Anastascia

Hello SG, I chop things up and put them into the really big kongs, slows my beagle right down and keeps him entertained(frustrated!) for quite a while. HTH.

Clastic - yes other owners and doggies. Burkes, how did you go?

Thanks Clastic, please report back, I probabaly can't get there until the weekend. I will call TAMS again tomorrow, third time lucky right? Wuffles, it's a lot more bushy than Belconnen, so hopefully some of the bush grass will last a bit longer!

Hi all, has anyone tried the new dog park at Yarralumla (Weston Park)? It opened on the 2nd of July I think. I am so glad that they have put the park in but it still needs a lot of work and there seems to be no plan as to when it might be finished. I am very suprised they opened it uncomplete. The newspaper reported it as if it was ready but it isn't. A few things: the water bubblers and dog drinking bowls don't actually have a tap, the still bowl is there but no water available. The fence doesn't go all the way to the ground and the first time we visited my dog went straight out into the adjoining park. I shoved some wood up against it but seriously, it's a pretty big flaw! Basically the fence has a gap which at one end has been fixed by concreting a slab along the bottom but it stops and instead dirt has been pushed up to close the gap and dogs can just go straight through. There is also a large gap under the gate at the back. Overall I think this will be a great park, it's large and shady meaning you can visit even during the day in summer but it's annoying that the above hasn't been fixed. I have called Canberra connect and been through to the appropriate people twice who have told me it would be fixed. It hasn't. When I called I stressed how dangerous it is to have gaps under the fence. If my dog didn't listen and come back he could have caused an accident. Has anyone else called TAMS? Maybe if a few people call they will action this.

Thanks everyone, I feel much better! Yes, I suspect mine sleep most of the day, they are generally in their kennel when I open the door and they do big stretches and yawns and come inside all sleepy. As they get older they will probably sleep more of the day as well. It seems I am probabaly on the right path in just spending time with them, I think I will do more training though because that would be good mental stimulation for them too. Anyway, off to the dog park, have a great weekend everyone

Hello everyone, I would like to know how everyone manages full time work and doggies. I have recently gone back to work and my hours are long, generally start around 7.30am and finish around 5.30pm, so I am away from 7-6 each day. My dogs have been used to having me home most of the time for the past few months so it is a bit of a shock for them. I have been getting up and walking them from 5-6am each morning before work, it's pitch black, around -2 to 0 and frosty! I am feeling guilty and grumpy - guilty for leaving them so long and grumpy that I don't have much time for exercise/gym. I am meeting a lady tomorrow who does dog walking and will be looking into having them walked 3 times a week for an hour at a time. I am hoping that gives me three days a week for the gym before work. How do you manage full time work and dogs? My situation won't be forever - my partner is away for work this year but comes home later in the year so we will go back to 'shared' dog care and he will be hopefully home more than me and can do extra walking of hounds. I make sure I give my dogs Kongs and Treat Pyramids which keep them entertained. Second topic - when I am home, my dogs are inside or outside if I am gardening. However, I feel kind of unco around them, in that I don't know what games or interaction to have with them (I feel the same way with kids, I don't really know what they want to do ). It sounds silly but I pat/hug and sit when them on the lounge etc but I don't know what else to really do. I throw the ball around the yard (and inside the house, shh) but that's about it. What games or interaction do you have with your dog? I feel like they think I am boring! Please help!

