poodlefan

Have you thought of visiting a vet? Something like a general spot treatment (Advantix or similar) might knock them over. I'm sure a vet could advise. ETA: Ivermectin works a treat on most mites but can't be used in conjuction with Comfortis.

GG: I think provided you understand that most of these qualities will be the product of socialisation and training, many breeds could fit this profile. The dog you end up with will be as much a product of your efforts as its genes. However, I'd add a couple of cautionary notes. Few dogs are going to cope well without daily exercise - even if its just half an hour. Few dogs will be equipped to become the constant companion you are looking for without more than a few weeks of puppy school and quite a bit of ongoing obedience training. Prey drive differs between individuals and breeds. What I'd suggest is that you decide on how much effort you're prepared to put into a dog in terms of training and exercise and decide which of the "social" vs "protective" qualities you will value more. Few small dogs are going to offer any kind of protection other than to alert to strangers arriving. JRTs, from what I hear, shed about as much as Pugs. Not all Pugs are going to cope with being out and about in all weather. If you like Hound temperament, is there any dog in that Group that takes your fancy?

Those issues you mentioned are real, but not Cesar Millan's problem. Any dog training tv show is going to show a side of dog training that appears much easier than it really is. Not only are they done by experienced and confident dog trainers, but as you mentioned, what has ended up on the cutting room floor? If people are stupid enough to act like Cesar Millan does when training their dog, when he states over and over again "Please do not try this without consulting a trained professional" then I fail to see how he's at fault for other peoples idiocy. I love Cesar Millan, I think he's a great dog lover and a great dog trainer, but his show is for entertainment purposes only, it's on the tv. But then I guess that's why infomercials are so popular, because people will believe anything they see on the idiot box. At the very least, Cesar tells people to walk their dogs twice a day, and if everyone did that, there'd be a lot less dogs in shelters, a lot less boredom and happier dogs all around. I don't see anyone blaming Cesar because people try to do as he does. What people are pointing out (or me at least) is that people DO attempt to do what he does.. and that's its a serious pitfall. I'm sure if Cesar stuck his head in a lion's mouth, some of his followers would try it too. What I believe is that if you want to follow a trainer's methods on your own dog, there are better candidates than Cesar around. However, I'm not for one minute suggesting that he's not a very talented trainer.

I'm kinda in shock about the whole thing. I honestly don't know what will happen if I don't pay. If he is still the guy I knew back then.. he will probably ask his nanna to pay for it. And if she will CW, I'd let her. The way I see it, is that if you pay for the surgery, he shouldn't be benefitting from it. Any chance she could come to live with you and Charlie now or is she not great around small dogs.

It's a tough one CW. My instinctive reaction would be to tell him that he has a hide like a rhino to expect you to pay for a dog you've been banned from seeing for years. However, if you don't pay for it, will it happen?

Yep, he's one of the lucky ones (and so are you! )!! I know when my Stafford puppies are teething (and they are now at 3.5 months of age) because they like to chew on anything that doesn't try to chew on them first. Rocks, bricks and wooden furniture are particular favourites! It's dead easy to spot a teething Whippet pup.. look at the ears!

Yep, he'd have fully replaced his baby teeth by about 6 months.

BMP: She's Victoria Stillwell. I think a general problem with televised dog training shows is the impression they leave that these 'difficult' dogs can be turned around very quickly. Sometimes they can but what the owners of such dogs who are watching the show don't see is all the footage that ended up on the editing floor AND how long it takes for some of the methods used to impact on the dog. There are few miracle cures to a problem dog. It can take a hell of a lot of time and effort to turn one round. I worry that those owners who find themselves in this situation and that don't see miracle results will feel frustrated or inadequate and offload the dog.

Soy's a pretty common allergen and not easily digested by dogs. I'd bin it. Given how it tastes, I'd be surprised if they drank it anyway!

No, it is not the whole point. The point is that people want to use his methods for problem dogs on ordinary pets. The steps missing when you do that are having the experience that Cesar does to diagnose the issue and to know just how far a dog can be pushed. Most pet owners simply don't have that much savvy. As Patricia McConnell (who believe me, does not need to feel jealous) explains, Cesar's methods often take dogs up to and over their bite threshold. If you think inciting ordinary pets to bite you is an acceptable biproduct of a training method, then you have a different approach to dog training than I do. Personally, I think Cesar tends to perpetuate the myth (not directly but by inference) that most issues with dogs can be solved by dominating them. Ah, if only it was that simple. I've read Cesar devotees on other forums explaining that any disobedience can be resolved by pinning a dog to the ground. I tend to think training a dog is a better option. I think some of his messages are great - particularly on the importance of exercise. Others, are far more problematic.

