Pete.the.dog

Happy birthday pf and kendall Hope you both have lovelly days

So I went on holidays for 5 nights, flew out early tuesday and got home early sunday. Dropped Pete at a kennel I had read good things about on here and overall was quite disappointed. Whilst on holidays I called them to see that all was well (probably a bit over the top but its the first time I've left him in a kennel and was worried he would feel like he was back in the pound) the lady who answered, after I said I was wondering how Pete was going said "Um, Pete? Um. I'm not sure. I'll go ask X ..." which is fine I don't expect everyone to know about all the dogs, but then I got X on the phone who said "Yeah he's going fine." Fair enough but not exactly reassuring. First look at the invoice and they had charged pete as an extra large dog, which I mentioned and they changed (would have ended up being an extra $18 if I hadn't have said anything) Pete was at the kennel from 4.30pm monday until 3pm sunday and I got charged for 7 days. I did not feel there sunday pickup policy was clearly explained to indicate that if I picked up on a sunday I would get charged the same as if I picked up before 10am on the monday. Doesn't seem logical or fair. The people didn't say a single thing which indicated they had spent any time with my dog. Nothing about whether he was barking, if he ate all the food they were giving etc (I gave them his normal food incase he was fussy, doesn't seem like they fed him that) I just sort of expected they would say SOMETHING about him - they are supposed to love dogs right? So then I get home, and realise they didn't even brush him! His legs and face fur was all knotted. Oh and he feels like he's lost about 3 kilos (which he can't afford) And for this I paid $175 Are my expectations too high or did I just get a bad place?

Stick it in the off topic ;) Just kidding! Thanks for the well wishes All the best to everyone out there in the big wide web ;) And if anyone is getting down with christmas stress, just remember to top up on some of that

Pete ate his microchip "Certificate of Identity" Maybe he has name issues...

hmm yes sounds familiar. Had many a collie unneccesarily guard their precious ball from pete, without realising his interest was in them, he's such a player, it's all about the chase for him

I say "OK yes" but I think OK has turned into the golden word a little bit... Any word would work I think, you could say "fuzz" but if it was consistent they'd get it I'd stick clear of good girl, since that is already being used in other settings... but thats just personal opinion

I just looked at the Natural Dog website and found it really easy to read/follow. When I get back home (oh sweet, non-relative infested, home) I will get some tug of war toys - the ones Erny mentioned (I'm assuming as you didnt further comment on size of pete they'll be ok, but will double check with supplier) and work on building the drive as I read on ND site, hopefully building it up over time that I can use tug-of-war on walks when pete gets excited by other dogs. Depending on how well we progess, I think I'll leave it at that until I see Steve. Thanks all for your help and advice I'm not trying to close the discussion, just going to bed...

You may find it is different when he understands that there is a toy that YOU will play with him with. You can purchase a pocket tug, but once you get things going you'll most likely need to upgrade. I use a soft tug that I purchased through DogQuip in South Australia. If you contact him and let him know you spoke with Judi at Pro-K9 and that I mentioned you might do well with the soft tugs such as what I use, he'll be able to help you. Here's a picture of the type of tug/s I mean .... Check with Kurt - my only uncertainty is that I can't see your dog and these types might be a bit too large for Pete. Thanks for that, will get in contact with him when I'm back in Adelaide on wednesday - petey is about the height of a german shepherd but a skinny little greyhound build, does that help?

Well, if it is the ONLY one he'll play with, you don't have much choice. However, I like to use soft tugs, something really comfortable for the dog to bite hold of and keep that hold, otherwise they can be put off from tugging. Plastic isn't necessarily the ideal for that. You can use that toy to get going with, and then switch over to something better for tugging purposes, perhaps. I have many people tell me their dog will ONLY work with such and such toy. But when I bring out a pocket tug (which I just use to get dogs going), they often enjoy that, to their owners amazement. Sometimes it's a matter of making the toy seem like fun to get them interested. People have a tendency to give up too soon, too easily. Yes should have clarified, its the only toy of the ones he has, that he will seek out to play with. It's not like I've unsuccessfully attempted to get him interested in a wide variety. Googles pocket tug - will buy one and see how we go Thanks again

What sort of toy is it? Correction : It's not that I thought your Pete looked like a pug. It's just that I know a dog named "Pete" and he is a pug. Known by a few as "Pete the Pug", which is why I had "Pug" in my head. I forgot to look at your avatar before I began posting. haha no i did read that edit and figured out you were thinking of another dog, but before i read the edit i was amused it is a rope with a plastic 'head' in the middle of it - its the only toy he likes to play with. we have a pink one and a purple one, and he only likes the purple one... ADD: dogdude I am going to steve in April - can't wait, but wanted a head start

