Mrs Rusty Bucket

Hi HugurPup If he likes the water pistol - that's possibly better than if he hates it - because I don't like using punishment, my use of it is by way of distraction and I wouldn't do it to a dog that freaks out about it. So if she can get him to play with the water pistol jet instead of barking at whatever, and he only gets to play with the water pistol when he's quiet - ie it gets packed up if he barks more... then you have a reward system there. Only thing you'd want to watch out for is sneaky back chaining ie barking to get attention and the chance to play with the water pistol. I'm glad she's getting a behavourist in, let's hope it's one that can help.

We're lucky to have a large off lead dog area across the car park area from our club. So I arrive early, take my dog there for S&P. Once she's done that and I've picked up, she can go back on lead and greet other dogs on lead. If there is setting up or taking down to be done and I need two hands and no canine helpers, then she goes in the crate. Between turns on the sequencing I do lots of different things - most of the things on the list, we need to practice calm waiting, training moves (shadow handling), nose touches, tricks, anything I can think of at the time or anything I think needs specific work. Sometimes there is a little bit of equipment to practice handling set up but often it's set up too close to the training course. But if I can, I do a couple of runs at that too. But not too much of any one thing - or we both get bored, and all these things, except the equipment practice bit, on lead. It's hard to balance the joy of greeting all her friends and being focussed on me - so I try to "premack" all that and put it on cue/permission

This is hard What I'd want to do is retrain owner and dog. Together. Because there is no point rehoming the dog as is because it's dangerous. And the owner's way of dealing with barking and aggression - clearly doesn't work either. I recently got slightly chewed on the arm by a lab puppy and I held still or pushed whatever I could manage. But pulling away is the worst thing you can do. For that JRT - instead of picking it up, I'd have used a water pistol - ideally targetted close but not on the dog as a distraction. But given where it's at - if it's a Sydney dog - I'd invite Steve Courtney to recommend a plan and if they can't afford that - tell him - he may have some ideas or PTS. JRT are smart dogs. He is the way he is because it works for him. Just need to change that. I would find it hard to PTS a dog who did something I thought was all my fault. ie never play tug with my dog in the dark...

Which spot on is it or does it make no difference? I found the way Frontline affected my dog's coat was different to the way Revolution does, but in either case, the effect goes away after a couple of days, a few visits to the beach (after the specified time), hoses offs, and brushing. I think if I wanted her coat to look perfect for a show (not likely cos she's a bitsa), then I'd either spot on after the show or early - like a week before. Just to be safe.

I'm surprised KHM didn't mention Mark Singer... http://www.caninetraining.com.au/ He's recommended by Steve Courtney who I like for problem dogs. My dog obedience club (SAODC - South Parklands) would probably accept your dog on the basis that it wears a muzzle until everyone is sure it won't do the pin the dog and freak everybody out thing again. They're quite good at dealing with dog aggressive dogs - but there are several within the club that nobody expects to be any different so I'm not so sure how good they are at fixing the problems. Another one of the Delta - all reward based training mob is Bodil at Adelaide Pet Dog Training http://www.petdogtraining.com.au/home.html But i'm not sure how well that method alone works on aggressive dogs. Or if owners have the patience, persistance and consistency to follow it through. I think I'd be looking for a combination of methods. Ie I think I wouldn't want to use aggression to sort aggression but I would want to prevent the behaviour from happening and stop it in a hurry if it does despite my best efforts, and a treat won't do it short term.

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/caa1998174/index.html Only takes one report if your dog scares the dog ranger. Council usually send someone around to check to see if the dog really is aggressive or it's just sensitive neighbours.

My neighbour lets his cat go where it likes. He says he always keeps it in at night but that's only if it decides to come in at night - I've seen it out after dark. And now it's disappeared. Hasn't been home for several days which is not like that cat at all. I've got mixed feelings about the neighbour's cat, I'd be happy if it knocked off the mice in my back yard and didn't crap in my back yard, but its a double fail there. I have a vet who will PTS any cat that is caught trespassing. That seems to be the requirement in SA - that as long as professionally qualified person humanely pts the cat - that's legal. But there is something about trying to contact the owners - it's a bit vague about before or after cat is PTS. I don't think I'd want to do that to my neighbour's cat but any cat that tries catterwalling outside my window in the dead of night is fair game as far as I'm concerned. Cats will travel several km from home in rural areas and can probably do similar in suburbia given the opportunity.

