Staffyluv

Same HD, I think all dogs need rules and boundaries and to me this is what obedience is all about. I was having so many issues with Zig until we started at obedience.. We made huge progress in such a short space of time. Zig was still very reactive with other dogs (over friendly reactive) for most of beginners, some of intermediate and in advanced he just seemed to get that he wasn't going to get his way until after class. He would work really well in class and then after class, would get a big run with the other dogs. I found I still spent a bit of time, 'out of the class' in beginners. He would bark and carry on, so I would walk him out of the class (I think it was Cos that suggested that). Then as he was behaving, we would move closer to the class. If he messed up again, we moved away again and so on. He soon realised that if he wanted to be in the class, near the other dogs, he had to behave himself. Using a focus word (ours is 'ready') also helped heaps. To start with, I would say the word and treat, say the word and treat - now when I say 'ready', he sits and waits for the next command.. It hasn't always been easy but it has been so worth it..

He has been pretty good for a while now - I would say that I was 80% happy with his recall but today, I was 100% happy with it.. He is so ball focused (only his ball, he doesn't want other dogs tennis balls) and to have a dog walk away with his ball, him to go after it and to come back at first recall has made me so happy.. He does still have moments of 'bugger off, I am doing what I want' but you wouldn't know it today.. :laugh: He is a good ambassador for bull breeds - he has the most amazing temperament. He is soft with puppies, rough and ready with dogs who want to play bargy and is also happy to run with the working dogs that he plays with.. He removes himself from aggressive or pushy situations and usually looks for me to stand behind me.. A year ago, I would never have thought any of this was possible.. We just needed the guidance to teach me how to bring out the best in him..

Just wanted to share today's win with Z at the dog park. Our dog park is separated into 2 sections - one for little dogs/pups and the other for big dogs. I don't like him playing with just any dog, so usually if there is a load of dogs, we sneak into the puppy side (if there is no one there) and just play with a couple of dogs he usually plays with (if they are there, they come across).. So today, there were two adorable chi puppies in the puppy side, so I took boof head into the big dog side. We played with a kelpie and they had a ball each that they chased and had a ball for about 15 minutes. Then this couple turns up with two black labs. The younger dog was a lovely dog but the older one (who is only 2) kept stalking Zig. It took off with his ball a couple of times and the second time, Zig went to get the ball back - needless to say the lab wasn't giving it up. So I called Zig back and he came first call . I put his leash on and walked to the owners of the lab and asked if they would please get the ball back for us. The guy tells me if I bring a ball to a dog park, I have to expect other dogs will want to play as well - I pointed out that there were other dogs playing as well but his dog had taken off with the ball and was growling at dogs if they went near it.. The nice guy who owned the kelpie got the ball back and gave it to us (thanked him) and we left.. I was so proud of Zig today - he recalled every single time, first time.. He walked calmly beside me when I went to get his ball. He didn't get over excited once.. But he had loads of fun with the dogs running around, in and out of the clam shell, chasing balls and playing chase with the kelpie.. My lad has turned around so much - from the uncontrollable brat that he was to a dog that is a pleasure to take out (most of the time).. It really was a win for us today - especially with the recall being spot on.. I didn't even care that the other dog was being a pest, I was just so proud that he was a great example (and others noticed it as well)..

HD this is how my vet treats Ziggy all the time - I have always love the fact that he calls the dog to him and they just go.. It is a good thing for Zig because he is almost aloof to people, other than the ones he knows.. He very much avoids people.. It is funny watching some people at the dog park trying to say hello and get a pat of him as he zooms past. Even if he is standing with me, he tends to move behind me if someone bends to pat him.. That is such a milestone to get a dog to accept going to the vet (when they are not happy about it) and to have him doze off, is even better. Just goes to show how relaxed he was.

Be very picky.. You want the best home first up. We were really lucky with Zippy, the perfect home came up first. There were about 4 lots interested in Pippa when she was here and Gussy had loads of interest (all the way to Sydney).. You know the dog and what he needs to have a happy home - the right one will come along. Trust your gut, if you are unsure there is probably a reason..

I am sorry to hear of your loss, it is always hard to lose our furry family members. Ugh, I just bought a packet of those to give them a try (and he loves them).. I usually buy the Black Dog ones. Will be tossing them immediately.

