dee lee

I'm staggered that you have ever let her off the lead knowing she is aggressive to other dogs? Very dangerous. I have to agree with this. Not only is it very dangerous to other dogs but allows the behaviour to be reinforced. I am really glad for the dog's sake that you have got help and are willing to put in the work. But you do realise that this is a dog that should never again be off-lead in public areas? That is part of the responsibility of owning an aggressive dog. Greytmate is absolutely right. It's just one of the difficult responsibilities, but one of the most important. You need to be completely in control of your dog AT ALL TIMES, which you cannot be when she is offlead. The muzzle is not a failsafe means of preventing attack, unless she is onlead.

Bloody kibble. I can completely relate. Which is why I switched to a brand that was much more accessible. ;) I'm pretty conscious of minimizing my crazy dog lady tendencies, my family & close friends don't understand. Yet I recognise another random dog person immediately and can have a half hour conversation with a complete stranger about dogs.

If you have your heart set on a Standard Poodle, why not slightly adjust your lifestyle to accommodate one? If you have a decent sized backyard, a good 15 minute game of fetch would take the edge off most dogs on those days when you are too tired to walk at night. If you do it in the morning too, combined with a training session, then that's a pretty good way to tire out a young dog and it doesn't take up too much of your time. Your daughter could even help you out there. I see so many older, unfit people out walking high energy breeds and they seem to make it work- its not that hard, just takes commitment. From your previous posts, you sound to me like a highly responsible and extremely involved owner, I'm sure you would do all you could to ensure a safe environment for your older dog. Especially if you follow Dancingbc's advice and get a breeder to choose you a more laid back pup. You are a trainer, I imagine you would have a better idea than most how to do this? I say go for it!

The hormone treatments are quite simple, just a small pill once a week at the moment for my dog (though it has varied a lot during the last 6 months as we have come to terms with it). Hormonal incontinence doesn't smell, its like water. If the leak smells strongly, then its more likely to be a UTI and need antibiotics. Either way a trip to the vet is necessary for treatment.

Yes, it does sound like it could be. My dog developed hormonal incontinence earlier this year, & if her hormone pills are wearing off it's the only time she ever wets her bedding. My dog secretly weeing next to the closed back door, despite being taken outside several unsuccessful times, is another matter.

SM, my friends have a spaniel cross in a very swanky high rise with a concierge, the strata rules permit dogs. There has been a big push for that in the area & I know of many blocks around the inner east that allow dogs.

I don't live in a high rise but I do know several people who live in upper level apartments with small dogs (chiahuahua & spaniel types). Around Potts Point many of the apartment blocks specifically allow small dogs as long as they can be carried in. Locally there are many dog friendly parks where my friends can walk their dogs. The friends with the Chi use pee pads for their dog, but otherwise you really need to be very organised or learn to live with the occasional "accident". I believe bigger dogs are probably just as easy to keep in an apartment- if its a BIG apartment and you are committed to getting them out and about. At a Potts Point park I recently met a girl walking her deerhound pup, they were living alternate weeks in a high rise and at a regional property! That was a pretty big ask I thought!

Definitely try and get it up high if you can. My Goldie is obsessed with our cat's poo. We thought we had it sorted by putting the tray under the claw foot bath, and squeezed next to the toilet. But no, she still would emerge from the bathroom- crunch crunch crunch (we had silicon litter). Blergh, it's so gross... In the end we dispensed with the litter tray. Our cat is 15 and doesn't stray from our yard so it wasn't a problem. Funnily enough I don't find any kitty nuggets outside though... At least the dog isnt eating the litter though.

Looks similar to something my dog suffered last year. Do you by chance walk your dog in wet grass often? My GR can be prone to skin irritations on her belly and I have found that if she gets wet and is not dried thoroughly, she develops those spots. I am fanatical about drying her now, even if she only gets a little wet on our walks, and the problem has disappeared. Hope that helps.

In theory I agree, but from bitter experience, it is very difficult to rehome a dog with DA. I was unable to find any rescue organisation willing to take my dog on and was not prepared to risk rehoming her myself. In my situation, I chose euthanasia and stayed with my dog til the end. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do but I felt I had no choice. The biggest problem with a DA dog, as others have said, is the management and eternal vigilance. Add children and inconsistent/weak training to the mix and its a very very difficult life for all concerned. Essentially your whole life revolves around the dog and not in a positive way. It is a life of tension and worry. Like StarAnais said, once you have had a DA dog, there is no way you want another. Mick, please be realistic in the very beginning and don't be swayed by feelings of guilt if you do feel that your new dog cannot stay. You have a lot to lose. I worked with my dog for 2 years before the situation became so untenable and I was forced to make the hard decision. I wish I had faced facts earlier, I may have been able to prevent my daughter becoming so traumatised and saved my family a lot of heartache. Good luck, I am sure Cosmolo (Underdog) can guide you in the right direction.

Ruth, he is so gorgeous. Bruno definitely suits him. I find Honey responds more to AAH! than NO, & it's all in the tone anyway.

I totally agree. ETA: Usually this kind of behaviour can only be managed- not fixed. I believe it is totally irresponsible to rehome a DA dog.

Yeah, me too.

Good news!!

I can attest to Angel being a lovely dog. Even when Evie, (my DA Staffy X) bit her she didnt arc up. But Ruth, you must acknowledge that whilst there are many more equally lovely staffies, there are also a lot that do not tolerate other dogs. And the damage a staffy can do in a serious fight is pretty extreme. I'd certainly not be backing the other dog. I'd be happy for Honey to play with any staffy that I felt comfortable with- I completely trust your judgement and control of your dogs- but an unknown one in the street/park? Nuh uh. That also goes for many other unknown dogs/breeds.

