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Post by Aussienot on Sept 7, 2012 22:42:56 GMT -5
Abstract Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder observed both in humans and animals. Examples of Canine Compulsive Disorder (CD) include excessive tail chasing (TC), light/shadow chasing and flank sucking. We performed a questionnaire survey to investigate the characteristics of compulsive (TC) and its possible associations with environmental correlates and personality in a pet population of 368 dogs from four dog breeds. We observed an early onset of TC at 3–6 months of age and a large variation in TC frequency in all breeds, with an overrepresentation of milder cases. Almost half of the TC dogs showed lowered responsiveness during bouts and displayed also other types of compulsions more often than the controls. Interestingly, dogs that received dietary supplements, especially vitamins and minerals, expressed less TC compared to dogs that did not receive any supplements. Neutered females had less TC, suggesting an influence of ovarian hormones on TC. Tail chasers were shyer and had separated earlier from their mothers than the controls. Finally, our genetic study did not find an association between TC and CDH2, a locus previously associated with the canine flank sucking compulsion. In conclusion, the early-onset and the variable nature of the repetitive behaviour, which is affected by environmental factors such as micronutrients, neutering and maternal care, share several similar components between canine and human compulsions and supports canine TC as a model for human OCD. Citation: Tiira K, Hakosalo O, Kareinen L, Thomas A, Hielm-Björkman A, et al. (2012) Environmental Effects on Compulsive Tail Chasing in Dogs. PLoS ONE 7(7): e41684. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0041684 Link to study here www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0041684
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Post by Aussienot on Aug 5, 2012 19:35:39 GMT -5
Piper backed up with a Challenge win at another show two days later. She was the best Chesapeake Bay Retriever in the show. She was the only Chesapeake in the show, but the best none withstanding. Just need 13 more wins for her championship.
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Post by Aussienot on Aug 3, 2012 22:26:35 GMT -5
Piper went into a show yesterday. Won Best of Breed and got 6 more points toward her Championship. A third of the way there.
Was very happy with her confidence and ring performance. She was a little nervous and did a crouch for exam rather than a stand but did let the judge examine her.She did some nice stacking and seemed more relaxed than she ever has.
The judge gave her several approving looks in Group, and for a few seconds I thought she might get lucky, but no, the English Springer Spaniel took top spot and Piper came fourth. At least she didn't embarrass me. Her half of the honor wall is slowly starting to compare to Cody's impressive awards collection.
The judge was from Slovakia and offered a critique, which I found charming.
'This bitch is anatomically correct and pleasingly feminine in form. Powerful smooth movement. Eyes serious form overall good facial expression. Refreshing to see "birdyness" in a Gundog.' (the judge had seen her track a bird across the sky)
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Post by Aussienot on Jul 19, 2012 22:00:05 GMT -5
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My dogs
May 23, 2012 1:06:11 GMT -5
Post by Aussienot on May 23, 2012 1:06:11 GMT -5
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Post by Aussienot on May 22, 2012 22:17:52 GMT -5
Here's an article I wrote for my club's newsletter on how to be a good dog training student. I've had 4 requests for reprints.
How To Get The Best Out of Class
“Every act of conscious learning requires the willingness to suffer an injury to one’s self-esteem. That is why young children, before they are aware of their own self-importance learn so easily; and why older persons, especially if vain or important, cannot learn at all.” ~Thomas Szasz
If you are attending training every week you want to make the most of each class. Here are four secrets to help you be a better student of the art and science of dog training.
Good Student Secret#1 –The Only Failure Is Not Trying
Be open to learning. Embrace the opportunity to make mistakes. Try not to be self-conscious about how “good” or “bad” you and your dog look in front of the instructor or that people are watching. Don’t be embarrassed about your dog. You wouldn’t be attending class if you didn’t want help.
We all make mistakes. By exposing your problems you allow the instructor to glean some insight into why you and your dog are having troubles and to help you. Most of the instructors have been in your shoes before.
People often allow their fear of failing to hold them back. You might be embarrassed to have the worst behaved dog in class. It might be that you have had some success in the rest of your life so you feel “pressure” to have a brilliant dog.
It can be hard to talk in a high happy voice, or to act silly and play with your dog. Let go of your ego and allow yourself the privilege of being at idiot in public. Just be open to learning. We are all human. We all make mistakes. We can all learn, and we can all become better dog trainers.
Good Student Secret #2 - You get the dog you deserve.
The first time I heard this, I thought ‘Oh NO, I do not deserve this dog, he is horrible’. But I was working hard towards making him wonderful, because we both deserved a better relationship. What it means is that if you put the time and effort into training it will pay off.
If you care enough to change your dog’s behaviour you can. If you do it half heartedly, inconsistently or if you can’t be bother to try all at all, the behaviour will continue. So you do get the dog you deserve. Don’t complain about it, fix it.
