aussielover

Are you serious? Would you also deprive people of guide dogs and assistance dogs? There is usually a strict selection criteria for these dogs. A dog that doesn't want to work just won't perform. Very difficult to actually make a dog do something they don't want to do. A lot of dogs would be bored s***less if they didn't have a job to do. Some dogs do really need to be more than companions... and often end up in the pound for this reason

Labs from show lines are quite capable of the retrieving side of things, too ;) Even rescue BYB Labs show potential. Perhaps but its the usual story - if you want a dog for the job, buy from proven lines. Customs, the AFP etc all use dogs from working lines for scent detection. They are gorgeous Labs. They also recruit from guide dogs and show line dogs as well, as well as BYB labs owned by members of the public. Whilst training a high drive dog for obedience and retrieving would be awesome- you also have to live with the dog, can be a bit testing with a high drive working line dog. It all depends on what the OP wants- a top level obedience/retrieving dog that needs hours of training and exercise a day or a pleasant companion dog that has the potential to do well in obedience or retrieving. Personally i think if they want the second dog they'd be better off going for a show line or guide dog line where the parents/relatives have achieved obedience/dog sport titles. There was a thread in puppy forum recently about working line dogs and most agreed that high drive working line dogs are a lot of work but worth it if you're after a dog for a job or really competitive dog sport dog. If you're not up for all the work, then a good all rounder would be preferable. But as I said, its up to the OP and what they want in a dog.

I disagree. I think you can definitely tell a lot about a pup if you know what to look for. The best advice I've ever been given was once you have a puppy you like take it somewhere new (ie the neighbors front yard) and test how well they respond to you and your rewards etc there. A puppy that chases a tug for ages in it's own environment but shuts down in a new environment is not a puppy I would consider taking for a second. For a performance home I would want a puppy who wants to chase tug for hours or shows a strong food Drive. Thats basically every labrador out there Many service organnisations look for a puppy that will chase and bring back an item like a ball.

Be aware that on hills ultra z/d only 70% of food allergy in dogs is picked up. If you strongly suspect food allergy- The most accurate way to do it is to feed a novel protein and carbohydrate (so a home made diet) for at leats 2 months.

I would look at the Pat Hastings STRUCTURE IN ACTION book. To do obedience you want a good mouth, and good conformation. Temperament- I would be relying on the breeder for this. Ideally you have gone to someone who has already produced pups that are involved in dog sports, so they will have a good idea from previous litters what pups are likely to have the right personality and temperament to do what you want. OT sorry, but why is a good mouth neccessary and what do you mean by good mouth? Good luck in choosing you ne wlittle one Mason!!!

If you're fine with a lot of mess, there's nothing better than a cardboard box! Otherwise the Orbee ball on a rope is a favourite, as are tug toys, soft toys to carry around in puppy's mouth are are MUST for a retriever lol (unless you want your shoes relocated!)

He doesn't. Unfortunately he is a very long way to go for just fine tuning of basic manners. K9 Pro do house calls. Best to contact them and ask what options are available [email protected] Personally I would travel for a reputable trainer anyway. Travelling to k9pro is definitely worth it! Even for seemingly minor issues. where in sydney are you located?

So sorry for your loss Run Free Cindy

I know a woman from another forum who runs In My Home Dog Minding, which is exactly that, really. Not sure of her availability at the moment but perhaps give her a call? I've got no idea about NSW geography, but they are in Hawkesbury.. ? wow that place looks great. I have bookmarked it for future reference as I am sure my dog would love it! Thanks

Ruby is a stunner! I think that is the most beautiful photo of a lab i've seen

My female lab is a great watch dog. She also barks on command. We are traning her to go into her crate when invited visitors come though as the barking and carry on is a bit intimidating for some. For anyone uninvited/unwanted she is taken to the front door by her collar and encouraged to bark. she'll also bark if anything out of the ordinary occurs (eg sister coming home at 4am) I would train your dog to bark on command. I trained my dog when she was a young pup (around 9 weeks), basically by getting her worked up and rewarding for any sound- it didn't have to be a full bark. It helps to use a marker word or clicker for this as you can mark very slight improvements and behavoiurs. Once your dog knows bark on command, ring the door bell or knock on the door and give her the bark command. She will soon catch on.

Everyday is practically Mindy's birthday I don't do doggy birthdays as I just buy her toys and treats whenever i feel like it (or have the money to do so ) She is made to wear reindeer antlers at xmas though Oh and last xmas I bought her a massive squeaky monkey thing which she LOVES and I mean love in "special" way She only just had it returned to her and so far she hasn't had any imapproriate behavoiur towards it.

