Daisy

She really does like playing with the other dogs, but it is not possible for me to stop her from playing at all (I have quite a few dogs here and nowhere to segregate her completely). I can try what the instructor suggested though and keep her apart from them for a while before having a game with her.

K9: why? Because she is such a big girl I would not like to trigger something that in my ignorance I cannot control

Thanks. My instructor's comment was that my dog is a hunting dog so she should have prey drive, we just have to release it. ETA I must admit that I am a bit apprehensive about trying to trigger her prey drive

Sorry to ask a stupid question, but what do you mean by high thresholds to drive?

Hey that sounds great Mel, would love to borrow the book when you are finished. And schutzhund is the word my instructor used that I couldn't remember she has been doing that for 15 years.

Just thought I would share some interesting observations, I have a female Irish Wolfhound, she will be 9 months old this weekend. I have recently started taking her to obedience classes. While everyone else's beginner dogs are bouncing around, wrestling, sniffing, running.... Bree sits by my side quietly then will lie down and go to sleep, and after a while she will refuse to get up at all. My instructor is a fascinating person, she has been training dogs for 30 years. She gets people to make training a game, is always saying play with your dog, and uses things like tug toys, says things like 'be the rabbit, be the prey' So now I think I am finally starting to understand training in drive. My big problem is that Bree won't play with me, and I think it is my fault. I got Bree when she was 3 months old, and knowing that she was going to be a very large dog, I have never encouraged her to play with me as I didn't want to encourage her to be rough or jump up on people. Bree plays a lot with the other dogs, chasies and wrestles, but she won't play with me. My instructor has given me a few things to do. Firstly, to seperate Bree from the pack for a while before training ie ask my son when he gets home from school to bring Bree inside away from the other dogs till I get home from work. Then when I get home and she is excited to see me I am to try to play with her. I have been told to get down on my hands and knees and imitate dog play I am to use my hands to give her little pulls and nips as another dog would do if it wanted to play. After playing for a few minutes I am to take her for a walk and do some training, but keeping it fun, making it a game. Anyway, I thought this was all very interesting and just wanted to share. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

So sorry for your loss

The good news is that Cocoa is doing well and will be going to her new home next week with a lovely lady who is an ex vet nurse and rescues cats

Poor baby Hope he is ok.

Thanks for all the replies. Most of the dogs I have here are fosters and they usually need a bit of fattening up, so I will probably continue to give more of an evening.

I always feed my dogs twice a day (mine and the fosters), and have been giving them approx 1/3 of their food in the morning and 2/3 in the evening. I got home late from lokelani's party last night and my son hadn't fed them, so decided to only give them a small meal last night before bed and give a bigger one this morning. This started me thinking, are dogs like people and better off having their bigger meal in the morning? Or would 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 in the evening be better?

Cocoa is home and doing well. Apparently all the pups on one side of the uterus were dead and were being reabsorbed

My newest foster Cocoa went in for desexing today, we were not sure if she was in pup or not. Vet called me during the day to say that yes she was in pup, but some of the babies were already dead when they started to operate. They thought the best option was to continue with the desexing. Cocoa is only young and has obviously not been treated very well, poor girl. At least the vet is confident she will make a full recovery. RIP little ones. If only your mum had been treated better you may have made it through. I wish your mum had had a loving home and her owners had not allowed her to get pregnant

I fed the dogs this morninga nd let them all out then went inside to finish getting ready for work. When I went back outside there was a lot of magpie screeching and swooping, and I realised there was a dead young magpie on the ground. It wasn't there earlier, I think one of the dogs must have got it I was surprised as they have never caught a bird before. They were just sniffing it gently, but it had a small hole with some entrails coming out, so it musthave been one ofthe dogs. I suspect whoever caught it probably got quite a surprise. Only problem was that mama and papa magpie were screeching and swooping, so I had to get my son to come out with me and fend them off while I removed the poor dead baby and put the dogs in their runs. I have not had any trouble with maggies swooping in our backyard before, guess they were just trying to protect the baby Sorry maggie baby, RIP.

good to hear the big boofer is ok ;)

Just found this thread after doing a search on chewing My Irish Wolfhound Bree has been very good, I got her when she was 3 months old and haven't really had a chewing problem, only one fr two things. But she has just turned 6 months old and for the last few days has been wanting to chew everything! I guess she is teething. She is supervised while in the house, so can't get into too much mischief, but I was wondering if anyone had some ideas for good chew toys I can give her?

so very sorry openarms :rolleyes:

onya olliedog :D

Goodbye sweet Miss Jenny. Hugs to you Rozzie.

So sorry Isaviz

Hope poor Ollie bounces back quickly.

Wonderful news. Hope we get some nice sunny days so you and Ollie can enjoy getting out and about :rolleyes:

Run free lovely Sophie. Rip at the bridge. Hugs to you Rozzie.

Lots of love and hugs and best wishes to you and Ollie dog Jody

Hi Erny, I have not been following Kal's journey assiduously, but I have popped in to this thread from time to time. When I noticed the subtitle today my heart sank. I am so sorry for you, and sending you big hugs for being so brave to help Kal end the pain. Rip beautiful Kal.