Missey's Mum

I have always used exelpet Worming products for my 4 year old, and I have never had a problem with worms. Recently, I was thinking about how useless their flea products are, and wondered why their worm stuff would be any better. What does everyone else use? I'm talking about intestinal worms, she has the heartworm injection.

What about the dogs that she currently gets along with? I assume it still ok for her to talk to them? I will attempt to keep her away from other dogs for a while, but occassionally you can come across dogs unexpectantly. For example, she was waiting for me at the shop the other day and when I can out this poodle was sitting alongside her with no problems. So, if she does meet a dog and doesn't fight, do i praise her? and do I scold her if she does fight? does saying "no" or shaking my finger (she hates that) help at times like that?

Unfortunately, K9 force is inconvenient for me to get to, back to my original request, any recommendations in the Sydney CITY area? I don't drive.

I still don't understand how to socialise her, yet not put her in this position. I can keep her on the lead so she can't get onto them, but that's not fixing the problem. K9 states that "I'm putting her in places" or "situations". These "situations" as such are just me walking down the street or around the park. I'd also like to know a few ways to either assert myself or test "who's the boss". She sits, stays, comes, begs, wait for her dinner, sits for the lead. I guess I do let her through doors first sometimes, and she walks both in behind and in frount. Also, what affect will it have if I approach the other dog? is that likely to set her off or show her it's ok?

Then I'm a little confused, I thought socialising was good. I thought it would be worse to keep her away from dogs. Should I cross the road when I see another dog coming? or just let have quick sniff and keep going?

I do believe my dog knows I'm the leader, she does generally do as I say. However, I do treat her somewhat as an equal. It is just the two of us, and I think of my place as our place. She sleeps in my bed and sits on the lounge whenever she wants. She is very aggressive over food (when other dog are around) but will let me take it from her mouth or pretend to eat from her bowl without issue. I'll also admit she listens to me more at home than when we are out. She will stop at curbs when told, or come back to go on the lead again, but if I say "don't go and talk to that person", too bad. She only sees my boyfriends once a fortnight and she thinks she's above him. I agree with you about the domince/submission thing, but the problem is that now she seems to be attacking dogs that show submissiveness.

I have a 4 year old Jack Russell/Staffordshire terrier cross. As she gets older, she seems to be having more and more trouble fighting with other dogs. I will admit I don't think she is socialised quite enough, as in our area they tend to meet other dogs on the walk and then keep going rather than playing together at doggie park. When she was younger, Missey liked every dog she met, then as she got older she became afraid of larger dogs, then she started having the occasional fight, and lately it has become too often. She is still friends with all the dogs she meet when she was young. When she first sees another dog, she seems to want to talk, first she will go over to it, and if it is larger she will generally walk away. If it is the same size she tends to get along (ie she seems to like other Jacks & Foxys), but if it is smaller she seems to pick a fight. First she acts friendly and her tail will wag like crazy, then she trys to dominate the dog by sticking her head over it's back (sometimes even standing on it), the hair near her tail may stick up, generally at some point here the other dog seems a little imtimidated and will try to back away, and this seems to be a cue for Missey to chase after it and pounce on top of it. She has never bitten another dog, just seems to wrestle until everything's quiet. Usually I pull her off first because the other owner is freaking out. I have noticed she seems to want to be friends again if they're left together afterwards. I'm trying to keep this short, but I could go on and on. But briefly, I think she has learnt to act like this. Since she is small but stocky I don't think she realises she weighs twice as much as an ordinary dog her size. I do think she is dominant. Originally it seemed as though the other dogs started the fight after she stood on their back, so now I think that she thinks she has to start one too. I do take her to dog parks but she is not interested in playing with anyone else. My question is: Could a trainer help me with this? Can someone recommend one in the inner Sydney area? Can anyone offer a tip?

My dog hates the vacuum, she even knows the word and will run out and sit in her kennel.

I enjoy sharing the bed with my dog and our morning cuddles. The hair is the main problem. My boyfriend only stays occassionally and I just give him fresh sheets, and Missey gets shut out of the bedroom when we want to be alone. She doesn't seem to mind this too much although she will sometimes go outside and watch through the glass door. My boyfriend and the dog don't sleep terribly well together, they wake one another up. I also let the dog lick my mouth, I asked the vet and he didn't think it was a problem. I don't have any issue with dominance from my dog.

My dog will give a little skip every now and then when we're out (never around the house), she just holds her leg up for a step or two. The vet said she's fine now, but will probably have a problem when she's older and to go back when she's doing it more often or longer periods.