CBL

how will that fit in with Patch's bath time :D

A friend of mine has just started taking one of her labs to someone out at Horsley (one on one training)(i think at the boarding kennel you looked into). Apparently the Dapto obedience club is supposed to be good too.

Patch is a greyhound

Just an update: we are walking SO much better I keep him on a short leash and stop at the same spots everytime, using the term 'ok, go sniff'. He tries to stop occassionally but I just walk and he quickly keeps up. Thanks for the advice everyone

I'm so sorry Paula He was a gorgeous boy

Bingo. In my experience there is always a reason for dogs behaving the way they do. If he can see you, he can trust you to handle things. Sniffing is a stress behaviour for many dogs. More generally, my view is that walks are not just about walking on a loose lead, but are about environmental stimulation for the dog. I don't mind sniffing provided it is polite. If they are polite, then they mostly get to sniff (not always). If they lurch or lunge towards a tussock or a tree, I stop dead and wait until they look at me before they get to sniff. I see very little point in a walk where a dog doesn't get to explore. If you want to train better behaviour, I would try walking the same route for a few days - they tend to be calmer if the smells and the rest of the environment are extremely familiar (ie, mildly boring) We walk the same route every day - he got worse not better We will keep perservering with him and no doubt he will get better (and still be allowed to sniff and pee too)

Well we had a better walk today Not perfect but better. I tried bribing with cheese but it is hard to feed through a muzzle, and I was soon carrying bags (yes bags - 3! ) of dog poop as well. I decided to just walk and he would catch up (kept him on a pretty short leash too), I noticed when I made the effort to stand on his right side (he is blind in his left eye), he behaved more (it also meant I was between him and anything he would like to pee on). We still had quite a few stops and I must have looked odd dragging him behind me part of the way but we did alot better.

Thanks Mark - I have tried enouraging (though not with treats - he usually isn't food motivated) and I admit by half way round I am usually pretty fed up. Though it is odd, for the last 1/4 of the walk he is great, we usually jog the rest of the way - with only one or 2 of the usual pee stops. It is always after the same house that he just walks (and he spends ages at that particular house). I will try just ignoring and walking (I am always worried I will hurt him), though at pretty much 30 kgs if he doesn't want to move it is difficult for me to force him. I will pop something I know he absolutely loves in my pocket and bring along a toy tomorrow. Thanks

First thing to check is that there is nothing wrong with Patch - by the sounds of it you have this one covered - my little man stopped liking his walks and it turned out he had an injury. Next I guess it is really up to you - if you are happy to have him sniff then let him go for it. If not then I think you have two options - first is just keep walking, he'll soon get the message that unless you let him know he is allowed to stop he doesn't stop (my boy still tries it on at 14 months, but he is learning slowly). The second option is to make whatever you have more exciting - this works better with my boy - have his favourite squeaky toy with you and use that to distract him from whatever he finds interesting. I think there is a difference between having a look around when out on a walk and ruling the walk which is what your boy sounds like he is doing. Just another thought - if he stops to sniff and won't walk further just take him home, no walk, no fun. Again - will soon get the message. Hope this helps. It's just my experience with two young pups, not a qualified opinion. Cheers. Tony Thanks Tony - he is injury-free - he can still do his 2 minute zoomies ok We are going to the offleash park later this evening (unless a predicted storm comes in) so I will see how he goes then but I will try your suggestions as well. Thanks :p

Hi guys, I am having trouble with Patch on his daily walk and am wondering if I am being too hard on him. When we first got him, walking was hard as he was very unsure, then he gained confidence and he was great, however now, he just wants to sniff and pee, and when I don't let him have his own way he stops dead. refusing to budge. I don't want to hurt him by dragging him but I also don't want him to get his own way all the time. Neither of us are enjoying it anymore. Yesterday a walk around the block that should take us 20 mins took us nearly 40 mins. Today he refused to budge so we turned around and came home only 5 or 10 mins into the walk. I should also say, if we go to the beach or the local off leash park (though he isn't offleash) he is great, it is just his daily walk. Do I just let him enjoy it and sniff to his hearts content or should I go back to basics and get him to obey me regardless? Of course I want him to enjoy it AND do what he is told!

Raw chicken is off the menu. Because I thought his tummy may be a bit funny I gave him steamed chicken last night and he seems fine today.

Hmmm - we just busted him eating poo - that could also be what is making him sick We will cut out the raw chicken and add some pineapple to his diet and see if either works.

