Ruffles

When Loki would bite we would just hold his mouth shut and say "NO" very stirnly then ignore him. If you dont like the idea of holding their mouth shut definately just cease whatever you're doing and walk off.

Thats beautiful... I'm so sorry for your loss ;)

Good point!! Thanks again, also thanks for the other advice too!

For an update... I went home, used Erny's method and within half an hour VOILA dropping on command. I am enjoying Dropping success haha thanks everyone for your advice

Try Musca-Ban... Bout $35 for a 500ml bottle but lasts for ages, protects against fleas aswell. nice lemon smell too

I was just guessing on the Lactose intolerence thing hehe... I dont give my dogs Ice cream or cake or anything sugary, Not preaching I just dont do it. Never really thought why It just doesnt feel right to me. Sorry to hear about your experience Meg

Thanks erny that helps HEAPS!! It pains me to see his brain tickin over and wanting to please but not really sure how haha. Will start this method tonight! Thanks again

I dont know about not giving him icecream but I wouldnt be rewarding him for hassling you for food. Just because he sat at your feet doesnt mean he was being good. You are teaching him that whenever someones eating, if he sits there and waits he will get some which is very annoying when they're adult dogs and as high as your plate. On the icecream front however, I wouldnt feed it as I wouldnt give my dogs Cows Milk. I think some dogs can be lactose intolerant... I'm sure someone will be able to give you a definate answer though

haha I've tried that, He just sits up waiting for whatever I've got and doesnt want to drop in case he misses out!! I'll try again tonight though

I have been trying to get Loki to Drop without having to guide his head down (hand in front then to the floor). Last night we were training and I said "Drop" and I know he is trying so hard to figure out what I want him to do but he just wont do it. He just stares at me, with this "And...." look. Like he says "Yeah, you said drop but come down with me" sort of thing. Will he eventually pick it up? I know that sounds like a stupid question but he has picked up every other command including 'shake' and 'five' (high five) without any hand signals... He just cannot do drop. Am i doing something wrong? Should I be doing something else? Please help because I have no ideas

Will certainley ask for advice should I need it... I was reading for ages just to work out the little meal of Raw that we feed him now! He just ticked me off thats all, made me feel like I was doing the wrong thing. My breeder has given me the OK and Loki is doing well (except for this unknown 24 hr bug he had) so thats what matters! Thanks for sharing my frustrations!!

He's not the normal vet we see at the Practice, although its his surgery. We normally see another, more openminded Vet. This vet we saw actually pi$$ed me off something chronic last time we saw him with Rinse as he wouldnt touch her because he's scared of a big sook. I dont appreciate Vets being scared of dogs that give them no reason to be nervous... thats another story but Poodlefan, our normal Vet is better.

I'm soooo sorry to hear this, my deepest sympathies go out to you.

Thats what I felt like! I actually gave my friends some of Loki's raw food for their pup and said "be warned, if you tell the vet she's eating this they'll probably tell you its wrong" so he just didnt tell them hehe. He was a helpful Vet (not my usual one) but was not impressed by chicken necks at all! Oh well... I just had to rant!

I understand the rice right now... As in whilst he is sick but he said that I should feed rice if I'm feeding raw food. Although I made it clear he is on processed food aswell. The rice however isnt the point. I thought you shouldnt give 'weight bearing' bones to puppies... Wont it wear his teeth down?

Loki was VERY sick on sunday night - yesterday morning so he was off to the vet. Whilst going through the usual elimination (not poo's hehe) process we got to the "What do you feed him" bit. We feed Loki half raw/half processed, just because I'm not at the fully raw stage yet. He gets Chicken Necks, little bit of meat (gravy steak or something) and some veggy/fruit mush as well as his eukanuba. Anyways, after I told the Vet what we feed him I got this response "Why? Why do you feed him raw food? Why Chicken necks? Why would you give chicken necks to a large dog (he's 5.5 months old!!).... You should really feed him rice with any raw food you give him. Just get him a big marrowbone to chew on. He doesnt need to eat chicken necks." Why do they seem to have a problem with feeding raw food?? I just do not understand... Surely its better for them. and RICE??? It just drives me that I get the third degree for doing what I thought was the best for my boy. The vet was saying how healthy and bright he is and what great teeth and coat he has (despite the fact he was sick) so its not like what we're feeding him is not doing him good. I know this is a bit of a rant and probably isnt particularly coherent but I was just soooo annoyed when I left the vet yesterday. Needless to say we didnt discover why or how he got sick but he's better thats all that really matters to me! thanks for listening

