leopuppy04

spend 5-10mins each night with each dog going through some basic obedience. Join a club if you can.... if not - there are some great books that will at least cover the basics. don't train the dogs together - use this as a 'special time' - ie: 2 outside/ in their crates while one with you receiving the training good luck!

I got mine confirmed for the whole weekend too! now for accomodation!

man I hate being the last to find out about things

ooh - I hope I get a spot - I've just called and left a message! I so want to go!!!!!

The semi-dry food that NG make I only use for training treats if that is what you mean.... same ingredients etc. It's too expensive to buy like that . I buy the tin food in a slab (I wish they had a variety slab!) which costs me a little over $1 a can

yep i'm going to try and ring the guy at lunch and book in!

I really like natures gift - they are the only tin food I use on a regular basis

Yeh we were at the herding, I was absolutely cacking myself, how much chalk did they need to get the mud off his paws??? :rolleyes: They were just so bloody gorgeous Congratulations to Hondo, who said males can't multi taks Some other gorgeous Aussies passed their HT also ;) Not to mention that he got rolled by the sheepies They are gorgeous - did you watch the show also? I was there with my black girl (shown) and my pet blue boy

I was there Riles - you met Hondo and Marli - where abouts were you?? Were you doing the herding?!?!?! You missed the best! One went back in (not the one doing the HIC) to get Runner up in Group, and Hondo (the boy doing the herding) got Puppy in group!!! Howz that for Multi tasking My brag is - Leo was at the state trials on Sat and came away with a jumping pass - pity as I wanted the agility pass (he knocked a bar)! ROFL! Oh and we also had an Aussie in top dog who came 5th! Welcome back Waikikamukau!!! Howz the puppies??? I want piccies!!!!

I would choose a veterinary behaviourist if I thought that I would require medication (well... the dog, not me !). I wouldn't look at Vet vs Behaviourist - i'd look more on the credentials of each. Remember a behaviourist could also have a bachelor degree, PhD's and the rest in animal behaviour/ psychology, but not in veterinary science. Vet and Behaviour are so separate

:rolleyes: yay thanks for that alanglen. I can't believe the 'front' is flooded - it looks so pretty and green Imagine a dog running/ swimming through 4 inches! Will all the rings fit in the agility/ GSD area??

oh Gayle - I went through that! Kinta's ears did NOT know what they wanted to do!!!! If memory serves me right Benson's ears were a very similar set to Kinta's. Depends how serious a showie you are - some keep them at home, I'll go out and show coz it is GREAT social - strange people leaning over you, checking your teeth etc,etc. Some lines go through the uglies worse than others..... Leo went ugly, but still stayed 'relatively' in proportion. Kinta I can't *really* comment as I got her at the 'end' stages. PM me if you want some 'ugly' shots :rolleyes:

KCC Park. anyone heard anything???

Yeah - especially coz it involves Top Dog as well!!!

Agree with Erny on this - Axle was showing you signs that he was 'uncomfortable' and perhaps now has since decided to 'defend' himself before another dog has a go..... It is always a difficult one. Has it happened a lot (as in other dogs having a go at him?)? NEVER pick a dog up if there is a dog 'going' at them. Some people may not agree with this - and I am certainly not an expert as I haven't really had to deal with this before.... BUT if a dog walks past that is reacting to my dogs I get off the path (increase distance between me and other dog), get mine to sit (more control than trying to walk past) and ask them to 'watch' (focus on me and don't worry about that fuzzy thing walking past) - if they do all that they get heaps of praise. I also think it helps them build up a little trust in you that while you are there, there is no need for them to respond to the other dog. I still make sure that my dog is *aware* of the 'situation' though so that they know what the rewards are for (ie: they are aware the dog is there, they aren't just getting a reward for sitting/ looking).... I am hopeless at explaining things so I hope this makes sense! The best way to CONTROL this is to know what causes him to react in this way - if it is little dogs - don't let him off lead with little dogs for a while. If you see someone walking a little dog (and you have Axle sitting) ask if you can say 'hello' - if Axle greets appropriately - reward appropriately.... again - don't know what your situation is (ie: whether Axle WILL behave appropriately) so this may not be an option. You have to make sure that little dogs = good things and not i'm going to get chased, growled at and bitten I'm a bit skeptical of this.... if the dog is already 'uncertain' about the situation, I wouldn't really want to add any more negatives..... but I guess you need to see it to fully understand - Husky's idea is a good one (re: professional trainer)... Good luck!

