Mrs Rusty Bucket

ipads and youtube don't always get along - and there has been a recent update to adobe flash - so you might want to see if downloading that to the ipad helps. I think it's something to do with apple video being "quick time", so they just make it painful for any other system.

Hi Kavik - yes. My favourite recallers story over the years has been about the whippet that would have died without it... PS I've not been entirely successful at training evil hound to recall immediately but she's so much better than when I first signed up. And I haven't been as diligent as Kavik in doing all the exercises. Or all the other stuff ie you get out what you put in and it's no good being all theory based - have to engage brain and solve problems in front of you. One problem me and the dog are still working on and the coaching calls are encouraging - ie they always have a new way of looking at it and something new to try (cos my hound does not have the foundation an SG puppy has - so she does things very differently)... Persistence and dealing with frustration. Exactly what Leah82 is describing. You can increase your dog's tolerance to frustration and increase their persistence. It's a little more difficult to increase your own, but persisting and getting a break through brings much joy. "I never thought we could do that - wow" joy.

The promo videos are free / cost you an email address. The actual course - last year was like this in USA$ approx. I don't know what the format will be this year. IC Peeps (inner circle) renewal started in January. Not sure if they will open that up this time or not. Advanced was around $250 (4 months of access, 3 coaching calls - you post questions in advance and she answers online, call is usually recorded and you can watch later if you want) Brilliant was around $400 (another 2 months) Inner circle - for new people was about $2000 included 12 months of access and monthly coaching call and lots of extras. If you hate it - they used to offer refunds. If you love it - they used to offer upgrades towards the end of the basic level course. I can't promise they would do that this time but you can email and ask.

Frosty ACDx has two black ears tho they are still spotty inside. At the moment (5.5 yo) she can hear the lid come off the yogurt tub from another room or in the back yard. But she can't hear me calling her when she's hoovering in the playground.

hi Jasperwall I would try to find an agility dog club close you and ask to be put in the "foundation" training classes. This doesn't involve any jumping equipment (you want the dog to be 12 to 18 months old before you do that), but does involve a lot of exercises that will teach you about teaching the dog and train the dog's brain and body, and yours. I think 5 to 10 minutes of trying to teach a dog a new trick is worth 30 minutes of walking familiar streets. It wears the dog's brain out and they sleep better. If you're going to be home with the dog for two weeks - that's a perfect time to crate train - the point of a crate is it's like a den or safe place - not a toilet or cat litter box. It is possible to train a dog to use a designated spot in an apartment - you can definitely try this. But also try to teach the dog to use outside (if that's your preferred option). I would consider getting a copy of Susan Garrett's crate games dvd. If you find an agility club - there will probably be someone there who will loan you a copy. She's about to open up her Recallers Games online course for registration - which has heaps of stuff about teaching your puppy to come back and relationship building exercises - teach him to pay attention to you. It does involve being persistant and consistent. Susan Garrett has a degree in animal behaviour science and is a world champion agility dog (and people) trainer. you can look up youtube kikopup for more training ideas. As for bed and toys... I would not get anything you intend to last a long time - until your dog is about 2 years old or has stopped chewing things. My dog slept in half a cardboard blanket box until it was too shredded to hold it's shape and then she got the other half... lasted about a year and then I got the heavy duty plastic version. Note these were lined with old pillows (in old pillow slips) and old blankets and towels and old tshirts. And while you are at home with your dog - you can play the I forgot something game - where you get your keys and your bag like you're about to go to the shops (or work), go out the door, shut the door, remember you forgot your phone, open the door, go back in (ignore the dog) get something - go back out - repeat... see how long you can be out before the dog starts to complain - that's your threshold - next time you need to go back in about 30% before the threshold - ie you go back in before the screaming starts, several times and then see where the threshold is... and by the end of a week - you want the dog to figure out you're not coming back in if he's screaming. You can also do this game down the park with the crate (at agility club...), after you've got to stage 3 of crate games. I play "what's the time mr wolf" with my dog - I approach the crate - if she makes any noise - I turn around and go the other way... until she's quiet - and then I turn around and walk back, repeat as needed until you can get back to the crate with no screaming...

