persephone

Well, not really. :D Unless he is releasing them into pristine areas-protected, with an abundance of natural prey , he is sending them to a death sentence Most of the Australian landscape has been changed forever- trees and native wildlife have gone- extra watering points have ensured survival of feral pests- sheep/cattle /goats graze everywhere.. small mammals have been wiped from areas due to loss of habitat..kangaroos/emus are restricted in movement due to increasingly formidable fencing. We have stuffed up the country, and the dingo now must tread over human territory if it is to hunt/breed/populate. This is not a good scenario. Feral dogs have settled where there 'should' be dingoes - and these breed with the dingo packs- hybrids may then not just have the one breeding season like dingoes- but two or three... quickly outnumbering any purebred dingoes around ;) It is a very sad state - and I cannot see a solution.

yes, poor dingoes ... however, when dingoes train their pups on someone's lambs .. killing 20/30 a night ..and wounding more in the process, it does make them unpopular. :D I am not talking farmlet here- I am talking pastoral land, where one paddock can be 20,000 acres .. where one has to rely on 'the dog fence' for protection of stock...where sheep are yarded and there are lambs with gaping holes in their skulls, and other severe wounds. Some years ago we shot two dingoes, and others shot several , after some made their way to our normally dingo-free area. Beautiful animals , but they sign their death warrant when they take stock to excess. This pack also attacked farm dogs- fathered litters of pups on isolated properties (who , as they had no neighbours ), did not put bitches in dog- proof pens , and killed poultry.

BB has his points to make. Some of them I think have been misunderstood. Some I agree with. Some I don't. But then I view many posts from different people in the same way. Everyone's entitled and I think the above is a bit nasty and that people are tending to gang and jump a bit too much and easily. X2

Toast? You want bacon & mushrooms with that? Good morning, waiting Room- and jed, down the hall. Cold here, but bright & Sunny . Took the dogs/pig etc for their morning walk and everyone got damp & sandy :D)

lanabanana...you said and I have bolded the important bit!! Until you are sure- you can not apply a technique, or use a particular tool- as you do not know exactly what it is you are trying to remedy . Is your dog pulling thru excitement only? Is it because of anxiety? is it because of the wanting to get to other dogs? etc. etc. Will being 'enclosed' in a harness perhaps exacerbate stress around dogs? k9 pro said and I agree.

Oh- if the dogs have been travelling with you- then it's not surprising they have regressed . Gorgeous photo!! Glad things are on the improve

This thread just gets better So much good information to be gleaned from it.

Hey- it's a bit cold in HERE.. not a lot of candles burning

I wish We could ALL be in the waiting room when jed sticks her head in! It is cold here,jed- .. we may have scorching Summers, but Winter, tho short is cold! 9 deg at present ... Brrr .Got to 15 today ! *goes to light a candle , and hopes there are lots burning- my hands are cold! *

Mmmm.. I am also feeling a bit for the non-doggy OH.... left alone with a puppy who , as we all know, can make anyone's life miserable at times whining/barking/toilet troubles/illness/chewing.... it is fine when you love your puppy and know what to expect, but for someone who is tolerating a dog for her family ..and is home with it a lot ,alone, things may be a bit ermmm uncomfortable.

Good for you. I would almost bet the squirrels are not desexed .. .perhaps play customer and phone an enquiry thru ? My guess is owners would need a license etc as well?

Lambo _ I was also thinking that perhaps foster care may be a useful gauge for you Obviously you wouldn'twant a delinquent .. but I have noticed a few posts asking for temp care for a dog whose owner died or something....

NO YOU ARE NOT!!! You are doing well, I think. I still have horror moments of embarrassment... but I just keep working at it, and accept that sometimes the messages will be a bit mixed. I'm human, and therefore not perfect 100% of the time. As time goes on, you will be able to predict more and more they way your dog thinks, and how you react to it. Its all in the learning, and you will continue to work things out together... and stumble along the way sometimes. Before you know it, this problem will be solved and you will be dealing with another. This is normal, and it is also good to remind yourself of how far you have come from those first problems you may have faced. I can get a bit absorbed in my doggy issues. Before I know it, a few months have passed, and so has that phase.... must have done something right along the way. ETA: Just don't give up working on issues though. It helps you understand more, and also prepares you for adolescence. Pick your battles, and focus on the ones that impact your life the most. At the moment it is teaching your dog "calmness". I've yet to fully work that one out... If he is as food motivated as you say so, then wear a bum bag around the house, and then you can teach all sorts of house rules with treats on hand. x1. he sounds gorgeous - and happy and healthy- so you have done well!

