Keira&Phoenix

Me and Phi are always keen to meet new doggies and their owners PM me the area you are based in if you want and I am sure we can work something out. Also visit this thread http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/207081-regular-brisbane-meet/ We organise a Brisbane meet the first Sunday of every month alternating between North and Southside locations. June's meet is at Nudgee Beach on the 5th.

To be honest if you have heard about dogs at your local or regular park attacking humans or dogs I would be refraining from visiting that park anymore. Whether you can sue the person or not, whether you win all come into play, but in the end is it worth the pain and suffering of you or your dog to continue visiting the park? Probably not.

Oooooo priddy!!! My girl is probably a little less stocky than that.

Raw diet is good so long as you are giving him a variety. Beef, chicken, turkey, eggs, rice, some fruit and vegies and he will be nice and healthy Raw is their natural diet so it is the best diet for them. He looks good size to me you don't want him to be too bulky or to grow to quickly until after he is at least 12 months old to prevent causing any joint issues. My girl (in my siggy) is now 9 months old and seems to have stopped growing tall and is now bulking out a bit but I still don't want her to really bulk up until she hits 12 months and after. They won't really stop growing until around 18months / 2 years. She currently weighs in at around 23 kilos. That pic is what I want my girl to look like when she is fully grown, I love that shape. With the right food and exercise I am sure she will be and from what your boy looks like now I would say he will be close to that.

The problem these days is people expect Amstaffs to look like this Those are not Amstaffs those do not meet the breed standard they are monstrosities bred by someone who thinks they look tougher that way (and who I suspect of crossbreeding) This is what an Amstaff should look like Your dog looks to me like what a real Amstaff should look like and looks a good size for his age. He is absolutely beautiful do not stress.

OMG I don't check the topic for a day and I missed heappps! I think sisters are trying to deflect blame onto the puppy who probably just joined in on what he thought was a game and yeah maybe he got a couple teeth in but doubt he did the majority of damage. Agree this isn't a Pittie pup at all, definitely DDB X Boxer mix or something similar it may have some Pit in it but definitely mostly a crossbreed, face is completely wrong, so is the weight really 15 kgs @ 4 months. In saying that he is gorgeous in the way that all dogs with squashed faces are, I hope to doG that he is not PTS that is just plain horrible. Stupid bogan women should both be thrown in jail or at least charged and fined for being complete fools.

Exactly, I would fully expect both of my dogs to jump in if I was in a fight and as you said you need to be resposnible and make sure you don't put your dog in that position. Yeah just the sort of family you want to be a part of ay.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8253265 I don't see anywhere in the article where it actually says she was scalped....just puncture wounds and bruising. Seriously I think they could have come up with a more appropriate headline.

I was asked several times if my now 9 month old dog Phoenix (I don't have a good pics of her size when she was young) was a greyhound X when she was younger LMAO. Nope she just shot up and got leggy really quickly, I don't get asked anymore she is actually putting weight on now and starting to get boofy but is still thin but not underweight.

From what I have heard in Queensland there is no law agaisnt having a dog inside a car unrestrained only agaisnt them distracting you or sitting on your lap etc. The unrestrained loads rules apply to a ute or any vehocle with a tray on it and I believe it is illegal to have a dog in the back of a ute untethered.

In the case the OP has stated the dog does understand the command but chooses not to follow because the rewards are not valued high enough at the time, so how does placing the dog into the position do anything? Because then the dog is still not getting reward enough to motivate it to do it next time. In this case Leelaa really needs to find something that motivates her dog because right now he isn't motivated in this particular siuation. Generally for my dog I don't need to use timeout/reward removal for obedience based stuff she is pretty good with that or I will out wait her when she doesn't want to sit to go outside, get fed etc. It is mostly if she does something undesirable ie: jumping on the counter or similar. Nekhbet - Sadly many of us do not have the option to take our dogs to work or to have more than 2 dogs. My situation is I can't take my dogs to work, I can only have two dogs and I often have to take them out separately soo they are often separated from me and each other. So to me 2 mins in timeout is NOT pack separation because they put up with much longer times on a regular basis. Erny - I am not saying don't touch your dog at all. Mine get handled on a regular basis including giving tablets, cleaning ears, claw clipping, brushing, bathing, getting lifted in and out of the car, paws cleaned when the walk into the house (its a bit muddy outside at the moment) and I also make sure when they are puppies and continuing into adult hood to just general handle them to make sure they are used to it. Leelaa - Have you taught your dogs hand cues to go with the voice cues?? Dogs work in body language and often a hand cue is very helpful to have. Both of my dogs respond better to a hand cue then a voice cue. Or if you are in a very distracting situation you can use both.

Nekhbet - sooo you never take some of your dogs out and leave one or more at home? Is that practicing pack seperation? So crating a puppy and leaving it to spend time alone while your at home is that pack seperation? Where do you draw the line? I draw the line at leaving the dog there for long periods of time, 2 minutes is not pack separation. Fyi I call it reward removal as previously stated. I didn't say moving a dog into a position would traumitise the dog just that I don't do it. As previously stated different things work for different handlers and different dogs.

