pipsqueak

I think that poodlefan meant PP = "purely positive", not positive punishment...

Apparently someone asked Delta to post details of the conference on the Delta "forum" (which is for instructors and students) and they apparently refused... though this information is 2nd hand to me - unclear as to the reason. However, there were several people in attendance on the second or third day wearing bright yellow Delta t-shirts.

were you aware that HP vaccinate all dogs on arrival???

I've been led to believe that DOGSNSW nor ANKC are no longer printing the "blue book" with the obedience rules. So, I've just had a look at the ANKC website to print a copy of these rules for myself. However, there is now this "blurb" at the top of the page... "SPECIAL NOTE The ANKC does not permit individual Clubs or Members to reproduce the ANKC Rules. Only ANKC Member Bodies are able to produce these books if they so wish." http://www.ankc.org.au/Rules.aspx so, does this mean that I can no longer print a copy for myself??? If no organisation is printing them, surely individuals need to be able to print a copy for their personal use??? Or, if not, how does one go about preparing for a trial? Particularly if you're like me and find it extremely difficult reading things on a computer screen???

http://www.urbananimal.net/pdf/issue4/9creature_comforts.pdf

Please do. I think it is a brilliant alternative for the pet owner who doesn't want to compete in obedience, but just wants a well behaved dog.

Not common in NSW. I have a certificate for one dog, and didn't even have to do a test! It was given on the basis that we had done the required testing during the 6 week course, which I think undermines the point of the testing. I did the course because the dog club happened to have a instructor who knew about the course and allowed her to run it - not sure if she was delta qualified, or just new about the criteria and ran a course anyway... sorry, not much help.

That would be appreciated. For some reason I have always considered behaviour chains to be fixed patterns, but as I said, always willing to learn.

Perhaps, but then I guess I need to question *my* definition of a behaviour chain. I have always thought of behaviour chains as "rigid" (for want of a better word) - meaning that the behaviours which are linked together remain the same each time - say, for a dog walk - touch contact area, run across dog walk, pause on end contact area. If looking at a handler for direction is part of the chain, then it means that the chain of behaviours is different each time???

Thanks poodlefan. I agree that individual obstacles (esp weave poles) are a behaviour chain. However, they were saying the *entire* course was a behaviour chain (I should add that I don't think the entire course is a behavior chain as the dog sees the course for the first time when they run it). I guess I would consider a behaviour chain something like a dog being taught to put something in a basket then carry it to the owner to receive a reward. However, I would probably also consider "fetch" or a retreive to be a behaviour chain. It's got me thinking at any rate, which is always good! ETA - Kavik - you must have replied as I was typing - and yes, I agree with you.

I was speaking to someone last yesterday about behaviour chains. They were adamant that a dog doing an agility course was performing a behaviour chain, however, I disagree. The definition that we were using to define behaviour chains was: "A behaviour chain is a series of related behaviours, each of which provides the cue for the next, and the last that produces a reinforcer." Now, I know next to nothing about agility and would genuinely like to hear other people's opinions on whether or not a dog running an agility course is doing a behaviour chain. Feel free to tell me that I'm wrong - open discussion and debate is one of the ways which I learn. The reason that I do not consider an agility course to be a behaviour chain is... it is a series of behaviours, but the behaviour does *not* provide the cue for the next behaviour.... the handler does.

I think like a lot of other people with large, deep chested breeds that this is one of my worst fears. Many thanks to those people who have shared information, even though they have lost their dogs. I cannot help to think that by sharing you must be reliving the pain.

Serious ;) are these kennel located in Sydney? Yes, most definitely... and probably much more common than you think!

any news???

Ditto to all of the above. I also like to see photos of dogs and any past litters. Also, some basic info about the breed and grooming is very useful for a newbie like me to help me decide if the breed is "for me". Also, if you have a current litters page, please, please, please keep it up to date. It is very annoying to see "current litters" with photos and realise that these dogs are now 18 months old, because the website hasn't been changed.

should be lots of info on the forum if you do a search

a really good website to have open in another window is www.dictionary.com Medical Dictionary Main Entry: pyo·der·ma Pronunciation: "pI-&-'d&r-m& Variant: also pyo·der·mia /-mE-&/ Function:noun : a bacterial skin inflammation marked by pus-filled lesions —

If you know the dog's name and approx age and rough area she is in, I would be calling the Guide Dogs and explaining the situation to them and ask if it is possible for them to do a follow up on the dog, to make sure everything is okay.

these guys do fairly large kennels, though shipping might be expensive... http://www.bonzadogkennels.com.au/frameset_product.html

Same. My friend couldn't remember what it was, and I saw him taking my dog for a walk saying, "Unload... Unload..." Ah - so you're the one that I copied it from. I remembered the story, but it took me a while to remember your actual toilet word. I thought it was so cool when I first read it - and it's not something that I mind saying in public, which is a bonus!

"empty" I tend to use "quick, quick" when we're crossing roads and suddenly see a car coming... not the time I want my dogs going to the toilet

also have a look at www.velmaspetsastherapy.com.au

singlets http://www.fluppies.com.au/category189_1.htm t-shirts http://www.fluppies.com.au/category10_1.htm

I've just done a course of cartropen(sp) injections with our 5 year old girl. They don't seem to be anymore painful than a normal vaccination - and are given in the same place. We have seen slight improvement between the 3rd & 4th injection, and think she may still be improving. Vet did one injection per week for 4 weeks. Apparently they are meant to last 12 months, but vet said that they normally see dogs back before then. OUr girl had them for mild-moderate hip displasia. We also switched her from joint guard and fish oil tablets to Hills Science j/d (joint diet). I know a lot of people aren't a fan of Hills or dry food, but it's working for her. Still feeding the j/d food after the injections, but don't have to do the joint guard or fish oil anymore.

Bit off topic, but people ALWAYS do this the minute I start listening to a dog's heart. Thump, thump, there's a good dog, stay still for the vet, thump. Argh, my ear holes!!!! The dog with the loudests thumping owners are usually the ones standing rock solidly still too On topic, if that statement was prefaced with 'never pat a strange dog on the head or neck' I'd agree. Shoulder or chest is much less threatening to them. Meanwhile, my two dogs are fans of the 'insert head under human hand and pretend its like a pat' maneouvre. OT again... Hope you don't mind me asking, but I've always wondered what vets would prefer owners to do when they're trying to listen to heartbeats. I try to gently hold the head and give a gentle ear scritch, so that my dog know that everything is okay.... and try to remember not to talk too much!!! Please let us know what vets would prefer. Also, can you enlighten me also as to how vets would prefer us to hold our dogs when they're about to give an injection?