kayla1

Thanks everyone for your comments. I've had a behaviourist out a couple of times but it was mainly for his barking/growling when strangers come to the door, and not really dealing with other behaviours. I've done some drive training with one of my other dogs who is also high drive, but have never had a dog with this level of drive and excitability before. I've been working on focus and basic obedience in quieter environments and he is much better with self-control as he is so intently focused on whatever I have in my hand - ball, toy or anything really. Perhaps it was too big a jump from these quiet environments to the obedience club. He is brilliant off lead, fantastic recall. Still wary of strangers off lead but very easily distracted by his ball. He is much more anxious on lead. Cosmolo he is walked on a flat collar, though he needs more work with on lead walking - to be honest I tend to walk him more off lead just because it's easier. The behaviourist who assessed him suggest flyball, but I hadn't thought about that sport being too arousing. The instructors at the obedience club haven't really made any suggestions, but perhaps I need to see another trainer/behaviourist.

I've just started obedience with a small bc x about 2 yrs old, with the aim of doing flyball. He is extremely high drive - intense focus on balls and toys, very excitable, and also anxious with people he doesn't know. At obedience we have started off working away from the group to give him more space. His behaviour alternates between being over-excitable and being anxious. He barks and squeals and becomes very excited at seeing other dogs running, however if a strange person comes within a few metres he becomes anxious and barks at the person. Should I use distraction for both behaviours? When I distract him using a toy, he gets all hyped up (barking, jumping, spinning) as toys are very high value. I've also used food which is lower value to him and doesn't get him so excited. Some people have suggested using distractions for anxious behaviour and a correction (water spray) for the excitability. Other people have suggested using the 'be still' exercise for the anxious behaviour. I am working on his self-control at home and in quieter environments, and incorporating some drive training, and he is improving though it is taking time. I'd love to do flyball with him but he needs to reach a certain level of obedience before we can start. Does anyone have any suggestions about helping with the anxious and excitable behaviour? Thanks.

Thanks Paulp - I'm aware of the clubs that offer flyball but was wondering if anyone had recommendations about which club is specifically good for flyball - or perhaps there are no differences between the way flyball is run at the various clubs?

Does anyone have any recommendations for obedience clubs that offer flyball in Melbourne? Having not done flyball before, I'm not sure what to look for.

Buddy the foster dog seems to have problems with sitting down - he doesn't actually sit, it's more like a squat. He's a heeler x staffy, about nine months. When he came into foster care he had a broken tail, but was vet checked a few months ago and the vet said all was fine. But his problem with sitting seems to have become more noticeable. He will be going back to the vet of course, but in the meantime any ideas about what could cause this?

Does anyone know what could cause a large bald patch under the neck? It started off as a tiny spot about two weeks ago. This photo was taken a few days ago, but the bald patch has since got bigger. No itching, in fact it doesn't seem to bother him at all. The skin is a little bit red in certain places but I think that comes from rough playing with the other dogs. He's a terrier x, about 1-2yrs old, foster dog. The vet on Saturday gave him antibiotics (injection, tablets) and malaseb wash but could give me no indication of what could cause it - apart from saying it could be an allergy or a hormonal imbalance. It's not ringworm or mange. If there's no improvement by the end of the week, I'll take him to another vet. But in the meantime, any thoughts?

Thanks shoemonster. Might see if I can find a good book on the subject also.

I would love to start my dogs in flyball, but having never done it before I have a few questions! Do the dogs need to be ball focused already, or is this something that is built up over time? I have a couple of very high drive dogs - one (foster bc x) is extremely ball focused, and the other (pap x) I'm currently doing the drive training program with. What level of obedience do they need to start flyball? Is there any training that I can be doing at home to help prepare them? Also...which clubs would you recommend for flyball in SE Melbourne? Thanks!

One of my dogs ended up at the vet the other day - she had been outside, then came running in on three legs whimpering, and quickly became very lethargic and gums turned pale. Anyway the vet thought it was a reaction to an insect bite or sting and gave her an antihistamine injection. Seconds later she was itching like crazy, and red blotches suddenly appeared on her stomach and legs. The vet said it was all part of the reaction from the bite or sting and told me to give her prednisolone to calm the itching. Does this sound right to you, or could the antihistamine have caused a reaction like that?

