - the bit of weight stops it tangling ;) I usually give young'uns a BIG frozen bone . to keep them occupied for a while .

Oh - and is the pup trained to be tethered? Do you know how to set up a safe tether? Even this seemingly simple act needs to be done with much attention to safety and security ;)

OK - listen to steve's advice - it is the voice of MUCH experience. Also - perhaps there is someone on here, maremma wise , who can visit , and help you with training? having a maremma is not just putting a pup in with the chooks - it is training - and if YOU have no idea ..then your pup will certainly be behind the 8 ball ;) if he is not papered, then his breeder may just be taking the easy way .. it MAY be, also that this pup is not really suited to the job ? I guess it happens ..... Either way, you really do need a mentor ... and not just muddle along by yourself ...

'tasting blood' , to me , doesn't mean anything. The fun, for the dog, is in the chase/the noise, the effects . he is playing .. and it is fun! Unfortunately, he can still injure/kill a chook with a muzzle on. You can not safely leave a muzzle on an unsupervised dog . There are way too many things to go wrong :( A muzzle also needs to be the correct type- and fitted properly. Have you trained hom to wear a muzzle? It needs to be done as part of training , so the dog doesn't panic- or get in trouble trying to remove the muzzle .

If they are so time poor .. Pup has obviously been left outside with teh lab... given the bare basics of attention from the humans .. and is happy with its 'pack' poor dogs.. I would suggest a professional - if they are willing to go that road ... they may have an idea .. rehoming a non- people oriented pup will be hard

aaaahhh That's better!

they're not working for me ....

YES!!!! Ok here are three of my recent ones ...

*nods*

lucky pup.

Does he toilet outside when you walk him?toilet trained and paper trained is a different thing - if he was not trained to toilet on newspaper - then yes, he will make mistakes. Also- at 6 mths, if he is not yet castrated, he may be learning to 'mark' like a 'real' dog. you may need to take him out every 1/2 hr or so.. and praise him like mad when he goes. keep him either on a leash, or crated indoors when you're there- so you KNOW there will be no mistakes ;) perhaps get him an indoor doggie loo - which uses fake grass ? better than soiled newspaper flying around on a windy day ;) Another thing to consider ..if he is piddling a lot is a urinary infection.... was he all healthy on his first vet check? They are a very active type of dog , AFAIK, and being a 'bull' type, will need lots of careful attention to correct socialisation with other dogs ! Not the sort of dog I'd give someone in an apartment for a first dog - but ..... you've got him now. Do you have a 'cooling of f period' - if something goes wrong (either with you, or the dog)own the line, will the breeder take him back for you ?

We are lucky here- all sand . Pups self exercise for the first 6 months or so - before starting work . Olivebaby - walk on grass /sand where you can - swim if you can, too

can you put rugs down inside? - slippery floors and young joints aren't good companions ... or perhaps some 'slippers' for her so she doesn't slip! ;)