MonElite

Dear Sydneysiders (and people willing to travel) As you all know Steve is an excellent dog trainer and bahaviourist. I had a pleasure of meeting him and I am trying to organise a group seminar - all day with catering etc. If we get 8-10 people participating it will cost us about $90 per person for whole day of full on training, dog behaviour and problem solving. Steve trains dogs in everything, fixes problems, gives advices etc. After the seminar we get unlimited e-mial support on our training we can book private lessons with him if we fell like it, as well we will receive a "instruction manual" on what to do about a particular thing we want to do with the dog. We get an option to bring the dogs, but I can see that 10 people with dogs is a bit much so perhaps we could have test cases for everyone to see what can be done. I am happy to leave Rex at home to make room for someone. Plus some people preffer to learn without interuptions from their dog. Remember that each dog needs a handler so if you have more than one, you will either have to bring an extra handler or leave one dog at home. Steve also has his own dogs and we will be able to see how his dogs are trained and what they can do. Apparently they put the washing on and cook dinner LOL And thats after they have brought a thief down. Steve is my training guru and I am yet to find anyone that comes anywhere close to his knowledge and expertise (I might have lived a sheltered life). So please tell me if you are interested, try to get couple more people to attend. He does any breed, any problem, ay age. And I think that $90 for a whole day is a bargain. Plus lunch is inluded in the price. I hear that there is French Champagne and Russian caviar served (ony kidding...). It is up to us how we would like the day to look, we can just bring our questions, we can get Steve to give us a lecture on whatever subject we want etc. So I welcome the ideas and I hope that you are interested in attending so we can learn heaps on the day. If we cant get the number of people we can still book as a small group - it might be half a day than at more or less the same price per person. As Steve is booked out for weeks ahead (Till MID MAY) and his free days go quickly, so we will need to decide within lets say next 2 weeks on the day at least, and be able to pay a deposit. Steve will need to be adviced on your dogs health problems if your dog has any (Wobblers, Low/High thyroid, Liver problems) as these can play a role in the training. Also if you have friends that would like to attend that have dogs - they are also welcome. We will also be allowed to film the event as long as we can provide Steve with a copy of it. Those that are interested please contact me privatelly before 13.02.05 Also if you are a member of another list feel free to cross post.

As to communication - my dog "knocks" on the door when he wants to go out or come in, paws the fridge if he is hungry, or if really hungry barks at the fridge than runs to me to check if I'm paying attention :-) He will paw my runners if he wants to go for a walk, and point the collar that he wears for walks. They communicate a lot in DOG language it is up to us to understand this language.

You will also learn that your dog will comminucate things to you by showing you things with his paws, by facial expressions, by the body language. It is important to learn it and so very helpfull in everyday life with your pooch.

Is it getting bright (daylight) at 4.30am? If it is this might also be a reason for him getting up. dogs live by daylight mainly so with first signs of it they wake up and expect us to get up as well. It is up to us to train them to suit our lives. Sidoneys advice is spot on

It is not that I know the answer but perhaps they could try with having him with the lead dragging and them not holding it. And see what his responce is than. If the theory of the lead providing the security for the dog is correct than dog is lead smart and will behave simmilar by having the lead attched and dragging. Than it will be the matter of shortening the lead on regular basis to get back to the no lead on the dog and having the same responce. From own experience - if I leave the lead attached (and dragging) to my dog he will recall 100%, the moment I unclip, it it might not be 100%. K9 Force where are you - this is something for you!

Not all ticks are paralisys ticks. Ticks that are not paralisis ticks can still transfer diseases. There was an article in Dogs life - either last issue or one before - it explained difference between them. If it is a paralisys tick one of the first signs is that the dogs voice changes - if you your dog can speak on command you can check how it barks or in fact is it able to bark at all.