Do you think? My lab, although admittedly young and extremely active, eats HEAPS of food and maintains a normal to lean body conditions. She is from guide dog lines though and I know they favour lighter build and leaner labs. The majority of fat and pudgy labs we see are only that way due to lack of adequate exercise. Mindy has several lab friends who are also in great shape, without a severe diet just plenty of exercise. Some of them are over 6 years old and one is 12 years old and still acts like a puppy. I think some labs certainly have a more solid build which can be mistaken for fatness and exaggerate weight gain. Don't want to turn this into a show vs working discussion but many working line labs have a much lighter build. I think the middle ground is probably the way to go, some of the WL labs I see are very lean and not typical lab looking (almost look like a cross with a GSP), and my own light build lab is often mistaken for a kelpie/lab, pointer/lab or a BC/lab cross

Frank is so gorgeous and squishable Mindy's breeder likes hearing about how she is doing, although I guess a lot of breeders are quite busy so it takes them a while to get back to you. But we always receive a reply and I think many breeders like to know how there pups are going. We didn't stay in email contact with our last dogs breeder although she minded Clover when we went on holidays a few times and we saw her occaisonally at shows and she always remebered us which was nice (well, Clover lol).

He is either starved or has a serious medical problem you should be investigating. I really doubt any vet would be happy with his condition. If your vet is happy with the way he looks, find a new one. If you are convinced the diet you are giving him is adequate (which frankly, I am not and neither are most people who commented here), TAKE HIM TO A VET and get the cause investigated!!!! You seriously cannot expect to work poor Horse in that condition? As Persephone said before, you are giving assistance dogs a bad name, if you choose to work him in that condition. He is unwell and perhaps unsuited to this sort of work. Dogs with any sort of medical problem are not suitable to be assistance dogs. My puppy was rejected from Guide Dogs for having something as seemingly minor as allergies and itch. Your dog has actually passed out due to unknown causes at the moment and is in poor body condition. That would be more than enough for most organisations to at least rest him, if not pull him from work. As was suggested before, contact an assistance dog organisation who may be able to provide you with a more suitable dog. I commend you for coming here and asking for help, but now is the time to start implementing some of the feedback you have received, not becoming defensive.

They have control programs for bomb squad dogs and customs dogs, where the dogs are regularly required to participate in "set ups" and are required to locate the offending item. If they fail, they are removed from the squad and sent back into training or retired.

I found the UK much more dog friendly. We lived over there for a few years and were able to take our dog pretty much everywhere with us- trains, buses, pubs etc. It cost 10 pounds extra to have your dog sleep in your hotel room and that included dinner for them They also have a lot more dog- friendly walking paths where dogs don't have to be on lead, only under control. They can be shot for hassling stock, however it is easy to put your dog on lead when walking thru a paddock with stock in it. I have to say that the dogs were all very well behaved. There were no dogs in major shopping centers in big cities though, although I did see a few dogs on trains and the tube in London.

How much do you feed him at each meal? Have you tried giving him lots of energy dense snacks in between. I found lamb flaps to be very fatty, also things like eggs and sardines in oil are quite high in calories. What is his overall activity/energy level like?

I'd feed him a "performance" kibble for really active dogs and competition dogs as they have a high energy/calorie content. And I'd feed him real meat and bones instead of tinned pet food. Being a large breed dog I would feed him at least twice a day, instead of one big meal which can lead to bloat. And as others have said, a trip to the vet to rule out medical causes of weight loss or failure to thrive.

Neo, Just ask anyone wanting to pat him if they don't mind waiting while you get him to sit and settle first. Tell them he is in training and while you don't mind them patting him (if you don't mind), as long as he behaves first And I can see why everyone would want to pat him he is very very cute

I'm in love with Elbie's eyes- so expressive lol

Hard to say what the exact success rate is if they don't know the percentage of people carrying drugs in the first place.

Yes it would as only main/limited registered gundogs are allowed to compete in retrieving trials. Associates can compete in the RATG tests but the dog must be easily identified as a gundog. Don't know about the second part, if you have her microchip number couldn't you track down her registration name/papers through either QLD or NSW? Yes I guess I could. But I would still have to get someone (either breeder or Guide Dogs) to sign her over to me?

My "Non Doggy Person" (so he says but we know otherwise ;) ) dad saves pieces of bacon for Mindy, he also lets her lick the lid of his takeaway coffee and shares his special shortbread biscuits with her. He also has a special napkin so that when he is sitting down Mindy can rest her head on his lap, which she is only allowed to do in the morning during Toast Time lol.

Whilst I absolutely agree with this statement, I fail to see how out of around 60 dogs (as the OP said there was) not even one was suitable? Especially if the OP is as responsible and caring as they appear on DOL.