ChristineX

Hi choice-brandy - that's a lovely update - very well done :D And I totally agree with Nekhbet!!

Irish Terriers and Russian Black Terriers are also a medium energy breed - but neither of them are really for anyone that just walks in off the street. Particularly the Russian Black. That is a very serious guard dog breed.

Here I go, jumping in about Duke again! He's my very reactive dog - fortunately not aggressive though. Once my club recognised what his issues were, I spent 6 months working about 30 meters away from whatever class I "attached" myself to, usually the medium or advanced class (which meant, if they worked on sits, so did I but at a distance). The instructors usually chatted to me before class (duke stayed in the car) about things they would like me to work on. After 6 months, we weren't getting any further so I was referred on to a behaviouralist. Best thing that ever happened. We still go to the ob. club, and it took us 2.5 years to join the class (the advanced class, these guys started at the same time Duke and I did). When he figured out the recall (on longline), he got a standing ovation!! And newcomers now get told about Duke (they tend to get 30 seconds of hysterics before Duke figures out - yes it is actually a dog and there fore okay - yes I do keep a fair bit of distance from dogs I don't know). And over the years, paticularly the west highland white's owner (duke is particularly terrified by small white fluffies) has often offered to help with desensitisation exercises (ie, starting by walking at a distance, steping closer one step at a time). We owe them a lot. I think you can deal with reactive dogs and normal groups, but sensibley, with good trainers/behaviouralists and starting at distances and working in. Probably not a good idea with beginners classes though - too many dogs already on an excitable high and a reactive dog do not work out well. Having said that, the last new class at our club, at least 3 people brought their dogs down because they were reactive (all of them from the RSPCA). We made sure they got some basic techniques, and the contacts for our 3 favourite behaviouralists. The dachound went with the behaviouralist, the GSD is working thru issues with the club (and a lot of sense), the basenjie/stumpy cattle cross only did the one term but had very sensible owners.

i've been reading back thru the training section, and in the earlier pages(years ago) you can see posts from when people on DOL first started training in Drive. It actually sounds like a lot of fun..... and if Duke ever gets all his brains settled between his ears, I think we will have a go at it. Second the suggestion to talk to Steve about it, too.

Thanks!

Hi, popping to ask if anyone knows of a good canine chiropracter to take Duke to. His lamness has had hip flexor and HD ruled out (extremely good hips), but still has pain so I am thinking pinched nerve. Vet agrees it's probably worth doing before jumping onto drugs but does not know of any. Thanks in advance, ChristineX

My take on it is that the genes give the range of what a dog can be, from demonic to saint, and the nurture sets the point at which the dog is. Of course, the 'point' can change if the nurture (environment) changes. But I do think that the range of all possible behaviours is genetic.

For those that don't dip into the health section, thanks to the new dogs at the back who definately have Duke sussed out (and absolutely adore driving him crazy) he has, in the nonstop fence running (mostly quiet on his part, but not on the 4 small dogs in the two adjoining properties) injured his hip. I don't know yet if it is the hip flexor muscle, or the hip joint, and am returning on Tuesday to the vet to investigate further. In the meantime, if I am not at home to lock him in the house or put him on a leash, he fence runs. Nonstop. Mostly he has stopped trying to throw himself thru the fence (thankfully). During the working week my work days are now at 10 hours absence (thanks to work's decision that I can't park at work), and I think that just locking him and Kate, my other irish terrier, in the house could be a bit long? Likewise crating? As I see it, my third option would be to purchase a temporary dog run (K9Pro have one at 2.3 m) and until that leg is better and he has worked thru the new dog trauma, and healed that leg, to put him in there if I have to be out. I could really use some guidance as to the best way forward. Kate ignores all dogs completely, by the way. ChristineX

The illiopsoas muscle (not necessarily correct spelling) is the muscle that moves the hind leg forward. Duke most likely has either sprained it, or has a tear in it. Happens often in very vigourous activity, and once done, is apparently more prone to repeated occurances. Funnily enough, his major symptom is trying to chew his foot off. He's been at the vets a couple of times for this, without finding anything in particular wrong apart from the chewing damage. Just goes to show, some vets are better than others!

