Lollipup

I like the object discrimination too, because when they build up a big repertoire or items they know it is very impressive :) Fetching a drink from the fridge, putting item in bin, putting item in basket and carrying it to you, shame/who farted (front paw over nose/eyes) Maybe see kikopup on youtube for ideas - I get lots of ideas from youtube. Her chihuahua has a disability and has to take it easy on her back legs so maybe find some of her tricks. Can't wait to see what you come up with :)

oh dear! But how could she resist?

teehee love the look on her face. Did you see her catch it? She must be fast!

As I was scrolling down through the first pic I was thinking "that's got to be the work of a GSD" :laugh: Yep. She loved those nuts for some reason. OH tidied them all up and unknown to me still kept them in the garage but up high and what he thought was secured and she seeked them out and got into them again. No harm was done, she is fit and healthy and in her new home now.

Do you have a link at all Lollipup? Sorry! This is the first one we bought that turns 360 degrees - http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-GEN-WIRELESS-WEBCAM-IP-CAMERA-AUDIO-VIDEO-WIFI-CAMERA-OSD-IR-Motion-Detction-/160723377312?pt=PCA_Video_Conferencing_Webcams&hash=item256bdc1ca0 This is the set of two we bought afterwards - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/300679965514?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Sounds like a great home :) I didn't mean to make anyone feel guilty

Agree. Causes lots of frustration. Yes I agree too. I get frustrated that I can't do the things with Chester that I had planned although i'm sure he would have the potential, his injuries & health prevent it. At the end of the day he is still part of the family and much loved.

yeah its not always a negative thing to see, just something that makes you think about the what ifs.

We don't have kids and no plans for them, our life is all about the dogs. I still see it as a big challenge though. We are also limited in that we can't have as many dogs as I would like - can register 2 and pay extra for a third but that's it. I'd have 6 dogs if it were up to me and the circumstances were right!

Hope you counted all the washers/nuts to make sure none were ingested - one determined doggie must have been nice and crunchie :laugh: I let my husband do it - they were his nuts! :laugh: He wasn't impressed as there were 3 different sizes - but he was the one who left them in there :)

I'm an expert at keeping a foster dog entertained while we are away. And ensuring she is very happy with herself when we return

Hope for me yet then lol

Don't stop now! What unpleasant things may happen????? PM me (in strict confidence) if you're worried about upsetting people. I listen to everything then make up my own mind and don't condemn ANYONE for their methods. Thank you so much for trying to help my dogs. Regards. I'm curious too now :)

Good examples Jumabaar. So it could be either neglectful owners or just owners who don't put in the time or effort. My parents have inherited two small dogs from my sister since she ran off to do her own thing and got divorced and couldn't take them with her. They never asked for these dogs. They love them and care for them but no training whatsoever. They do try though and its not their fault, but if these dogs had just basic training everyone would be happier all round. They aren't even working breeds so its not to do with professional dogs or dogs that could get titles etc. Just a lack of training and attention.

Yeah, I don't even care about titles myself :laugh: I'm not competitive enough. I'm not saying I can classify anyones dogs but I don't think anyone here on dol is wasting their dogs because they are all dog lovers who give their dogs good lives. The intention of the topic was more what you said above - "Rather, there are do many dogs getting no mental stimulation because they were bought because it's the thing to do." Even if there is a dog who had the potential to be a professional or win titles but they were always "just a pet dog," if they are loved and having their needs met then they are by no means wasted :)

I tried to set up a session with a dead snake we found in the backyard, but the dogs took no interest in it. Check out this article in our local paper. I was horrified that 1. the dog suffered under the house with no treatment when it first got bitten and 2. the 'method' the snake catcher says he uses to teach his dogs not to go for snakes The article - http://www.news-mail.com.au/news/lucky-dogs-survival-battles-snake-eastern-brown/1551453/ Agree the welfare of both animals has to be a priority.

Relax. Enjoy your dog. Forgive your mistakes. Celebrate every achievement. I'll let you in on a secret....many of us are in the same boat! ^^ agree with this, said much more eloquently than I could! Glad to know there's a few in the same boat then :)

