teekay

I don't like the idea of lifetime registration. Just doesn't seem to make sense to me and yes T, no incentive to desex once registered. Compared to the Sunshine Coast council though the lifetime fees work out very cheap. I pay $12 each for Mya and Jenna (desexed) Yearly and $116 a year for Luka (entire) I intend to desex Luka before the registration renewal date but did not want to desex him at 6 months to get the reduced fees then. I can imagine if people didn't have that deadline they may just 'not bother' with the desexing. Changing over from lifetime to yearly could be a nightmare though. Will it just be new registrations? Doesn't seem fair if you have paid for lifetime and then they expect you to start paying every year.

Actually managed to walk past another dog today (I know tomorrow may be different, I agree our furry friends are very unpredictable like that :) ) We were walking down our usual path this morning, when a oodle of some description came round the corner with it's owner. Took us rather by surprise but as I always have my handful of treats at the ready I just started giving them to Luka and he managed to not really react to the dog at all. He was a bit tense and I know he was probably over his threshold but for a surprise encounter I thought it went pretty well. It wasn't all that long ago that he would have totally refused to eat at all because he would have been so focussed on the other dog. I need to celebrate the good moments because it's so easy to feel like it's such an uphill stuggle and you aren't getting anywhere a lot of the time. :)

What a stunning girl You must be really proud, Evolving.

You'd think so wouldn't you? But not Mya. She was skin and bone when rescued from Blacktown pound by K9angel on here, 3 years ago. You'd think she wolf everything down, glad of a good meal but nup. I am far more relaxed about it now though. To begin with i would worry if she refused to eat because she was still pretty thin but she has settled at an appropriate weight for her now. 16kgs. Light for a husky but it's a good weight for her and if she doesn't eat her evening kibble it just gets picked up and offered again the next day. Luckily she does usually eat her RMBs in the morning so rarely goes without anything.

We don't get heartworm down here so I don't actually worm for it. I rotate wormers so they get a Heartgard Plus about three times a year (which covers heartworm, roundworms and hookworms). As I understand it, the dose rate of ivermectin in Heartgard is safe for the collie-related breeds. Yes, they do say it is safe but I would rather not risk it when there are safe alternatives.

Ok, I have just found Milbemax which has a slightly higher concentration of the active ingredients and would suit up to 24kgs so I think I will give them a try next time. Thanks Hardy's Angel but I don't think they cover heartworm do they? I have to be careful with Luka being an Aussie Shepherd so some of the heartworm only stuff is no good for him. Looks like Milbemax will be the way to go unless he puts on more than 2 kgs. He's 13 months old now, so time will tell. I like to keep my dogs lean anyway.

OKl just found a little bit more info on the Novartis website Going by those doseage rates you are fine with a 23kg dog (that works out to 11.5mg of milbemycin oxime, which is exactly what the 11-22kg pills have) for most worms and are ever so slightly under for the tapeworm protection. A 23kg dog needs 115mg of praziquantel and the pills have 114mg. Think I am fine for now staying at that dose. Just hope Luka hasn't got too much filling out to do. Gotta watch those treats. :D

Thanks for the video LBD it was really helpful. Diesel did great It is more difficult to set up the correct scenario with other dogs but I did realise something watching the video. Because I am also working on Luka walking on a loose leash I am giving him treats as we walk along anyway, just a more quick fire treat delivery when we see another dog or person. Maybe he isn't getting the association with 'strange dog/person = treats/good stuff' It is interesting that Diesel was sitting still for the first encounters too. I'm now wondering where I can go or how I can manipulate the situation so Luka wouldn't have to be walking towards another dog. I wish I knew more people with dogs.

I wish interceptor did smaller increments. I wouldn't mind going up to 30kg if they are 23kg but a 45kg dose for a 23kg dog seem so ove rthe top. Maybe I should look at seperating the heartworm and intestinal worming pills. Off to Google :)

So 2 of my dogs are now right on the limit for the top end of the weight range for their Interceptor spectrum tablets (22kgs). I weighed Luka today and he was 22.2kg, he possibly still has some filling out to do and will probably go further over that limit. How accurate are they do you think? The next size up tablet is for 22-45kgs so if they are only just over 22kgs that's a big dose. Something I would rather avoid but obviously want to make sure they are protected. What do others do for their 'just on the limit' dogs?

