raineth

I'll mention the kind of socialization that people often forget about... handling, grooming, nail-clipping, bathing, happy to be touched all over. Remember you want to make these a positive experience so take it slowly, use treats, and be aware of how your puppy is responding. Some pups need to go much slower than others, especially with the nail clipping and bathing. Because your dog is a coated breed, you need to include getting him used to the brushes/combs and possibly hair dryer. Remember just make it short and sweet, a little each day/every second day. With bathing I used to start just putting the pup in the bath (without any water and just making it a fun place to be. The next time would be the same, except with the tap running (but not filling up); anyway I'm sure you get the drift, just take is slow :) With brushing and nail clipping you don't want to make it exciting as such, just relaxing and pleasant as it will make your job so much easier in the long run :) ah! Forgot to say that we need a pic!

I like it a lot apart from the whole cut me to bits thing as I know the leash will never slip through my hands if Didi's ever silly. My mum has pretty tough skin and she held the leash for 2 minutes on one of our walks and got a cut too We have some nylon leads but none of them have brass buckles and I don't want to risk a breakage if Didi freaks out over something so I'm stuck with the machete leash for a bit longer. I'm in the market for a nice thick leather martingale so may as well chuck a leash in there while I'm at it! machete leash :laugh:

I think it's just clipped though, so as long as you didn't want to show, you could have a furry butt :)

Oh no That's terrible! I wouldn't be putting up with that, you need to get yourself a new leash young lady :) I have a gripper leash too, but it doesn't do that to me, it must be my hard washer-woman's hands or something. Those leather ones look beautiful, I have bought a book of raffle tickets Lisa, so maybe I'll win one, that would be fabulous!

I can't see any problem with that routine :)

A Whippet! Because they should be able to help you hunt, but they are also small enough that finding enough food for them should be possible and they would be good to snuggle with on cold nights, but should also cope reasonably well with the heat (maybe? I'm not actually 100% sure about that one).

is there any other park you could go to that doesn't have an offlead bit at all? This might reduce the number of loose dogs you have to deal with. I think it would be ok for you to work him on a long line in such a park, provided you're considerate, which it sounds like you are anyway. Oh you can always throw a (full) poo bag at their dog. I've done that before when necessary. It does nothing for you reputation as a non- crazy person however

Look I totally, get you and it's SO frustrating! Is there anywhere else you can take him to do your training? I know that's annoying and you shouldn't have to adjust what you're doing because you're doing nothing wrong, but I'm a little concerned that Ernie could end up being reactive by encountering so many rude off lead dogs. And that would be such a shame Honestly I have not found any particular thing to say that is effective with everyone. As you have seen yourself, other people think they know what's best for your dog, and there's really not much you can say to these people that will stop them. Some people will respect you asking them to call their dog away, but just as many don't. Because my girl is not at all comfortable anymore after being attacked by other people's dogs, if I see another dog I just get away from it as quickly as I can. I can only control me and her, I can't do much about other people and their dogs. This is really the only reliable method I have to keep other people's dogs away from her.

I love giant dogs so much its like a disease! But every now and then I see a Scottie and :love: The only other terrier I have a little swoon for are Airedales :)

I find the clicker excellent for times when you want the dog to be a bit perky. For times when I want calmness I use rewards that will not induce a state of excitement. For calm behaviours I find soothing voice and soothing pats to work well. Also you could use filled longs or bones to reward being in the crate. Bones are good because chewing typically relaxes dogs and your dog comes to associate the crate with relaxing. I'm sure you'll get there with him :) he's an excited pup with not much self-control to draw on at this stage so it's just a matter of clearly communicating to him and being patient :)

Our gates are locked and we have a 'dog on premises sign' this still didn't stop our elderly neighbour attempting to come through the back gate (although because it is padlocked he couldn't, thankfully). Del has never really shown any territoriality towards humans but I would certainly worry that she could cause him to fall over as he is not very stable on his feet and she would definitely bound towards him with great enthusiasm. We also had our cars and shed broken into one night, but both dogs slept through it, or at least didn't make any fuss about it whatsoever, let alone get close to biting them. I certainly don't know exactly what is legal or not. But I think it is helpful to let people know if there is a dog on the premises (especially of your dog isn't likely to make itself known by barking).

Are you also talking about the context of the front door? As in having him sit when someone knocks at the door? This can be very challenging for some dogs and you would need to build up to it slowly. So you would make sure he is reliable at sitting at the front door first. Then you could send one of your daughters out to the front door to knock on it. Once he is reliable with a familiar family member, you would then try it with someone 'new'. in the mean-time it could be a good idea to quickly pop him into a crate or another room when there is a knock at the door. (He could leave the room when he is calm).

You could get a fountain maybe?

Don't worry about her running and hiding from you that time :) Take up your friend's methods and I'm sure puppy will be seeing you in the same light very quickly. It's all about building the value puppy holds for you :)

only click when she touches your hand with her nose :)

Oh he is just precious <3 Happy birthday Tibor, you grand old man

Wow a year's gone by so quickly! Happy Birthday Didi! She has such a pretty face :) She looks like a very capable swimmer! I'm thinking that there's no way the Dane part of her is responsible for that particular trait :laugh:

That is crazy! I also don't totally get the point. I mean I do understand that railway lines can make for good composition, but I find the combination of a baby in an armchair on a railway track a little unsettling, it's so far removed from what you would ever normally do with a baby...

