mixeduppup

RIP, I'm in tears, I can't imagine how her owners feel. I hope they catch the people who did this.

But surely as the owner is responsible for keeping the dog contained, they should have identified that and already taken action, not sure what peoples definition of responsible is, but mine isn't sitting on my hands until men in suits turn up. Proactive/reactive one of them stops stuff happening! But most of these people (at least the ones I know with poor fencing/poor dog keeping skills) can't even be responsible for themselves let alone adequate dog containment and unless men in suits turn up they probably couldn't give a crap.

Not a blood test to "predict" the onset of a season...only to varify most receptive time when season has started. Vet nurse 'should" know this, she may have not explained it clearly. As to Breeding any dog...whilst it is admirable that you are concerned about the well being of this young bitch, calling breeders will do nothing. Regardless of what register, Main, Limited or none at all, this bitch belongs to it's owners and they have every "legal" right to breed her as and when they wish, provided they are not Registered Breeders they have no accountability as to age of breeding, crossbred or Pure breeding. Crazy? Yeah. Perhaps I was talking to the wrong vet nurse, she's rather new as I said I knew about progesterone but was wondering if their was a test to predict the onset of the heat and she said she thought there was. Perhaps she misheard me.

I'm going to get to writing a letter to the council expressing my concerns at inadequate fence height in a large dog area and how it is not allowing people the freedom to lawfully walk their dog because of fear of being attacked by dogs that are able to escape.

A perfect example of an inadequate fence for the dog in question. it scared the crap out of me and if the owner wasn't there I'm not sure what would have happened. I just told my friend and apparently it's a repeat offender. Hackles all up and really stiff, exactly the reason I stopped walking the dogs int own, I should have driven.

OK I am officially against dogs in front yards as of today. Scariest thing just happened! I just went to meet my friend for a game in the park with our dogs and I was on my way home and walked down a street I've never walked down before with the dog. A friggin ridgeback jumped the 3 foot gate just after we had passed its house. I yelled at it to go home and its owner came out and called it back in and it jumped back over the gate. I'm officially reporting that shit and also sticking to my guns and not letting my friend talk me in to walking the 3 blocks instead of driving.

If the process works and isn't cruel and the owner knows what they are doing, then there's no reason not to implement it. the dog in question was rescued from the pound at 2-3years and knew nothing of walking on a leash. In the yard dog world there's no place for halties or harnesses (or the like) and the dog must be under full control on a flat collar and walk at your side or behind you. A halti may have worked if she were to be just a pet but due to the circumstances the check chain was the best option and has proven successful. ETA. Working dogs aren't given treats as it distracts them from their job. So positive reward based training through treats or toys cannot be done. I however employ these techniques with my other doggies and with Maybe and Torque for general obedience :D

I've only ever used a check chain once before about 9 years ago on a border collie that was a bit the same way. I actually had to go looking for it as it's not in my training tool kit. The point is, if the dog responds to it well and you are using it properly...why not use it?

How do you know she "needed" it? I think that's the point corvus was making, just because something works doesn't mean it was necessary. It's more important to know that you are competent and not doing harm. We tried many different avenues and this is what she responded to and it suited her abrupt yet forceful nature.

50kg pitbulls? Someone has been eating too many children. :D

That's bullshit. Lack of socialisation is the excuse given by breeders of especially guardian breeds for producing fear biters. A genetically stable dog of sound nerve doesn't need socialising. Dogs that react aggressively in non threatening passive environments are spooks. The one's who can't get over a bad experience and react from a learned behaviour are genetically weak in nerve strength. An unsocialsed dog will project it's true character unmasked by the effects of socialisation. There should be more breeders not socialising some of their breeding stock to be better informed of what they are actually producing in raw character and temperament IMHO. Id agree with that . me too. Me three

I have two kelpies and two very different training methods. One needed a check collar for a while as she was a rescue and a bit dog reactive and needed that extra reinforcement. The other was a flat collar and that's all. they're now both on flat collars, but occasionally I'll employ the check collar on Maybe for a refresher if I feel she needs it.

SQUEEEE! I think it's cute and adds an extra element of NAW to her. Also I have no idea but AWWWWW!

There's a yard full of hunting dog crosses on a route I used to take into the town, I had to change my route as the fence just didn't seem adequate and I was a bit scared. But technically they're not doing anything wrong but I think fence height needs to be a consideration and fence type for that matter. Chicken wire is hardly adequate for a lot of those heavier set and determined breeds. My council specifically says that fencing needs to be adequate (ie can't jump over the fence or fit under it). Sure, there are times when things are a close call, but star picket fencing or a low fence isn't enough to contain a large dog. Common sense really. Most fences around here are star picked chicken wire, about 5 ft high and most dogs are freaking HUGE! I actually have brought it up with the council as loose dogs are a real problem in town and we regularly have loose hunting and working dogs roaming the streets. One of the big reasons we put up the back fence was this. You see where these dogs are kept and it's not adequate fencing, but instead of fixing the fence they just chain or cage them all the time.

The place I was living at before here, the cleaners has a rescue Greyhound who they used to bring with them as she was very timid around strangers. They said she won't take food or treats off anyone but the owners, as that's what they are taught when they are racing, in case of baiting. It took all of 5 minutes for her to come up to me & take a treat, they were shocked & said I broke their dog. I accidentally broke a dog once. He was a working kelpie and the owner said he'd never listen to anyone but him and he let me have a go joking away saying it would never listen and we he did everything I said and got them all in the race he was quiet for a really long time and told me he'd have to sell him now (weird logic)

There's a yard full of hunting dog crosses on a route I used to take into the town, I had to change my route as the fence just didn't seem adequate and I was a bit scared. But technically they're not doing anything wrong but I think fence height needs to be a consideration and fence type for that matter. Chicken wire is hardly adequate for a lot of those heavier set and determined breeds.

my dogs have escaped a few times when someone didn't close the gate quick enough and they turn from furious guard dogs into, gallivanting, peace loving hippy dogs

We actually built a fence to deny out dogs access to the front yard as they were getting really animated and making paths running up and down all the time. Our next door neighbours have 5 SWF and one big yard and they never shut up, they bark at everything. Our dogs will go check if those ones bark but rarely join in now as it's too far away and not worth it. We know if there's someone here now as the dogs bark only when people visit and not just when they walk past.

Well Torque should have come in 15% ago lol

I don't mind prong collars and think they have their place. Sadly though I think that the general public shouldn't have free access to them, as i see so many people that don't even use check chains correctly and definitely should not have access to prong collars.

My dog is apparently trained not to take food from strangers, which is why he pick pocketed minties from my friend's pocket and proceeded to unwrap and eat them in the seclusion of his garage.

Oh OK, I was chatting to the vet nurse at work experience the other day and she said she thought there was a blood test, I got excited.

If Torque doesn't start in the next month I'll be getting a test for her as well. I feel your frustration :laugh:

You can get blood tests which can detect hormones and when she's likely to start (ish)

There's a distinct smell, the bitch will hold her tail to the side quite often (if she's in the receptive phase) and sometimes even in long haired breeds you can still see the vulva.