kiesha09

I clipped my boys nails tonight for the first time ever (normally groomer or vet does them because he would bite me). Armed with clicker and cut up chicken necks I started with just showing him the clippers. Then every time he saw the clippers he would offer me his front paw. So I tapped the clippers on his nail offering a treat each time. He was cool with that so I thought why not just clip them. Got every nail done for a piece of chicken. Wohooo!! Thanks for the advice in this thread it's amazing what some chicken will do.

There is also a video that's going around which proves that a dog who hasn't done anything wrong at all is just as likely to do the 'guilty' look when the owner starts with the whole 'who did this' routine. I don't have the video but someone else might.

Adelk9 thanks very much for your reply. I agree with much of what you said and others not so much. The veterinary behaviourist actually comes to your home for the very reason you have stated...so they can assess your dog in their home environment. Yes some people will do the consult at their office but if depends what problem you are dealing with. I feel that a VB has the most appropriate qualifications and experience to help with with this problem rather than just any old behaviourist with who knows what qualifications. I have considered that she has taken on a leadership role but I really don't know what else to do about it. To answer some of your questions when we get home she is VERY excited but we ignore her until she calms down which now takes about 3-5 minutes. She definately isn't panting, pacing or what I would consider anxious but more excited woo wooing and wagging her butt like crazy. If she is locked outside she's fine if she has a bone but will scratch at the door once it's finished. Generally she is never locked outside because she barks (at possums etc) and I don't want complaints. The only time I put her outside is when I'm cleaning the house. When giving treats she is as gentle as can be certainly doesn't snatch. Not overly anxious before feeding or walks. I wouldn't classify her anxious at all at these times. When I'm home she is mostly a lounge lizard with half an eye open for people going past the house where she will run to the front door to bark at them. In general she is really well behaved and doesn't push the boundaries. She will always wait at the doors until permission to go outside (doesn't push through), will wait for permission to eat her dinner, will sit for pats but does jump on the bed and couch whenever (I've never enforced any rules about the couch and I did try the no bed rule for 8 months with no difference). So overall she works for everything that she gets around here and is ignored when showing anxious behaviour. Not sure what else to do here?

Thanks Nekhbet. I've just been reminded about another veterinary behaviourist thats in SA full time so I'm going to give her a ring to try to get in earlier. Makes perfect sense not to use the herbal treatments until after the consult if suggested. I have been doing a lot of seperation work with her such as fake leaving (ie picking up the keys & putting them down again, picking up the keys and walking to the door etc.) because I have been trying to reduce the impact of these triggers for her. I also try and put her in her crate with a bone and leave the room etc so that she is getting good things when I'm still home but not directly with her. As for training I do between 4 and 6 five minute sessions with her each day on top of her regular walk. I thought that would be enough. To be honest at this stage I think I'm probably doing many of the right things but there are some serious anxiety issues behind it all. Thats why I made the decision in the end to see the VB. I really really hope to be able to modify the behaviour without resorting to drugs, but we will see.

Thanks for the info guys. This morning once I got to work I decided to get her assesed with a veterinary behaviourist - Robert Holmes. Unfortunately he's only in Adelaide every 6 weeks so I will have to wait a bit. These calming pastes and/or herbal supplements you mentioned, can you give me some examples?

Bump. Anyone with advice?

My girl is a maltese x poodle that was rescued from the rspca as a 10 week old puppy and she is now 4 years old. She is a very anxious dog and quite reactive when on lead on walks (to other dogs walking and dogs behind fences) but not reactive off lead, although is not overly confident with other dogs. She is also very reactive to people walking past the house and at possums in the tree and in general is turning into quite a barker. I have also noticed in the last year that she is becoming increasingly anxious when I leave the house. Initially it started when I was leaving at odd times (ie functions at night) and she would howl and cry and try and get out the garage door to come with me but now I have noticed the last two mornings that she has been shaking as I leave to go to work. She is inside during the day with my other dog and has access to the backyard via a doggy door. I live by the NILIF philosophy with both my dogs. They are allowed on the couch and sleep on the bed (it made absolutely no difference when she slept in her crate for 8 months). I also give them kongs and activity balls during the day and she will still eat when I'm gone. Do you think this is true seperation anxiety? Has your dog ever experienced SA and if so what did you do?

How does she have the time to dedicate to a dog? ... I know she'll have plenty once she gets kicked out of the lodge but until that point I just don't think its fair for the poor dog. She's already proven herself to be a moronic idiot buying an 'oodle' so obviously she hasn't researched the commitment that a dog is!!

Way to go Ness... she was having a ball Almost looks like she had too much fairy floss

My dog loves to lick too and like your dog would lick me to death if she could I personally haven't had much luck stopping the behaviour but to be honest I don't think I care enough about it to really try and stop it. However.... last time I was away and left the dogs with my parents they had great success in teaching her not to lick and she doesn't really lick them at all now (well actually she licks my dads pant legs but no skin ). They just stopped any attention any time she tried to lick them and said 'uh ahh'. So when they bent down to pat her and she went to lick they stood up and said uh ahh and stopped patting her. On the couch same thing except when she started licking they put her on the floor. Mum said she worked out pretty quickly that she wasn't going to get any attention if she licked. But there was a few days where she would keep testing them out to see if they would be consistent. Hope this helps.

