Niques

Oh, we won't be giving up for good, KTB. But neither of us are enjoying training since we started intermediate which is a shame because I really love working with him outside of class...and judging by the wiggly bum, so does he! I'm going to start doing the bulk of his training outside where he's exposed to constant distractions and we'll give the classes another go after the New Year.

I'm only a first-time dog owner, but I considered it a must. Puppy preschool was immensely boring but we plugged on for James' sake - learning to sit nicely around other dogs before being allowed to play. I am, however, seriously considering giving up on Obedience, for the moment, at least. James and Obedience classes really don't mesh well together and I think we'd have much better progress (instead of going backwards, like we are now!) working away on our own. And it's much more enjoyable outside of the class environment. I still think a few classes should be attended by all first-time dog owners for the owner's benefit - learning how to go about certain things and what is polite around other dogs.

It's terrific seeing Elbie have so much fun playing with Hoover! They look like they're having a ball together. Do they tire themselves out? It would be interesting to see if Elbie shows more interest in other dogs now, as well. Hoover's tail looks even scarier than Elbie's, if that's possible - they're whiplike! Speaking of fur, I was patting my neighbour's lab (although she's BYB and is looking less like a lab as she ages) this morning and oh my god, she is the softest dog I have ever felt! She's about 8-9 months older than James so surely she can't still have her puppy down. But ohhhh, I could have stayed with her all morning.

Eep! That's a worry! I hope you're able to get on top of it ASAP. Wasn't Max just a tiny tyke at the beginning of this thread? He's shot up like a weed! And is turning into a decidedly handsome dog.

Hah, that was me to a T Thanks for the sympathetic training stories, everyone! Particularly the steak refusal. Dogs are masters of emotional manipulation - the bastard had me loving him again this afternoon We did some recall and heeling practice on the driveway, surrounded by distractions, and he was a little gem. Was interested when the neighbour's dog went out for its walk but still sat when asked. Recalled perfectly each time...why does he do this to me?!?! I think James' bed has become a bit of a lost cause. Each night I push all the stuffing back in. Each morning, there's even more out that the night before. I gave up. Hoover very much resembles a stuffed toy, he is so cute!

Labrador: Free 2 Good Home. Eugh. For the very first time I feel like pawning James off to the next person in off the street. He's made me upset before and mildly angry, but today he has just been completely obnoxious. To the point where I'm refusing to talk to him Will drag him outside soon to hopefully train it out of him, but in the meantime I am in "whinge about my irritating puppy" mode Oh, I very much wish. He completely lost interest in food yesterday. I had to force a piece of cheese into his mouth when he was sitting quietly (for half a milisecond) in a vague attempt to reinforce the behaviour. I am assuming (hoping, wishing, praying...) that, given what a complete pain in the arse he's been today, that he's just in one of his adolescent, bratty phases and he'll be my boy again in a day or two. Which still won't help much for next Sunday. What's worze is that I'm completely swamped by assginments this week and then exams a couple of weeks after that. Come the November, James and I are going to plonk ourselves down at the park and we will learn (ever so slowly) to be calm around other dogs. Hopefully In the meantime, I shall take your suggestion and go searching for a food that will capture his attention. I'm thinking I might get there quite early next week and let him loose in the off-leash area across the road to burn some energy. His friend from beginner's that he used to bounce around with before and after class goes to a night session now so he has no one to let all his pent-up excitement out on. What a ridiculous owner to keep hitting his dog to prove a point :D James gets a firm poke or tap on the butt if he isn't listening - gets his attention back. And he gets grabbed by his scruff if he's grabbed something he really shouldn't have. I love the way Hoover's just sitting there, almost like he's intentionally in Elbie's face to goad a reaction out of him. They're a hilarious pair. I can just imagine poor Elbie trying to replicate every command. Is Hoover proving to be a fast learner? I think you can only laugh at Hector's cleverness. He had his cake and ate it too.

She is simply beautiful You are truly wonderful for taking the time to help these dogs, KTB. All paws crossed that Blossom finds her new home very soon!

