Tralee

Hi Ark Yep 20kg is too small for a Maremma, but not for a pet crossbred. I was none too happy when Mal's bitch was awarded over my girl. Especially as below the standard weight is a criteria for disqualification. More than one Maremma is needed to bring down a bear. They work together and are formidable 'deceivers' in a pack, each taking a different tack. :D Edit: grammer

Hi CW EW He loves a hug. He won't let me up in the morning without a cuddle first. :D

Hi teekay Jenna has a lot of Maremma in her. 20kg is not too small at all. Mal Boltons bitch was way below the standard size for a Maremma but still made Australian Champion. I also have a puppyboy just a fraction under size. Winja, by the way, is the the minimum size for a male. :D

Hi teekay Don't be deceived, they're all coat. Winja is just under 50kg, Males can be 35 - 50 So he's heavy, but you can see the bone in his head; a beautiful head, he's a solid dog.

Thanks CW EW He's just turned five, highly strung, and extremely intelligent.

King of the Dogs My baby is all grown up!

Thanks Staff'n'Toller Am I approved!

Yeah G'day Could someone kindly tell me where the list of shysters and shonks are please? We want to send a puppy overseas and need to check the risk involved. Cheers

Hi Helen It must be the season of the 'Maremma' We share your grief at his time with our own untimely loss. I believe she (Lucinda) is there to recieve our little one Paul

Hi All. Thursday March 5, 2009 deceased due to kidney failure from complications following a snake bite Arawn Bladewyn Peal aka 'bunny' failed to respond to veterinary intervention at Casino, Northern NSW. Owner Mike and Yevette Adams notified us of their loss yesterday afternoon at 5:00 pm. Bunny, who is sadly missed, was the progeny of Ch Scaferden Celtic Sun & Ch Allarme Arctic Gem and possessed excellent pigment, stop and temperament. Our condolences to the Adams family

Hi Crystal and Zorro. Murwillumbah would certainly be a lot cheaper. I don't have the times though.

Hi Sieta and thanks. Ben Russ, you just need to arrive before training with a show or traing lead and collar.

Hi All. Could someone kindly tell me if show training is still being conducted at Durack and if so when, and at what times, please?

I am going to agree with Miranda here, if the dog is only young...which i gather he is?....then i would keep at training him to at least tolerate being handled by strangers. Some dogs just dont like being shown at all. I personally wouldnt seek drugs as an answer but continue to work with him to accept strangers patting him and eventually doing a full exam. Hi Tollersowned. Long time no post. I agree with your behavioural analysis except I have been advised not to place the dog into a situation that will exacerabate 'my' problem untill he has been properly assessed. At that time he may be given a treatment regime which I fully expect will be a behavioural one as you purport. Such wisdom for one so young.

Hi Kelpi-i. Unfortunately, that link isn't working for me either. And don't worry, my five years of study in Psychology was not in vane. I am not establishing, reinforcing or perpetuating any behaviour that is contrary to my dogs ultimate welfare.

Hi bloss344. I am waiting on professional advice before rushing in to any treatment of any kind. It goes without saying that I will carefully consider all of the available options.

Hi Miranda. What has not been elucidated at this point is that my dog is not so much 'backing off judges' as acting within the Temperament for this Breeds' Standard. Maremmas should be suspicious or wary of strangers. They are also inclined to submission. Herein lies our dilemma in that many judges are not fully conversant with the correct standard for the breed and tend to exacerbate their own difficulties. Also, as I understand it now, Clomicalm is a tricyclic, or may be better known as a psychotropic medication. These drugs are commonly used with chronically psychotic patients and certainly would be inadvisable for an inexperienced dog at this time. You see, my dog is only 11 months old and is still learning. He has a lot more experience to be gained before he should be condemned as irretreviable. I am certain that he has no fear of the ring. On the contrary, he becomes exhilarated by it. By the same token, the terms on which he meets people, including some judges, is his perogative. That's their "NATURE'. More fairly, I do not envy at all the job that our judges have each weedend.

Hi staff'nToller. I have contacted MABS and we are going to visit Dr. Robert Holmes in Adelaide on Wednesday.

Hi Kelpi-i The address behaviorx.com is not correct. Do you have any others?

Hi jls, lillysmum and Kelpie-i. My dog is not happy being examined or handled at close quarters. Quite frankly I don't blame him. The two Vets we have seen over the last nine months were as rough as guts. I went to have him Temperament Tested on Friday and the stupid receptionist thought she would look at him. He retreated backwards under a chair. And let me just point out that the woman did not meet any of the criteria or posess any of the qualifications specified by Dogsnsw for Temperament Testers. The Vet had even less of an idea about what he was doing. I suspect some judges are just as ignorant and this is his problem. Nevertheless, he needs to be "shown" without feeling threatened. I don't think whether Kersti Seksel has a dog is relevant. It is supposed to be a science. I am familiar with NILIF and I am very gratefull for the Bill Campbell link .

Hi haven. Both of my dogs are already on raw food or BARF. I found your comments about Nervatona and DAP (what is that?) interesting. We do have a program for socialisation, obedience and couter conditioning but I haven't started it yet. I will be consulting either Dr. Seksel or Dr. Holmes shortly. Probably Dr. Holmes as I believe he does consults in Adelaide. By the way. I understand that Dr. Seksel is a s good as Dr. Holmes. ;)

Hi wyvenblade. Well, the Gsd certainly sounds anxious. My 'boy' is eleven months old and fortunately isn't anywhere nearly as anxious as the dog you describe. He is a Maremma, whom are normally suspious of strangers, but that is not what is happening here. He has had a few bad experiences with Vets. but it is not certain whether they have been the root cause of his anxiety. If it was then he would have a neuroses. At present the problem is minor and wouldn't even have appeared if he wasn't being shown. Nevertheless, it is my choice to place him in an unnatural situation and, in my opinion, he has an unacceptable response. Are there any other treatments or training used with the clomicalm?

Hi caninecoach. The exact details are immaterial at this point. He has a classic anxiety response and therefore and needs treatment for anxiety. I have not committed to any 'avenue of remediation' at this point, but I am with you on pursuing alternative methods. I am just trying to assess the best possible course of action.

Hi All. My dog is 'normal' in all respects but is going through adolescence. He has become anxious in just one specific situation. I am seeking information from anyone who has worked with Dr. Kersti Seksel or Dr. Robert Holmes in a similar situation as mine. Also, I would like to hear from any others who have used clomicalm for anxiety in dogs. I am only able to access the computer in business hours during the week and in the afternoon on weekends, but any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi veanna. My two dogs are Maremmas; Well noted for their double coat and regular sheading. I neither use a dryer or a grooming table. One of my mentors has twelve Maremmas and we bath them outside with hoses. I like to use towels because I believe they add some shared time with each dog and the look on their faces is invaluable. At Shows, after many different approaches, I find it just as easy to brush them standing up, and there is no heavy lifting. The dogs appear much more content to have all their feet on the ground. However, for our next show I am going to use a Mobile Groomer because I believe that the dogs need a range of different experiences. Well, I hope that helps to inform.