New Age Outlaw

Need a recommendation for a behviourist in Brisbane - a friend of a friend is having major problems with her dog destroying the garden and demonstrating other anxiety type behaviours. The dog pulls so hard on the lead she can't be walked, and "normal" training methods (basic obedience stuff) hasn't worked.

I had a similar problem years ago when one of mine died and the remaining dog went into a decline. In the end, the only thing that helped was getting another dog to keep her company...she perked up immediately. I hope your boy feels better soon (and you too).

Excellent post Souff...my sentiments exactly, though expressed more eloquently than I ever could.

I totally agree!

I had already looked at this post and the quoted study (which is interesting, but really only confirms what I have believed for a while), but I looked again when the title changed to see if anything new or exciting had been added...it hadn't.

i saw those dogs So cute! ♥♥♥

In Qld for the (non GAP dog) green collar assessments we only test with a small fluffy dog, not cats or chooks etc. I imagine NSW will be the same.

I think not a good idea without a fenced area. Greyhounds aren't like working breeds (kelpies, border collies etc) that can be taught to obey commands or come when called; generally they have bugger all recall. If you were out in the yard with an off lead greyhound and it sees something of interest, it will be gone...you won't get it back.

Yep, I will be there on the GAP stand! Looking forward to it!

Me too! I just wouldn't do it. It does remind me of one time my parents did it though. We had a dachshund, and we took her out one day and then had to stop off somewhere on the way home, so we left the dog in the car for no more than 5 minutes (not a hot day). When we came back, the dog was just fine...and had chewed through every seatbelt in the car as a protest! :D It worked - she never got left alone in the car again!

Stupid owner and dangerous dog...always a bad combination. The dog will, (rightly) be PTS; pity the owner won't suffer the same fate, but if it were up to me I would make them be there when it happens...maybe, just maybe, they would realise some of the consequences of their idiocy!

That was at Goodna...did we hear if they got them all out successfully? I can't find the original thread.

I'm safe at home in Brisbane's inner western suburbs. :D

Sorry to hear to has come to this. It sounds like you have tried everything you can, but sometimes it just doesn't work out the way we want. He will get a good home, your household will be happier & not sick...I know you will miss him, but it honestly doesn't sound like you have any choice. It doesn't mean you are a failure, it just means he is not the right dog for your family...nobody's fault. Doesn't make it any easier on you, I'm sure.

Depends on what kind of melanoma. One of my dogs, Candy, had a melanoma removed, and it proved to be benign (I didn't even know you could have benign ones). It was removed and that was that...no follow up treatment and no problems. Fingers crossed for your boy!

My OH had never had much to do with dogs prior to meeting up with me (he had owned cats for years). For the first few years together we had cats as we were in rentals and cats were easier. When we bought our own place I got my first dog (since leaving home and the family dogs). Now we have 4 dogs, and while I am the one responsible for deciding on food, vet stuff etc (because I know more about it), Cleo has decided she is very much a daddy's girl. Cleo hasn't been well lately due to an accident and she has stitches, so has been being spoiled a bit lately. The other night, I caught OH on the floor cuddling up with Cleo and whispering in her ear! Not bad for a former "non dog" person! Priceless!

Grumpy's reaction sounds like it was quite extreme. I guess it's the same as with people. I don't think you could say that the adverse reactions are exactly common (especially ones as extreme as Grumpy's), but they are not unknown, and you can't predict if your dog (or a person), is sensitive to a particular drug until they take it and have a reaction. It just pays to monitor them very closely when they have had treatment, especially if it is something they haven't had before. Far more dogs (and people) don't have a bad reaction and get immense relief from these drugs. If you stopped using every drug that someone has had a reaction to, there wouldn't be too many left.

Too true Anissa...it makes it so hard when they are sick and can't tell us what the problem is...we feel so helpless. It was definitely the methodone that gave Cleo the diarreha, as she is still on the ABs (and will be for a while yet) but her poops have returned to normal. She does get yoghurt...all my dogs get yoghurt every day for their digestion and their skin (plus they really love it!). I think I will just make sure they don't give her any more opiates as she seems to be sensitive to them...I have used them on other dogs in the past with no problems but they obviously don't agree with her. She also had problems with one particular antibiotic about a year ago (can't remember which one but it is on her vet records not to use it again) so she must just be one of those dogs who has sensitivities to a few different things. The important thing is she is back to her usual self, so we get to keep her around for a while longer!

Not sure about the uses of it Sheridan, but I guess it must be able to be used as both. Similar to Tramal, which one of my old gals was prescribed for pain when she had cancer a few years ago. I don't really understand how it all works, but at least I know what to keep her away from.

Hi all! Thanks for caring about my old gal...she is just fine now. The sedative they used was methodone, and it seems she had some sort of adverse reaction to it, so her record has been marked so she won't ever be given that again. It took her about 24 hours to get back to herself, but she is now ruling the roost again...previously she had been with the others but now she is a house dog, and I doubt she will be going back to living with the others again...she thinks she belongs in the house and I think she has earned it (she's totally trustworthy in the house anyway). The wound itself is healing slowly but well...another two stitches fell out but the vet who checked it today is very happy with the way it is healing, and so am I...she is on antibiotics, plus the wound is bathed twice daily and some antibiotic cream put on and that seems to be working.

Good question - I'm not sure, but will find out when we go back for a check up on Wednesday.

. Well, she seems a bit perkier this morning. Still panting a bit, but it is pretty hot and humid today. The water consumption seems to have eased to a more normal level and generally she seems well enough in herself. So, I think it was just a combination of stress from all that has happened to her this past week, plus maybe not feeling so good from the sedative, plus the heat. Thanx all for your reassurance.

Thanx onsntillnflash...that was pretty much my thinking as well. Just wasn't sure if I was missing something; she seems to be sleeping comfortably at the moment so I will see how she is in the morning.

I did wonder about the antibotics, but she has been on them for a week and the diarreha only started today. No storms around here, not that it matters, cos they don't worry her at all. The only thing that was different was the sedative (as opposed to the general that she had on Boxing Day). I suspect maybe the sedation has disagreed with her - it's the only thing I can think of that was done differently.

Oh yes, they did. Since she came home the first time she has been on oral antibiotics, and she also has some antibiotic cream that I put on the wound twice a day (after carefully bathing the wound).