PAX

The velcro dog, what breed is that???? I want one.

If you are prepared to have your dog with you a lot then a WL dog will be fine, I also think you should know a lot about drive satisfaction and training before you get a WL dog. A WL dog wont fit into a backyard of little work and attention, they need a job and take it very seriously. They would drive you and your other dogs nuts IMO. I have found my dog easy to live with but I have done the hard yards with training, I have learnt heaps and am prepared to put in the time. I also have the opportunity to be at home with him and am able to do lots of little bits of training every day. As I said in the other thread, if he was locked in a backyard he would be a fruitloop, not sure if that is typical or just him and his upbringing. If I put him outside on his own free will, he will run/pace until he is foaming, not a good thing. In the house he is an angel and the perfect dog. I have a friend with a young WL GSD and she is the same.

I have also owned a Whippet and I swear she spoke English so maybe it's me, although I didn't compete with her in any dog sports. She would be on a draw with my Malligator, just for different reasons.

I love dogs that are handler sensitive, it works for me. I love it that they know when they can stuff around and when they can't without me having to actually do anything. I have owned lots of breeds of dogs and found most of them this way. Maybe it is because I spend so much time with them. My Mal is the most sensitive, but not in a fearful way, he just knows what is happening next way before I do.

My WL Malinois, entire male, never barks, is gentle with cats and small children, would never chase anything apart from tugs, balls and frisbee. He is amazingly calm in the house, he lives in the house. I have no doubt he would be a nightmare if thrown in a backyard and ignored. He is the most amazing dog I have ever owned, but he gets a good amount of exercise and stimulation, training and playing are one and the same thing to him. I have never owned a German Shepherd so can't comment.

Why??? This is totally incorrect advice and I echo Erny's sentiments. Tug of war is a team sport, not a challenging for 'dominance'. People lack the knowledge and understanding about drives and tug and then unfortunately go off and give this sort of advice. Love to know who posted this rubbish??? Geez I hate this sort of advise, so many dog people are stuck in the 60's in regard to training, we have moved on. Just look at the way we now parent children, not that dogs are kids but its all about rewarding appropriate behavior, reward what you want:)) Makes the the behavior stronger.

My dogs and many others are on a raw diet, Dobermanns are pigs, if he/she is not yet, it wont be long:))

I don't understand it either. Anne used to work in a Vet clinic, but it was a clinic and not a hospital. I dropped out of the vet nursing course as well, I felt I learnt more doing my job than what i was learning at the course..............25 years later I feel I can provide sound phone advise. I know when to ask the vet for help on the phone and when to tell the client to come in.

I would be engaging him in tug and the minute he puts a little pressure on the tug let him win it, say 'yay good boy' or what ever, don't expect him to release it or offer a behavior yet, you just want him to think he is strong and love to tug. You need to relax and just have some puppy fun until he's into you and the game. Dobermanns are not easy.....lol. Wish you lived closer so I could help.

If he will only concentrate for 2 minutes, stop at 1 minute, quit while he still wants to do more. Play, play, play, get him addicted to a game before you bring in rules. All dogs are different, you need to build desire for things he adores, some dogs this is instant and some take more time. Make sure you are providing the most fun in his day, don't let him get his own self rewards. ETA, the clicker is not the reward, just the reward marker, you need to pair it with something he wants.

Most calls start with 'Can I speak to the vet' it drives you nuts. Imagine if you were having your consultation with the vet and they were continually on the phone. A good vet nurse should screen all calls but know when to ask the vet or tell the patient to come in.

VERY well deserved! Congratulatons Lisa :D thank you for spoiling our dogs rotten, for the photos & videos you email while we are away, for the quality food & special meals you cook the fussy eaters and for the play, exercise & love you give to them. For the first time ever, I don't stress about leaving my dogs. Thanks Vickie and the dogs:))

Just checked my diary, bit of a nightmare with the New Year. The weekend of the awards is the same week one of the top USA agility trainers is coming to Australia, she arrives on the 17th.....so unfortunately I wont be able to make the awards Hope everyone has an awesome time, I'm sure you will. Note to self, need to search for a june---july diary.

If I get too busy now, you guys need to come help and play with the dogs:))

Thanks Anne and Sarah, It is such a nice feeling to think someone has taken the time out of their busy life to nominate me, I love boarding dogs and Sarah's dog is always so much fun to mind)) I always try to look after the dogs in a way I would want my own dogs looked after, and I'm neurotic about my dogs...lol Thankyou so much.

The winner of the Novice Obedience Dog class at last years Sydney Royal was a deaf cattle dog trained by a lovely lady from Armidale. Dogs cope fine being deaf, the owners just need to have clear and consistent hand signals. Also heavily reward the dog for being attentive to the handler.

I think this can be a common problem with working dogs, they are naturally very aware of body space and pressure.. I teach mine to weave between my legs, and to present through my legs, also throwing food through you legs, any tricks you can think of to get them in close and feel safe.

My Daughter had a Pap and she was so naughty to toilet train, She would pee as soon as she hit the grass, bring her back in and she would pee on the carpet...grrrr. She could hold on all night in her crate, she was just a naughty girl...as much as I hate to say it:(( Lots of people have told me that toys are hard to toilet train, I don't believe that, but after her I WONDER???

I would only choose one that I have seen how their dogs' behave. If I am paying for advise, I expect them to have well adjusted dogs that can do what my requirements are. I really don't give a toss what they have on paper or their web page. :rolleyes: I want to see it.

It's so sad to me that clubs are really progressive with training methods in agility but more often than not are so backward in obedience training. The training you mentioned is what I too often see at club obedience training, I hope it will change:(( Obedience training should be fun and can be.

If you read Steve's post on how to raise a pup, it is not unlike what Susan G says, any good trainer knows this stuff. Good dog trainers are open minded, they put in the hard yards with pups, building motivation and drive, it's not that hard, no matter what breed. It's sad you wont ever get to chat to SG personally, you would be very suprised and inspired.

You could make the food delivery more exciting, not like posting a letter. :D

ummmmm NO! who would be my bestest friend? Who would Cuddle up & keep me warm at night? Who would make me smile & laugh a hundred times a day? Who would teach all the new puppies how gentle big dogs can be? Who would wash all my friends faces when they come to visit? Who would...do a billion other things that makes her so special? The answer is a definite & final NO! From shines mum! And a big NO from me too....

Bummer Sas:((

If you keep your hand in the correct place for this style of training you may get points off from the judge for an unnatural hand position, dammed if you do and dammed if you don't...lol. The hand drifting forward suits the judges but not the dogs IMO:((