kiesha09

I think it would be a good idea if your bf saw a trainer about his dog. He needs to learn how to create boundaries and what is acceptable behaviour and not. But at the end of the day if he is happy living with his dog the way he does now, then it becomes a relationship issue that you and the bf have to sort out. As for the pool... I have a friend with a BC that does exactly the same thing. Hates the pool and doesn't want to get in, but the splashing around, fast movements, running, jumping, splashing etc. over excites the dog. He then becomes very frustrated at not being able to join in because he won't go in the pool. She has spent a lot of time while her kids are in the pool, sitting outside with the dog on lead next to her and rewarding with yummy yummy treats (eg roast chicken, BBQ sausages - high value) for calm quiet behaviour lying next to her. It has worked wonderfully! She is now at the stage where she is teaching him that he still has to be quiet when she is in the pool by rewarding him for quiet behaviour from in the pool. Also, the dog needs more exercise and mental stimulation by going for walks outside the property. THis is a ggreat start for his behaviour problems. He should be walked every day!

Damn it!!! I used to live on the same road in a townhouse there. I moved because I needed more space for my dogs. I dreamed of a doggy daycare being close by back then to send them to during the day a couple times a week... AND I could of got discount I definately think I'll be sending my two there on occasions if say i couldn't walk them for a couple of days (raining or work or whatever). $30 for two isn't so bad, I was looking at $70 full day.

They are delta trained. I think it looks absolutely fantastic. Too good to be true even. I just wish it wasn't so expensive so I could afford to send mine one day a week.

Absolutely right bedazzled and thats why I became unmotivated to go towards the end of last year. I can imagine the club presidents not understanding what is wrong with that kind of action either ;) Also in terms of training on your own, as a relative newbie to agility it would be nice to be able to go to a club and get actual positive 'instruction,' from your instructors and actually learn something. It's a very hard slog trying to learn it on your own. Yes there are books and DVDs but for those of us out these just learning its hard to even know where to start. So I can completely understand why people keep going back.

Geez sounds exactly like what happened to me! My dog did a runner during agility and after his zoomie time ran up to the intructor who proceeded to pick him up by his scruff (small dog) and scream 'NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO' in his face. Poor little man has never been yelled at by me let along some wierdo stranger. It was just so lucky that it was my boy who is very resilient, outgoing and confident so no lasting effects. Had it been my girl who has scardy cat issues with strangers that would be a whole new story, it could have created a whole new problem with strangers. This instructor didn't get away with it lightly though. I made it VERY clear that she had no right to discipline my dog in any way and to never do it again. Funnily enough, I don't think she likes me much anymore and I'm fairly sure all the other instructors know about it too but I really don't care. Miss Squish your story is absolutely disgraceful, but unfortunately its one I think we hear about all too often around here (SA)!

I hope its real because its so damn cute!!!

I have one of these too and I think they're great. On the days I use it (not every day because I don't want them getting bored of it) that is their meal for the entire day, no extras. Don't worry they won't feel deprived. I would also recommend making it a bit harder for Gypsy to get the food out. My two get up high and throw the kong down to get the food out which happens very quickly in general. So I mixed the kibble with mince meat which is quite sticky and freeze it. Probably takes them now an hour to eat one. So thats 4 hours a day with the kong time that the dog is occupied for. That tuckers them out and for the rest of the day they sleep.

I too had dogs that pulled and it was almightily frustrating so I know exactly how you feel. For me what worked was the 'be a tree' method.' But it took 200% commitment! Any time the leash was tight I became a tree and we did not move until it was loose again. Honestly with my first dog one day we walked into the drive way and he was straight to the end of the lead so I stood still and literally 45 minutes later he loosened the lead. Most boring walk of my life. No matter where I was if there was any pulling I just stood still - just meant I had to plan extra time for my walks because in the beginning we didn't move a lot.... if I didn't have time to do that we played fetch in the back yard instead. I think that for your dogs to get it you really have to just walk 1 at a time until it is 100%. I know its extra work but in the long run you will benefit. Otherwise maybe you could look into a gentle leader head halter or sensible harness to use until your apointment with Steve so that at least you guys can enjoy your walks a little more.