Hi all Sunday 29th January 9am to 11am Just wanted to pass on that ACC is having a grand opening of their new dog park on the north side of Lefevre road on two old cricket ovals. Parking is on Medindie road or Barton Terrace (with a bit of a walk). There's two fenced areas - one for big dogs and one for small. Mayor is cutting the ribbon at about 9:20am and for Sunday only - they'd like all dogs except the ones doing demo shows - to be on lead. I have attached pdf with rules and map. They're hoping to have "obedience classes", a sheep herding demo, a Super dogs (agility) demo - like at the Royal Adelaide Show, and lots of other stuff including stalls (eg bring money too). I don't know if I will be able to make it or not. Hopefully. Got a lot of packing to do that day. ACC Dog Park Invite.pdf

Facebook can be a bit of a worry - mine keeps offering me "overstock ipads" for $30 - erm not bloody likely. I count a point in a rescue's favour if petrescue will list them - so an FB page listing "reputable rescues" is a bit redundant in my opiniion. Can't figure out what the stolen dog thing is about? Are there heaps of dogs stolen or missing from Penrith Pound? And yes we get rescue politics in SA too. Is it right to rehome a dog that hasn't been desexed? I would say no, but not everyone agrees.

I think NSW or QLD have made it illegal for a dog to be unrestrained inside the cab of the car. It is illegal to have a dog unrestrained on the back of an open ute - national road rules. I think it is illegal to drive with a dog, other pet, or child in your lap. Again - national road rules for that one. You can be done for neg driving if the dog (children or bf) distracts you while you're driving and you prang (or scare a cop) and you admit it (cos would be hard to prove otherwise). It is illegal to hang any part of your body out the window. It's probably illegal to allow any of your passengers (including pets) to do so. Because it's dangerous. Personally - the jeep seemed to deprive the dog of a decent run. I'm surprised it didn't shred the tyres and put the tool in the bf's hand.

I admit the problems are mostly mine ie what I have trouble dealing with or not suited to my lifestyle and what I want to do by way of dog sports. I do love whippets for more than their good looks but not sure if they are robust enough for life with me. And I'm not sure how much they enjoy precision dog training eg agilty (I know some do agilty with them) but they are lovely schmoozers. My friend's pair have major health problems at the moment with stiff joints and strange lump things (cancers/cysts/fatty lumps) but they are both quite old so I guess that's fair enough. Whippets are more of a sprint dog and less of an endurance dog and I'm more of a plodder and less of a sprinter - which isn't a problem for the whippet of course. They may be an option for my next dog when I decide 22kg (current dog) is too heavy for me to lift. I don't know what frail people do when their big dog needs help getting into the car for whatever reason. Sorry to digress. I also think Pharoah hounds are gorgeous but not sure if I'd have the patience to train them.

Probably any of the photography specific forums would have a section for market place - like there is here for dog related stuff. And there are some photography clubs that might be able to help too. http://www.photoforum.com.au/ And do an internet search of the make and model of your gear to get an idea of price new and second hand. I usually think second hand stuff should be about 50% the price of new - because you don't have the warranty or shop back up or any of that. But depending who is selling it, and how old it is, people might be willing to pay more. Like 1 year old cars are not 50% off.

Looks alone - somebody else has to deal with temperment and coat and health problems? merle coolie afghan hound bedlington terrier bull terrier (one like Pele) whippet

Gawler are hosting a New Years Eve Agility, Jumping and Gamblers (Agility Game) trial from 7pm if you want to check things out sooner than Feb.

I think a lot of people get a puppy or kitten because they're cute, or they just saw a movie with that critter in it, and then real life sets in, and keeping the critter is inconveninet so it ends up at the pound. Sometimes they'd like to keep the critter but have no idea what to do in order to train the critter to be a good family pet, and then get upset and ditch the critter when they get overwhelmed by the naughty adolescent or adult. Sometimes these people will go get another baby critter to try again - with no more skills or knowledge than the first time round - thinking there was something wrong with the previous critter or that they "broke" it and can't fix it. Ie they don't know how to train the pet back to acceptable, once it gets out of control. http://www.dogstardaily.com/video-cck/thickbox/4225/425/350/field_video_0 Guide dogs and TV cats are not born already trained.

I agree with the others. "Miles away" is still too close at the moment for your GR. And LAT really does work. Three cats on the way home from the park tonight can vouch for that. Frosty used to launch herself at them like I wasn't there, and then do that ugly back flip when she got to the end of the lead. Now she just goes - cat there - and I say yes there is. Sometimes we check if the cat is still alive - two of the three tonight were pretending to be dead - ie lying very flat, chin and all flat on the ground. Eyes open and blinking kind of gives it away tho. They were quite able to nick off way before sniffing zone was reached.

