Henrietta

Exactly. How ridiculous. It would never have entered my mind that my dog was any more unhygenic because of the RMBs she eats on a regular basis.

Well, it's probably not a great help, but I started by girl on Artemis Power two days ago. It is obviously too early to tell how she'll go, but she's been pretty enthusiastic about it. She is not a dog to go nuts over dry food so I was rather pleased. I was just about to buy a big bag of EP Holistic which I was quite happy with (and my dog liked it well enough) but then I got some Artemis samples in the mail and tried them so I look forward to seeing how it goes. I will buy a big bag of this instead I think, all going well over the next week or so. It seems like a great food (as was the EP), I just have to wait and see how it goes for my girl. Edit - I can let you know how we go a little bit down the track if that is at all helpful.

No, not anorexic. But a healthy looking chi to me. Good luck with the specialist.

I have no words really, it's just heartbreaking. But my thoughts are with Jed and her family.

^ It is fun. I even love preparing treats and experimenting with them. OMG, I am sad. But it is great once you get used to it, second nature really. I'm also constantly working on behaviour modification, so I need to have the stuff that is highly reinforcing to my dog right there, ready for anything. I don't constantly use the most highly reinforcing stuff if it isn't necessary and I do go on a variable rewards schedule with things my dog knows and places she is comfortable with. I do look quite funny when I leave the house with all my gear. If I had to rely on just my praise with my current dog, I would have given up long ago. My relationship is so much better with her now that I understand how to communicate with her and how to motivate her. She now understands that I equal good stuff. And as time goes on, social approval/praise is getting higher up in value and I attribute that to our improved relationship. But every dog and trainer is different. EFS

Well, I've only got 9 right now but I am always adding and changing. The first three are my top choices, the next five are possibly/maybe and the Greyhound... well I know I'll have one one day. Hungarian Vizsla Miniature Poodle Tibetan Terrier Papillon Swedish Vallhund Shetland Sheepdog German Shorthaired Pointer Brittany Greyhound There are others I would consider and others that I am sure I've never considered and I would in the future. There are so many more breeds that I love, but are more 'admire from afar' type of dogs for me.

Thanks Corvus, I'll have to come hang out in the Swedish Vallhund thread to get a wider feel for the breed. I have a heap of questions, so when I come back tonight I may invade the Vallhund thread. Erik sounds like a character, especially in his attitude to work. They sound like they can be challenging but also highly motivated, you just have to find what works. Another breed I'll have to try and meet! Mrs D thank you for your offer, I'll pm you. :p

Thank you guys. I think that the working and most of the larger herding breeds are out. I cannot imagine myself with a kelpie, koolie, BC etc. I do love the gundog group, but I especially love the utility guys... I am thinking Vizsla as my 'pick' from the gundog group BUT I am going to go out to meet some dogs of various breeds in action and talk to some owners. I know I will own a gundog one day, whether they are my next dog will remain to be seen. Yes, FHRP I exaggerated a little bit didn't I? In my mind I had a picture of a pap next to a Vizsla. I love the idea of a smaller, active dog as well. I am very keen on the poodle (I am thinking mini is a perfect size) but the TT breed keeps drawing me in as well, and I would be looking at Shelties and Paps. Now the Vallhund is also an interesting dog, I have heard that they really enjoy training, they are a working breed of course! Can you tell me more about their temperament, Corvus? Are they a breed that you think a relatively inexperience trainer could deal with? Point taken about the agility. Now, can anyone recommend me an obedience/agility trial or dog show in Queensland that would be a good opportunity to meet some of these breeds. I realise that I probably won't get the opportunity to see all these breeds at once, that would be too easy. I don't mind travelling within reason, I live close enough to the south-east corner so I am lucky. I will just try and make a day/weekend of it. I will be looking at Dogs Queensland website as well to see what I can do.

Oh for sure! Is your next dog going to be a beagle?

I know what you mean, but my dogs will always be companions first. Dog sports is something we would do for fun. But it is something I try to take into account when choosing my next breed. I will definitely choose something I like though for the simple fact that I will be living with this dog for ideally a very long time!

