Max#1

KTB: thoughts are with you! ETA: Just putting away the washing and Ravenau1 - it just occurred to me what else you might need! Any kind of blankets that you won't mind getting poo all over. Or pee. Maybe get some from the op shop? Maybe some of those quick-dry towels?....

Yeah I wouldn't want to use it wrong. I'll have to ask my friend (the retired instructor). Now Max is six months it should be okay, he said. Will update with any progress!

Not at my obedience club. My retired instructor friend nearly died when I told him they're not 'compatible with their teaching methods'... anymore. I would get one, but not sure how to use it....

Betsy - its one of the reasons I started crate training too :D I'm officially (as of today) a member of the Eastside Flyers. They're a really great bunch! Better yet you should come and join eastside - then we'd be a competing force from the south (as opposed to those Canberrites...... :D Badger and Ivy are gorgeous dogs! I love Ivy's look - I don't think I've come across that breed of dog before. And does Badger do pointing?

Still reading! And enjoying the photos and videos! Toy recommendations... hmmm.... one of each? Max seemed to like soft toys, that he could have a chew on, but now they're not so popular, so I'm glad I only have the one (or maybe that's the reason?). Ropes are good, though be careful, the first one I bought was heavy enough to act as a rubber mallet... mind you that can come in handy sometimes.... Anything that squeaks is a big hit too. But balls, of course, are his first love. I actually splurged on the weekend and bought him some kong balls. They squeak but seem a bit more durable. Big hit. Of course, the things he's had most fun with have been empty bottles, toilet rolls, cardboard boxes and anything he shouldn't have (read undies, socks, stocking socks, hair bands, bits of deflated balloon - yes the blue blue balloon has come out the other end (yay!)) are his favourite toys. Betsy - congratulations on the crate win. We are also recent converts. The other day Max was very quiet, til I heard him bark. He was after attention, so had taken himself off to his crate and was sitting there, calling me, to come and give him a treat of course for being in his crate! We shut him in there on the weekend to do some vacuuming and 'bissel'-ing. For those with carpet and a puppy I highly recommend the bissel. (Or for those that drink red wine, have a puppy, and any kind of soft furnishings, I would also recommend it.... :D ). Anyway, Max seemed to appreciate the hiding spot, and didn't make a peep! I've just gotten home from 'age appropriate flyball foundation work' (ie flyball training). I just love it. It is such a great atmosphere, great trainers, great people, beautiful dogs and fun! And see? Here Max is smiling again cause he had so much fun.....

Alright that's good - that tells me what I have to aim for. I wasn't sure if even alerting to the car was still a problem, so thanks Nekhbet. But - when you talk about correcting with the collar - are you talking about a check chain/choker? I was talking to a friend of mine the other day (I didn't ask the obedience instructor as there just wasn't a right moment - she intimidates me a little) and he is a retired instructor. He said a check chain would fix it - and also help with loose lead walking as well. I'm curious what people think about that? I was under the impression they'd been 'outlawed', so to speak.... Sheena - taking lots of treats on the walk definitely makes me popular at the park with the other dogs!

You would just die if you saw the way my boy does his business. He's fully house trained so that's not the issue. Its the way he walks it.... he can't just stay in one place and do it, he walks and walks, stops and sniffs around, walks and walks, does some more, walks.... stops and thinks, then walks and does some more. I have to follow the 'trail' when I'm on pickup duty!

Sheena - chasing cars for exercise is just crazy. Okay so today was first day without stitches and we've had a good run in the park, and played with some other dogs.... I'm trying to be really strict with loose leash walking at the moment, but the walk back from the park was easy because he was quite worn out (must remember this for the next obedience class - oh you should've seen us so severely failing to loose lead walk down the street with the class, the shame the shame)! However, still when a car comes he gets alert. I distract him by getting him to sit, or look, and praise for correct behaviour. Is this as good as it gets? Should I keep working until he doesn't even alert to passing cars? BCPuppy - the problem is walking down a street where cars are driving - trying to get a sit for every car is not really realistic or practical.

Maybe they should have one of those tagged things at the top of the Puppy Problems list of topics: 'so you just bought your pup home from the pet shop.... READ HERE'. I can imagine it gets tiring to go over it and over it. And that may be why some people end up sounding a little snide. Can I say this at least - its worth it to go over it again, if it stops another handful of people? I imagine that most people are going to end up here after the even rather than before. Sorry to get so off topic from the original question.

Poodlefan: Until the next puppy buyer like the OP rolls in - and they continue to to do so. (sorry I'm hopeless at quoting) And for each one that rolls in perhaps its another person educated? And as well perhaps their family members, friends, colleagues etc etc? I for one know I'm spreading the word.....

Hey KTB - just want to let you know we're now on royal canin medium junior. The biscuits are small - but they're still 'workable' - if you know what I mean. They're much less crumbly too. I was so worried with the small biscuits that he wouldn't chew them and just inhale them. Funny thing to watch him now, crunch crunch crunching away. I have to say I like the food - and so does Max - and I never would've considered him fussy! This morning he actually started drooling as I was getting his breakfast out - have only seen that once before, and that was a case of 'really hungry'. And, what seems so important, poos are good. I thought they were good on Hills (*gasp*), but they're better now. Smaller and harder. However, seeing as how someone decided eating a piece of a blue deflated balloon this morning at obedience would impress everyone (I could've died - 'er, you better get that off him', the instructor says, 'errrr too late', says me..... ), I'll definitely be keeping a close eye on the poos over the next few days. I'm a bit worried, but he's previously eaten some red balloon that he found in our yard (I have no idea where it came from) and it seemed to migrate through his GI tract no worries... (I only knew about it when it came out the other end....).

