Staffyluv

Ziggy has lots of toys that belong to them because once they land in the yard he claims them... Honestly the way he sogs up a tennis ball, you don't want it back once he has had it for longer than a few minutes... The kids are not that old, only about 7-9 years old and I think there is a smaller one to.. I just had the giggles when the lad was telling me what happened, I could just picture Ziggy getting the stump and two little kids on the other end of it.. Poor little buggers didn't stand a chance he is so strong... Hopefully they will learn form their experience today...

Kavik, not sure if I can just show up. The website does say when days and times and terms training is held... I thought it might be a bit rude to just show up if others had already booked and had their places approved. They do say they limit each class to a max of 10... If I don't hear, it might be my only option. Cleo, thanks for that, I will try email and I posted copies of my application, his C5 vacc cert and a cheque to them today, so I guess I can email them tomorrow telling them I have posted the info in, just to cover all bases... I am really keen to get him into training... Although I think I need it more than he does, he seems to pick things up so quickly... It is just the distraction thing I need the most help with... Wuffles and padriac, I will try CDC if I can't get onto them this time...thanks for the suggestions.

Come to Canberra... We are really nice here, I promise

Awe loving all the kid and dog pics... They really do share something special.

I wish I was home to see it as I would have taken photos for sure... My son was home and heard Ziggy barking in the yard so went to investigate... The kids over the back were poking their cricket stump through the fence and every time Ziggy went near it they pulled it back, so he would bark and they did it again. My son was just about to step from behind the shed and tell them to stop tormenting him when Ziggy got the stump and pulled it all the way through and then run around the yard like he was victorious... The kids were yelling for him to give it back but none were brave enough to come over the fence and get it (not that Ziggy would do anything if they did, other than run so they had to chase him)... So tonight he is sitting here chewing up his spoils... That will teach the little buggers to torment him with their toys... I hope. For the record if I had been home I would have lobbed it back over the fence for them, my son is not so forgiving of them tormenting him, so chose not to... There is no point giving it back now as it is in about 10 pieces (and was when I got I home)...

Oh WP I am so very sorry to hear Henry has gone to the bridge. Rest in peace big guy.

They only have a mobile phone to leave a message and the website says it is to contact the secretary of the club...I have left numerous messages. So now I have filled in the paperwork that was in a link and have to send it off with his vacc certificate.. I am hoping that gets me a response as I have to send a cheque with it to join.

Thanks guys, I do see that he probably doesn't need to have a run at the park and that it is me wanting to have that freedom. I just need to do more with him at home... Snook what you are saying does make sense to me. We have been working on him catching things as a fun thing in between other training. This morning he caught the ball, the toy and treats without missing one thing. My son was home this afternoon and I wanted to show him how Ziggy is catching. Ziggy missed everything I threw when I said catch... I think the distraction of having Cory there was the issue because as soon as he left Ziggy. Caught the ball again. I think I had a lightbulb moment and I realise it all depends on the level of distraction around him. Now more than ever I know I need more help and have filled in the forms for the local dog training group... Hopefully they respond to their mail as I sent another message and still have not heard anything...

Ziggy will bring you things to swap you.. When I eat dinner I always end up with a few toys that he brings to me - to swap for my dinner. I think because I sway him food for the ball when playing with him or training him. I also swap him toy for toy (if I want to wash one or put it away for a while - like a squeaky one)

That is such a beautiful photo.

I don't think I am doing enough Snook - but it is usually just him and I at home most of the time, so maybe I need to take him on leashed walks at the local park before attempting the dog park.. Today the kids next door were running and yelling in their yard and he could see them through the fence but stayed with me and kept on with what I was asking him (stay, come etc).. So he can do it - I just think other dogs are way more fun to him than kids are. We will keep working at it. You may have a point Kavik - I guess it is probably as much for me as it is for him. I love the interaction with other people and their dogs and watching them all have a great time playing together and it lets him have a really good run. If there are no dogs around that seem insecure he doesn't do it. He plays lovely with our friends female stafford and every foster we have had here he is awesome with. He seems to want to be with other dogs - he gets so excited when he sees another dog. Most of my friends have smaller yards as well, so the only way he can get to have a run is to go to an offlead park. Otherwise he is just walking around.. I do a fair bit of basic training things at home but we need more, both of us. I have left yet another message with the local dog club about joining - hopefully someone will get back to me soon. I need to learn how to teach him and get him to listen to me. I think being around other dogs in a controlled environment will benefit both of us. Even the trainer thought that joining her classes would be the best thing for him but her classes are about a 45 minute drive each way for me. I would rather join something a bit closer.

One of my all time favourite pictures of Cory and Ollie dog. Cory was just 6 years old when we bought Ollie home and 20 when we gave him his wings..

