Shakti

Yes we have.

Yes he is desexed, registered, from a very reputable breeder, has all papers etc and is very dog-friendly. I don't want to post him as a Rescue as if we cannot find the perfect home we are happy to keep him but he is a dog that really loves to work!

Thanks everyone who replied.

I do believe that if Steve was a florist he would have been a great one but please say it isn't true that he is giving up dog-training??????

The only time my dogs' chicken mince stinks is.......when they burp!! Man, way to clear a room!!!!

I think that you need to thank Val for her advice - given she hasn't seen teh dog or the kids or you, I personally think it is pretty pointless but that is my opinion. Get Jane out and I think you will feel far more confident about how to handle Zorro after having him assessed by such a well-regarded, experienced and professional person! She will work out a program that you can implement and modify as you go along should that prove necessary! Go for Jane!!

Tollersowned - did you teach the Flip finish using food like BC suggests? Is he a Toller?

OK BC - thanks for that! Now at least i have an idea how to do it - funny how you can get hidebound doing things the *way you always have!* I will give it a go and see how we do!

How will I know if he can do it properly? Before I train him to do it I mean LOL

Hi, I have always trained my dogs to finish after a Sit in front of my by going close to my right leg, behins me and sitting in Heel position. Another trainer whom I respect has suggested that I try what he thinks is called *Flick* Finish where after the Sit In Front the dog moves to my left and moves in a small, tight circle into the correct heel position. What does anyone else think of this? I have no experience training it nor have I seen it before

Thanks everyone. I have arranged to travel to an out of area vet tomorrow. I have put some soothing cream on his ears tonight as per your suggestions and in fact the ears are looking far better with all the gunk gently cleaned off. I will let you all know how it goes with the vet tomorrow - thanks for your advice!

Thanks very much for that Bonny Beagle - will definitely try it as I can't leave him like this over the weekend By the way, unfortunately the cocker at the Pound is not going to be suitable but we will keep looking - thank you!

Yes I have an appointment but can't be seen till next week and was hoping there would be some words of wisdom here as my faith in my very expensive vet is beginning to be a little shaken.

Hi everyone, I need some advice please. My GSD has one *lazy* ear which seems prone to what was diagnosed as an allergic reaction. (have no idea to what!) I have been using Melaseb and flushing the ear out which seems to help the extreme itchiness but now it looks...foul. It looks like there is an immense amount of wax coating the inside of his ear and kind of peeling off. I have no idea if this is the Melaseb or some pus-sy dried stuff. Sorry I cannot be more descriptive. It is VERY itchy and yet when I try to help gently rub some of the stuff off from the inside of his ear (which is also in the ear canal part) he acts as if it is hurting. A GSD breeder suggested I just try flushing the ear out with salt water instead. Any thoughts??

Hi - what sort of puppy are you getting? Dio you want to learn general obedience or specifically Show training? There is an All-Breeds Dog Club in Cessnock but am not sure if they do show training. On the other hand, someone there can probably help you or put you in touch with the right person. They train on Saturday mornings at Cessnock.

Years ago I owned a VERY dog-aggressive Newfie (adopted as a rescue at 7 years of age) and went to many many trainers who ultimately advised that i have her euthanised as neither a Halti nor a check chain nor Purely positive training had any effect on her at all. (apart from in some cases to weken the bond between the dog and myself) When I got my Leonberger (another very large dog) I was very aware that I needed her to be at all times calm and obedient and under complete control with total trust in me. (SWFs might get away with the odd run at another dog but seeing 40 or more kgs of huge, hairy Leo barrelling down towards your dog is pretty disturbing!) I took her to K9 when she was barely 18 weeks old and she was already beginning to display fear aggressive tendencies. (note - many of the rest of her littermates have also developed fear-aggression and two have been euthanised) I began training her with an e-collar and I firmly believe that the combination of my increased confidence and my increased control over her have helped her develop into the sweet and willing dog she is today . In my VERY limited personal experience often the owner's lack of confidence can exacerbate a situation of fear/aggression and the e-collar prevented that. The e-collar also prevented the emotional state of us both rising ie I was able to stay very calm and there was no shouting or jerking at her neck or tension and/or fear being communicated. I think the e-collar can be an absolute Godsend for fearful dogs ETA K9 was the actual Godsend as it was his advice and knowledge which helped me change the way I relate to my dogs and therefore changed how I train them but the e-collar was the tool that helped me implement that learning

Thank you both very much. Tapferhund, I LOVE your dogs! The advice is good - I think sometimes I want to move too fast when I know that he *knows* the exercise and you are right; I need to take baby steps with this problem. He is a beautiful dog but he is from working lines and I have to *lift my game* in order to get the best out of him.

My lovely 2 year old GSD is a very smart dog. He is doing well with his training both Obedience and agility and he stays perfectly EXCEPT...if he cannot see me! Then he just loses his mind! He cries and yelps and runs about (even if tied) and just cannot think of anything but desperately getting to me. Do I just try and ignore the crying?....... Difficult because he also moves/breaks his stay and upsets other dogs as he sounds so distressed. Should I correct/punish him every time he starts crying?..........Seems cruel and possibly counter-productive as to punish/correct him I would need to be in sight! Help!!

yes Arya!! I did exactly as you suggest and that works fine but he will just drop the ball or hurl it at me and then rush off after the second one. How do I get him to hang on to the first one and not just throw it at me???

Hmmmm - his best ever reward is running to fetch a toy thrown. So what other suggestions for a reward that he *buys* with a retrieve? The only thing I can think of is his dinner but he would willingly leave his dinner for anything thrown. I am STUCK!!

Yes Thanks Erny et al! You guys are brilliant!! Will definitely be swapping to a softer article - on the other hand, he will grab ANYTHING (even a pool cover!!) if he wants to retrieve!! But yes I will also be reteaching him the other commands as suggested! His Recall is wonderful except he/we haven't made the connection that it is also used when he is in Crazed Beckham mode!! LOL

It is kind of funny I must admit BUT!!!!! Thanks Tollersowned. I know it is going to be really hard to break him of this habit as it has been about six months now and it has been constantly reinforced by my OH *sigh* OH well ignoring it will work in the long run I am sure - can I start trying to retrain him at the same time or will that just confuse him?

Yeah good thought but then he just flings harder in order to get us to release the new one! He is happy to come to us with it - but frankly at 2 feet his aim is pretty lethal already!!

bump

My GSD taught us how to make him retrieve LOL He loves chasing balls, sticks etc and he happily brings them back to us...well, almost! He stands about three feet from us and hurls the stick at our shins! VERY effective as my OH swears and immediately grabs the stick and throws it away again! If we ignore the dog or confiscate his toy he will throw rocks, a a laundry basket or eanything alse that isnt nailed down and hurl it at our legs - very painful! How can I get him to sit and hold the article until I take it from him? I am fearing that it will be a matter of going right back to the start and re-teaching him but would be very grateful for any suggestions or tips please!