raineth

I suspect it's more like the same mechanisms involved in brain washing... drug addiction the chemicals are supplied from external sources, what SG's presenter was talking about was chemicals or just responses supplied as an internal response to an external stimulus... Eg "I like this" or "I'm freaked out by this"... She talked a lot about being confined in a small space with a lot of spiders (flooding) and the risks of flooding (trauma and massive aversion) and the benefits (realising that spiders aren't so bad - hard to believe). yeah I'm pretty sure its the same thing, it's called Opponent Process theory :)

Sounds like she is talking about the same mechanisms involved in drug addiction. Also happens with people who sky dive and that sort of thing.

Goodluck Stella! Sounds like she is amanging really well at this point BC Crazy :) So you're just tapering off one med and tapering on to another? Goodlcuk with Justice's play date tomorrow, Snook. Although I'm sure he doesn't need it :) I bet it will go very well.

The saying 'don't sweat the small stuff' comes to my mind reading this thread :) Personally I will put poo in bins that are curbside waiting for collection. I've also asked people who are in their front yard if I can put the poo bag in their bin, and they've all been happy to oblige.

Oh my god! That's beautiful!!!

Oh no! I shouldn't laugh but :laugh: Well never mind there's plenty more tricks out there :)

Ah huh yeah ok :) You can still use sticky tape to make the sticky note stick. I think you just need to increase that stimulus a little to get more responses from her, that you can then reward! In regards to the treat problem. My advice would be to try having treats in your pocket regularly. Preferably not something too disgusting ofcourse! I'm not talking about something wet and soggy! But it will help to get her less zoned in on the treats :) Goodluck with it. I'm sure she'll get there in then end. I think it can be a little trickier for them because they're not that aware of swiping at their face, it's more of an automatic response compared to other things we train them to do :)

I taught Digby this trick Terri. (I haven't taught it to Del because when I began to she did it with such gusto that it looked like she was going to cause herself and injury, but that's another story) Just double check your timing, and make your treat delivery really swift. I know that after you click your treat delivery speed. Swift treat delivery is more rewarding than slow treat delivery. Anyway... what I am trying to say is that if you're certain you are getting the mechanics right, then you can increase it's annoyance by using sticky notes. Sticky notes are more annoying, not because they are more sticky but because they are larger and so the dog can see it, and want to get it off. Still if she is anything like Digby she is going to be more tolerant, and she is going to work at a slower pace, and its going to take her plenty of time to have her lightbulb moment. It took Digby quite a while to learn this trick. It went like this for many, many days: Digby: rubs at his face Me: C+T Digby: Yum a treat! But what did I do to get it several more seconds pass by... what is this thing on my face? So hang in there!

Yes exactly! And honestly $250 can easily be spent in one visit to the vet; and if you get an unhealthy dog you're going to be paying that many times over unfortunately I have known of dogs with severe skin problems and it's not an easy thing to manage for the owner and can be very hard on the dog. It's not something I would wish on anyone.

Yes I agree with Cassie. Before you get your puppy you want to have 100% confidence in your breeder. I really have no idea about the problem you are talking about unfortunately, but it sounds as though there are other things making you uncomfortable anyway. One of the good things about a responsible breeder is that they offer you support even after you bring your puppy home. Would you feel comfortable calling this breeder if something was worrying you about the puppy and that they would help you? Do you know about health tests for Dachies and whether the breeder does them at all? That would be one of the first things I'd look into when getting a puppy :) if they don't tick that box then there's no need for further investigation, just move on to someone else.

As Airedaler said, if it was in the rescue forum the term was most likely used as a descriptor; e.g. that the dog appears to have terrier heritage and is wirehaired. Miniature Foxies have their own registry. Although I think the ANKC version is the Tenterfield terrier.

