je33ie

It can't be old poo - he's a very clean dog and we wash his bed regularly. And I'm pretty sure it would still smell...

Now there's been some strange things come out of my Labrador but I've never seen this before! This morning on his bed there was a hard brown lump that looked like a tiny poo and I have no idea what it was! It was about the size of a small olive and was shaped a bit like one too. It didn't smell like poo at all, and was aa bit crumbly when I picked it up in a tissue. It didn't really have a smell (I was expecting it to be terrible and went in very gingerly! ) Any ideas?

When I said 'try anything it takes', I meant that I will try the training and careful introduction required to help them get along. If it doesn't work out, we're happy to keep the fostering happening as she's a gorgeous dog and I love her to bits. Sorry if you took me the wrong way. I would NEVER put a foster into a home where I didn't think the new parents could handle the dog. She has had basic training - we've taught her to sit, stay, down, high-five, roll-over, recall and she's learning to jump through a hoop. She learns things very quickly so I think she'll respond well to the 'gentle' training, provided her new owners have the patience to go through with it. Don't worry, I'll be asking a lot of questions before I hand the kelpie over. I also didn't give the whole story earlier (sorry!), the schnauzer is actually the next-door neighbour's dog who visits all the time. So they need to get along during the visits but it wouldn't be a permanent arrangement and it wouldn't be 'bullying' as such.

Thanks all, I'll go with an open mind and if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out.

Thanks, no, I haven't tried time-outs, but that's a really good idea.

No offence but if the dog isnt suitable around certain dogs then it isnt the perfect home. Are they fully aware of what you have said here?? Is its a std schnauzer or mini schnauzer?? Yeah, I know. I guess it's not the perfect home if they don't get along, but we've had this foster for months now and I'm willing to try anything it takes. It's a standard schnauzer, but on the small side of a std.

We're fostering a 9 month old kelpie and we have found her the perfect forever home - one hitch: they have an older schnauzer and we are worried they won't get along. My experiences with the kelpie and smaller dogs haven't been good. The kelpie wants to play (and by play, I mean jumping on the other dog, play-biting, pawing wildly) and when she does this to bigger dogs, or other kelpies, or young dogs, they all get along fine. But when it's a small, old dog, the smaller dog starts to yipe and the kelpie just won't stop until I pull her off. Is this agression? I don't think it is. HELP! How can I help her get along with the schnauzer so the people are willing to take her on!?!? We're going down to meet them on Saturday so fingers crossed it works out!

I'd never heard of a Basenji before but she looks just like them! She was dumped at Muswellbrook pound (west of Newcastle) though so I don't know how many Basenjis live out there on the farms ;) For those who have never heard of a basenji either, here's a pic:

Yeah we were thinking foxie - but don't they have short tails?

OH and I have been racking our brains trying to work out what our foster is crossed with. We're pretty sure she's part kelpie but can't work out the rest. Here's some pics - what do you think? Some pointers: - she has spots on her white chest - her tail is long and thin and curls up sometimes - she barks a lot and is very agile PS She's gorgeous and is up for adoption on the puppies page (under 'Zulu') at http://www.hunteranimalrescue.com.au/

Losing a pet is such a difficult time, especially when you two were so close. I lost my special girl in July last year and at the time I was having similar thoughts to you. I saw a counsellor and it really helped! I know it might not seem like it right now, but time does make things better. Give yourself time to grieve, don't make any major life decisions, and ask for support from people around you. When you are ready, you will find another dog to give all your love to (as I have with my new foster girl Zulu). If she has gone to a home as a Christmas present, she might be having the time of her life. Try to look at the positive: she might be seeing this all as a great holiday! I hope everything works out for you!!

We have come a long way in a week or so with Zulu! Today I was able to take her for a walk and she met two dogs and didn't bark once. As we gradually (and carefully) introduce her to dogs and people, she has become much more relaxed. I actually don't think she has fear aggression at all now (maybe I jumped to conclusions?) and the barking was more just a playful response to new dogs/people. I will keep an eye on her though and be careful in new situations. Thanks for all your help though!

This advice is correct. The OP only just bought this dog, and if she is having problems, she needs to talk to the people she bought it from. If they are not given the opportunity to fix things it is not fair to be complaining about one of their dogs on the internet. This dog has been in foster care, was it mentioned when the dog was bought that you needed it to be able to mix with other dogs? Were you told it didn't like other dogs? What information was provided about him? If you do decide to stick with this dog, HAR should help with the work you need to do. If the dog didn't have the aggression problems while it was in foster care, it may be that it would be better suited in a different home to yours. Just to clarify, I am the foster carer, not the forever home, so she's come to my house straight from the pound. I think our house is the first time she has ever been inside a house, as she had never seen a mirror, a glass door or a tv before - so I doubt she's had any formal training or socialisation in her life. HAR have been wonderfully supportive, and I'm currently liaising with them about what options we have for the kelpie in question. In the meantime, I've been trying out the focussing exercises and they're coming along well. If she goes to bark at the front door when a person/dog is walking past, I get her attention on me and we play a game. I also took her for a walk this morning and got her to sit for a treat every now and then so she was focussed on me (although she did bark quite wildly at a dog we passed!). We'll see if HAR can give me access to a behaviourist and hopefully I (and her new forever home) can train her into becoming a well-adjusted dog. Thanks for all your help on here!

Thanks everyone for the ideas! No, she hasn't bitten another dog so I don't know if it is fear aggression. I like the ideas of games for her to distract her when barking. This is a good idea! I'll talk to HAR to see what they think.

Bump