Tim'sMum

That's a rather arrogant statement! Nowhere did I state an exception should be made for him. His owners are concerned with his behaviour and have asked for advice. They are not idiots and are concerned about other walkers.........that's why I asked for advice on DOL, on their behalf. 'Constructive' advice rather than criticism would be appreciated. The question was.........why would a dog, who behaves well off leash at the dog park suddenly start to behave aggressively whilst off leash on a bush track and how do they deal with this? They have had him for 9 months and always walked the bush tracks with him. This behaviour only started in the last few weeks.........and for no obvious reason. PS: Most locals walk their dogs off leash on the rougher tracks for the reasons I explained before. In fact, on one track you just about need climbing skills; rather diificult holding a dog on a short leash!

He will be on lead until they come up with some answers. The problem with some of the tracks they like to walk is that they are steep and rocky and can be dangerous and difficult with a dog on a short lead - the dog jumps off a rock ledge while you are clambering down. I've been pulled off my feet before too, although I find the long lead solves this problem with Danni. Tim is off leash on the more difficult tracks. K9 Force - can you explain about the desensitisation program; how does it work and where it would be available? Would his history as a rescue dog have something to do with it? AWL told them he was surrendered due to a marriage breakup? It worries the owner a lot. Another 'dog park' friend's rescued dog was recently put down as it attacked a family member with no provocation. They and our vet felt it too dangerous to rehome him again. This preys on Jack's owner's mind I think.

The strange thing about Jack is that he is fine at the off-leash park. Socialises very well with other dogs or people, comes back to his owner when called and is very obedient. This only occurs on the narrow bush tracks and all I have been able to suggest is using a long lead, which I use for Danni. They have told him off and put him back on the lead and gone straight home but as it could be another 2kms back home it's not reinforcing it as a deterrant for his behaviour.....he still gets the enjoyment of the walk home. Dali-love........the fear thing may be an issue, he is more secure on lead? All my friend said was he had raised hackles, blocked the path and barks with a deep warning bark? I guess some professional obedience training may be worthwhile?

A friend has asked for advice with her dog. The problem: We live in a suburb backing on to bush with lots of walking tracks. My friend and her husband both walk the dog (Jack - a kelpie/bull terrier/goodness know what X) seperately on the bush paths. At times, if he is off leash, he has confronted other bush walkers in a very aggressive manner - hackles raised, deep warning bark, and has scared the **** out of a few people. This has happened with both my friend and her husband. He doesn't do this when he is on the lead, only off leash and when he is slightly in front of either owner. The paths are pretty steep and rough in areas so it is sometimes easier to have him off leash. He is a normally friendly, reasonably docile dog and is a AWL rescue they got at 9 months and is now 18 months old. I initially thought it might be protective behaviour but as he is fine when on the lead and meeting others on the bush tracks this wouldn't be the case???? Any suggestions to deal with this is do you think he is better just kept on the lead at all times. Just an afterthought - he is fine at the off leash park - never shows any aggression to dogs or people.

So sorry for you LittlePixie. Bryce was obviously much loved. RIP Bryce

So sorry to hear that that both Josey & Sascha have gone. Sascha looks like a lovely old lady. 17 was a great age for a larger dog but no-matter how old they are, it doesn't make it any easier. Rest peacefully under your Lillipilli Sascha, and also Josey.

There are other types of training leads for pulling, so Christina if it worries you try something else. I didn't fit Tim's Halti tightly as he is a fairly quiet and amenable dog but even tightly fitted I feel they can still possibly come off reasonably easily, compared to a normal collar and lead. It all depends on the dog. Danni didn't like it and it wasn't tight or uncomfortable, as it is possibly too large for her. I just wanted to see how she went with it. As for car chasing with Bella, I had a similiar problem with Danni when we first began to foster her. I took advice from this forum and carried a spray bottle of water and squirted her every time she lunged towards traffic. It worked quickly as she doesn't like water. K9 force........I will ask my chiropractor if he has had any injuries from Halti's......he treats humans and dogs (after hours). Maybe, as I don't fit the Halti tightly, I can't see how it could cause an injury. In regard to Tim pulling.......he was terrible before the Halti.......has improved dramatically since using it and I now only use it when I walk both dogs to avoid having arms like a gorilla. When possible I walk them seperately but sometimes time is a bit short. If Danni pulls, he pulls! If I walk him on his own without the Halti he doesn't pull?????? : She is a bad influence on him methinks! :D

K9...........I don't necessarily agree with this statement. In my experience, Tim now walks a lot better on lead when I don't use the Halti. I would suspect the Halti has taught him it is not a good idea to pull and he probably won't need it in the future therefore it has had a lasting effect. I only use it now if I have both dogs on lead, as Danni still has a bit to learn with lead training. I use a harness with her. If I persisted she would adapt to a Halti eventually but I feel I need more control of her around busy roads. The only detrimental thing about a Halti that I have found is that a strong willed dog can get it off pretty quickly................not good near traffic. I also can't see how it would cause a neck injury. If a dog fights it enough the Halti would have come off long before an injury can occur. A sharp yank by an owner or a dog pulling strongly on a normal collar and lead surely would be more likely to cause a neck injury???????

I've had the comment "Why is your dog wearing a muzzle?" Annoying but understanable as they do look like a muzzle to someone who doesn't have a dog. Halti's are fabulous. I found that Tim hated it initially and tried to rub it off on the grass but he is used to it now. When I tried it on Danni, our foster dog, my husband was watching me walk down the front path with her and when I returned he had tears in his eyes from laughing so much. She hates it with a passion and fought all the way, trying to scrape it off with her paws, on trees, on the grass, my leg. When I bought the Halti from the pet shop I was told I could return it if it wasn't the right size or I could bring my dog in to be fitted. Tim is a Kelpie X and has a Size 2. Perhaps you could ask if you could take Bella in to be fitted but I would think the size 2 would be fine.

Just a point. A friend's dog had a hot spot on his tail for several weeks. He was on medication (not sure which one) but also a topical cream. It improved initially then got worse. They stopped using the cream and let it dry out and it healed up very quickly. You could try not using anything that leaves it moist for a few days and see if there is an improvement?

Has the Vet mentioned Cartophren injections for arthritis. These injections gave our old dog a new lease of life. Swimming is recommended as the best exercise for humans with arthritis so if you can use a long lead and have your Lab swim out of it's depth it would be useful. Swimming exercises the muscles without the wieght bearing on joints so should be enjoyable too. Good luck.

:p Lots of hugs Tybrax. What a beautiful photo!

I tried the Optimum on both dogs and neither liked it. It is unusual to see either dog be picky about their food. It's back to Purina One for them.

Can only add that Cartophren was wonderful with our last dog and I would consider it gave him at least 2 more years of pain free life. Glucosamine is good also. I only used Rimadyl towards the end of his 14 yrs but it was at the stage where I don't think anything would have helped much. I have seen a few dogs respond really well to Cartophren - wish they would introduce it for us 2-legged animals!

Hi Tybrax, Hoping time will help soften the blow of losing Brax. I loved your poem about moving to Qld.. Lynne.