Missey's Mum

http://forums.dogzonline.com.au/index.php?...=51263&hl=games This is a response from a similar question I asked. I brought the book that is mentioned and I'll copy the pages for you if you want. Missey also enjoys a balloon, only half full. She headbutts it and keeps it off the floor.

I said other, My dog is embarrassing and actually likes Pal Meaty bites. I have started looking at other foods since being on DOL, and I recently brought Supercoat but she wasn't fussed (she'll eat it if it's in the kong). I'm not sure I can afford some of the others and have rad that they arn't always worth the expense.

I tried the waterbottle when Missey was young, but unfortunately she thought it was all part of the game

Yeah Missey seems to do it after a bone, I figured she was cleaning her face, she doesn't do it long.

That's the thing, I want to fix the problem of her agression with dogs, but I don't want to change her, I like her the way she is. I don't think there's any real urgency, I'm going to have my second consultation and see what I can learn, but apart from that I'm sticking with some basics like keeping her off furniture etc until I get to K9force.

The advice was: Don't do anything, she'll get used to it, give her a pat at the end of training. I already am giving her a pat after training, it's supposed to be the only time I can, although I do give her a pat if she is obedient. I'm now fairly confident that dogtech's methods are not for my dog.

I'm just bumping this up to keep it current, as I was searching today. Thanks for the info

I'm waiting for a reply phone call so I can ask about the stress, but I've got a lift if I want to go to K9 now. He is my first choice since he has already been very helpful and is so well respected.

Poor Missey, I was just thinking, she also enjoys it when I hide under the bedcovers and call out to her. She's not allowed on the bed anymore, so I guess that's out too.

She's certainly deprived of all fun, no ball or games for two weeks and in future I play with one toy only and I bring it out and put it away, no tug ever, and I didn't actually talk to her abou the chasing, but she's supposed to be tethered for two weeks (she's not, I'm making her sit on her mat with command), and not allowed throughout the house at her leisure after that, so I assumed the chase game would be over cos that often involves a little bit of tug too. I have still thrown the ball for her a few times, esp after she was so unhappy and it did cheer her up.

He was the other trainer I was recommended in my original post. http://forums.dogzonline.com.au/index.php?showtopic=51131 He isn't really any easy to get to, still have to try and get my dog on public transport. I ended up choosing Dogtech as they came to me.

I don't understand what drive training means, I'll look more into it, but I find it interesting I was specifically told not to throw the ball (for the two weeks), and I've been told not to play tug EVER because it causes aggression. Missey's three favourite games are fetch (and try and catch it in the air), tug and chasing/chased around in circles with something in her mouth. She also enjoyes chasing after rats in the park, she rarely catches them, even whn she is able) and prefers to go round the bushes until it runs to a drain. I've heard it can be dangerous in case of the rat biting, but she enjoys it so much and rarely gets close enough.

Leaving Missey outside for 10-11 hours straight without any warning was very upsetting for her. I'm trying to buy a pen so she can still walk in but not have access to the lounge etc

Thanks for the advice Erny, and yes, I do still have to pay for the second one. I was thinking of asking the therapist about the stress, but I had an additional problem of Missey howling due to being left outside, and the advice on that was "she'll get used to it" (unfortunately my neighbours didn't and now she's back inside til I find a remedy). I'm not sure how flexible they are on their methods, particularly as everyone always seems to get the same.

I have no personal problem with my dog and find her generally obedient, but she is becoming increasingly aggressive with other dogs, not every time, but I'm sick of the skinned knees.

I had some advice from Steve when I first started asking about her aggression with other dogs, but since I don't drive I was unable to get the dog that far out with public transport. I have since had contact with him and he has agreed to come to me if necessary (at an increased cost), and now my boyfriend has seen how unhappy the dog has become, he has offered to take me out there. So this is the thing, do I continue with dogtech and have the second consultation or just ditch them and go to Steve? I was reluctant to write dog tech off, but I am becoming more unhappy with the program each day.

That's it alright.

She has had a lot of changes in general, changes to sleeping arrangements, play time, no walks, not allowed throughout the house, changes to feeding, no pats. Various discussions have led me to believe that the programs a bit harsh and I have started to back down a little and haven't been quite so strict and it has made her much happier. I think it's all been a little too much for her and I might let up on the lead training for a day or two while she is settling down. With the actual lead training itself, we're just walking around and stopping and sitting, it's nothing too taxing. I might test her out with her old harness and lead out the front and see if she's happy to walk around. It a very difficult decision, I want to help my dog and don't know if this is making things worse or if would be bad to ditch the program mid way.