There is a possibility it may be canceled this weekend due to ground conditions - I haven't heard anything else, but incase anyone is entered and hasn't heard - I thought i'll post it up

This is a great point. Someone else may be able to work through the problem, yet the current family that it is with is not in the position to do so, nor can they find it an appropriate home. Sometimes, rather than casting it out of the family completely and not allowing the dog a life it could have had or that the family wanted to give it, euthanasia might be the only option, however hard the decision might be. Myszka: I agree with Cosmo on this also - you can't take away/ dismiss human emotion that easily - it is too hard a decision to make! Also - it might be the owner/ handler causing the probem and thus getting another dog will just result in another poor soul ending the same way. I guess you always have to judge each situation differently and in terms of family lifestyle etc. I don't think there can be a blanket statement for anything in dog training

They are great Harminee - Love the one of Leo's Sis - Jazz :p ETA: *ahem* - oops - see 2 tollers - it was so good I was writing it off as Harminee's work ;)

Congrats on your HT title - was that last weekend? How did she go with Paul McPhail?? ETA: DOH! Forgot to say what I actually cam in to say! CONGRATS TRACEY! What a great result :thumbsup:

Purely trainable to a manageable level - I too don't think that there can be a complete 'cure' for the dog - but appropriate management can be achieved. Everyones responses are interesting... It would in a big way come down to family circumstance and training - so in terms of the re-homing - say the dog had moderate issues (not specifically aggression, any kind), but the current family couldn't care for it (young kids, FT working etc,etc).... would you consider a very 'special' rehoming to the right family who were willing to work through (the perfectly manageable) issues??

No particular scenario in mind, just something going through my head. I have much the same sentiments as you. I guess it stems from the fact as, not being in the situation, I don't know how far I would/ could go. I know that I wouldn't be able to plod through as many do on DOL - there are some truly dedicated dog owners on here! Looking at it from my perspective, if it was 'harming' the relationship between the dog and myself and I didn't feel that I could work with the fight anymore, sometimes I see it as kinder to end the situation for all concerned.

Do you think it makes them a *bad* owner if they notice their shortcomings and say 'for the sanity of this family and the dog we feel it better if we end it now'.... or do you consider it a *brave* decision???

Just curious... Do you think there is a point where a dog is 'untrainable' for whatever reason. Not in the sense of pet dog training - but more in terms of behavioural issues - do you think that there is a point where, without causing much heartache and stress to the family that you would think it kinder on the family and dog if it were PTS? If so - where would you draw the line? Or is that something for the individual dog and family? Or - do you think that for every problem preventative training and medication could help any dog live a relatively normal & happy life?

Now THERE'S an Idea :cool: I guess you could always try threatening.... LOL - I had such a hard time walking away and NOT laughing at this guy I met at the park - his 'teenage male' aggressed to another dog - when the owner got his dog back he proceeded to give him a lecture "Do you know where this behaviour will land you?! It will end up with you getting your balls chopped off - understand!!!!?!" The dogs reaction was a classic - such a guilty look! Maybe that is what ANZAC needs :p

I think it is definately area specific - some states are geared more to positive, some more to 'traditional/ balanced'..... I do agree that Mel is pretty much 50/50 But I also think that those which are not 'purely positive' have changed their 'name' from 'positive training' to 'motivational'.... I find there is a huge variation between 'motivational trainers'...... but that is just my observations