raineth

Yeah the behavioural markers for depression are very similar to that in humans :) So Digby had (still has to a degree) flat affect and learned helplessness. He also slept all the time, and took little to no interest in ejoyable things (like you suggested). These are all things that are usually present in Depressed people. As well as that he just oozes miserable. His diagnosis covered the above things. Digby is not on medication... although that was on the cards. K9pro said that Digby doesn't have any opf the markers that suggest he has some genetic predisposition for depression; so maybe that is why he is responding so well to the activities and exercises we have been given that aim to improve levels of serotonin in his brain and create new pathways. hmmm are you sure your labs aren't doing that classic lab pleading look to gain cuddles and food double lab love :laugh: they are very good at the human manipulation those labs :D edit for pleading, not pleasing!

Hi Alicia, oh poor dear Tommy! My dog Digby has Depression; he was diagnosed by a behaviourist. Digby is a rescue dog; his original owners mistreated him and took out their anger on him. Digby learned to try to be invisible and he learned that being happy or excited led to punisment, so he suppressed those feelings. After seeing the behaviourist we are now on a special program that is designed to alleviate his depression and make Digby know that it is safe for him to be happy. He has come a really long way and is so much happier! I reccommend you see a behaviourist; they can do an assessment on him and see whether he has depression or something else going on; then give you a treatment/training plan to help. If you say whereabout you are people can reccommend a good behaviourist near you. I took Digby to see K9pro.

Happy Gotcha day! hope you have a lovely day together :)

not on the training part, but also make sure you clip his nails short and smooth and it will be nowhere near as painful, and will help you have a clear head in which to modify his behaviour with :)

Thankyou raineth! I wasn't sure if it would make much sense to a non-retrieving person (I'm assuming you are!) so I'm glad you enjoyed it. It's also very hard to explain just how difficult even these novice retrieves are. So many people tell me that their dog would love retrieving trials but it's a lot more than fetching a ball :laugh: yep I could definitely be classed as a non-retrieving person! I certainly hardly know anything about retrieving, but the skill in what you were doing and the way Em was working so well was very apparent to me :)

Wow! That was awesome TSD! Go Em!

That bit makes me wonder whether he's suffering from separation anxiety? maybe he is too anxious to eat all day, then he feels better when your home but scoffs the food because he's so hungry by then?

I can only explain the principles that are at work in Koehler. As for other methods I have no opinion. I simply do not accept nor see any compelling reason why I should accept the description of what is going according to behaviorism. I do not accept the principles on which behaviorism rests. ok, and thank you for answering my questions, I'm understanding you better I think. here's another one :p so say you clicker trained a dog to touch its nose to your hand. You accept that something about the clicker training has caused your dog to learn this behaviour, you just don't think that behaviourisms explanation for how this learning occurred is correct? although I have a feeling you won't answer that because you have no opinion other than Koehler methods. I am not familiar with koehler methods... If long-line training teaches a dog to pay attention to where its human is, what is your explanation for how it learns to do this? :)

not hot: presumption that they can just turn up, hand over the money and take the puppy/dog with them! get bored listening to you give a description of the dog's temperament. hot: asks lots of questions shows that they are really thinking about how the pup/dog would fit in with what they want from a dog and how they would accommodate its needs. is willing to come and meet pup/dog before purchase.

Yes. Although I would modify the above by saying that what the dog learns is that the consequences of his behavior are within his ability to control. Hence it is the dog's own actions which bring about reward or punishment. It is the dog's ability to control the consequences through his own action that brings reward. It is no different for any animal (including humans) in my view, the ability to control one's environment through one's own agency is itself intrinsically rewarding. ok gotcha. So are you arguing that Koehler long line (and similar koehler training methods I presume) are the only way the dog is given agency?

ok I'm quite confused about a lot of this thread, itsadogslife, are you saying that a dog set up on the long-line using the Koehler method, will find that method intrinsically rewarding because it is figuring out for itself what leads to punishment and what doesn't?

here is one of mine shame it wasn't side on! I found it really hard to do, she was going very fast and changing direction constantly!

I think its much better practice to use foster carers. Its not as easy to predict what an animal is like in a home environment from it being in a kennelled in environment. But I guess there is not enough foster carers to go round anyway. Our Petbarn advertises and supports the local rescue group. It has a donations bin, and a poster with the pets up for adoption, and regular barbecues etc. One of the local petshops also runs a rescue, but still sells petshop pets from its store - go figure.

I think the risk with any of the terriers in that situation is that they could probably easily escape from your yard, and also that they probably wouldn't just alert you to the presence of a snake but also try to attack it (and risk getting bitten). I was thinking spaniel as well, but depending on the kind of plants and grass you have around could be problematic getting tangled in coats and stuck in ears. but I think certain breeds of terriers and spaniels would suit your other requirements :)

i think she's great :) I especially love the bomb-proof stay videos. I think that the method she teaches for the stay is particularly useful for anxious dogs. I'm also currently training pivot using her video. Hehe yes the halloween one is really good :laugh:

Can we please see some footage of you and your dog/s itsadogslife? I have seen a few clips of Aidan handling dogs, and it looked very effective to me :) I went and checked out a trainer today. There isn't many trainers in the area and I was interested when I heard there was one I didn't know about. He told me that only uneducated trainers use rewards. He uses the check chain, smacking with the leash, and yelling to train the dogs. I heard that one lady there had had a very dog agressive dog who sure enough was not showing aggressive behaviour when I saw it. So maybe his methods are successful. But I also didn't see any happy connection between the dog and his handler. I didn't see any dog keen to work. I saw some stressed dogs and some dogs that were just trudging along. Interestingly also whenever a handler came close enough to me, their dog pulled toward me to say hello. Every dog did this. And I found it strange. Usually dogs at training are focussed on their owner, or atleast getting there. So what I am getting at is that, people also have different bench-marks. The trainer that I saw today thought he was a success. But he wasn't successful at the things I value, such as a keen and happy dog, that is enjoying working with its handler.

another giant baby: 12 weeks: and at 16 weeks:

I completely agree

I think she's doing the right thing. If he won't listen after her rebuke you or his owner should put him in a time out

wonderful! definitely one to watch if you're feeling blue!

Debbie Calnon and Gabrielle Carter come up here from Melbourne, but I don't know of any that work here. thanks for the info m-j

extremely difficult question :D Great Dane Akita Scottish terrier Borzoi setters and/or Golden retrievers

hey there I have heard that there is a behaviourist in Albury (can't remember where from ) Could anyone tell me who they are?

yes I'll second this. They are excellent

I keep an eye on what comes through our local pound. The majority are crosses: bull breed crosses; terrier (JR or foxie type) crosses; swf type crosses, staghounds; and herding breed crosses. out of dogs that look to be pure, most don't ook to be pedigree. While they look pure, they don't have the conformation that a pedigree normally would have. the most common purebreds are Kelpies and cattle dogs. Then next would be staffords. Other breeds that make an appearance are whippets, labradors, border collies, papillons.