Thank you - what great responses. Where do I start... My thoughts on hair - When I first considered the mini poodle I will admit to freaking out a bit about the grooming. I have the willingness to make the time to maintain a poodle, but the thought of learning the grooming was a bit scary. I'm pretty sure given the right direction I would definitely cope and enjoy the grooming aspect. Shedding isn't a huge issue for me. A Tibetan Terrier would be a lot of grooming as well, something that I will definitely have to speak with owners/breeders about. I don't want to underestimate grooming committments, but I have an open mind in regards to what sort of time I can devote. Equally, I love short coats, in fact my other potential breed is the Hungarian Vizsla (yes on the other end of the size scale). I think the main thing for me is, given my experience level, I'd be better off with a dog that wasn't as 'sharp'. I don't mind a challenge in training and having to approach things differently perhaps. I am thinking that most terriers are out, as much as I enjoy their spunky attitudes. (Tibetan Terriers are not true terriers). For example, I love the Schipperke and I find them a very interesting dog. But living with one? I'm not so sure. They aren't terriers, I know. I do quite like the idea of a papillon, a very athletic little dog and very driven. Poodles of course. Shelties, I have seen a couple of shelties doing agility and they were delightful to watch. When you say 'from the right lines' is it safe to say that some lines are producing traits that are undesirable in a Sheltie? Cavs and Cockers - lovely dogs, but probably not for me. Daisy - The Queen has Pembroke Corgis and the other type are Cardigans. Huski - I think it's safe to say a Daisy is a little bit too challenging for me! Edit - I meant a Beagle, but you know what I mean!

In my ongoing quest to decide what my next dog breed will be, I am asking what your choice for a small performance dog would be. This would be an agility and/or obedience dog. I do have a few breeds that I am toying with, some are small, some are not. I honestly don't mind if people throw in some medium breeds either. I am thinking small, because there are advantages to a smaller size, but I don't want to write off a potential breed for me based on size. My focuses are on structure, temperament and activity levels. I want a dog that can cope with (sorry, and enjoy) the physical and mental rigours of exercise and training and a dog that is predispose to an outgoing temperament. I do not mind having to think outside the box with training, however I am inexperienced. I do not need to be extremely competitive, say in agility time-wise, but I would love to make a good go of it within me and my dog's limitations. This is all just ideas. I endeavour to meet any breed I am seriously interested in at shows/trials and talk to as many owners/breeders as possible, and I am hoping to start this later in the year. Edit - I have been considering mini poodles for a while now, they seem a great choice. The other smaller dog I have an interest in is a Tibetan Terrier. Not an obvious choice, I know. But overall a healthy breed, long-lived, and they have an intelligence and temperament I think I would really enjoy.

Thanks ML, I think it may very well be what I was looking for. I obviously remembered it a bit differently though. I'll google her and see if I can come up with the survey she speaks of.

Well, thanks for bumping this again for me. Perhaps I imagined it... it wouldn't be the first time.

Bump

Hi, I remember this being mentioned a number of times on DOL before. I think it was a percentage of dogs that do not live past three in this country. It may have been a number rather than a percentage, but either way it was a sobering figure. Would anyone have this figure? And possibly a linky to the source? It would be greatly appreciated.

My dogs still get fed, but sometimes I'll use the food that is their meal for training. Or alternatively if we have had a 'busy' session, I may cut back on what they have for their next meal, unless they have been really active. I think that is different though? I do control all toy resources though, as in I don't have them littered around the yard/house, but we have a lot of playtime. This is all the time, not just when training. Edit - having just reread the context of the thread, I don't think I've been very helpful.

Taking Cosmolo's point, my scent would be strongly impregnated on them too. True. It must be the combination that makes it such a high value resource.

Aidan, thanks for that explanation.

^ For her it must be her favourite thing... her ticket to endless fun outings/walks. I can imagine another dog being perplexed about that though... :D

I have kept a close eye on guarding of other resources (bedding) but it doesn't seem an issue in this particular household. I feel food may have been an issue if anything as it is really high value here. We can take training treats together here as well. Toys are interesting, I play separately with the dogs and they play together without toys. One cannot play fetch at all safely (an old injury with all that sharp stopping is not good) so we play more 'find the treat' type games and hide and seek. The other girl is queen of the toys... loves tug, will chase anything. But I put them all away when they are together because they are such high value to her. They will however sometimes find a big leaf and chase eachother over that. :D Edit - spelling and to add something

Thanks, I understand that. I would feel more comfortable with prevention and management myself so I think I'll just go along my merry way doing just that. :D At least until I have some more knowledge and experience.

See my understanding of resource guarding is pretty limited. I would say that feeding separately may cause resource guarding because if a dog has never had to share that particular resource before (food) and all of a sudden their housemate is in their space, they may feel the need to guard...

Does a lot of it come down to individual temperament of a dog?

Me too. 100% at all times. What causes resource guarding? I know that it is a 'normal' canine behaviour, but not necessarily acceptable... but what triggers it?