Miss2 sounds more like the behaviourist was just using an analogy rather than a diagnosis :) Possibly to describe a pup that is very independent? here is the diagnostic criteria for autism according to the DSM 5 and you can see that some of this stuff would be quite difficult to apply to a dog. Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder 315.39 (F80.89) Diagnostic Criteria A. Persistent difficulties in the social use of verbal and nonverbal communication as manifested by all of the following: 1. Deficits in using communication for social purposes, such as greeting and sharing information, in a manner that is appropriate for the social context. 2. Impairment of the ability to change communication to match context or the needs of the listener, such as speaking differently in a classroom than on the playground, talking differently to a child than to an adult, and avoiding use of overly formal language. 3. Difficulties following rules for conversation and storytelling, such as taking turns in conversation, rephrasing when misunderstood, and knowing how to use verbal and nonverbal signals to regulate interaction. 4. Difficulties understanding what is not explicitly stated (e.g., making inferences) and nonliteral or ambiguous meanings of language (e.g., idioms, humor, metaphors, multiple meanings that depend on the context for interpretation). B. The deficits result in functional limitations in effective communication, social participation, social relationships, academic achievement, or occupational performance, individually or in combination. C. The onset of the symptoms is in the early developmental period (but deficits may not become fully manifest until social communication demands exceed limited capacities). D. The symptoms are not attributable to another medical or neurological condition or to low abilities in the domains or word structure and grammar, and are not better explained by autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability (intellectual developmental disorder), global developmental delay, or another mental disorder. Autism Spectrum Disorder 299.00 (F84.0) Diagnostic Criteria A. Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, as manifested by the following, currently or by history (examples are illustrative, not exhaustive, see text): 1. Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, ranging, for example, from abnormal social approach and failure of normal back-and-forth conversation; to reduced sharing of interests, emotions, or affect; to failure to initiate or respond to social interactions. 2. Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, ranging, for example, from poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal communication; to abnormalities in eye contact and body language or deficits in understanding and use of gestures; to a total lack of facial expressions and nonverbal communication. 3. Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships, ranging, for example, from difficulties adjusting behavior to suit various social contexts; to difficulties in sharing imaginative play or in making friends; to absence of interest in peers. Specify current severity: Severity is based on social communication impairments and restricted repetitive patterns of behavior (see Table 2). B. Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities, as manifested by at least two of the following, currently or by history (examples are illustrative, not exhaustive; see text): 1. Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, use of objects, or speech (e.g., simple motor stereotypies, lining up toys or flipping objects, echolalia, idiosyncratic phrases). 2. Insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to routines, or ritualized patterns or verbal nonverbal behavior (e.g., extreme distress at small changes, difficulties with transitions, rigid thinking patterns, greeting rituals, need to take same route or eat food every day). 3. Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus (e.g, strong attachment to or preoccupation with unusual objects, excessively circumscribed or perseverative interest). 4. Hyper- or hyporeactivity to sensory input or unusual interests in sensory aspects of the environment (e.g., apparent indifference to pain/temperature, adverse response to specific sounds or textures, excessive smelling or touching of objects, visual fascination with lights or movement). Specify current severity: Severity is based on social communication impairments and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior (see Table 2). C. Symptoms must be present in the early developmental period (but may not become fully manifest until social demands exceed limited capacities, or may be masked by learned strategies in later life). D. Symptoms cause clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of current functioning. E. These disturbances are not better explained by intellectual disability (intellectual developmental disorder) or global developmental delay. Intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder frequently co-occur; to make comorbid diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability, social communication should be below that expected for general developmental level. Note: Individuals with a well-established DSM-IV diagnosis of autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder, or pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified should be given the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Individuals who have marked deficits in social communication, but whose symptoms do not otherwise meet criteria for autism spectrum disorder, should be evaluated for social (pragmatic) communication disorder - See more at: http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/diagnosis/dsm-5-diagnostic-criteria#sthash.QTCnbyjM.dpuf

It's important to remember that autism is not caused by vaccinations :)

Yeah that does seem a little strange, and I can see why you'd be frustrated. I recently spent some time chatting with a Field spaniel breeders and interacting with their dogs and they told me that Fields are typically great with kids. If you think a Field is a good suit, I would encourage you to contact different breeders. I can't imagine the breeders I spoke to would object to the age of your kids.

Wouldn't cockers require a a bit more on the grooming side though? In my limited experience, both Shelties and Daccies are barky. I would have thought Fields would be the best pick out of your original three :)

How'd you go Hankdog? Did you make it through to 11am today? :)

because with a house with a fenced yard you can let the dog out and go back inside and continue doing what you were doing. Or if you have a doggie door, you don't even have to do that. In a house without a fenced yard you have to put them on lead and then wait around while they go :) so it does definitely require more commitment. Especially if you have an oldie that needs to go multiple times overnight in the middle of winter.

Well you were absolutely in the right BC Crazy. It's so frustrating sometimes, I feel like I need to join "raging dog owners anonymous" because I get so frustrated with other people. Yesterday I am walking with Del and my son. Ahead we see a schnauzer on an extender lead so I decide to cross the road just to be safe. The road we cross is one of those very old fashioned roads that are ridiculously wide. While we are waiting to cross I do notice a lady in a parked car across from us looking at us in a funny way. This sort of thing does happen when you have a big spotty dog so I don't pay much attention. As we cross I do vaguely notice her still watching us in this odd way. As we get to the other side there is all of a sudden a dog rushing at Delta and barking madly The lady then gets out of the car and takes her dog away. Del actually was fantastic, handled it like a champ. I on the other hand was consumed with rage! This woman had seen us, knew we were crossing the road and did nothing at all to restrain her dog. Then said nothing at all to me, I was really expecting an apology. So I gave her the nastiest scowl I have and said very loudly that I couldn't believe that she had seen were coming and didn't put her dog away.