Erny

My boy will do this when the treat offered is not to his preference. (He has digestive issues and sometimes he goes off some foods for his stomach's sake. Mind you, there is a fine line between recognising that and falling for the "i'd rather a better treat than that" .... but most times he's honest about it.)

Why? Ticks are only found on the east coast of Vic. OP is in Brissy.

As per Weasels comment - my thoughts are towards using a wet treat rather than dry. Also as per Perse's thoughts - try a different reward style (e.g.. throw ball/play/game/walk/drive in the car/etc).

We're a few weeks away from Spring. Already, Spring flowers are into bloom, so if this is the time of year Gus generally goes into meltdown specifically at this time of the year, maybe pollens are the culprit. If you think it could be something from the beach, try a Calendula Tea wash straight after the beach. If that works, try it for a bit longer and then don't try it .... and see what happens.

Have no idea if Gus' problem is anywhere near related to my dog's problem but my boy's seems to be related to digestive issues and when he has been on ONE protein source for an extensive period of time, he has the tendency to break out into hives, even though he might have been doing quite nicely on the one protein source for a goodly period of time. I'm still working on narrowing down and ID'ing his food intolerances to determine what (if any?) meat protein source he is not intolerant too. ETA: I don't panic about hive break-outs anymore. Admittedly they don't happen as frequently and when they do they are not as prevalent as they once were (maybe because I get onto them with the Calendula Tea a lot faster because I'm ready for them???). IF for whatever good reason I might have that I've left Mandela on the one protein source in a stretch and he throws a reaction, I wet him up with Calendula Tea and flick him back onto ZD (which he'll sometimes eat with relish and then goes off it once he's feeling better). Don't know if that snippet of our experience helps you at all, TCM.

I hadn't heard of it before, but for the "itchies" I avoid pretty much any and all "shampoo based" products and at least use Calendula Tea as a first choice because in complete absence of any sudsing chemical it doesn't upset the pH level of the dog's skin which often can send the body into an over driven pendular swing.

How clean can you get him using Calendula Tea wash only? IF you really MUST, then at the very least rinse THOROUGHLY and then use the Calendula Tea as a final (leave in) rinse. I have a short-coated breed and bath very very seldomly. But when I do bath him it is using Calendula Tea only and afterwards his coat and skin feel and smell nice and fresh.

Sounds like a plan (and I'm very impressed with your drawing!! :) ) but as you say, nothing can be set in concrete and you should be led by watching your dog. I can't advise much beyond what I have as I don't know your dog nor am I familiar with the area you're talking about. If I could and if I thought it would work with the dog (as said, you know her where I do not), I might chuck the frizbee around/play tug between the bush track loop start point and the anxiety area. Avoid being too ridged about where one thing will start and where another something starts. Fudge the edges, so she might find herself (over time) "accidentally" encroaching the anxiety area and retrieving the frizbee without even realising (until perhaps later) that she even ventured into that particular area. Again I stress - you know your dog better than I do, but I'd normally be inclined to work my dog in drive or at least high play past, near or through problem areas and then, as he became more comfortable, steadying down to a walk past, rather than the other way around. This is just an example - be pretty relaxed about it. Just be careful about throwing the frizbee though, as she's already sported an injury and fast turns and brakes might cause too much stress??

RosieFT was on the right track. Don't push the issue nor make going to that spot the point of the exercise. Just take things nice and casually and when you are the closest you can be to the area but before your dog begins to feel anxious (watch for this as overt body language signs are often only noticed when the anxiety has already well and truly been circulating) include bucket loads of reinforcement. Get your dog to work for you as mental stimulation off the target problem helps heaps. This sort of situation is where using training in drive techniques is really helpful and is usually what I would turn to assist. The point of it is to not cross the dogs threshold to the point that food or drive is suppressed by anxiety, but simultaneously being conscious of pushing the envelope bit by bit in a way preferably that the dog was not overly aware of.

Thanks Bedazzledx2. I will let you know how we get on. I like that you've recognised my "attitude" to training though :). Maybe one day I will get to trial, but I have so much fun training for stuff I want for ME and for Mandela. If it is not what a trial ring would expect ..... that's not the point, for me. I want different. And for me "better" is about the potential for practical applications, not just pretend life. At the moment, my Dad's gravely ill in hospital and I have been looking after my Mum, which is why the training has been confined to indoors and has been a bit spasmodic. I've begun adding in distance to the "box" by using the hallway and the "box" set up in the room at the end of the hallway. (I love my long narrow hallway - VERY handy for various aspects of teaching/training.) I'm focusing on getting speed into the send-away, rather than much else at this point. He does mindfully turn and sit within the confines of the box though. And he does so with so much "chuffness" he has me chuckle often. Admittedly, having the "box" set up gives him a sense of purpose and direction and makes it easier than the conflict he'd feel in just being sent to run-away from me (which would be against his grain). I'll wean the box out asap though. In hindsight, I could have begun the exercise without the box in the first place - I think I was a bit distracted because of my Dad's failing health.

