Aleksandra 157

I am so very,very sad for you,I cannot imagine the pain losing two so close.Hugs and loving thoughts with you.

Update on Jesse....again.Sure I must bore some people with all my updates,but it is following the advice I received on this site that have made the changes! Both dogs went to boarding kennels for a week while we were in Melbourne and came home with much improved behavior .The owner of the kennels is also a dog trainer and we discussed jesses problems earlier.The staff. made sure he was socialized with many various size dogs,gave him a great deal of exercise and generally helped his lead walking etc.Just wondered if anybody has experience with the Halti head collar.I have had this recommended by a couple of people including my vet,who thinks it would help me control him while walking him.He still is reactive on the lead in that he will jump and pull if we see another dog I am too small to hold him .Thanks for reading this..... :)

We have exactly these problems in N Z.Several years ago I was walking my Keeshond in a quiet neighborhood (she was never off lead),all was well until a very large dog raced out from a veranda on an unfenced property,grabbed her under the ribs.I screamed,put myself between them((not very effective as I'm short and light) I think my 2nd yell scared it off as it disappeared back inside.No harm was done partly because she had a very heavy coat ,however it terrified me and ever since I am really aware of other dogs off lead,especially as one of my dogs is a 6kg JS. Small dogs are quite often killed in NZ by large dogs with no consequences for the dog owner

Gorgeous boy !

My Suki, I wrote about earlier sounds so like Maple in nature!When I got him was told by breeder he was a year old and been retrieved by her after owner ill treated him.Turned out when his papers arrived he was 2 yrs and so timid he would wet himself if somebody knocked on the door etc.The vet suggested I not keep him as he was so traumatized he would not improve!It took a couple of years work to calm him,although he remained a very timid dog.He was just so loving,loyal and affectionate I was always so glad I didn't give up on him.Unfortunately living in Ch Ch. the earthquakes took a huge toll on most dogs....many died of fright.Bub as I called him was terrified so while the big ones were happening I took both the dogs to a friend on a farm 100 miles away....not ideal but much better ,as our house eventually came down.We live rurally now,on many acres and Bub would have loved it....however he didn't make it and his heart stopped during a small op.Apparently fear had weakened his sweet little heart.Tears flowing now as I recall the wee soul!Sorry to get off the track I just wanted to tell you you will be blessed with your wee baby as I was with my beautiful Bub!

Hi Steve ,Thank you so much for your informed and sensible reply!I was beginning to think I had got the 6weeks leaving mum issue wrong so I reread it and it was just as you say.Showing my age here but 35yrs ago ,when I first began showing spitz varieties things were very different. Pups left Mum earlier,love and general wellbeing and happiness of dogs took precedent over the big influence of trainers etc.who often have differing ideas.My dogs are always very important members of our family,treated with love and consideration at all times.Showing my age again....I think it's a lot like raising children,theories come and go but are often not as good as the old ways.EG.we very rarely heard of dog attacks but there is a serious one here in NZ nearly every week now. You are very knowledgable about dogs and along with Pebbles suggest I not worry so much about the details.Had Jesse at the vet yesterday and she said he was in great condition mentally and physically so I will continue just removing them on the rare occasion someone calls!I can no longer do long lead walks after a serious illness developed after I got Jesse,but it is unfair of some bloggers to suggest I need to put in more effort as my dogs are the most important things in the world to me (except for my husband).and he would say that's some times debatable!He's a good Aussie bloke!!!Again Steve and Pebbles,Thank you .

Forgot to say I just love the min pins.Never seen them in n z but saw one at a cafe in Melbourne .Gorgeous! :)

Thank you again ,Pebbles you make so much sense and make me feel so much better about my situation ! I only have one house entrance but I have padlocked the main gate to the property and keep the main gate locked so no one can just wander in.Gives me time to get both dogs outside.The big difference is I no longer feel guilty doing it!!! :)

Pebbles thank you so much for your reply!Your situation sounds very like mine! You have explained it so well....fine out of their own property,but the collie becomes crazy,barking ,jumping etc. Has never bitten but obviously want to address this before rather than later.He is a beautiful dog,very cuddly and obedient but in spite of having 7 purebred dogs of different breeds over 35y years,I am finding this a real challenge ,to the point I'm wondering if I should have chosen such a large dog at my age! In the past I have had Keeshound,JSpitz,Samoyed and collies....Think I might do as you do and have dogs enclosed on the rare occasion other people are here,thanks so much,again... :)

Thank you for all of your replies,.I will try and find the link (on this forum),that suggested pups leaving litter at 6weeks.I personally do not agree with it and have always got my puppies at 10weeks earliest.As for Jesses training I have completed a 6week training course,and he and our JS always go in the car with either myself or my husband.We often go for a drive just to get them off the property.My life revolves around my dogs so I think there is not a lack of effort.Want to make it clear that I was in no way criticizing the breeder,who is very reputable and has helped enormously with some issues.I absolutely know the danger of an unsocialised dog,which is why I asked for advice!I posted this not to be controversial but just to see how other people deal with living in a remote area.Thank you again for advice :)

Thanks for that desertdobes,he really has come so far re. obedience that I am hopeful neutering and age will calm him :)

Just wondered how it is best to socialize 10months old when living rurally ? We have not lived here long so have very few people visit.Consequentially ,Jesse is very fearful/aggressive if anybody outside family comes to the house.I have just been reading a research paper on here saying 3/6 weeks is critical for socialization ,obviously pup is still with mum,so it's almost impossible to know what their background is then.Also says best time to get a pup is 6weeks,which I would have felt was a bit early .We got Jesse at 10 weeks.He is fine when we occasionally take them to cafe etc,again not often because of distance,it's just in our....His....home.Love to hear your thoughts on this.. :)

Unfortunately in N Z many purebred dogs are hard to obtain,so if you want a particular breed ,as I did,you have to buy online.I have been lucky but if I buy again I will definately visit first.

