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Post by Aussienot on Jan 1, 2012 22:22:07 GMT -5
Happy 2012 everyone. How did your dogs cope with the New Year's eve crazies? Cody was annoyed at the noise, he just wanted to sleep. Piper was interested in the lights, and would track the colors through the sky but wanted to bark at the booms. Plus she wanted to climb onto the sofa to get a better look, not allowed.
Both safe and sound in the house with me.
Hope it's a good year for every one.
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Post by Aussienot on Dec 8, 2011 18:27:47 GMT -5
If they called them Perpetual Motion Terriers it would be more accurate, but fewer people would want one. Have a lot of tug toys at hand, and be prepared for heaps of walks.
Work on basic obedience (Sit, Drop, Stay, Come, and Loose Lead walking as mental work tires a dog out more than physical exercise. Do short (5to10 minute) sessions three times per day.
Collect as many cardboard cartons as you can to make tunnels and jumps to create an agility obstacle course.
Relax, have fun, and don't let him off lead unless he's in a fenced area. The best escape artists are Jack Russells.
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Post by Aussienot on Nov 28, 2011 5:29:55 GMT -5
Piper has great instincts and does a great double mark for a novice dog. She notes and remembers where the first dummy fell while she is sent to retrieve the second dummy thrown.
She is relentles in persuit of a retrieve, even like today when she went into a tangle of reeds after a careless throw and got stuck. Just about the time I thought I would have to go in to free her, she got loose but she never let go of the dummy.
She is tireless and will go into the water all day if she could.
On the other hand, on one long swim, she swam to the other bank and returned via the bank instead of swimming back. (cheating).
She also got distracted by playing with tadpoles near the shore and forgot all about work. (water freaking)
Great instincts, very few conditioned responses.
I now know why retrieving people are wary of Chessies, and understand why most retrieve trainers use an e-collar. Not saying I condone it, just saying I understand it.
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Post by Aussienot on Nov 18, 2011 21:21:41 GMT -5
I have been struggling to find the inner retriever in Piper on land. Had the chance to get her into a river on a recent trip, and voila! the penny dropped and she knew what to do. She loved it, and we pretty much had to hog tie her and throw her in the truck to get her to stop. So now, using any water we can find to make retrieving her special passion. Here she is in a small murky pond not far from my house. throw it, Throw It, THROW IT NOW! The Go Out Swimming The Bring Back Using water has made her much more interested in land retrieving, and she is now pretty good at bringing in the newspaper. She is doing very well in the show dog classes we've been taking. She's a good free stacker, needs work on her prancing. And it's a relief to not have to worry about coat care. Most of the people in my class have to carry a comb with them and fuss constantly. I have entered her into three shows. If I can get her Championship in the show ring AND at least one Retrieving Title on her, I will breed her when she grows up. If not, she will be a fun, desexed pet. I love the dual purpose of the breed, and will only contribute with a dog who can prove herself worthy in both venues.
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Post by Aussienot on Nov 18, 2011 20:50:25 GMT -5
Hello,
Welcome to the board. Your site looks great. I've moved a couple of your threads because we don't allow advertising links out side of the advertising subforum. Hope you have lots of information and dog stories to tell.
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Post by Aussienot on Nov 18, 2011 20:47:29 GMT -5
I'd say because of his age there could well be a medical cause of his issues. Declining vision and loss of hearing could both lead to greater fear outside of the house and increased perceptions of threats. My recommendation would be to see your vet for advice first, then decide if there is a training solution.
I'd be inclined to muzzle rather than inplement a training plan. Let him still have walks, but stop him from redirecting his aggression on to you.
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Post by Aussienot on Oct 5, 2011 6:54:05 GMT -5
Hi Keith, and welcome to the board. Pretty much everyone here loves animals, so you should find plenty of topics to interest you. What kind of dog do you have?
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Post by Aussienot on Aug 1, 2011 0:37:31 GMT -5
Welcome.
English Setters are magnificent dogs and I am sure you will have fun training her.
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Post by Aussienot on May 29, 2011 18:19:48 GMT -5
Wow, what a nice looking dog. Congratulations for the win. I hope to hitting the ring soon with Piper.
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Post by Aussienot on May 25, 2011 18:18:15 GMT -5
Yes, there is a cd of "scary sounds" used for getting dogs to accept noise. www.thevetshed.com.au/product_info.php/products_id/886I have used it successfullly with one dog who tended to be an alarm barker, and most everything alarmed her. Start the cd off a low volume, and give the dog treats. Gradually increase the volume, and continue treating for calm behavior. What you want to see if the dog coming to you rather than barking when he hears a sound. At that point, take the dog out and about to hear real world noises. Treat for good behavior, increase the distance if he starts barking.