Poor Hoover with his slidey legs - James had (has!) the same problem. Elbie's stricken expression in the last photo is hilarious. I am very much wishing a fast toilet training period for Hoover. I quite clearly remember the near constant loads of washing that had to be done back in the days of accidental wees - definitely not the most enjoyable aspect of having a puppy around the house. The Mars & Pepper photo made me laugh out loud He still looks so alien in an otherwise normal environment. I hope you won't need to use the cone on Max, too much, Max#1! Ava and Satch always look so happy with each other. It certainly helps that Satchmo has this wizened, helpful, big brother look in every photo :D LS, those snow photos are fantastic! I'm very envious. I love being outside when it's snowing. Did Ruby adjust to it quickly or was there a, "What on earth is this?!" moment? We had yet another awful day at obedience. Aside from the food refusal, which he did perfectly, I had absolutely no control over him. I'm really at a loss for what to do. And the day started so well. He should have been food-focussed as he had no breakfast. And when pulling out of the driveway I realised I'd forgotten his treat bag and he snuck out behind me when I got out of the car. He was halfway down the driveway, about to go for a run down the road, when I called him and he diligently came trotting over. Brilliant - I thought we were in for a great morning. So, so wrong. I just don't know what else I can do to make him focus around other dogs.

I'm quietly dying of cuteness over here every time I see Elbie and Hoover sharing the bed How's their relationship going - is Elbie still looking to be the more submissive of the two? No conflicts? Ha hum...I may have bought the XXXXL I do think it's growing though - when it first arrived he could stretch out from end to end, but now it seems he only takes up half Unless he's curling into tighter and tighter balls to sleep. James' is next to a wall and he thrashes a bit to get comfortable (this dog is too like his Mummy!) each night, so I often fall asleep to these odd thumps and grinding noises as the mesh rubs up against the wall. I do (in my very limited experience) very much agree with the importance of owner expectations on how well the dog fits in. I don't know if we've just struck it lucky with James or if it is our expectations moulding him, but he is exactly how I imagined a dog to be Maybe a touch less naughty as a young puppy and a bit (...lot ) more naughty now as an adolescent, but basically, he's pretty spot on to how I expected him. My mother and I frequently have this discussion and I think watching her with James says a lot. She doesn't like dogs. At all, really. I don't think I've ever seen her pat a dog, except to subtly push it away from her Yet she's more than happy to get down to play with James and rub his belly. According to her, James is what she can tolerate in a dog - he has his moments but he's not exceedingly exuberant and energetic, he's not fearful and skittish...he's what we expected. Of course, then there's always the potential of the reverse in that our expectations have very gradually shifted to what we actually have in James. And I certainly wouldn't put it past the manipulative sod to have done so Clearly I've put much too much thought into this topic!

I normally use Frontline and a tick collar, but like others, I can't seem to keep the collar dry so he's without one at present. I meant to ask the vet about Proban but completely forgot. I live in a high tick area. We know his vet outside of a professional capacity and have been frequently hearing, for the past couple of weeks, the number of tick cases they're seeing. Very worrying Do people notice a marked difference between Frontline and Advantix?

3/4 cup Nutro for breakfast, with sardines, cottage cheese and egg added a few times a week. Omega 3 tablets daily. Some form of bone for dinner - normally either a lamb shank, soup bones, chicken frames or lamb off-cuts.

This one has brilliant lighting: "Greetings, Earthlings. I come in peace." Poor boy! How long does he have to keep the collar on for?