I agree with the others, name the park because you'd feel awful if something bad happened to someone else's dog. Report to police and RSPCA (responsible for prevention of cruelty to animals). And email the council - and complain about not being able to get the ranger. I admit 7am Sunday morning - barking dogs might be a bit hard to take for people who like to party Saturday nights, but his reaction is over the top. But horse racing people start much earlier than that, every morning, so he should be grateful its only a 7am start and not a 4am start.

I like Yosemite Number 4 good contrast and colour. I think I'd avoid the beach ones because the horizon doesn't look straight to me and that would drive me nuts. I like the stormy one best out of those. I like the killer whales. There's loads to gaze at in that for hours. I like the Munich one but I'd want to do something about the pole on the left. And I like the big ben one - especially the lighting. Before choosing, I'd want to look at them on the biggest screen possible or as close to your planned canvas size to check for things like focus and line and odd things that don't belong (artifacts) just in case, but it does depend if you like the dynamic those things bring to the picture or not.

I knew one pair of dogs where the older one always ate the younger one's crap. There was still a lot of crap though. And I got a lady to pick up her BC's crap at the park this arvo. She wasn't paying any attention to her dog. And the crap was ENORMOUS - do a Great Dane proud. So I asked what she fed it: "Tinned Pal and Supercoat dry" erm. Nuff said. She thought those craps were normal for a BC. So for my back yard - I can't stand crap on the lawn so I pick it up as soon as I see it, well I wait until the dog is finished. In the morning if I can't find the crap that should be there, I do a whole garden patrol - though sometimes I miss the ones in the jungle at the back for a few days, and sometimes she saves up for the park or beach or wherever we go in the morning for our walk. And I pick up her craps, and any crap that happens to be where I walk at our ovals. I call the extra ones "Karma craps" ie if you don't pick them up - you walk in them. Very happy to have sprung that lady with the BC. If we leave craps like that too often on the oval - we lose the oval.

This morning I stuffed up and said "Tunnel" when there was a jump first, and dog did the jump then the tunnel - erm good dog, do as I mean not as I say... If we miss a jump - we need more practice with our signalling - so I do go back and do it again, and sometimes she gets very barky/frustrated but that's ok, ie part of learning to be persistant. But I will have one more go and if it's not happening, I usually leave the course walking, so the next person can have their go without having to wait ages for us to get our act together. If there isn't a next person, I might work one or two jumps with the dog just for practice and I try to make it fun and rewarding for her. What else happenned this morning I was trying to practice changing sides or crosses and the second one where I sent her over the jump and ran to the other side behind her, wanting her to turn... I think I went too early cos she turned on the jump and knocked the bar off. That's one thing I never do - I never tell her off for knocking a bar or missing a colour, or stuffing a weave run or whatever. It's always my fault - something I need to fix, and there's never any point in yelling at her. I don't get why some people do that. Current un fave is a class mate who yells at his dog for barking. I understand his frustration but how come he doesn't understand that to his dog - him yelling sounds like joining in? Though I can tell she's not happy about it - she barks for excitement and he barks because he's angry or frustrated. My dog barks for both.

"The RSPCA's Hugh Wirth said the dog appeared to be an English bull terrier cross" I always thought the dog was a "Bull Terrier". dog attack on toddler 17th Nov 2011... http://www.news.com.au/top-stories/dog-mauls-tot-good-samaritan-in-burnside-attack-in-melbournes-west/story-e6frfkp9-1226197871647 BSL Not working.

You could try googling the names. There is already Shampooch and Vanity Fur in multiple states of Australia and and the website names are taken. Same with Hair of the Dog. DeFuzz DeDog and variations seem to be ok. Google a few of your other favs and see how it goes. Dog fight with lawnmower seems a bit long. http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/contributors/hey-hairdressers-enough-with-the-puns-already-20091215-kts8.html#ixzz1eJP8HgBT So dog puns - fur-for hair - here; hear; air ; and if you get the wrong actor in your ad like Subway "where's the ham?" - sounds like "where's the hair?". Hair, Fur, Now! Now and Fur Hair (ver)

My dog prefers back seat driving.

Woodley, a two-year-old German koolie, was unrepentant. I love it.

Most of us are not doggy mind readers. How is someone who doesn't know the dog know it's not going to attack if it JUMPS THE FENCE. And there was a fairly recent case (in the last couple of years) of a dog breaking the front fence and then killing multiple SWF and biting the elderly owner. If the dogs weren't allowed to rush the fence - could that have been prevented? I'm pretty sure in the eyes of the media today: GSD = shaggy pitbull and Rottie = black and tan pitbull. :S