Cuchulain

Isn't that the most frustrating thing ever? How come in these types of situation the child is never blamed but always the dog/owner? I never used to take much notice before as I never owned a dog, now it's like a neon sign to me: the child is never responsible NO MATTER WHAT IT HAS DONE! I know I'm generalising and that there are well-behaved and well-mannered children out there it's just that I very seldom encounter them. They are a rare as hen's teeth around here! To get back to the OP: that poor child is going to get bitten somewhere down the line.

Max is the friendliest most gentle dog BUT run and scream and he thinks you're up for a game! I am very leary of children - they are unpredictable and I keep my boy on a short lead until I've sussed the children out. Made a mistake last week and let him off at the archery butts, with the owner's 2 children, 10 and 8 I guess, only to discover that if he showed an interested in the older girls feet that she would scream. He has a fetish for toes and he thinks screaming means you want to play. Fortunately I was right next to her and put him right back on his lead. The more I said to the child "don't scream" the more she bounced around yelling. In the past he's been off-lead up there with those same children without a problem. Oh well, win some, lose some!

:p Yeah, he was trying out his new-found bark on everybody this morning. I have to say though, he's only barking a people in my driveway which is great! Even better is that if I say quiet - then he stops. It just happened, I didn't "teach" him that. I have pics on Facebook...in fact there is a whole album devoted to him (25 or so pics in the one) and 12 in another. I don't have the bandwidth to repost them here :rofl: I'm not sure if they are visible if you're not a friend. If not, send a request I'm online most of the day (joys of being a computer techie) so should see it fairly quickly. Info you'll need for your search Name: Tracey Wild, Avatar is me at archery - can't miss it! :p

LOL Dyzney. I've just come back from checking on the new server at the vet. They were most amused about my dog who thinks he's a BC and one of them said there was no reason, once he's old enough, that he cannot do agility! So I'll keep it in the back of my mind as another option to keep him entertained. His legs are now so long that I have to jog on our morning walks to keep up I'm sure that keeps the spectators on our route entertained no-end. Actually that was a lightbulb moment for me this morning - he want to trot so that why he seems to be pulling. If I jog then he keeps a nice steady pace next to my left leg with only occassional stops to smell.

Thanks for the encouragement, Dyzney. Yes, Max is a Ridgie, but he has a long way to go before I could even consider Agility as an option. He is still very young and I don't think I would cope - I'm the fat one, not Max! I was thinking more along the lines of obedience (when his ears start working again!) and possibly tracking. I'd love to teach him to find missing arrows at the archery butts by using the superglue we use on the fletching to scent on. That could actually pay for his food every month if we get it right I've not seen flyball at my club - sounds like fun. There doesn't seem to be a rule about barking at agility at our club. I will ask next week to make sure we aren't stepping on toes and if it happens again, I'll shut Max up. It was just so funny! Everybody seemed to think it was great!

I will bear that in mind next week Showdog and I won't let him bark. It didn't seem to bother anybody there today - they were all laughing with me and some of them were even encouraging Max and Digby - egging them on. The agility people seem very laid back at training, nothing seems to upset them except people who don't pick up after their dogs and dogs with a bad attitude to other dogs. I was welcomed with open arms in spite of the fact that it is unlikely that Max will ever do agility as he is a tad on the large side. I can't say the rest of the club has been quite as welcoming!