The necks and frames were from different batches and both frozen less than an hour after I bought them. It had crossed by mind but neither smelt off

Ok I am bumping this up again as Patch was a bit funny again this morning. I woke up to him gagging and think he threw up a little - he had minced chicken frames (Lenards) last night (the first time he has had raw chicken since the first time). I have read after I bought it that Lenards mince is sometimes funny, however this batch didn't smell off at all. However I think I will cut out the chicken necks and raw chicken and see if that stops the vomiting. It has me perplexed though as he has had raw chicken before with no problems He is actually a really good eater, he chews his food really well and does not hover it. So I stopped through at the butcher and am going to steam him some chicken tonight with rice just in case things are still unsettled. Also got some soft lamb bones (which I presume are lamb flaps/ribs), mince and their cooked dog loaf which is just scraps of meat and offal.

Nope just a tummy upset I am very relieved. No food for 24 hours and then just chicken and rice for a while. Not sure what caused it, he may have found something in the backyard.

Patch has just been told he gets no food for 24hrs and then boiled chicken breast and rice to settle his upset stomach

Patch is another fan of grass, and this thread just made me realise that he has started up eating grass again in the last couple of days - and has now vomitted today (see my thread). We are off to the vet soon to try and get some answers.

We are off to the vet in an hour but just thought I would ask some opinions. He vomitted this morning after we got home from our walk and after he had had a sleep. He walked onto the carpet (right past the tiles of course). It was thick and brown (almost poo like). As he has lost some weight and not eating all his dry food (but still eating his dinner which is either chicken necks, mince or a meat log thing that is all natural - plus usually some veges or a raw egg and sardines once a week) I wanted to make sure he is OK before I go away for 4 days. He just vomitted again. This time more liquidy and full of little bones - chicken neck bones from his dinner last night. It dawned on me that the little bones I found outside yesterday must have been chicken neck bones. Stupidly I had assumed it was the bones of a baby bird that had been in our yard and then disappeared. So could the chicken necks be irritating him? I want to feed him a mix of raw food and dry but want to make sure I am doing it right.

Patch is currently on Supercoat, simply because that was what he got in foster care. But once we get through that pack we will change to a higher quality brand. He is actually loosing a bit of weight and not eating all of his kibble (unless he has sardine oil or something tasty on it) so we may change earlier. He also gets 500g of meat at night - usually beef mince or chicken necks plus some veges occassionally and a raw egg. He discovered a love of prawns last night - though we sure paid for it - what a stinker!

Thanks I'll give both the vingear and lavender oil a try. He did it again today while he was outside alone. Erny, in the wet weather he wasn't going to the toilet when we wanted to, we were taking him out at around 10 and he wouldn't need to go, but then get me up at 2:30 or 3am busting to go. Last night he slept through fine, maybe we are still just working into a routine.

Patch has a nasty habit of pooping on the cobblestones instead of the grass. He goes on the grass half of the time, especially if we are out there with him. But when he is out alone he goes on the cobblestones. We praise him lots when he goes in the right spot and he gets a firm no if we catch him where he shouldn't be. But is there anything we can spray on the cobblestones to remove the scent or discourage him from pooping there. He only pees on the grass, has never had an accident inside, it is just the pooping. With all the rain he is also starting to get into a habit of getting up to go to the toilet at around 2:30-3:00am. With all the storms last week we could not get him outside when it was bedtime for a last pee (our fault, we should have persisted more probably - but when we could get him out there he would stand there and not do anything). Is there anyway to break this habit too?

Cod liver oil would not be my choice for Omega 3's. I'd be using other fish oil or, if the dog tolerates it, flax seed or other vegetable oils. Cod Liver oil contains fat soluable A and, if fed in too high a quantity, can lead to a harmful excess of Vitamin A in the diet. I just bought cod liver oil tablets for Patch to help with his coat. How much is too much? I was going to break a couple of them over his dinner each night.

Ah man! I was just down at Woolies 5 mins ago and didn't think of getting some wings I got a box of necks though - had to store most of them at my mums in her freezer as they just won't fit here. I may be able to fit a few more things in her freezer but maybe should get some beef or the like for a change? I'll have to make a dent in the necks first though I think. MissA - that place sounds great. I might have to make a trip down next weekend.

which one?? I go to the one in Daisy St - he has really good meat (raises and kills his own mostly) and always has stuff put away for me for the dogs! Pet barn must have been low on stock this week because they didn't have alot of meat aside from mince. Haven't been to any butchers in Fairy Meadow, I might head out there though.

Thanks - would love some samples. I think we are going to get a special greyhound kibble first up but samples are always good Unfortunately we only have a little freezer for the 4 of us so I can't get big boxes of carcasses at the moment. The inlaws do have a big freezer that we are taking when we move but it isn't set up and there is no room in the house for it.