I'm not sure about the layout of your house (obviously) but could you put him in a crate in a closed room that is furthest from the action of your front door and where you groom the dogs? He might be able to cope with it a bit better from more of a distance, and behind a closed door. Giving him a bone or something to occupy him as well. Back when I had both the dogs, we practiced so that a knock on the door meant go into the crate. This made for very peaceful visits. You could incorporate this too maybe.

I think generally most people don't pay enough attention. The other side of the coin is that many problem behaviours also represent actual suffering. Think of the many behavioural problems that stem from anxiety, such as separation anxiety. These are issues that are actually affecting the dog's well being and therefore should ideally be addressed just as if the dog was physically suffering.

She's looking really good Terri :) To my eye she seems to have definitely grown taller. I love the secret dog business photo

Yeah don't feel guilty Terri :) Definitely seek help from a professional, but also on the other hand, don't let this experience have you completely on edge either :) Remember that she has displayed loads of appropriate behaviour with people before. With Digby, who was quite uninterested in strangers, and a little on the anxious side when we first got him this is how we dealt with strangers who asked to pat him. They would ask me if they could pat, and I would say, we'll lets see of Digby wants to have a pat. I would release Digby so it was his choice to go to the person or not, and it was his choice to stay with them or come back to my side. This very much increased his confidence as the interaction became his choice. Now having said that, he had never growled or barked at a person before either... So not something to go back to the scary vet nurse to test out. If you are familiar with creating positive associations it could also be an idea to get something like a table tennis racquet and get her used to having that object go around her body, just with you doing it though.

I would put actual big large mounds of sand. All my dogs have loved running up and down and playing in really large mounds of sand and wood chip.

I think you did just fine. The dog's body language concerned you, and the fact the owner was distracted, so you told the vet, and you took your dog to the car and came back to pay to avoid any problems. You never know, had the dog been clearly relaxed the way you saw it when your dog wasn't with you, you might not have been scared at all. Also, you need to remember that a tail wag doesn't necessarily mean a dog is friendly :)

Snook, Awww that is so wonderful! You must be so elated! It's wonderful that he has a new mate to play with. Sounds like the beginning of an excellent friendship :) BC Crazy, it's lovely to hear again of Stella making massive progress at the Vets

Can't wait to hear how it goes Snook! Thanks for that description of what you do with Justice and BAT :) Sounds like they have some similarities :) What BAT did do wonders for Del with is teach her to sniff the ground. I know when she sniffs the ground she is clearly making a choice to disengage, and I know that with the friendlier dogs that she kind of wants to meet but is a bit worried about, she won't sniff the ground.

Oh that's just terrible

How heartbreaking for you PD

Well I was using BAT without the clicker, and it improved things to a point. Then it just didn't. And she went backwards, I think because she is conflicted. With her friendly side warring with her 'this dog might bite me' side. So increasing distance was sometimes reinforcing, and at other times punishing (although I know Grisha disagrees with this). So I've ditched BAT, and switched to back to CC (with the clicker) and she has improved immensely since doing this. Then with doing the recallers stuff I have learned to ask for more, and know we can go past very territorial dogs putting on very aggressive displays of behaviour with her behaving from a distance of about 2 metres. (Which is honestly about as close as I'd want to go anyway!) So I would be very wary of ditching the clicker. She also has a verbal reward marker, but I find the clicker just that little more effective. Still I'm pretty sure, that I couldn't add anything more to the mix. When I had to walk her and hold a bag of shopping, I ditched the clicker. Three things seems to be my limit, that's for sure.

Big stick! Mine seem to appreciate me telling barking, annoying dogs off. But I tend to do the low growl 'noooo' rather than yelling. But how do you you juggle the big stick along with everything else? I feel quite loaded up with my one dog, treats and clicker! I think I mustn't be very dexterous

If they have any taste at all they'd love it :D

Oh gosh, I am so relieved he is ok! Good on both of you for picking up on it in time :) I have a bloat chart on the fridge here, and it's very helpful for remembering the symptoms.