My old stafford had many tumours and a toe removed thanks to MCT over a period of 6 years. After his first operation, over 50 stitches later, he had to go back in 3 days later, as they didn't get clear margins on the removal of the biggest one (which took most of his right rump/hip muscle).. Based on all the research I did, MCT is closely related to allergies (histamine release is a big thing with MCT - the more you can control that, the less the tumours seem to appear). Things like itchiness, sore eyes and ears that are related to change of season etc - all these things are mostly allergy based and will cause release of histamine in the body. Ollie had polarmine every single day, from the day we found out about his cancer. High doses of vit C and fish oil were a couple more supplements. There are three good holistic supplements we used as well Anti-Ox and Lymphodran, as well as Five Mushroom Drops. If pugs are your preferred breed, you could always just ask around for breeders who don't seem to have any of these issues in their lines - however, I still don't think that would make your dog 100% free of any chance of problems.

Any improvement makes all the hard work worthwhile IMO - sounds like Stella has made a couple of leaps and bounds in the improvement stakes.. I remember with Zig, it felt like we would take one step forward and then a couple back some days.

A behaviourist put one on Ziggy once and he scratched his face so badly trying to get it off in just a couple of minutes that it was then suggested that perhaps it wasn't the best tool for him. I guess they have their place and I have heard quite a few success stories of people that have used them but every dog at our club that wears one, spends most of the class pawing at their faces to get it off - so I don't imagine they are very comfortable for dogs. There are some rules at clubs that make perfect sense, dogs on lead at all times (unless under supervised training), vaccinations up to date and checked annually, pick up your dogs poop etc but telling someone what they HAVE to put on their dog for training is just silly.. Sure they could recommend them to owners having issues, but to be a requirement to train there is pretty dumb (just my opinion).. I would talk to the club and ask if they are bendable on that rule at all, if you don't want your dog to use one.

She did, they stole her heart away from me.. Great home, older kids, dad works from home, they take her to obedience training and they love her to bits... We all miss the little Miss but the consolation is that she is better off with a family all her own.

They most certainly do learn by observation - I never realised this before but the last foster girl I had here (Zippy), had never done obedience before. I took her to our club (as they allow me to train the fosters for free). She was easy to teach but she also used to follow Zig with everything he did. This is why she could sit and stay for as long (even longer) than he did. Her heel work was awesome because I would heel him and she would heel beside him. It took a little longer to get her to drop but once I did, she was fine and her recall was fantastic. Again I would sit and stay them, walk away and recall and they would both run to me at the same time.. We used to do this in the back yard - training two dogs isn't easy at a park but doing it in my own backyard was really easy. She used to follow his moves and when it came to go to class, she already had most of it down.

Hi guys and gals, I will go back and catch up on what is going on with everyone later this week when I have a little more time but wanted to share Ziggy's first day training in the Novice group at obedience.. Oh wow, who would have ever thought my little loony would ever be able to be in a large group of dogs (dogs running all over the place in different groups on the same ground), be off lead and not take off and want to kiss every single dog he could get near.. I know a year ago, I never saw this day.. Well, that is exactly what we did last Sunday.. Lead hanging from his collar and only on a few occasions did I have a hold of it (and it wasn't to restrain him, it was just to keep it from under his feet).. We are working on 360 degree turns, both left and right, while heeling (something they do in dancing with dogs). Still going with recall, which has improved out of sight. His heel work is getting to a standard that I am so proud of. He stays, when I put him in a stay (be it sitting, standing or dropped), until I release him... I have to say the Novice group of people are mostly very serious about it all. I think they may be a little serious for us - I have no intention of ever trialling him. I just want to take him as far as I can. I like talking to him, encouraging him etc but the group are all about one command and then nothing until the next command. I was told, tossing him a ball (after he has finished each round of commands) and telling him he is a good boy is 'over the top' and 'not allowed'.. We are starting at agility next week as well (instead of Rally-O) - it is just at club level and we only compete with each other for fun.. Sounds much more like my cup of tea. Any how, here is a pic taken this afternoon after we had been to the dog park for half and hour and then home to do 5 minutes or so of 360 turns, stays and recalls. Zig 2013.10.15 by jamoore photos, on Flickr

I am in town.. Right in the middle of town..

Same thing, he will learn that your target word, means that he focuses on you.. I use it all the time in loads of situations, where I want Ziggy's focus on me and not others or other things. You need to redirect him from barking to something you want him to do.. Once he gets the target word (practice every day for at least five minutes before any other training) you will find he will focus more on you and training will be easier.. Always reward as soon as he does what you want.. The word ready to Ziggy, now means he sits at heel and waits for the next command.. He will sit 'ready' until I give another command.. It takes time and loads of repetition..

