poodlefan

His loss then I reckon. I don't think much of the advice you were given. A fair proportion of hounds are not scent hounds and don't tend to roam. It can't happen anyway if your dog is kept in appropriate fencing. I hope you don't think you can let your toy breed pup have free range. I know toys who do both of the things you mention here.. .buggering off and duck chasing.

Thanks for the advice, we have been useing TOT for about 8 months now and do a bit of NILIF, like he has to sit before I open the door to let him in, had to drop before being allowed to get out of the car. had to sit and stay when I throw his ball for fetch. What else is there I could do? In the GSD thread someone said he might be hearing noises outside that we can hear. We have new neighbours 2 door up who have a 2 cats with a bells on and they let them roam, it is possible he could be hearing their bells as they are running the street? Yes, but it doesn't help with his reaction to your friend.. and that's what I'd be focussing on.

I'm tall and my dogs are on the short side. I walk them with 5 foot mountain leads (usually those leads are clipped around my body most of the time) and obedience train them on 3 foot mountain leads. I find 4 foot a bit short to clip around me ETA: For agility trials, I use a show lead and no collar. My dogs run nekid. For training I use a 5 footer or what ever is crashing around in the car.

Daggles: Maturity? I'd be seeking some professional help with this one. Does your GSD get out and about a lot? How actively have you continued to socialise him since he was a puppy? Do you do some kind of regular training with him?

There is a definite link between obesity and ACL rupture. I'll defer to the experts but I'd have thought lack of muscle bulk/tone would place additonal stress on the ligament.

I feed my dogs when I get home from work.

Ptolemy would be the Perth DOLer to ask about competition obedience training. Hopefully she'll be along to post in the thread.

My dogs like cheese. It is a popular training treat. However, it would be nice if people ask before they give your dogs treats.

My immediate thoughts are that this dog should NOT be socialised with other dogs unless it's under the supervision of a competent, qualified behaviorist. If you are thinking of adding another pup to the family, the best way to go is to seek professional advice about this dog FIRST. Other dog owners wouldn't appeciate you using their dogs as guinea pigs anyway, no matter how careful you're planning to be. ETA: Internet diagnosis of aggression is fraught with danger but the body language you are describing (very upright) suggests dominance may be at work here.

My vets advice was that any tooth that's overlapping an adult one for more than a week should be pulled. They don't always fall out on their own, no matter how much the dog pulls or chews.

Sue Hogben is in Perth but I'm not sure where. I'd kill to have private lessons with her. It's a bit too far from Canberra though.

Must be something about Adelaide Royal. Lil peed in the ring in the agility there. Never done it before or since. I told the judge (who I knew) that it must have been some kind of comment on the course. Lil dragged herself over the first couple of obstacles, did a long pee by the table and came home like a freight train. Good luck in agility!

I think you need to take a few steps back.. Take her out and stay with her until she goes. Take her out when she wakes, after meals and after play. I think it's safe to say that she doesn't have a clear idea of what's required. If you've been expecting her to last through the night since you got her, I think that expectation was unrealistic. You could consider introducing her to crate training but that would require more effort to take her out. You could also consider a dog door.

I visited my dogs old groomer today and she showed me a new product she's using. Cowboy Magic detangler is available from equestrian suppliers. It was made for use on horses manes and tails but she says its amazing on matts.

A dog doesn't have to be entire to compete in agility. However, early desexing alters the growth pattern of all dogs and male dogs in particular may grow taller and have less bone if desexed early. The growth plates of dogs desexed before puberty close later, and some bones will be longer - that can have an impact on ligaments etc. At least one notable canine sports vet recommends agility dogs not be desexed before 14 months of age. ETA quote from her article:

There's no reason why the puppy couldn't have a vasectomy if the breeder is adamant about the pup being sterile before going to a new home. I'd not be wanting any breed of dog desexed at 8 weeks, let alone a large one but I understand from a welfare perspective why rescue organisations do it.

Pancreatitis is linked to obesity. With an estimated 40% of Australian dogs now obese, I'd be looking at that also for any upward trend in pancreatitis. You'd no doubt be aware that Miniature Schnauzers are noted as a breed predisposed to pancreatitis due to a breed related altered fat metabolism. If the dog is over weight, getting too much fat in its diet and has a metabolic disorder, then no matter what it is fed, this may be the result. The only dog I know with pancreatitis is not BARF fed. Table scraps are one of the most common triggers for a pancreatitis bout. Witness the vets cages full of dogs suffering pancreatitis at Christmas from too many treats and ham scraps.

A&D: Humans are a lot bigger than dogs. Drugs that are safe for humans may not be safe for dogs (paracetamol being the obvious example) even in relatively small doses. The only advice I'd be listening to would be veterinary advice.

Get one with a cover.. only has a small hole for drinking in it.

A "real dog" is apparently what ever the person who says you ain't got one has.

I'm frequently told that my poodles aren't "real dogs". Many breeds suffer from negative stereotypes.. ask any Pitbull owner. You will have to think outside the square training a Sibe. You'll learn a lot.

HP: The best way to deal with detractors is to prove them wrong. Success is always the best revenge. Your average dog club trainer will see a lot of Sibes bought by novice owners "because they look like wolves" and has to deal with people who don't understand why their dog isn't doing and may never do what the Border Collies and Golden Retrievers are doing. Frankly the limitation factors are often at the owners end of the leash. Sibes aren't usually easy to train, few will be drilled and many have high prey drive that makes them switch off to everything when they are in hunt mode. That doesnt' make them "untrainable".. for an owner who's prepared to step up. There are Sibes out there who are trained by talented owners to do a great many things.

So sorry to hear this Fifi Run free Tamsyn.

I use Michael for blade sharpening and have also bought scissors from him. Bummer that he's no longer in Warrramanga - that was two suburbs over.

Yep, sensible food storage and handling practices and regular hand washing should see you right - no matter what diet you feed. Having seen what most dogs will willingly scavenge on walks, what they get from their bowls is nothing! I have read about BARF feeders who bleach everything within an inch of its life after food prep but decent hygiene practices should keep your family and your pooches safe.