Flick_Mac

I work in a petshop (with no animals being sold - apart from RSPCA kittens) and one day was 'unusual breed central'... apart from the usual labs and goldens and borders we saw: - boston puppy - phaelene (sp?) - airdale puppies - lakeland terrier - swiss shepherd - GSP (with 3 legs) There were more but obviously too many to remember!

Food allergies can develop at any age - my notes from uni tell me from 6months to well over 8yrs. So that could be one reason - the other thing it could be is atopy which is alllergies to pollens etc (anything inhaled). It is the time of year! For some dogs I think the licking does become a behavioural problem, but probably starts out from an allergy. The tablets are probably a steroid and may work but talk to you vet. Good luck!

I live about 10 mins from Plainland - probably couldn't have the dogs here, but might be able to find someone if we need temporary accom for them. Or transport depending on when. PM me if I can help.

Wuffles - I think that's the sort of dog he's going to be. He was completely chilled out when we weren't trying to get him to move through a new door, or into a new room so I'm hoping with heaps of positive training he'll come out of himself. Bearing in mind they'd only had him for 2 nights when I saw him so he'll hopefully have improved in that time. SS - I doubt returning him to the breeder is an option. Like I said there is no problem as such, we're just wanting to get in before it develops into something. Thanks to everyone else for their advice - I'm passing all the suggestions on.

Thanks PF - they realise he's under-confident or under-socialised (I think my interpretation is that it's one leading to the other I guess!) and are willing to work on it. Have already suggested training, which they will be doing, and joining a club, which they also plan to do. I'm just thinking if anyone has any extra suggestions that have been successful for them in the past that I might not have thought of seeing as I haven't had the experience. Again - it's nothing to do with people (as far as I see it). It's mainly with new places, and I guess the fact that he doesn't feel confident in his leaders (yet) to trust them with that. Thanks for all the suggestions - keep them coming and I'll pass them on!

Cool - will see how he goes over the next week or so - that's sort of what I was thinking!

Thanks for the advice - it's similar to what I thought... but even us getting really excited and treating him didn't seem to do too much... he's quite confident around people - not at all worried, it's mainly getting him to follow them into new places. I'll suggest the clicker and see how they go!

He's 12 weeks old - they've only had him since Thursday but he hasn't improved in strange situations yet (I know they'd be daunting to him and he's still getting used to his new home). As far as I know he's just been 'on a farm outside', so he quite possibly is more comfortable in the 'cave' under a chair and not with his humans. They are crate training him, so hopefully that, as well as him getting more used to them will see him come out of his shell a little bit. They're not expecting a miracle cure but wanting some ideas of things to encourage him to become more confident if it doesn't happen on its own. Ta!

I'm posting this for a friend of mine who has just picked up a Shepherd/Malamute cross (she got it before I could get inside her head and convince her otherwise!) They picked him from the litter as he seemed to be the most calm of the pups but since coming home it seems that he's a very under-confident pup, and prefers sleeping under a chair to being with his people. He's very unwilling to walk into new places (buildings or areas) but once he's been there is fine going back and forth. I've never had a timid pup so am reaching out for the infinite wisdom of DOL for advice on exercises/training methods/anything you've tried before to build his confidence. Thanks in advance!

PP I'm a vet student at UQ and it's a great rehoming programme we have going, especially for the greys that get left with us. I wish their advertising was better though!

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I think he's a bit of a concrete thinker and just kind of stands there staring at me for the treat I'll try the shaping to get him to offer behaviours... he tends just to sit though! Any other ways to encourage offering behaviours?

Hi everyone! I'm trying to do my hind end awareness with my boys and Louie gets it! He's almost round and round and round! Do I put a command to him moving towards me, like 'close'? Or do I do that in another exercise? Banjo on the other hand gets that he has to stand on the box for treats but I cannot for the life of me lure him into moving his back end... any ideas!?

Huski - that's a better way of putting what I was trying to get at! I need to work at more time in between the food reward... I do give them randomly at the moment which works really well if he's focussed! If he isn't then we kind of fall in a heap! ;) Is there a time limit on how long the CCD heeling pattern goes for? I'll have to work up to doing a couple of minutes at a time with no food. I'm pretty sure I can do 1.5 maybe 2 mins if we're working well. I'll have a rich husband too if someones handing them out! I need to teach both my boys hind end awareness - I think that might be tomorrow's task!

With both of them, but Louie is my focus.... I know Banjo could virtually do it with his eyes closed... I just have to get him revved up enough which is hard! Damn laid back Aussie... My main thing with Louie is probably weaning him off food. If he's working well he doesn't need them, but if he's not focussed then god help us! I'm also trying to figure out if I can bribe someone into working Banjo for me so I can work both of them!

Huski - I totally agree about having a slightly 'unusual' obedience dog... people don't neccessarily expect you to do anything special, so it's good when you do well! The kudos is there... whereas with a working/drivier breed like Banjo, people kind of just expect him to be good! I'm planning on hopefully entering my first CCD trial in Sept/Oct this year... eep! Have a few things to lock down before we do that but here's hoping!

The AVA are running a PetPep education program - maybe they'd be good to talk to?

Thanks - am off to investigate!

Hi all, I'm looking for boarding kennel recommendations for my 2 boys for 3 or 4 days. I've searched for past threads and have found a couple, but I could always do with some more. Anywhere on the way to the airport (or near by) from Gatton (west) would be especially helpful. Thanks in advance

gremlins...

Hi everyone! Sounds like we're all progressing nicely - well done on everyone's results (I can't remember them individually, and my internet is too slow to look back at them!) Bit of an update on my pups: Louie's heel work (our real weakness) is coming along soooo well! I've been playing the 2 food game and even got nice left turns (out worst worst worst!) tonight in the back yard! Banjo is coming along really nicely - he also lags slightly occasionally but if I get his energy up he does really well. I've heard a bit of teaching hind end awareness to the dogs - how is it done? All I know is that you put them on a phone book and get them to go in circles... do you lure the turning? do you put a command to it? Thanks in advance!

Just tried the two food game with Louie and Banjo.... it worked a treat with Louie (Banj doesn't need it quite as much I don't think!) I tried the heeling thing - he was SUPER focussed! Then I tried doing it with a recall to straighten him up a bit (and make it more consistent when we're not at obedience!) YAY! Any other hints for similar games to achieve focus?

Huski - we're a bad influence on each other not studying.... but it probably helps that I'm out in Laidley and she's in Brissie.... less opportunity to go to the lake etc! Mack is gorgeous! Good luck with Ella's UD!

Huski - she's watching State of Origin .... instead of studying for our exam tomorrow (I'm not either but at least I'm not watching sports!)

Thanks guys - I think I get it! I can't wait to try it out soon!

Thanks all - I was really trying to get a handle on what the more educated of dog owners use for wormies/fleas etc.... as a future vet I like to keep an eye on the well-informed's opinions (there are also a couple of combos I hadn't thought of/heard of - so it only adds to my repertoire!)