Cheers and thanks Dru

I think fbaudry meant 'lucky they can't help me' because they might have abducted the baby Pekins :) I looked at it twice as well Clyde.. I can still come up on Saturday, if I can't organise something before then... Just let me know what time is best for you.

Here is my suggestion on stopping this type of behaviour in class. Chose a 'key' word - one that when you say it, gets the dogs attention on you (and not on what else is going on). Mine is 'ready'. I use cheese or homebrand devon in a roll (it is foul but the dogs love it) - find a soft treat food (not dried) that is easy to eat and cut it into tiny, tiny pieces, you are going to be using lots of them. Start at home where it is quiet and there are no distractions. Hold the treat in front of puppy and say the word and shove the treat in pups mouth. Say the word, treat, say the word, treat - over and over again (remember to take some food from dinner or breaky to counter the amount of treats). So mine goes, 'ready' treat.. The dog soon learns that word means a treat and will focus on you. Then you can start the look at me game. Hold the treat in front, so the pup can see it and put it up near your nose and say 'look at me' - when pup looks up at you and makes a split second of eye contact, treat.. Pup will soon learn that look at me and eye contact gets a treat.. These things help puppy focus on you and not other dogs. With my older boy, I used to walk him out of the group - when he calmed, we would walk back towards the group and train (about a metre or two away, sometimes more). As soon as he started barking or playing up, we would walk further away - he soon associated his barking with leaving the group (and he wanted to be in the group).. Good luck, there are loads of training tips and tricks, just ask and most will give you ideas on how they fixed issues. Edited to add, we train at the Queanbeyan Dog Training club and love it over here..

Yes and I can't wait.. I will post up some pics of them when they get here.. I built them a house but they won't be able to use it for a while. chook pen and herb garden 7.9.2013 by jamoore photos, on Flickr

That is OK, thanks anyway.. I can go up on Saturday morning if I can't get them here before then :)

Hi all, I need to get some baby chickens from Moss Vale NSW (Avoca actually) area to Canberra/Queanbeyan area if anyone is going between these places in the next week at all.. Happy to pay for the transport costs - there are 6 baby Pekins to transport. I am trying to organise it myself but also putting it out there on here in case anyone just happens to be going/coming that way.. Cheers

Hank does this too! I'm told it's a sign of great doggy social skills :D Odie on the other hand is a little bit more socially inept, I have to be careful with her interactions as not all dogs appreciate her brand of play :laugh: She has a particular love for staffies, pugs and bulldogs though! Bahaha, I wish it was - he is very typical of a lot of forward staff's.. He wants to go up and greet every dog he meets at 100 miles an hour.. He usually ends up on his tummy before he gets there (because he has barged up to them) but it is the one thing that no matter what I do with him, I can't seem to break him of it. We are going to spend some time with Steve Courtney from K9 Pro next month (can't wait), so hopefully he can help me with this.. We have tried turning and walking away when he starts to barge in and numerous other things and he is a lot better but he is still to pushy for my liking. He can also flick from good play to hyper staffy in an instant at a dog park. I watch him like a hawk and we leave as soon as I see any sign that he is becoming an over confident PITA..

Ziggy seems to vary his play style depending on who he is playing with. Another staffy of equal stature gets the full staffy mode. Bitey face, body slamming, running around and wrestling. Pups get him on the ground and he tends to roll around a lot. Smaller dogs like my friends poodle get the chase me game and are usually happy to oblige and they just seem to zoom around like loonies, in and out of the clam shell..

You wouldn't have received a nice response from me with my old fat staffy.. His thyroid was stuffed due to chemo and it took ages to diagnose and get the treatment right. So for about twelve months he was very big.. Through no fault of mine or his.. He wasn't over fed at all and I think to assume that obese dogs are obese because of their owner is very presumptuous. I do realise a lot are fat from over feeding but we can't just assume these things.

If you can, get him into obedience training.. A pass in beginners obedience is what secured my last foster girls new home.. They were so thrilled and have even enrolled her to do intermediate level. Good luck, he is gorgeous.

Well done Jodie I remember one of Frenzie's dogs came back after 2 years and she kept her this time, there is a saying "if you love them let them go, if they come back they were yours all along" or something to that effect..... Maree CPR Thanks Maree, it was a pleasure to foster her and she has gone to a great home, where they adore her and that makes it easier to let her go.