poodlefan

I was about to suggest that Shell.. find out when training times are on and go and have a look.

I wonder what "puppy from hell" is in Zulu.

Is this the link you were thinking of Bilbo?

So your vet ruled out any patella luxation? If you wanted to rule out arthritis, you'd be looking at X-Rays. But at Bob's age, it may be a matter of giving him some supplements to help with stiffness/aging.

Cool.. console yourself a little with the fact that gundogs are notoriously mouthy pups. FHRPs Polo used to charge you with his mouth open to mouth you as a baby. :rolleyes:

Did you read the links I posted pooch? Expect adult teeth to start appearing around 5 months.

That's true too! They're around 4 years old (rescues not 100% sure), she had them for about 3 years and they're a male and a femal both desexed. She's pretty sure that she doesn't have a leadership issue as they're fine as soon as she tells them of. She's here in Brisbane and I think she will put some work into her dogs as she loves them dearly and I don't think she wants to loose them as well. If they are behaving aggressively onlead, I'd probably suggest leadership IS an issue. There have been threads about good behaviouralists in Brisbane recommendations made. From memory, Monah has sought some assistance with one of her dogs and was happy .. you could PM her.

If she's honest about their behaviour OA, she might have difficulty finding a kennel that will take them. What are their ages, sexes and desexing status? It does sound to me like these dogs lack leadership, appropriate stimulation and self control. Where is your friend.. do you think she's up to doing some hard yards with her dogs?

Axe??? As in "Axe murderer"? From LBM's bio: If you're going to be training this 200 obedience dog that people wont' enter comps against (that will be in a couple of months wont' it), then axing the competition will become the norm. ETA. Linky for African Boys Names How about Daktari?? I used to love that show. I like Gamba (Warrior) very apt for Ridgie

I'd never PTS a dog aggressive dog without seeking the professional help you suggest Midol. Never say never about not euthanaising dog aggressive dogs though.. some are beyond the capacity of almost any owners to manage and beyond help for their behaviour. However, the worst these dog's owners can do is nothing. They have form, they've killed twice and without changes, its not if they'll do it again but when.

Hi PF and yes I do. There was a list around here, but I can't find it. It gave the english 'meaning' of the names too. Think it might have been in 'general forum'. I'll have another look later. Also, there's a bit of a theme for names, it seems, on the father's side ..... "Elvis"; "Pink Floyd". So trying to think of a band or singer with a great name that has some 'ring' to it, and that would suit. I don't know. I'm a bit of a blank at the moment, but the usual broken sleep that comes with house training isn't helping. Then we need to explore African singers/bands Mambazo.. as in Ladysmith Black Mambazo.. love those guys. Mambazo means axe. He'd be Mambo for short.

You can get incontinence "nappies" for her if necessary Jules. But I think a vet trip would be very worth while. She may also be having some difficulties due to her limited mobility..

Have her hormone levels been checked Jules?

I don't think there's any doubt that dogs can situate their behaviour.. witness the dog who will jump on and mouth person A, but not person B. I suppose the essence of the issue for dogs trained in bite work is how a dog situates it's behaviour to unknown people in unusual circumstances. Working security dogs can and do live as family pets (witness the two who live next door to me). However, how they react to known and unknown people is markedly different and not every unknown will be unfriendly. This, I guess is one of the reasons why there are so many restrictions on the keeping of trained attack dogs.. it's an automatic label as a "dangerous dog" and a requirement to comply with all that entails here in the ACT. We probably need some input from the industry/Schutzhund folk.

Here's a few interesting linkies on mouthing. Dr Ian Dunbar's views A bit more and a view on bite inhibition

How old is she again? Why will she need to bite? Never say never about kids.. you'd be amazed how quick they can latch onto your dog. ;) As I understand it from your posts, your dog is still mouthing hard.. just not on you. What lessons do you think she's learning about mouthing generally? around clubs and pubs mate. kids arent around there.... and at ohter times we will prob be sleeping the dead sleep of nightshift workers. i get what youre trying to say... but i got pros leading me here. Well I would definitely defer to the pros for security dog training but if you want a dog to bite, I gather you would want it to bite hard every time? I wonder how teaching a dog to mouth gently sits with that. ;)

GSD Handler: From my understanding of the studies, you can certainly teach a 1 year old dog not to put its mouth on you. Whether or not you can teach bite inhibition to a dog of this age is more problematic. The two issues are not the same. For this dog in particular, the rule would need to be "no mouth on people" ever.

Congratulations Erny.. He looks lovely. Finest RR Ive ever met was named Toomba.. handsome dog, wonderful temperament. Do you like African names for RRs?

How old is she again? Why will she need to bite? Never say never about kids.. you'd be amazed how quick they can latch onto your dog. As I understand it from your posts, your dog is still mouthing hard.. just not on you. What lessons do you think she's learning about mouthing generally?

sorry but must disagree. know penty of people who have dogs trained well enough in this. IMHO this will not be a problem with her, as she does no longer put force onto her bite. there is no intent. each dog is differnet i will agree. So if your adult GSD with a large set of teeth and a fully developed set of jaw muscles playfully mouths a child, how do you think that will be interpreted? I agree with Nekbet... it's a much safer bet for the dog to teach a puppy not to mouth you at all. I would argue, in an age where people are quick to see almost anything a dog does as dangerous, you'd be better off keeping your dog's mouth off you and everyone else.

You can start obedience with an overweight dog. No need to wait for that an some obedience will help with agility. There already some sibes running in agility in Sydney. Yes, there are all kinds of dog training/sports clubs in your area.. but you'll need a Sydneysider to point you in the right direction. I can't talk about the Sydney clubs but with most, you pay either an annual fee or weekly for classes, working up the levels of training as you become proficient. At volunteer clubs, instruction is mixed but you have some good clubs in your area.

Glad to hear things are on the improve.. it's so frustrating when you're at the point where you wonder if they'll ever understand about only doing it outside.

Where do you live? Did that advice take into account the coat type and body mass of your puppy? Personally there's no way in hell I'd sleep a pup of this breed/coat type outside at this age, but to each their own. Puppy would find it quite difficult to regulate her body temperature I'd imagine. Adults have an easier time of that. Dogs of larger body mass have an easier time maintaining core body temperature... the littlies can struggle in extremes of temp. Everytime your puppy eliminates inside, that's reinforcing that it's OK to do so. My vet's general rule was one accident inside gets you 5 more. In order to get her toilet trained, you have to be able to ensure that she is never given that opportunity. If you cannot hear her stir to get out of her bed then you're up against it I'm afraid. As until recently she was inside all day, you've got some hurdles to overcome there too. A few suggestions. Sleep her in a crate within clear hearing distance of where you sleep. This doesn't mean she has to sleep there forever but you do need to hear her. If she has the run of the laundry (which I'm glad to hear is warm because they don't call them 'heat sinks' for nothing) then she has room to move away from her bed. She must be stiring before she eliminates.. you need to be catching that. Consider installing a dog door which gives her (once trained to use it) the option of going outside to toilet 24/7. ETA a left field suggestion.. Buy or borrow a baby monitor and put that with her, keeping the other end by your bed.. that way you may be able to hear her without moving her closer to you.

Is there anyone you can place him with while the girls are in season? Maybe you could do a recipricol arrangement with another breeder or dog owner? How about kennelling him?

Can't help for Melbourne. In Sydney, Dr Barbara Fougere here would be a good bet. You can always email questions to Dr Dodds - she seems very happy to receive emails from people.