megan_

sheena - maybe you need more proofing then? you should be able to run away from the weavers and she should continue to the end.

Yes, especially if they are made from a soft wood (eg pine).

Sheena, maybe it is about the vibes you're giving her? You said that maybe she realizes training is about fun and trials are serious... maybe disqualify yourself first and then run at a trial, with nothing to lose. Vickie - the stares I have seen some people give their dog after non-performance at a trial leads me to believe there are a fair few people who take it more seriously than guru should

I am so sorry and will take a moment to think of you tomorrow. Please look after yourself too.

Hi dyzney, Unfortunately I can't commit to be there as we have a vet check up at 9.30am.

Could blow off the dog from the neighbouring table :) More likely to fall off your clothes into your meal though? I don't like dogs at cafes if they move around, harrass people, beg etc. However, if they are well behaved I don't see the problem? I think it should be up to the cafe owner to decide if they want dogs at their establishment or not. You can then vote with your feet.

OT Dyzney, but is there an agility trial at KCC tomorrow? Do you know which club it is and times? I might come along and pick up a bag of BH in the process.

BM they do a restrained recall where one of them holds their collar, let's go and your dog runs to you. Lucy wouldn't like this and would freeze up. We don't do that sort of thing in class anyway. She's fine with dogs in class - ignores them completely and focuses on her work. We'll be at underdog on Sunday. They haven't done agility for months so they'll be feral!

I am contemplating taking Lucy for the assessment! There is a test where they told her - I'll have to ask them to skip that

Twice a year I believe. The next one is 1 August.

Yes - 36 mins is a stretch, but class finishes at 10pm so there isn't much traffic. There are a fair few drunk/bogan/dangerous drivers around those parts at night though, it can be a tad scarey.

Is Action Dogs in Doveton too far? They don't have a waiting list as such, but your dog is assessed in a group and the top 10 get a spot in class. They train on Wednesday nights and have an assessment day coming up in August.

I often get complimented on the behavior of my mini schnauzer and MS cross (who most people assume is a purebred MS) because "mini schnauzers are normally so unstable".

Hi Murve, Just saw this now. We trained at a private club last Sunday and will be doing so again this Sunday. But I'll try to come down the Sunday after that!

Agreed. What sick mind would find that fun?

I know that Cosmolo has 5 dogs and is on a normal suburban block. She's in the Dandenong council region. She needs a permit though. ETA: Avoid Glen Eira council like the plague. You can get an extra dog permit, but you need to get the dog first and then apply. They then asks any of the nearby houses if they object. One objection and you have a certain number of days to get rid of the dog. The permit is for that dog only and when it dies you have to re-apply to get another dog.

Just make sure you have water and shelter outside too. Sometimes they try to drag things through the door and the item gets stuck, meaning they can't get back inside.

He might have laughed to try keep calm and keep them calm? If I'm stressed my girl is stressed, so I talk to her in a happy voice, If someone asks for a pat I also talk in a high pitched, happy voice and subtly step in front of her to physically block them. She walks on lead beautifully, shows no anxiety and looks like a perfect angel. When she used to react, her social, I-wub-everyone "brother" would react too. This is normal. HE would feed off of her emotion, would react, see what was happening and then stop immediately. Imagine if your partner woke up in the middle of the night "WE'RE BEING ROBBED! WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!" THEY'RE GOING TO KILL US". You wouldn't just lie in bed and say "there, there dear". You'd respond in kind and then realise afterwards that he might have been overreacting.

I don't think he should have been wearing earphones - that is irresponsible because you can't hear people coming up from behind. CM I think the people that are taken aback are responding more to your suggestion that something has "gone wrong"/the dogs haven't been socialised to end up this way. I have a sometimes fear aggressive dog. I am a good owner and I'm SICK of being blamed for the way she is. She is who she is. If everyone just obeyed the law (ie no off leash dogs in on leash areas) and respected her space life would be dandy! That said, I never listed to music when walking her, I would have played "look at that" when you started to approach and I would have body blocked you if you kept approaching - meaning she would never have reacted. If socialisation made all dogs stable then the world would be a much happier place, but it is a fallacy.

I also think that the dog world has oversold socialization. Yes OT is critical, but socialization doesn't = dog likes alll people and dogs

I am surprised that anyone is surprised. Aggression can be genetic. Also, not liking standard doesn't mean that the dos are aggressive either. Since when are all dogs expected to love everyone and enjoy being fawned over by strangers? In fact, some breed standards call for a dog to br aloof. Next time, please wait for a reply before approaching a dog and take the owners reply seriously.

I understand that you are going through a tough time, but bear in mind that vets pay lots for insurance, labour, and running costs (including the cost of the ultrasound machine). I have never met a rich vet. The vets that I know all live modest lives. They certainly could earn good six figure sums if they became doctors. When I found out what a young vet earned I was shocked - it was below the average wage. Unfortunately, some things just don't have a diagnosis, just like it happens with humans. The thing that has been suggested - open him up to physically see what is happening - has been ruled out by you. I fully understand why you don't want to do this, but you can't blame vets for not exhausting all options then.

There is a big difference between talking to your dog in a baby voice (guilty) and not picking up poo though. If someone wants to dress their dogs in a silly outfit that is their prerogative. It isn't my style but I couldn't care less (unless they are putting them in clothes on hot days). If someone wants to give their dog a sausage off the BBQ that is their call too. All I care about is that they are treated well, get regularly exercised, obey leash laws and pick up after them. She didn't really seem to care about the stuff that actually matters.

They aren't just allowed to take dogs off people. The people need to be actually breaking the law. Unfortunately, keeping dogs in tiny cages, never walking them and breeding them is legal. However, not giving a dog veterinary care is against the law. You'd need to be able to prove that this was the case though.

This is a puppy. Mistakes happen. It doesn't have anything to do with respect (how does a dog respect a person anyway)? My pup did this once. He is the most obedient, hard working, wanna-please-his-mum dog. ETA: I agree with Pers. She isn't house trained yet. No biggie. If you give her the death-stare (dogs read body language really well) you might find that she just hides where she poos.