Salukifan

What happens to the dogs temperamentally unsuited for pet homes? They are out there. If the day comes that the number of dogs no longer needed for racing equals the number rehomed, my guess is there won't be an industry. It won't be financially viable. I can live without greyhound racing. The question for fanciers is can you live without greyhounds? The demise of one is tantamount to the extinction of the other IMO. Be careful what you wish for.

I think this amount of confinement to a crate will be problematic for several reasons: * Your pup will almost certainly have to toilet in the crate if confined for that amount of time. That will make toilet training very very difficult. * Confining a pup so closely, especially a pup of this size, will have a very negative impact on his muscle development. I think you'd be far better off investing in a decent dog run with shade and a well insulated kennel and starting him in the back yard from Day 1. This is going to be a big dog. Confining him inside is not in his best interests.

What breed is the dog? Some non-ANKC breed clubs have their own shows. Then there are dog sports as DC has highlighted.

Agree with you completely Corvus. As a dog trainer you know if you fail (for example to get the dog walking on a loose lead) that the dog will probably never leave the back yard. It's a good reality check that helps keep personal training philosophies in perspective.

Why do you think so many show people still use check chains? They have been used for decades & are very affective in training when used properly, which I think the majority are. cause a gold snake chain looks pretty on my dogs, it's certainly not there for correction. :D I use a snake chain in the ring after trying probably every other form of show lead known to man. I find it easier to position and keep in position, to apply very subtle 'check' signals to Dodger so that he knows what I want (generally to slow down a little) and it's almost invisible on him. At least I know how to fit one correctly - something a few of the "anti check chain" brigade need to know so that they can at least assist pet dog owners who want to use such chains to use them properly.

No argument here. If people spent less time trying to take or retake the intellectual or moral high ground and focussed on the fact that advice is being sought by real people with real problems with their dogs, this place would be a lot more constructive. Training methods, training tools... all generate the same debates and all participants need to realise that what people need are solutions that work for them and their dogs without safety or welfare issues being created. If you've never faced such issues, had a problem dog or assisted someone else with a problem dog then perhaps you need to temper your philosophical viewpoint accordingly. I used to be very black and white on a whole bunch of dog issues. These days I'm far more pragmatic. The more I learn about dogs, the greyer many of these issues become. What works works - dogs don't read training manuals, research papers or popular websites. It pays to keep that in mind.

As a pet owner, I'd be safer putting my trust in someone with runs on the board dealing with dog aggression over my own interpretation of what's going on or the advice of people who've never met me or my dog. Get it wrong and you're talking about the life of the dog and the safety of the owner. That's the magnitude of the risk.

So what you're saying is that the validity of the tool should be judged by how effectively your average pet person can use it? When someone arrives at a dog training club with a 65kg Bullmastiff that pulls like a train, then ask yourself what tool you can suggest to that person to help them physically control their dog until such time as they get its attention. I dont' think check chains have any place in your average pet person's hands but I'd argue the same about haltis. Neither is particularly benign and neither is suitable for use by a person who is not instructed carefully and consistently about how to employ one. Both can be found in your average pet shop though. Treat bags make good crutches too. Plenty of dogs that wont' do squat for their owners unless there is food around.

No actually, industry representatives have been asked many times what the actual kill numbers and have never before, publicly stated them. But they have taken the time to trash those that put up best guesses based on information gleaned from many sources. For all of the statistics available about greyhound racing (and there are a lot down to whelping numbers of each litter), none of the information from Greyhound racing officials, relates to where greyhounds born each year end up. To quote you, "if you've had your head firmly buried in the sand up until now" you would think that the only reason not to publish the annual kill figures would be because the the numbers are embarrassing, to kill so many beautiful animals is shameful, that Greyhounds as Pets and GAP just touch the surface and because if the actual numbers were common knowledge, the general public (we have been characterised as a nation of dog lovers) would be outraged. I didn't need to read an actual kill figure to know that a lot of dogs off the track or that failed their start are euthanised. Neither would anyone who has a reasonable knowledge of the industry. That's what I meant. I don't need to see published figures to know that the industry has no use for slow or finished racing dogs. Those rehomed are a drop in the bucket. I don't know what the answer is but I do know that the death of the greyhound racing industry will see the breed become extinct outside of the handful of dogs born into ANKC litters each year. No easy solution to this problem from where I sit. Your average member of the public is a "dog lover" up to the time where they are inconvenienced or asked to put their hand in their pocket. Never lose sight of that.