That would have been my logic too, if it wasn't for the fact I have a lot of experience relating to hives, with my own boy. The hives he used to break out in, if they weren't completely covering his body, were sometimes on one side or part of his body. Sometimes they'd spread. Sometimes not. And his were not relating to a contact allergy or bite/s. CALENDULA TEA WASH for the hives!!! Don't know if the pumpkin would have anything to do with the hives, but too much can cause runny poop too, so I've read.

I've adopted the use of "Zoom!!" - thanks, Labsrock62 :D. Mandela picks things up super quickly and he's now readily getting over to the box and turning around to look at me and sitting. For reasons, I've not been able to get out to train him in the open (for that matter, training has been somewhat irregular and spasmodic, but it only took a couple of goes for him to work it out), so this has been lounge room stuff. When I can, I'll take him to the field and work in the distance, then I'll wean off the box. I like the idea of me being able to tell Mandela to "Zooooom!!" and have him send away until I call out "drop". I know it isn't the KCC way, but I think the Schutzhund way is somewhat more stunning as far as spectatorship goes, and is also more challenging for the trainer and for the dog. And potentially more practical :D. For the moment though, I am enjoying the occasional moments when Mandela moves forward and away from me to enter the box (in the lounge room) semi forgets something because he got distracted by something or someone, looks at me with that "well, isn't this what I'm meant to do?" look and then goes "oh yes, THIS bit!!" and goes into a sit position with a snap and finishes with a very chuffed "I know this one" look on his face. He makes me laugh.

Thanks BB.I think what you are saying is that they are saying "Of the un-common side effects these are the ones that are the most common". Am I on the right track? Yes - I realise it is the people one but couldn't find much else. And realise that it would be a bit difficult to tell if my dog had a headache with any outward symptom. I've begun him on the liquorice treatment. Too early to tell yet. He moved around a lot less last night so that's a plus. But we had had an enormous day so I'd suggest he was humongously tired. Just watching and waiting atm .... Hey Trifecta! Great tip regards the watermelon. From memory, Mandela enjoyed sharing my watermelon during previous summer months. I can't remember whether I noticed any change (better or worse) to anything as a result and certainly back then he didn't have the gum ulcers that have been a big focus of mine for finding their cause and ultimately something to fix them. Will keep that little gem of an idea in mind :D. Thanks :).

No - it's not separation anxiety. Separation Anxiety is when a dog has such a strong attachment to a particular person or animal, that it does not believe it can survive in that particular person or animal's absence. Separation Related behaviour is when the dog doesn't cope well with being alone. SA has been so over-diagnosed for such a long period of time, however, that it seems to me that the definition of SA and SRB have sort of merged. In your case however, your dog is attention seeking. In some shape or form, he is getting something that is akin to his goal, or at least what he believes is closer to it. This could be a glance in his direction that he has spotted; a reaction from you that makes him think that if he just tries harder, he'll get there; or something else. One of those things is jumping up on you (answered for yourself in your post). Jumping up on you is something that he's getting something out of, so you need to work on that too. What and how - that depends on what you're already doing and how your dog perceives what you're doing. Ultimately, however, it needs to be something that (a) does not give your dog the satisfaction of feeding to his goal; and (b) your dog finds not all that pleasant or comfortable.

Thanks. A Wiki link showed this : Don't quite get the parts I've bolded though - seem to be a bit contradictory. And must admit I'm a bit concerned about the "common" side effects they do report. But thank you - I will keep this in mind. I'm following through on the liquorice root to see if that might be at least the first step I should or could venture to without much in the way of risk of any or at least a good deal fewer of the common adverse effects.

Thanks for the explanation, Cowan. Fortunately (I hope), Mandela's acid reflux (assuming that's what the problem is) is not that bad. What is the chemical base of "Losex"? I was thinking of trying something fairly natural that is unlikely or won't have any side-effects. If it works by ridding him of the symptoms I'm seeing, or at least improving them, then I'll know I'm on the right track. I guess what I'm trying to avoid is the use of GA and for that matter, a throat scope, for fear of either making the situation worse or creating the situation in the first place. The gum ulcers showed up a few weeks after the first and only GA he's ever had. Maybe that's coincidence .......... ?

Thanks for the info :). tlc - yes, I have found it is better to feed smaller and more frequent meals including first thing in morning and last thing at night as well. Hard to juggle it all in when certain meds need to be administered outside of meal-times too. But never mind .... I'll sort something :). I'll keep in mind the Inner Health Plus. I'm fairly certain he's been on that before, when under the care of a naturopath. Difficulty back then is that some things have changed in so far as symptoms are concerned and also that he was on so many different things at the one time it is hard to know what was doing what (in terms of good and also of bad). I'll keep it in mind though :). Cowanbree - what was the "medical misadventure", if you don't mind me asking? Want to know particularly because I'd hate to think I'm pointing in the same direction and wondering if I'm headed towards a mistake as well.