Methinks you guys give the government too much credit. I reckon that description, rather than to help find your lost puppy, is for them to check that the dog wearing the tag, is the dog that has been paid for....

We once looked after a lab for a friend of ours. He would sleep in our room on the floor. You would wake up in the morning to him sitting beside the bed, his face 1 inch from yours, he'd have the hugest grin on his face... and the minute you opened one eye he was READY!!!! He was so smart - he knew in the morning he got a biscuit. So first he would get me to give him one (you can imagine him dancing all the way to where the biscuits were)... then I'd head back to bed. Then it was the other half's turn. If he was really sneaky, he managed to get two biscuits in! Such a great dog. Our puppy wakes early for the toilet, though I pretend I don't hear it (don't tell the OH!!!!!) and he takes Max out. Then when he comes back inside (the dog that is) has a thing about getting under the doona. He'll come to the top and dig it until one of us holds it up. Then he wants to curl up in your stomach or behind your knees.... and he'll stay there as long as you do. The other day I woke up to a puppy curled up in my stomach, but he'd stretched out his head and his nose was under my ear so I could hear him breathing in and out. Such a tender moment!

Thanks for that Clastic... we're going to go investigate tomorrow so that gives a good indication. Max is doing well. Too well. Stitches are a distant memory, even if I point them out to him, so that's a relief. 'The wound' is looking good. Some scabbing, absolutely no sign of inflammation (ie redness, swelling, any kind of oozing-ness). Starting to go a bit easier and let him have a bit more of a run around - for both of our sanity. I've got a great game of hide and seek with the ball - so that means there's not so much time chasing ball, and more time finding me! How's Mars doing? If you say you've managed to keep him in a crate for 7 straight days I'll feel very ashamed.....

Hey Clastic! Yay for three more days to go!!!!!!

And something else: Max doing shy puppy in the light of day: Showing off his new deep voice....

Aw Wuffles - you should feel proud too! KA - I am never going to complain about dog hair again. Max seems to lose (I dare not say shed after those photos!) fine, black, 'frizzy' ones (I dare not say curly). I often find them in unexpected places. On my plate when I'm out for dinner. In my labbook at work. It feels kind of nice that he's *with* me.... hehehehe.... Always look on the bright side!

Honestly, its been a bit too easy...... could it be just a little bit of prey-drive? (And that question was 50% rhetorical....).

So much happens so fast! That is one cute HUGE puppy! Just to say - car lunging has improved out of sight. I took treats on the walk for the past two days, and when he starts to get alert because a car is coming, I get his attention and reward. I'm a little worried that's too easy. Or does Max get it that I don't like it? The first few days when I didn't have treats I was definitely making 'unimpressed' noises - often inadvertently.... All I can say is if Max is that bright, and eager to learn and please - he's wasted on me....... (has anyone felt like that before? That their dog could be a real star if they had a brilliant trainer?...... Sounds a bit conceited I know, but I don't really mean it like that... ) Now - to cure bench surfing. He just keeps getting accidently rewarded!!!!

Tonight no woofs! Taking treats on the walk seems to make the biggest difference. He's much more interested in me (eta: read 'the treats') than what else is happening. I see him start to get alert as he hears a car coming up behind us, start talking to him ie 'Max, off', 'Max, leave it', 'Max, look!' - and he's giving his attention to me. E also TA: I also did this randomly when there were no cars..... Do you think its ever possible to trust off-lead around a road though? Especially when there's no owner nearby? I think most dogs would be silly enough to 'see what's on the other side'..... unfortunately. (Though that's a big difference to trying to herd up the car I know). Thanks again.

RE - flyball - 'age appropriate foundation work' - that is what I should have said! Agility dogs: I was most impressed about the way an otherwise normal, chilled out dog, once taken into the ring, would get so focused and determined and excited. Then afterwards just relax again. It sounds like you're having a lot of fun with Wikki! And you sound very proud (I know that feeling, I think Max is special too!). Vicki: I know it is serious. And I'm sorry, its an awful thing to happen. I might ask my obedience instructor on the weekend. We'll see next week if he does stop doing it once the stitches are out and we're back to playing as usual. In the meantime I will keep working on it with the tips given here. It has made a difference. Thanks!

I've discovered 'training in drive' once by accident. I got a great tug toy from flyball, and was playing with Max. I stopped and swapped to doing some obedience training and he was perfect. Straight proud sits, lightning drops, heeling (just stationary, we haven't learnt to walk heel yet) - so he'd run to my side like his tail was on fire. I was pretty impressed. Now I mix up tug and obedience. We play tug, I tell him to drop it, then I get him to do something (sit, drop, rollover, speak etc), then tell him to stay...... until I release him to play again. Its great!

Oh Primedogs! You definitely win the most beautiful dog competition. I hope getting in that state was a hell of a lot of fun! You have to laugh! RE - holes. Hoover seems to have a sense of adventure with digging. Max doesn't dig in yard, but likes yard edges. I'm always one step behind him with some poo, which seems to do the trick. I'm thinking of getting one of those blue shell pools and some sand on the weekend - am just trying to convince the OH its a good idea! Its just Max looks so darn happy when he's digging! (I mean he's not going to be in anguish is he?). Wuffles - you win most dog-friendly garden, that's for sure! How did Ava get such a dirty nose? And what do you do about their feet if they've been digging and then want to come inside? I used to pick Max up, tuck him under my arm and wash his feet in our handbasin (when the OH wasn't looking of course).

Good luck!

Aw look at that face when he gets sprung!