Thats exactly how I feel!!! Thanks so much for everyones advice, at least I'm not the only one who goes through this. I think I will put my foot down next sunday because I just want to train Loki without having to worry if I'm standing on another dog. Obedience is a very serious thing for me as when Loki is older he will weigh only 10kgs less that I and have the power to pull a car so he has to be well behaved or I wont be able to walk him or anything, it really frightens me that I wont be able to interact with my dog because others wouldnt respect our space. I know thats sounds a bit melodramatic but its how I feel. I've also never done obedience before so I am trying to learn and teach Loki at the same time! I know distraction is a part of it but I will be talking to our instructor. Thanks again guys!

Thanks guys, I'm really shy which is my biggest problem but it really grates on my nerves and by the end of the session I'm wound up and frustrated which I'm sure Loki feeds off. I'll ask them nicely next time, and maybe say something to the instructors just so they can reinforce the "keep your distance" thing.

Loki's fairly attentive at obedience and I always have my eye on him. He either sits at my side or on my feet he is NEVER allowed to just wander at the end of the lead. Why cant others extend the same courtesy!? Our first day of obedience this little dog, I think its a Cavalier tried to attack Loki who was just lying down not even looking at it because its owner lets it walk behind her and doesnt watch what its doing. I didnt say anything, but you could back it in if Loki did it he'd be muzzled. For obvious reasons they require all the dogs to be at least 1 metre away from each other when training, when we were lining up to do some weaving this same lady with the Cavvy and another with a Chi just let their dogs do whatever. I'm trying to stand their with Loki and I look down and the Cav is between my legs and the chi is sitting next to me!! Loki finds this very distracting as do I. I also find it rude. Would it be rude of me to tell them to stay away from me?? Loki is not aggressive or anything but when you're trying to sit quietly and there is another dog jumping on him it makes life a little difficult. I dont want to p*ss anyone off but is what I'm asking reasonable? Does/did anyone have the same issue? What should I do :rolleyes:

Thoughts of strength and best wishes to your friend and Silva. RIP Girl

Sorry I just have to ask ^^^ regarding that. Why do butchers still charge you when they are just going to throw it out anyway!?!?!?! Its bloody annoying

he isnt left unsupervised... Its hard to explain... There aren't any issues with my OH and I. He knows we are the bosses, it'd be our Female Princess even though she's hardly in the house. He is getting better so its not like he does it 5 times a day, its maybe once a week - if that.

Loki's not 100% housetrained obviously but he has this nasty habit of not giving any warning at all... no sniffing nothing just walks then pee's then walks. Very annoying! I think its more of a dominance thing but he is learning, as I said apparently they are stubborn and take a long time to toilet train. We are definately still at it :rolleyes:

We have an Amstaff pup who's 19 weeks tomorrow. Loki, although house trained also does the occasional 'no ones watching I'll just pee here' thing. I do not know why! We just take him to where he is supposed to go as soon as he does it then he has time out there. Apparently they are just hard to toilet train. He is getting better though so perhaps just give him a chance... As for the biting, Loki has bitten twice (on purpose) not hard however. I just hold his mouth closed for a moment, sternly tell him NO then cease any activity with him like time out. We have done this with both our dogs and they seem to have gotten the idea that biting doesnt get attention. I know I probably havent helped but thats just my personal experience

Princess has always pulled (walked on a chain), and beings that she is only 10kgs lighter than myself could sometimes cause a problem. I was going to try a halti (or the like) but didnt like the idea of pulling on her head so thought I'd give her a go on a Martingale (black dog). She is doing much better, still holds the lead taught but isnt actually pulling, if that makes any sense! Miss whippy I'd try a few different things and see what gives you the best response but as others are saying its not necessarily going to stop her pulling on a flat collar. just my 2cents