poodlefan
-
Posts
13,177 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Everything posted by poodlefan
-
Where do you live? I think a home visit from a qualified veterinary behaviourist(who can prescribe medications) would be the logical place to start.
-
Small dog? Not planning on doing any dog sports? 6 months is old enough IMO and early enough to avoid her coming into season.
-
Gsp Society Agility Trial
poodlefan replied to rugerfly's topic in Training / Obedience / Dog Sports
I'd back a good GSP over a toy poodle on a big open course. We'd get you in the twisty bits of course. -
Gsp Society Agility Trial
poodlefan replied to rugerfly's topic in Training / Obedience / Dog Sports
Breed racism. ;) Poodles should be able to compete as 'former gundogs' -
'praps because he can LICK stuff off his paws and/ or, paws/pads are the only bits which have sweat glands (afaik) , so this sweat would help carry away substances ?........ Hopefully the antibiotics help The skin on paw pads is also a lot tougher than belly skin.
-
"Pre-agility" training can start at any age. Full jump height training should wait until they are fully physically mature (growth plates closed) and that varies according to the dog's breed and a range of other factors. My club won't take dogs for obstacle training before 14 months of age. My vet recommends no weaving before 12 months of age. You cannot compete with a dog under 18 months of age.
-
You could clip his feet like a poodle's. :rolleyes: And please post a pic when you do.
-
Do you use the same verbal cue for both formal (sit in front) and informal (just come here) recalls? If you do, train a fresh cue for the formal one and take a step back. Start the dog much closer. Get the sit in front reliable nice and close. Then add distance. Only reward when the sit is as close and straight as you want at any distance. And get the food out of your hands. Waving food around isn't helping. Reward from behind you (eg. bait belt) or behind the dog (eg sending to a bait plate) when and only when he has completed the sit. If he's never rewarded for anything other than that sit, he won't be twisting around. My initial view is that your dog doesn't understand that the exercise is "come to me and sit straight in front".
-
What books? My recommendation for a first book to read would be: Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats by Kymythy Schultze. It draws on most other major references and is well written. After that, I'd read all the Billinghurst books (probably starting with The BARF Diet) and Tom Lonsdale's Raw Meaty Bones book. I'm sure others have their favourites too.
-
Ideally, I'd say yes. However, try wheat first. My dogs don't get any cereals but that's hard to do if you still feed some dry. I'd be definitely switching to a rice based kibble though. Do you have a particular one in mind? And do you feed it on its own - no meat? I'm a raw feeder Rizenstar - don't feed any kibble at all. However most of the premium ranges do an allergy one that's rice based. I believe Eagle Pack? does one but others will have suggestions.
-
Ideally, I'd say yes. However, try wheat first. My dogs don't get any cereals but that's hard to do if you still feed some dry. I'd be definitely switching to a rice based kibble though.
-
Rizenstar, the first thing I'd do is eliminate wheat from your dogs diet. It's such a common allergen, I'd be taking it out straight away. I'd also be looking at boosting the Omega oils in your dog's diet. The next thing I'd do would be to track down a decent holistic vet and work through some alternative solutions for the skin problem. Skin issues are bread and butter stuff for holistic vets and they get some good results. Steroids really aren't a viable long term solution I'm afraid - too many side effects, ironically some are skin related. I expect that long term, you'll have more success treating this internally, rather than externally. Allergies are often symptoms of a depressed immune system. Additives like Vitamin C and E can help that.
-
What is he eating rizenstar? If you look for posts by Zayda Asher here, he has a couple of Amstaffs that he's had allergy issue with and got on top of.
-
I hope every person who reads this thread and who doesn't have a smoke detector fitted goes out and buys one in memory of Kelly. They save lives - both human and canine.
-
Or by removing the food, you deny the dog the reward for the behaviour and it decreases. Have you noticed how many undesireable dog behaviours are self rewarding? Barking, digging, fence jumping, fighting, stock chasing. My theory is that these kinds of self rewarding behaviours are extremely difficult to extinguish without the use of aversives. I have yet to hear of anyone who has managed to cure stock chasing with positive reinforcement.
-
I'd prefer to express the concept in terms of the result for the dog. A zoo trainer who's seminar I attended put it thus: Behaviours an animal finds rewarding will increase. Behaviours an animal finds unrewarding will decrease. What a dog finds rewarding and unrewarding may or not be related to punishment. Dogs also self reward.
-
I feed a raw diet because I believe it to be the best I can provide for my dogs. I'm sure every DOLer feeds the diet they feed for the same reason.
-
The key to avoiding puddles on the floor is to either greet her outside or ignore her initially until she calms down. Most dogs do grow out of it but keeping greetings low key does help.
-
Howdy Barb!! Hope you are well down there and wowing them with your post JW seminar running style. Not much agility happening for me at the moment - I broke my ankle two weeks ago.
-
Best Place For A Puppy To Ride In The Car?
poodlefan replied to pennyw74's topic in Training / Obedience / Dog Sports
Depends on the crate. Some brands have good airflow. They fly dogs all over the world in Vari Kennels. -
Best Place For A Puppy To Ride In The Car?
poodlefan replied to pennyw74's topic in Training / Obedience / Dog Sports
Get a plastic one!! Even the large ones are easy to lift. Plastic is good for the car because any spills are contained and you can wash it out. -
My Puppy Nips At Ankles, Growls And Chews Fingers
poodlefan replied to pennyw74's topic in Training / Obedience / Dog Sports
The first collar we had, I thought was too heavy. We then tried a Martingdale collar/lead which is combined and very light. I am going to try a new collar this weekend when I get to the shops to buy her one. Get an ordinary flat collar. IF she's a tiny pup, even a cat collar would do. If you've not been leaving a collar on her, that is the way to start. Put the collar on, once she accepts it, add the lead. -
My Puppy Nips At Ankles, Growls And Chews Fingers
poodlefan replied to pennyw74's topic in Training / Obedience / Dog Sports
How long/heavy is the lead? Does it have a big clip? I've seen some very small pups with some very heavy leads before. It can be easier to start with a short light lead - and shorten it up while the pup gets accustomed to wearing it. My advice would be to add a short light lead, put it on and ignore her. Leads inhibit free movement and this young lady doesn't appreciate it. Methinks that you're going to need to do some ongoing training with this pup - she sounds like she has quite a personality. Don't stop training after puppy school - find yourself a decent dog club and keep training her through her teens. -
Kavik: My thoughts also. This is all part of teaching your puppy self control and calmness. You should be able to get to the stage of sending him to his crate for a quiet lie down. Once he's accustomed to it, you'll be able to leave the door open and he'll probably just go there. Plenty of people teach a dog to go to a mat or basket.. very handy for visitors, meals etc.