Staff'n'Toller

Agreed - he can probably target without a verbal cue already....you might surprise yourself. :D

If you have been getting nose targetting without a verbal cue that is great, all you need to do is start asking for hand touches with your visual cue (whether that is your hand or the stick doesn't matter, but make it the same one each time). You need to practice this enough times that he is getting it and remembering that muscle memory of standing, with the new cue word. Once you have a new cue word working well, you fade the hand target so he no longer needs to actually touch the target but understands the cue means to stand up, and your faded hand target becomes a hand signal for stand. Free shaping is extremely frustrating for dogs and if you've never played the shaping game with another human you'll never understand just how hard it is. There is nothing wrong with luring a stand and holding your pup with a flat hand under the belly for a few seconds as he gets his reward. The important thing is that you use a release word that means exercise finished. I think a release is crucial to dogs actually 'getting' the stand position. Not everything with pups needs to be hands off. :D Mel.

Have you taught a hand target? I teach sit to stand by getting them to stand up forward and target my hand, click, reward, very quick release. Mel.

You could actually go back and ask for some Cortavance Spray, topical cortisone that is much safer and will give you your answer about whether it is allergy based or not. If they look at you blankly then it might be time for a second opinion. Mel.

By throwing them in a crate for 10hrs a day from the get go you are teaching pup that it's ok to toilet around their sleeping area/crate and that's exactly what you DON'T want. I answered your question on the first page, so can you tell us if you can cater for having a pup inside in a designated room? It would be ideal to have a trusted friend or family member to come in at lunchtime and take him outside, play with him and feed him lunch each day for a few weeks, this will reduce the amount of inside accidents and give his little brain some stimulation. It may also help in preventing separation anxiety as you shorten the period of time he is alone during the day without human contact. I know of two trainers in Sydney who take your pup for the first 2-4 weeks each day (like doggy daycare) and toilet train them, feed and play with your puppy for you, if you are interested send me a PM and I will find out who they are. Mel.

Ok I'll be serious now, no I don't crate dogs during the day, if you can make a room accessible then that's great. Don't worry about those toiletting accidents during the day your puppy will still train well if you are diligent at home when you are there. Baby gates are a good way to block off rooms. Certainly crate at night but Staffords are 1. Very clingy -they love their humans- particularly if they are the only dog. 2. Get cold very easily and may still need a jacket inside in bed over night, if you have no heating going. Mine wears a jacket or jumper pretty much non-stop all winter in Melbourne and if she gets too warm sunbaking outside she takes it off herself. Do you have garden beds outside? You could always go to bunnings and make up a 1 or 2 metre Squared wooden sandbox and fill it with sand, soil and some mulch as a toilet area. Most dogs like to go to the garden on dirt etc. Hope that helps... You can find puppy schools in your area here: Delta Society Aus Mel.

Thanks Trishm! My wholesaler told me it still wasn't in the country so that's why I posted to see if anyone was actually getting it here. Wholesaler can be a bit hopeless sometimes, unless the info is handed to them on a plate... Mel.

Hmmm....I hate to break it to you but Staffords don't sleep outside, they sleep inside, in your bed, preferably under the doona! :D Mel.

Thanks guys...might try the VAN for now and see how it goes. Mel.

Well done! Go the Staffords! :laugh:

I use that too but I'd hazard a guess at cheese perhaps being on the 'no go' list.

Just wondering what everyone is using at the moment instead of Missing Link? Anyone using the Vets all Natural health booster? (That is the one I can source the easiest, but I do have a mega pet warehouse near me). Thanks, Mel.

Hmmm I'm sorry I don't, they did send around a sample of the sizes but regretfully it is probably long gone by now. We have only really used them for making an intra-dermal thyroxine for cats who won't take pills. :rolleyes: You could certainly email/phone them they are very helpful, they would be able to tell you what sort of sizes they dispense for littlies. Perhaps they can even do a liver or peanut butter paste for you? Mel.

I never said she couldn't, a group situation just may not be the right thing for this dog at this time. Croydon is a huge club, it's not just about the dogs in class, it's about everything else going on in the environment. It's not about JulesP getting this dog to do anything- the focus is not on the human- it's what is best for the dog at this time. The last thing an anxious dog needs is corrections for it's natural (albeit abnormal) behaviour responses at this time- if it is truly anxious- that is too hard to assume on an internet forum. Mel.

There are dogs that are just way too anxious and cannot handle being in a class environment so close to other dogs. This dog *may* be one of those. It's a "oh my goodness I'm so hyper-stimulated by everything going on around me I can't think straight" sort of reaction. Mel.

There are some studies done on high protein diets and increase in aggressive behaviour. James O'Heare writes about it in his Canine Neuropsychology book, it talks about feeding a carbohydrate meal an hour? after a protein meal or something to that affect. I'm not sure that there are any studies done on anxiety and raw, I have found the opposite with my Toller, on dry food he was like a 5yr old on speed- couldn't think straight. Mel.

I think my boss would like to talk to your boss Nekhbet! :D He's always talking about the real cost of a spey being at least the $400 mark, I must tell him someone is actually charging the right price- he'll be happy to hear that! :cool:

Might be too far away but Stud Park is my 'emergency' Vet and they have ties to Sandringham. I've been going to Bob Cavey's for about 10yrs now. Mel.

Thanks PRS, would have liked to make it up to the seminar but there was no way I could, so great to read a bit more about her opinion on the 'length' of immunity. Will there be seminar notes we can buy in the future? Mel.

In Vic we have a compounding pharmacy (google Compoundia) that do a range of medications for humans and animals, they carry all capsule sizes and can make flavoured compounds as well in flavours for dogs and cats. Mel.

I just did my distemper/parvo through IDEXX Melbourne and they send to the US. Would be close to the $200 mark for the ones I did...as a rough estimate. Samples are sent on the last Friday of the month and it is a definite 2 week turnaround. There is a Lab in WA who is testing and sounds as though they are cheaper, but it may be a problem if you need to send spun down blood frozen over to the West. Mel.

Got my results back today from Uni of Colorado.... Dog: Geordie Breed: Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Age: 3.5yrs Vaccinations had: Puppy x 3; 15mth booster. Titer result: Distemper 1:32 = probable protective immunity. Parvovirus 1:16384 = limited protective immunity. Mel.

You can try some watered down lemonade in her bowl overnight, but I wouldn't be too worried about forcing her to drink if she had a watery meal. Keep her warm and call to give your Vet and update in the morning. They may ring you anyway. Mel.

What surgery did she have and how long did you fast her for before the surgery? Mel.

The one at the back looks like a Pomeranian x and the one at the front a Chihuahua with some terrier in it. Mel.