Jigsaw

Get a squeeze tube from a camping store and fill it with soft wet food - should be able to fit through the muzzle.

I'm not familiar with him? What sort of training does he do and what's the seminar about?

This article might help you think about what's happening too. This While you're waiting for your Susan Garrett books to arrive, you could look at some of the many YouTube clips that Kikopup, (Emily Larlham) has They are a great source of training information!

At 4 months old she is still a very young dog. She may have completed kindergarten training but she still needs to continue learning and complete highschool. :) Every time you're with your dog she's learning and it's an opportunity for you to consolidate any previous training. If you're taking your pup to new areas she is less likely to be responsive to commands as she checks out the area due to different smells, sights and sounds as these may be unfamiliar. If there are added distractions like other dogs, she is less likely to be responsive to your commands as well as she checks these out too. Building a strong relationship with the dog and working on the foundations of training, over and over again, until the dog can do them, no matter whether your standing, sitting, back turned or upside-down :laugh: will help get the consistency you're after. Plus, importantly, giving the right reinforcement like food, toys, play or praise will increase the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated.

CC - both of these dogs are really nice dogs (owners are very nice too). I've been really impressed by their personalities and temperaments! Jazz has been competing at entry level in agility - I think he has a couple of passes. Our tracking season has closed but I'll be chasing them up next year when the season starts up again.

Does the fact that some smaller breeds have an area centralis and others like herding breeds have a visual streak http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s953902.htm influence the way that some breeds of dogs react to others, i.e., smaller breed dogs watching other dogs - misinterpreted by larger dogs as a threat? But is this due to the retinal differences?

Well done! A great achievement!!! I know a couple of GiDay Standard Poodles, really lovely dogs (Jazz and Zipadee). I'm trying to talk their owners into trying tracking next year!

Hmmmmm, this sounds familiar. Are you in SW Sydney? No Newcastle - so it seems the idiots are all located in Newcastle area. I just can't understand their mentality. The way they run the club is a major disaster waiting to happen. Class numbers are not restricted and there can be 30 - 40 people and dogs in a class!!!!! The other clubs in the area were basically started up by members who were frustrated by this club and guess what they are all the same!!!! Not a single club in this area promotes positive training and none will allow the use of a clicker anywhere on the grounds. Newcastle is still in the dark ages when dog training is concerned. It's soul destroying going to Newcastle on a Sunday morning. So many dogs who are disconnected from their handlers. I only go to use their classes as a distraction, but I have been told to move away from some classes as playing tug (quietly) with my dog is too distracting.

Structure is especially important for a dog that will ultimately compete in any dog sport. I like to look for a keenness to tug, but to play with you, rather than winning the tug and running off with it. Food drive, will the puppy take your fingers off for food or is it a gentle nibbler or just not interested. How much time does the pup want to spend with you and how does it respond to attention, petting. Is it a cuddler or running off to explore or be with its littermates? Lastly, how resilient is the pup if it doesn't get it's way - will it have a full on tanty or will it have a little protest and then come in for praise and treat. If the breeder has experience of putting dogs in sports homes they should know what to look for and advise you. You also need to consider the other dogs in your home and the lifestyle you lead as ultimately you have to live with the dog. Sometimes though, you just see a pup and know that that one is the one for you!!! :)

It is my understanding that dogs are negatively buoyant, meaning that unless they actively swim to support themselves, they sink unfortunately. There are some humans who are also negatively buoyant. A lot of dogs need encouragement to learn how to swim, some take to it like ducks to water. The introduction of flotation devices for dogs has been a boon for those dogs who love the water but can't swim or for those who are into water sports and just want to be sure. My own dog loves swimming and will often just continue swimming down the lake while I walk along the path on dry land!

After vet check and if all is ok, re teeth and possible throat soreness or damage, have a rethink about feeding, maybe cut his meals down to much smaller portions and feed more frequently. He is in a new environment and some dogs are just so overstimulated by the new environment they will take food but will not eat it. He may just need to calm down a bit so he can concentrate on eating. Maybe an Adaptil plug-in might help. He may be eating just enough out of the bowl to satisfy his hunger but is distracted by whatever's happening around him, even if it is a normal activity for you, remember it is new for him. Don't fuss over him not eating treats and don't keep trying to get him to eat something, he'll get there if there's nothing physically wrong with him. If he is a soft dog he may be even more easily distracted by things happening around him. Some of the food treats you're giving him may have a different texture to what he is used to as well, I've found that some dogs will spit food out if it is too different to what they're used to!! Give him some time and space, allowing him to settle and relax and you might find he comes back to the pig's ear or strapz later. .

I'm in the Newcastle area if your friend would like to talk to someone in the local area. I'll send a pm with contact detaills.

So sorry for your loss Teebs.

From what I understand they can be quite a hard dog on cattle, so might well be suited for cattle that are a little tougher than others like Brahmins.

Sophia Yin has a Learn to Earn Program - similar to NILIF - HERE - there's a link to a free poster on this page you could hand out. On the flip side Kathy Sdao has a new book called Plenty in Life is Free -Here - an alternative to NILIF. Dogs do lots in life that is right, we're just really bad at reinforcing it!

This might be worth adding to the Emergency Information thread pinned at the top of General so the information is always there for people.

Gorgeous looking dogs! They must have really impressed me because I had a dream I owned one the other night!!!

What a horrible thing to have happened to poor Sarge. I hope your daughter is doing OK Rozzie, after such a traumatic event.

I hadn't heard about the teeth. That's awful! I had a client who used to be heavily involved in dog fights as a youth. Not nice to listen to.

It is more difficult to read the facial expressions of dogs with heavier or excessive facial folds. They're still there but sometimes less obvious than other dogs. Droopy eyes can also make it more difficult too. Watching for whole body cues, soft relaxed body, hard stiff body, tail position, head position will give you additional cues to how the dog is feeling as well.

She sounds like she's in the right place now! :laugh: foster failure coming up?? :laugh:

He looks so very cute, resistance is futile! :laugh:

Make sure you give your phone number to your neighbour's and ask them to call you day and night if they see anything out of the ordinary around your place. Padlocks on all your gates just adds another deterrent as do sensor lights. If he's a bit naughty at night, crate training might be the go or finding a suitable area inside the house where he can be confined. It's possible some of the reports of vans etc going round could be groomers, walkers or doggy day care people picking dogs up in the course of their normal business, but there is always the possibility that is is someone doing the wrong thing so putting some safeguards into place is not out of place either.

I'm going to the Brisbane one this week! Really looking forward to it!

I don't know of any fenced off leash areas in Newcastle or Lake Macquarie. There are some near sports ovals which may incorporate fences but I haven't been to all the parks around town! This is a link to Newcastle's leash free areas Here and Lake Macquarie here Don't know about Central Coast I'm sorry!