Frosty got desexed at 8 weeks and she doesn't have big lumps like dog balls. She's pretty flat through there. Never had any changes to her bits. So I guess if it's not bothering your dog at all, maybe get the vet to have a bit of a look at her next visit.

A 6 month old herding dog - you have bought yourself a dog that will need training, and exercise, and something to do. Or he's going to remodel your garden, eat all your shoes, and decrotch your underwear. Hopefully the people you are getting him from have provided you with an information pack with all the instructions about how to look after him? Is he vaccinated and microchipped? A visit to the vet might be your first option - for a full checkup, get a microchip if he hasn't got one, vaccinations and a worming/flea plan, get him booked in to be desexed if he isn't already... Dog Star Daily has a digital dog owners text book which has all the info you could need about raising a puppy and helping it fit in to your home. You might have to sign up but it's free and you get way more than your money's worth because Ian Dunbar wants all dogs to have loving happy forever homes. http://www.dogstardaily.com/taxonomy/term/182 Is it going to be an inside dog or an outside dog or bit of both?

I was going to suggest a vizla but for the at work thing - the ones I've met are the biggest people sooks ever. Tho they cope better if there are two of them. But that may mean they are double trouble too. Best not to get litter mates of any breed if you do decide to get two.

Being registered with dogs Victoria - by itself does not equate with "trusted". There are a few who meet the rules but I wouldn't want a dog from them - mostly because they have far too many litters for the puppies to get enough human attention (socialisation). If she didn't want the puppies she sold to be breeding - she should get them desexed before she sells them. Was it her that gave you the phone number for "Dogs Victoria"? And did "Dogs Victoria" confirm that she was indeed registered with them. This is from the Dogs Victoria Website: http://www.dogsvictoria.org.au/AboutUs/ConstitutionRulesRegs.aspx

Sigh... I just remembered an old friend whose husband got an ex show border collie... My friend was a little bit round - but between her and her husband - they're both very unhealthy weight now. But the worst thing is they have taken a healthy weight show dog, and now she's the same shape and unhealthiness as them. I think the breeder who rehomed her to them - would be horrified. Note it would be QLD or NSW breeder not SA. I like my friend but I don't like her husband much. It's all a bit toxic from way over here. He doesn't clean up the dog's yard either. And she won't do it because "it's his dog". I was horrified about that too. I wanted to clean up the mess so we could sit and have a coffee together to catch up but they would not let me. If it had been my house (which can be very messy) - if I invite someone over for catch up - I spend the time between the invite and the arrival - cleaning like mad. But there is never so many dog craps in the yard that you can't walk or sit out there without having to step around it or smell it. I'm really diligent about that. I see her crap and I pick it up. And I check later for craps done in the dark.

I'd stick this on their FB page. (Ian Dunbar: Cute puppy to shelter dog)

here's the previous (recent) thread... Read from the beginning. The end is a bit sad (should be in rainbow bridge). http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/257434-augustine-approved/ PS I wouldn't trust something to protect against heart worm on promises and anecdotes.

I'm always looking for the balance between - am I a good enough trainer - do I need to be a better trainer? - working with the dog's natural preferences and inclinations. I don't think my evil hound has ever liked fetch. And yet lots of the stuff I've been working on uses chase the toy (reward in place) and fetch it back for tug. And no stealing the toy if the drill didn't go to plan. So I feel like I'm fighting her natural inclinations and wondering what else I can do... or if an different dog would be easier, but if I didn't have the training challenges I have with evil hound - would I be a good enough trainer for an "easier to train" dog. Ie the easier they are to train - the smarter they are - the more likely it's not the dog that's getting trained...

OMG I vote that picture for a DOL redbubble calendar... Amazing - and could stare at it for a month and still get new joy out of it.

I think you can get donut shaped balls? But maybe you need a donut flavoured ball? We have an orange chuckit soft Frisbee with a hole in the middle that has been holding up quite well, but I don't leave evil hound alone with it. Nice camera work and editing too. Just BTW - what did you (or LMS) use to edit?