No dramas Pers. That is fair enough you have to use the technique that works for you as well as the dog, I appreciate abd accept that. Cw EW agreed not all methods will work on all dogs because they are individuals and learn differently and are motivated by different things just like us. Charlie sounds like a challenge. May i ask what methods you use with him?

And you practice pack separation to ultimately teach what? Dog doesnt comply so gets locked up for a bit - are you sure your dog actually understands what you want from it or are you just putting it elsewhere because you think the dog is being purposely obstinate. Would it not be smarter to put the dog into position, mark and reward the behaviour so the dog knows how to win? As for not asking for a sit unless she gets it, if the dog barely wants to sit you will find the owner will never end up asking for a sit. What is the point of that? I dont like hands off dog training despite its popularity. If I put the dogs butt on the ground when I say SIT and show it what I want, then reward for compliance and increasingly better behaviour I KNOW my dog is learning it and fast. Clearer for both them and you and isn't that what we all want? There is no shame in putting your dog in the physical position you want it in in order to learn. None at all. I'm not advocating manhandling or brute force at all there is a big difference in helping and just forcing. I don't practice pack separation the dog is in time out for no longer than 2 mintues, I don't think that is practicing pack separation because it is such a short period of time. No I don't think my dog is being obstinate on purpose, she isn't a human. Maybe I should stop calling it timeout because people associate that with children and just call it reward removal. I don't believe in helping a dog into a position, if that is too hands off than that is fine with me because that is the way I choose to train my dogs and that is the way I am trained to train my dogs. To start off with (ie: puppy or training a new dog) I use food lures and rewards, then change that into hand signals then add a voice command but I remove lure as soon as I have hand signals working (obviously I continue to reward although after a while I also phase that out so it is irregular rewards) but I never actually move the dog into the position. I agree with the bolded statement which is why we are trained to use a marker such as "too bad" I prefer just reward training and my trainers have classes that are purely about catching and shaping positive behaviours etc but sometimes just sometimes there is a situation where you need to use reward removal.

Forgive me I am not very good at vocalising things in a way that makes sense LOL but I will try. Basically it is a form of reward removal rather than a punishment as such. You need to find a smaller space than a bathroom ie: a toilet room (with just the toiler in it not a full bathroom) or a small laundry or a crate. You are only supposed to leave them there for 2 mins or if they are crying/whinging until they quiet down. So it is supposed to work as reward removal (removal of freedom). So you ask for a sit/stay or whatever, dog ignores you use a marker, for instance I use "too bad" take dog by collar and crate for a couple minutes or until quiet. I also use it if I catch her doing something naughty ie: putting feet onto the kitchen counter to try and steal food etc. I also use this (reward removal) when walking my dogs but in a different way so I put on an infin8 head harness but don't do it up properly, if they start pulling I say "too bad" and put the infin8 on properly. Once again I apologise if this doesn't really explain it properly I really suck at vocalising things, I can usually say it well in my head then it just doesn't sound as good on "paper" as it were.

No need to be smart because you don't like a particular method Nekhbet. This is the technique my trainers use, I trust them implicitly, they have over 20 years experience. I didn't say "tell the dog to sit and then immediately put it in time out" did I. I said ask for a sit and if the dog ignores you can try time out, it is a personal choice if Leelaa wants to try that but I certainly didn't say teach the dog that sit means "ignore and be put out of sight" by immediately confining the dog after asking for a sit. A better option for Leelaa would be to not ask for a sit unless she knows she is going to get it but this is an option if she does ask for a sit and the dog ignores her, so that she isn't teaching the dog it is ok to ignore her commands. I certainly don't recommend this method as a fix for the problem just one tool to help fix the problem along with other methods.

As said above Nekhbet has some great advice. The only thing I can suggest is reward removal for one, you can try time outs ie: you ask for a sit etc, he ignores you too bad time out (in a crate, small toilet room etc) this is the closest I ever come to "punishment" or you could call it a conaequence. The other thing you can try is making food higher value for him so instead of feeding from a bowl try cutting brekky up into treat size pieces or at least smaller peices and as you are getting ready for work in the morning etc just randomly ask him to do things and he gets some of his brekky for doing it, same for dinner so on and so forth. If he refuses to do what you ask he misses out on brekky, then he may be more willing to do it at dinner time, if he isn't too bad no dinner, try again the next day, eventually he will start to work for the food. And it won't hurt him if he misses a day or two of food. Good luck. I love having a super food motivated dog it makes things just that much simpler (although you can't rely on it forever anyways but still nice to start with :D)

This should be in the news section. Pretty scary stuff for all involved. Glad everyone came out with minor injuries.

We shouldn't jump to conclusions. It could have been the relatives fault or the dog owners fault or more than likely a combination of the two. But this is why when walking my dogs and passing people on the footpath I always curve away from the people so that even if my dog (in the unlikely case) lunges to the end of the lead they would not be able to reach the people we are passing. As far I I am concerned better safe than sorry.