Hi Anastascia Is it just for during the day or at night also? Will your cav and beagle puppies use it together as you only mentioned your beagle? I use a Hound House during the day under a pergola, although I wouldn't recommend it for overnight use as it just isn't warm enough. How about some pics of your babies? Bumping up this old thread. I never purchased a kennel as I just used a big plastic crate I bought second hand. That worked really well in Brisbane but now I am in Canberra, it's freezing, and the crate has way too much ventilation! Any rec's for kennels down here?? It will be used during the day only for keeping warm and out of the weather. TIA

A quick question please. This morning on our walk a few kangaroos hoppped across our path. Beagle went to the end of the lead and strained to get a closer look. I stopped straight away but felt that was almost a reward for him as he got to stop and stare at them. In cases like that, should I walk the other way instead? And call him after me, praise when he comes to my side? Many thanks

It's often easier to reward the right position. Do you carry treats on your walk? Hi PF, yes I do. Ok, so tonight a better outcome. I left one in the backyard and took beagle out onto the street and started small, back to the beginning. I just walked him and said heel and gave him a treat when he was at my side. He did not pull once! He did go to the end of the lead but I stopped straight away as suggested here and then called him back to my side. He did this about 3 times in total. I walked him for around 15 minutes in total and included a short trip along the path where it is more distracting. He payed attention to me nearly the whole time. I was delighted! The cav was almost as good. He payed very good attention to me but a few times got in front of me watching me getting treats out. I lured him back to the heel position and rewarded him. So, I will definately be walking them by themselves for the forseable future because it was really enjoyable (first enjoyable walk for a lonngggg time!). Thank you all so much

we use easy walk harnesses on our beagles works a treat . Thanks all, I am going to only walk one until this is much better. I currently walk backwards or stop when they get to the end of the leash. Should I just turn around and walk the other way instead or do??? How do I get them to walk next to me and not out in front? I presume I should have the leash reasonably short and just stop dead/turn around as soon as they hit tension?

Thank you gundog. I am a member of the ACT Club and have been to their training classes but I think this needs to be dealt with in a private or one on one setting. If anyone knows of someone, please let me know.

Thanks so much Huski. My bad, I should have changed my location. I am now back in Canberra, which is a shame because I found our trainer in Brisbane very helpful! Thanks for your help

Started just on their own but because my partner is constantly away I was trying to walk two in one go so I am not spending both before and after work walking. Lately I have been walking both but sometimes I just walk one on one, no difference.

Hi, I am hoping for some advice please because I am at my absolute wits end and do not know what to do. I have two male, desexed dogs, a beagle and a cav, 15 months and 12 months. I cannot get them to walk properly. They both started puppy school at eight weeks and since then I have been trying to train them to loose lead walk. 1 year later I am about to just give up because I have become so depressed and upset. I have had private behavioural trainers come out. What they suggested was as soon as they put tension on the lead to walk backwards until the loosen the lead, then praise and go forward. Sounds fine but they will walk next to me for about two seconds then go forward again. During one walk I could literally do that 40 times and they still do not get it. I have also tried just changing direction. Same result. I have tried giving them treats when they walk next to me and marking it by saying heel and praising them. I feel like I am loosing my mind, they will walk nicely for 5 seconds then its walk backwards or stop and start again. My cav seems determined to always be in front, it's like a 24/7 competition. Another trainer suggested only walking them seperately until they are better but even that doesn't seem to make a big difference. The beagle is just so busy and always looking to get into something/sniff the grass/go into the bushes. It's nonstop. I have a sporn harness for both of them which does make a difference but they are not great on that either. I am on my own at the moment, as my partner (his beagle) has deployed overseas for 9 months. I have contacted K9 Force and could get into him in June but I am not sure how I am going to go until then. I dread getting up each morning and trying to walk them and the inevitable tears that follow Any advice? Thank you

I would like to have him clipped. He is a dirt collector. This close to Christmas you're probably going to have trouble. This is the busiest time of the year. My dogs old groomer is booked solid. Will a good brush and a bath tide you over? Thanks. Yes, it is not urgent and his coat is in very good condition, he gets brushed every 2nd day and washed once a week. We are spending a month at the beach like most Canberrans so he will be in the sea constantly and it is easier if his coat is shorter. Don't forget to treat him with a tick preventative! Yes, thanks. Have to use tick collar because the Advantix washes off constantly. Do you have a recommendation for a groomer after the new year? Capital Grooming looked very good.

