Oscar (AmBull)

I wish I knew this prior to puppy class; we had a class of fairly boisterous dogs, a Great Dane, Border Collie, Blue Heeler, German Sheppard. The class was basically a large free for all and Oscar learnt that dogs are high value. Being a new pet owner, not owning a dog on my own before, we just took what the instructor said/did as she knew what she was doing, clearly not. This has caused us a considerable amount of trouble, as we now find that Oscar places a huge high value on dogs, well above that of food or toys. We are training him now to hopefully break him of this but it is definitely a long and slow process, which we have been working on since the puppy school. Therefore, in my experience, I would err on the side of caution. Just be aware that the person taking the class may not know all they present they do, which is a mistake I will not make again. I think that puppy classes can be brilliant, if done correctly. In the end it is your puppy, and don’t do anything you feel uncomfortable doing, even if pressured to do so.

If you don't mind me asking why don't you use the backpack part anymore?

Is cocking the leg something they learn from another dog or natural instinct? I know my dad had a female who used to cock her leg all the time. And OH is extremely pleased he has now 'become a man' as he calls it Is this something that could cause marking? That would definitely be a high possibility if so. We do have a lot of dogs on our block and it is highly possible that one of them has come in season as a lot are not desexed in our area. Like I said it is so unlike him.

That was my first thought, but it wasn't like he had to pee, just that he wanted to pee wherever he could smell another dog had. He would have a solid sniff, then pee. I am not sure, how do you tell if it is a UTI? I will keep an eye on it, it may have been a once off or a new behaviour he has developed?

Hi all, Just after some ideas of what may be causing this? Today I took Oscar on our usual walk. He is a dog that will pee maybe once if that on a walk. He has never been a marker and has never cocked his leg in his life (much to OH disappointment). He is walked three times a week by a dog walker with another female lab. So today... We walked our usual track and he was constantly peeing, short bursts, would sniff then mark. And twice he cocked his leg, once on a pole and once on a bush. It was so out of character as he hardly ever pees on walks and has never done it more than once in a walk. He is almost 15 months old and has been desexed since he was 6 months. Just wondering what this is all about, it didn’t really affect the walk as he was so quick to mark it didn’t really affect my pace or anything. However by the end I was stopping him from doing it because it became so excessive. He didn’t mind just kept moving on and sniffing like normal. Just wondering what this would be all of a sudden caused through and what I should be doing if he does go to mark?

Hi guys thanks for the recommendations. I have been looking at the Ruff Wear Palisades Pack, it looks good and hat we want but rather expensive. The thing I like most is that the packs come off. I guess I will do some more reading and comparisons before the final decision.

About to be on Channel Ten news if people are interested.

ETA: We just received the Ruffwear Palisades Pack and are very happy with it. Hi guys, I am looking into purchasing a dog backpack for Oscar, would be used just for walking etc to give him more of a purpose. Also would like it to be able to double as a car harness. So what I am wondering is: What kind of backpack do you use? What do you use your backpack for? What would you recommend? As they are quite expensive I want to do my research before I jump in. Thanks in advance.

Oscar has the exact same bed, right size and everything and he sleeps like that. I think it has something to do with the sides, so it has been put away as he would choose to sleep in his old puppy bed instead of it. It was quite expensive and really a waste. I would definitely move for a flat bed like the Snooza D1000 or other wise a hammock style, Oscar loves his outdoor one. We have opted for a soft crate inside now. Goodluck in the search.

Amstaff here, constant shedder but very small white hairs. I could never get the clumps of hair that a lot of the pics have. Is an issue if you wear black, which I do alot, but it soon brushes off. Not a real issue, makes me think how I would cope with some of the other stories. I think it would drive me nuts, I will have to think about that when I get another dog

Thanks for all the responses guys. I wish I knew more about the medical side of things so I could have made suggestions, but as I am still learning I had no idea what advice to give him. The guy was definitely caring and visibly upset, he was just worn out by this dog who even at the vets, without storms but raining, was scared and nervous. I have had a very nice offer from someone experienced to help with the dog so I have contacted the vet. I am waiting for him to get back to me today, then go from there. Fingers crossed they persuaded the man to at least thing about it over the weekend, he didn't seem in a very good state of mind to be making such a decision. Hopefully I am not too late.