I don't have all that much to offer other than to say my dads kelpie is a working dog who works with stock for at least a couple of hours each day and he still loves to chase anything and everything! He now just has a really really good recall

Wow I almost feel bad because I try to wash my dogs as little as possible!!! Its a job I loathe :D They get professionally groomed about every 3 months and they may not get a bath in between. But they do get brushed regularly!!! They love water - dirtier and muddier the better so often I'll hose them off after a walk and I try to take them swimming at the beach on weekends so they go back to looking white :D works a treat.

I have a maltese x called Chip who my dad absolutely adores (he's a farmer with working dogs so quite funny that he likes a SWF). So anyway Dad decided to take him out with the sheep one day. Chip was so excited about teh endless supply of sheep poo that he tried to gobble as much as he could and Dad's theory was that 'oh well can't hurt him, probably toughen him up.' That was until on the way home poor little Chippy didn't feel too good having eaten so much poo and projectile vomited it all over the interior of dads ute and all over dad. So glad it wasn't me or my car

Why do people keep asking these questions? Why do people think that there is a need or benefit for purposefully crossing breeds with other breeds when there is a purebreed for everyone already in existence?What ethical registered purebred breeder would supply crossbreeders with dogs of sufficient quality in terms of health, temperament and conformation to breed with? I totally agree with you that there is no need or benefit for purposefully crossing breeds with other breeds. If we could stop it then it would be great but unfortunately I think that no matter how the demand for these dogs was created it has been and it isn't going to go away. As a lover of dogs I would just like the best for them so since I think they are going to be bred anyway (whether we like it or not) the best scenario out of a bad situation would be if they could be bred eithically.

So what if breeders of these dogs had a strict code of practice that they had to abide by in terms of health checks, ethical treatment, number of littlers etc. the same as registered breeders do? And there was a 'registered' breeders list. A bit like the labradoodle association. Please do not get me wrong here, I am NOT supporting the breeding of designer dogs. But it sounds like most peoples issues with this are that they generally come from puppy farms at this stage. If we could educate the general public about puppy farms and why not to breed from them but ALSO gave them another option of where to purchase from this could be a much better solution. I personally think that because there is a demand for these dogs and people want them, they will end up getting one no matter what which is supporting the puppy farmer trade. If people so desperately want one I'd much rather they get it from an ethical source where puppies have been health checked, temperament tested, socialiased etc. than a PF.

Honey we all know this. So ask yourself, do you help dogs when you're trying to be morally superior or will you help dogs by actually engaging people and changing their minds? I'm sure it makes you feel good to slam them, but it doesn't help the DOGS one bit. If you want to help the dogs then you need to be smart about your approach. You need to talk about the conditions that the animals live in and not call someone's BELOVED pet an ugly mutt and a piece of crap. People who call oodles stupid and ugly are a puppy farmers dream - it just drives ordinary people into their arms. For the record, I own a dog who was used as a puppy farm breeder. I think they are the scum of the earth. But by being engaging and telling people my girl's story I have helped steer at least a dozen people away from puppy farmers. If I called them morons they could rightly tell me where to go. I also own an oodle. I bought him before I knew what puppy farmers were. When someone writes about stupid and ugly oodles it makes my blood boil - and I am not an advocate of oodles at all. If you turn me off, you have turned avarage Joe off a thousand times more. Think about your objective and the most intelligent way to meet it. Taht is the only way to help the dogs suffering in puppy farm hell. Fantastic post Megan!!! It is all about educating people about where these oodles are coming from, because the majority of 'average' pet owners don't know. Most people become defensive about their dogs if someone says anything even slightly bad (it's seen all the time at dog schools) so to insult someones dog or say anything derogatory about it will stop them listening quick smart! We need people to listen to help all those poor puppy farm dogs out there. This part might be controversial, but the problem is that there is a real market for them. Where there is a demand for them you are always going to have people trying to supply to meet the demand. Is it a matter of purely educating people that there are other purebreeds out there than can meet their criteria? I and most of you would love it if it was that simple but the fact of the matter its not. Time and time again I have asked people why they got an oodle and they all say 'because I don't want my dog to look exactly like a poodle, I like the breed its crossed with, it doesn't shed and so and so has one that I liked so I got one too.' Most of them don't know that temperament can't be guaranteed or that not all don't shed or that it could end up growing up to look exactly like a poodle. They also don't know that you can groom a poodle to look exactly like and oodle or that there are other dogs eg lagotto that can look just like an oodle. Also most of them don't care about these things either.... I'm a firm believer that purebreeds are best but many other people don't care. However, if they could get their oodle from an eithical breeder that does health test their breeding dogs then I'm sure they would choose this option over a puppy farm raised dog. Unfortunately I think we're fighting a losing battle and oodles are here to stay.

