Monah

Hi guys, I'm NO expert, but have always had at least 3 dogs together. Personally, I would not allow them to get too rough, esp. if there have been injuries/cuts. Playing can escalate very easily into fighting as the dogs get very over excited and their adrenalin can kick in. If you can relate it to your parents in a way ie. kids can be playing one minute, all out fight the next, maybe they will see that it is a no no. With all of mine, as soon as things get too much, over excited, I make them settle, usually by saying 'enough' and separating them, make them sit and calm down. Never encourage them to play rough by playing rough yourself (with the dogs ). Dogs learn very fast when reprimanded ( NO physical reprimand is needed) each time they get out of control, then you can reward them for sitting quietly. Just remember too, that if they get very rough with each other, one day they may do the same with another dog who doesn't appreciate it, and there could be an all out fight. They need to learn manners for everyone's sake. Hope it all turns out well for you, what breeds are they? At 5 months, it will only get much more rough as the pup gets older, nip it in the bud now xxx

Yaye- i think i did it OOh, she's an angel!!! Yes, with a water spray, as with anything, you have to be FAST and EXACT. It worked perfectly for us, within a day or so the problem was solved. Our spinone is an angel, good thing too, as she LOVES the spray and drinking from it Cosmolo, very well said, there is no way ignoring our vizs mouthing would have ever worked and we did try that route for a week and it got MUCH worse and she also just went and did other BAD things :p Every dog is different. We also ALWAYS substituted with a soft toy as they are gun dogs and have a 'thing' for carrying around soft toys ALL day, so we did not want to upset this genetic behaviour. All in all you have to use common sense and find something that works for your dog. Our 3 all respond to very different training methods. Keeps me on my toes

I would definitely be interested in the whole weekend - would just depend on the cost of the seminar + accommodation. I would probably prefer a room on my own as I'd have Micha with me and he does not mix well with other dogs. ETA: Unless there were people coming without dogs then I'm happy to share! Same Monah and other 'unkown' dogs NO. I'm interested in fear too

I agree with Willow, crate = great safe haven!! I did try the time out thing, but, my dog ate the door Ignore ignore ignore, always good, but sometimes with very young pups they just go and do something else horrendous. Little angels periau, I use photobucket to post pics. I think there are several pointers on this in the photo photo section.

Hmm, that doesn't sound good at all. Have you had xrays? The only pet I've had who ate normal, even more than normal, and lost weight had a brain tumour. Cancer makes them lose weight. You probably know that though. Good luck, I hope she is OK, really can't say much on a forum as she needs a very good going over by a vet, esp. the mass?!!!xxxx I've had (and have) diabetic animals and they have never lost weight. I really do wish you all the best, and your lovely girl.

I have done the yelping and uh uh bit and given her something else to chew- she just goes for my hand or face again. Yep Im hoping the Irish do tell her off too but, they only growl out her and she doesnt listen. My viz was very mouthy when we got her at 12 weeks. I tried all the usual stuff, then, resorted to a water spray. That worked. She's great and 'needs' to have a toy in her mouth most of the time. Gun dogs are mouthy but I guess you know that. Would LOVE a photo, red and whites are so pretty :rolleyes: How did she get near someones face? My viz had no siblings, so no way of learning inhibition, at 9 weeks you have a great opportunity to teach her biting/mouthing is a no no.

Thanks

Anyone doing this Sep. 20th??

None of this info may be avail yet, but, How long is the course, (weekend?) do we bring our dog?, cost?, stay at tailwaggers?, If we don't bring the dog, is there still a point to coming? or is it better to see our dogs' behaviour?, Oh, I had many more questions, dementia strikes again

I'm in Hervey Bay. Unfortunately, you just have to travel, I had to go to Caboolture. Good luck for all concerned

Because it is possible that some dogs will pair the sound of the chain with the correction. Not that I use this 'pairing' to any great degree, but it can be handy for very soft and/or nervous/sensitive dogs. I think to, because I'm used to it. Make sure that the buckle component does not rest on the dog's throat/windpipe once fitted, though. Erny, I have a girl who is a bit nervy on lead with new dogs, do you think and chain martingale would help her? I had never thought of using one and none of the trainers have mentioned it. Any thoughts you have would be much appreciated

I have 3 girls, and have had 3 boys in the past (and other combinations too), all have been fine, but I've never had entire dogs, so maybe that makes a difference.

He's adorable, absolutely gorgeous ;) Congratulations Erny!!!

Thanks, Ill definately get the book

Monah, from the above statement, it could be that your pup was not socialised properly and/or suffered a bad experience with other dogs before you got her, therefore it may not be genetic. Either way, you treat it with the same training and philosophy. Spot on again kelpie. I just don't llike to say too much in 'public'. Thanks for telling me to treat it exactly the same way as I wasn't sure

I have a fantastic specialist, Richard Mitchell on the sunny coast. We had one of our dogs there last week for a check up (18 months). Her right back leg is not even near the socket, so an op. was a strong maybe last oct., I was pretty scared as I do not want her to have an op. Anyway, we have a pool so every day she has a swim for around an hour, also has joint food, very short walks and no exercise when she appears to be having a bad day. Anyway, he was realy pleased with her, her muscle mass has improved out of sight and she can jump up etc. and had no pain when being manipulated. We will have another check in a year or so unless something comes up before hand. Before swimming she could not do much at all. I really highly recommend swimming or water exercise of some sort. It has certainly worked for us. Fingers crossed for all the HD doggies out there