My lovely slightly hyperactive/reactive/ADD etc Irish Terrier Duke has spent the last two days mostly on 3 legs - thanks to the two new dogs at the back who like aggressively barking at him... so he has done a LOT of fence running the past week! well, a visit to our favourite vet (managed to miss him for almost 2 years, now), and it wasn't the toes, or the foot - its the hip. Hoping its the hip flexor muscle that is damaged, he is on my least favourit drug, rimadyl (they were out of every other applicable drug) for a week, and if there are any residual problems, then its x-rays to look for damage to the hip joint. On a good note, the vet could not believe how he has mellowed out, in the vets words he was 'crackers' when I first got him at 17 months, and he is delighted how Duke has mellowed out. So, does anyone have any experience with this type of injury, is there any way I can help Duke get over this injury, and how do I prevent it in the future - given that I don't think he is about to slow down, however mellow his temperment has become! As you can see, I'm hoping its the muscle, and not the hip joint that is the problem. ChristineX

Dear Jed, re having posted your stories here - think of it as market research - go write the book! PS - happy to pre-order a copy ChristineX

Didn't like her irish terrier review much - just lumped terriers into one generalised group. Did you notice, this site says positive only training only works for tricks? But does not go on to say what they do recommend beyond balanced training.

Thank you for the photos, Poodlefan, I enjoyed them. And definately prefer the look of the working versions!

Dear Rockdog, dont worry about it. You are doing what we have all suggested, keeping Rocky out of potential trouble, and finding someone with experience to help as soon as possible. Everything else boils down to different people having different experiences with different dogs and talking about it. Each dog is an individual, and each dog will require tailored training for similar problems. You are doing fine, and thank you for getting everyone talking - I do learn a lot when they do that (even if it is a bit on the argumentative side!) Let us know how things go,,,, ChristineX

Animal behaviouralists are like psychologists etc - you have to find someone you feel you can trust and who you can work with. The person who didn't like Kathy may well gell better with someone else. I once had another behaviouralist out, but didn't really think much of him. However, he is highly regarded in GSD world - maybe he just meshes better with them than with irish terriers - who knows? The nice thing about Kathy is that she also knows a lot of people in this particular industry, and if she can't help, can and will refer you on to someone who can. She's made an unbelievabley huge difference in Duke (my IT) and I've seen the difference in those dogs who also come to her Reactive Rover class. However, the most important thing - that you find someone who knows what they are doing to help. And we were all so busy trying to think of ways to help . . . . . photos of your two dogs are considered mandatory! ChristineX

Hi Rockdog, you do need proffesional help, because it looks as though the aggression levels are rising. Keep in mind, if John and Spongy are going to be living with you they need the lessons just as bad as you and Rocky do - it has been their behaviour that has set this off. Please keep in mind that them leaving will not solve the problem, Rocky has now learnt a way to deal with snarky small dogs. You are also not alone, lots of us have this problem. Okay, practical help. Try getting in touch with this lady - Kathy Kopellis McLeod 08-9345 5277 www.kathysdogtraining.com.au ; Kathy @kathysdogtraining.com.au - she is the lady everyone in my dog club gets referred to with problems like this. Please, avoid barkbusters, you need a real professional. Other perthites probably can provide more names of proffessionals as well. I will admit to being a bit biased as I am a client of hers too, (my dog club referred me), and not only is she a really nice lady, she really knows her dogs. And no, I dont get commissions! She's just my dogclus preferred dog aggression expert! ChristineX

Whereabouts in Riverside? Kate could use a girls morning out - Duke has been pretty full on (alpha rolling her this morning), so some time away from him could be nice. ChristineX

Hi Golden Rules, not too far from Sir charles gairdner hospital - pretty much the same street as Prix d'amour used to be in. We got lots of stories about magpies flying off with bits of stucco from the famous building! (and stories about Rose and her poodle - apparently it used to run away all the time) So that makes it - damn my lack of geography - central perthish?? A little bit from central perth towards to the coastal direction. I've only lived here for, lets see, 20 odd years? ChristineX

ValleyCBR - zen hugs - its never easy. For everyone else, my boss, having a 6 mnth mini poodle, is looking for a level 2 obedience class. I can't help, my club has beginners and everyone else (all 5 of us - anyone for a small class? We're very supportive of each other!) mostly due to lack of instructors. She's done a great job of rearing her pup so far, the breeder is really impressed! Silly question alert - what are these levels in obedience, anyway?? ChristineX

