kiesha09

Thankyou. Will keep you updated on how we get on.

So I'm definately going back to the vet. I too have thought about something lodged in the gut. She actually hasn't vomitted since immediately after we were at the vets last night. Initially on Sunday and early Monday she was vomitting but drinking alot then vomitting it up again. However last night and this morning she wouldn't drink anything. When I went home at lunch time she had a small drink of water that I gave her. I too am worried about the dehydration, however after doing the skin checks on the back of the neck it springs back into place fairly rapidly. I know that is not a conclusive test but it is a good indication. The vet is actually very good, is listening and isn't fobbing me off. There was the option of putting her straight on an IV, leaving her overnight and then blood tests if she hadn't improved. But since she is a fairly stessy dog as is I didn't want to stress her out even more so opted for the other option of giving her the anti vomit injection to see if that worked first. If it didn't she was to be back at the vet first thing in the morning. But it did work in stopping her vomitting so I didn't take her back this morning. In hindsight I should have left her!!! It also doesn't help that she become quite spritely at the vets while they are in the room but as soon as they walk out she lays down and sleeps (NOT like her at all, this is a dog that runs of full cylinders ALL the time) so that is definately why we are going back.

There was one tiny drop of blood in her diarrhoea but there hasn't been any since. In fact she hasn't been going to the toilet at all, just sleeping. Her symptoms are disappearing I guess eg no vomitting or diarrhoea but she just isn't right, her lethargy just isn't like her. She doesn't even walk around with her tail up but instead right down by her legs so I have booked her back into the vet tonight.

I have been known to over react when it comes to the health of my dogs (well I don't think so everyone else thinks so) so I thought I would ask your oppinions. My 2 year old dog started vomitting on Saturday night. I was out that night and only realised when I got home and then this continued on throughout Sunday. She appeared to stop vomitting on Sunday night but developed diahrrea. I thought I would see how she was on Monday and if she was still unwell I'd take her to the vet. Got home from work on Monday and there was more vomit and she had been eating a lot of grass so took her straight to the vet. They couldn't find anything obviously wrong so gave her an anti vomiting injection and I took her home. They said if she was still vomitting in the morning take her back. She was very fatigued, listless and refuses to eat or drink but she stopped vomiting after the injection. This morning (Tuesday) she was much the same so rang the vet who said to wait it out a bit longer because she is probably still feeling sick. I went home at lunch time and she is still fatigued and listless but still hasn't vomitted and ate a very small amount of food and had a tiny drink of water. But her gums are very pale (paler than yesterday) and she just isn't herself. Normally she launches herself at me when I get home and has all the energy in the world but at the moment barely gets off the bed to say hello. Would you take your dog back to the vet or would you wait it out longer?

Great, thanks guys. I might give her a try.

Hmmm.. I agree.. If your dog training causes a dog to "shut down" no mater what methods you are using, you are using them incorrectly. Dolphins, bears, tigers, etc are all trained in cages and sterile environments, they don't live in a family home..not a very good argument on why a particular method should work on dogs in my opnion. This is certainly not always the case. Kathy Sdao a well known US dog trainer was initially a marine mammal trainer for the navy. In one of her dog training DVD's she explains how they used to take wild dolphins and train them to solve complex cognitive puzzles. This involved finding underwater mines and difusing them out in the open ocean. They were sent out to perform these tasks for hours at a time and were all trained with positive reinforcement. This was one of the most distracting environments that you can imagine. Not only were they free to swim off whenever they felt like it (they never did) they also had the opportunity to self reinforce by feeding on the fish that swam past them. Not only this they all jumped into the boat at the end of the day to be taken back to the base and penned up (quite an un-natural situation for them). Therefore I think this is a particularly good argument as to why this particular method should work on dogs in our family homes.

I would also suggest putting together a list of rules for your pup - such as no jumping on the lounge etc. and go through it will the entire family to make sure you are all consistent with what is appropriate and what is not. Another suggestion would be to create a training dictionary. I have found this to be extremely useful. By deciding on the cues you will use for certain behaviours, discussing them with the family and pinning them on the fridge it will help you all be consistent. For example I found with my first dog that when asking the dog to lie down I would say drop and my ex partner would say down because he used drop to give up a ball when playing fetch while I would use 'give'. FOr the dog it must have been VERY confusing. The training dictionary worked really well with the second dog and we really didn't have any confusion.

This is too funny. So what if we give our dogs raw meaty bones they are going to turn into a savage wolf too? I had a completely hyperactive SWF dog who chewed absolutely everything. I was at my wits end because I had tried everything. I would walk him for 3 hours a day (which just turned him into a super athlete), play games all the time, do lots of training to wear out his brain, give him interactive toys etc. It wasn't like he was a badly behaved dog really, he loved training and was very good at it. But the destruction and the fact he would NEVER sleep unless I did and would follow me around 24/7. I thought he had seperation anxiety, was bored and under exercised. He was being fed a commercial diet recommended by the vet. Then a trainer friend of mine recommended that I read Give your dog a bone by Ian Billinghurst. Sure enough I made the switch to raw and within 4 days he completely calmed down and has never chewed another thing (other than socks but not furniture). Perhaps the bones provided him with an outlet for his chewing (although he only gets bones a couple times a week) or maybe he was finally being fed a nutritious diet that had more vitamins and minerals in it than cardboard. All in all the behavioural change in my dog was a 100% positive one, so in my experience I think this trainer you know has NO IDEA!!!!!