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Post by Aussienot on Apr 19, 2011 19:45:22 GMT -5
My daycare business is located in a small industrial complex. Last night I was loading up the 'transport dogs' (the ones I pick up and/or deliver to their homes). Labs Tippi and Tango were already in the car. Leashed up Samoyeds Ben and Willa and as an afterthought I also leashed up Cody. The car is parked about ten feet from the front door. I've walked all three to the car many times. They head for the car and just jump in.
This time, just before we reached the car, a loose toy poodle from a nearby business came running up, and at the last minute turned and ran away.
All three of the dogs gave chase. Colletively, they weigh double what I do. Couldn't stay on my feet, and I got dragged across pebble concrete parking lot about 60 feet. Poodle ran under a car to to an owner and was unhurt.
Me, not so lucky. Lost all the skin off my right forearm, big hole in my wrist, and deep scrapes on right hip and knee. Watchband broke, and my shirt was shreaded. And my back is killing me, but I think/hope it is just muscle strain.
Owners of the poodle insisted on giving me first aid for the arm. I wanted to just wrap a towel around it, get Piper and Tarot and leave. They kept apologising and blaming their daughter for letting the poodle out. Because my dogs were on lead, they believe they are entirely to blame. They gave me their insurance details.
I think it's my fault, because I had more dogs that I could control. If I'd just had Ben and Willa, or if I just had Cody I could have handled it. But I wanted to save trips to the car. I also made the choice to hang on to the dogs and not drop the leashes.
The other owner stopped by this morning just to see if I was ok, and I think also to get a sense of my mood ( had I gotten angry over night?) Also brought me flowers.
I'm the walking wounded today, doing things slowly and one handed if possible. I'll heal, just a flesh wound as they say, or a lack of flesh wound. No intention of taking it any further with insurance or council. I don't see it as a blame issue, and feel it was as much my fault as theirs. The five business that Scooby Dogs is in the middle of are all friendly and we all look out for each other. Goodwill means more than being right.
What does everyone else think? Who was more at fault? The handler of the leashed dogs who gave chase, or the owner of the loose dog who caused the accident?
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Post by Aussienot on Mar 31, 2011 16:04:32 GMT -5
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Post by Aussienot on Mar 24, 2011 0:41:24 GMT -5
Picked her up at the airport yesterday afternoon, so today the first full day of her. That photo makes her look all serious and brooding, but she's happy and confident. Here she is reaching up to give another dog a kiss. Her actual color is a redish brown. Halfway between these two photos. A little lighter than I expected, but a pleasing color that suits her. Her little white crescent on her chest is adorable. Everyone that has seen her yesterday and today has used the same word: Beautiful. After 36 hours, she knows her name, and has mastered the front sit looking up at me. I'm rewarding that heavily. She is also walking more or less at heel on lead for short distances. I am going to try to always make her walk at my side, and never ever pull. She is showing carrying behaviors and will bring a toy to me to throw for her. So some retrieving instinct there, but Cody was a natural retriever at 4 weeks and she's not nearly at his level yet. Crate training not too bad. Fussed for 8 minutes before falling asleep the first time, and for 3 minutes after the 1 am potty run. Again, not a patch on Cody, who vocalised for 7 hours on the first night. Every time I see her asleep, I am picking her up and putting her in the crate so that she associates the crate with the place that she sleeps. House training? No so good. Batting 500 - three outside with praise and three inside that caught me by surprise. Considering the logic of trying to house train an infant, and may wait a few weeks to get serious about that. She is already trying to boss me around. She doesn't know yet that she is dealing with a owner who knows who top dog is. I think she will turn into a great dog. At least, that's the plan.
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Post by Aussienot on Mar 24, 2011 0:23:46 GMT -5
Thank you so much. It was a quiet one that almost slipped under the radar. Had few Cascades instead. Foster's sucks and no aussie will drink it, so we ship it all overseas. Got a nice dog as a birthday present, but can't do that every year.
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Post by Aussienot on Mar 16, 2011 23:52:44 GMT -5
Too exciting, just found out she is flying in next Wednesday the 23rd. I was willing (not happy, but willing) to do the 26 hour round trip drive to collect her by car, but flying was just one hour and the flight price was reasonable. Just hoping my Thursday helper at the daycare can work on Wednesday. More excited than a kid strung out on sugar. I think I am going to name her Piper.
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