Inka3095

WoW.... Just... wow

Nawwwwwww the little puggy's face! "Ohhhh dear Mum look what I found

I caught my pup mid-yawn :)

Ah thanks =) They kept going on about the 'rule of thirds' so I didn't want to just put the jug in the middle or it wouldn't obey that composition rule. Too much background stuff though, very true. Thanksss!

Oops, and this is the second one

Hi everyone :) I was given a DSLR for my birthday last year. It's sat in its box for 6 months, I took it out, took 3 photos on auto, and then reverted back to the compact camera I'm familar with. Finally joined a camera club so I could attend their beginner's course. We're four weeks in, and have to take a photo with the theme 'around the house' to show next Tuesday. Please be kind! I know these aren't great but I don't have any super nice furniture or anything I could include, so went with my old favourite.. food! Would anyone be kind enough to critique these two I'm thinking of putting up on Tuesday? I have time tomorrow afternoon to take some more shots so hopefully will come up with something a little less contrived. Thanks!

Kirra IS improving! My parents have had a really nice, practical dog trainer come to their house for 3 training sessions and we have noticed marked improvement - she waits at doors and asks to be allowed through - she no longer goes insane at the vaccuum cleaner - she will 'quiet' and stop barking at strangers who come to the front door - she 'goes to her bed' when we're eating and doesn't beg for food Overall she's a lot calmer, less anxious and a much more pleasant dog. I'm hoping that with continued training she'll only continue to improve. She has a long way to go but my parents are besotted and I struggle to get them to talk about anything else except Kirra's latest escapades hehe. Not sure if I'd trust her with a male stranger in the house yet, just in case, but we're working with her Thanks for your help guys - I'll keep you updated!

I'm not 100% sure of the circumstances surrounding her most recent home as the girl had adopted from the Pets Haven foster-carer. I didn't ask if she had been required to offer a home check etc. I also don't know if she'd been thoroughly temperament tested. I doubt she lied about her living situation though, she would have had no desire to do so. She was a lovely girl who did what she could for Kirra but just didn't work out best for this dog, so she rehomed her again once she'd accepted this. Some rescue groups don't rule people out based on no backyard, or working full-time if they can offer the dog heaps of walks and attention once they're home. I can only assume all this was disclosed and unfortunately for Kirra, it just wasn't enough for her. We've had a trainer come to the house for the first of three sessions. I wasn't able to be there but Mum is feeling much more positive about Kirra's behaviour being something to work with. We'll have two more sessions and then if improvement isn't satisfactory we can talk about further training options from there including group classes etc.

haha so true! Our family kelpies passed away last year at 14. One was bold, outgoing and confident, but her litter sister was cringy, scared, jumpy and nervous her whole life. They were brought up together, treated exactly the same and we bought them at 8 weeks old. If Keesha had been a rescue, we could have imagined all kinds of horrible past events that had caused her to be that way, but that's just who she was. Thanks for the help, you've all been amazing. Thank you!

No, we talked about that today. I think another rehoming would just compound all the problems she has unless that home was significantly more well versed in dealing with such problems and wanted to take her on with full disclosure. Given that as a very unlikely possibility we're going to commit to whatever is recommended by a vet/behaviour expert and just take things as they come. Thankfully she has a lot of great behaviour as well. She's super affectionate with those she trusts, is a very sweet pup, doesn't dig or nuisance bark and is able to rest/relax when she's been given a suitable amount of exercise. In other words, she's not a train-wreck that I can't see improving with the right help. Crossing my fingers.

I'm going to take the vet suggestion sorted out first and get her checked out medically before trying the behaviorist, although I've kindly been pm'd the name of someone who does both! Definitely a good place to start. From what I know, her homes were Home 1) Animal hoarder Home 2) Rescued by Pets Haven and fostered for a couple of weeks Home 3) Adopted by girl about my age (30) living near the city. Kirra was given HEAPS of exercise when owner was home but when she wasn't home it was a tiny terrace house with no backyard and Kirra was going ballistic home alone with nothing to do, so Kirra was rehomed Home 4) My parents; All within 4 months. I was naive to think her behaviours such as a complete inability to be separated from my Dad would improve with some TLC. We contacted a trainer before Christmas but they aren't starting up for another couple of weeks and all this happened over Christmas. She was inside when the tradie was there because being outside when my parents aren't with her causes her to bark and claw at the back door with so much hysteria it was quite literally impossible to hear the tradie over the noise. My Dad brought her in (reinforcing the bad behaviour I imagine) and kept her by his side but when the poor tradie stood up suddenly Kirra launched out of my Dad's grip and nipped the guy. She hasn't displayed any of this type of behaviour when not in the house (not saying she won't in the future though), so I agree there has to be some degree of territory-guarding involved. She's not dog aggressive that we have noticed, and plays with my shiba really well. Just hope we'll have a good outcome for this pup. Thanks again everyone

Thank you so much everyone, I really appreciate the help and positive comments from people who are dealing/have had dogs like this My parents are in Eltham, NE suburbs of Melbourne. Thanks again for your interest and help DOLers <3

Evening all I am just asking for advice really. About 3 months ago we adopted a kelpie x rescue dog, about 1.5 years old with a relatively unknown past. She has been a pretty good dog, though has a few issues that I thought she'd grow out of eventually with some training. She is most easily distracted dog I've ever met and can't concentrate on anything for more than about 2 seconds... she's pretty nervous, jumpy and cringy at just about any loud noise or stimulus and has her fair share of naughty puppy behaviour, but as she'd had 4 homes in four months before we adopted her, she's overall a pretty good dog. Last week however, she exhibited some behaviour that really worried us. My boyfriend (who she has met and hung out with before with no issues) suddenly became scary/threatening to her and he couldn't make any sudden movements without her backing up with her hackles up, barking hysterically and lunging at his hands. She didn't nip him but did get close. Then Mum recently had a guy come over to help set up some electronic equipment. Kirra met him with some barking but nothing too bad. Then whilst he was inside the house he stood up quickly and she did the same thing. Barked hysterically and lunged at his hands, nipping him hard enough to hurt and scare him but didn't draw blood (for whatever that's worth). He was pretty pissed off and told Mum he was going to report her, but Mum explained Kirra was a rescue and they were only just learning some of her behaviour so he agreed not to report her, but told her she'd better be careful. I'm pretty worried now. At the best, she's unpredictable, and at worst, she's now a human aggressive dog? I've never had a dog I had to be careful around humans with. Other dogs, sure, I've had fosters that have been pretty bad with other dogs and that's manageable but humans? Is this something that can be 'fixed'? There are no children that come and go into the house but if she can't be trusted around adults then I'm not trusting her with any kids. That rules out taking her just about anywhere. Not to sound hysterical myself, but is this something a good behaviorist or trainer could 'fix'.... or what else should I do? Any help would be so appreciated. Thanks.

heheh now I have TWO dogs that look like foxes in their own special ways... This is Cinder my shiba doing her best 'fox'

She has a pointy pixie face! Our last two kelpie x were 30kg and with much broader faces. Thanks guys, I love her <3