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poodlefan

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Everything posted by poodlefan

  1. Blitz I forgot to add.. fatty mince is fine for healthy dogs - they need more fat in their diets than we do.
  2. I know someone who reckons BBQ'd chicken necks with a garlic marinade are delicious. They look far too much like fingers for my taste.
  3. I buy human grade only because IMO it is comprised of higher quality ingredients, and prepared and stored to a higher standard of health requirements. Or so I like to think. I know that it's not allowed to contain preservatives and pet mince is. The only time I fed pet mince to my dogs, Lil got gastro which the vet said was most likely a reaction to preservatives. I'd never feed lamb mince as it's too expensive. I get beef mince for $6.99 a kilo at my local butcher.
  4. Yep, you need to try to limit fat but I'd also suggest you add digestive enzymes to the diet. Have you discussed diet with your vet?
  5. Denver: Spaniels find birds, flush and retrieve. All hunting instinct is modified prey drive and it's the rare dog that won't kill prey given the chance. Dog proof your chicken run and assume that given the chance, he'll kill again. It won't affect his gentleness with the family.
  6. If he had issues being in close proximity to other dogs, he'd not pass our intake test. Why a dog might react to others is of less interest to me than what kind of reaction there might be as it will be the instructor who has to control the class and wade in to break up any incidents. I would also not allow a dog to undertake training muzzled. Even the best muzzles restrict a dogs ability to pant. That said, agility training should not be a free for all and we don't allow dogs that whose owners can't exercise effective offlead control to participate. In the early classes, only one dog is offlead at any time. I'd keep working on his issues and talk to your local clubs. The degree of his reaction to other dogs and what he does when he becomes aggressive will probably dictate how it goes. If you are not already a member of a local dog club, it might be wise and let people get to know you and your dog in less arousing environment so that they can see what he's like.
  7. Doggy dancing is a competition. So are frisbee, lure coursing, earth dog trialling and a bunch of other things you can train your dog to do. I find competiton is what drives me to train harder and to insist on a higher standard of performance from both the dog and me. It's not about beating anyone for me, its about measuring what I can do against an objective standard. Sure it makes you nervous but the satisfaction of achieving in competion makes up for it. We get the odd "I dont' want to compete, I just want to have fun with my dog handler" in agility. I don't have a problem with that but I do have a problem when that becomes the excuse for people who don't want to practice or train to a standard. We've got people at our club who been training for years and have never entered a ring but they still are happy to work at it. Sometimes changing your objectives WITHIN the competitive envrionment is what can make it more enjoyable. Going into the obedience ring, determined to make it a positive experience for your dog, is a great start.
  8. Diarrhoea is very dehydrating. Turbo would be needing to drink a lot of water. Another possibility is some kind of bacterial infection. Make sure you take a fresh stool sample to the vets with you.
  9. I'm no expert and this definitely needs a professional assessment but I'd be exploring a possible food intolerance. The eating grass and sand suggests something's not right in the gut department that's for sure.
  10. Frank: No doubt with similar tactics used to 'train' his dog. Go in peace Frank but don't you dare sprout any of that "the dog bit without warning" shite if your kids end up on the receiving end of a bite you've done absolutely nothing effective to prevent. If you could only remove your ego from this equation and realise that seeking professional help is not "failure" and won't turn your dog into a robot with no spirit then perhaps something could be salvaged from all of this. As I posted earlier, please please prove me wrong.
  11. I agree that this is one of the most frustrating threads I've read in quite some time. Upon reflection, I think it's title really summarises where the issue lies. "What's wrong with my Cocker?" asks Frank. He does not ask "what's gone wrong with my training" or "how can I improve my pup's behaviour" or "how can improve my relationship with my dog". Most answers tried to answer those questions but Frank really only wants an answer to his. Frank, don't blame the breed, or indeed the pup at all for the current scenario. As I said in my one of my early posts in this thread, we all get the dogs we raise/train. I see this attitude often enough on the training paddock.. handlers blaming the dog for training issues when both the problem and the solution lie at the other end of the leash. If there really was something "wrong" about this dog the only people who could tell you that are professional behaviouralists - the one option you've so far not acted on. I don't feel that this is going to end well for the dog. I sincerely hope and pray that you prove me wrong Frank. From the bottom of my heart.
