LizT

I would never leave my entire Cavalier Bitches in the front yard when I am away just to stop them getting bored! Only when I am there with them. I would not depend on the passing by of randoms as stimulation for my dogs. There are too many non trustworthy people out there!

My sister has an issue with one local dog that barks aggressively at her and her dogs every time she walks past that house. The yard is fenced but is only about chest high and has nothing to define front and back yards. It wouldn't matter if the fence was higher, the aggression from this dog has traumatised one of her dogs, to the point where she can't walk anywhere near that street anymore, as her dog puts on the brakes and will not go any further. This limits and restricts her to walking her dogs on the same route every day. It may be fine to keep a dog in the front yard if that dog does not react to the other dogs, but when they do, it can impact on others, especially those who have timid dogs that don't cope well with barking and aggression from other dogs. Yes. There is barking and there is BARKING! BIG difference between "alert" barking and the salivating Baskerville type hound who wants to rip shreds off you and your dog.

My dogs are well exercised, stimulated and get heaps of attention. They will still bark at you, regardless of whether you have a dog with you, are on horseback or riding a bycycle when you go past our property. They are dogs, it's what they do! I am happy that they will alert me to the fact someone is there.

why is it a mystery? One trainer has seemed not to be able to help, so another was tried and it worked. Sort of like using the full tool box I would have thought. At Obedience Training a few years back I didn't gel with a particular trainer as all he wanted me to do was keep stuffing pieces of savaloy into my GSD mouth as he heeled beside me. This 6 year old dog had not been food trained at all, wasn't food oriented, didn't like savaloys all that much and I didn't like feeding them to him (too much nitrate, not part of his diet). We disagreed on this and he said...."He had used the "old school" method of using a correction collar years back and would give all his dogs a personal apology when they met up in the after life. My problem was that my dog DID respond to a simple check and release and I wasn't allowed to do this so he just pulled and took the saveloys, dropping them as we fumbled along. To me it was ridiculous and our training was going backward and I was being bullied into using his methods. I changed classes. New instructor, kind attitude and progress.

Thanks Aidan2..could you please give me an example of aversive other than correction collars?

Could someone please define "adversive" and "positive" for me? Eg. Is "adversive" when you give an 8 weeks old puppy a gutteral "Nahhah" to distract it from chewing on something it shouldn't? Is "positive' when you make a big fuss of a puppy when it comes to you when you called it? Or is adversive only an extreme physical correction and positive is a lovely treat in the gob?

An "expert" in this context is someone with a proven history of successfully rehabilitating large numbers of dogs displaying human aggression. Fan club is not a factor, proven track record is. A dog that displays human aggression is at a real risk of losing it's life if the situation is not adequately addressed. Human directed aggression by pet dogs is not acceptable in today's society. Do attempt to engage some semblance of critical thinking before posting. Gee..I thought there was "some semblance" of critical thinking..clearly not enough..I shall run all my post by you first from now on shall I? :) E.T.A. As stated in my other post I was referring to the ridiculous banter regarding methodology that has been running through this thread which I don't think is helpful to the OP.."at this time".

As a pet owner, I'd be safer putting my trust in someone with runs on the board dealing with dog aggression over my own interpretation of what's going on or the advice of people who've never met me or my dog. Get it wrong and you're talking about the life of the dog and the safety of the owner. That's the magnitude of the risk. Couldn't agree more...my statement was more in response to the "which School/collar etc" debate that's running through this thread. Once apon a time a dog bite from the family pet had a singular, quick and final solution.

Yes. Sooner is better. I wonder if your extended absences from the household due to the nature of your work has put you down a notch from Layla standing now she a "big Girl". Certainly part of the information the Behaviourist should/will ask I'm sure. Let us know how it comes along. Good Luck Sir! :)

Whatever happened to "Living and learning"...sure be guided by an "expert" but sheesh..what is an "Expert" these day anyway! This thread is starting to sound like a "A Current Affair" or "Today Tonight" story. "..and now we hear from our resident "expert". Getting a trainer, behaviourist or whatever to help with a problem is always going to be a risk in itself. Depending on whose "fan Club" you belong to, what successes you have had with your own or close friends personal experiences etc. and how much weight you put in hearsay.