Wow, this thread fills up fast! Glad to hear Mars and Max coped well with their surgeries! Fingers crossed they leave their stitches alone for you both. KA, that's an interesting fear! Isn't it cats for whom you're meant to lay al-foil down along thresholds you don't want them to cross because they don't like the feel? I wonder if it applies to dogs. James has no fears...except (and this is getting embarrassing now, at his age ) he won't go downstairs. Hell, he has all sorts of stairs problems. He won't go up or down the external stairs that have no backing (i.e., it's just the flat slat to stand on), but will go up and down the crude rock staircase in the backyard. Still prefers to go around it, down the garden bed, though. He'll go up the internal stairs but flat out refuses to go down. We didn't crate train James but basically achieved the same effect with his playpen. He now sleeps in his (enormous!!) soft crate in the bedroom. Technically, he's not allowed in the room unless en route to his crate, but somehow that holds no meaning for him at 5:30 in the morning when I've been awoken by a plaintive, "I'd like to do a wee", whimper. As soon as he's let out he starts sniffing around and hiding under the bed. Which is ridiculously cute, mind you - I've been meaning to get a photo of his Wicked Witch of the East (West?) impersonation, with his little legs just poking out. He normally starts off the night in his playpen and then gets moved when I'm ready to sleep. Raz's colouring is really spunky! And I've forgotten a whole pile of posts that I will get back to at some point! I hope we get lots of photos out of the Hoover Meet 'n' Greet tomorrow!

Poor Roo, and you as well, LS! I hope she's all better now. And you get a good night's sleep! I reread that several times and kept seeing "I always fall asleep in front of vehicles...". Couldn't quite work out how you're still with us! Kuma's kennel looks very cosy! What's the bet he still pulls the mattress out How have Elbie and Hoover been today, KTB?

I think James' stomach will be the beneficiary of Santa's generosity. Will have to find something yummy for him. Wizzle: I'm a bit in awe of your organisational skills! Having all the Christmas shopping out of the way by mid-October is impressive Genevieve in the paper sounds adorable. I always wonder when I hear about little dogs on top of tables - is she able to jump straight up onto the table or is it done via chairs? James has to flail his little hind paws when climbing onto a bed (unless he's had a run up or is mid-zoomie), so the idea of making it onto a table, no less, is very foreign to me

Damn. I picked up my first Clean Run package today. I was half-heartedly hoping they'd just be pulled apart in 15 minutes like all his other toys. I was very much in for a surprise - I have never seen James have so much fun with toys before. His squeaky racoon and mockingbird were the only two in this parcel (interesting that the free shipping one arrived before the paid!) but he is completely in love with them. Now I'm obliged (of course) to order Squeaky Racoon's friend, Squeaky Chipmunk....among other things I'm (rather, my bank account) going to rue the day I found this site, I know it. I was just reading the Wikipedia page on Hachi the other week. Really tugs at the heart :D Congratulations to Smudge! I hope she has a happy life ahead of her. LS, James was deemed, "hyperactive" within minutes of his arrival at obedience school. At puppy school they simply shook their heads, smiled and said, "Who can pick the labrador?". They are such terrors, aren't they! I just had an incredibly vivid flashback to those early nights of high-pitched (I was very glad when his voice finally "broke") crying, and, for the shortest of moments, no longer envied you the second puppy Good to hear he settled down relatively easily! Hopefully having Elbie around will make it easy for him. And shorten the toilet training process! He sounds like he has a lovely personality!

Katie looks like a natural herder! Your signature was always one of my favourites- she's a very beautiful dog! Can't wait to hear more about your incoming arrival

Wow, he's a big boy! Look at those paws he has to grow into! He is almost unbelievably adorable and I am so, so longing for a second puppy right now which I blame entirely on you I'm loving his cute, white, baboon butt! Is that a pro/cons board I spy in the background? You're exceedingly well prepared!

They're stunning! I'm particularly taken with Drama - she's a beautiful girl!

Look at all us lurkers Do you have a link to Kuma's littermates? I'd love to see what bigger than Kuma looks like! I'm not sure if any of James' littermates went to show homes. Two were sent to WA for the guide dog programme. His breeder mentioned an interest in keeping on one of the girls but I think she may have ended up being sent down south to one of her friends...not sure if it was as a show prospect. All of the boys went to pet homes, I know for sure.

That sounds very nifty! I haven't heard of that before. Deakin's puppy eyes just make me melt inside There really needs to be some form of puppy therapy where you're just locked in a room with little puppies! Sneezing + Nose wipe is a brilliant idea Any chance of a video of that one? "Finish" is basically a return to heel. So say if I've just recalled him and he's sitting in front of me, to finish, he has to walk around me and back to the heel position. He's tending to overshoot the mark lately and sits at a 90 degree angle to me, but he's getting it. James tends to "back up" or offer his paw when he doesn't know what I want him to do. So he often ends up on the other side of the room because he won't stop going backwards! Wuffles, I stopped feeling bad for leaving James out when it rained when he started dragging his nice, dry blankets out into the rain I hope they have fun in the rain!

