Pretty Miss Emma

Agree this sounds like something you need to get someone in who can objectively look at what the dog is doing to determine why. Have you spoken to the breeder you got the dog from? Be open and honest with them, most behaviours dogs show have a genetic component and an environmental component. So they may have a genetic predisposition to something and then how we deal with them determines the behaviour they actually demonstrate. Plus it is likely your breeder will have dealt with many dogs in their lifetime, so may have some experience in this sort of behaviour and be able to help you until you can see a trainer/behaviourist. From the dogs I see (drop in the ocean compared to other people!!) dogs from working lines seem to have a faster switch to go to herding (which is sort of what the behaviour you described sounds like), so if your dog has working lines behind it that would be contributing. Good luck, but make sure the kids are never left alone with the dog.

The key factors for me saying go to the vet are watery diarrhoea, vomiting as well & puppy. If it wasn't this combination I'd be less inclined to say vet. When Kenz did this as a baby I was fairly convinced she wasn't going to wake up after her sleep & we were on strict instructions of get her to emergency if there was anymore symptoms at all - & my vet doesn't over react to anything I've seen so far.

When Kenzie was a baby she had a sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhoea, it turned out to likely be food poisoning (possibly from an old bone buried in the yard). But I would go to the vet asap. Within about 6 hours of this starting with Kenz she was dehydrated and becoming lethargic - dehydration will kill a pup quicker than you think. She was given an anti-nausea shot and also was put on lectade (she drank 2L of this in about 18 hours and she was only about 6kg so should only have been drinking around 600ml every 24 hours) to get her electrolytes and hydration level back up. I would be hesitant about waiting it out with a puppy.

I only know of 1 in real life and I have to say it is awful, but they look soooo cute! I'm hoping his temperament is just a bad example and with an owner who doesn't know what they are doing (owner currently allows it to continue it's awful behaviour) - the good news is I see it because it's just joined up at dog school so hopefully there will be a bit of a turn around. But gorgeous looking little ones!!

My next suggestion will be no means work in the short term... a hedge type plantation along the fence as a teeny weeny bit of a noise blocker!!! Who knows!!? What happens if you leave a radio on or something like that? I wonder if the neighbours dogs would react to the noise of the radio (or whatever that is making some sort of non-consistent type noise)? Maybe you could use a strategy like this to mask any tiny sound your dog makes therefore their dogs don't bark and your dog doesn't respond. Just a thought, again no scientific basis as to whether it would work!!!

Another thought, maybe you could just try to do a bundle of desensitising training when you are home??? Again, no idea if this would work and also if it would transfer when you're not there, but maybe??!!

My dog used to fence run with the dog next door. Neighbour is stupid and doesn't do anything but yell at dog, but that's another story and he just shouldn't have a dog (numerous varied reasons for this!!). But anyway back on track... Just last week I put up a puppy pen type fence about 15cm out from the fence (Kenzie would have a bit of a psycho and attack the fence when the other dog was running at it and barking), it's there a little precariously being held in place by pot plants, but since then we haven't had any psycho moments that I know of. So, maybe if both you and your neighbour put up something that just created a little bit of a barrier on each side of the fence that might help? Another of my friends did this with just loose chicken wire along the fence, it was enough for her dogs to not feel the need to go at the fence. I really don't know if it will work, but it seems to be having a bit of success in this house at the moment!!

I figure if he wants to sleep outside then let him sleep outside! There are plenty of people who would be jealous that you have a dog willing to do this!! Just make sure he has lots of things that he can get warmth from if he wants it, and as Sandra777 said chances are once it's REALLY cold he might change his mind!

I was the same with Emma's medications when she was around. I think it cost me about 1/4 of the price that it would have if I'd bought the veterinary versions. Also same thing for insulin needles, I was able to get 100 human ones for $30, or I could pay almost $1 each for animal ones!!

I don't think it matters if they go on the footpath, but it always matters that it is removed and disposed of regardless. One of my biggest bugbears when I walk around my neighbourhood is the amount of dog poo left whever the dog has done it, I always pick up what my dog does but I still feel what these other people do puts a negative light on me and my dog. Grrrrrrr

I wish my Emma would visit, she hasn't yet. But I feel she will eventually. It still breaks my heart that she isn't here. But in the past few days i've had 2 moments that got me thinking that she may be around - when I bathed Kenzie she smelt just like Emma used to a day after a bath, except the shampoo i used is one that was never used on Emma and smells different to the one I used on Em. The other made me a bit sad, I visited a friend whose dog has had a fall (and she's an old old girl); she's picking up but when I was cuddling her I could smell Emma, but it was the smell of Emma in the weeks before she died. So I'm worried that maybe this other dog doesn't have as much time as we'd all like her to have. Em liked this other dog and spent some time with her, and if it is her time to go we'd all love for Emma to be there waiting for her. But I will keep waiting ...

