QUEENY

The Playgroup isnt part of the obedience school, but some of the people from the playgroup take there dogs to Werriwa Obedience as well. That was how i found out about the obedience classes. On hot days most of the dogs go swimming in the lake and have been for years now, and they've had no problems so far. I use to let my dog swim there too, but a few wks ago we noticed that he's getting scabby so he's on antibiotics from the vet, for a skin allergy or something - the vet wasn't sure what it was or how he got it, so we dont let him swim there anymore. But she did say it could be from the lake. Not sure whether it was from the lake or not though because the other dogs are fine. We take him to swim at Kernell Beach now, which i've been told is the only offleash beach for dogs.

So we went to playgroup on Saturday and it was pretty good, im going to try and stay with the group and hopefully he will learn to not be so rough with them, a few people actually told me he is starting to calm down a bit now which i was happy to hear. We go to Werriwa All Breeds Dog Training Club in Warwick Farm and the playgroup we go to is at Chipping Norton Lake. I think the part of the park we go to is Angle Park. We meet there every Saturday at 8:30am and as far as i know its open to anyone interested.

Thanks heaps, totally on track with you guys now it seems so obvious i feel as if my question was a bit silly now. This is the first dog i've had thats been to obedience school and even been able to be around other dogs and people in public, and im still trying to get the gist of the way things go. My last dog was from a friend who moved away and couldn't take him, and he didnt do well with other dogs as he was trained but as a guard dog for a truck yard, however he got on alright with my cats and people who came to our home. So we're all trying hard to get our dog to be well behaved out in public with people and other dogs. But your comments make alot of sense.lol. From your replies i think maybe ill try to teach him not to play so rough with them and like you said Huski to behave nicely around other dogs. It seems so obvious now that there are times for socialising and times for training. I was actually thinking socialisation was pretty much having fun and playing with other dogs, but training him too has been a big thing for us as well. Hopefully we get it right, because i'd really like to keep taking him to the playgroup as he's pretty much grown up around them, and its pretty cool watching him play. I think i'll look into the Ridgeback Club of NSW as well just to find out if theres things going on around my area. Thanks again.

I have an 8 month old Rhodeshian Ridgeback who is/has outgrown his regular playmates which we meet up with every saturday and have done so for the last 4 months or so. We have anywhere from 5-15 dogs that all meet up for a couple of hours Saturday mornings and he gets on really well with them all, have had no problems so far. They are mostly Labs, a few smaller breeds and (2 German Shepherds - which he is fine with but they dont come every week). He also goes to obiedience school and is in the begginners grade, so still learning basics but is pretty well behaved. However the dogs aren't allowed off leash there and not sure why but no one really lets there dogs even sniff each other and they are quite strict about dogs getting too close to each other as well. The problem is that because he's already a large dog and outgrown most of the other dogs in the play group i am starting to notice a few of the dog owners getting a bit worried about their dogs getting hurt (which i can understand). With a few of the dogs when he walks towards them a few owners are now shooing him away from them and usually he will just turn around and walk off to look for another dog to play with. He's not aggressive towards them at all but plays with them as if they are the same size or just as strong. Wondering if anyone knows anywhere in Sydney where other large breed dog groups meet up, or even where any other Ridgeback owners take there dogs to socialise. If not, besides getting another dog for a playmate do i have any other options for socialising him with other dogs?? I live in the Parramatta area in Sydney, and don't mind driving a bit to get there, however the closer to home the better.

I have an 8 month old Rhodeshian Ridgeback who is/has outgrown his regular playmates which we meet up with every saturday and have done so for the last 4 months or so. We have anywhere from 5-15 dogs that all meet up for a couple of hours Saturday mornings and he gets on really well with them all, have had no problems so far. They are mostly Labs, a few smaller breeds and (2 German Shepherds - which he is fine with but they dont come every week). He also goes to obiedience school and is in the begginners grade, so still learning basics but is pretty well behaved. However the dogs aren't allowed off leash there and not sure why but no one really lets there dogs even sniff each other and they are quite strict about dogs getting too close to each other as well. The problem is that because he's already a large dog and outgrown most of the other dogs in the play group i am starting to notice a few of the dog owners getting a bit worried about their dogs getting hurt (which i can understand). With a few of the dogs when he walks towards them a few owners are now shooing him away from them and usually he will just turn around and walk off to look for another dog to play with. He's not aggressive towards them at all but plays with them as if they are the same size or just as strong. Wondering if anyone knows anywhere in Sydney where other large breed dog groups meet up, or even where any other Ridgeback owners take there dogs to socialise. If not, besides getting another dog for a playmate do i have any other options for socialising him with other dogs?? I live in the Parramatta area, and don't mind driving a bit to get there, however the closer to home the better.