There are two in Canberra that I would recommend. We have used both for our rescues and utilise their workshops for our foster carers. PM me if you want details. The lady I use is very experienced and helps out the local ACT foster groups when asked to... I will pm her details to you tomorrow as they are in the office.

I have been working with a trainer who is also a behaviorist as my new dog Ziggy has a issue that needs addressing.. I thought he was submissive and trying to lick other dogs under the chin but this behaviour escalated to the point where a couple of dogs got stressed by what he was doing, so until it is sorted we don't do free running at the dog parks. He always picks the most unsure dog to do this to. The behaviour said he is very submissive but he is also a bully, when the opportunity arises. His recall also stopped and he wouldn't come at the park when I called. This is getting better but the other bullying is taking some time... She took him for a walk, tested him by getting him to do certain things. She had a few of her dogs here and tested him with them. He made a bee line for an unsecure blue cattle dog and got right in his face... It was totally amazing to watch and once she showed me how to deal with him it made a heaps of difference to his one on one meetings... Sadly I don't have the group thing sorted yet ut we are getting there. Ziggy is a pound rescue and we got him last November when he was about 6 months old... So I sort of had to expect some issues as most dogs in the pound don't end up there because they are model doggy citizens.

I agree T.. They can't all be saved and honestly, some shouldn't be... Often through no fault of their own but because they have become a product of the toads who raised them and then dumped them... I wish there was no reason for rescue. I wish for the day when breeding is done responsibly by everyone (as much as I hate BYB, I have accepted they will never go away)... I know there are plenty of wonderful breeders out there but sadly I think for every good breeder there is probably half a dozen that don't care where their pups end up... It is a long hard road to educate people. I don't know how many times I have suggested to friends not to get a dog because they don't have the time and just because the kids want one is not reason enough... Then the poor dog ends up in the backyard because it is untrained, then becomes unwanted... Not much of a life for mans best friend hey!

It actually is a human anti rejection drug originally used for transplant patients called Cyclosporine. Its cost is based on weight, so for my 30kg dog it works out to $360 a month. Any good (reasonably priced) Holistic vets recommended in Victoria eastern suburbs? Oh sorry to hear that. I can sympathise with the cost for medication - our old stafford had cancer for 6 years before he passed. We stopped adding it up after about the $15000 mark. Chemo is expensive and he was holistically treated as well. Then on other supplements and drugs because of the chemo.. I hope you find a solution that is cheaper but sometimes there just isn't one

What a spunk!!! I hope we see a lot more of Rolf - love his name to.

Is there a human equivalent to the drug your dog needs? If so, the vet can give you a prescription and it can be purchased from your local chemist (obviously it won't be as cheap as PBS drugs but it will be cheaper than a vet can supply it for as chemists have larger buying capacity)... My old stafford used a few drugs that had a human equivalent and it saved us a fortune getting them from the chemist.. Our vet was happy to write the script.

Super news...

I will post pics when we get our Ruthless gear... I am very excited about it, we went with the lone ranger stars in brass on black leather... It is more that I have never seen a need for a collar at home and his reaction to not wearing one... I just thought it was a bit odd.. I guess they are all different and I know how Ollie used to love getting his collar off, where Ziggy is the exact opposite. I thought Ollie had his little quirks but this guy has even more, he is such a funny boy and an absolute delight to have around...

Wow Esky... That is good news for anyone dealing with this... It is always nice to hear the good news stories.

How heartbreaking. Poor little guy. I hope he has a settled night and can see your et first thing tomorrow...

He has great expression Huga... Love the first shot and the bath one in particular but they are all great...

Many years ago we bought an adorable little white stafford and before we could get him to Canberra he had to be shipped to my sisters place. He stayed there for about 2 weeks with her 2 adult Staffords. One day in the backyard the big dogs were carrying on and it was at a coup,e of hawks swooping on the pup.. Needless to say, he spent the rest of his stay in the smaller covered front yard until he made his way down here.. That is one lucky pup being dropped and saved...

Ziggy is very attached to his collar.. If I take it off him, he will carry it around until I put it back on him. Or if I put it on the coffee table and tell him to leave it, he will sit next to the table with his nose on the collar until I put it back on... He will even sook sometimes... Our old boy never wore a collar around the house and to be honest I would prefer it if Ziggy didn't either but it seems to stress him if he doesn't have it on. All this from a pound pup who we couldn't get a lead on to begin with. He used to run away or when it was on he would jump and throw himself on the ground... Does anyone else have a dog so attached to their collar? We have just ordered a lovely Ruthless collar and lead, so I am hoping it is not this particular collar and that he just feels secure with something around his neck...