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Hello to Everyone, I have forwarded emails on to everyone that I have email addresses for. If you haven't heard from Metro, please drop us an email on our NEW email address. [email protected] and I can tell you if you have a spot. I did find out this week that the clubs email address had died a silent death so have opened a new one. If you contact me, you will be answered. Cindy Ireland President MDOC

Hi Smartypaws, Email me privately on [email protected] and I will be able to tell you whether you are in. I will also post a lsit of owners and dogs that are attending. Cindy

The Steve Courtney Seminar being held at Metropolitan Dog Obedience Club on the 3rd of September has sold out. I look forward to meeting everyone 1

Good Evening everyone, I wish to advise that all places for the Steve Courtney Brisbane workshop have been filled, to capacity! We are really looking forward to having him at the Metropolitan Dog Obedience Club. If you have sent a cheque and it hasn't been banked yet, please be patient. Our treasurer has a demanding job outside of the club and sometimes life takes preference over our hobbies. Cheers, Cindy

Hi Mrs D, We had notification that a few people had paid by cheque but then decided to cancel their bookings. The member handling the email address had gone away for the weekend and we had no way of knowing who had cancelled etc etc so we held off the cheques until confirmation could be attained. Now everything has been sorted. There are still spots available therefore you are definately in for the seminar. I look forward to seeing you at Metro.

I've just started reading this thread. One thing I am hoping everyone will remember at some point...not every single person who owns a dog, or lives with a dog, is dog savvy and understands the difference between positive and negative corrections, NRW, NILF, crate training, drive etc etc etc. There are some people out there, shocking as it may seem, who still believe in the older methods of dog training. And that dogs know when they have been bad. It doesn't make the poster feel any better about herself or her partner if we all act shocked etc. Educating works better and will have further reaching consequences. BTW, and for future reference as I am sure that both yourself and your hubby will come to terms with the loss and will end up with more piggies...Staffords and their crosses can and DO eat through chicken wire. Most useless piece of mesh god ever put on this earth. One day I'll tell you a story of my in season bitch and a nine month old cattle X that were only seperated by chicken wire....and a picket fence...

Hi to both Sparky and Mrs D, Metro has no facilities for any other payment unfortunately. We have also advertised the seminar on our website and our facebook page. I'm hoping you both recieve the information you require through either of these sources. i look forward to seeing you there.

Hi Sparky, there are places for both members and non-members. We have divided the available spots evenly and hope that we fill them both just as well. If we have less in one section than the other closer to the date, then we will open up the spots to everyone. My apologies to everyone on the email address, brain was working faster than fingers. For those interested in securing their spots, we have a booking and payment form online now which can be printed out and sent in with your payment . It can be accessed at www.metrodogclub.com.au Cheers Cin

Metropolitan Dog Obedience Club is proud to announce that Steve Courtney is returning to Qld for a one day seminar at the Metro training grounds. WHEN- September 3rd, 2011 WHERE- Metropolitan Dog Obedience Club grounds, Cnr Gympie and Murphy Roads, Chermside COST- $80 per handler and dog or $50 for spectator INCLUDES- Morning tea, lunch and drinks for the day. Please note- spaces are extremely limited and will work on a first come, first paid basis. Booking sheet is available at http://www.metrodogclub.com.au/seminar%20booking%20form.pdf . You can also check out any further information by visiting us on Facebook- Metropolitan Dog Obedience Club or email us on [email protected] . As President of the Club, I look forward to seeing you there! Cindy