Max and I travel to PE for dog school every Sunday. Last week the agility dogs were out in force training in numbers I had never seen before at the club. After class Max and I went over to go and watch. Our instructor, Marcia, also teaches the agility class. We sat in the shade under a big tree together with some of the Border and Aussie Collies waiting to jump and some other spectators. Max was fascinated... in fact he was so absorbed in watching he was interested in nothing else. After class all the dogs are allowed off-lead to play. Max was invited to join in and I was so proud to see my big brown RR playing so nicely with all the Collies. Of course he didn't have clue what the ball was for, he just ran like a lunatic with the "pack". This week, he was very keen to repeat the exercise and I was dragged (OK, don't lecture me, I know I was wrong to give in!) over to the container where Marcia's dogs were tethered while she worked with others in the class. Digby, her youngest, was beside himself with excitement and was barking madly - I presume to tell Marcia that he wanted to jump ;) Max sat there quietly for a while, watching with that typical RR cocked head and frown. And then he discovered he had a voice! :rofl: OMG! it was funny! Of course it triggered all the agility dogs awaiting their turn to begin a chorus of barking. I was laughing so hard I couldn't stop him. To be honest, I've seldom heard him bark and never more than perhaps woof woof. To be honest, I didn't want to stop him. There he was, sitting in amongst the Border Collies barking just like them. He was so very proud of himself. He was so cute in the off-lead time too, running with the pack totally clueless about the ball!

How awful, Casima! I get so angry with selfish people like that. They spoil things for everybody! Max is teething and not coping well at all, his tummy is sore again today (I'm debating whether to go to the vet with him) and he's not eating. I've been struggling now for three days to get him eating - he is picking at the food and not even tinned food or roast chicken is really tempting him. I had him at the vet on Thursday and they said I was over-reacting and he won't starve...so....now I'm in a quandry - do I take him down there on a Sunday or not? He seems happy enough just not eating. Anyway, we've not walked because of it - I didn't think if he wasn't eating it was a good idea to walk him. We've been doing our homework for dog school and a little playing in the yard. I'm not sure if I should drag him to school today either...I'm going to phone the instructor and ask her advice.

I wish you weren't on another flipping continent! :o Well done on the idea - I wish somebody over here was taking notes!

Thanks for the advice percyk...I'm going to obedience school at the Port Elizabeth Kennel Club and they have been most helpful and thing have really improved a lot. We had a walk around the block at the Vets this morning because I had to be there early to check on the new server I installed yesterday. The first 10 minutes were horrible, and then he settled and walked beautifully the rest of the way. I guess it was the first third that was so bad. It also helped that there were no other dogs around to distract him. That particular walk normally takes 15 minutes - but it took us nearly 25 this morning. Oh well, it was better than yesterday. This afternoon I took his lordship out to the archery range where he was able to run off-lead for a full hour, chasing grasshoppers, butterflies and anything else that moved. He even got to interact with some children - not an entirely positive experience for him but then you can't win them all. He's now stretched out half in his bed and half on the tiles asleep :)

Our 10-minute around the block turned into a battle of the wills yesterday. The morning round wasn't too bad but the afternoon was plain torture! Our trainer from the kennel club says I'm to stop dead when Max pulls, let him go to the end of the lead, and then wait for him to come back to me and to reward him when he comes back. Well, 10 minutes and about as many meters later both of us were frustrated as hell. I have tried the changing direction using a 90 degree turn where possible so as not to keep walking up and down the same 50 meters of road but it wasn't working - he'd just pull in that direction too. Eventually we got started and things looked like improving ... when along comes a lady with a labrador on a harness and lead but totally out of control. Her dog was barking and growling and just about pulled her off her feet to try and get to us. Remembering what I'd read on DOL I was going to try and keep walking but the dog was pulling her directly into our path. To my right was an aggressive boerboel x behind a fence going ape so moving in that direction wasn't an option. To my left a normally quiet road was now busy. I got Max to sit, while she tried to get this horrible dog under control, eventually she managed by lifting it's front feet off the ground and pulling it away from us. I had very little control over Max at this point, he only had eyes for this lab, he wouldn't respond to his name and he was pulling like a train to get to the lab. I was so frustrated - I'm obviously not doing things right. We'll have another go this morning, around the block at the Vet's where I have to go first thing to check on their new server.

Took Max to the beach with my dad for a short while at lunchtime. Now that he's better I'm in agony from a totally horrendous visit to the dentist this morning. Honestly, they ought not to allowed to work when they're having a bad day! Everything that could possibly go wrong, went wrong. It was Murphy at his very best! I told him the next time he wants to do a root canal on a molar he can go fly a kite - I want it pulled! This was the 3rd visit for the same tooth. Colour me unimpressed. Colour Max even less impressed, he is as you so rightly say FERAL tonight because I'm in no state to even train him, let alone walk him!

