megan_

There are a few YouTube bids of dogs in accidents with collars on - someone posted one I while back? I use a collar with my girl - she has never run off but she has issues so I'm not willing to take a risk. I use a slip lead with my boy

It might get through, but if they open the package it would be thrown out is my understanding.

You can - and ideally should - start foundation the day you get your pup. This isn't agility specific though. Things like motivation, how to play a game, markers etc. I agree that many people take training a pup too seriously though and there are a fair few "hot housed" dogs out there. When I took my boy with no obedience training to an Uta Bindel seminar (clicker trainer) 2 years ago people were gobsmacked at how enthusiastic he was - he wasn't scared of making a mistake and cottoned on really quickly. He has a grand ol' time showing off. There were other dogs that were clearly afraid of doing the "wrong" thing. Bundy will be fine Bundy!

WE haven't been to Action dogs for over six months . Now that K9 Agility isn't training due to the grounds not being available we'll be going back.

Not all dogs are cut out to be guide dogs. They might not take him away. The problem might be easy to fix or the dog might e happy living with another guide dog. Either way please report this as this situation could land up with a dead person and dead dog (and the motorist could be injured too).

Contact Pacers? I think they've helped out in some of these situations. They will at least know what the procedures are.

Not too young. I've only been playing with Fergus and he is 4. I've gone to a lot of seminars with world leading OB and agility people and the one consistent thing is that they don't start trialling their dogs until they're over 2. The Derrett's said they don't put their dogs on any equipment until they're about 2 as well. ETA: There are some people who take their sport so seriously that they won't train or compete with a dog that isn't going to go far. I don't understand those people. I train both my dogs in agility even though I have no plans for Lucy to compete due to her extreme fear issues. I train her because she loves it, it has helped build her confidence and it is great for her physical and mental health. Dogs don't know about titles.

The ANKC title is important so that it can be recorded on the pedigree.

If you're running at jumps, my understanding of Derrett would be: i) Dog runs parallel to you. You run flat out. ii) No need for arms. The dog knows to take any obstacle in its direct path (and no flicking and veering off to other obstacles). With no arms you can run faster (ie you pump your arms naturally). If you're anything like me your arms can flail a little and maybe they feel that can distract the dog (ie what is she trying to tell me?). Are you moving your arm up and down? I used to run with my arm constantly up to direct my dog (I was originally taught this method) but it slowed me down and was completely unnecessary. I have noticed a few people trying to run with no arms at all in training (id hands clasped behind their back) using shoulders to direct the dogs. With only a few exceptions, the dogs ran perfectly - ie the arms didn't add any value. All of that said, I'm norty and don't always listen to instructors when I believe they are giving directions that won't work for me and my dog. For example, there is one person who believes that a dog shouldn't be rewarded at all and should be ignored unless it get an exercise 100% - even when it is only learning the exercise. This would shut my boy down and goes against the advice of some of the top trainers in the world (Derrett gives his dogs "screw up cookies" all the time). Rather than try to argue with them and justify my methods, I smile politely and say "I'm using a different method" and get on with it.

Does your daughter have the funds to take civil action against the owner? It won't bring Sarge back, but it might stop them from getting another dog (costs too much) and might make irresponsible owners think twice - ie an unsecured dog could land up costing them big $ so they might think twice before getting a dog/letting them roam. A civil suit could cover the cost of Sarge, trauma etc.

Many people advocate a regular fast for dogs (obviously not on a day you're getting them to do lots of work). It rests the tummy and is more closely aligned to what happens in nature.

Have you used it? Does it work at all? Sorry to go OT, I'm curious to know. I can't find any evidence that citronella is aversive to a significant number of dogs. Not yet. It was recommended on one of the best "living with reactive dogs" sites around though and I think the author has used it. However, even pepper spray won't deter some dogs - they just work through the pain. I definitely know that there are scenarios that this spray won't save her from - I try not to think about those otherwise she'd never leave the house. It is my safety blanket of sorts.

