Miss Boss Doggy

As far as I am aware there are no qualified behaviourists in the central west. I strongly suggest you contact Dr Gaille Perry, a veterinary behaviourist operating out of Sydney. Check out this website, you can print out the forms and fill them in at home, fax them in, get phone consults etc. http://www.sabs.com.au/services.htm

Here's one of our crate setups, you can see the white water dish at the back. And inside is our little Poca dot (kelpie x)... I disturbed her snooze to take the photo...

Not only is it full of B vitamins, but it's a protein source as well! Our dogs are all happy little vegemites We cook our own dog food and we add it to that just because of it's nutritional value.

A crate's a great idea. Having a crate trained dog makes life heaps easier. They have a home away from home wherever you go, and they are safe. We have 4 dogs and 2 crates in our bedroom. Two of our dogs have issues with each other so they go in the crates at night. They sleep right through. We cover the crates to make a nice dark little den and they love it. We have water in there (in those dishes that attach to the side of the crates) so they can drink when needed. We're very careful to not put them in there when they are in trouble though, we want them to like going in there, so we try hard to keep the crates a positive place to be by giving them treats and toys etc in there. It's hard sometimes to not put them in there when they are being pains tho!

I'm guessing he's too well fed. How does he respond to the treats generally? When I started training with treats I had to cut back on the size of meals. Charging the clicker works best when the dog REALLY wants the reward. If he's not interested in the treat, the reinforcement isn't occuring. Try it when he's a bit hungrier and see if he's interested then. And 10 mins is way too long. A minute is heaps for a pup. Keep him interested, and always stop BEFORE he has had enough of it. BTW, what treats are you using?

Hi Dave Sounds like you're providing everything he needs except the one thing he needs most at his age... companionship. The tuff love method can be very traumatic for some pups, especially highly people oriented breeds like staffies. Ignoring a puppy's cries is only useful if the pup is demand crying or isn't really upset. Don't let your pup cry until he works himself into a state. He needs to know that if he needs you, you will come. It's just like a baby, how long would you let a baby cry for before attending to it? If you are worried about rewarding crying, then wait until he is silent for a second before going in. Ideally your pup would be allowed to sleep in your bedroom with you, as part of your family. All most dogs want in life is to be with their family and it is the most often neglected need. Is there a reason why you don't want your dog inside with you? My advice would be to buy a crate and put it in your bedroom. Don't just put the pup in and close the door though, you need to crate train him properly (I can post how to do this if necessary). Definitely attend to your pups toileting needs, as toileting inside won't help his toilet training. The more he toilets inside the better he gets at it! Hope this helps.

Hi Tommy Putting a muzzle on a dog suffering separation anxiety (if that's what he's got, I'm not a behaviourist...), will more than likely increase his anxiety and, because he can no longer bark, he will have to find another outlet.. possibly something destructive... Separation anxiety is an abnormal dependance on human beings. Most dogs suffering from it just want to be around people, ANY people, doesn't necessarily have to be their owner. When there is no human around they are VERY anxious (Salli, if your dog stops barking when you are out of earshot, and then acts quite normal, it doesn't sound like SA to me, but like I said, not a behaviourist!) There are desensitisation programs that you can use to help your dog adjust, but you really need to speak to a QUALIFIED behaviourist. Go to http://www.deltasocietyaustralia.com.au and follow the link the Veterinary Behaviourists to find one near you.