I like one that is run by someone who is a trainer (ie has experience in dog training and has had some training in how to run such classes - usually formal training but not a necessity) not by whoever was asked within a vet clinic to do it. I also like to know the structure of the classes (what exercises will be practised, will there be play time, if there is play time how is it managed). I prefer to know a bit about the trainers training philosophy (positive, corrective, etc), but at the same time I'll do what fits in with my own philosophy - but it's a bit of a waste of time if what they do completely contradicts what I do. And do they try to have class sizes that are not too big and not too small with a mixture of different sized puppies. But I view puppy school mainly as an exercise in socialisation to people, puppies and places for me it is not about formal training so maybe that changes my view of what I'm looking for. Agree with the cleanliness and vaccinations. And as per most things like this, recommendation from others was really important to me.

Pretty sure that's who did Emma.

I had my Emma cremated last year. But can't remember who did it. If you send me the names I might recognise the company. Anyway they were great and I had her ashes back in a beautiful box in about 2 weeks. Don't know what it cost though as my Mum paid for it (but I think including the box it was somewhere around $300 maybe).

I know when Kenzie starts playing this with another dog that she considers it to be one of her best friends!!!! I love watching her play this way because I know she's sooo happy!!!

Monkey!! A toy monkey (& I've also had to invest in bears & giraffe's of the same range) from the baby section of Sam's Warehouse. Kenzie has one at home, work, car & grandma's & she carries it around & when she is totally content she lies in her bed & sucks on it! They're not getting anymore though (i had to email them as I only have about 4 left in my stash! Checking out some at Safeway today that look similar!!!). She also loves Skineez - with or without the bottles inside. Buster cube/treat ball/tug-a-jug/bob-a-lot are also favourites. Oh & her faux bunny tug jackpot!!

Personally I prefer tails. I don't know a great deal about breeds that have traditionally docked. But I have wondered (& would love to hear some info from those with relevant breeds), other than "because it is in the breed standard" & "personal preference" what is the reason that different breeds have/had tails docked? Some of them I can sort of figure it out from what little I know, but others I don't really know any background, so would be interested to know how it all came about if you know & would like to share!!

One of my friends names her dogs after food. 2 Min Pins - Sausage and Pumpkin!!

I live on my own with my animals, so I think for me it is partly about how much time is spent together. I still very frequently burst in to tears about my old miss Emma and I lost her in July last year. It just has left such a massive gap in my life on very many levels. I have lost 3 of my grandparents and that has been sad, but much much easier to deal with than losing Emma. Though I dread the thought of losing one of my closer relatives as I don't think it will be quite as easy to deal with.

Kenz has a backpack and she is usually so much better when she wears it! I think she just has a lot more focus!!

Not a comment on the behaviour but just as a person... this is definitely something to complain about. If it is disturbing other animals on their own properties then that is wrong. And it is not legal for the dog to be loose. What happens if the dog decides to do more than chase/harrass a cat (one of my friends got to witness her cat be torn to shred on her doorstep by a dog that was allowed to walk loose in the street) and what if it then decids to do the same to people. One of my massive bugbears is people who don't follow the leash laws, they make it worse for those of us that do. And not to mention I don't want their dog near me and definitely not near my dog. GGGGRRRRRR - it makes me grumpy!!

My first thoughts were something neurological or something vision related. But in all honesty I don't know these are just the thoughts that came from our descriptions. I like the idea of the video as that will give a vet a full picture and also trying to see someone who can do a very thorough check. Has she had bloods done? Has she seen an opthalmologist? When my dog went blind my vet knew that she was on the way to being blind (she had cataracts) but didn't realise it was to the extent diagnosed by the opthalmologist - the vets we usually see in practices can't be experts at everything! Sometimes it is good to see a specialist if you have a suspicion something is wrong.

Hey! Stop trying to snaffle the puppy bars I want!!! :laugh: :laugh:

Hey! Stop trying to snaffle the puppy bars I want!!! :laugh: :laugh:

I have a Mazda Tribute alotanewfs. I think I might be sold on these. Got to see a couple first hand today and someone showed me how they go in and out - I didn't realise it was THAT easy!!! Another question - what sort of costs are they currently (just looking at a ball park)? One of the people I spoke to today gave me a bit of a ball park figure but it was from a few years ago. Mind you I might try to give them a call in the next week or so.