I have had one perfect example of it this morning. Walked my dog on the golf course on a 7m long lead and a prong collar. A golf buggy appeared from the side and drove past us. For whatever reason my dog decided that he doesnt like the golf buggy and chased it ( he doesnt chase bikes, cars, people etc so I was taken by a huge surprise). Having the 7m of lead he gained some speed but also by the time he got to the end of it he has heard my REX, LEAVE IT! by that time he got to the end of the lead and was "spiked" by the collar. No yelp but a huge surprise in his eyes. 15 minutes later we minded our own business and the same golf buggy drove pass in the other direction. He managed to raise his ears, look at it, take one step towards it, stand in a perfect show position and not react to the buggy going pass his nose well withing the 7m reach. Sorry Steve I know the command should have been REX COME! - just took me by surprise and I said something automatically.

Driving over 110 km/h is also "banned" or "illegal" people do it EVERY day. Far more dangerous than using a prong collar....

I'll say this again. Prong collars are NOT designed to puncture or bruise the dogs skin so they therefore can be excluded from this regulation. The spikes are designed in a way so that they DONT puncture or bruise the skin. Of course someone could proove me wrong and bruise dogs neck with one, but the same could be done with a check chain, of if tried hard enough with a thin leather collar. It is only limited by how one would use it.

Some people should be prosecuted for their use of check chains, and those are not banned. What do you do if all methods you know have failed and no instructor in any club can help you? BTW this is in theory - I just want to make it clear that it is NOT my case.

love your work anne! if anyone would like to have a demonstration on how it looks like and how it can be used I will bring one tomorrow to Erskine Park and you can train me on it LOL I will not put it on my dog as I might be facing charges by RSPCA, be kicked out from the CC etc.

I do agree fully with your post I would just liek to point out that you can cause bruising to dogs neck by using a check chain. BTW prong collars are not designed to puncture or bruise anything

considering that one can get one from someone in Australia its not worth the risk. People do it, tho.

Thats correct. Especially if it comes from a company packaged as a internet sale. Less chances if ti comes in a hand addressed bubble envelope......... hint hint

LIVER is the way to go with my dog, as well as Polish cabanossi from the Polish deli only $18/kg - he could live on that I bet! Liver - dried - yes its good but I buy lambs fry or pigs liver at the butcher, microwave it for 10 minutes and cut it into small cubes - he LOVES it. $3 gives me heaps, and it lasts for about a week in the fridge.

Those plastic "prongs" I know someone that has one. They are not as effective as the normal ones, but do the job if need be.

anne you are popular today :lol Thank you.

anne - please pm me the contact for the company. That is very cheep! and sounds good quality as well!

If you are getting a prong make sure it is Herm Sprenger or Bosch Also make sure the spikes are rounded off not just cut straight. Anything that is $10 certainly will not be any of the abovementioned brands. It will most likely rust and spikes will not be rounded. spikes that are not rounded off are not such a big deal when it comes to a dog with a lot of fur, but I would not put one on a dobe/boxer etc.

It is ironic that you cant import but if you happend to have oe you can use it. From what I hear prongs were sold in shops years and years ago, so people still have them, plus of course those that wee smuggled it. The whole Europe (well you know what I mean) walks their dogs on prongs. I also have one and use it from time to time, I did put it on my neck and pulled the leash hard, somehow I didnt get the injuries the anti prong peole talk about. I also have a half prong where the spikes are close to each other as are very short, almost invisible. I took this once to obiedience club and was basically thrown out with screems that noone should be using a barb wire on their dogs. When I offered a printed article to read I was laughed about and bits of paper were thrown out without being looked at. Ignorance and closed mind - thats all I can say.

I agree with both of you ladies. I wonder how long before a check chain will be banned. Just as dangerous, only looks less thretning.

Matt I have send yo private message.

MattandBuddy - where are you located?

And I will advice against a head halter as a lounging forward dog can seriusly injure his vertabrae in the neck. Visit K9 Force site to read more about it, or search this forum there were many threats about it.

100m is very far - not a good sign... does he growl at the other dog from that far?? Can you describe what does he actually do, what is the body, ears, do? its hard without seeing the dog but perhaps just a bit more info will help. How do you cope in the training club? or have you just attended puppy preschool and never trained in the group with him being a grown up? Desexing is not some magical tool that will fix your problems however will help you in management of your dog. I can assure you that dealing with a raging full of hormones boy when there is a bitch in season nearby is by far harder than changing your way of thinking with the "I just dont want to" department. It is not doing it just for the sake of it, it is doing it for the sake of you, your dog and possible others.