As some people are aware, Missey and I are currently undergoing a leadership training program. Part of this program involves walking around my courtyard with a lead and teaching heel and sit. The behavioural therapist has advised me that when Missey yawns and licks her mouth, that she is stressed. She is responding well in these training sessions and is following my commands but my problem is that the dog seems to stressing out quite quickly during these training sessions, even as I am attaching her lead. Am I not being clear enough with her and is she not sure what to do or is she just confused she is learning some new commands for things she already knew (ie I used to use words like "this way"or "ready?" when on the lead)? I also wonder if she is just having a negative reaction to the courtyard and is worried I might lock her out again, as she was also yawning when I was sweeping the courtyard. Is there something I can do to calm her down? I'm telling her good girl, but I'm trying not to give her too many treats as she was becoming too expectant of them and eating far too many. Do they still yawn when they are tired, I think she has two sorts, one is a wider mouth and quiet, one is this smaller one with a noise.

Yes, that happened to my next door neighbours dog when I was a kid. That dog was a pig, I remember coming home once to find she had come over and eaten a cake on our dining table. Missey loves avocado too, she'll get the skin from the bin and lick it clean.

Olga from Dog Tech came today, and I was happy enough with my consultation. She has confirmed Missey is very dominant (Missey even gave her a bit of a run for our money) and I was put on similar steps to to link above. She explained her reason well and answered my questions and most of the steps are things I originally tried to put in place but became slack with (ie, she wasn't allowed on the lounge when she was a puppy and now I let her jump up) so I'm not too unhappy. I was a bit concerned the methods would not be tailored to meet us, and was concerned about the "no walks for two weeks" as I live in an apartment, but she said I could take her out for short walks down to the corner for wee's and poo's, I just can't take her to the park or anything. I have to leave her outside of a day now, that's also a bit of a concern because I originally began to leave her inside due to her howling when I started back at work after being off few months, so I'm not sure how long the neighbours will put up with it and i hope this just doesn't start a whole new bunch of issues I also have to teach her a hand command for sitting because she wasn't listening to me when I spoke, but I'm not sure how that will help, because she was ignoring me, she knows what sit means, now she has to learn something else. I understand saying sit 3 times is useless, but isn't making the same hand gesture 3 times useless too? She didn't do very well on the lead in the courtyard either, but I've never put her on a lead out there before, she never gives me those kind of troubles when we're on a walk. The poor thing looked very confused and upset this morning. I still think she listens to me better when we're inside rather than out, but I guess this is what I have to work on - her listening no matter where we are. I feel a little bad because she yawned and I was told this was stress, and the poor thing does this a lot. I feel terrible I caused my dog stress. I just went and spent $100 of a mix of chewy treats and a few new toys to try keep her happy now that she's spending time outside, although, from what I understand, she just sat in the sun all day long anyway - she just doesn't like being locked out. So I'll stick to the program for the two weeks, and see what happens, I don't think it can hurt her, just my neighbours ears. I had a chat to the building manager so he was aware that I'm aware and gave him my numbers, should probably do a letterbox drop as well, it's a large block (over 100) so I can't just talk to them all, and my courtyard/balcony sticks out from the building, so it will be so obvious if they are trying to find where the culprit is. I could see her looking up at someone this morning, so I imagine someone had already been annoyed within 1/2 hour.

I've got Olga from Dogtech coming tomorrow, I'm a little excited and hope things go well. I've been working with Missey over the past few weeks and trying to take more control when we go for walks, and it seems to be working well. We have had no mishaps since, and I even took her to stay at a friends house who has three dogs and she even went so far as to make friends with one of them and played constantly. They was a growl or two over food but no pouncing, or wrestling or humping. Here's a photo of Missey and Bear playing taken with my crappy phone - but look, she isn't on top of him!

All this dog stuff is so confusing, there is always contradictory information. I've read that it's bad to give a dog worming products if they actually have worms, and that they should only be used as prevention. That's why I like the heartworm injection, I only have to worry about it the once (a year of course).

I was thinking about drontal, but one of the websites I saw yesterday mentioned that it is only effective at killing worms that are in the system at the time of dosage, and that there is no cover for the following months. It said that meant it was crucial they were wormed on time. They should be wormed on time anyway, but it put me off a little.

Does this come from the vet or supermarket/pet store?