Can anyone recommend a good groomer in Adelaide preferably in the Eastern suburbs but not too fussy. I already have a great one and am very happy with them however sometimes their hours do not suit me with work etc. At the same time I'm not brave enough to send them somewhere without a recommendation. I certainly don't want them coming home looking rediculous

I have tried this but normally there was two dogs on lead and it all got slightly chaotic. Think I will just have to alternate between the two and put one in the crate. I generally make my visitors leave as well when they jump first before sitting. But with such a long reinforcement history they continue going silly and sometimes my visitors could be outside for a good 20 minutes before they can come in. The rule is definately already in place that there is now no excitement or even talking at the door. Not even a hello :rolleyes: until they have calmed down.

My two dogs go ballistically stupid at the front door, bouncing off it and my visitors whenever they come around. My ex partners friends encouraged when they were puppies by clapping, making excited noises, chasing them etc. All my efforts at asking them to stop because I wanted to TRAIN them not to be so excited at the door didn't work. So 3 years later they have both been HEAVILY rewarded for this behaviour. Four months ago my ex and I broke up and I thought this was a fantastic opportunity to train the dogs out of this behaviour as I could control all interactions. I have a treat jar at my front door and all visitors take a treat, are invited in and when both puppies have their butts on the ground they get a treat. The theory that behaviour that is rewarded will increase has certainly rung true. When we have visitors they are still rediculously excited and bounce on the door then the visitor and THEN sit on their butts wriggling so fast till they get their treat. Then do the process all over again. So has anyone had experience with a chronic jumper? What methods have you used and do you have any suggestions to help? ETA: I do have a manners minder but my problem lies in the fact that I only have one of them and two dogs and so far can't see how to get it to work for them both.

Bodil Schou-Hansen from Adelaide Pet Dog Training might be able to help, or will refer to a behaviouralist if need be. She does private in home consultations and the website is www.petdogtraining.com.au

Thanks everyone for all the info, its been great! At this stage I'm still not 100% sure but 'think' I'm leaning towards an Aussie. Who knows though, I might change my mind next week One thing is for sure, I've made myself the promise that I'm not getting a new puppy until the two dogs I have currently stop jumping on people at the front door So off training I go.... so I can get my Aussie... or Toller.... all the more quickly

Lyndsay thanks for all the health information etc you posted on Aussies. I did know about some of them but good to get an overview. Holly is a stunner!!! I'm a bit of an Aussie and Toller thread stalker so have seen lots of the pics. I have noticed that they are noisy when they play, but then so are my two dogs that I already have. Whilst it does get tiresome occasionally its not something I'm overly concerned about. What are everyones thoughts on grooming and bathing for both breeds. Eg how often, how much do they shed etc? I have two non-shedding dogs so already do a fair amount of grooming so its not really an issue but its always good to know.

Yikes toller scream!!! Haven't heard of that before. Sounds slightly disturbing

Rivsky I've already met Zuma at CBS! Just one of the trainers there who might puppynap him if you're not careful Sounds like my kind of meet ;)

So I definately don't think all the puppy pics are making this decision easier. Now I think I want one of both AND a BC ;) ;) Just kidding!! One will be plenty Blitza - all your Aussie pics are adorable! I've spent quite a bit of time with both breeds Aziah, and I completely agree that both Aussies and Tollers are not for everybody. However, I do know that either one of these breeds could be for me. It's just I can't choose between the two. I'm in Adelaide. I might try and get to the DOGSA open day in November. Sounds like a fun day out A BC with an off switch

You have described exactly what I am looking for! as well as having the ability to be good at agility.

You got me there I thought that the small gene pool could have an effect on some health issues. Definately something to take into consideration. Thanks for the website link. Great site.

Whilst Belgians are beautiful dogs (I know 2 in particular whom I love) I haven't really considered them. Unfortunately my heart is set on one of these two breeds.

Nah Ness I'm looking to have all the colours of the rainbow and I've already got white and black

Thanks for the info Ptolomy. Your Tollers look gorgeous and clearly its not possible to stop at one ;) It sure is a tough decision. Maybe one of each eventually This is good since I don't do well with repetative training either Are there particular health issues that I should be looking into specifically for some lines?

In the future I want to add another fur baby to the family This will only be when the right pup comes along, so no definate time frame as yet. First and foremost this little girl (already know I want a bitch) with be a well loved pet. But I also would like for this new dog to be involved in dog sports, particularly agility. I love training so this new pup will be burdened with playing lots of shaping games, coming out to different training clubs with me a few times a week and going lots of new places. So mental stiumlation will really not be a problem. I also already walk my two current dogs for about an hour a day, so exercise should not be a problem. I do have extra time to allow for training and exercising a puppy seperately. I also work full time, however my current two dogs cope with this fine and with the right training I'm confident my new pup will too. So I have done lots of research on both breeds and met a number of different Aussies and Tollers. Problem is that now I can't choose!!!!!!! So I'm throwing it out to all the expert Aussie and Toller owners out there who already live with one of these breeds to give me your most honest pros and cons of your chosen breed. Please mention ANYTHING that you can think of as all information will be helpful! Thanks!!!

Not exactly a goat, but I clicker trained my pet sheep :D I actually looked through Sue Ailsbys hints and tips on llama training and just tailored things to suit me and my sheep Not sure if I can help but what exactly are you trying to train your goat to do? ETA: with my sheep I rather than shape most behaviours I used targetting to teach them because 'roast' didn't really offer behaviours willingly. Don't stress, roast didn't actually turn into dinner