Nekhbet

I answered in the other thread. I wouldn't at all. training controls behavior, not desexing. The OP wants a protective dog they're better off leaving him entire.

1) it's called protection training, not attack training 2) in Victoria you cannot do that unless you are a licensed security guard and your trainer is licensed as well

I dealt with a pair of BC x brothers like this. One was easy going, confident, the other total meltdown if he wasnt close. He too would just lie down and refuse to work or totally ignore his handler. One day it just clicked for him and he started listening and didnt look at his brother once the entire lesson. When he lay down I just got him up, and we moved on. He wasn't allowed to lie there and feel sorry for himself. He wasn't stiff or frightened it was more a real drama queen protest.

I agree with what a few people have said, you are looking at breeds that are strong, willful and have very determined temperaments. Delta training is not for you and I have found the trainers I have met have little to no experience with big LGDs/Guarding breeds. If you are afraid to walk alone then don't. You are not a 13 year old you are an adult and the look of most dogs, especially well trained ones is enough to put people off. I live with rare breed dogs but I wouldn't recommend them for you. What do you want to do exactly? You're in between on a few breeds. A lot of the guarding breeds need to be with you a lot, not outside most of the time and need a reasonable amount of training. They are dogs bred to be trained, not just puppy preschool but ongoing training and activities. The larger livestock guardian breeds are not always social dogs that like popping down to the shops with you or going for walkies. I would not recommend you get a Tibetan Mastiff at all, I think the breed would be too much for your experience level. The BRTs we have in Australia too are not necessarily 'working line'. If I wanted one I would honestly import one. I would go a dobermann or rott over a GSD, but again they need a lot of work. Honestly, why not try a blue heeler. A good blue heeler is a smart dog, and you wont jump the fence with one around either.

what you need to look at is if you have rewarded anxious behavior as part of your training. Hard when I can't see the dog ;) If the dog becomes frustrated by the NRM - why. Let's problem solve. What meanings do your NRM have to your dog? Does it mean they actually did wrong? If you think they understand it as soon as you give it redirect them to try again. Some dogs need the whole pace of training to be a bit faster - long pauses and leaving them hanging can just get them to sit there staring at you like 'oh COME ONE WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!!!'. Anxiety usually means a scattered brain, the dog is not focussing on the task at hand but on something else (probably just getting the food) any chance you could get a video of the whole process?

http://www.petrescue.com.au/view/146671 http://www.petrescue.com.au/view/146670 http://www.petrescue.com.au/view/146665 http://www.petrescue.com.au/view/144175

some dogs are naturally frustrated. Why not guide the dog to help him reach the final goal? Some animals find free shaping more an annoyance then anything else (my bitch walked off on me in disgust lol) As for Barkley carrying on, give him either a non reward marker or command him to be quiet. Dogs still need to learn what is unacceptable and what is not. Conversely make your end goal progression extremely linear in its shaping and dont try and change the parameters in too big a leap. You do need to separate Stella, she's a dog that needs a crutch and it's him. But you need to transfer her attention onto you. Do some focus exercises, something where you show her what to do, small easy goals and reward often. You dont need to be hyperactive yourself, just mark her behavior with a YES and give her a treat. Easier then a clicker, I know it's just another thing to hold in your hand. Start in the front yard at least, then move onto the street, you can do this a few times a day. Every time she looks up at your face 'YES! Oh GOOD GIRL!' and when she's really intently watching you or watches you over something 'scary' is when the jackpot treat will come. Confidence comes slowly, the herding breeds can be shockers about lacking it. I would also be looking at Stellas 'shut down' behavior. Is it a true, paralysing emotional shutdown or just a behavior she has learned that is blocking her progress. To her it may be the logical progression in the pattern, get excited, exhibit this behavior. Sometimes they just need to be stood up, dust off the BS and keep working, otherwise you always hit that brick wall as soon as the dog hits a certain stimulation level.

I wouldn't desex him at all particularly if you want him to guard. Either way you are purchasing a giant breed that needs training and leadership, that you need to do desexing or not. I had an entire male Dogue, great home protection but an absolutely solid temperament, lovely natured dog. Never desexed.

what about from Vic?

have a look on petrescue.com.au there are a lot of rotties of all ages on there

I was thinking the same thing LizT was, find your dad a community social group of people his age or people with similar interests. He sounds fit and capable, just lonely which is understandable. We seem to forget that most seniors have a young brain still wanting basic companionship and stimulation.

after all these years I do prefer male dogs. They're always deep down big galoofs. Saying that I wouldn't trade my Mal bitch for the world, but she's a bitch in name and personality :laugh: My boys were always the snuggle bums, always the ones to make peoples hearts melt.

thats the part I found horrific ... how settled could dogs be totally deprived. yes and how to crate train a SA dog ... lock him in and correct any time he whined. Dog quickly escalates into ripping apart a metal crate when locked in ... Another doozy we seem to have around here is a 'positive' way of thinking that is no treats or toys. So only flat/halti etc but reinforce with praise only. Seems perfectly acceptable to get super frustrated and yell at the dog though it's almost like a YOU MUST LOVE ME DOG, LOVE ME NOW way of thinking. The dogs actually shy away from their owners, one dog I saw would flinch when his owner became firm or raised her hands for him to return to her ... yeah positive ...

none of her training is like Cesar Milan at all ... I dont even understand it's just a hodge podge. We have someone down here like that apparently for fear aggression you cut out all meat from the diet, remove all toys and no walks for at least a couple of weeks until they 'settle down' ... yeah nah ...

you need to lock the gate. If your father wants to leave the yard he can do so through the house and they will have to come to your front door. Big padlock and hide the keys. If they get into the yard otherwise it's tresspass and instantly you have the right to call the police - you have 'secured' your property and hence being in a secure area they have 'broken in'. Report every time they rock up to the police.

deary me ... there are some great theories out there aren't there. Dobesrock I have some ways of teaching dogs like this to prefer not to bite, not in a rough way but I'm firm, email me if you want to bounce some ideas. Good that you can own a prong up there at least.

http://www.rjwalsh.com.au/ try this manufacturer of the buggies for dogs, they may have some http://www.k9pro.com.au/products/The-Cowboy-Harness.html this is the kind of thing that a lot of people use as it can clip the side bars as well.

that was my boy, his worst hip gave way suddenly in the evening. I had to give him a lot of medication and tucked him into bed with me that night, OH slept on the couch. His body just gave in. He weighed 50kg when I put him to sleep and he was lean, just incredibly bad conformation as you can see from the photos. I'm happy to be emailed if people want more information. I still can't bring myself to sit here and update the website, particularly because I lost my Dogue too over a month ago.

the leerburg stuff is set up for pet owners too, most of his free stuff is.

www.leerburg.com especially for the pushier, specialty breeds.

Mark Singer is definitely someone worth consulting :)

um you do realise you can just email the DPI with the link to the page to report them or screen shots of them flouting the law or encouraging it.

whippetwear.com.au

what a fabulous idea!

http://www.eurekavet.com.au http://www.bvp.com.au/contact for after hours