Kavik

They do tend to pant more when excited or stressed.

You could try standing up and walking away, wait for spike to calm down a bit before playing again.

Yay for Pickle! Now there will be 3 dogs in the car

Zoe's regular crate is a plastic airline approved crate. I don't think it matters which type you use. I also use it for Kaos when travelling - not because of the type of crate but because Kaos's wire crate doesn't fit in the car when assembled. I think a cat crate would be too small for a pointer pup.

Maybe people don't know what appropriate facilities are? There are two places that I know of in Sydney, the same places sidoney knows. From what I have heard, both places have the same problem with sheep. But city people who have never done sheep work before and who have a herding type dog and want to give it a go, won't know the difference in the sheep. They don't know how the sheep are supposed to act, or what type of problems could occur with the sheep that are available. The only reason I know is because of my contact with sidoney and vickie and a few others. I am going to the herding workshop with sidoney with Kaos, should be fun as it will be Kaos's first time on sheep and mine as well My main activity with Kaos is going to be agility. I knew that access to sheep might be difficult, so how much sheep work we do or how seriously we get into it depends on how much access we are able to get.

Hi jacobite Was the person who tested the dog hair a dermatologist? This is our next port of call if the food trial does not work. I thought though that a dermatologist would do patch allergy testing to determine what the problem is if it is a contact allergy, as the food trial should rule out (or show up) food intolerances. I am interested in finding out more.

Thanks Rappie My vets seem to use pred as first port of call . . . If the elimination diet doesn't work (and it may not as they suspect contact allergy, we are doing food trial just to rule out food) I would prefer to try something else rather than the specialist. It is getting to the point though that it is either have him itch or go to specialist . . . We wash in Aloveen and before the elimination diet added fish oil to his diet.

When we first put a collar on Kaos he tried to kill it Seriously, he would growl and carry on and try to get it off! He got used to it though, doesn't notice it anymore. Do fun things with the collar on, maybe only have the collar on for short periods of time. EFS

Diesel has allergies too - the scratching is driving me mad! I talked to the vet and they didn't think antihistimines were worth trying I am about to start an elimination diet today to see if it is food related. Good luck, itchy dogs are frustrating!

This thread has made some interesting reading as Kaos is my first working line Kelpie and we are doing are first herding workshop next month. Thanks for the great read and keep it coming

martingale collars are good I use them on Diesel and Zoe This site has some good funky ones, you can also get them at petstores and from K9 Force, some have chain, some don't http://www.blackdog.net.au

What's happening on Sunday?

This sounds like a great idea When I did the scent detection course, Gary Jackson was one of the lecturers and I was impressed with his work - does drive work too. You do have to be prepared to probably tape it and watch it again though - he talks a million miles an hour :D But his enthusiasm and energy was great! He does scent detection, protection, tracking http://www.mnk9.com.au/

I have a pretty cruisy GSD Although I guess it is all perspective . . . the people at training and at the park seem to think he has lots of energy. Since I am used to Kelpies, who tend to be full on, Diesel seems pretty lazy in comparison. With the Kelpies, if they start to be too much, some training works really well (actually, I am off to do some in a minute with Kaos! ). Even small things such as target training, holding objects or tricks in the evening works well.

If you are talking about training in drive the way K9 Force does, he generally uses it to mean training in prey drive. If the dog does not have enough prey drive, this training will not work. It will also not work (or certainly not as well) if the dog is older and its prey drive has been suppressed through other training.

And I am sure K9 would be the first to tell you training in drive does not work for every dog. Some dogs can escape from almost anything. At two vets I worked at, the same Beagle came in. He could open any type of cage they had at the vet. He had to be tied to the back of the cage and the door completely wired shut or he would get out.

For the possession problem (growling at you when you try to take something away) you could try swapping instead. Show her a food treat and when she drops the item give her the food. This way she learns good things come when she gives you something.

Jeff Last year it was definitely a Malinois that took the Sch III, don't know about this year. Last year I only saw Mals and Shepherds.

I cover the crate when they are little. I find they tend to be quieter if they can't see out. Kaos does pull the sheet into his crate too if he really wants out before I let him

Here is some more info on Schutzhund http://www.sportdogaustralia.com/news/whatisipo.php http://www.dvgamerica.com/ I watched the Nationals last year with Myszka - it was amazing to watch!

Oooh I am jealous, that sounds fantastic! Looks like so much fun I would love to give canine freestyle a go at some time . . .

Why do dogs escape? Because they can Some like to see the world more than others. My old dog Belle was an escape artist, I often used to come home from school to see her on the front lawn. She jumped the fence until it was raised above 6 ft and she is only a little thing, maybe 17 inches! It didn't help that there were 9 people in the house, including several young children, and cleaners once a week who left the door open. On the other hand, Zoe rarely wandered, even when Belle would get out. I would see Zoe in the yard, and later find the garage door open and Belle gone.

I don't think it is a big deal - it has to be done! When I am on a walk and they go it is handy to put them in a drop while I clean it up, not because it is a subservient position, but so I don't trip over them while cleaning .

Yep, he loves sardines - gets them once a week, and I just give fish oil capsules with his meals

I use a body block like flycow to prevent them coming in before they are allowed, then make them sit and when they do I give their release command and let them come in. You have to be quick though For sitting before meals, you can use the Triangle of Temptation, I think it is pinned at the top of the training forum? (I always just use show new posts instead of going in individual forums LOL) The ToT teaches the dog to look at you and give you attention before he eats. I am now doing something similar to ToT with the door, I don't physically make them sit, just block the entrance and wait. They want to come in and know that sitting makes that happen.