Poppy's mum

What are Cindra products?

I think seeking the advice of a behaviorist is a good idea. An outside perspective can often help. She may be a more stressy dog than you realise. The framework a behaviorist can provide may be just what you need. The other thing to consider is that she may have an anxiety disorder that she channels into unwanted displacement behaviours. A vet recently told me that one in five dogs has this type of problem. This can be medical but the behaviorist should be able to point you in the right direction. As long as they are positive in their approach (no shock collars,dominance theory or phyical punishment).

Just curious. I've talked to a few dog trainers and no-one has heard of it (or seems interested).

The school I go to is boring. I'd like something other than luring used to train and motivate the dogs. We've had 5 classes and I don't think I'll go back - which is probably why they get the 80 dollar ground fee upfront. Didn't think anyone used check chains any more.

Only made it to the last day although I paid for all three. Enjoyed it and found bits thought-provoking. Really sorry I missed the other days, I would have enjoyed hearing him critique other approaches to training. I'm assuming he didn't just say (eg) "Victoria Stilwell is rubbish". He was a tad painful and arrogant perhaps, but as long as he's interesting I don't care. Seemed like Victoria insofar as successful dog trainer moves to the States and makes a million or two. Don't mind questions at the end otherwise some people hog the time and just won't stop and you miss half the content. Missed question time because I had to get home. That would have been interesting.

http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/ Great website. Some dog's live unmedicated for many years with epilepsy. Some need medication. No need to worry just yet.

Collar grab is just as it sounds - depending on how robust dog is, touch collar, give reward. Then work up to more robust handling and moving dog from place to place. In theory dog will offer collar, eventually, I think. Good if dog gets away or to teach dog that it's not punishment to be grabbed by collar. You can find some of the games in Susan's Ruff Love book and also Leslie McDevitt's Control Unleashed. Everyone seems to do similar games eg Susan's It's Yer Choice is Leslie's Leave It. Lots of variations from various trainers. The Crate Games DVD is interesting, too, although I think the term "Games" is a bit euphemistic for some of this stuff eg collar grab. It's just practise taking dog by collar and reward. You could call sit training "The Sit Game" on this basis. It seems to me there is a current fad for teaching using games and everyone is on that bandwagon. I noticed Amazon has books about training using games. The idea is to "shape" not "lure" because training using lures is outmoded and often the lure isn't faded quickly enough so it becomes a "show me the money" dog. I'm doing Recallers 3.0. Basically you're meant to spend a lot of time a day (forget the 5 minute recall) playing games with your dog, inside, outside and away from home, upping the criteria progressively. The idea is to focus them on you as the centre of their universe and the keeper of all the fun (versus the environment, toys, squirrels etc). I'd say it is excellent for bonding with your dog because you're spending every spare minute playing games. Bound to have a positive effect. Poppy whines for me to provide more joy! Not sure if that's a good thing. Can see how it might create separation anxiety by making you the dog's total focus. I'd recommend Puppy Peaks for puppy owners - shows you training Susan's latest dog, Swagger (BC of course) from weeks. Fascinating insight into the life of a dead serious dog trainer and the early training of a top competition dog.

Was the black greyhound ever found?

Thunder shirt is cotton t-shirt material but it has to be snug so it does make them warm. I think that's the lesser of the two evils. I've seen people suggest rescue remedy (chemist, health food store) on here to alleviate stress at thunder/ fireworks.

I'm going. Hope its interesting. I don't know much about him.

Just a tip for the gift card - you enter the details in the second, gift card box and it is the card number - without spaces, you need, not the pin number.

Anyone done puppy peaks? Or thinking of taking up the special offer?

Excellent service on this website! I got my parcel yesterday(Leslie McDevitt DVD half price), AND a $25 gift card!!! no strings attached so it seems. No minimum spend etc What is with this? Is it the best website ever? thanks for putting me on to this guys!

Thanks, I'll try those suggestions. It's just when I put eg the winter blankets away in a cupboard, I end up with a faint dog smell again even though they were fragrant initially. My dog's themselves aren't smelly!

I find I wash their blankets, put them away in the cupboard and before long, the doggy smell is back. I use essential oil in the rinse cycle - eucalyptus or lavender and omomatic in my front loader. It smells nice and clean after it's line-dried but the dog smell comes back -why? Any suggestions? And when I leave the car in the sun, well... No issue with the house itself, thank goodness.

The scab thing sounds like malasezia? For which I was told to bathe weekly in Malaseb shampoo which cleared up the scabs which took the hair with them. My vet tells me it has a distinctive smell -someone on here said like mouse droppings (ugh) not that I know what they smell like but I can smell it on her towel. If you're curious, you could google it or try this informative link.http://www.westiemed.org/health/malassezia/ The pictures are of extreme examples - so don't get freaked out! I haven't found anything else that manages it (on my chihuahua).

I bought some kitty litter that was diametaceous (?) earth. I use it to dry out wardrobes like damp rid. How does it kill fleas? I'm told you cant use flea collars on greyhounds because they are sensitive to the ingredients - in fact, I probably learnt it on here. Also some of the tick treatments (thanks Snippet for that info).

Thanks guys, that's helpful. It's for my dog.

Me too! Hoping I can get Poppy to focus and we can both enjoy training! I signed up at basic "Advanced" level and they said there'd be an opportunity to upgrade later because I want the bonus video and I guess I'll need a more permanent record of the course.

Am I going blind? I can't read the instructions on the bright green with white print packet. I get as far as mix it up then add the correct amount of water... What is the correct amount? Not sure if it's the colour or the tiny print. Can anyone tell me what it says? Many thanks!

Seems to be on now if you click the link. Postage to Oz is 15.00 flat fee if you read the link page.

I've not only learnt some new breeds, some new pronunciations but also laughed myself silly. No real problem with "greyhound" but you try telling a non-dog person you own a "blue greyhound"

I think today is still only Thursday in Boise Idaho... ETSY has also previewed a Black Friday sale. My world clock tells me it's 8.13pm there now...on Thursday night (unless i'm missing something)

There's a DVD on that site - "Dog Training for children". That might be useful - kids are so visually orientated these days and it's a good learning technique/imitation.

I have that out of the library at the moment (plus six others). The library seems to have lots of dog training books to choose from. It's a good way to decide what you want - sample then buy. There are thousands on Amazon and Booktopia, it's quite bewidlering. I also read the one by the Irish man "brought up by dogs" - too, too much.