My vet has a resident red moggie called Simon. He is a gentle soul who wanders around the place freely and donates blood for patients in need when required. He is not allowed in the consulting rooms, hospital (unless donating blood) or theater. He seems to spend most of his time sleeping on the computer monitor (they still have an old CRT in the office) or on the display of cat beds (which are still wrapped in their protective plastic coating). He seems to have an instinct for when to remove himself from the waiting room and does so with a fair turn of speed sometimes. Max thinks Simon is great and Simon doesn't seem to mind dog gob in the least. The staff all know when the computer technician has been and Simon is wet and bedraggled looking from Max playing with him. However, I find a greater issue is those people who bring their cats in loose, no crate/pet porter not even a harness and lead (not ideal but better than nothing!) I had a pet porter for each cat and now, since I have less cats than I used to, a couple of spares! I guess I'm just very lucky that Max sees cats as something with which to play rather than something to kill.

Must be thing going around with ridgies...Max had the same problem yesterday but seems fine today. Although, he was miserable enough to warrant a visit to the vet This morning he's back to chasing the cats around.

Well, no walk again today - Max is not himself and the vet said he's picked up a tummy bug. I've just fed him for the first time since he refused dinner last night and he's acting like he's starved so I guess he's feeling better.

OMG!! My dog thinks I've lost it! :offtopic: I am sitting at my desk in the workshop howling with laughter and have tears running down my face. My mother has come in from the house to see what the noise is all about. Thank you for convincing me that running with Max is definitely not on!

As a cat owner I just cringe when I read stuff like this. I was under the impression that in Oz all domestic cats had to be kept indoors to protect your wildlife. For the life of me I can't remember exactly where I read or heard that. I have a cat at my workshop (which is at my parents home) and she is in by dark every night and kept in! At my home I have 2 cats who are never allowed outside except on a harness and lead. I live on a busy road and fear for their lives, neither of them are street smart! However my neighbour is a lot like yours and his cat come over to "chat" with my cats on a daily basis, also at around 03:00! Max, fortunately, isn't into barking at cats thank the gods. If/when you find a solution please share it ... I could also use some help!

I don't have a definitive answer for you and our South African products are probably different to yours. I have tried both the Doom and Raid products available over here and have opted to rather deal with the mossies! While I've not noticed any effect on Fudge (DSH) both Mickey (Seal-Point Siamese) and I have adverse reactions to them. I get a very dry mouth, nose and throat followed by a headache. Mickey coughs. Mmm, perhaps a zapper is a better option...I'll have to go and check the prices at the co-op, thanks for that idea CH.

Well, no walk today but dog school in PE. I left early so that we wouldn't travel in the heat. Unfortunately puppy class starts at 11:00 which makes for hot and tired pups. I think today was one of our best days, not because Max had everything taped (he didn't, not even close) but because there was a couple there with another ridgie the same age as Max wanting a playmate. We took them down to the bottom of the club grounds into the shade of some trees and let them play off-lead. They had a ball and we stood around chatting. Eventually there was quite a crowd watching the two ridgies (mine with no ridge and the other with kinked tail!) having such fun. Then we went over and sat watching the agility training. There were lots of Border Collies there today, probably around 10 or 12. Normally there are only 5 or 6. When they had finished training they told me to let Max off-lead to play with their dogs. He didn't have a clue what the game was about, I don't even think he saw the ball! He just ran with the pack and had such fun. He is quite a popular dog at the club because he is friends with everybody - dog and person alike. I think I'll stay late again next week in the hope of a repeat performance. ;)

