Dory the Doted One

I get the sin-binning thing...I just do it different...if I'm rough housing and rough housing gets too rough....I just stop, walk away and ignore them until they can play nice. I have a dog that has issues with being away from me, putting her in another room would only traumatise her. Actually, I teach my dogs to have on/off buttons as a GAME we play, is how I look at it. Same concept...different term. (Jargon annoys me.) I'm trying to stretch my brain back to the days when I competed...I think as my dogs got keen I just kept training short sharp and sweet...or just threw different things at them, changed the scenario to keep them interested, rather than stop. I would try to build peak performance for the day of trial...if it looked like we were peaking too early, I woud back off training...still train, but do something else and then test the waters on the exercises I was trying to peak in short bursts a couple of times during the week depending on the dog to see if we needed tweaking. If the dog looked like hitting the bored button early on...I would cut it short and play...play...play...then quit for the day. Go out the next day and do a different thing...or just do more play stuff. Boredom meant I was getting too serious, rather than the dog losing it. I found games would get us back to being motivated and remembering at the end of the day, we really wanted to have FUN. (Score well..yeah...win...that would be GREAT...but FUN 1st and foremost.)

Hands up here. My housemates roll their eyes...and ask me if I actually do eat. They only ever see me prepare Dory's meals. It's not uncommon for me to load up at the supermarket... all these lovely groceries....and a bag of chips. Yeah...the bag of chips would be my meal for the evening. My excuse...is this...but I HAVE to buy takeaway...otherwise i will run out of containers to freeze Dory's dinner in. I'm only thinking of the environment.

WABBITS! Otherwise I'm happy with the balance I have. It's just when Dory decides she doesn't want something. The little witch REFUSES to eat anything but bones for breakfast. Vegie and meat is for Dinner, thankyou. :rolleyes: And the Cute Kitchen hand would be for ME. Dory eats better than me, cos I can't be fagged preparing a meal for myself. I can do hers anyday, but mine?

Dory can be a bit shy when she meets people for the first time. Once she knows them she is all over them like a bad stink, and is very good at remembering them when she meets them again. At home, the rule is...ignore the dog, come in and sit down. Everything is calm. (or tries to be..have 1 housemate that I'm in the process of training.) They only pay Dory attention when she goes to them and intiates it. ie..she nudges them or puts a paw on them. When this happens they are allowed to gentle pat her under the chin whilst not giving eye contact. Once that is done, she usually tries to climb into their laps. I recommend everyone have food onboard also. When walking out and about, she's on lead. And if she is uncomfortable I will body block a person or give them food, and always insist that they rub UNDER the chin. (she's great with dogs so that is not a problem.) I find it helps to explain to people that they are shy, and take a little time getting used to others. Most people will change their approach, if they don't...tell a fibbie....say she's a pound puppy, they automatically assume the dog has been mistreated and will double their efforts to be calm and kind. Again... Gotta love human nature sometimes when you can tweak it to work for you.

The old smells from your parents dog doesn't help. If she were mine, I would treat her as if I was still training her from scratch. So I'd be watching her like a hawk and if she is making the moves I would take her outside and wait with her until I've seen her go before letting her back in. I would be doing this whenever I visited new places with her. Dory is a lot older than that, and I still did this with her until I was positive she knew where to go and she had been a couple of times without my assistance.

You know...I believe in all this energy stuff...but even this smelt a bit hinky to me. Seriously.

Not speaking as an expert...just from casual observation of biggish dogs interacting with littleish dogs.....seems that they do this to ingratiate themselves, appear less threatening....and therefore get to play! I'm sure that someone on this board will see this as a complete simplification...blah...blah...blah...but I wouldn't be worried about the behaviour if I saw it in my dog. Many of the larger breeds I have owned have displayed this behaviour when they have wanted to socialise and interact with a smaller dog that appeared to be a little reserved about their size.

How dumb am I? I ASSUMED the puppy was already crated in the Bedroom. So...I would recommend the same treatment...I have done it with many dogs now. And I LOVE it. Wouldn't do it any other way now...unless someone comes up with something better. (Gotta keep an open mind about these things.) *going back to the corner. *

Hehehe...I used to have a vest that had large side pockets....with sleeves you could zip on and off for all weather occasions. Could even stick a ball in there. Is it considered cheating, to wear it in a trial? Is it considered cheating that when the dogs focus wanders you might casually make like you are heading to a pocket..but...oops...now that I have your attention I'm going to smile a you instead? That said...I got totally pinged one time for extra signally, cos when my dog buggered up an exercise that they were normally bomb proof on, I screwed up my face....I had NO idea until the scores were tallied and I queried my very, very low result. Far lower than it should have been. Lesson...LEARNED. I still refuse to be a robot, however.

But...but...it's called Great Barko....that is just not a name that inspires my confidence. I feed Raw anways, so it is a bit moot.

Ditto. Seen this too. That's one reason I left Vet Nursing. ETA...It might not bring him back, but it might give them some peace of mind and closure. If it was me, I'd be asking a lot of questions and asking to see his vital charts. (which they could fill in later admittedly..but I'd still ask for all avaialble data relevant to my dog.)