Kelpie, I thoroughly agree with you and Cos!! Thanks. My behaviourist is OS for a while but I will get onto her when she returns. I also just wanted some other perspectives too, I also think the correction would not be a good idea, I think many trainers here (where I am) are bit behind in certain things, but would never say so. I just either take things on board, or don't. I've now started to take the dog to the beach off lead which we have not done for a while for many reasons. She needs to improve in confidence. It is very tempting for me to keep her at home where we are all comfortable and she's terrific, but I feel we've come a very long way already and it would be a diservice to her for her confidence to plummet. But then, I worry about attacks etc too, no happy medium. I will take things slowly, carefully and consistently and see how we go. She did show very sure signs of this from 13 weeks of age (when we got her), but I was pretty niave and thought, this is trainable Good job she's so bloody easy to train and lovable :p I also agree with kelpies genetic rule, 70% genes. but having seen health genetics crop up from 'way back' in some dogs, I'm guessing it could be the same for nerves etc. as her parents appeared fine, but then I did not see them in a 'situation' as mine seems fantastic UNLESS faced with a strange, bouncy dog!! Gives me another topic on 'when looking at sires and dams', as it never occurred to me before that in one or two situations, the parents may be out of control, but new owners do not see that during a visit. Hmm, never ever thought of that before I guess I'm just slow!! Thanks guys for all the help Gillbear, How awful!!

Oh God! Another one We should form a club! If I find a solution you'll be the first to know xxxxxxxxxxx

Thanks Jen, yes I have all the Fennell and Milan stuff. I think fear/nervousness can be genetic, and this in turn translates as 'aggression'. I do realise dogs have a secret language as I have owned and shown many breeds of over 30 years which is why I find this very confronting and hard to get a handle on. It's the first time I've come across behaviour that 'appears' to have no 'beginning' and 2 years ago I would have agreed with you about no sudden thing with dogs, my girl is very reactive, and believe me, sudden. My girl was being slightly submissive to the gsd (female), playbowing etc. so I can only surmise the gsd decided to prove she's the boss. Who knows? All I know is that from many of the posts on here a lot of us are facing similar problems, and I'll be reading all the posts with great interest. That's the great thing about DOL, so many people and dogs that usually someone else has already found a 'solution' to one of our problems. Fingers crossed. I was told to put a choker on her and give it a swift tug when she looks iffy, but if she's frightened, I don't think that will help.

Thanks for the advice. Do you know the publishers of that book? I can order it but may need the publishers name I just read smokeysues problem and can understand how she feels as monah has drawn blood and with 3 of us watching, 2 trainers. We just cannot see why? Last night I got up the courage to see how she went with a gsd she knows well, all fine, then the gsd went ballistic??? Wondering if Monah gave off some sort of signal, we were all watching very closely. Another setback, she was frightened but I jollied her along until her tail wagged. I just feel like not going anywhere other dogs are but know that will only hide the problem not fix it. We are having some social functions at the club and I just don't want to go at all, now I'm freaking out about everything and making her worse. She;s fine from a distance, fine closer, and appears fine right up close, then just has what the footy players :p now call a 'brain snap'!

HI, thanks, yes it is fear, you are spot on. I think I will persevere with off lead encounters, it's only on lead(ATM!!!) that it has happened, and yes , at night. thanks.

Ok, I've had many probs with my female viz from the beginning, maybe because she was an only pup. She is now 2 1/2, does agility, obed and flyball for fun. Frightened of children, doesn't like to be approached by anyone prefers to do the approaching herself, not 'keen' on other dogs, but will play and enjoy dogs she knows. So, have had a bit of behaviourist stuff which has been terrific, about 12 months ago, also do NILIF and TOT alll the time. But, she is allowed on the furniture, sleeps crated, has 2 other dogs here and 4 cats. Recently at agility, at night, she snapped at a dog, whilst on lead, we were walking past and she knows this dog very well, usually fine. She connected and punctured the other's nose I don't know if it was shadows, fear, aggression etc. 3 trainers there too, and it was a trainers dog! No one can help me with why this happened. I have been very nervy ever since at any doggy thing, it was such a shock. I know she has issues but nothing like this has ever happened before and the other dog is terrific and luckily has no issues resulting from this attack. I would love to go to some of these aggression courses etc. but am not in a position to, being far from Sydney etc. Now I am worried as 2 dogs are leaving flyball, moving, and we'll have 2 more to our team. What if she eats them? How do I introduce as she is worse on lead, but I'm frightened to have her off for intro. She is fairly unpredictable, can be a bully, and also fearful. Is there anything I can do at home etc. to help with this behaviour? Where am I going wrong(big ask I know!!) My other 2 are great, I'd love to be able to trust the viz more, and my anxiety would not be helping either. Any ideas, anyone have this problem? She pretty much ignores dogs whilst walking and is pretty good, just bad if on lead and a dog is in her face, and new dogs. I would not say she is dog aggressive, but if she' gets fearful, she gets in first. Am I a crap leader? Would being very strict help or is it just something I have to learn to live with?Last time a pup was at the vets and she tried to hide under a table!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks

Sheridan what do you mean?? Glad his health is OK. Any photos of the grumpy old bugger??(I LOVE wheatens :D )

Agree with all the posts, plus, could also be prostrate probs. undesexed males are rather prone to testes/prostrate porbs when they get older. A complete and thorough check is very due. Good luck little boy

Lucky you! gorgeous pup!! My viz got up at 4.30am for the first year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Now she 'sleeps' in until 6.30 - 7am. I feel blessed