As I see it, it's only been a "secret" if you've had your head firmly buried in the sand up until now. And can we please cease and desist with the "Asia" bashing. "Asia" is a region made up of a wide range of countries and cultures. Dog eating and dog abuse are not common to all of them. Indeed, some of them display attitudes to dogs that we can only dream of here. Less hyperbole and more facts wouldn't go astray in this discussion.

I hope that professional behavioural assistance isn't too far away. You know I think the best thing people could do to advise the OP is to remove the word "Labrador" from any advice or explanation of this behaviour. It's a dog. It's displaying aggression towards its owner. Breed should not be factored in here. The dog needs a vet check and for someone who understands aggression to come to the house to observe what's going on. Any advice not based on direct observation is uninformed at best and downright dangerous at worst.

You can lead a horse to water.... One of my dogs' littermates was killed in precisely the kind of scenario the OP outlined. If it hasnt happened yet it might happen. NEVER confuse good luck with good management.

The first observation I would make is that if your dog is lunging at other dogs, YOU are too close to them. Get some distance because odds are she's seeing the need to react to keep them away from her. The second point has already been made - lunging and hitting the end of a lead with a halti on spells neck issues in the making. Simply NOT what head halters were ever designed to be used for. Add one to a smaller dog and the angle the head is pulled at is greater - proceed with caution. The best answer for any dog with behavioural issues is someone who knows how to help you - you sound like you are headed in that direction. You should be doing a lot of work on her reacting if you want to train in agility because this will mean class situations with dogs offlead. You should ask for help to identify when she is uncomfortable with another dog and so that you can act before she feels the need to react. A switched on handler can prevent a lot of issues.

I'm guessing that's his "show stack" ?? How did you guess? Yep, lineup for Open dog at a Specialty and Baloo sat and wouldn't move an inch. Poor Mick didn't know what to do with him. Herbie has gone "dead dog" in a line up for Veterans. Hey, he wanted a nap!!

I'm guessing that's his "show stack" ??

Oh dear, it's time for the rolled up newspaper again. Tell your OH to smack himself in the head with it rather than getting cranky with the pup for taking the opportunity he's creating. I cannot think of a worse recipe for disaster than a moving car and an unrestrained pup. They need to be separated at all times. The pup 'sneaking out' is the not the worst thing that can happen here. You need fencing that separates the pup from the driveway OR you need to put the pup in the car and return it to the yard after the car has been moved. Last option would be to tether the pup clear of the driveway while cars are coming and going. Dogs and moving cars - just too damn dangerous together. You really don't want to be responsible for killing your own dog and believe me, it does happen.

What WAS that???

Well all I can say is please God let me NOT encounter people walking powerful dogs on harnesses simply because they've been schooled that all collars are "cruel". Handlers grass skiing behind dogs belting towards me is not something I want to encounter.

I believe there may be some evidence? Added. Delay due to teknikal diffikulties

I are an expert at keeping my dogs entertained while I am at work.

Meanwhile... back on topic. Can I just point out that BSL was NEVER aimed at reducing dog aggressive dogs. It was about lowering the incidence of dog attacks on people. Not that it ever worked ...

I'd suggest that most people who hate them have never seen one and certainly not experienced what one feels like.

Or don't have one at all :)

One has to wonder what the consequences would have been for the passing dog if the tethered dog had got free. Unless the prongs were sharpened, I can't comprehend how a prong collar could inflict that kind of damage.

Yep, I get the "hands full" comment a fair bit. I usually respond with "I get plenty of practice! " :)