I would like to have him clipped. He is a dirt collector. This close to Christmas you're probably going to have trouble. This is the busiest time of the year. My dogs old groomer is booked solid. Will a good brush and a bath tide you over? Thanks. Yes, it is not urgent and his coat is in very good condition, he gets brushed every 2nd day and washed once a week. We are spending a month at the beach like most Canberrans so he will be in the sea constantly and it is easier if his coat is shorter.

I would like to have him clipped. He is a dirt collector.

Hi all, can anyone recommend a great groomer in Canberra for a Cavalier? I tried Capital Grooming but they are booked out until 19 Jan. Thank you

I agree.. but had inferred we weren't talking about that, but about serial offenders. :p I think they would like to be serial offenders but I am not game enough to find out! I would prefer to take them to training before I took them off leash in unfenced area. Wuffles - I agree, just because they don't have a 100% recall, doesn't mean they aren't fine at fenced dog parks. I have never had a problem with anyone elses dog except for ones who are agressive! Mine have never had a problem at dog parks, they always play happily and don't cause any trouble.

Call the RSPCA - their trainers have a recall class. From your words I inferred that not coming back was more than a one off? What happens when you take one dog out by itself. Do you get more focus on you? Thanks for the heads up about the RSPCA, I didn't think to check their site. No, I let them off at the oval earlier this week, they took off for about 20 minutes and chased rabbits and completely ignored my requests to come back. I was mortified. In saying that, they spent a month at our farm (I wasn't there at the time) and I was told that they took themselves off for a lovely play in the paddock and wouldn't come back, so that would make it twice. I am definately going to start walking one on one, I always try and walk both due to time (I go for an hour each time) and they are definately getting better at walking on leash. Edit - in answer to your question about Brisbane. Yes, they always came back at the dog park. That's why I was very suprised when I took them to the oval, I thought they would do the same. My cavalier liked to hang around me more than the dogs anyway. Maybe they knew they couldn't run away?

Sure. That's why I have asked for details of a trainer who can help me. When you say 'allowing them to do it', what do you mean? They have taken off once and obviously they haven't been off leash in an unfenced area again. I am not sure what to do and I am confused about the whole thing.

Thanks Poodlefan. I think I will join up. The Belconnen and Tuggeranong parks are too far to go. I am right near Lake BG. And I can't take them off leash because they take off. I can't wait for the new inner area dog park to be opened. If you can't control them off leash Anastascia a public offleash park is not the place for them. CDC's fences won't contain a dog determined to escape - they are paddock fencing only. What happens if you allow one dog offleash and keep the other on? I'm told the RSPCA are running special "recall" classes - that might be something to investigate. Hence the reason I am/was going to take them there for classes??? They went to the dog park daily in Brisbane and there was never a problem. Why would it be different here? I am so close to giving up on the whole thing, I can do nothing right. If you leave them in the backyard you're a shit owner, if you take them out, you shouldn't.

Thanks Poodlefan. I think I will join up. The Belconnen and Tuggeranong parks are too far to go. I am right near Lake BG. And I can't take them off leash because they take off. I can't wait for the new inner area dog park to be opened.

Hi all, I would like to know if anyone has been to the grounds at ACTCDG please. I spoke to them on the phone as I would like to take my dogs for obedience classes there when they start up again February, but if I joined up now (before 1pm today as they are closing for the break!) I could use the off leash areas over the next few months. Seeing that Canberra is devoid of dog parks I thought this could be good. Does anyone use these? Are they big? Also, I would also like recommendations for a good trainer who I could contact now, to help me with leash walking. Any suggestions? Many thanks!

I took both my dogs to Urban Dog Training, it was a little bit of a drive but worth every moment. Danielle is FANTASTIC! I am so grateful for what she and Paul have done for us, our dogs honestly wouldn't be as good as they are if I didn't take them there. www.urbandogtraining.com.au and see if you can get into a puppy class with Danielle I have now moved from Brisbane and was so sad to not be able to go to them again.