rebekah_ashby

I know I think my boys are a little too smart they used to be such good boys don't know what happend but I'm sure we can get back there Bek

Erny, you are right and I know it, I guess that as they are so good in all ways but one (which is only now starting to get bad) it has been easy to just roll with it as things seemed fine. I've no doubt unconciously let things slide which is why the boys have started to slip. I'm going to start the TOT method and see how things go, and also will try to get some training done once I have the cash and ensure I follow through. With both the last times we did the training I must admit I still came out a little vague as to what to do. Will make sure I get clear instructions. Thanks for the advice

Thanks for that, Um another thing is it necessary that I prepare his food out of his site? I could do this by locking him in the bathroom while I prepare it and feeding him there but I would like for them to eventually be eating back in the kitchen would thi be a problem, breaking with the pattern??? Bek

Hmm don't know, have't really taken them out seperately. Not sure what it is about those leads but just spoke to my boyfriend who was just dropping the boys back to my house, he just passed two staffies with whitey off the lead and there were no dramas a little sniffing and thats it. He was carrying Oscar as he had to cross the road, didn't trust him with the cars, but even he didn't make a peep, granted he was being carried It's weird I don't get it..... Oh and thanks for all your responses so far Bek

For what period of time did you give things a go before you stopped? What things did you try? It was actually some years back. I first had some one come in and assess the situation. They said there were leadership issues suprise suprise. I can't remember it all but some of it was to always eat first, which I still try to enforce. To ignore them when they are jumping all over me till they settle down, still try to do this but it has very little impact on Oscar, my other dog whitey is generally a quiet dog so don't have so many problems with him but he goes berserk around other dogs always has. Used to take him to the park and he'd find the biggest dog and chase after it barking like mad once it had turned it's back. The trainer said this was because he didn't feel I was a strong leader, he was trying to protect the pack but he was a chicken so that's why he waited till they weren't looking to go for em. She said not to let them up on the bed/lounge etc unless they were asked up by myself and not to let them sit on my lap, this is a hard one as we love to cuddle. Also they sleep in my room of a night and we sleep in bed together, I know I know this may not be the best but I can't keep them out of my bed while I'm asleep and if I lock them outside in the lounge then I'm depriving myself and them of being together and snuggling which we all love, I work all day so this time is important to us. The trainer said it was ok for us to sleep togther as long as I established who's boss and they only went up when I said they could. Well that's gone out the window as soon as I get home from work and open up the bedroom they jump up to snooze on the bed. I don't have a problem with this as I'm in a one bedroom unit with wooden floors thoughout and the bed's comfy. I also sent then off to a two week inhouse training course, the only thing that came out of that was that oscar now knows how to drop, whitey refuses to drop. They both already knew how to sit and will always do it when I say.... unless there is another dog around I don't get it though they are very well behaved unless there is another dog around, they listen to what I say on do it etc, maybe it's just as it suits them at the time?? They are also much better off the lead than on, other dogs done't seem to bother them much at all if they are off the lead, but I have busy streets around me so it is not safe to walk them off the lead just in case. Bek

thanks for the TOT tip, I'll give it a go and if that doesn't work I'll just have to try save some cash and call in the professionals. I'm just a little wary though as I have tried twice and it just hasn't worked - no doubt my fault hehehe

Hi there, Last night I posted a mesage about my dogs that go beserk whenever we go for walks and it was suggested I try this method. I have no trouble at feeding time really, they will both sit back and wait till I say they can eat (oscar will jump on me while I'm preparing it) I don't really do this much anymore though. They do seem to obey me most of the time but with them completely ignoring me if they are on the lead and another dog is around there is obviously some leadership issues, strangely enough they are generally fine if they are off the lead. Anyway I'm keen to try this method to see if I can sort out the issue. I see that this can be done with two dogs at a time but I'm not sure how to go about it. I live in a one bedroom unit and don't have a back yard. I assume that the dogs need to be seperated for this to work is that correct? I could place one in the kitchen and one in the bathroom I suppose (they normally both eat in the kitchen) but I would then have no where to go "inside" as such. Do I just feed them at different times then? Bek

Hi there, I need help on how to stop my two boys from going berserk everytime the see another dog. I live in a unit so I need to take them out for not only a walk but also a couple wee breaks each day. Almost everytime I take them out they go nuts when they see another dog and just today one of them managed to get off his lead (this is the first time this has every happened) and take on a staffy, both my guys are small and wouldn't stand a chance against an angry staffy. Luckily the other dog didn't really seem up for a fight, think she kinda thought it was just fun as I was able to easily pick up my dog out of the scuffle. Another big issue is that the dog he took on lives in my building, her owner did not seem very impressed at all. Weird thing is when they are at my boyfriends and we go down to the park and let them off the lead they don't seem to be overly bothered, they go and do the whole sniffing thing, but that's about all. They seem to be better behaved around other dogs while off the lead but I can't have them off lead around my house as it is not safe with teh busy roads etc. I want to be able to take them out without having to worry about them everytime we go out, and as they are only little it's rather embarassing that they think they can take on every dog they see big or small hehehe. I also cannot be annoying my neighbours. Oscar (the one that took on the staffy) used to love other dogs, not sure what happened. I had a back yard for a while and probably didn't take them out as often as I should have I guess this had a negative effect. He is also now very picky on who he likes and doesn't like. He has never bitten anyone but often if people come up to pat him he will give off a warning growl, I'm afraid that one day someone will come on him too quick and he may snap at them I'm in a bit of a tight spot for cash at the moment so i can't afford to have someone come in for obedience training though I'm not sure how well it would work. A couple years back I sent them off to doggie boot camp for two weeks only to have them cme back worse in someways than they were before. Please help, i love my boys no end and I just want us all to be happy together Bek

thanks for advice guys will try it out well except for the necks and wings, he tries to swallow them whole then tries to bite me while he's choking and I'm trying to fish them out of his throat ;)

The really skinny one is a maltese, around 5-6 years old, he was a stray when we got him so no real idea of how old he is. The other one is a terrier x around 2 years old. I was feedng them kangaroo meat and veggies, fruit for a while, that disn't seem to help. then I thought I'll feed em canned food as that's what most dogs eat and they seem to be on the more plump side but no luck. I've even tried feeding them big meals but that just seems to make em poop more and not put on any weight??? Bek

Hi all, I have one very skinny dog and one fairly normal dog, though still on teh skinny side. They do not have worms and have been checked out by the vet so are healthy but I just can't seem to get the little one to put on any weight, his bones stick out all over the place. Does anyone have any recipes or food sugestions. I can't give him anything with bones as he just chokes on them in his rush to get them down or get's extremely aggressive over them if i try to take it aways whn he is having trouble thanks ;)