PAX

Hi Sallydog, You could always discuss the options with your vet and remind him of her four day recovery from the last anaesthetic. If it is not too major, perhaps it could be removed with a local, again it is something you should discuss with a trusted vet. Any way God bless your dog, hopefully my dogs will make such a great age.

Start training her for the ET, that will get her pulling.

You can easily train them to go in their crates when the visitors arrive with the help of some pigs ears. I agree with NW, if they are barking while crated just cover the crate (no talking from you) with a blanket, as soon as they are quiet remove the cover. I think the consequence should be from you as you are the leader. Getting the kids onboard with the training will be good for the kids and the dogs and teaching some easy tricks will help win the kids over, do it one dog at a time. Rotties will usually do anything for food so it shouldn't be too hard. If the kids prefer the cats, I am sure once they can get the dogs to do some simple tricks the dogs will be more interesting then the cats. The more they are around each other the less excited they will be. If my dogs are interested in little kids I always tell the kids 'my dog loves you, they want to kiss you because they know you are so kind' and just carry on a bit.

StaceyB, 2nd puppy vaccs are usually given at 12 weeks or later. By 12 weeks there are no maternal antibodies left to interfere with how well the vaccine works.

Hey Shek, I let my dogs jump on me but only with an invitation and I call it 'paws up', they never jump on other people as this is trick for me. All training needs to be one on one until they know the behaviour. I would suggest you teach your dogs one by one a cute trick that will win the kids over. Let the kids help you to train them to lay on their mats. Have lots of treats on standby and teach the kids how to correctly give treats to gentle dogs.

I have been to a SG seminar and what she says in regards to mens voices (they dont usually waffle on with praise like us women do) is that dogs get used to any voice if its paired with appropriate rewards. So if you pair it correctly, use what ever you like. Have you seen SG play her bad dog trainer game, it's hysterical.

Ducky this is the best topic on DOL. :cool: Hey M, do you have that video Clip of the shutzhund Fox terrier saved somewhere, I think Ducky would love it. Found it. http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=rTN5kTkdvME&...feature=related

M, if Ducky did that he would probably need a British Bull Dog so he had a challenge as anyone can train a retrieving breed to retrieve.

Seeing as you have said you DON'T ear pinch, I am not sure what you're going on about :D but congratulations.

Mine is broad, I don't want to hurt my dogs I know they would never hurt me, I return the favour.

Thanks Erny, poor dog.

Tapferhund, You say you have a forced retrieve that involves no ear pinching, So where is the force? I am serious, I would love to know a way that does not cause the dog pain. I have watched Dvds of how to teach a forced retrieve with an ear pinch and I could not do it, ever. I have also been told how to teach a FR with collar hold, choke, I do not like any of those methods. I have only trained three dogs to retrieve, two had no desire to bring me the retrieve item and the third is my my new dog that had no desire to sit and hold. I have taught this with no force and I am a relatively new dog trainer. The first two dogs have been good trailling dogs and the third is yet to trial. Do you think it's ok for someone to post on a public forum how to do this without one on one tuition? I certainly do not. I hope no one ever uses this method when there are other ways that are just as reliable if not more so, and fun for the dog to learn. What ever floats your boat, I know I can sleep at night knowing that I have never hurt my dog, hopefully you can too.

4 to 6 weeks, well my dog had a solid play retrieve from the skills it had learnt growing up and playing with me, it took me 24 hours to teach a sit and hold the DB when I was taught how by a good trainer with no force.

This is what shits me to tears, I have no idea how to force retrieve my dog. (I would never do it anyway, ever, even if that meant never trialling) Now I read that post and go and blindly have a go at torturing my dog because you have had sucsess with it?? I am saying torture as I have no clue what I'm doing. So do I just squeeze the crap of my dogs ear until it grabs the DB? What if I am giving it impossible options that it will never understand? What if my dog bites me, should I euthanase it? Maybe I should go with the choking method, surely lack of oxygen will make my dog hold the DB. FFS, this is an internet training forum, only give safe advise.

So is this a Staffy or a Gundog, not that it matters but I wonder.

Some dogs just don't like it and some never seem to mind. If you clip them to far and make them bleed it will hurt. The dremmel will not make them bleed but you shouldn't dremmel a nail for more than three seconds as the speed of the dremmel makes the nail get hot. It is good to have a go on your own feet so you know how long until it heats up and what it feels like. I also hold the nail so that there is lass vibration.

Rocco is so beautiful, could you have two more different breeds.

I take my dogs to the groomers and they get washed, blow dried, ears cleaned and nails trimmed for $20, my choice of shampoo and cologne, my dogs are Doberman and a Koolie. They do it any time during business hours, no appointment needed, I watch them being done and take them home.

Check this out, even has videos attached. http://www.petgadgets.com/quickfinder/

Ptolomy, Have you ever tried the way Mary Ray shows by putting a piece of food on every article? If you did what did you think and did it help or hinder the scenting?

I am teaching my dog to march on the spot and it has been quite easy. If they can shake hands with both legs, give each paw a name like 'paw' and 'tap' With the dog in front of you gradually change the cue so the dog lifts it's leg when you lift your leg. When they are good at it, try it from the heel position. The end result will be that you and the dog are marching on the spot. Your dog should get it easily as he can already lift his paws.

I have been waiting for Erny to respond . Have you googled it, lots comes up, must be all the other NDTF students. All these names/labels do my head in.

I clicker train, there are heaps of topics on it if you do a search.

It depends who you ask, just do what your vet suggests.

Can you crate the dogs so there is no playing until you decided when wake up/play time is? One of my dogs did this and I would let them out, toilet them and then throw the ball for a little while to take the sting out of them, then they weren't barking trying to get each other to play.