The dog's name was Jack, he wasn't aggressive from what I saw, just scared of the rain etc. I don't know the man personally, or even if he got the dog from a breeder, so hopefully the vet will give him that advice.

Oscar has just gone into the vet for his yearly vac and vet check tonight. We were waiting and the front counter to pay etc, when a man came in with a whippet in his arms. The man was really red in the face and asked for a specific person at the vet (who was not there). He said that he had just come home to about $10000 worth of damage to his house; the dog had ripped up the carpet and chewed through doors. He said that these behaviour problems were a huge issue all the time and he couldn’t do it anymore. He had seen behaviourists etc and nothing changed, the dog is apparently scared of weather like lightning. He clearly loved the dog dearly, the dog was in good health, had a coat on to keep warm etc. He essentially told the vet that he wasn’t going home with the dog, either it had to get rehomed or is PTS. He said how hard it is to rehome a dog with these issues. The man was clearly upset about this, and OH and I were trying to not be nosy but clearly in shock. We left feeling extremely sad and worried for the dog. If we were in the position for another dog we would have offered, however we just aren’t. It was terrible leaving and I could never imagine doing such a thing with my own dog, it broke my heart just hearing that he was contemplating this. Is there like a Whippet SA Recue I can pass info onto the vet for this man? I didn’t and still don’t know what to do.

Exactly, but by the time I thought about the camera I had disturbed their piece lol.

I fed Oscar his usual meal before, came back and I could see him standing there just looking at it. I couldn’t see the bowl as it was around the corner. I turn the corner to find my 17 year old cat Zack eating out of Oscar’s bowl, with Oscar just happily watching. Background is, Oscar loves to try and play with the cat, the cat being so old is definitely not an Oscar fan at all. Zack normally hisses and takes swipes at Oscar when Oscar tries to play with him. So to see them this close and calm was amazing. Very proud of my boy for sharing. Just wanted to share.

SO CUTE!

I am looking for some DOL advice. Oscar is booked in for Friday to receive his 1st year vaccination. I have never had a dog of my own and all the dogs my parents have had have only ever received their puppy vacs. I want to know what the vac should be? What questions should I be asking? I guess I am posting this as from what I read in another thread on the heartworm vac I am a little concerned, I don't want him pumped full of unnecessary or harmful chemicals. I know I have had the heartworm vac suggested to me by another vet, when we had his initial vacs done., however he has never had it and is wormed monthly on interceptor. I will not be getting this done after reading the thread. Any help is much appreciated.

Amstaff (OWN) Dogue de Bordeaux French Bulldog Shar Pei Newfoundland (Love the Brown & Grey) Neapolitan Mastiff Chow Chow Great Dane (Harlequin) Poodle (Standard) Chinese Crested Dog (Hairless) Some of these I know will never happen as grooming requirements are so high! My top 3 are absolute musts.

Hi, hope you all have a great time at the seminar, if Oscar wasn't such a handful we would be there. We have decided a private session is the way to go, just wondering who else is attending a private session?

I have had the exact same thing with bones lately, was actually going to post. Oscar isn't at all excited when given bones, will often take them (with enough prompting) to his bed and leave them there. I am extremely interested in people's opinions. Thanks so much for posting this topic

I would love 1, maybe 2.

Thanks for all the quick reply's. So would the Proban kill them or is it prevention?

Hi all, need a little help regarding flea’s. My dad has a 4 Year Old Labrador Retriever and a 2 Year Old Mini Fox Terrier. He recently lent his friend a bed, who has now returned it riddled with fleas without my Dad realising. So now the dogs have fleas extremely bad. The issue is that the Labrador will just need a Frontline spot on, however the Mini Fox Terrier has a reaction to the spot on’s, so I am wondering what else he could use? Is there a tablet of some sort? I know the powders and washes don’t really kill the flea’s, which is what we need, something to kill them before they spread even further. Any help is much appreciated. ;)

I also love the Neapolitan Mastiff Fang in Harry Potter. And the two dogs in: Look Who's Talking Now. One was a Poodle.

Personal favourite of all time and the reason I first fell in love with the breed is Hooch (Dogue de Bordeaux), from Turner & Hooch! This will be my next dog! I also love Homeward Bound!