OK- may I suggest you work hard on cutting down excitement . Seriously. When he;s asleep- put the lead on him. pick it up..and just walk around the house/yard- no talking.. just walking, doing ordinary stuff. Then, as he relaxes and realises nothing is happening .. do a couple of sits..and on one of them unclip the leash quietly and smoothly. if he is really a bouncer, but listens/pays attention (which it seems he does ) then speak softly to him ..and stroke him sloooowly ..every time.Your excitement /anxiety will add to his ..... Clip on a lead when he gets fed... clip on a lead at tv time..at bed time ... and just sleeping time. Make sure he does not mouth/chew it tho. I find a chain leash very useful with young pups- the mouthing/chewing brings NO reward at all- so is stopped before it starts A pup chews a lead ONCE- and it then knows . Things like leads/cars/opening doors should not be exciting to the stage where the dog anticipates and goes feral .That is teaching bad habits, IMO. you can do the same with keys/bag whatever else goes to the beach etc. Pick em up, put em down. NO talking or anything... just DO it . Cue actions/words are useful in some situations.. a pain in the whatsit most times. I try & always 'treat' my dogs when they least expect it. Mind you first thing in the morning, all Hell breaks loose ! around 8 pups/dogs, a pig, a goat ,a sheep ... all BUSTING to get loose from chains/out of pens/beds and RUN. I have absolutely no hope of anything orderly After that mad 1/2 hour- we are all sweet.

Sounds a bit rough put him on a leash.. and then make him sit .. if he is on leash- YOU have control (don't you?) and can then place his bed alongside the couch...and get him to sit/lie on that. Only use words which are a direct command.. and then praise vocally ,QUIETLY and very softly. You may have to repeat the proceeding many times. he gets praised/spoken to nicely only when he is on HIS spot.Othe times, he gets OFF! or NO! in a deep growly voice.. plus a tug on the lead in the direction of his bed. Will he chew a bone/nylabone indoors? perhaps put this on his bed.. and then he can eat without interruptions. When he finishes.. he goes out.

Agreed ,with an oldie a vet visit would be a good plan.

Do you look at him/talk to him when he makes noise? if so, STOP. I would not even be sitting with him. put him on a leash- take him to the car .. no talking/patting required. Clip him in- tell him, good dog .. get in the front, and drive. kep an eye on him using your miirror.. don't turn around or talk to him. Just drive ..... See how this goes. he is a kelpie. he will probably react to seeing all the movement Excitement and whinging is probably a normal thing for him ... the less stimulation he receives, the better , IMO. .. so keep things very calm- no baby talk/ high pitched voices, etc in the car. Just calm and quiet and no attention. Pups have to learn to just 'be'. They cannot have someone with them , paying attention to them all the time!

He may have an infection in his bladder .Check that out first, and if the vet gives him the all-clear- then you need to find out the 'whys'

Years ago when I was training labs- we had quite a few with those sort of ears - he could well be a lab , as far as I know .. I'm not the world'sbest breed guesser! he's a gorgeous boy!! And in great condition.well done!

I do so hope that one day there is not an explosion of pretty feathers- cos that is the cutest thing!! Wonderful household

R I P Kira - you went over the bridge with loving help. to LWC

Congrats, people!

Hope it's just something simple, scouty let us know how she goes .

That's a really good reason to have a vet check her out .. if you are not sure- then a check up will make certain She may be fussy- know that her Mum will give her nice soft food She may just like wet food more than biscuit ... Now she's older she may just be more sensible in her eating, and not hoover like a puppy does ...or she may indeed have a tooth/gum/jaw problem. Mind you, if she is chewing everything else , but is not keen to eat dry food- guess she just does not enjoy the dry food...or is not hungry enough...or is a slow eater. For the chewing.. it may well be boredom.. poodles are VERY clever, and need things to exercise their brains - like obedience training everyday, learg tricks, etc. Running around playing with a dog or a person is not really 'work' .She may need more 'work' to do, so she relaxes afterwards ..and doesn't need to chew to feel satisfied. She may enjoy having a turkey wing or neck to chew on ( separated from the other dog, of course)

Scout- I would suggest asking a vet to check her out... it could be a few things from your brief description.. far better to have her looked at carefully , for your peace of mind