megan_

Do all the rewards come from you? If so, it makes sense that she gets up when you move away as that is where all the treats come from. Have you tried a remote trainer? If you can't get hold of one, try tossing the rewards behind her when you release.

It is hard to say without actually seeing the dogs interact. Dog body language is very subtle and a fight usually starts with a few very subtle things. Some dogs who are normally great with dogs will fight to the death over a ball because they are resource guarders. I throw a ball to my boy at the local park when it is deserted. If someone joins, I stop (he isn't a resource guarder but I don't know if the dog joining is). Even though the previous fights weren't apparently started by him (I say apparently because it is hard for humans to determine what happened prior to the fight) I'd be cautious because dogs learn "when I see dogs, I get attacked) so they can learn to "get in first" to save themselves - even if the other dog means no harm.

Cosmolo runs a really good workshop on dog to dog interaction too. I walk my dogs at about 6am every morning as there are less off leash dogs then. Sucks in winter but at 10am the parks (on lead ones) are infested with off leash dogs!

I do, but I feed it sparingly as it is a saturated fat. I feed them the same one that I use for myself. I think it has helped Lucy's coat, as her skin would get flakey and it isn't flakey any more. However, I've also given her more fish and an Omega blend, so I'm not sure which ingredient is helping. The dogs that get fed Augustine Approved would get coconut oil too.

I'm not an expert, but I think you are tempting fate. If the dog has attacked twice, you need to treat your dog like a DA dog and manage it as such. This means no off leash parks. Ever. Even with a recall, your dog might come back but the other one might think this is a big game and before you know it there is a fight. I have a dog at home who, by your description, is much less DA than your cattle dog and I would never let a strange dog into her territory. This is where a behaviourist can really help. The key is to get someone who is actually qualified because there are a lot of very dangerous charlatans out there (eg alpha rolls, just let him meet other dogs etc). Given you're in Victoria I'd recommend Cosmolo or Erny on this forum. They are both very reasonably priced for the services that they offer. Also feel free to pop into the reactive dog thread. There are many of us who have dogs with issues and they live happy, full lives - they just don't run around with a pack of dogs at the local dog park.

Amstaff seems to be the new "unidentified bull type breed", especially in Victoria.

Why do people find it so hard to drive on the road without having accidents? While I agree the dogs should not have been on the street, the issue I have with joggers is their arrogance in putting themselves in greater danger by continuing to run past a dog despite it being common knowledge that running stimulates a dog's prey instinct. Sure people have a right to jog along a public road, just as they have a right to swim at a public beach or drive along a public road. But is it wise to continue to swim if a shark is sighted, or drive through a flooded causeway? How hard is it for a runner to stop and walk past a loose dog? Are you for real? The man goes for a jog and gets attacked by 3 large dogs - and it is his fault! I wonder if he had stood still, would the dogs still have attacked? I walk my two dogs with joggers every day. The have never attacked a jogger and I find most joggers polite. People with an attitude like yours are the reason we get more and more restrictive dog laws.

I use Underdog's training classes for this - small groups and Stuart and Tamara know I don't like dogs in Lucy's face and we've never had an issue. Croydon runs socialisation classes but I would never take a dog that had issues with being attacked there - dogs have absconded every time I have been there.

I use "yes" (you've got it right and now you'll get a reward and you are release) and play (it is over, you're free to do what you want). I want to introduce "break" though, but not as a true release word (ie you're free to get up, now run the agility course!). I also have "finished" (we've finished training, off you go).

Look up "Look at That" on this forum and YouTube. It is a great method to counter this but you need to be sure to keep your boy under the threshold and not push him too quickly

You must have a very liberal council. In my council, if a club has booked a venue then no dogs are allowed off leash, as the venue has been booked and paid for by the club. I agree with espinay2 - a letter with the regs attached is the best way to go. I wouldn't confront them in person because I wouldn't want to risk a mob with my dog.