Your learning curve is controlled only by how much effort you put in. Take account of where you are now in your training and set goals of where you would like to be in 1 week, 1 month, and 1 year.
Don’t compare your dog to others in class. There will always be class stars and wonder dogs, and there will always be owners and dogs who are a work in progress. I’ve had easy dogs that made me look good, and I’ve had hard dogs that made me look a fool. It was the hard ones who made me a better trainer.
In dog training, it doesn’t matter where you start. It doesn’t matter how fast you improve. All that matters is how far you progress. Persevere. Put the work in. You really do get the dog you deserve.
Good Student Secret#3- It’s Not The Dog’s Fault.
Dogs are only a reflection of our abilities as dog trainers. This is the hard part. Resist the temptation to blame the dog when things don’t go as planned in class.
If the dog did not perform as expected, you either didn’t train it to fluency or you didn’t handle with clarity.
Dogs do what is reinforcing. They are not complex. If you have proven to the dog that there is massive reinforcement for him by performing an action, then the dog will do as expected.
If the value of NOT doing the behaviour is more reinforcing, the dog will very likely fail and find his own reinforcement. Not the dog’s fault! It is a function of training.
If leaving you to zoom around the yard is more valuable to your dog than the bit of kibble you are using as a reward for the’ sit stay’, there will always be a competition with that distraction for your dog.
The best way to overcome this battle is to build value for behaviours in a distraction free area. Raise the level of distraction slowly and make sure your dog is solidly working at that level before increasing the distraction level.
Prevent access to any other reinforcement until you can be assured that your dog will respond. Use a leash or a long line until the dog responds perfectly every time even under extreme distraction.
When training in the face of high distractions, be certain you are using your dog’s highest ranking reinforcement. Hint: Class is a really high distraction.
Good Student Secret #4- Remember to laugh
Have fun with your training. Shake off the stress of the week and enjoy your class time with your dog. Laugh at yourself and your errors. Laugh at the things your dog does. Your dog likes it when you laugh.
Schedule in some play time. Make your dog’s tail wag. Cherish your dog and the time you spend together. Breathe. Remember to laugh.
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Post by Aussienot on Apr 28, 2012 21:55:32 GMT -5
Hey back at you. I am enjoying a life of leisure (my type A personality disappeared a few years ago . Been doing up the house (kitchen and bathroom renovated, painters coming next week, new flooring the week after that). Also just purchased a new dogmobile, a Nissan X Trail. Piper curently has 24 points toward her championship and we are still working on retrieving. Sigh. She's a work in progress but she makes me laugh and I value that in a dog. I hope to breed her in December. Cody is tearing up the rings in obedience and Rally O and is a really beautifully behaved, good natured and handsome big boy. How are things going for you these days?
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Post by Aussienot on Apr 8, 2012 2:00:26 GMT -5
I've seen a dog jump rope before, but this is pretty good: youtu.be/T7fzQehxz_QLike the backflip too.
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Post by Aussienot on Mar 28, 2012 0:51:11 GMT -5
Welcome to the board , John. What organisaition are you certified with? I hope you are able to contriibute some of your hard earned experience.
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Post by Aussienot on Mar 13, 2012 16:01:37 GMT -5
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Bargins
Mar 8, 2012 19:54:40 GMT -5
Post by Aussienot on Mar 8, 2012 19:54:40 GMT -5
I was noting with some irony that of all my expensive grooming tools, the boar bristle brush, the fushion ionic pin brush, the furmenator shedding brush, the one that does the best job on both dogs is the $2.95 rubber curry comb I picked up at a horse store.
Removes dead hair, cleans up dirt, smooths out wild fur, a great all purpose tool. Cleans up with water and lasts for years.
My best cheap dog toy is the "sock monster". I collect worn out socks and mateless socks, and tie five or six into a vaguely octopus shape. It is an evolving toy, as socks are chewed through additional socks can be added.
All dogs love it, and I don't care how much they distroy it.
So, does anyone else have a bargain wonder tool? Any good money saving ideas for dog items?
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Post by Aussienot on Feb 23, 2012 3:16:00 GMT -5
I have been waiting impatiently since 9 December for the news that I received today. I have passed the written exam to become a registered breeder, and my kennel name of 'Coldwynds' has been approved internationally.
So will be authorised to breed responsibly when Piper achieves her Championship. Woo hoo, I am excited.
Coldwynds Chesapeakes has a nice ring to it. It was my third choice, but I am happy with it.
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Post by Aussienot on Feb 22, 2012 6:23:28 GMT -5
He's a handsome dog. Love the white blaze.
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Post by Aussienot on Jan 5, 2012 23:54:26 GMT -5
Pictures please!
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Post by Aussienot on Jan 4, 2012 2:32:21 GMT -5
Stalwart defence of the right to sleep must be a German Shepherd thing.
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