So Joe K should I be worried that my dog has a "weak nerve"? as you call it, because she growled at an over boisterous lab puppy who was jumping all over her yesterday (and whose owner was talking on the phone and not watching his dog). This was on lead at the Bark in the Park event. Does that make her weak nerved? I think not she was telling mister over boisterous, in her face, all over her puppy to back off, I did not reprimand her for it because it is normal behavior for her to tell him to back off, what would not have been normal is for the other dog to then go into full attack mode. Sometimes I think people who are/think they are experts just want to make it a complex issue. This is not a complex issue, the staffy ran in and rudely ran into the Husky the Husky said back off with its growl and the Staffy went into full attack mode which was a completely over the top reaction in that situation, end of story. I hope the Staffy owners are found and made to pay the bill.

Hi Leelaa I went ti the Brisbane one today. Was good much better layout then MPW and lots of freebies. Food i got heapppps, free grooming, free washing, free photos with your dog, free caricatures etc. Lots if nice friendly people and dogs. Cheap deals on coats etc. I enjoyed it so did Phi and it wasn't as crowded as MPW. Hope the Sydney one is good.

APBT's are not being bred for anything in this country because it is illegal to import them so there are no fresh lines coming in. I doubt you will find a real purebred APBT in this country. Funny lots of "average" families in America own these dogs just fine. FYI they were known as the Nanny dog for a very long time in the US, they got that name for a reason. And that is all I can really be bothered saying. Everything has been said so please refer back to mine and others previous posts. Now Joe is right. SOme of you do have your heads in the clouds. So how do you plan to get the Apbt loved and accepted by society? When the world over it has a long running reputation? And statements like this: - Not being bred for anything. - No fresh lines - No real APBTS What are these statements based on? The fanatasy of an ideal world? Take off them rosey red glasses. These statements would also be offensive to the Apbt community in Australia especially those who've been into the breed for decades. Alot of average families in the USA own the breed? well look at the state of the breed in the USA, banned in how many states. The breeding also coming in how many shapes, sizes and forms. Look at the situation in Australia, don't compare us to the USA. there are a whole of differences between the australian and american people and australian and american pitbulls. Also your nanny dog statement is just plain ignorant. Just because a dog may be 'good' around children it doesnt mean it's suitable as a children's dog. It's ideas like these that add to the problem. Treating the Apbt like an average dog, something it is not. Peolpe who know the breed know it is not your average dog and shouldn't be treated that way. LMAO seriously. As already mentioned several breeds have previously been banned and their reputation has been terrible and yet here they stand now as much loved dogs. It may take a while but it will eventually happened like it has in the past. And we have the right to fight for that. You certainly do not have the right to tell us what we can and cannot fight for. If we choose to own the breed and fight for it's reputation then that is our prerogative and that is our right so stop telling us we should just accept it and move on. I am sure there are still some people in Aus in the ACT and NT who breed decent dogs but with the breed so restricted and the fact you cannot import it makes it very hard to breed for anything specific because you can only work with what you have. If any APBT people are offended by what I have said let them come here and tell me themselves. No dog in my eyes is suitable as a childs dog, children should not own dogs, sure in conjunction with a parent/adult they can help but as far as I am concerned they shouldn't own their own dog who is completely left up to them to take care of, exercise and train. I am not treating the APBT as an average dog, I never said that, I never said just anyone should own this breed. Read back through my posts, I have already said all dog owners should have to go through certainly licensing etc before owning a dog. If we were tighter in controlling who breeds dogs then you would have responsible breeders who know their breed selling dogs to people who they think have what it takes to own that breed. Yeah sure it is banned in many counties/states but there are a lot of counties/states in America, there are still a lot of areas who allow Pitties. There are still alot of regular families who own them. Do some research they are still a much loved breed in America by people in and out of the banned areas. BSL has already been abolished in some places due to the ineffectiveness of the legislation and due to people fighting against it. So whether or not you approve I will continue to fight for this breed and their right to live the same as every other breed of dog on the planet and for my right to own them and love them.

Doit4thedogs you seriously just posted 4 times the exact same thing. We have a right to fight for the name of the breed we love. Just like everyone has the right to fight for the things they love. GSD, Dobermans and Rotties have been banned in the past and called all sorts of horrible things and yet after many years all of those breeds are now accepted and loved by many. APBT's are not being bred for anything in this country because it is illegal to import them so there are no fresh lines coming in. I doubt you will find a real purebred APBT in this country. Funny lots of "average" families in America own these dogs just fine. FYI they were known as the Nanny dog for a very long time in the US, they got that name for a reason. And that is all I can really be bothered saying. Everything has been said so please refer back to mine and others previous posts.

A few people have recently mentioned not getting payments or having issues with Medibank delaying payments saying they haven't received the paperwork etc. I claimed for Phi just recently (when she hurt her neck and had to take her to the vet on the weekend) and it took no more than 10 working days to get back the full amount of the vet visit minus my $100 excess, no questions and that was almost $900 back. The only issue was that one of the vets had the wrong DOB down for Phi but I sorted that out over the phone no problems...

Oh no! That is terrible. I hope your oldie makes a full recovery as soon as possible. Don't fret I am sure he is fine and comfortable and probably being spoiled! Wow you are clearly an awesome Furbaby Mumma organising all of that for your animals.