I'm amused at how ridiculously happy one can get at the consistency of their dogs bowel movement!

OMG Snook! Justice has just given me a "Teena Lady Moment"! :laugh: That ear roll/head shake particularly is a cracker.

Agree Mrs. RB. As an example a frighten dog of lets say hypothetically "Rescue Background" might be hesitant in getting out of a crate, yes? So, would you drag it out by the collar and risk getting bitten, or click on a lead and coax it out and reward it's positive response with a 'walk'. Same scenario with a client at the Groomers. I personally would take my chances with the lead.

I would hope a Vet visit is one of those "tools" mention in the full tool-box talk. The OP mentions she has had the pup since 7 weeks..this to me means a less than careful breeder and breeding. At two years of age she may amongst also having dominence and obedience issues also have physical problems beginning to manifest, such as sore hips, she may have been pushed (whilston the bed) in a manner that is very uncomfortable to her and add this too an already dominent bitch, not sure if she is entire or desexed but IN MY OPIBION, an entire bitch can sometimes be quite full on...they are the only kind of bitches I have ever owned in 51 years. So yes, don't completely discount a physical trigger without checking first.

Whilst I personally don't approve of smoking and the cost it inflicts on our community...that's a good one! :laugh:

Nothing to add to the already very good advice you have been given other than to wish you, your partner and Layla well. Sure you'll get it sorted out with good help. So in that respect an interent forum IS useful insofar as referal to good help goes. :)

The sad fact is a 2yr old boy wandered far from home and could of died. I am not perfect, far from it, but as a mother of 2 young boys myself, I sure as hell would not let either of my boys wander from home. Never. And from my understanding, it wasn't just a one off incident. "The child can wander for up to 1km away from home and end up at neighbours who subsequently bring the child back. Unfortunately on this occasion the child’s still missing," Sgt Gary Matthews told 3AW radio. Far, far from perfect either but I can stand up and proudly say that my children received my 24/7 supervision up until I trustingly handed them over to the Pre-school teacher...then back in my charge until well into Seconday School. Not left with sitters, Grandparents or anyone as babies. Overprotective, exhausted you betcha...but guess what...raised to Adulthood in one piece. Small children need constant supervision, when mine were young I heard of a two year old left to play in the backyard that hung herself on a frayed towel on the clothelines. TRAGIC. Yes, an accident can happen oh so quickly. So sick of hearing about toddlers being backed over by the family car in the driveway. If you are not prepared to spend their childhood looking after them....don't have children. Yeah a one off incident that he didn't come home from by himself. They were so lucky.

On a personal note my little Miss Emmalee (Cavalier)got her first ever Bitch Challenge and Runner Up Best of Breed. :)

WTF! Could they not at least care for her..the bastards! I'm so sad and angry. Poor, poor baby. Run free little one, no one deserves this. Poor owners, you have my heartfelt sympathies.

I hope it's good news.

Not a blood test to "predict" the onset of a season...only to varify most receptive time when season has started. Vet nurse 'should" know this, she may have not explained it clearly. As to Breeding any dog...whilst it is admirable that you are concerned about the well being of this young bitch, calling breeders will do nothing. Regardless of what register, Main, Limited or none at all, this bitch belongs to it's owners and they have every "legal" right to breed her as and when they wish, provided they are not Registered Breeders they have no accountability as to age of breeding, crossbred or Pure breeding. Crazy? Yeah.

Let's also remember that while it's early development rests in the hands of the breeder, a pup doesn't stop learning at 8 weeks. It's continued growth, learning and development then falls on the shoulders of it's new family.

I wonder what DOLers views are on Electronic collar/fencing arrangements. Personally I wouldn't trust them. A dog could run the fencline, get zapped and not want to return home, finding itself on the wrong side of it's perimetre. I know some people swear by them, but I am a doubting Thomas and don't feel its' "adequate fencing" for any dog.

Maawwww...she wants to be a German Shepherd! She's a real cutie...speak to her breeder. That's where you'll get the best advice. :)