Hope they find him quickly James.

Could be kennel cough. Good luck at the vet!

A quick question please. This morning on our walk a few kangaroos hoppped across our path. Beagle went to the end of the lead and strained to get a closer look. I stopped straight away but felt that was almost a reward for him as he got to stop and stare at them. In cases like that, should I walk the other way instead? And call him after me, praise when he comes to my side? Many thanks I'd suggest you keep moving (could be same direction) and use his name to get his attention. Reward like crazy if he looks at you, not them. ETA: When distractions come up.. a quick "lets go Fido" and briskly continuing your walk will help. Howie my young Whippet currently greets approaching dogs by barking excitedly and spinning on the lead.. I use the same approach to keep him going. His antics are decreasing in length. I find continuing on and behaving in a matter of fact manner does help. He is praised and rewarded when his brain re-engages.

How to interpret showspeak: That judge is facey. That judge doesn't put my dogs up. That judge is very political That judge doesn't put my dogs up.

A quick question please. This morning on our walk a few kangaroos hoppped across our path. Beagle went to the end of the lead and strained to get a closer look. I stopped straight away but felt that was almost a reward for him as he got to stop and stare at them. In cases like that, should I walk the other way instead? And call him after me, praise when he comes to my side? Many thanks I'd suggest you keep moving (could be same direction) and use his name to get his attention. Reward like crazy if he looks at you, not them.

My vet's advice was if the two sets of teeth are there for more than a week, have the puppy teeth pulled. They can end up affecting the alignment of the adult teeth. As he's six months old, you could opt to have them pulled when he is desexed. I'd not be waiting. Small breeds of dog often have retained canines and they may not ever fall out on their own.

Most clubs are NOT like this. And few of them are run by professionals. I've heard some SA clubs use training methods from the dark ages. That's not the case for a lot of clubs.

Not only is this very poor training, it's downright stupid. Do it do the wrong dog and the instructor will be minus most of their face. Vote with your feet.

I would never leave a pup unattended in an open top pen. I know someone who came home to find their pup suspended from the top of the pen with its badly broken leg caught in the top. Don't do it. Is there anyone who can do a lunchtime visit and feed for the first few weeks? I'd suggest you put gates or close doors to close off part of the house and tie the dog door open so puppy can go in and out. Most of mine mastered the dog door in a couple of days anyway. You will really set toilet training back if the pup has to toilet inside while you're away. If the yard safe or can you section off a bit near the house?

I think any instructor who did any of those things at my club wouldn't be on the instructors list for long. Not acceptable. I'd be complaining loud and long about any instructor who pulled that kind of shit on my dog.. that's after I gave them an earful. If the club wouldn't act, I'd be talking to the RSPCA and the Canine Control..

It's often easier to reward the right position. Do you carry treats on your walk? Hi PF, yes I do. Ok, so tonight a better outcome. I left one in the backyard and took beagle out onto the street and started small, back to the beginning. I just walked him and said heel and gave him a treat when he was at my side. He did not pull once! He did go to the end of the lead but I stopped straight away as suggested here and then called him back to my side. He did this about 3 times in total. I walked him for around 15 minutes in total and included a short trip along the path where it is more distracting. He payed attention to me nearly the whole time. I was delighted! The cav was almost as good. He payed very good attention to me but a few times got in front of me watching me getting treats out. I lured him back to the heel position and rewarded him. So, I will definately be walking them by themselves for the forseable future because it was really enjoyable (first enjoyable walk for a lonngggg time!). Thank you all so much Glad to hear things went well. I'd keep that up for a few weeks and then, after both dogs have had a walk, try them both together.

You could add a favourite colour if you don't want to use your surname.. Blue Ark Farm or similar? You could paint your front gate and mail box to match the name.

Was he desexed fairly late? I've heard of desexed males achieving a tie with a bitch in heat. Sounds to me like you may need to separate all three dogs while she is in season.

No one can tell on the internet but how old were the two males last time you had a bitch on heat. It may be that the younger dog was happy to take a followers role before but now he's older and still entire, he's prepared to take your older boy on.

Based on that information I'd not hazard a guess. You probably need someone to see them to establish what the dynamic is. Is the female due to come in season? Any reason why any of them need to be entire? Were the other female dogs undesexed? I'd be separating the males until you figure out what's happening.