megan_

You can click or say yes - dogs are smart enough to know both of you condition them. LAT has literally changed Lucy and my life. I don't mark anymore - she understands the game well enough and offers the behaviour without prmolting. I still say "who's that". I wait for her to look rather than pointing things out to her - works for us.

Why are you even vaccinating for KC? mine only get this do they can train at agility clubs. If it wasn't required for these they wouldn't get it. Largo is every three years.

oh and if you go to a breeder, go to one that picks out the dog for you based on your lifestyle, not one that just let's you pick the dog. I'm always amazed at breeders who day all pups are sold when they're a few weeks old and they don't even know the personalities of the dogs yet.

A friend has a smooth collie from a very highly regarded breeder (recommended by many collie people). My friend is an excellent owner but I have never met a more weak nerves dog in my life. This is a dog that falls to pieces if there is a slight bang outside and takes days to recover. Get the dog that you want. There is risk in everything. Some pups are just not right. Some rescues aren't either. If you go to a great breeder (not just one with lots of ribbons) or a great rescue (that temp tests the dogs and fosters them) then you are giving yourself the best chance of success. There are fantastic rescue dogs out there that had shitty owners - not their fault. I believe that 4 of cosmolo's 5 dogs are rescues and they are brilliant examples of calm, well behave, well trained dogs. Dogs are living creatures who have feelings, moods etc. There are NO certainties.

for LAT you mark the dog looking at the object, they then redirect to you got the reward. It is not a watch command. Nothing wrong with a clicker - great for marking an exact moment in time without emotion in your voice. I use both verbal markers and a clicker for different things.

K9pro sells a really one. Not designed for gripping but really razzes the dogs up. ETA: they have two: a traditional one and a very colourful one. I have the latter and love it.

For research, that's why? I play and wrestle with my dogs - well one of them. I invite them to play and they can always move away. They are never held down. I pish and growl and i get mouthed - never, ever has he hurt of even scratched me. It is an important part of our relationship and is very useful for getting the riled up for agility.

Petplan doesn't exclude illnesses after the first occurance (provided you were insured when it happened). Many of the cheaper ones do

I am so sorry for your loss. I feel like I knew grumpy even though I never met him.

I haven't had a dog die before, but I will breakage them and spread their ashes at their favourite places. I will take lucy's ashes to places she would have loved but couldn't go due to fear issues.

Petplan covers ongoing conditions after the first year with the limit being reset annually. The savings account is great as long as you don't have to claim, and even then it only works out if you don't have something expensive happen

I have a rescue dog and petplan has paid put all the claims. They only wanted the history from when I got her. They have even paid for blood tests to be sent to Jean dodds in the US (they're about the same price as Aussie ones$. The downside is that they are a bit more expensive and take ages to pay. If your dog gets sick on a weekend you're looking at about $1000 to stay overnight - and that I'd before they do anything. OCD had over $6000 paid - worth it. I wish it wasn't!

Yes - and yet it is hard to fine a foundations obedience course. They exist in agility though. PME - if you go to Michael ellis' website you can view his intro lecture - it takes about an hour - for free.

When you go to agility training and your sister has started training to and so you have to stay in the crate for 10 mins while your sister is getting a run . I got my revenge by chewing through the crate and running onto the field - and I'm crate trained! When you have like 20 toys and your sister takes the one toy that you MUST have. When your mum will let you sleep on her bed but not on her pillow. When your mum won't let you eat her eczema cream. It is delicious.

When you get two great toys from DOL secret Santa and you can't decide which one to play with

I love, love the name Thundercleese! For me, the guilt stems from the impact she has on Fergus. As I said, he has a great temp but is submissive, so sometimes takes cues from her. I feel as though I've ruined him a bit IYKWIM? He is perfectly fine when she's not reacting. She actually redirected aggression onto him once or twice over 2 years ago, but now that her reactivity on walks is well managed this doesn't happen. In some ways he has been perfect for her (she was terrified when I got her, but he was so gentle and gave her so much space. She would have hated an in-your-face dog). However, I think she would do better with a more assertive dog - one that said "stop being silly little bitch!". However, they have each other and get along really, really well. I have two well behaved dogs, even if one is fearful. They provide me, and each other, with lots of happiness. I just sometimes get the guilts . Funny thing is, if I take him somewhere without her, I feel guilty about that too!

Hugs to Bc Crazy and bianca - I hope the new meds give both you and your dogs relief. Well done Scooter for putting up with kids. Lucy doesn't know how you do it! I'm very lucky to have received the BAT book from my DOL SS (amongst a whole lot of other things, including a scent detection games DVD). I'm going to read it over the Christmas break. The games will be great for when it is too hot/rainy to go outside and for when I sleep in (very rarely) and I can't walk Lucy due to too many loose dogs. Lucy is going to take a little holiday to Cosmolo's after Christmas because I'm looking after my cousin's dogs for about 4 days. Lucy loves their eldest (a 15 year old mini schnauzer) but hates their young std schnauzer with a passion - she is very "everyone is my friend, I'll go up to them and play whether they like it or not!. I'll miss her but she really loves her special holidays and is always more relaxed and confident when she comes back. She's now really at home there too. Fergs and Lucy stayed overnight there last weekend as I babysat and when I went to pick them up, Tamara let them out the front (gate was closed). I could see her running around and playing with the other dogs, so relaxed, so happy - I almost got dust in my eyes. Does anyone ever feel guilty at how their "spechul" dog has impacted their other dog? Fergus has a great temp but is submissive and sometimes reacts to things because Lucy does (never reacts when she's not there). As soon as he realises they're a friend he calms right down, but I feel guilty for breaking him a bit...

Send a pm to baby dragon on this forum - she might be able to help. It seems to be fairly unregulated and varies state by state

Deelee is it a purebred? It seems like most small white fluffy dogs are called Maltese these days

IMO there isn't a "one thing" that you teach that gets great focus, rather a series of things that teach your dog that focusing on you = rewards come. Here's what I do (well, try to do): * ToT (with the criteria being looking at me). I also do a mini-ToT: hold food away from me, arm outstretched to the side. They'll focus on the food. Say nothing at all. Eventually they'll look at you wondering what is going on, give an instant "yes" and give food from the other hand. I then eventually expect a longer focus. * Build up a good playing relationship with your dog, starting at home and eventually moving to other locations when you have great drive and focus. When you're the most interesting, wonderful person to play with they just won't be interested in other dogs. The problem is that most owners are b o r i n g and dogs do get more fun if they ditch the owner. * It's Yer Choice: I think it is explained on this forum too. Once I have them showing restraint I add looking at me to be part of the criteria. The trick is not to push this too far. You want your dog to be controlled but very keen. If you extend the waiting time too long your dog will become disengaged and they'll learn "switching off and relaxing = I get treats". * LAT or a deflection (kiss kiss noise and then a treat) is great to break sniffing or staring. However, if you're using this often when you're working you need to examine your relationship with your dog because they aren't focused on the job.

I'm with juice. I think some dolers have had their dogs in trouble after they've hurt an animal that came into their yard? I'd check with the council (anonymously) and delete the thread too.

They would have breached their Privacy Policy by doing this. Privacy policies are controlled by legislation. They could be dealing with more than just irate members.

I follow her on Facebook and I think she's out of the coma, much improved and further tests are pending?

Are you sure this is legit? The statement doesn't read like it comes from dogs Vic.

not sure I understand this post correctly we are after all on a PURE BREED forum and I hope this is said tongue in cheek! I thought it was obvious that it was.