I first put this on the forum as I was told others might be able to find a home for my boy. If I had of known the level of fanatascism I would be subjected to then I would certainly not have done this. I understand that people can only respond to what they read or percieve but assuming anything makes you all look like fools. Not once have I said that Q is dog aggressive...not once! He attends obedience Monday nights and Agility Wednesday nights. He has been to agility demonstrations AND to agility competitions. He has yet to show aggression to anything or anyone. My twelve year old daughter has done agility work with him. My six year old son can boss him around and Q just grins like a goofy boy and does what he is told. There are a few members on here who have had Q run with their dogs, from shelties to Border collies, he has maintained his manners at all times. As for his "desperate" need for a behaviourist. Can I say overkill? Now, if I were talking about a Border Collie kept in a small yard that had a tendency to round up the kids and nip them on the ankles would you all be screaming for an assessment? Or a Newfie who refuses to let his owners kids near the pool and will climb on them to save them when they are swimming, would that be cause for a behaviourist??? Please, tell me where it is different that I have a terrier who is inherently bred to chase, catch and kill. This is what a Stafford is bred to do. I know this, I own this, I understand this. IF I didn't have cats, I would not be rehoming him. Now, down to the nitty gritty. I believe someone accused me of "glossing over" the facts of Q's behaviour. So, would you all have liked me to tell you all in graphic detail what he did to his "prey"? Would you all have liked me to tell you in even more graphic detail how I collapsed into my husbands arms and COULD NOT SPEAK TO TELL HIM MY DOG HAD KILLED HIS CAT? Would you have liked me to tell you that I have been so torn up about what to do that I thought driving my car into a tree was a good option at the time? That I haven't been able to eat or sleep because I feel I failed my dog? I FAILED? Did it occur to anyone to ask any questions rather than assume? I am a stafford breeder of fifteen years who has never had a dog with a prey drive this high. This is the first dog I have brought in to my kennel that I did not breed. I have been in obedience for as long as I remember and been an instructor for 6 years. I am actively searching for a home that has no cats. Many, many dogs can't live happily with cats. Q is one of them. He does not have DA. To say that I am bewildered by everyone's insistence that there is something wrong with him is an understatement. I knew there was a reason why I stayed away from the DOL forum. Too many of you like to assume that the person at the other end of the keyboard is a dimwitted idiot with no clue and no self respect and frankly, that is a shameful way to be. I posted my decision on my Egroup, with whom I have been a member for over ten years. I have recieved nothing but support from all over the world. And yet, I come here and get accused of with-holding information and trying to irresponsibly rehome a child-maiming, dog-killing beast. And for the record, whichever of you twits said that he was not good with kids should ask, get your facts straight and hang your head. So, in a complete nutshell, you have all pissed me off completely. You have made a difficult decision even harder by your thoughtless accusations and comments. And I am done with it.

Hi To Everyone, Thanks so much for your insight and help and also the character references. Ok, his current tally is- three chickens, he and my other two staffords got into a fight (caused my the neighbours idiot dog) that ended in my oldest stafford suffering a heart attack and two of my breeding cats. Is that clear enough? No, sorry, that was snarky and I apologise, I have been in bed for most of the day with a migraine caused by stress. I have met a great family this afternoon with who we sat and discussed Q for a few hours, they met him, watched him work, we talked about his bad points and his good points, we talked about the fact that the big boof is mortally afraid of windscreen wipers (gr), I have organised a home visit for Q and us on the weekend and IF that works out, he will have a weekend sleepover prior to actually going to live with them. They are also interested in continuing obedience with him and maybe agility. Once again, thanks guys, you have made an difficult situation tolerable. And yes, I expect sympathy hugs on Wednesday at training (grin) Cin

Hi All, I don't know if this is the place for this but I've been pointed here by the Evil Beagle (blame her LOL). Now, I have an 18 month old stafford to rehome. Firstly, let me say this is not a decision I have taken lightly. I am an experienced obedience trainer but even I know when I have bitten off more than I can handle. Q is my first adult male and I know when to call "uncle". Q is a pedigree staffordshire bull terrier with extremely high prey drive. This has made him unsuitable for our home as we have cats, pedigree cats which we show and breed. We have never had any problems with ANY of our other staffords and our cats previously. I have owned him from a ten week old pup and he is currently obedience trained and also in the final stages of becoming ready for competitive agility. I feel he would also suit a schutzhund home or tracking, endurance, flyball, literally any dog sport. He is very smart but a real handful of a boy, full of vim and vigour. He is very solid, brindle with a full white head. Q gets on well with other dogs and loves to play and play rough. He has been brought up with kids and I would prefer older kids due to his exuberance. NO BIRDS, NO CHICKENS, NO CATS! He works for food, he works for toys, he works for the hell of it, he works in drive and he is a prancy, bouncy boy full of attitude. He will come with his pedigree papers, he is wormed and vaccinated. He also has his own lupine collar and lead. **PLEASE NOTE- Testosterone filled w*nkers who believe a stafford is a status symbol need not apply. Pet traders look elsewhere, this young boys new home will have serious vetting before he is allowed to leave here, I value him too much to let him go to just anyone who will pass him from pillar to post. Only enquire if you are serious.** I can be contacted through my email address. Please don't contact me to flame me. Holding my kids and telling them that one of beloved pets is dead is hard enough, dealing with people who have no idea what we have been through is even harder, guilt trips won't work because I am already on one and will send people postcards from hell if they wish. OK. So, [email protected] Cin

Is there anyone on line at the moment who can tell me the date for the Double Strategic Pairs comp being held on the Gold Coast in November? At least I think its the Gold Coast????