Simply Grand

She sounds like a little sweety, and looks like a cuddly ball of fur :D

I agree Snook (and jacqui). And on that basis I wouldn't see hitting the dog as any use at all. If the punishment isnt unpleasant enough to deter the dog from the behaviour (once it makes the connection between the two) then it isn't really teaching to dog not to do the behaviour. A tap or a flick on the nose may distract the dog from what it's doing at the time, like Aidan said, but if it doesn't really bother the dog then it won't actually teach it to stop the behaviour.

I agree huski. A couple of friends of mine have 'taught' their dogs not to run away when they're called by hitting them when they eventually catch them after they have run. It 'works' in that the dogs, one in particular, now still refuse to come to the owners when called (not all the time to be fair) but eventually stop and drop and wait for the owner to get to them (and both owners have commented "and s/he knows s/he's in trouble!"). I guess that works for some people but I find training a good recall using positive reinforcement a much more reliable method of both getting them to come when you want them to and, more importantly, keeping them safe. EFS

Oh PS I've never hit my dogs (or any other) and don't intend to. I think there are better ways to teach and if it seemed to be a good way to teach I just don't think it's fair for me to use physical punishment on something SO much smaller than me. Also there have been plenty of times where I've accidentally stood on a paw or bumped a head with my foot or tripped over a dog and I certainly don't want them getting confused and thinking they've done something wrong in those situations. whitka I'd be telling your flat mate to either treat the dog how you and the owner expect it to be treated or steer clear of it altogether, his choice.

Ha! Good point bull Arab!! I really think there are very few situations where hitting a dog is a useful or effective thing to do. Even if you do get the timing exactly right for the dog to connect the punishment to what it's actually done wrong I think it will damage other aspects of your training and bond with the dog - and that's if you get the timing exactly right which I doubt happens in most cases.

I just finished watching Red Dog for the first time, oh dear! I've read the book so I knew the story (and got teary reading the book) but actually seeing the gorgeous doggy in the movie... Not just tears but actual sobby crying Great movie though, well worth seeing!

Hi janene, your puppy is gorgeous! What's her name? My first puppy Saxon was super nippy as a baby. What worked for me was any an every time he nipped at me I would give a high pitched yelp, quickly stand up, cross my arms, turn my head away from him and freeze for a few seconds. It took a while (a number of weeks) and lots of persistence doing it every time but he learned that nipping = no more fun. Sax was very young when I brought him home tho (6.5 weeks) so hopefully your girl will learn more quickly.

Yep, tug with pretty much anything is the only real toy related game mine play together. They do spend a lot of time play fighting and playing bitey-face (and legs and tails and ears...)

Hehehe See Spot Run!! Rastus seeing as you're the expert ;), what breed is Spot?

Oh I Am Legend makes me tear up every time I see it, gorgeous dog

I know I would miss my animals so much if I had to be away from them for any length of time and would probably cry at seeing other dogs too but I'd still much rather see them than not!! And slightly OT but related to the lady finally patting Tully, I think it's so awesome when older people do things they may have been really scared of for many many years! Again thinking of my mum, as she gets older she seems to be getting braver, dog is one thing she's never been keen on, especially "big dogs, slobbery dogs, sniffy dogs, jumpy dogs, barky dogs, etc etc" but she fell in love with Saxon and since has even come to the dog park with me and managed to cope fine with all sorts of dogs. She's also challenged herself to overcome a fear of heights, and an absolute phobia of swimming in the last few years. She's still uncomfortable with all those things (including dogs that arent Saxon, even Riley gets sideways looks and polite smiles) but challenges herself to do them anyway My poor ma, I'm making her sound old, she's not at all, only 62 but the new experiences seem to make her proud of herself, and make me super proud of her

It's such a simple idea really, just have dogs visit people, bit I'd be willing to bet it makes a HUGE difference to the people you guys visit. For people who had dogs at home and then have to go into care it must just bring so much joy to be able to spend some time with dogs again. And even for people who didn't think they were dog people I imagine it's still a highlight and may shown them that they do like dogs after all - I actually can imagine both my mum and step dad, neither of whom are real doggy lovers, would enjoy having visits if/when they go into care (still a ways off!!). I love your story tlc about the lady who seemed to be sleeping/unconscious but relaxed when she was touching the pup. I can definitely understand that too, i can imagine the feeling of a warm, furry body with a calm loving spirit just being there probably gets through to people on a special level. Great job to all of you, both dogs and peoples!

Aargh becks!! That had never occurred to me, took me a minute to realise what you meant. If I think of that when ever I see a Labrador now I'm blaming you ;)

Glad you're feeling more positive teela You can definitely do it. Crates, puppy pen, leashes, there's lots you can do to manage them. And the puppy will need to learn to be gentle with Mojo anyway, it will just be even more important while he's healing. Hopefully your son is feeling better now too, it was totally an accident, they happen and it wasn't his fault. Mojo certainly won't hold it against him!

Hehe totally enabling! I'm soon to start in a working with dogs job so will let you know, but in the meantime Riley (Sheltie) is my gorgeous little man, he's just starting to understand training and is so cute about it, and Sax has proven himself my heart dog More to come in future tho And tlc, if you're awake, go to sleep!

Hmmm next on the list is Aussie Shepherd... We'll see tho!

I totally say Pah-ree! Just kidding But I do say 'tort-ee-ya', 'sav-in-yon blonc', 'cab-er-nay', 'sesh-wan', etc etc. There are plenty of foreign pronunciations in Aussie English so why not learn the correct pronunciation of dog breeds?

You're a bad influence on me tlc, in my head I'm always thinking well tlc has 4 and she says they work well, surely I can manage 3 And there's no other humans in the house to tell me no! I was very proud to actually last until Sax was nearly 2 for the second dog and have promised myself I'll wait at least until Riley is 1 for the next... That's April In all seriousness, I do think Riley would love a puppy sibling, he's at peak energy level, Saxon would roll his eyes and the cats may well insist on their own house next door, hehe.

Riley (7 month old Sheltie) and I (adult hooman) have been discussing Xmas presents and we would both quite like a puppy Grumpy Saxon (2.5 year old Poodle x) and the cats say no... hmm.

Oh teela! You are definitely in the right place, I think we can all appreciate how you feel MoJo will be ok though. He is with the vet, they are looking after him and with the pain shots he will be relaxed, if not sleeping now. Dogs often do scream when they're hurt and/or scared coz they don't understand what's happened and that it will get better, i know its painful coz you cant explain to them bit you know he will most likely come through fine. Try to be calm for yourself, your son and Mojo and trust the vets to do their job and MoJo to be tough. Big hugs!!

Petit Brabacon = pet-ee bra-baa-con (technically silent n; and if there's a actually a little squiggly on the bottom of the c it would be bra-baa-sson) Griffin Bruxellois = Griff-on brew-sell-wah Think that's right

Oh noes! I've always said 'rott-wheeler' not 'rott-wy-ler' Brabacon would be pretty much as it looks wouldn't it? 'bra (as in brassiere)-baa-con' And Bruxellois - 'broo (as in book)-sell-wah'?

Ralf may have been the Dulux dog, but he obviously wasn't a Durex dog as there's an ad with Dulux puppies in it... sorry, that's terrible, couldn't resist... ;)

Xolo, your 'Show-low-eats-queent-lee' (is that it ?) is the best phonetic spelling I've ever seen! I'd love to see one in real life so I can say it! I know Dachshund is actually (in 'Strine) 'darks-huund' but how do you say Pinscher?

That is awful! How devastating. How could it happen, I thought once the cars were on board they wouldn't be running. Would there still have been fumes in the air?