Staffyluv

I am crate training her, so that her forever home have that option if they want it. Zig must feel like he is missing out because every morning when I let her out - this is what he does..

He isn't skinny, he looks fine for a pup that age. As Wobbly said, they go through all sorts of growth spurts and can look really gangly, like they need a good feed. Here Is a pic of what Zig looked like at 6 months old Little Ziggy by Jodie Moore Photos, on Flickr See how long and skinny he is, compared to how he has filled out now he is 2 years old. It takes some dogs a lot longer to fill out, than others.

You won't get any argument from me mita - I hate the stupid legislation.. The sooner it is gone the better..

If you want to try a sporn type halter/harness on her, I have one you can borrow - happy to post it up. I bought one for Zig (actually we have 2 different types of this harness and neither worked on my puller) and we don't use it at all. Zig is 27kg staffy mix, so a decent sized boy and very strong - since changing him to a martingale collar, we have made loads of progress. She is very pretty - such amazing colouring.

I think you need an app called tapatalk to be able to post photos from your phone. Not sure how it works - I always upload my photos to Flickr and then copy and paste the link to each photo in.. If you click the link below the photo of Ziggy, you go to my Flickr account - you could set one up (I am sure they have an app for it as well). It's free.. IMG_1048 by Jodie Moore Photos, on Flickr

Their waist is fairly thin - he is young and will go through growth spurts as well.

That was really interesting. Loved the pic with the little kid and dog curled up together towards the end. Had a giggle at the amount of 'bum' shots :)

^^ great advice.. You can't tell us you have an amstaff pup and not post pictures :)

Mylo and Kerser to go.. Surely based on the outcomes for Rocket and Dougie the other two should go home as well.. Hopefully these cases will set some precedence as to the irrelevance of judging an animal on the way it looks - we live in hope!

I think I am very lucky HD. I had tried so many things with him before obedience and someone just mentioned it in passing one day. I asked our behaviourist and I asked here about taking him and a lot of people thought I would be putting an already reactive dog in a situation that could have made him much worse. I took the gamble because, in all honestly, I just didn't know what else to do. I have had loads of input by the trainers at obedience and heaps of hands on help as well. I guess they see so many dogs come through with so many issues that over time they just know what does and doesn't work. I am lucky in that Zig's reactiveness is very friendly and he is also totally not aggressive - in fact he doesn't have an aggressive bone in his body. He is 2 years old now and still rolls over if a dog stands over him or drops to the ground if a dog is dominant. He really just wants to play with every dog he is allowed to meet - that has been my biggest issue. Restraining him from meeting every dog he sees. Getting him to not lunge towards them in excitement, not to bark at them from a distance in excitement.. We still have times where he gets close and then leans in to fast - we turn around and walk away. He doesn't get to meet other dogs on his terms anymore, ever. He must use his manners or he misses out. But once he has made friends (and he has loads of doggy friends), he is free to be himself and play as long as he wants. We still have work to do - he isn't bombproof by any means. Our assessments are individual - it is only us in the ring at the time. I have his total focus these days when we are 'working'.. It is a very good feeling.

Just wanted to share this in his thread because not everyone checks out the reactive dog thread. Zig came 3rd in his intermediate obedience assessment last Sunday. So incredibly proud of the boy and how far he has come. Zig 30.6.13 third place in obedience by Jodie Moore Photos, on Flickr

Hehe, I can't take credit for that move - our behaviourist showed me how to do it. I still use it sometimes when he is very excited to see another dog and starts pulling towards them. I realise he is a decent sized bull breed and some people are afraid because they don't know he just wants to say hi and is non reactive if growled or barked at. I am really looking forward to going up to advanced obedience with him - the working off lead (because he does like to go say hi to every dog around) is going to be a great challenge for us. Isn't if funny, once upon a time I was so frustrated and blaming myself for everything that was going wrong with him and all I needed was the tools to make it right.. It doesn't work for everyone but our obedience lessons have been the godsend that we needed.