I am absolutely gobsmacked by some of the stuff you groomers have seen!!! I have to swf that require grooming and keep them clipped off short purely because I didn't think I was a very dedicated groomer. But actually maybe I am....both dogs get groomed twice a week at least I would actually love to learn how to groom my two rather than sending them to the groomer - but I just don't know where to learn. Any hints? Both dogs are rescues so no chance getting tips from their breeder.

I definately believe you can transfer value from the primary reinforcer to another object. My boy is SOOOO food motivated, he would do anything for it. But he was never toy motivated and tugging wasn't really his thing. I wanted to teach him a retrieve so I shaped it with a tug toy. The value for that particular tug toy is now getting up there with food through a transfer of value. I'm now starting to get him tugging with various other objects in the presence of food (his biggest distraction on earth). Kavik will your dog tug at home in the presence of food? I would try building up the distractions at home first in every room and the backyard and get REALLY good tugging before moving it out of the house. I started doing some tug practice in the garage and have now finally moved to the driveway

Maybe just keep it coz it's so damn cute............

This is great. Thanks for sharing . When was this last updated? This month. THanks Meh for uploading this doc. It's a really great idea. Only problem is I think it may need to be updated again (sorry for bad news!). I've looked for Canimax on the websites listed but can't actually find it.... not sure if they are out of stock or what. Maybe I"m just a bad searcher?

I'm currently looking into my worming and flea regimes and need some advice. I obviously want to cover as much as I can whilst being as cost effective as possible. Currently I'm using sentinel interceptor as well as confortis. I have just found out that sentinel doesn't cover tapeworms. I want to cover: Fleas - guess I can stick with confortis Heartworm Hookworm Roundworm Whipworm Tapeworm So what do you use and why?

I'm looking to replace all my kongs so just wondering where you buy yours online? Where's the cheapest?

OT a bit - but where does one buy said deer antlers?

Oh I getcha... I was thinking something far more sinister hehe!

Can you explain Ness? What laws do you have to break to train your dogs?

:p Nope you fail for not even needing a recall (that makes other instructors very jealous!!!) :nahnah: Mine was "fun" too. Chip wouln't leave the instructors side because he knew her and knew she had really tasty treats that she saved only for him for his 'sit for polite greeting' because she knew just how hard he had to control himself for that. So he just sat there in front of her. She sure had built up value! I agree! The majority of people at the park that couldn't do any of it. It's one of those things where your damned if you do and damned if you don't. If you make the requirements too hard people won't even bother to try for the 'trained' discount but you make it too easy and the dogs aren't really 'trained'. I still would like to see the level of difficulty increased a bit though. Perhaps you should get more discount for the more trained your dog is?

My favourite time of day is when we get into bed of an evening to watch telly before we go to sleep or on weekends the lazy sleep in and telly watching. How can it not be with these cuties and their funny antics?

Oh thanks Wuffles - wasn't sure who said it but did want to clear it up as there is a certain amount of confusion regarding this. Personally I think the level of competency of a 'trained' dog is a bit of a joke. This to me is not a trained dog... * stay for 10 seconds * walk at heel for 5 metres * recall to handler from a distance of 1 metre and within 3 commands * sit - within 3 commands (or down or stand depending on dog ability eg greyhounds don't have to sit) * not aggressive when 2 metres from a dog which is sitting quietly with its handler As others have said, my puppy could have done all this 2 weeks after she arrived. I'm no amazing trainer either. The majority of dogs out there are pet dogs but I think they should at least be able to be recalled from a group of dogs...ie at the park. In all offlead parks owners should have their dog under 'effective control' so should at least have to show this to be certified as 'trained'.

On the council training certificate it doesn't say anywhere anything about 12 months training to heel 5 metres. There is no timeframe on how long it can take your dog to achieve these things.

When my girl was a puppy she had her certificate by 6 months old. I took it into the council who proceeded to tell me it was impossible for her to be able to do all that at her age. She was in the car so I got her out and proved it! So I got my trained dog discount. I have noticed however this year (she is now 4) that it has come off her rego...I can't be bothered going through the drama for the extra $4. I do know however that to get the certificate you will have to do more than puppy pre-school. You will have to go to another training school. Ness' recommendation of Canine Behavioural School is a good one or since you're in Burnside 'Adelaide Pet Dog Training' do classes on Sunday mornings in Burnside. You will be able to get your certificate through one of these organisations (so long as your dog passes) and have a well mannered pet

Great in theory but who enforces all these laws and controls? Councils are already under resourced and cannot even enforce the current dog laws so not sure how they would enforce a whole new set. I completely understand and agree with your reasoning behind the idea and think it would be fanastic. But unfortunately I just don't think it is realistic.