This dog is a pap x terrier, about 7kgs. I don't necessarily want to chop and change - because the current toy is quite bulky and may not be practical out of the house, I'm just wondering whether to use a more practical toy now and then carry that same toy through to the outside world. But she may not go nuts over a more practical toy!

Yes this toy was chosen by the dog. But it's not really made to be a tug toy, and it's a bit bulky and awkward to carry - which is not a problem at the moment as I've only started the first module so still just doing it around the house - but will be harder to carry in other environments. Does it matter whether I use a few different toys that my dog chooses, or should I just stick with the one? Erny, is there a reason why you would prefer a toy that doesn't make noises?

Just following on from the other drive training thread, what are the best toys to use? I've just started the Training in Drive program with a small dog, very high prey drive. She loves fluffy, squeaky toys - I have one fluffy toy that sings and moves and she goes crazy as soon as she sees me bring it out. Does it matter what toy is used, so long as it produces the drive?

Received, thanks Erny.

Erny, PM sent.

Does anyone know of any vets in or around Melbourne (preferably SE) that do titre testing? Any info appreciated...thanks!!

When I initially got the Glyde, I was interested in the vet's opinion as to which he thought was the best. We discussed Glyde versus Sasha's Blend, and the vet believed the ingredients in Glyde to be more effective compared to Sasha's. But we didn't discuss how the ingredients interact, and whether one ingredient enhances the effect of the others for example. My plan was to try the Glyde and then perhaps look for a cheaper alternative, but then I discovered that Glyde works for Kayla and some other products don't. So now I'm actually wondering the same thing - what is it about Glyde that works for Kayla. Another question for the vet next time I'm there!

Thanks Westiemum! I've just contacted him but it seems it's only available through vets at this stage.

I can only get it from my vet unfortunately, I've tried pet supplies and online with no luck. Though if anyone knows of a cheaper supplier I would be very interested!!

It's called Glyde Oral Powder for dogs - contains chondroitin, glucosamine, and green lipped mussel. My vet recommended it over Sasha's Blend, though I haven't tried Sasha's Blend so can't compare them. It's a relatively new product, released last year I think. The only place I can get it is from the vet, I've tried online but can't find any other stockists. My girl Kayla has had good results with it, but the downside is that it is very expensive - I paid $95 for 360g!! I tried Joint Guard after reading the positive feedback on here, but it didn't work for Kayla unfortunately.

My girl started off using Glyde with good results, but it is very expensive. I tried a couple of other products which were cheaper, Technyflex and then Joint Guard, but she got worse with these. She's back on the Glyde at the moment, again with very good results. Haven't tried Sasha's Blend though.

I used it before switching to Eagle Pack Holistic - big difference since switching. Coat and skin weren't as good with Supercoat, not to mention the runny poos...

I've just switched from Supercoat Sensitive to Eagle Pack Holistic (Anchovy) and the difference is AMAZING - lovely soft, shiny coat now. Will never go back to the cheaper brands!

Thanks Lablover. The first foster came about 5 weeks ago, the second came in a week ago. Both quite young so very playful. Yes she is ignoring the quiet command - though looking at that article it seems I may not have been teaching it correctly. I say quiet, yes and reward when she is quiet - but I haven't been increasing the duration of time up to about a minute. More practice for us I think!

Thanks for your comments! :rolleyes: Erny, yes I have taught her to speak on command but am having problems with 'quiet' - I don't know, maybe my timing is out when I say 'quiet' and then 'yes' and reward. I'll try removing her if she doesn't settle after I say quiet. Kavik, yes the fun police - that's exactly it! The rougher the two little ones play, the louder Kayla gets...

Both really Erny - when she is playing she barks excitedly, but the problem is really when she is watching them play she just barks loudly. When I stop the two little ones playing, she stops barking - but the little ones love to play! I should have mentioned that this is the first time that Kayla has really played with other dogs rather than just trying to round them up. She came from a shelter about 18 months ago and I don't know her history before that.