Erny

What does he do with the tug (or "try" to do with the tug) when he possesses it?

I found that by training "tug" (with the rules that go with it), throwing ball and getting a retrieve was a natural progression that didn't really need training for. Of course, every dog is different.

Sorry - I misunderstood :). All is good :D.

Good post, Vickie. I love the positiveness of it. I agree. Give the dog an outlet for its nervous energy.

Spoke to a Vet representative of Virbac and the answer to my question is negative.

Thanks Alyosha - I am getting zero search results. Don't know what I'm doing wrong.

"Farewell" ?? Glad for your success, Padriac. :)

And I might have missed if this has been told in a post throughout the thread, but check diet and avoid anything corn based.

Mumscats - it sounds to me that there is some basic background training and training skill that you need to go over and build on first. Do you go to any dog training schools? This can help you with refining your own handling skills as well as giving you help and advice on what to do, when and how, along with providing you with a controlled environment that has other dogs around so you can practice what you have learnt and subsequently taught your dog during the weeks in between. Make sure you are providing feed-back to your dog during the early days' 'stay' work, and that includes before, during and immediately after providing a treat to reward for the position being held. My feeling is that you may have gone too far too fast in training at some point and that's why your dog is not understanding. But that's hard to tell off your initial post and my apologies if this is not the case. Not sure what you mean by this :

Not suggesting I think this is the case (I couldn't, as I've not met the dog) and the edginess you speak of could be a result of genetics and earlier environment (pre-rescue) but browse the website for medical reasons where this might be possible. Just one example (emphasis on "example") is thyroid dysfunction and in dogs that would be hypothyroidism. Early onset of hypothyroidism can represent itself as similar to "hyper" and doesn't necessary show up the common typical clinical signs until the disorder has progressed. I'm not suggesting you panic about things potentially being medical, but when a dog is not one that finds the ability to relax very much and is edgy especially when things oughtn't be, I do turn my mind to medically based possibilities and research them a little. Just for clarification sake - are you saying that Sonny and Stella have only been together for a bit more than an hour per day? If that's the case, I would suggest that the remaining 23 hours should have been enough for Stella to learn independence. But perhaps I've misunderstood.

Doesn't/couldn't that have a cooking effect on the bone, to some degree? Especially as the microwave tends to heat from the inside out ???

This is NOT professional advice but, provided I am confident the 'other' dog is friendly, I would allow my own dog to the end of his lead (assuming standard 1 metre length), ignore my own dog and in a non-confrontational manner, keep the other dog's collar merely so the other dog can't go trampsing at my own dog. Stroking the other dog calmly. This would give my own dog a chance to (a) observe the other dog without that dog overwhelming him/her and (b) observe me being ok with the other dog. Wait until the owner of the other dog comes over and takes their dog away. But yes .... if I am in any doubt about other dogs' intent, I will do things such as picking up my dog and taking him out of the park; putting my dog behind me and physically restraining him there whilst I endeavour to discourage the other dog's approach.

Thank you - we just want her to have the best life she can and to be happy and healthy. I echo Polgara's admiration. Good on you :D . I hope you manage to find an absolute answer and solution.

Example tip/suggestion : Get OH to walk Stella. You walk Sonny. Separately. OH gets home with Stella first (eg 5 minutes early). How does that work? The point is that Stella doesn't stay back watching you go. What's happening with the trainer/behaviourist you saw? Is she giving ongoing training advice and assistance?

Thanks for the contact info :).

Bleeding, but sitting on the mat together all the same. I agree with Cowanbree - very high potential that it's age/development related. I also agree with Cowanbree that it would serve you well to engage some professional help and advice.

I thought min-pin x staffy. But there ya go. Hard to guess. A stand up and side on photo would be helpful. Guessing games are pretty much all they are, but they can be entertaining. Absolutely cute dog you have there. I love that open expression in her face. Well done for giving a dog in need of a home, a home :D

In my experience, yes. The potential for allergy to a protein/food substance/contact item might be there from the beginning, but the body's organs rid and cleanse. After a while of continuous and/or repeated exposure to the *whateveritis*, the body's organs don't handle it like they might have done, any more, and the toxins become evident on the only remaining organ the body can use to get rid of them .... ie, the skin. I am so not a Vet, nor a nutritionist, so don't take my words too literally, but this is my very basic understanding of what happens. ETA: Oh .... and I use Calendula Tea on my own dog with excellent and very quick results.

Can't tell you *why*, but I can suggest you give him a bath/rinse using Calendula Tea. I'd do this before using any shampoo or chemical based stuff, including conditioners. Just bathe in the Calendula Tea, and leave in.

Thanks Trifecta. A follow-up question though .... if the tincture works by stimulating the nerve endings in the stomach and intestines to produce and secrete mucus, would the result be poop with a mucus coating that the Vets general *diagnose* as colitis? Hope this doesn't sound like a challenge question - just something I'm curious about. I used to drive my parents mad with "want-to-know" questions, lol.

Could someone (one of the DOLer Vets perhaps?) tell me if Virbac vaccinations contain Thimerosal please?

Depends on what you're "preventing" IMO. Preventing fleas? But if there is no flea problem, why have the body absorb chemicals to poison fleas that aren't there? Preventing worms? The dog's system is engineered to cope with a mild worm burden. If a person suspects their dog has worms, this can be ID'd by a faecal exam and followed with worming. The initial presence of worms is unlikely to harm. Why have the body absorb chemicals to poison worms that aren't there? Vaccinating pups to ensure immunisation against core diseases such as parvo? Yes - I agree. I don't like any chemicals going into or on my dog, but to my knowledge and to the current knowledge of mostly everyone I know (and that includes DOLers :)), this is important. So sure - I'd go along with the "prevention is better than the cure" theory on that one. But I don't think it stands for everything. That's just my opinion though.

I agree that one would think ethical breeders research the health of parents before breeding, but what does our own ANKC do in regards to being concerned about parent health prior to litters being dropped (or for that matter, afterwards) ?? Genuine question.

I've seen these and thought they were much better than the Elizabethen Collars, for the fact they aren't so wide and therefore wouldn't hit so many things. But should you have yours as long as it is? Aren't they designed so you can cut them shorter to suit? Otherwise, how does your dog drink with it on?

Generally the puppy is there. Doesn't mean that what you are talking about at every single moment throughout a lesson needs the puppy to be there. But people generally would like to bring their pup along rather than leave him/her back at home. I often talk to people via the telephone, helping them with puppy queries. That would be the same or similar (they can't see me waving my hands around as I speak :laugh:) as having a session without puppy being there. Except I don't get paid, lol. But it helps them out. Some educational sessions that are dog-less though are in the pipe-line - not all sessions will be about pups however. But I wouldn't refer to the sessions as "puppy school" as that gives the wrong impression of what you are providing. So now I'm not sure what you are asking .