megan_

pets1.com.au - great prices and service. And they're a DOLer.

Gayle - I am so sorry for your loss.

I guess I like a cue because -purists look away - my dog has become conditioned to an "emergency" calming word. For example, last night I got out of the car with the dogs and my neighbour came across the road to speak to me. I didn't notice her until it was too late. Lucy went a smidge nuts. I said "look at that" and she looked at me, wagged her tail in a relaxed manner and stopped. Now I *know* that is the wrong order and I don't use it often. It it just nice to know I have a phrase for emergency situations.

I don't mind taking a poodle to a groomer to be clipped every 4 to 6 weeks. Probably keep a poodle in a lamb trim and brush often. I love the toy poodle so cute my mum loves them too, My boyfriend on the other hand doesn't like them to him they look to girly. Remember that will be ~$50 - 60 per groom, and that is if you find a cheapie

Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but I think it is because you click when the dog looks at the stimuli (but doesn't react), then you treat when the dog turns to you. Some people just use "look". This thread has encouraged me to start to do a bit of this with my girl, who is easily distracted this. Plus you can use any words you want (as long as you are consistent) due to dogs not having a good knowledge of English. My girl is reactive and if I started again I'd say something like "Stay Calm!" so that people around me would know what I was doing. At the moment I use "who's that?" and I've occasionally had someone tell me their name!

I am so sorry. I hope you find comfort in the fact that you gave her peace.

What Kavik said. You have to repeat this exercise many, many times, and use it before he goes ape. I use it with my reactive girl and now she often looks at me when something scary approaches, totally relaxed and happy. ETA: My (possibly wrong) instructions. Objective: Thsi exercise gives you two things (I point this out because many people think it is about luring a dog with food, and it isn't): i) Your dog has a new default behaviour (I see the bad/exciting thing and I look at you) ii) It associates the bad/super exicting thing with something good (I stay calm, look at you and get a treat). First off, when he looks at something - anything - say "Look at that!" in a happy voice. Because your dog gets excited and not scared, I'd make it a calm happy voice. Then shove a treat in his mouth (something that is easy to eat, tiny and soft). Repeat a few times. Then, when you think he's got the idea, say "Look at that" and wait a second. If he looks at you he's got it (I get a treat when she says that). If not, repeat more. Then use it when out and about. The trick is to say "Look at that" the nano second he looks at something that normally excites him - you want him to look at you *before* he gets excited and fixates on the other dogs. Thsi might mean that you play the game when the dog is 20m away and keep on playing. If someone is in the distance, I use a combo of "Look at that", treat, "sit", treat, "drop", treat, "look at that", treat etc etc to maintain my dogs focus and keep her working. A working dog is far less likely to react. To reinforce the behaviour you can play the game whenever he looks at something. Don't be stingey with the game. It works because it is conditioning him, so the more you play it the better. And at least one person seems to know I like LAT! Edit on my edit: LAT is described in Control Unleashed, which focuses on agility but is a great resource for gaining control.

Have you tried "Look at That!"?

While I agree that it is your choice, I think it is good that vets question/consult people so that they make informed decisions and not just do something because someone (whether they be a vet or a breeder) told them not to. Mine only get the parvo vacc once every 3 years now, but KC annually. My vet spoke to me at length about my decision (1/2 an hour phone call, no charge but I would have been happy to pay him a consult fee for his time). Once he was happy that I understood pros and cons he was happy to sign the vaccs certificate. If you have insurance and your dog has complications from KC (and on a weekend you might be out of pocket $1000+) be aware that they'd most probably refuse your claim.

Any ANKC associate can compete in obedience and agility. Outside of Qld, that's been the case ever since I became involved. How is that ia "privilege"? You pay your money, you register your dog and you are entitled to enter alongside any other ANKC registered dog. agree. Also, if you want to encourage pedigree dog ownership, then including people is the way to go. People then see the pedigreed dogs compete and may get one as their next dog. Excluding most people from participating isn't the way to encourage pedigree dog ownership. There are also many purebreds without pedigrees (eg rescues where the breeder is unkown).

