Lucy's mama

I am thinking of getting a static correction bark collar for Banjo. He doesn't bark all day at nothing, but he is very alert and barks at birds, neighbours dogs, (especially when they are wandering) other dogs barking (even ones I can barely hear), sometimes people on the street (he is fenced 80m away from the street) and usually this is worst in the early morning and around dusk. Some days he is great - I haven't had to call him in once thismorning for example - but other mornings it is pretty much every time I let him out. He doesn't bark much through the middle of the day though. It doesn't bother me so much but it does bother my partner. Also we have had our first mention from our neighbours 150 odd meters away that the barking bothers them because allthough it is not very loud from over there, it makes their dogs bark and that does bother them. The neighbours on the other side have three very quiet well trained dogs and Banjo barks over their side a lot. Thankfully they have not complained yet but I want to correct the behaviour before it becomes too ingrained or our neighbourhood relations too strained. Up untill now I have called him when he barks, (I'm pretty sure I don't always hear him straight away though) bring him inside for at least 15 minutes or untill he's settled then let him back out. Often as soon as he is out he will go on alert and trot around the yard, ears forward, making little 'gruff' sounds and looking for something so bark at. He sleeps in a covered crate in the lounge room and still barks if he hears birds, other dogs, the cat walking past etc. He knows 'shh' and stops barking for a short time, then barks really really softly, then works back up to a full on bark. Any other suggestions for me before I go with the collar?

Walking ahead on a loose leash is fine with me - and Banjo has mastered it. Allthough I do have to put him in a sit and loosely restrain/pat him while other dogs, cyclists or joggers pass.

This would probably encourage Banjo too. When he chases chickens or the cat he never harms them - just makes them stay still. He will lay next to them and everytime they move put his paw back on them to pin them down.

I got an ezydog one for Banjo. I like it mainly because it stops me losing things. I can put keys, phone and camera in the zippered areas, treats and people snacks in the clip area, and sometimes even the kids shoes. small water bottles fit nicely but not sure I want to weight him down that much. I don't see why it couldn't double as a caar harnes as it has a ring to clip onto on the back. I have also discovered I can clip a lead to the front left strap to use as a front clip walking harness. ETA I didn't buy it online, just at the pet shop.

Thanks Stormie.

What? Sounds like you just feel like some internet debate. The op had unwarranted guilty feelings about desexing her dog. I empathised with that saying I would have unwarrented guilty feeling about speying a female. I wrote Now, just so we are clear, by that I meant that I know a bitch will not pine for the puppies she has never had the chance to have, but I'd feel bad anyway. I can't explain it any better than that. I am NOT saying I wouldn't desex a female, I am NOT saying you shouldn't desex females. I am saying I would feel guilty about it regardless.

I'm not talking about the dogs emotions.

Not all bitches are maternal, and honestly, that ones that are do not have maternal urges till the pups pop out, so how can they know what they are missing out on? Perhaps read the whole paragraph? I acknowledged that it is not logical - it is purely emotional. ETA I act on logic, not emotion. Doesn't mean I can't acknowledge that the emotion is there.

Yes, which is why I also wrote in that very same paragraph I was simply acknowledging that we can feel bad about something despite knowing it is for the best.

I did feel bad for getting my boy done too, but the fact is, it needs to be done. It only took him 24 hours to bounce back. To be honest, I would have more trouble getting a female dog done as I know how strong the need to mother was in me when I was wanting babies and I'd feel terribly guilty taking away any living creatures ability to fullfill those maternal urges. Obviously my head says it is not the same for a dog but my heart feels differently! (Luckily I never have had a female dog except Lucy who was already done)

They are good looking puppies! Best of luck homing them. Good job.

Yes, 'stubborn' and 'scent hound' are probably not desirable for a twelve year old (not this one anyway)

These were quite high on my list of 'dogs that might be right for Daughter to get involved in training' (in a couple of years if he is still interested when she is 12) How would they suit a first time dog owner, training newby, and child?

We have pet insurance but yes- costs have to be paid up front then claimed. We have a credit card we coud pay with, and if that is not enough we can re-draw extra payments from our mortgage.

I'd be quite happy to have a home check and discussion instead of being judged solely on what is written on the application. I have filled one out very fully and never got responded to and it just leaves me wondering what exactly is wrong with my home? With no feed back I can not clarify the situation or learn why particular things should be changed.

Ah, I see, sorry. I read it as being upset that even a breeder would do the wrong thing.

'The breeder' to most people I know refers to anyone who breeds a litter of purebred pupss, not just registered breeder.

am really curious though about a big male and a tiny female......and any damage it could cause...or not We had a cocker spaniel female as kids who mated with a rottweiler (and a cattle dog and a purebred cocker, all in the one litter). Birth was difficult (rott x was first born, then cattle x, then 4 little cockers). Would that be similiar size difference to maltese x border collie?

Looks like a maltese x teddy bear to me. Adorable!

My neighbours have 2 huskies and an Alaskan Malamute - they won't complain about the occasional howl I don't think. (And there is quite a distance between our houses also) None of the suggestions worked anyway. I put you u-tube on and he frantically went in search of the dog.

I am trying to teach Banjo to 'sing'. (howl on cue) I can get him to howl at a sqeaky toy occasionally but not regularly enough to make much headway. What else can I try to get him to howl? What other simple tricks could I try teach while he is supposed to be 'kept quiet' after his desexing?

Eww! Love the look on the lady's face.

LMAO! Both my cats have night time quirks. The young one claws all movement through the doona - and if your not moving yet she will claw anyway to start the game off. The older one must sleep across my neck - he has to do the whole paddling/clawing thing to my throat first though. If I am curled up and he can't sleep on my neck, he wriggles at least one paw in to rest on my neck. I kind of love it because when we first found him (or he found us) he was so scared of me.

Mister Minute and the like often have large size key rings that can be engraved. Ours has Lucy's name and two mobile numbers. There would be space for a rego number too.

I expect them to alarm bark, which they do. Then if someone walks into the yard anyway, they lick them, roll over for belly rubs etc. or run awy if they think the peron is a threat. Banjo sounds deadly serious when he warns someone away so not many people will call him on it I think. Lucy had one guy who used to ervice our home treatment plant who she hated. I had to loock her up when ever he was here as she'd follow him around growling. She even climbed onto a table and jumped off the verandah to growl at him. Very Very VERY odd for her. We stopped getting him out because a) I didn't trust him and b) it was an accident waiting to happen. I do not want Banjo to be protective to the point he will bite either and discourage anything but barking at strangers approaching the yard. He has twice shown some protectiveness when we pass men on our walks and I have been discouraging this by putting myself between him and the man, putting him in a sit in the heel position, then continuing when he is calm.