spottychick

Aidan! That is very generous of you!

I have a double ended leash I can use but it doesn't have one end heavier than the other. It might do tho.

Good point re effecting the reliance on the gentle leader!

How would the cable work? I mean, at the moment he is attached to a heavy chain (poor guy) that is attached to a deeply buried star picket. Never having seen a cable for tie out - what do you attach a cable to usually and would it attach to a star picket or something similar?

Thank you for the offer and YES I definitely think they would use it because I've told them about cable tie outs (after research on the net) and they were interested but said it was too expensive when they already had the chain.

He doesnt look much like a lab to be honest. I will try and get a pic asap. I'm wondering if I could talk to the Hobart Dogs Home about whether they can help me find someone down there...

Thanks again for the offer to help with the training. That might make the difference for him!

Ahhhh that's sad news. And yes, an awful start to the year for them. We have lots of snakes around here too - will be keeping an even more vigilant eye out. It's a long way to the vet from here.

AWwww bless! Perhaps she just thought you'd accidentally forgotten she wasn't in the car and ran outside to go "Yoo hoo!!!! Here I am!!!! Wait!!!" ;) LOL

Gotta love em!

Yay - you did it!!

God I'm hopeless at posting. I'm trying to figure out how to quote a certain line and then comment on it. What is a 'fast reply'? Nothing happens when I click on it.

My behaviourist offered this week but my OH is away OS until 15 January and the behaviourist would like to see how the whole family interact with her.

Hi again

Re the "fast reply" - you probably don't realise but the fast reply box will open at the bottom of the screen. You might need to scroll down to find it. The rest of the screen doesn't change when you press it, the box just opens at the bottom.

To quote a specific line you just need to use the quote feature and then cut out the text you don't want - and you can add in another line later by using the [ quote ]put quoted text in here[ /quote ] symbols (without spaces) at the beginning and end of the quote.

Or you can just copy and paste the text bits and use the "wrap in quotes" button at the top (not when you're in fast reply tho) - that's the button second from the right with the thing that looks a bit like a cloud but is in fact a quote bubble.

BTW I wouldn't worry too much about waiting a couple of weeks to have the behavourist check on things. Sounds like whatever it is you're dealing with isn't doing too much harm and you've already got lots of strategies underway to work on it. Hopefully by the time the behaviourist sees you next you'll be able to see if it's working and go from there. Congrats on being willing to put in the effort and time!!! It'll be worth it I reckon.

It's important not to stress too much about it all or make it more complex than it needs to be. Just take it one step at a time.

You could be right huski. I've not actually looked into it - I've just never seen anyone with one or in any shops here so I was guessing.

But yeah, du'nmatta

LOL Berry! Well have a good NYE anyway. Mine will be completely taken up with settling in a new dog I imagine. Fancy arranging to pick up an adoptee on NYE of all days hee hee I didn't even think about it - all I was thinking was "Thursday".

Cheers

Thanks for all your responses.

I think the prong collar may be illegal here and in any case, as secretkei says, I wouldn't trust them with it and I have to give them something they can use when I'm not there.

I have a Gentle Leader and an easywalker harness coming soon to try with him but I am also getting a check chain for if all else fails. I'm not fond of check/choke chains but I have seen it work with him in the past AND got the owner to use it properly so I consider it an option in these circumstances. (thanks to cavNrott for generous donations!!)

There is abolsutely no way they will fork out the time and money to set up a proper run - altho I intend to give it another try. I don't hold much hope for it tho.

I actually want to get him off them in the long run - one way or another - and I hope to train him so that he will respond well to others, not just me!

I get angry too elsa - I'm losing my temper with them a bit at the moment which I'd rather not do. But sometimes it's just infuriating to see them so irresponsible towards this lovely dog.

BTW Any brilliant ideas about rehoming also welcome

ANyone in Tassie want a big friendly clumsy lunatic who just needs some training and attention????

When you talk about your dog, you talk about her using human emotions, I think it would be a really good ideal to have a Behaviourist come and look at the realtionship you have with your dog and advise you from there

Um.....

I'm really REALLY happy with my relationship with my dog as it is - thanks anyway

Even the slightly hysterical reaction to me leaving isn't really a big concern for me - I only mentioned it because the OP wanted feedback and wasn't getting much. I'm sure with a little patience and work from me she'll get past any of that minor issue just as my other dogs have got past issues they've had in the past.

I called a behaviourist only once - he was very helpful but the issue at that time was much more serious, involving aggressive behaviour. In this case she is otherwise a well-adjusted, good-natured and popular dog so I'm not at all concerned about her.

I think you've actually highlighted one of the problems there and that is that you think it's too harsh to chuck her out on her own....she's a dog and she can handle it just fine if you approach it the right way and give her the Leadership she needs

Adding a dog to the situation won't make a difference, the dogs anxiety is with you, a companion will not help.

Triggers, you can drive down the drive way and then come back and then drive down the road etc.

RE: Vet Visit, sounds like your dog actually has pretty bad seperation axiety and you may benefit from a session with a Behaviourist or if you're not looking at going down that road, have a look at the Jan Fennel Dog Listener books.

Good luck.

Hmm you may be right but I also know how depressed my girl has been since the boy died 4 weeks ago - she lost her apetite, had no energy, looked for him all the time and sat in his fave spot crying. ANd she is usually a very happy energetic dog.

Even when I took her to our local parks all she would do is whine and walk miserably around the park trying to find the other dog. SHe has always had this thing about herding - LOL - she likes to herd things, people, dogs, horses etc and whenever I couldn't find my other dog when we were out walking and started calling him, she'd go on alert, scan for him then go find him, herd him up and bring him back.

She's just now starting to cheer up a bit and I'm a bit cautious about upsetting her atm.