Or if that isn't possible, videoing your training is the next best thing! You can pick up on so much that you miss in real-time :) -- And yes, improvement is possible, I have a success story here :) I was "lucky" in the sense that Weez is motion-reactive rather than dog-reactive so it was a million times easier to set up controlled predictable scenarios for him to train with. But now I can't even play LAT with him and bikes because he just doesn't see them as anything that needs looking at! Happy to PM anyone the video of his counter-conditioning that my trainer made if interested. Oh yes please LBD. Luka is dog reactive but much much much more so if that dog is off leash and running or moving erratically. Always interested in watching videos. :D

Zig is reactive but overly friendly and quite submissive (if another dog is dominant, he is happy to be the submissive pack member).. Because of this, I always thought it was more me than him - I still do. It is the way I have handled him and with the guidance of the trainers at obedience (giving me the methods to be more dominant of him), it has made a huge difference to the way he is and they way I handle it. I was told by a few people not to take him to obedience as it might be to much for him (with his low level of distraction) - lucky for us, it has actually been just what he needed to learn to deal with distraction. We still have a long way to go but these small wins make it all worth while, because I can see the dog he is going to be (and I know I can be the handler he needs me to be).. Today is the first time he has ever walked on a loose lead at heel with that much distraction - he is nearly always head and shoulders in front of me when we walk or at the end of the lead. He is a puller (but doesn't pull like he used to because I am always reminding him not to and calling him back to me when he gets in front).. Today was also the first time another dog tried to engage him and he didn't respond - he stayed sitting beside me when asked.. Today was such a blast, I am still over the moon about it - even the instructor was clapping us.. This sounds very much like Luka. He knows his place in my pack at home. Probably not bottom, that would be my complete sook, Jenna, but he knows not to stand up to Mya. One look from her and he stops dead. :laugh: All his reactive behaviour is because he wants to get to the dog to have a sniff, say hello. Well done Ziggy and well done Staffyluv, it really is an awesome feeling when you actually see some progress.

Awwww poor Harry, how on Earth did he manage to get his teeth through? Glad all is well now. I don't understand the 'not a kelpie' bit either

Thanks guys, it's so nice to talk to people who understand :) I have control unleashed Snook. Great book, I'm about half way though and I just wish Leslie McDevitt lived in Australia. :D I live on the Sunshine Coast so if anyone has any recommendations that would be awesome. I really can't afford it at the moment having wasted money on the other Behaviourist and I have just enrolled in the Susan Garrett Recallers 4.0 online course. But if we don't see any improvement after completing that, I may have saved up enough to see someone else. I have also decided to leave our present obedience school, at least for now. Luka isn't too reactive there, I think because the other dogs are under control, but it is still stressful for him and me. It is a very large school. I have had Pawtential dog school recommended to me, which is much smaller and focusses on positive reinforcements, so I think I may aim to go there at some stage. For now I will continue with the counter conditioning (which is basically LAT, not sure if there is a difference) I haven't put a cue on the behaviour but if he looks at another dog or person I say 'yes', he looks back at me and I and treat, lots. Anyway thanks for letting me share and vent :D

