Leema

Another idea is to use a diagram taped on the floor, and shape the recall. It's described in the training levels (you'll have to scroll down to the section called 'front'): http://sue-eh.ca/page24/page26/styled-4/ Then you have to click through to the other levels to read about continuing education.

Temperament testing does not have to be 'bad', but the term has certainly been tainted by shelters, pounds and groups that use them as an excuse to kill pets. I worked in one of these facilities and though of course it's not representative of all facilities, it does prove that temperament testing can be geared to killing dogs instead of ensuring community safety. Cosmolo and others (like the ACT RSPCA) use temperament testing in the right way - using it as a platform to start working with the dog and determining the best course of action for any behaviour issues. This is clear in their statistics - with about 7% of RSPCA ACT's dogs not going through for adoption (for health as well as temperament), and, if Cosmolo is correct, about 5% of their dogs not 'passing'. These are good stats and indicates a temperament assessment that is viable in the right shelter environment. I am supportive of temperament testing that is used to help dogs, not kill them. It goes along with a multifaceted approach that shelters should be taking. For example: Shelters should work with and place dogs in private rescues - for rehabilitation and also as a 'space saving' option. Shelters need to train volunteers and foster carers to manage and improve dog behaviour in pound and home environments, to make dogs more adoptable. Shelters need to have comprehensive adoption programs that match the right dog to the right household. Shelters need to use public relations and the community to achieve all these things. On a similar but different notes, shelters need to get dogs HOME instead of REHOMED.

So how do you determine what is not rehomeable without temperament testing? We start with the assumption that most dogs (about 90-95%) have a temperament that makes them rehomeable. Dogs that are aggressive and do damage are the exception, not the rule. If, even with this assumption, you decide to do assessments, assessments of dogs should be made in foster care like environments to determine appropriate homes (not whether they live or die). Pound assessments of dogs are flawed and don't reflect the real world which the dog would live. (I know a dog that passed a hard temperament assessment in a SA pound, and went home and attacked the dog-savvy woman in the household within 72 hours.) Any dog with a history of killing a person or a dog, or a history of doing significant damage of a person or a dog, does not fit my definition of rehomable, but this is not stuff you can ascertain from a temperament assessment. To me, the term 'temperament assessment' is tainted with an intention of killing dogs. In Australia, they are chiefly used to justify destruction of animals - they pass or they fail. In reality, temperament and assessment of temperament is fluid, just like the animals, and just like the varied homes in which they could be placed in.

Temperament testing is a flawed process. At most, they should be used to determine what kind of home the dog goes to. They should never be used to determine if a dog lives or dies. I like Pound Rounds as much as the next person (i.e. not much). That doesn't mean that killing dogs before PR can get their hands on them is the solution. I used to temperament test dogs in a large pound/shelter in my state. It was stupid, and dogs died needlessly. Of the 30 or so dogs that I have fostered in my home over the last 3 years, only about 2-5 of those would have passed that temperament test. They were rehomed to suitable homes that were prepared to work or live with any 'temperament' issues that the dog may have. Food guarding, fence jumping and dog reactivity should not be a death sentence, and this is all pound based temperament testing does - justify the destruction of imperfect dogs. I don't believe all dogs are rehomable, but I believe that temperament testing does nothing more than to justify killing - regardless of whether Pound Rounds exists or not.

You might find this link of interest: http://leemakennels.com/blog/dog-behaviour/dog-training-dog-behaviour/how-to-stop-puppy-biting/ There's a lot of different methods you can try, and one of them is bound to work. Sounds like you're doing well with all the other training. Some dogs are naturally more oral than others, and they take a bit more time to learn.

1: Did you have to make any kind of commitment to showing your dog a certain number of times or have it reach its championship by a certain age? No, I didn't. For puppies that I sell into homes, I ask that the dog is titled for the new owner to get full ownership signed over to them. That is, the puppy is co-owned until the dog gets a title (its champ title or otherwise), and then it is signed over to its new owners. This is written in the contract. If the person chooses to never show or trial the dog, then the dog is just in co-ownership forever. Most pet people don't care about this. 2: How do breeders decide on the best home, do they generally turn away beginners for established breeders? I'd pick the best home for the puppy. I think I am more likely to prefer newbies than established breeders. :) 3: How much experience did you have with the breed before your first show prospect? I showed my first dog, but only during baby puppy. 6 years later, I got a bitch with the intention to show. But I have sold to people who have purchased their first dog AND their first show dog at the same time. 4: How long did you wait before talking to breeders? How soon is too soon to ask questions? I probably didn't talk to breeders as much as I should have, but I was involved enough to know what lines/types I wanted and then just pursued those breeders who had what I wanted. I think it's fantastic for new people in a breed to go to as many speciality shows and see as many dogs as they can before choosing the type and breeder that they like. Hope that helps.