Dogs - regardless of whether they live in a no-kill shelter, breeding establishment or puppy farm - need to be kept properly. Unfortunately, the puppy farm listed here most probably does comply with the relevant codes. The no kill shelter which you are referring to doesn't (by their own admission I believe). The laws for keeping dogs are very minimal (unless you're a registered breeder). Dogs are allowed to be kept in confined spaces and let out for 20 mins a day unfortunately. Re: the RSPCA, they haven't said they weren't going to look into it? For all they know you are the puppy farmer trying to get info on when an inspection will happen. They have said that they are aware of it. By all reports the RSPCA QLD are good sorts. Each state has their own body and they appear to be very different.

My vet told me that dogs don't fake pain- if they show pain, they are in pain. It's not like she has a history of surgery and knows that showing pain will get her attention.

that is the law in Victoria though. Even if a child is walking your dog, their parents will be culpable, not you.

It really sounds like dementia to me. Re: the blindness, it is possible to have night blindness and see well during the day. I recently looked after an elderly mini schnauzer and only when he came to stay with me was it realised that he is almost completely blind. At home, he knew where everything was and would chase birds etc. At my house, if he walked into something he would stand and cry and would have no idea how to get around it. Point is, your dog might be moslty blind, but still able to chase the neighbours cat. Please get a good vet - one who understands dementia, look over him. Please don't put a citronella collar on an elderly, confused dog - I actually can't believe that someone on a dog forum suggested that! Old dogs can be taxing - they regress back to puppyhood without those puppy eyes to plead forgiveness. They need special care and need to get their "puppy licence" back a bit. It is all part of owning dogs. ETA: A bit OT, but given it has been raised in a few posts I sometimes wonder if we have gone to far sometimes with the "don't reward behaviour you don't want" theme. For example, the leading experts now suggest that a comforting word to a scared dog is NOT rewarding the behaviour - it is showing compassion and can help the dog relax. Yet, there are still trainers who insist you must ignore a terrified dog and not "reward" that terror.

please move this to the abuse section as it is coming up on the feeds.

the K9 Pro ones are very good quality with very good buckles. I like the ruthless ones but I understand that they can be too expensive for a day-to-day collar.

I heard it from Steve- I'll try to find the thread.

I think it needs to be made more clear though ness. Humans can easily stop long term vitamin C supplements with no ill effects (because we don't produce any on our own) but dogs are different and many people don't know that. For a short term I think they are okay though - best to clarify with Steve.

Why is everyone up in arms about Caesar's recall? He DID recall and came running back to his owner. Andrew made the mistake of not recalling Caesar soon enough. As a rule I don't let my dogs run up to strange dogs, especially if they are in a group. I also never let my dogs approach dogs with resources to guard (eg balls or food). There are many silly owners who take resource guarders to an off leash park with the resource there. It is asking for trouble. Again, the issue wasn't so much that dog's recall (although it clearly needs work), but the dog should never have had a ball at an off leash park if it attacks dogs that go near the ball. Off leash parks can be very useful places for dogs living in confined spaces in suburbia. Not everyone lives on an acreage and I strongly believe that dogs need to stretch out and RUN sometimes. It all depends on how you use them. I only go to unpopular, unfenced ones and only my boy goes - my girl doesn't like rude dogs, and there are too many out there. I go at unpopular times and leave if certain dogs or breeds enter (breeds that I know don't have a playing style that suits my dog). I always play a game with him when I let him off leash so he looks at me rather than runs off when his leash clips off. I watch owners and other dogs like a hawk and only let him play with dogs that I can physically stop if I need to.

Maybe also ask Steve? My understanding is that if you supplement with vit c for a while then you need to give it to a dog for life. This is because, unlike humans, dogs produce their own vit c. When you supplement this production stops.

You need the blood spun down - not all vets can do that. My vet - monash vets. - arranged everything including the courier and the paperwork. If your vet doesn't do this then you need to organize everything yourself. If you need the forms then PM erny. I think it cost me about $270 about 2 years ago (could have the number completely wrong).

Is it crash tested if the dog is in the "boot" though? Is there more room for the dog to fly and hit stuff as pers asked?

Are people teaching different cues for wrap around tight vs jump long?

I only went for the weavers session but it was fantastic. He gave us all lots of good ideas (I'll explain more when I'm nit typing on the iPhone). If he comes again I'll definitely book a whole weekend.