Thanks Flux. I'm using the wrong words and doing stuff the wrong way round. Sigh! I'll figure it out in the end. Wish I had somebody in the same town who could help. Closest is 75km (one way) and I'm not keen on asking at the puppy school, I've been a little disillusioned about the instructor's "skills". Problem is, I can't carry a manual around with me and say to Max, "Hang on while I look this up!" I have short-term memory problems and trying to learn all this and then remember it when I need it is very difficult for me. I don't want to make excuses for myself, I need to do this, Max is growing fast and I don't want an unruly 40kg+ hooligan on the end of the lead. Sometimes he is an absolute angel - like yesterday. I was very tired, had put in a 12+ hour day in the workshop and was at my last call. Max was restless and Aaron (the customer's son in his early twenties) offered to take him for a "run". At this point Max was trying to eat the socks off Aaron's feet and generally being a PITA. I explained Max was too young to run far but he was welcome to take him out for 10 minutes but please to keep him on the grass verge when running and not let him run on the tar. I was expecting a disaster but Aaron came back about 8 minutes later grinning like a Cheshire cat. Max had apparently been a total pleasure - running on a loose lead, ignoring all other dogs and not even wanting to stop and smell stuff. Aaron said they'd run a little interspersed with walking and could he please take Max again sometime? :thumbsup: I think Max enjoyed it too. Of course now I suppose I'm going to be expected to run :D

Oh bugger! I'm doing this all wrong. Is it too late to change words?

Thanks Cosmolo, I'm working on "Max, focus" - until this week, if I used his name he would look at me. This week I can do what I like I'm being ignored! I'd like for him to look at me when I use his name, and if I use his name AND focus - I'd like for him to look at me until I release him for which I'm using Yes! (in a happy pleased voice). Is it better to use a clicker or words? I'm tending to words because I'm all ready having issues with needing another pair of hands to cope with treats, cell phone, lead, etc. I think adding a clicker would drive me nuts but if it makes things easier I'd have to give it a go, wouldn't I? Sorry if this is disjointed and late - I've had issues with my DSL at home and have been in the workshop since 05:00 this morning with only a short 30 minute break to take Max down to the beach for a run.

Thanks guys, I had a couple of near perfect days and I've just been through 2 days of hell. It seems he is now selectively deaf and only listens if he feels like it. A couple more questions if you don't mind...What is clicker training? How does it work? What do you use it for? I've Googled it and just got totally confused. Please could somebody spell it out in words of one syllable? I'm sorry if I'm thick but I'm new to all this and I didn't find anything simple enough to grasp (OK, I'll admit it today probably wasn't the best day to try and research something, but let's not go there if you don't mind!)

OK, a couple more questions if you don't mind. Changing direction - will a right/left turn do or do you mean a full 180? Look command? Would that be what I've been taught at class? Get him to sit and make eye contact? Uhm... damn, I'm not good at words sometimes. Let me try that again. I call him and he comes and sits at my feet facing me, looking at me. He will hold the eye contact for about 30 seconds at the moment BUT that is at home with no distractions. If one of the cats moves - his eyes immediately go to the movement. I've also been holding a treat in each hand with my arms out sideways at shoulder height, saying "Max focus" and he will make eye contact and hold it without looking at my hands to see where the treat is. We can hold this for about 25/30 seconds at home. Thanks for the help and advice so far. We've had 2 days of angelic behaviour so I'm about due for a difficult one now.

I'm so depressed! I have to find another place to live, my landlord has put the house on the market! Then, when I came out from the vet after taking my Siamese for his daily (1 week course) of antibiotic injection I found somebody had punched a dent in the back door of my van. Sigh. Estimated repair costs ZAR4000 That was all yesterday, so this morning I really wasn't in the mood for anything and Max was playing up so I decided to take him to the beach in the hopes of an empty beach and some off-lead time. It helped both of us! He had a ball running up and down and I had fun throwing stuff back into the water for him to chase. Spent an hour down there, mostly on our own with people/dogs in the distance. It was really nice. He's passed out in the workshop and I'm not getting any work done as I confess to having a real motivation problem today The pain in my mouth has subsided somewhat - perhaps I just have too many other things to worry about Thanks for this thread, Daisy, because I think if it hadn't been for the thread I would not have made the effort to get to the beach before work this morning.