I had to share this one of the two of them tonight - waiting for dinner. It looks like Zig just told Zipp a joke.. Zig & Zip Joke 1.7.13 by Jodie Moore Photos, on Flickr

True, he was total heartbroken to leave her yesterday but he knows it is the best thing for her. I think he said goodbye to her 3 or 4 times before he left.. I felt very sorry for him. To be honest, she hasn't looked for them at all - her and Zig are so busy together. He has collapsed a couple of times and she just waits for him to wake up. She is a pretty typical staffy cross type dog so far. She sits, comes when called, sits on a mat when asked. She is house trained and once she followed Zig through the dog door she hasn't looked back - in and out no worries. There is no sign of any anxiety at all that I can see yet - I will test them on Wednesday when I go to a client for the morning (my son will be here but he makes himself scarce).. The dogs will be in the back yard on their own. She seems to be very hungry and hoovers her food but that will relax once she realises there are 2 meals a day, every day at the same time. I think it is doggie nature to wonder where the next meal is coming from.

Here is a much better picture of her in the office with me this morning. Zipp 1.7.13 by Jodie Moore Photos, on Flickr

She is very tall. She is 7 months old now and she is as tall as Zig (he is 2). The more I look at her and watch her play, the more I think she has boxer in her.. He is loving having a mate again..

Thanks guys, he is over the moon tonight.. Our new foster dog arrived today and she is adorable. They said she is a staffy cross and just looking at her and watching her play, I think she is crossed with a boxer. She is about 7 months old now.. She starts obedience with Zig on 21st July - she starts in beginners and he goes up to advanced.. Oh my gosh, how did we get there in just 6 months... I am so incredibly proud of him - I was about to burst into tears at the presentation today when he got third..

Here is 3 from earlier - not so good as taken on the iPhone and these dogs just don't sit still.. Zig & Zipp 3 by Jodie Moore Photos, on Flickr Zig & Zipp 2 by Jodie Moore Photos, on Flickr Zig & Zipp 1 by Jodie Moore Photos, on Flickr I will get some better ones with the big camera next week and post them up.

Zipp has arrived.. I felt so sorry for her owner, he really didn't seem like he wanted to surrender her at all and he said goodbye a few times. I will get some photos when she settles a bit later (her and Zig haven't stopped since she arrived and are best buddies already). Looking at her, if someone asked me what she was, I would have said boxer cross staffy (I see more boxer in her than staffy). Her owner said her dad was an Amstaff and mum was a staffy cross something else.. She is really full on and is giving Zig a run for his money on the energy level front.

Had to come and show you all how well he did again today.. So proud of him, he came third.. Zig 30.6.13 third place in obedience by Jodie Moore Photos, on Flickr

I see him and share your pictures of him as well - I have no idea why he doesn't have a family of his own yet.. He is such a gorgeous boy and your photos are always divine.. I guess the right one just hasn't spotted him yet - surely they can't be far away.

Awe bless.. She is lovely. Lots of praise with smiles and encouragement. It would be harder if she is timid girl. I find with my boof head that the more I am happy and smiling at him, wide eyes, head nodding, yes, yes - the more he responds to me. If I just so sit Zig, stay Zig, he gets bored with that really quickly.. Sometimes they don't get what you want, so gently moving them into position can help. Maybe find a treat or toy that she really likes and use that to train - the only time she gets it is when you train. (Zig loves tennis balls, he only gets them when we train. The same with devon and cheese - he never has this any other time). I wish you well with her.

Isn't that the most wonderful news.. I have seen the story on a few pages and every time I do, I get a bit choked up and get something in my eye.. I can't imagine someone taking my dog off me and keeping them from me for so long.. Hopefully his case will set a precedent and they will learn to NOT judge a dog by the way it looks..

Pretty Pers. These were taken in the park where Zig and I walk early in the mornings Queanbeyan Park 1 by Jodie Moore Photos, on Flickr Queanbeyan Park 2 by Jodie Moore Photos, on Flickr

It might help if they do set up a page.. That way they can post more photos and it tends to spread pretty quickly. I am near Canberra but have family and friends all over the country (I assume most others do as well).