Yup! All my border terriers do it, and all the border terriers I have known have done it.

How many entire dogs have you housed/managed? With all the entire dogs I have had through care, I have never once had a dog do 'anything at all' to get to a bitch in heat. But, I admit, that's only about 10 dogs or so. Maybe you've had more entire male dogs in your care and have witnessed more of this desperate behaviour than I?

Will there be not-working positions available? (Just observer positions?)

"My Dogs are Entirely Friendly" tomorrow at 9am http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/246353-my-dogs-are-entirely-friendly-protest-walk/

Bump. It's tomorrow!

Just giving this event a bump. If we can get about 50 people attending we should be able to get a new camera there.

I would not be taking chances and blaming this fearful behaviour on a 'fear period'. Dogs and puppies should be happy and confident with all people from 6 weeks and up. Any puppies that aren't happy and confident towards people worry me. I would immediate start a process of classical conditioning / desensitisation with your puppy. Take his meals out with you morning and night and stand outside the shopping centre. Get people to feed him his breakfast and dinner. He'll learn that strangers are good. Invite plenty of people to your home, and get them to feed him. Here's a blog post on how Dunbar suggests fear behaviour be treated in dogs: http://leemakennels.com/blog/dog-behaviour/dog-training-dog-behaviour/fearful-dogs-dunbar/

Hi CHA. Supporters of the protest walk are very happy for people to choose to desex their pets, but don't want it to be made mandatory. :) As Dory stated, we principally object to the assertion that entire dogs are aggressive, and that desexing dogs will reduce dog bites.

I think this is tragic - but considering how well behaved guide dogs are, maybe it was being so 'good' it was 'like she wasn't there'... ? It's very sad, regardless.

For those interested, in SA, some of us will be meeting in Victoria Square with our 'ENTIRELY FRIENDLY' dogs next weekend. Here are the details: http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/246353-my-dogs-are-entirely-friendly-protest-walk/ Or go straight to the Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/events/463260303720988/?fref=ts

Recently, the Dog and Cat Management Board proposed that dogs should have to undergo a temperament test in order to remain entire (see article). This is based on the myth that entire dogs are more aggressive. While statistics may show that aggression is more commonly seen in entire dogs, that does not mean that all entire dogs are aggressive. We would love to have a collection of entire dogs at Victoria Square on the 17th of February to show that entire dogs can be ENTIRELY FRIENDLY. We invite all people with friendly entire dogs to bring their dog to show off how dog temperament is not based solely on their physiology. If you don't have entire dogs, you are still welcome to attend with friendly dogs in order to show your support for the cause. Please note that any dogs that are not friendly and sociable should not be brought to this event. We recommend that bitches in season not be brought to this event. Please bring bags for dog waste. We all know that socialisation is important in producing quality dogs, and management is important for all dogs. The Dog and Cat Management Board is looking at the wrong end of the leash in this proposal! EVENT DETAILS Sunday, 17th February 2013 9am at Victoria Square Please RSVP on Facebook if you're able to: http://www.facebook.com/events/463260303720988/?fref=ts If you're not able to on Facebook, please RSVP here. :)

Who keeps steward sheets? The club or VCA?

I managed to get Rod at last, but he doesn't have a challenge for me. He does have a catalogue for the day that shows my bitch was the only one entered on the date, but that of course doesn't prove that she a) attended and b) was awarded challenge. Any other ideas?

Meea, that's reassuring to think he might still have some challenges! I will try to ring him every few hours and hopefully he'll be home at some point and answer! (And funny that it happened to you with the same show!)

On the 23rd of October 2011, I had a friend show my bitch at the Southern Cross Kennel Club Inc's show under Mrs S Godfrey. My bitch was the only one entered, and so was awarded BOB and 6 points. My friend did not pick up the challenge. Now, I need these 6 points to get the bitch's title. I have contacted R(ob?) Bennetts, the contact for the club on Dogs Victoria website, on numerous occasions, and left numerous messages, which he has never returned. I have contacted Dogs Victoria and they don't have a catalogue from the show on the 23rd of October 2011 (only the day before). Is there any other means to try to get this challenge? (Or just a statement that it was awarded, as Dogs SA (my state) have said that they will accept a letter from the secretary of Dogs Victoria saying the challenge was awarded.)

+1

Bleach and F10 are the only things that kill parvo (in reasonable concentrations).

Submissions close tomorrow!

We have tinned tuna or eggs if we run out unexpectedly. But more often than not, they just have a fast day and a more generous meal the next day.