Awwww..... look at that gorgeous little pink puppy tummy

Just be careful with the chicken wing in the sock... my dog tried to eat the chicken wing AND the sock!! Pulling both out from his throat while he was trying to swallow it wasn't that much fun!

I agree with Aiden - definately see a veterinary behaviourist. We had a case exactly the same as this at the dog school I used to work for and after trying everything that has been suggested they had to consult a veterinary behaviourist. It already sounds like it is becoming an obsessive compulsive behaviour for your BC and to fix this you may need to do more than just re-direct it and step up the training. If you get the necessary help now you may just be able to solve this problem behaviour before it becomes too serious.

Persephone absolutely agree with your post. Doing it in stages would definately be the best way to go about it, rather than lumping them with such a big change all at once. I have started putting them outside for maybe an hour at a time on weekends with a bone (mostly while I was doing the cleaning) and they are ok with that. So maybe I should just do that a bit more often and see how they go.

I have had both dogs since puppies (they are now 4 yo and 2 yo) so it has been my doing that they have been inside, initially because there was no other option and then when we moved because I was a sook and felt bad for leaving them outside. There are a number of reasons why I want them to stay outside during the day. 1. To block access to the front of my house because they bark at people walking past and I want to break this habit. Outside is really the only option to stop this. 2. Because they are scratching all the paint off my front door and windows as they bark at the people walking by and jump up to see through the window. 3. Because they love to jump in their swimming pool then come inside all wet and splash water over my entire house. 4. Because I think they need more boundaries instead of thinking that inside the house is a free for all (can't really stop that when they have free access when I'm not here. The way my house is designed it is very hard to restrict access as it is all open plan, even with baby gates and puppy pens. They would be absolutely secure outside with 6ft fences and the side gate is padlocked. The likelihood of a snake is fairly slim the way my house and backyard is designed so I'm not too worried about this problem. Yes it is absolutely a big change in the dogs routines, thats why I'm not taking the decision lightly. They don't mind being outside but would probably prefer being inside. They used to be outside once a week when the cleaner came and were fine. I want what is best for them but I also would like to keep my new house relatively nice. I'm sure that they would be fine if they were taught to be outside dogs during the day from the beginning, but perhaps it is too much of a change in their routine.

My two dogs (2 maltese x rescues) grew up in a townhouse and therefore were inside dogs for the majority of their lives. Two years ago I moved into a new house and swore that the dogs would live outside with access to the laundry during the day. But after about a week I felt bad and let them stay inside with access to outside by the doggy door. Now I really want to go back to what I originally planned and have them outside during the day. They have 3 different beds outside, shelter, access to the laundry, water, toys, sandpit, doggy pool etc. But i still feel bad about leaving them outside, since they have been sleeping on my bed all day. Does anyone else leave their dogs outside (just during the day, they will be allowed inside any time I'm home) and do you have exceptions... eg I think I would allow them inside if it was over 35 degrees or if there was storms forcasted.

How did you actually teach that bedazzledx2?

I use mainly targetting now but had no problems luring in the past. The problems with luring stem from the fact that people don't fade the lure fast enough. You need to get rid of it quickly and move onto the hand signal.

at Humphrey. Sorry I don't have anything to help you with but I think we need photos!!!

I would say your dog is whining because she knows she would get her meal soon. I used to feed at approx the same times as you and then my dog started barking at me because he knew food was coming. Now there is no set feeding schedule. They get fed at different times every day. They generally get fed twice but probably once a week I will only feed once a dayk (feed more for that one meal). Now I have no problems with barking or demanding to be fed. If the whining is an issue for you I'd give this a go.

I'm sure more people leave their dogs overnight than care to admit it. It's really not all that much different to leaving them to go to work each day or if people went out all night partying till the late hours on a Saturday night. I feel horribly guilty on the rare occasions when I have to leave them alone overnight, but I'm lucky that I have two dogs to keep each other company. There is always two marks in the doona where they have slept in my bed overnight THey are always so happy to see me home the next day though. I figure that as long as they are walked, fed and watered then one night alone occasionally won't hurt.