Hi all, I haven't had time to read this whole thread but i will :D Feeling a little overwhelmed with my Aussie Shepherd Luka atm. Initially he was nervous of strangers and had a lunging. barking episode when a small girl approached him, a few months back, that promped me to get a trainer/behviourst in. He also started going nutso if we got too close to another dog, especially if he is on lead and the other dog isn't. If they run, all hell breaks loose. He sounds like an absolute monster, he isn't aggressive but he sure does sound it. It's very upsetting to hear and see my little man like that. He is such a gentle soul most of the time. He has always had a tendency to growl at my other two when they are doing zoomies but it has never been a problem with them. Anyway we had our session with the trainer came a few weeks ago and TBH I wasn't all that impressed, she seemed to focus on 'leadership' more than anything else. Wanted us to do NILF, which we have, but have not seen any improvement in any of his behaviours so I had read a bit about counter conditioning and watched loads of videos. Love the kikopup ones on You tube so we have been working with that the last couple of weeks. I thought things were going well, we even encountered 2 off leash dogs at the park this morning and Luka managed to stay under his threashold. Admittedly they were pretty docile dogs so that helped. Now, I know it's early days but we have just got back from this evening's walk and had another encounter with an off leash dog but this one was a skittish Jack Russel and Luka just lost it, probably the worst I had ever seen him It is just so upsetting. You think you are making headway and then all it takes is some idiot and I feel like we are back to square one. We probably aren't but I am just so upset. Temperament was so important to me when I chose my dog. I didn't rush in to the first puppy I found, I researched some breeders and found one I was comfortable with and Luka was such a laid back puppy. I thought I had hit the jackpot with him. Then he hit about 10 months old and suddenly changed. So, has anyone got any reassuring words that it will work out in the end. :) I honetsly have no idea of time scale for these things. I am supposed to be going back to see the trainer soon but don't really want to. She didn't even mention counter conditioning. Anyway that's me and my Luka, I hope to read the whole thread tomorrow and probably some of my questions will already be answered in there, so apologies but I just needed to vent. I feel a bit calmer now. :)

First of all I have absolutely no problem with what breeders charge for their dogs. Quite simply, they are their dogs ans they cancharge whatever they want for them. I don't see a problem. If they are charging too much I guess the pups won't sell. If they sell then the price is fine. However i did have a problem with the original post. I'm sorry but most, if not all, of the things you said in the first post MonELite, could apply for anyone who has a bitch having puppies, not just a registered breeder. Not counting puppy farms of course as they obviously don't give a sh*t about their dogs, but if an uneducated person decided to breed their beloved pet, "for the experience' as I know some people do, I'm sure they would go to all that trouble for them too. Not all, obvioulsy there are those that just wouldn't care but I'm sure a lot would. I also take issue with this post Most of these things, with obvious exceptions, I do already for my pet dogs as I am sure others do too. I don't think it fair to factor most of these things into the cost. However, as I said before but it is worth saying it again. I have no problem with what registered breeders charge for their dogs. I just didn't really like the tone of the 'justification' for doing so.

Mmmmm not that happy about the sneaky marketing. I have done some of the crate games after watching You tube videos on them. Not as in depth as the video I'm sure, but I am not going buy the dvd or the book. We'll just have to learn as we go.

Found you :D

So has everyone signed up with the same name as on here?

I'm hoping it stops raining long enough for me to go outside and do the games :D

Ok, decision made. Just signed up :D

Thanks for your replies guys, I'm even more tempted now. Money is a bit of an issue right now but I really want to do this . Grrrrrrrrr can't make my mind up.

Ooooooh i so want to do this but I have just spent (wasted) $300 on a dog trainer/behaviourst and I just don't want to waste any more money. I love the idea that you get a program to do a specific game ach day. That's the kind of thing I need. So for Luka especially should I do it or not? He is 12 months old now, as bright as a button. Very focussed in the back yard, not so much once distractions come into play. He can be a bit reactive to other dogs, not agressive just over the top enthusiastic. He still gets unsure when new people visit the house or if people approach on walks. I have been working on counter conditioning with him but it's a slow road. I am determined to persevere though, he has improved already (incidentally the trainer never even talked about counter conditioning just wanted me to get Luka's focus top notch so he was more interested in me than the distraction ). For people who have done the recallers before, do you think the program will work in harmony with the counter conditioning or not. I don't want to keep chopping and changing my training style in case my wee man gets too confused. Oh and he isn't a tugger, not with me anyway. He plays tug with the other dogs but as soon as I try to tug with him he just lets go. Do you think this would be a problem? Sorry for all the questions.

Have to say I loved it. What an awesome dog who has a great family. I had a little tear in my eye at the end. I think it's a lovely message and a clever ditty (if slightly annoying).

I'm lost for words. Tears are flowing freely here. What a wonderful life you gave him right to the end. What a fabulous way to go, surrounded by all that you love Take care W Sibs and thank you for sharing yours and Charlie's story. Run free little man