I think that counts more as neglect than not meeting potential. I often have a hard time trying to figure out how to word things that are in my head when putting them on paper. So.. I kinda had a hunch that that was what you were trying to get at....? I have a major problem with wording things correctly the way it is in my head. Especially on dol - I am forever thinking oh crap, that's not what I meant, please don't take it the wrong way! Both my dogs have more potential than what they are meeting. So I guess I am talking more about really slack owners without an interest, and/or neglect. Thanks for understanding, I hope no one gets offended by my OP! How much training do you do now? How much are you anticipating you would have to do for a malinois? I'm not baiting or anything, just information seeking. I'm interested in what people's expectations are for active, high drive breeds. Hmm your questions intimidate me lol Now - Not as much training time as I should but there have been a few issues. I've been working with Lola more because as I mentioned Chester has been constantly injuring himself and on rest. I can still do things with him but not the things I originally planned. First he got ED at 5 months of age. Heaps of crate rest, operation, more crate rest. Then he sometimes starts to limp and needs some quiet time. Then he developed a bone fragment on his toe, thats the latest issue, so he is on more rest. So we just do little bits and pieces to keep him occupied. Thing is he loves to run and jump as soon as we interact so I have to keep him settled. The plan for a working dog would be to take him/her lots of places with me as I run a business where I can take a dog with me, and train the dog to be happy to wait in a crate while I'm busy, then go lots of places and train in lots of different areas. I'd like to give this a try with the current dogs for a while first to make sure it works the way I picture it. So there would be more time spent with the mal, but I need to ensure my other dogs get the time they need as well. There are lots of things I want to tick off before allowing myself to get another dog. Again, not great at writing down what is in my head lol. As for expectations, I would expect a mali to be a lifestyle kind of dog - lots of daily interaction at the least, training every day as the ideal. I think my dogs have a higher potential than what is being brought out of them too. We all have to start somewhere though! Sounds like you're doing great and learning lots - each dog teaches us something different :)

Absolutely! Maybe I worded the post wrong - I think its fine for working dogs to be in pet homes as long as they get enough training and attention. Some dogs need the owners to be more involved than others but also many owners start out not knowing what they are doing and it turns out great because they are willing to learn about it and put in the work. Its when they are left in backyards with nothing to stimulate them at all that there is an issue and that goes for any dog. I know what you mean about the work you put in raising a dog. We recently had a foster dog who had been left in a backyard all her life with no training and never lived inside. She came to us at nine months of age and wow you really notice all the things you have trained with the other dogs from puppy hood and how much they have really learned! She had great potential too :) She went to a nice pet home and I hope they keep up with her training and she will turn out great.

It's all very well to disagree, but when it comes to putting into practice what you disagree with in theory I can think of a handful of dogs I'd send their way and good luck using only a harness. Dogs and their owners are so diverse - so it's such a shame that dog theorists and some dog professionals feel the need to apply what they *think* is right and will work as being best for all. To the point where I now tell puppy homes, not to waste their time and go to puppy classes, as most of what they get told is of no benefit and will not apply to them and their dog. I completely agree. Every dog is different so will need an individual approach. Good idea to look for a trainer who realises this rather than telling everyone to do something one way as the right way.

LOL I've made plenty of silly mistakes but not a lot of them are preserved by photo or video. I'll see what I can find.

This is the article by Emily Larlham (aka Kikopup) about using collars (of any sort) http://clicktreat.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/is-it-harmful-to-attach-aleash-to-your.html I like Emily and I see some valid points but I think the key is to not allow the dogs to pull on any collar constantly. If you are going to just let them keep pulling, then use a harness.

I think a check chain actually has a higher potential to be mis-used and the study mentioned in DiscoDobe's post would suggest that too. There are some that disagree with any pressure on the neck or head at all and only use harnesses. I have to admit, I was the same when I first saw a prong collar, and it was just a photo. As soon as I saw one in real life I felt better about it, then learned to use it and now prefer it to a check chain. I recently had a client who is a vet nurse. She had not been able to walk her very large dog at all for over a year as he had pulled her over several times trying to get to other dogs or anything else he wanted to see. He basically hadn't been out of the backyard since he was a puppy. He was pulling on a check chain and just pulling to the end of it. As a vet nurse, she had been to a training course in Brisbane run by a trainer who was totally against prong collars. His education to the class was to show them a photo of one, tell them they are cruel and abusive and the "worst thing God allowed onto the Earth" She of course accepted what the trainer said - she was there to learn. So when I took it out she was a bit surprised at first but she said the instant she felt it on her arm, her previous views on it went out the window. We took her dog for a pleasant walk - the first one he had had in a year. She said I was an angel in disguise and I laughed - yeah an angel with an EVIL tool! :laugh: Of course we will do some ongoing training with him. Seriously though, the dog barely needed corrections, just some guidance and wouldn't anyone rather that than leaving him in the backyard his whole life for fear of being dragged?

The video just finished uploading, all the highlights from our trip http://youtu.be/42hIAeGV8S0 I can't get it to embed but the link above

It is? In what way? I'm glad you get so much joy from your dogs Corvus :) Well, you know how people say how crazy and high drive they are and I know I would need to put in a lot more training time than what I currently do, but that would be the point - to be able to improve my training skills etc. I worry about adding a third dog though and that the time I give to it will mean too much less time for my other dogs. I had lots of training plans for Chester but he is always suffering lameness and injuring himself so we are a bit limited sometimes. Plus I want to get into bitework etc. But I guess I worry I won't be good enough for such a high drive dog. I don't know - maybe I am expecting too much but I want it to work out how I picture it in my mind, if that makes sense. Clyde! I think you are being too hard on yourself. I doubt you are a low potential home - I doubt that of any DOLers. :) It's obvious you love her and put time into her & meet her needs. I am referring more to people who don't do much at all with the dog but the dog really needs more. ETA: I think probably most dogs have high potential really! :)