I think I recognise that dog and handler... woot Bec Now I want to see the beagle do that. :)

I take a swag with me to put on top of beds in rural accomodation - like caravan park cabins. I got upgraded last time - to a really nice caravan, because there was a large family staying in the cabin that adjoined their usual dog friendly one - ie about 15 people in a 1 bed and 1 ensuite cabin. WTF. So I got a solo cabin. They forgot to tell me it cost extra. I asked about dog in the cabin and they got evasive and said dogs not allowed in those cabins but they weren't going to be checking - I'd stayed there before - so they know I don't trash the cabins. There were lots of signs inside the cabin about no smoking and no dogs because of health regulations. They'd only made up one bed, the other one was covered in dust and stuff. I put the swag on top of the one they had made up, and I set the dog crate up on the verandah. she spent some time in it but I brought her inside so everyone could get some sleep. I'm pretty sure if I left her out in it she would have barked at everything that moved. And sometimes she sleeps on the swag on the bed with me, but I'd rather set the crate up inside the cabin and have her sleep in that. Didn't get any complaints from the caravan park tho. There's another one in the same state - that doesn't ahve any signs about no dogs and health regulations. I suspect it's not a health regulation - because you can't ban guide dogs etc. PS the most menky rooms have not been made that way by dogs.

Does this dog like chasing flies... My dog has ended up with an extremely swollen nose - from shoving a bee up its bum. If a dog bit a bee or wasp - swollen tongue would seem right. If the dog was very allergic... all the other symptoms make sense. Though the description does sound like mushrooms...

So sorry Airedaler. All the Airedales I've ever met have been absolute clowns and entertainers and boofheads, and missing that would leave a big hole in your life.

well how to freak me out. http://augustineapprovedblog.com/2014/02/27/i-will-never-donate-a-cent-to-cancer-research/

gawd - that Ceroid Lipfuscinosis is horrible. I've got a friend who has a kelpie x cattle dog? She's a very solid kelpie - hence me thinking a bit cattle dog. And that dog has developed epilepsy - and is wobbly but not aggressive. Still a very nice natured dog. It's just sad that you'd think a farm dog would be completely robust and healthy and she's not. And the fits are getting more frequent despite being on medication. Leads a nice calm city life so can't blame stress (often a trigger for humans). She was a bit of a cling rat tonight having had a fit in the afternoon and then was out walking tonight - and pleased to see me and my dog but stayed very close to us and her boss.

dancinbcs What is CL? It's not enough info to google.

Put 100 professionals in a room, and one will be a nutjob. Or 1000. I don't have much respect for that woman's info either. But there are some better studies about turmeric somewhere. This has an article about the beneficial chemistry of some plants including turmeric as an anti cancer agent. http://thetriplehelix.uchicago.edu/img/journals/2012Spring_Journal.pdf#page=37 But they still need to do some research - ie is the lower cancer rate in India - from cultural attitude, geography or what they eat. and is it turmeric or something else like tamarind or pepper.

It's not really about "keeping the dog in line all the time". It's about managing your training environment and preventing your dog learning that it's ok to ignore you. Doesn't have to be other dogs to play with - it could be chasing birds at the park or playing in the waves at the beach or chasing joggers... Any time the dog is having fun without you - you have to manage that or they stop paying attention to what you want. So you have to start where you have control over the training environment so you can stop a dog from ignoring you and set it up for success on task - like recall. Start somewhere small and confined like the bathroom or laundry. When the dog understands the task in that environment, start changing the environment. Expecting a puppy to come when called in a highly rewarding environment like the park - without lots of training in a controlled environment is like taking a parrot out of the wild and then releasing it in an open forest and expecting it to come when called. Erm not likely. And yet it is possible to train the parrot (or the puppy) to come - no matter what - but you start in a space you have control over. And then you can let your puppy go play with other dogs. You are taking a risk - if you don't know these other dogs - or even if you do - that your puppy can get hurt or injured if one dog gets grumpy or zigs when your dog zags and they prang. Which is why some people don't let their dogs play with dogs they don't know. They don't want to take that risk.

My mum and dad proudly tell of our first family dog who did the same - when they were still dating. Didn't put mum off. And I remember going to a boxing day party at a friends place. Another friend had brought her rather fat waddly border collie. I thought that was brave of her - since my dog would be hoovering big time at parties with lots of food. Seems the BC had been hoovering the day before - Christmas munchies - because on boxing day - at mutual friend's party - the BC passes a long strip of glad wrap - which has to be helped out. YUUUUKKKKY. So glad my dog stayed home for Christmas and boxing day...