The op said it was a public park??? If someone wishes to train their dog in prey drive using a tug reward then that's their business. Why shouldn't they be able to do this around other dogs, at a dog club? The OP is not refering to uncontrolled play in some random offleash park. She was attempting to warm her dog up in a fenced training area.

playing tug is very different from playing with a toy though. Tug is very rousing and even well socialised, well behaved dogs can become very roused when playing tug. I wouldn't play tug with my dog when others were near by. Many public places get leased by clubs and when the club is training the place isn't open to the general public any more. Maybe this was the case? I agree that this should be clearly marked though. Was the woman rude? Yes. Should all dogs be under effective control? Yes. Are most? Hell no. It is polite to ask before you enter. Sometimes, when it is still dark, I take my girl to a fenced area so she can have a run around. I watch at the gate so we can leave if someone comes anywhere near us. She does not like strange dogs that jump on her. Most dogs do jum though. Life would be a lot easier if someone just said "hey, can we enter?", and I could say "can you please wait a few seconds while we leave? thanks". Unfortunately dog parks aren't like that. People will sooner tell you to f(&*@! off than give your dog a bit of space. Sigh. My rule with uncontrolled dogs and/or rude people is to leave straight away. My safety and that of my dog's. isn't worth risking.

I have never heard of even the most pro check chain trainer suggesting that a puppy - it will be 8 weeks old, no? - should be wearing a check chain. Most clubs don't allow them until the pup is 6 months old.

Does anyone know about just plain HeartGuard, not the Plus variety?

I have one that is happy to let someone in once I've said hello and shown that I'm happy to receive them. This is my ideal. My other (who was abused, not an excuse but a reason for her behaviour) and she is very territorial. She even rips off the fly screen! She carries on like a pork chop when someone is at the door and then: i) shuts up as soon as they enter. If they are scarey this typically happens. ii) gives growls and then goes away iii) charges them - if she thinks she can take them on. She either gets crated now when kids/smaller adults come over for a few hours, or she goes on "special holidays" with Cosmolo if it is for longer than that. I am trying to use counter conditioning to help with this, but it is hard because visitors are often unplanned and you have to focus on your guests and not your crazy dog. I'm actually thinking of hiring my nephew to come over for a few hours, ring the bell, come in, click treat repeat repeat to help resolve. ETA: Have you tried putting her on a lead and playing "look at that"?

I'd love one one day - are you very active? I've heard you're the monkey dog

Jules - I am so sorry for what has happened. RIP Brock

I'm inclined to agree. As the Fila is a banned breed, its a moot point anyhow. But is it a moot point? Many people here say there should be no breed specific legislation, which to me implies lifting the bans?

yes - Lucy has grown in leaps and bounds before she did agility. At her first lesson she was too scared to even go on the pause table, never mind the tunnel. She now loves it and the tunnel has become a favourite. When she jumps on the pause table her little tail wags frantically. Just be mindful of the type of club you choose. A club with lots of different classes, off leash dogs, people running around etc might be a bit much at first. I take Lucy to a small club so it isn't too overwhelming.

Have you tried "Look at That"? My girl was an ex-puppy farm breeding bitch and it has taken a long time for her to be comfortable around people. She still has issues but "look at that" has helped her a lot, especially on walks. Just be aware that he may be cowering now when he is scared, but one day he might try aggression - and realise that this works very well at keeping things away! This is what happened with my girl - 18 months of avoidance and then she tried to have a go at someone. She then realised that if you chase and snap the scarey thing goes away. So it is best to try address it now. He might not become a social butterfly, but using counter-conditioning might help him learn that the scarey people aren't that scarey after all.

Haha your mum makes you wear girly pj's. Luv Fergus and Lucy

it also seems to be promoting irresponsible breeding - I think last year's winner had all sorts of health issues.

Also remember to click lots and lots of things. When she is sitting, standing, looking. When you are sitting, standing. Inside. Outside. In the car etc. This is so that there is no pattern other than "click = treat". Too many people only charge the clicker when their dog is sitting and the dog thinks "sit = click = treat".

lilli - hte OP stated that she meant breeding for HA and DA agression - not weariness, protection etc, but unprovoked aggression.

Most people are living in the 'burbs though. My dog doesn't try to randomly attack humans or other dogs. He isn't dumbed down. this thread is about breeders breeding for aggression in particular. Who thinks this is okay? If dogs are going to continue to live in the suburbs then they do have to live within certain rules. It is actually the "oh, dogs do that" attitude that will see dogs being banned IMO. Dogs that live within social norms with responsible owners don't seem to cause too many people angst?? YEs, there are dog haters out there, but they are in the minority. REsponsible owners who walk their dogs on leash, teach their dogs recall, cross the road/move off the pavement to make way for people don't seem to bother most.