I like "zoom". :).

Thanks Staffyluv. IF acid reflux is what Mandela is experiencing, I don't think it is too bad . There have been a few/several times I've seen him give 'sick burps'. There's been the infrequent and irregular vomit (of nothing in particular, mostly grass-forced) and generally in the mornings, if it is going to occur at all. I think he has been a bit better since I have given him meals in the first thing of morning and also last thing at night. (Mind you, this is a bit difficult because of needing to give his thyroid meds at least 1/2 hour before food or 3 hours after .... :rolleyes: .) I generally try to make these 1st and last meals the ZD food, but he tends to turn his nose up to them when he is feeling better rather than worse. Can't say I blame him. It smells like wet cardboard and I can only imagine it would taste the same. But I'm thinking that the ulcers on his gums (which remain, but are a bit better - they go up and down, but I think each time down, it might be getting less and less) could be a symptom of acid reflux. Mandela has, for a long time now, been of the habit of laying as close up to a wall or other vertical feature so that his head and body is a bit on the raised side (save for when he thinks it might be ok if he sneaks up onto my warm water-bed :roll eyes: .... but maybe that's worth a bit of reflux as far as he's concerned, :laugh: ). I've noticed in more recent times he's sleeping more upright even more frequently. Whether this is just "him" or not, I don't know, but I'm inclined to take notice of it. Mind you, this could be a symptom of his spondylosis ..... sometimes it is difficult to separate out one symptom of one condition from another. I have been doing some reading up and notice that liquorice tincture is something good to use for irritable bowel and/or acid reflux. Some other things it can be used for topically as well, which I didn't realise (eg. Flea bite allergy). Have no idea of the effectiveness and success rates, but I'm all for something natural that lacks side-effects before jumping to GA's and/or stronger medications. For anyone who is interested, the link to the article I'm reading up on it at is : Whole Dog Journal - Licorice But I will certainly keep what you've mentioned in the back of my mind and glad that it is a store here for my future reference. If anyone has tried liquorice root or liquorice tincture, I'd appreciate feedback on it.

Sorry to dredge up an old(er) thread, but I just wanted to know, Best4Koda, how you went with feeding your girl the Thrive D?

I don't know if Mandela has this - I suspect it is the case though. I wasn't aware of the label until more recently. Until I get to have it checked, diagnosed, etc., my curiosity is peaked as to whether there are others out there who have experienced this problem, what the treatments have been and whether those treatment/s have been successful. Not to rule out Veterinary treatments, I'm of course interested in holistic treatments as well - what they were and as per the last, whether those treatment/s have been successful. For the time being, I've backed off on the Plaque-Off as that increases the acidic value of the dog's saliva. I'm only presuming it increases the acidic value of the gastric juices as well - which might be great for breaking down food, but presumably not so great if your dog has acidic reflux issues. (???) I intend to take this further - assuming there's nothing simple and safe as far as remedies or treatments are concerned. But I'd like to arm myself with a bit more knowledge based on other people's experience with this condition. Cheers in advance. Erny

There's also a B&B in Berwick. At least there was, last time I looked. The link is on my website (www.ProK9.com.au then click on "links" tab at top). Can't remember their name, admittedly, and I'm off in a moment to an appointment. If you can't find it I'll dredge it up when I'm back later on. Nekhbet stayed there several years ago - her two dogs were permitted in her room and they have a fenced yard to exercise them in, I believe. I glanced the room when I visited Nekhbet when she stayed, but it was on dark and, well, we had a few drinks if I remember rightly, lol. But the room, although smallish, seemed quite nice. Check with Nekhbet though, as far as testimonial is concerned.

Tell 'em Judi from Pro-K9 said to say hello :).

You're right - I am, RubyStar. But then, I don't have any "guess the breed" or "name my puppy litter" threads, so why not claim some rights to a "name the command" thread, :laugh: . Bedazzledx2 - thanks for the explanation regarding 'why 2 different commands for UD and UDX'. I quite like "scram" too, I think. I'll try it out tomorrow, and see how well it sits on the tongue, lol.

I use Calendula Tea on the skin to soothe and heal. Treatment usually works inside 24 hours (or sooner) and at least some if not all relief is generally immediate. Cheap (around $9.00 for 50g) and kind on the dog. Get from your health food store - make sure you go for an organic brand that is also free of colour enhancement. My boy had several bouts of hives (like, as in, all over his body) when he was younger and this did the trick each time. Had the antihistamines in the pantry as a "just in case" back-up, but never ended up needing to open them.