Dogdude: Thank you for that clarification re play drive/ prey drive, will get youtubing ---- Erny: Thank you for that fantastic explanation, will any toy work to get him addicted? As I said he only has one he likes, but he is used to playing with that on his own, so should i introduce a brand new toy? p.s. Did have a quick chuckle when i thought that you thought Pete looked like a pug

I'm interested in starting to train pete in drive, have been reading K9 Force posts for hours - literally So from what I've read, Pete's over-excitement around other dogs is "high prey drive" What I have read about training in drive is - and I'm massively paraphrasing here - with dog leashed revv them up with a toy then reward command compliance with giving the toy My question is, and surely its been raised before I just haven't come across it, that while Pete is "high prey drive" with dogs and cats etc, he isn't overly into chasing balls, toys, except for one particular toy (head on a rope type - we have another head on a rope but only one of them is pete's favourite) I read something about it being a toy that you control, so going and buying a new toy and using this, but I'm not confident Pete would be interested in it, or is the point that if you move it around really fast and the dog can't get it his prey drive will make him interested? I hope I've made sense, I'm still trying to get my blonde little head around all this..

I think Pete has sighthound in him, I will definately have to try this method with him, thank you! And thank you for all the rest of the advice, I'm an open book really - it's all those 'little' things I need to work on!

Hi all, many of you would know me and my rescue Pete. We've been in each others lives for about 8 months, and hes about a year and a half. He's a dog that needs a strong leader, and I'm doing NILIF and TOT with him, but I guess I am just looking for any general tips on establishing yourself as the alpha. Pete seems to have a more innate respect for my big burly male housemates then for me, and I'm not saying that women are worse at being alphas, I'm sure there are plenty who are amazingly fantastic at it (and plenty of men who are hopeless at it), but I think its something that doesn't come naturally for me in my day-to-day life and Pete reads that. So any general tips on maintaining 'alpha' day to day, e.g. tone of voice, body language etc, would be really helpful for me to improve my consistency with him. Consistency is my new years resolution with training pete

all so amazing guys, thanks for sharing

Oh good I was worrying that I'd just missed the email from him - but would love to book dates in ASAP as I'm doing honours year in 2010 and expecting it all to get a bit hectic!

He hasn't limped since we stopped going to the dog park when there were other dogs around, which was probably 3 or 4 months ago, so i'm still not sure it's linked, it wasn't the same leg (sorry probably should have mentioned that - brain is still sleeping). I think i'll rest him another day, more if he needs, but it seems to be a bit better this morning, and if it happens again will definately take to vet!

Ok thanks pf, just wanted a second opinion, wasn't sure if it was crueler to give him no exercise or not (don't have access to a pool and he hates water - won't even step in his clam shell unless he gets something out of it) we'll just do lots of training before i go to work to tire his mind

Morning all, On monday morning took pete for our 20 minute jog/run, he's taller than a golden retriever so it's really just a trot for him, when i got home i noticed he was limping, it seems to be a front leg and when he goes into a sit he's only using his front right leg, but this may be because i.ve been teaching him to shake with his left and he's anticipating Anywaya it's not a severe limp, and I went over the whole leg and paw and found nothing, when we used to go to the dog park and he would run like mad he used to get small limps and the vet didn't think it was too serious, so I just rested him yesterday i.e. Didn't go for our morning trot, but when I got home from work he was so excited he did super quick zoomies in the backyard until i managed to stop him, he's still limping but it obviously seems not to be bothering him. Do you think I should continue to rest or go on our trot, or visit the vet? Part of me thinks no point in a vet visit as he's done this before and doesn't seem serious, but on the other hand we weren't working that hard when it started?

Ohh I want to hear about LLW and recalls as well , but it's a democracy I suppose

Yes me too!!! EDIT: Sorry just saw this is included in the QLD seminar

Well obviously me Ness I started this thread

Sorry to hear that :D - must have been frustrating! Thanks for the advice

So I'm trying to teach Pete to bow, with the lure method from the dog tricks page, it says if you have them standing and hold a treat between their legs they will bow to get it, I understand bowing to be laying down on front paws with bum in the air, but the treat between petes legs just makes him crane his neck, he's not getting it and I'm not getting it!? I end up just asking for a sit and giving him the damn treat Anyone got any advice on how to make it work?

We apparently need 20-30 people to make it happen, which seems very doable to me! I have another two people who are very keen but not on the boards, so hopefully we can get some support together and get Steve down here to share his wisdom!