haven

Don't think so YB but a phone call to Julija will tell you: 1300 664 466 The Lindsay books are excellent, but I doubt many people who are new to training would pick one up unless they are avid readers and/or reeeeeeelly keen.

Steeeeeve! Don't stress me like that!

Not to be a nag but I have CONFIRMED

True, but I can see how living interstate would be more than a minor inconvenience. Having said that, I've done it and can't recommend it highly enough. In almost every NDTF course there have been a few people from interstate and there are even students from overseas. If you can arrange it, you will certainly never regret it Good news about the distance education, Jan is only a few months away!!!

"How dogs learn" By Mary Burch and Jon Bailey.

That what can exacerbate aggression issues? A natural diet or the clomicalm? I have heard that about some medications but not diet, except for old wives tales. Colourings, flavourings and preservatives in pet foods can cause serious behavioural problems - just like when people have too many additives too. Also, as you are feeding lots of raw bones there is much more chewing involved. Chewing increases serotonin levels in the brain, which moderates anxiety. The B vitamins, magnesium and copper are great for stress also.

My point was not that the dog doesn't see the ball at all, but that perhaps they don't see it until they are closer, or that they have trouble predicting the distance between them and the ball. Like most things, I'd imagine it were a skill that could be improved upon with practise. But I'm not a canine eye doctor either Perhaps it could also be a motivation thing IE more drive than control.

Also, the NDTF don't require payment in full before the course commences (or didn't when i did it). Many of the students also receive sponsorship from a kennel, vet or training organisation IE they only pay a portion of the cost in return for working with said vet, training oganisation etc for a specific number of hours. Having done the course, I can tell you that Ery is 100% correct. All of the theory ties in and doing seperate modules would really hinder learning.

I strongly urge you to try a natural diet. That made the biggest difference to my GSD's anxiety.

I'd venture a guess its because of the difference in the eyesight of dogs, IE, a dog's eye is better able to see movement than detail. They also have less colour receptors, so perhaps he simply doesn't see it from a distance.

i wish!

Speaking of signatures..... Thankyou HR for my beautiful new avatar

I used it and did not find it to be all that special. I did notice a mild change, just taking the edge of my dog's anxiety. What made the most difference apart from socialization and desensitisation was a natural diet and supplements, DAP and a bach flower remedy in that order. Recent information from a veterinary behaviourist is that prozac is much more effective than clomicalm in most cases.

Well there is a very big point to keeping him confined, like the fact that he can't go around impregnating bitches willy nilly! At least your girl is safe

Collars with plastic clips for walking and training: NEVER EVER EVER! I have seen even very small puppies break them and get loose. ETA: leaving correction chains on unsupervised dogs. My neighbours dog hung itself over the fence. Not pretty. What makes it even sadder is that they are not the only people I know who this has happened to.

If he is so keen on sniffing, have you considered doing tracking with him? Then you would have the behaviour under stimulus control, he would get to do what he loves and you can use it as a reinforcer.

How disgracefully irresponsible of the other owner to have a 9 yr old entire male that is known to jump a 9ft fence

I definately want to come and have organised the day off work so please don't forget meeeee

Obviously I should have specified that it was a loose example of what i was trying to convey. Of course the dog is going to see a spray bottle and a body of water diferently, what I meant was, if you squirt with the hose, the dog becomes afraid of the hose, tip a bucket of water over the dog, etc etc. I was also not suggesting that using the spray bottle doesn't work or that it always has negative contingencies, just making the point that people should be aware of the possible consequences of using such punishers. I actually have used one on my cat and it worked a treat and like others she now runs as soon as i pick up the bottle, even if I am not focusing it on her. She won't go anywhere near the bathroom as we have one hanging in plain sight next to the bench. This sort of thing can be an issue for some people, hence the comment. About time you found your way back here kelpie-i, I wondered where you had got to!

That is a good example of what can happen MrsDog. I always explain this to people who are considering such methods of punishment as often people don't think of the future ramifications. Yes it might stop your dog from doing X but it may also make your dog afraid to go in the bathroom, afraid of the hose etc. It depends on whether or not that would be an issue for you.

Punishment of aggression can possibly lead to an absence of the body language indicative of aggression that the dog would normally display. When you punish the growling, you stop the growling but you don't change the situation at all IE the dog still feels the same about the situation. So yes, your dog may stop growling but still bite. You should also be counter-conditioning your dog so that he starts to feel differently about the situation itself. The problems I have with this method are 1) you are bribing the dog, not reinforcing the behaviour you want and 2) you are inadvertantly reinforcing the dogs lack of attention IE dog is distracted, out comes a treat, therefore the dog learns to become less attentive. Continue working on the focus command. Once you have word association you can use punishment for lack of compliance if you like and reinforce compliance. Then you can start to proof the command so that your dog will reliably look at you under this kind of distraction.

Because ideally you should do both. Pups need to chew so they must be provided with appropriate chew items. You can simply punish the pup for chewing the inappropriate items (which, by the way is not extinction training) or you can also teach the pup what IS an appropriate chew item by rewarding them for doing it.

Same as in my earlier posts, esp DAP and the bach flower remedy if is just a shoet term thing. I would also try to desensitise your dog to storms, perhaps by using a CD if it is the noise that causes the anxiety.

I use Vet's All Natural joint supplement.

I got mine made at a health shop. Most chemists and health food shops stock it but you would have to ask the store if they make individual remedies.