The Spotted Devil

So set her up for success! I use cheap compost panels to fence off precious plants and furniture. Sandpit for digging? Clam shell for splashing? Frozen chicken wings or half frames for munching? Turn your supervised sessions into fun games of recall, tug and play. Be more fun than the environment. It can be hard work sometimes I do know!!!

The concept of having 4 litters would make me faint :laugh: But that's not to say it can't be done well. It depends on how spaced out the litters are, what your set up is, how much help you have and whether you work as well. For the first few weeks it's reasonably easy as Mum does everything - handling each pup daily isn't a big ask. When they get mobile it's certainly more work especially if you're raising them in an enriched environment. It's not something I would care to judge from afar.

At 11 weeks there's no way I could leave mine unsupervised. I have VERY busy puppies. I would rather swap them in and out of the pen and alternate with lots of 1:1 training sessions, supervised free play and socialisation outings. When they are outside of the pen they get my undivided attention. It's hard work the first 6-12 months but it pays off incredibly well.

UNE is doing some work with sheep but it's very early on. CSIRO has also received some funding to start looking at sheep. In Victoria, The POCTA Act prohibits the use of electronic devices on animals. The POCTA Regulations provide exemptions for certain devices such as electric prodders on certain species of livestock and electronic collars on dogs and cats but because there is no explicit exemption for electronic collars on COWS, we can't use them. Nor is there an exemption that allows us to use them in partnership with a research institution. So we have to go interstate where electronic collars are banned outright but can be used for the purposes of research. It's just how the legislation is written. Even some of the animal welfare orgs were surprised how it was written up.

Love all this enthusiasm! Here's a quick video for you - first dog up is Bliss and the second dog up is Murphy, son of Em :) https://vimeo.com/173324131 And this is Murphy doing scent work at home - love this video - what a lucky pup!!! https://vimeo.com/176714642

POCTA - the process varies from state to state but the essentials are that electronic devices are banned (in the Act), except for specific uses outlined in the Regulations. We can't do research in VIC because the use is banned. However, in NSW, provided we are working with a recognised research institution and go through their AEC we are exempt. They can be used without restriction in QLD and TAS.

Hi PM - yes, the original work was done by CSIRO and the company I work for has the exclusive IP to the technology. We've been running trials since January (in partnership with CSIRO) and are developing a prototype. In terms of animal behaviour and welfare, it's very very different from a dog collar (it responds to behaviour rather than location and is automated using software/GPS technology that detects animal movement e.g. the animal can lie down on the virtual fence and nothing happens), the animals get a smaller shock than an electric fence and, once they have learned (2-3 pairings in our trials) they respond to the audio cue alone. Happy to answer any questions but you can read more here: http://agersens.com/eshepherd/ I work for them two days a week - mainly focussing on animal behaviour and welfare issues - risk assessment, equipment design, designing trials and submitting ethics applications, fitting and testing collars, engaging with animal welfare organisations/research institutions/government/industry and the current bane of my existence, regulation change. Plus social media and presenting seminars/lectures and anything else that needs doing!

and a horrible slow agonising death if they get caught up in them too. I'm currently working with a startup company on developing a virtual fence for cattle. We envisage that it will be particularly useful for fencing off rivers, waterways and riparian zones and have had a lot of interest from Catchment Management Authorities and wildlife/conservation groups.

I take Zig on the Dally stand in Melbourne - and the first thing I tell people is how much they shed....only twice a year, 6 months in the Autumn and 6 months in the Spring :laugh:

Some interesting reviews come up that's for sure.

Lovely! How you cope with two young 'uns is beyond me! I've enough trouble keeping tabs on one :laugh:

Much fairer than being in a constant state of fear and anxiety. Have you spoken with the breeder?

There are a few different medications and it can take a while to find the right dose. Did you see a veterinary behaviourist or is your vet very familiar with anti-anxiety medication? I have seen similar dogs as a consequence of various circumstances and some of them can't progress without medication. When a dog can't take treats they are over arousal threshold and can't possibly learn.

If a behaviourist recommended anti-anxiety medication I would likely take their advice. If a leg is broken you put it in plaster. Medication should be PART of a behavioural plan not the one and only solution. I would not rehome this dog. Have you spoken to the breeder?

That's perfect! The puppy and the reaction :D You will thank your lucky stars in 6 months time. My pups are always like "OMG at last! She's gone! I can get some sleep!" :laugh:

Love it - thanks - haven't seen that one even though I'm a regular on SG's blog.

Oh Freaking heck but Finn is DIVINE

Yes to RuralPug! Mine wag themselves stupid when I come in but I have surprised them on occasion and they've all been fast asleep. The excited to see you stuff is about relationship building not mutually exclusive to happy about being left alone (anxiety vs excitement if that makes sense).

Love him! And those videos of you hand stripping him are awesome! Would you believe I lost them all! What!!!?! Not still on FB? Going through a pretty dark patch and feeling like his page was pretty stupid and no one cared etc etc, I press delete and instead of doing the 28 day count or asking if I was sure it just went poof. I lost all the pictures and videos from his page as I delete just about everything and don't back anything up, another quirk of my headspace, needing to get rid of stuff immediately Bugger. BUT! You did what you felt you had to do at the time. AND! You've still got the skills and a great model to do 'em again if you feel like it :) x

Love him! And those videos of you hand stripping him are awesome! Would you believe I lost them all! What!!!?! Not still on FB?

Love him! And those videos of you hand stripping him are awesome!

Hmmmm....this is difficult because it varies within breeds as well as between breeds. Both working Springers and Dallies can be brilliant family pets but they need daily exercise and plenty of mental stimulation. They do not need to compete at any level or go hunting (ESS) but they do need to do something....or, as one of my puppy buyers likes to say "they'll do something about YOU!" :laugh:

A fair bit of dog for a pet home IMO and sometimes a lot sharper than people are ready for. Yes, I would agree.

Ah ok - so the bag is a trigger not the leaving. Is it the visual cue or the sound do you think? If you can go to work with no hysterics than I'd guess it's not sep anxiety. I wonder - could it be frustration that she wants to chase or catch or play with the bag? What if she's not in her crate?

Barking hysterically sounds a little like separation anxiety...? Has she always been like that? I've had a GSP puppy for a month (not mine) and she would melt down similarly and I had to start in real baby steps - just going out of sight and tossing treats in her pen. Maybe you need a behaviourist to give you some advice - it's very hard to help with extremes of behaviour without seeing the dog in action.