  12. If they can do it in dressage, I don't see why you couldn't do it in obedience.
  13. Frank: Frank, the first thing you should know about behavioural issues is 1. They are not breed specific 2. They will not be overcome by training unless a professionally developed behaviour modification program is involved. You could be describing a startle response or resource guarding. Only a qualified professional who sees your dog in person will know for sure.
  14. How on earth do you "scorn" a dog?? Say rude things about his breeding. :rolleyes: Frank do you know anything about canine fear and the "fight or flight" response to it? My guess is you scared the shit out of this dog and by grabbing him removed his chance to get away from you. He defended himself in the only way you left open to him. YOU provoked this. Be thankful he has good bite inhibition. I know a person who got in the way of Cocker teeth breaking up a dog fight. He needed microsurgery to repair his hand. Please reflect on the kind of relationship you are building with your dog.. he's now at the stage where you've pushed him to defend himself. First bite.. and if you keep going like this, there WILL be more. Not a whole lot of trust in you is there. Next time, keep the dog out of the garage OK? One ounce of prevention. I'd personally have been more worried about him ingesting oil than getting it on the Falcon but there you go. He'd have had no idea why you were ignoring him within minutes of the incident. Please, please please see K9Force ASAP. Despite anything you've been told about the way your dog behaves, it's not his breed that is the primary determinant of his behaviour but his temperament and his upbringing. Consider for a moment the lessons you are teaching this dog. He's just learned to fear you to the point of self defence. Honestly Frank, I really don't see this ending happily for your or the dog unless you get some professional help SOON.
  15. I would start by doing my homework as suggested. If your dog will not eat raw meaty bones, you will find it virtually impossible to feed a BARF diet - that's what these diets are based on. Do some reading and start your dog on some chicken bones - size dependant on your dog. BARF is not rocket science but neither is it adding some raw meat and veggies to a processed food diet. Get it wrong and your dog will suffer.
  16. What sorts of venomous snakes do you get up there. I'd have thought the cane toads may have lessened their numbers. That would make toads good for something. :p
  17. Chloebear, I asked a herpatologist about it. He said that very early in the morning was the best time to avoid them and between about 9-11 am was probably the most likely time as they are out but sunning themselves to warm up. So far, so good. The couple of dogs I know that have been bitten were bitten in the middle of the day. Fingers crossed my tactic works - it has so far. Oh, forgot to add .. you don't get Daylight Savings in Qld. I think it has something to do with the additional hour of light in the evening fading the curtains up there?? :rolleyes:
  18. Me too. Not only do the dogs wake up, but I have to get up to walk them at 5.30.. snake avoidance tactic. Yep, roll on the weekend. :rolleyes:
  19. I anticipate that this problem will cease when daylight saving commences (unless you are in QLD in which case you are doomed). Your pup is waking up with the light. As she is maturing, she's going to require more stimulation than a once a day walk with a 16 year old dog. I'd be looking at some form of training to occupy her mind and additional exercise just for her. You bought a "high maintenance" dog in terms of exercise Marky - if you want her to sleep in, you'll need to tire her out. Time to add more exercise in the evening. :rolleyes:
  20. Look to the other end of the lead. Show me a "ringwise" dog and I'll show you a training issue. A dog that fails to perform in the ring can be reacting to a nervous handler (some people do wonderful undertaker impressions in there) or has learned that there are no consequences for lower performance during trials or is anticipating negative consequences for failing to perform or.. ... well a range of issues. Have you got a particular dog/situation in mind??
  21. What FaxnBear said.. a fishing or hunting vest is probably what you are looking for.
  22. Frank: Frank, please don't test that theory to destruction or blame the dog if it attacks the rabbit. Bailey has already demonstrated in no uncertain terms that he has a well developed prey drive. There is no way I'd leave a dog and a rabbit unsupervised, including in the company of your children. It's simply an accident waiting to happen.
  23. Sorry, Leo, but I am the best handler around.. .when I'm sitting in my chair watching others.. it's so much easier from the sidelines.
  24. They certainly don't tend to knock bars.
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