Mym

Maggie's Rescue is in St Peters and has five kittens at the moment. http://www.petrescue.com.au/search_by_member/?member=1524&pg=2

On NYE I was at a great party at a local community hall in the Northern Rivers, NSW. Outside there were performers and it was a lot of fun. I was sitting with my husband and there was a man with an Am Staff. So gorgeous, he was only 14 months old. He was firm with this dog but he was so caring, it was really lovely to see. I mentioned that I had helped rehome another one recently and we got talking and he told me this dogs history. The dog was tied up outside a pub with a note on the wall next to him saying he was FTGH. When this man went in and spoke to the owner, he was told the dog was an idiot, couldn't get on with other dogs, and if he didn't get rid of it today then he would shoot it. The man decided to take the dog, he walked outside and got it, and walked up to the vet, he is a farm labourer and spent just about all his money as the dog had two broken ribs, the vet said that he thinks it had been kicked. This guy lives alone and works alone and the dog goes with him where he works in a banana plantation. During the next few days I saw this man a few times around town and this dog was just so calm and settled. He knows all about bsl, the vet filled him in and he is trying to get the dogs papers but as you can imagine he isn't having much luck. Just goes to show that dogs don't get it wrong, people do.

Crate Games and Success with One Jump by Susan Garrett

I know all you border owners think your dogs are the smartest but can your dog do this??? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quy8DK6g2nQ

We have struggled with a jumper as well (he was surrendered to our rescue group for this - as well as fear aggression) While ignoring the behaviour (turning away etc) has minimised it - it didn't stop it. What we have now learned to do via a behaviourist is give a short, firm 'Uh Uh' the very second it happens. Our other strategy is that we have a number of leads around the house tied to things that we can quickly click the dog up for a few minutes. We have also removed him from situations where he was worse with this behaviour - the best example is when people come to the house. He doesn't get to meet and greet with the other dogs but is clicked up. Once he is calm he is allowed to go and meet the visitor. We are not having to raise our voice, or use any form of harsh treatment, he is just having to learn that it is not okay and that he is not allowed to do this. I also find that walking him on the lead with a gentle leader makes a big difference on a daily basis too. He is more settled on days I do this. It has also been good to run though a minute of 'tricks' with him on a regular basis during the day, he has to earn his rewards at the moment and he actually seems happier and more relaxed as he continues with this training. I guess there are lots of reasons why dogs jump up but none are acceptable. Staying calm with a strategy is the key - I highly recommend the 'time out' on a lead tied in the house - it has made a big difference. Cheers Mym.

It sure is a feel good one isn't it? It had me crying. And I know many people wonder why Collie Rough owners think their dogs are so clever, but you don't know the half of it:

I loved this, a friend sent it to me today :D

Totally off topic but there is an Am Staffy available with Best Friends Rescue in Brisbane. We had him with us for four days and this lad is a gem of a dog. He really needs a great home that understands the breed. He is at the bottom of the page on their website. Is desexed, vaccinated, microchipped and has had 12 month heartworm treatment. He gets on with other dogs, is interested but not agro with cats, loves to have a swim and plays fetch (in a fashion) I had him out walking with a gentle leader on and he was great. My daughter pleaded with us to keep him. He is just a gorgeous dog. He comes with full vet history and even came with photos of his mum and dad. http://www.bestfriendsrescue.com/dogs.html

We have been doing training with our foster failure collie rough here. His stepping on your feet is definitely dominance but it only happens when we are doing some small circle work which is part of the training outlined to us by a professional behaviourist. We have also used online modules by Cesar Milan which have been great but this is so specific to our dog and the difference is dramatic. We are using 'uh uh' very firmly, but not yelling, just staying calm, assertive and being the boss. We also have leads tied in different parts of the house and we have 'time out' for about five minutes at a time. At the moment, he is not getting to go to the door when people arrive etc and he has to work for every pat or reward by obeying a command. It is tough love here but the results make it worth it. This is only part of what we are doing but the difference in only five days is very marked. His issue is dominance and fear aggression, and extreme jealously of the other collie here.

I have just fostered an Am Staffy for a few days and we are totally in love. He was just the easiest dog, and such a lovable sook. He is looking for a forever home now (Best Friends Rescue in Brisbane) We have just had four days of a fun loving larrikin, who loved swimming at the beach, hanging out at the local cafe and he happily slept in his crate at night.

I love crate games! It is a well produced dvd and everytime I watch it I find a new thing in it. Her 2x2 weaves and Success with One Jump dvd's are great as well. She is such a fun character. I also have borrowed a copy of Control Unleashed from my club...and Lesley is great...but the sound is appalling and she mutters and sniffs the whole way through it. If you can cope with it - it is good, especially with stressy, easily distracted dogs. Her "Look Away" game is really good. But seriously the sniffing is enough to make you want to send her a box of kleenex.

Thanks Tassie, I think my instructor has a subscription so will look it up.

You know, I could KICK myself...I did one day of a 3 part workshop last year based on Susan Salo's jumping training. I did it immediately after beginners agility and my dog and I were far and away the least experienced pair at this. It was also my first agility workshop. I felt like we were holding the group back to be honest and now, a year later, I know that it wasn't the case. I didn't even get the terminology being used. I had little motivation to do the other two days and so didn't go back. Currently I am doing a three weekly skills workshop where grid work etc is really important and I do think this is improving - but I also know that there are some dogs - like my lad who are 'reserved' in nature and his body control is going to be a large part of having a go at new things. I love how much I am learning about my dog and honestly, that gives me as much pleasure as anything else, he is happy as a clam when he is jumping, and a scared rabbit on a contact - I sometimes wonder if it is even worth pressing ahead. I would love to get him his B.A.D. but that wasn't the goal when I started. I just wanted a confident dog.

Ask Nekhbet Erny..........she has experience with this. I tried my GSD with an ordinary ladder layed down walking him backwards over it. After a couple times, he was stepping between the rungs with silly look on his face....."what are doing this for"???. Ah...this is a topic that is SO close to my heart at the moment. I have a collie rough who we have no end of trouble with contacts. So much so that we are now off to a referral for his back with a vet I was told is great. We are training rear end awareness with the perch at home, and we have shaped getting into and out of a box, and now I have two pilates disks as well. What I do notice is that as soon as he walks backwards, he splays his hind legs. He is also pretty overwhelmed on our stairs as well. He walks up them like he is a robot. I've been looking at 2nd hand ladders on ebay and as an ex-horse rider the whole caviletti thing made me wonder about the distance too. Anyone else have a big dog that is like this I would love to know how you built control. I feel like once I have got the okay that it isn't structural then I will be onto disks more as he has to use deep muscles and the target area requires him to get his legs under him into a narrow area. I did beginners agility to build his confidence after he was a badly abused dog....18 months later we are pretty well obsessed!

Hey, try clicking and driving at the same time... Clicking and driving? We're working on the idea that bikes riding past are actually predictors of the opportunity to get luncheon, rather than exciting prey objects to be mauled by juvenile malligators. She's not convinced yet. But I thought we'd try the softly softly approach before I broke out the corrections. I have one of those!!!! And Lollipop men around Brisbane are very much at risk as well....