I have a reactive dog (you wouldn't know it if you saw her walking, better behaved than most dogs out there) and I do worry about it, just a lot less these days. I don't worry too much about small dogs because I could sort them out with a kick. It is the powerful ones that I worry about. My girl is 9kg and wouldn't stand a chance against many dogs. The fact that the other owner was doing something illegal wouldn't be able to bring her back. I now walk with a citronella spray in my bag. Unfortunately, that won't stop a truly aggressive dog, but it does help me relax because I'm willing to use it if a "he's friendly" runs over to us and harasses her. Obviously it isn't my first line of defence (turning and walking away while throwing down a handful of food is my first weapon of choice and is very effective against a dog that isn't looking for a fight). I wish pepper spray was legal because I'd feel more comfortable if I could use that. ETA: Skating, playing etc aren't against my council's bylaws. Dogs in unfenced front yards are. That said, I have concluded since owning a reactive dog that most dog owners aren't very responsible and don't train basic things like recall so I expect that I'll have to deal with rogue dogs. I too have plenty of tools to help avoid situations and I land up using them most days. Some days it would just be nice to go for a walk without dealing with dog owners who think that "he's friendly" means that the laws don't apply to them.

what is the aim of your questions? You seem to be inferring that the owner of Sarge is to blame?

I own little dogs. The rules for little dogs should be the same for big dogs. Little dogs don't have the right to behave like little s****s.

Different scenario. The dog rushed you (the one in the OP's scenario didnt), the dog was not supervised (the other one was), the dog left its property? (the other one didn't), you were not already on the other side of the road (the op I think was?), you didn't stop and 'alert' to the dog instead continuing to move off away or past it (which the OP did). I hope you reported the incident. The dog didn't leave it's property. Having a large, powerful dog rush me was enough to scare the bejesus out of me. It would have scared me even if I was accross the road. The dog did bark at her and run towards her? People are always going to disagree on these things. I still say if a pack of 5 rotties had started barking at the OP, refused to listen to their owner and had no recall people would be outraged.

I got rushed by an bull breed early in the morning. The owners let it sleep outside the front of their unfenced house. I had to run across the road to avoid it and almost got hit by a car. I guess I was overreacting.

My statement was that dogs aren't allowed to roam free with no fencing on private property. I stand by that. I wonder how people would feel if: i) The dog running around was large and powerful (ie too big to fight off if something happened) ii) They owned a reactive dog?

There are a few - what area in Melbourne?

I wouldn't have kept moving forward (moving your dog closer to hers). Rather I would have turned around and walked the other way. It would have made for a shorter, more boring walk, but it is safer. FWIW I'd report someone with an uncontained dog. She obviously isn't going to stop.

Not true - only if it is adequately fenced. Not having a go at you but seriously - how many dog owners here don't know the laws that apply to them? It is very easy for a dog to cross a road to have a go/say hello to another one. It has happened to me a few times. This is the very reason why dogs get more and more reactive. With every incident the behavior becomes more ingrained. Sure, you can work on making things better, but in order to do that you need to keep your dog below the threshold. With the "don't worry he's friendly" crowd letting their dogs do whatever they want, this is very hard to achieve. Haredown Whippets - I'm genuinely surprised at the position you've taken. I've always thought you were a stickler for the law.

Sorry but this post makes me want to cry - because it is the way that most people with friendly dogs think. Fuzzy was obeying the law, the other owner wasn't. Why do people think it is okay for their friendly dogs to do as they please?

My sport is agility. I don't see people belting their dogs, but I do see lots of people giving their dog the cold shoulder if they don't perform which can be almost as cruel IMO, especially since many of the dogs are so in tune with their owner's feedback. Vickie - you could report them to the RSPCA but also Dogs NSW (won't be a criminal offence, but they might be stopped from showing/competing).

Dogs are not allowed on your property unless adequately secured - ie either there is suitable fencing that they can't jump over or they are physically restrained. Why should fuzzy need to see this woman's perspective? She was breaking the law, fuzzy was following it. You obviously don't have a DA dog - taking your dog out is like walking a minefield. If everyone just obeyed the law it would be a stress free experience. I always leash my reactive dog and it has been over a year since she has even growled at a dog because I take steps to control her. However, numpties who think their dog is allowed to do anything make this very, very hard. Fuzzy - Report her to the council. She has done this twice. I have no sympathy for people who don't make any effort to secure their dogs....and find another walking route.

I think it is unfair to get a dog just to be a watch dog unless you actually want two dogs and want to do the walking, training etc. Staffys are hopeless watch dogs - strangers are just friends they haven't met yet. There is no guarantee that dog #2 will be a good watchdog, regardless of breed - then what happens to that dog? If you want security, get a security system - cheaper in the long term and if it doesn't perform as promised you can just return it to the shop.