An encouraging post for owners of (over)reactive dogs - a lady at training last night who hasn't been for 2 years and thus saw duke at his worst - made time to come and talk to me about how much he had improved - that his barking didn't have that 'frantic' quality about it anymore, and even his whinging was nowhere near as 'distressed' as it used to be! Yes!! its not my imagination that he has improved!! We can improve our problem kids! (yes, it is an ongoing process, and we haven't stopped yet) ChristineX

A reactive dog support group - great idea!! I get really tired of people telling me my dog is aggressive, should be muzzeled,not in the park (waiting for dog class to start) while he is screaming in fear at another dog! Duke's been diagnosed as 50% fear and 50% excitement leading to full blown hysteria - at the drop of a pin. At his worst, he just needed to see a tail disappearing around a corner a mile or so away. His screaming was so loud that more than once we have had people running out of the house at night, in the rain, to help the dog being murdered! His triggers - being outside the house; (I think I can guess that his former owners didn't take him out much), other dogs, cats, too many smells, small fluffy white dogs, white dogs, animals suddenly moving fast, and lately, dogs that are close to 50% white on a dark background. Methods taught by our behaviourist - reward if he looks at a dog without losing the plot (?variation of the Look game), step in front to block view if there is 'eyeballing' going on, distracting by asking for sits/drops etc and moving away from the problem until he calms down, and then moving back, slowly. I'm lucky, my dog club has been totally supportive, helpful and when they ran out of ideas, gave me my behav. phone number - and said, we know her, if she doesn't have space for you, let us know and we'll sort something out. Have to love a club like that. Lucky for him, he also had the lowest level of aggression the behav. had seen, I am not sure what I would have done if I had to cope with aggression as well. Over the past 2.5 years, we have come a long long way, and while he still makes improvements, I will keep on with the reactive rover and dog club classes. Not to mention, reactive rover classes, if you can find them, are amazing. All these people, none of whom are judging you when your dog loses the plot! Things get a little more complicated because when Duke goes hysterical, (and still doesn't take much, or even a dog in close proximity), Kate, my other dog leaves me to deal with screaming, fishtailing Duke while she goes and attempts to 'run off' whatever the current monster is.(keeping in mind, Duke gets scared of little puppies, too). Am I lucky that Duke is okay with people or what!! ChristineX

I'd recommend Kathy's dog training & behaviour consulting - she is good at handling agression related problems. Let me know if you would like her email/phone number. There is an initial fee for the consultation (it is not a by the hour deal!) and she will let you know what she thinks you need to do, how long it would take to fix the problems etc. and you can then go from there and decide how you want to proceed.

Its also a case of define 'recovery'. It sounds as though this pup has the best possible chance, given the actions of its owner. Best case scenario as I understand it, pretty much like any other dog, but not with quite the capacity to generalise. The example I was given that a dog with the type of care we'd all hope to give, with a habit of jumping in the car will probably just jump into the tractor in the field. The dog with a deprived start may well need to be taught to jump both into the car and into the tractor. Duke, with a background (probably) of never getting into a street until 17 months of age (with me) and starting out totally hysterical (really not fun for anyone) is still much much happier at home. But he still likes getting out, its just the body language when you get home is 'wow- we were outside and survived!' Like Duke, this pup may not ever feel totally comfortable out of the house, but you really don't know how far you can get until you try. Staff'n Toller is also quite right how far you do get depends on so many different factors, only some of which are under your control. ChristineX

Thank you!

Hi K9Pro, asking permission to pass the TOT on to my dog club's instructors for them to have a look at - I've been helping out as assistant this year (lack of instructors, large beginners classes) and there seem to be one or two new people who could benefit from something like this. As I don't have any training qualifications (they do), I tend to check before suggesting something not common (I also check after classes that the advice I gave was okay, just in case as I would hate to screw someone up accidentally). Umm, can I run it past my Behaviouralist too? My irish terrier Duke is one of those 'spechal' dogs, with reactive hysteria, fear/stress outside the house and a high prey drive and I've been thinking this might benefit him, but I'd like to check it with her before I try. Thanks, ChristineX