hankdog

I just realised why I will always own a bulldog....they're anatomically designed to be incapable of licking their nether regions.

It's good you're not rushing into it. That all sounds really good. Jake for instance couldn't be in an area next to other dogs because he couldn't disengage. Just off my grand experience of one if she's able to play and ignore neighbours she sounds hopeful. I'm in sydney so can't help with a behaviourist down there. If you don't get an answer here ask in general and someone should know.

I wake up most morning with a bulldog nose in my eye socket, kind of odd but it's a good fit. As soon as I flutter my eyes the tongue comes out. So very weird. I wake like a ninja now.

Basil seems quite the right name. Happy gotcha little dude.

Now if that were true Jake would be a BAT expert. Have you tried CAT.....yep there's that too.

BC I'd be interested to see what a smarticle dog like Stella can do with a box. Jake got to flip it in its side and put his front legs up. Between both of us that's what we got. Better Late where abouts are you? People here can recommend an appropriate behaviourist. Not everyone who claims to be a behaviourist is equipped to deal with reactive dogs. Case in point I'm on trainer 5 who has stuck with us for over a year and gets us. There were a couple who just didn't see any hope for Jake because they didn't have the depth of experience.

Wow better late that's a lot of reading. If she's at RSPCA then I doubt she will be incurable. I'd get some professional help booked straight up, changing homes is stressful but it's a time of changing behaviour. If a behaviourist gets in and shows you how to establish good leadership up front then your ride will be smoother. Thanks Jemmy, yes he has that magical ability that toddlers have to just turn his joints into jelly and make like an eel. It's great you can go to class Jemmy, I always hoped we would one day but I've accepted it won't hapoen. Still we love our one on one session, I can relax knowing no ones judging me and we always go for cake after????. I'm a firm believer in classical conditioning and making positive associations. It's kind of funny because sometimes I don't feel like going but then I focus on my coffee, cake and walk through the rose gardens after and then I'm always happy to go. I'm so easily trained.

Good looking and smart. Well done to you two.

Omg you must be reading my mind, I have considered a trolley/ full body cage. I've ordered the ruffwear webmaster which I think is pretty similar to that. Might have to add some diamantes because I'm pretty disappointed at how grey and dull it is after the last harness and looking at trendy Neko we are so coming last in the fashion stakes.

Haha yea I have a collar and harness. I can't believe the first few days I had him before I knew he was reactive I just had him on a very simple harness. I'm sort of thinking I might make a crop top and fasten the harness to that. Little stumpy legs means once his shoulders are through he can slide sideways out of anything. I think he was pretty surprised when he fell out of it this morning. Have I mentioned how beautiful the brass buckles are.

Back in line folks, I need that plaited slip. It would solve my pyramid shaped bulldog neck with jowl issues. Sigh, Houdini got out the new harness, luckily whilst training in the garden he did his jelly bones collapse tantrum thing. I've ordered the ruffwear harness that promises to be Houdini proof, I don't really trust plastic clips but I'm going to have to try. After that I'm going straight jacket.

That's lovely news, you must be so relieved. I have a solid plastic crate and a wire crate and Jake loves his wire crate. If I have it out in the garden with me he will actually choose to go in the crate rather than out. He's ok with the plastic one but not enthusiastic, he'll go in when I tell him but not choose to spend time there.

Ooh Jake would love a suede and Swarovski harness????????

You may be right Yonjuro I think boy dogs have gear. I love poppys' new bling. Girl dogs can definitely be a bit more out there although I do take sadistic delight in decking Jake out in pink when I can.

She's beautiful. Happy birthday!

Yea he's an elephant nugget. You could probably train Stella to pick up and move stuff. I've heard of other DOlers who trained their dogs to pack away toys. Given I couldn't get my kids to do that I can't give you advice there. Jake has a couple of toys that squeak, and bells that ring when he pushes them with his paw. He doesn't like using his mouth to pick up stuff so I gave up on retrieve. There's also scent work.

We will see, I think the large chest plate will help keep it centered and in place rather than allowing it to flex and shift around like the lightweight harnesses.

There's about three centimetres between his top and bottom canines so he can't actually do damage that way. He really struggles to pull meat off bones because he can't grip stuff and has to use his back teeth. He does weigh in at 26kg though with most of that being in his torso, his main "weapon" would be his weight. Does Stella do send aways? I taught Jake the "touch" command and I put an object down and tell him to touch, the just work on stepping away and giving the same command, I do it to encourage his confidence away from me but if you got some distance you could get her running back and forth. Get two hoops, click for getting in hoop one, then no more clicks until gets in the second hoop. Eventually you should be able to get her going from you to hoop1, you to hoop2. Jake just lies down and refuses to play once the hoops are about 2m apart but I'm sure Stella would be better. Also my favourite 101 things to do with a box.

I'm sorry you're not well. Is Stella also following your lowered energy. When I used to work with groups of little kids I found they were very responsive to my energy level, if I just sat calmly and spoke very quietly the whole room would slow down whereas if I was yelling over them to be quiet then that would just rev everyone up. So its been a weird week. We have stayed in text contact with our adversaries owner, I know this is probably contrary to legal opinion but we just wanted to do what was right regardless. When OH checked the dog over the owner had found a red mark on his rear which surprised me as I didn't think Jake had connected except with the one front hold. Anyway mid week the dog was showing some stiffness and so they took him to the vet and they found it was a tick bite and we have just heard he didn't make it. I feel awful for them, they're a lovely person and very sad to lose their dog. I don't know whether to go round or not. I'm probably the last person they want to see but I'm not sure if they're sitting at home upset alone. RIP little dog, we didn't meet under great circumstances but maybe we will meet better next time.

So after our little incident last week I bought my dog some new bling. Retail therapy is a good thing. I wanted a handle because I found being leashed to a dog in a scrap was a pretty bad idea so this is the K9Pro tactical harness. It is seriously weighty, think horse halter type construction and those brass buckles are going nowhere. Its still a bit stiff but I think will soften in a week or two and I need to get the adjustments right but I'm pretty happy with it. I was a bit concerned about Jake looking a bit too over the top in but I think its a goodie. Post your dog bling pictures, I know theres some serious dog gear out there.

I saw a Russian black at training, the most incredible movement quality.

I'll be taking Grufs Deshonko special but probably only once it's been through dumtree and round pounds. I only have working dogs, their job is to amuse me and take me for a walk and not chase all my ducks and turkeys. Love my bulldogs but the viszlas are putting in a good showing. I think I like training (I like training Jake) so I might want to socially do some agility. So if you can just get a dog like that from Deshonko please Gruf!

Oh those are brilliant. So every holiday you embarrass your dogs....why hasn't I thought of that. Two years of missed opportunity. I would have thought the cat was in the prime of her life, she doesn't look 13.

Yes you're being mean but you have to prioritize and right now you need the dogs to not bark. I don't think a spray falls into the realm of cruel, just moderately unpleasant but what you need to do. I'm interested to hear how they've worked it out. Good for them and since they're not barking with the collars on they're not actually being sprayed.

Areas of my property are full of them and they don't appear to be territorial so just because you got rid of one doesn't mean there isn't one a meter away. Interestingly they nurture their babies, they catch food for them and can look after them for up to two years. I know this after digging into a nest and surprising a zillion little funnelwebs. So not the cutest babies in the world. If you can catch one then the reptile park likes them for making serum, me I'm more of a shovel and run person.