Sorry I meant yappy not happy....

I think he looks just beautiful,so sweet!He is very like my male JS who passed about a year ago.I miss him so much,.I still have Lulu ,female JS who is very much smaller at 6kg.Suki was about 11kg and taller.Lulu came from reputable breeder but looks more like a pom,with round eyes,so who knows!Fortunately she is pet only and very sweet but really happy.She also goes very long time between wee as did Suki,wonder if it's a breed trait....They are known as Teflon dogs,as their coat is self cleaning ,although I brush Lu every few days, and have her groomed every couple of months.They make beautiful pets,but unfortunately not so easy to get in NZ . :)

Gorgeous Boy,Congratulatios!

Really happy to report Jesses behavior is very much improved! He is much calmer and barking less.I am keeping him inside more and that has helped.He is still very stroppy about visitors .Last Sat we had two male friends arrived unexpectedly,walked straight in and Jesse could see them through a glass door.Chaos for a few minutes while husband removed him,I think he would have bitten if left.The visitors were very boisterous and loud ,with no knowledge of dogs,so I was not surprised.The comments from all of you have been so helpful thank you .We graduate from obedience class this week but I will begin another one. :)

Update on Jesse....I like the idea of an electric fence but have no knowledge about them e.g.could they harm him ?i have taken your advice Corbus and last couple of days I have kept him very quiet.While I am on my own is a good time to try new things!Both dogs have been so good ,no barking,no pacing just chilling out .I think he may have been getting too much exercise as he would run the fences most of the day! I have also had a chance to check the behaviour between the two dogs, and now realise it is Lu who usually starts the barking She has a very loud,high pitched yap which I thought followed him ,but it is actually the other way around. Thank you all again for the great advice...

Update on Jesse....I like the idea of an electric fence but have no knowledge about them e.g.could they harm him ?i have taken your advice Corbus and last couple of days I have kept him very quiet.While I am on my own is a good time to try new things!Both dogs have been so good ,no barking,no pacing just chilling out .I think he may have been getting too much exercise as he would run the fences most of the day! I have also had a chance to check the behaviour between the two dogs, and now realise it is Lu who usually starts the barking She has a very loud,high pitched yap which I thought followed him ,but it is actually the other way around. Thank you all again for the great advice...

Sorry I meant to say one on one with a behaviourist !

Thank you for more great ideas!I would like to do 2fences,but its along boundary so would be expensive .IIm beginning to think along the line like Corvus suggested, that he may be overstimulated.Over the weekend we kept him mainly inside and today the human males (talk loud,move quickly,etc,bless them) are away for a few days and Jesse is very quiet and well behaved.Different altogether .I have arranged some one on one time at our property a s a p.iI bought Jesse from a very good breeder and she also has been very helpful!I will get him neutered very soon.

Great suggestions again! Yes, his body language was definitely aggressive .He leapt on her and I feel he would have bitten.He is a particularly big dog even at this age.He is very protective of my husband and me,and as we live rurally he does not see that many people.He is an angel when we take them both to cafes etc which we sometimes do to help socialize him.This behavior is only on our property.He is crate trained for sleeping but I have not used it for anything else .Will give it a try though...good idea! I can see that removing him may not have been the best thing but I really didn't know what else to do......Thanks so much. :)

Thanks so much for the great ideas!Such a coincidence but I go to Vikki at suggested link,we are half way through but missed yesterday because of fall!I The obedience is great and we are also learning tricks.I think I will get some one on one behavior help as Jesse has started barking quite aggressively when a neighbor came into the house unexpectedly yesterday.Fortunately she has dogs and did not panic so we quickly removed her.It really gave me a fright as I really felt he was totally in control,not me.Any suggestions would be so appreciated as at present I'm wondering what I'm doing wrong! Have had Keeshond,Samoyd,and a collie in earlier years with none of these problems.

Thank you for your reply.I am new on here and couldn't seem to get the introduction thread right,so a few things about me!From New Zealand, living in Nelson after the Christchurch earthquakes destroyed our house.We now live on a large fenced property with our Jesse (collie) and Lulu our 4yr Japanese spitz.Jesse was bought after our male JS died suddenly probably due to shock and stress of earthquakes.Back to Jesse,he gets lots of exercise running with Lu and also on lead as much as I can.I am unable at present as last Sunday I was walking them,he pulled,I fell and injured my face and legs, dr insisted I have a few days in bed.As you said,he is very intelligent and I sometimes have difficulty keeping him occupied mentally.We have an adjoining property with a giant schnauzer that Jesse can here but not see.He is obsessed by this and even inside we have to pull the curtain or he jumps at the window to get out.When outside he jumps at the fence,barking incessantly so we have to bring him back in.Also he has started barking quite aggressively when visitors arrive.Sorry to go on but really don't know what to do.I have always had dogs,always purebreds..including a rough collie but he was very much quieter.We love him so much so rehoming is not an option,but things have to change.Thank you so much for reading this. :)

I have an 8month rough collie,with a few training problems,would be so grateful for any suggestions!he is an entire male and almost hyperactive ,pacing fences,2acre section and generally On high alert most of the time.He is a beautiful boy and we love him so much.I am at present doing obedience training with limited success and would appreciate any suggestions.