Ear Plugs? I'm serious. Might not be helpful. But when having dogs that are sooky La-La's with me, I push the Ignore button. If I can't then strangely enough, I have LISTENED to the whining and focused my hearing on it...and before you know it, morning has arrived. (Kinda like counting sheep)

Our whole lives are Histories of Reinforcement if you really want to analyse the reasons we do and don't do things, for other people. Even the so-called Selfless Act, has a reason behind it. I do a Selfless Act, because I want to feel good about myself. Or in the past, when I have performed a Selfless Act, I felt good. It's not tangible reward to others...as in it's not a physical thing....it's a state of being. Even in an abusive relationship, if you listen to the reasons why people stay there, we make ready excuses in the hopes for our reward. ie...They say the love us, they won't get rid of us...whatever...whatever...can only really speak for myself. I have no idea if I made any sense at all. And for anyone that cares...the expectation of reward here...I just like to see my name up in lights. Gives me a sense of self importance. Oh....and it meant I was able to procrastinate and avoid doing boring, but paid work. Wow...numerous levels of reward on that one. None of it cos it pleased anyone either...btw....

Have you considered a Holistic Vet? There are several that offer online services.

Thanks for the responses!! I will have to find a smallish local park, and hope that Dory is even interested in tracking in the first place. LOL. (she's food motivated...where there is a will there is a way) Although I DID once have a crack at it with a Minpin, with funny results.

Hey Smatta, I would still go, but be proactive about what you will and won't allow with your puppy. Remember it IS your puppy. If you think things are getting too rough, you have the right to remove your puppy from the situation. Afterall, you are the one that has to live with the consequences of things. So what if the nurse or facilitator might get narky. It's your dogs wellbeing. (but then I've stepped in before to rescue other peoples dogs from sketchy situations. ) Expect some rough behaviour, but if your dog is being bullied...pick them up. If you dog is being the bully, put them on lead.

Hey Guys, I'm exploring things to do with the doggles. Once...a long, long time ago, I used to do a little bit of tracking. Lucky me lived in an area where there was plenty of open fields and green grass where not too many people frequented. (yay for the country). These days live in a different climate....and not too much access to nice lovely green grass or places where 101 people haven't already traipsed before I've got my sleepy butt out of bed. What do you guys do to keep it happening in the warmer months? And has any one tried it on the beach?

Man...since when are Vets nutritionists? (You'd be shocked to see how much time they actually spend on the topic at Uni...but then...maybe not.) Mine have always had yoghurt...it's like anything...Moderation. I use natural, unflavoured yoghurt, any brand. But I like to go organic when I can. Try to get it as fresh, and that it is cultured yoghurt. I toyed with the idea of making Kefir Yoghurt...but then my housemate told me her horror story, I think I'll buy it.

Wow. Where do you start? It can be such and individual thing. I would start from scratch, based on whatever the dog told me it needed. (Which is not a helpful answer at all.) If it was used to being in a crate then I would keep it crated when I couldn't keep an eye on things. (which is what I do with puppies as well). I work on bonding with me, before I work on any full on obdience issues, although that is not to say they aren't taught manners should it be required. What surprises me is that Breeders think these dogs are going to make even halfway decent show dogs with no socialisation. But then again...take it to enough shows and it will get habituated to that scenario and could look like any 'normal', 'well socialised' dog.

I juice vegies and give the pulp and the juice. Whatever vegies come to hand or are on special. The only ones I cook are pumpkin, but I tend not to give this anyways. Then I mix a bit of mince or fish or whatever in to make it nice and tasty.

Hey K9, Thanks for the responses. I understand a dog at 8 isn't going to go as hard as a dog of 2 or 3. And it's nice to see them retire while they still are able bodied to enjoy some life. What I've noticed is dogs that love it LOVE it, long past what is good for them. If at 8 they are still pretty fit (and I've seen some pretty fit 8 + Rotties...owned one..who at 9 made some younger dogs look sick) and keen to work, wouldn't you? And why aren't we breeding these fit, able and KEEN dogs on? Or are we? I'm a long time out of the loop. I admit that. I'm hoping some of the breeding ideas and practises have changed since when I was hanging around the edges. Because they were shocking back then. Ridiculous and out of date ideas based on nothing more that what dogs were in the pedigree rather than looking at the flesh and blood dog that stood before them...or cowered before them in some cases. (hey, but you can turn that into defense, can't you?)

Does he like squeaky toys? Tug toys? If you can get him focussed on these things then what you do is before he hits the end of the lead, but almost, grab his attention with the toy and then quick turn on the spot, run a few steps with him in loose lead and then reward. You'll be dizzy with all the spinning, but hopefully he'll get the hint.

Okay...I can see why Security types would be focussed on if a dog was ready at 3 years it would be a short career with an expensive dog. I think it's sad that you would put your ultimate safety down to the dollars of what the dog cost compared to longevity in the field. What happens if the dog gets killed in action at 5 yrs of age? Do you sit and whinge about an expensive tool now lost? Or do you go...Wow...that dog was worth the wait and worth the dollars because he saved my life. The other thing I think is if a dog is over the hill at 8 yrs in the field...then you need to find yourselves some better breeding material. Or take better care of the dog. (Not suggesting they aren't being looked after...after they cost you so much to get to working stage.) Perhaps I'm too soft...too naive...whatever.......But surely there are some things that we shouldn't quibble about time, effort and ultimate cost of. A good dog is a good dog...and a safe dog...well...Hell...so what if he takes a little longer to work the ground work out. IF he is going to be a stayer in the end...a strong, solid, stayer...he is worth the wait. May life is worth that.

I did a short stint as a Groomer in Adelaide a couple of times. To be quite honest...the businesses I worked for SUCKED as far as Employer/Employee relationships. And some of their management practices with animals defied words. Oh...they talked nice to the clients.......

I love this...thankyou Anita. Too too true.