Its not the first time a stafford has been stolen from there. The people I knew of, whose dog was stolen, were lucky enough to spot their dog and get it back. I am gobsmacked as why anyone would anyone would tie their dog there- especially such a good looking stafford- it's junkie central. And there are plenty of onstreet ATMs nearby! The poor owners. Hopefully it is just one of the local scumbags & he gets spotted soon.

You can't? Surely you can to some extent. Not every time. If I see a dog posturing its easy to assume the worst, but I have also had a quietly sitting dog, showing no overt aggressive signs, quickly lunge & snap at my dog as she has walked past. On more than one occasion when walking onlead on a street. It pays to always be slightly out of reach! Erring on the side of caution.

I love that Roxy is awesomely loveable towards humans and any dog/cat even chooks LOL! It surprises and impresses so many people. People always ask if she is aggressive and when i laugh a reply that shes quiet as a lamb everybody wants a pat and she just laps it up, most kneel to pat her and she puts one paw up and rests her head in their lap/knee LOL. Sucks them right in ! To change someones mind about a breed because your dog is such a great exampleof the good side of the breed is an awesome feeling!!! Makes you very proud :D ! She is just so subissive too, she lies down and rolls on her back so puppies can stand over her LOL. So i think its hilarious when little dogs rush up and their owners freak, and i can be like all "get that vicious dog away!" LOL, i don't but i could ! But i love the fact i can completely trust her with people and animals, her only problem is she can be over excited and jump around and get in the faces of other dogs but its something i'm aware of and keep an eye on. But i also love the fact when shes on the lead she can also be very ignorant of the reactions of other dogs, and has the ability to ignore an aggressive dog. Testament to her, me as her owner and trainer and her breeder See both your posts demonstrate why it pays to be cautious. I love Bull terriers, have done since my uncle had one when I was a child, but unless you know the dog you can't tell whether it will be aggressive or not. In any breed but particularly bull breeds. Proper (owner) introductions and great care in assessing body language and I might consider allowing contact. But if I see any strange dog capable of harming my dog approaching me in the street, if there is not sufficient room to safely pass (or the dog is offlead), I will cross the road. I'm sorry if this offends people but I don't care about your feelings- I care about reducing unknown risks for my dog.

I have prejudice towards any dog that I dont know and that, worse case scenario, would be capable of harming my dog. That encompasses most breeds as big or bigger than my GR, and a few smaller ones such as Staffords & cattle dogs. Unfortunately I admit to being particularly nervous coming across an offlead Stafford. They are gorgeous dogs, but Staffords are known to have a breed tendency towards aggression to other dogs (mentioned on many a breeders page). That combined with their huge popularity means it's russian roulette each time you come across one. Having previously owned a DA staffy cross I have been on the other side of the leash too. I only trust the ones I know are dog friendly. Oh and I'll throw in SWFs too, I cant count the amount of ill tempered little scruffers I have come across. Though I'm not so concerned about damage to my dog there. ;)

Wow, how awful. I live in inner-city Sydney & have always taken dogs to local cafes- I have never had another customer give me attitude!! Like you, Stans mum, I would be pretty damn angry about it. I have kids too & I make sure everyone, including our dog, is well behaved if we all go to a cafe. Next time, feel sorry for the sourpusses- they were unhappy & left, you were able to stay & enjoy yourselves. :D

Have you tried two balls? When she brings back one, throw the other and with luck she will drop the first to chase the second. Honey loves fetch and always drops it for me, but I cant take credit for that- she obviously knew how to do it prior to coming to us. However, she used to always drop it a bit too far from me for my liking. So I taught her to "get it" and "bring it here". I am an absolute numbnuts about training :p , but I waited her out until she realised I wasnt going to go get the ball myself, then when she went to the ball I told her to "get it". Took a little while but she now does it perfectly. I think its a kind of shaping? (like I said- clueless... ) I imagine the same strategy would work with dropping the ball?

OMG!!!!!! He is heaven on a stick!!!! Berners are my all-time favourites... *sigh*.... one day...

Ha, I was going to guess Golden Retriever from your first post. :D My goldie has that problem, its the only place she gets matting. Often I cant even see it but will be quietly patting her and find a snag. I have dealt with it with vertical cutting, but perhaps you can regularly give her a little haircut around that area?

The several people I spoke to about it swore a huge difference after clipping. I cant personally vouch for that, but I did have an in-depth conversation about it each time and I was quite convinced by them. I imagine you are right, the shedding of a clipped GR would be shorter and yes, much less noticeable. With GRs, the long hair is not that hard to sweep up- it tends to form tumbleweeds- but over summer it can really pile up. Its not unusual for me to sweep 4 times a day and still find fresh hair. (Of course I do have black floorboards... ) The sheer volume is amazing. Shorter hair to sweep up would definitely be easier to live with. PF- Surely a clipped, white poodle would have the same sunburn issues?

I agree. Sunnyflower if clipping out the dog every summer is the plan, I'd not go a GR or Flat Coat. Get a dog with shorter hair. Now, I know it's contentious, and its not something that I personally would do have done (yet), but I have met several goldies who are regularly clipped and it hasn't done them any harm. I have been envious when told the huge difference it has made to the hair around the house. I decided on a GR wholly for the temperament and if the shedding is a deciding factor then I don't have a problem with them being clipped.