You and me both! The toiletting on command thing doesn't actually bother me so much now. He's very predictable these days, which is why I think he's picked it up so quickly now - I can get the command out when he's on the way to one of his two toilet spots and I know he'll go. But boy it would have been so good at about 6 months though, when the early puppyhood predictability went out the window so everytime he went to stand by the door I'd have to hurry him out...just in case! ...I am going to be most unhappy if there are photos of a Dyson here instead of a gorgeous puppy when I come home tomorrow When you've the time, I'd be interested in hearing how you went about teaching left and right - are you teaching it in conjunction with other commands (as in, "fetch the left item") or just as a motion thing (reward for going to your right/left)?

I almost forgot - I have success to share! I think we're finally getting somewhere with toiletting on command. Only took 9 months! I tried in vain for the first 4 months after he came home but after being greeted by one blank stare after another I gave up. Thought I'd give it another go a month or so ago and I think (hope) that the word now has some meaning for him. Training James seems to be all about timing. I can put a lot of effort into one trick for several days with no results yet I try it again a couple of weeks later and he gets it in 5 minutes. Persistence, I believe, is vital. While I'm on training, has anyone got a new trick under their belt to share, or something in progress? We're working on the obedience "finish" command which is going well.

Satchmo's been a busy bee! Hard to pull off the "I didn't do it" line with the dirt on your face ;) Hang on, I am so lost - are we talking vacuum cleaners of the canine or electrical appliance variety? I'm confused That would be BBQ chicken. James loves it. Except when it gets smeared on his nose because someone can't aim for his mouth I'm trying to imagine recalls with a live chicken I don't think I'd be able to shoo him away long enough to actually call him back! That pound story is disgusting, KTB. And what that mother's teaching the poor child I don't understand how you can actually have a dog that long and not be attached to it. Ruby and her mum look like the best of friends - do they get to play together often? Max's bum wiggle/crawl sounds hilarious! I love the last photo you've posted. Very sweet. Hope everything goes smoothly for the two boys going in for the chop this week! I keep tossing up when James'll be done. Originally it was going to be 6 months, based on what I'd read on forums. Then we chatted with his breeder who prefers giving her labs time to grow so they're their big, boofy selves rather than leggy, and she said at 9 months at the earliest. Then it was going to be before he was boarded in January. And now, doing some deeper reading, I'd rather not have him done til 18 months but I think it'll probably be closer to 14-15 months - right before his council rego is due. Who knew dog ownership came with so many decisions?!

I am very much living vicariously through you at the moment. I just got so excited when I noticed that ^ Photos, photos, photos! Elbie was a funny looking puppy, in a very good way. Such inquisitive eyes paired with all the puppy cuteness - they seem at odds with each other, but damn if the end result isn't adorable! Tosca's a cutie! I trust James off-lead about as far as I can throw him. He's great when there's no distractions. Take the other day at the dog park. He went nuts and ignored me for about the first 5-10 minutes while he went around exploring, but after that he was more than happy to come sprinting back when I called, even from the other end of the park. In the real world, non-dog park environment, however. A single bird, a lizard - let alone people and dogs! - and he'd be off in a flash. I've been doing lots of recall around the house today with chicken - works a treat! Am working on having someone else call him whilst I have his attention and he's slowly getting the message that if someone tells him to come, he must come. I figure me holding chicken is a fairly good distractor to start off with. As for jumping up, I am so, so guilty of inciting this I rile him up so badly when I get home and we both leap about and roll around like madmen for a few minutes I think he knows that he can only do it with me. And he's getting better at not jumping on visitors as well. It's hard though - sometimes he gets so excited he just sort of hurls himself at them. These days he might jump once at worst and then sits, quivering with excitement, at their feet. I hated people letting him get away with crap as a puppy People would reward him for jumping, let him chew their fingers and I even had several people encourage him to chew their shoelaces. I was very cranky.