The driving up and down thing sounds good!! I'll definitely give that a go.

Thanks for the tips! I'll go check out the Dog Listener book

Spottychick, does your dog still display this anxiety when there is another dog left with her?

I was thinking of getting another dog as I was so sure that Tessa had a fear of being alone but the behaviourist said 'DO NOT GET ANOTHER DOG' as Tessa's behaviour will rub off onto the second dog and I'll have two nutbags to deal with. I am so very disappointed that I'm not allowed to get another dog because if Tessa didn't display this behaviour, I'd be looking for another dog sooner rather than later. I would love to have two dogs but now I can't have that. BUM!

Hey berry

She wasn't as bad about me leaving when I had the other dogs around, especially when the old girl was here who she thought of as her mum I think. She'd spend a lot of time curled up with the old girl when I wasn't there. Then both she and the boy dog went a bit silly after the old dog died. The old girl was the alpha in their relationship and they always followed her lead - and she was a VERY calm dog.

But the young girl's definitely become worse since I lost our male dally a few weeks ago and she's been alone.

My young dally has it a bit. I don't know why. Perhaps it's because I spend too much time at home so she's never got used to me being away. I've worked at home all the time I've had her. None of the other dogs had the problem and I used to work full time when I had them.

Also, she was very young when I rescued her - just 6 weeks - so I dunno if that has anything to do with it. Maybe.

Consider having her spend an hour outside whilst you're home everyday and then build that up, sometimes dogs with owners who work from home forget they are dogs and need to be reminded.

Work with your dogs triggers, what triggers the dog to start showing axiety that you're leaving.

Hey sas

Thanks for that. SHe's not too bad and I'm not worried about it atm but it could become a problem if we ever move into a more populated area because she howls and carries on for ages after I've gone (so I'm told LOL)

SHe doesn't get destructive or anything else tho. Just runs around, leaps hysterically up at fences and carries on like her life is over.

I think chucking her outside now and again might be a good idea tho! I'll wait till we have the other dog here and settled tho so she's not too lonely. It might be a bit harsh to suddenly start randomly shutting her outside entirely alone given that she's recently lost two members of her doggy family and suddenly become an only dog. The new dog is used to being outside so that might help her deal with it too.

Triggers - er... not sure really. SHe doesn't react until I'm actually driving off because when I get car keys, put on shoes etc she just assumes she's coming too so she just sits around patiently waiting

Also she loses it in public if I go away from her. FOr example, I took her and the other dog to the vet. A friend held her in the waiting room while I took the other dog in for a consult/x-rays etc and she screamed the place down. They vet people tried offering her treats etc but she ignored everyone and just pulled frantically on her lead crying for me/the other dog????. I could hear her and so could the other dog who kept responding to her. It was awful. When I got back to her she was making this freaky shivery whimpering noise for a while. Very distressed.

She was left in the car next time.

My young dally has it a bit. I don't know why. Perhaps it's because I spend too much time at home so she's never got used to me being away. I've worked at home all the time I've had her. None of the other dogs had the problem and I used to work full time when I had them.

Also, she was very young when I rescued her - just 6 weeks - so I dunno if that has anything to do with it. Maybe.

I am almost certain the breed I own won't rate as very amicable, but that is neither good nor bad. It just means these types of dog aren't suited to a most people.

It sounds to me like you are doing this research with good intentions but I am concerned at what will be done with the results - not by you but by the rest of the world.

Thanks for coming in and talking with everyone about it tho!

However I tend to take the approach that certain types of people aren't suited to most dogs. Now that's a study I would be interested in.

There are definitely some lovely people involved in this forum. I sure hope this pup gets the treatment it needs soon!!

Yes, give her a bath with a mild shampoo - preferably a flea shampoo but anything will do. The rash might be caused by the fleas.

How swollen are her eyes???

Just take her in. Get her seen to. I suspect the worst that will happen is that if you don't have the money they'll keep her there till tomorrow when you DO have the money. And probably charge you board.

But you need to get her there now.

Thanks Ash - I thought they might

Strangely my dally seems to have a drool too - I've never seen that in a dally before tho! It's more of a froth than a drool - when she's been out walking for a while and is excited. First time I saw it I thought she'd eaten something dreadful!!! LMAO

Is she eating? And what are you feeding her?

Just read through this thread - they sound delightful! I was wondering if they drool at all. (I'm not sure this was covered anywhere). With big floppy lips like that it looks like they would (not that there's anything wrong with that LOL)

I have a better idea. How about they do a study on humans and decide which ones are the most suitable dog owners. Then they could bring in a law to only allow the ones that pass the "dog friendly test" to reproduce.

I second that

heavens no Erny! You're not alone. I don't want a "made-to-order" perfect dog any more than people want made to order perfect kids. The whole point, to me, of having dogs is discovering their personalities and loving all their quirks and individuality - whether it's good or naughty!! And give me a mischeivous dog with drive any day!!!

I raised a puppy on VAN with a vet keeping a constant watch on her progress. I mixed it with a variety of protein sources - all raw and some raw and cooked veggies. The vet was so impressed he took the name of the VAN website and ordered some in to sell from his practice.

Mine is a large dog so one thing that concerned me was her growth rate was slow but the vet assured me this was a GOOD thing. As long as she was in proportion (which she was) and healthy (also good) then it was fine. SHe thrived on the stuff because all you need is already premixed into it. Eventually she caught up and grew into a normal sized dally.

Apparently it's actually better for large dogs to grow more slowly (commercial food artificially speeds up the growth rate) but if yours is a larger breed it's just good to be aware of this.

The best thing about using VAN for puppies IMO is that it encourages feeding raw and gets the dog used to raw food while giving you peace of mind that your pup is getting all the extra bits he/she needs.

That's gotta be better than giving the poor thing generic cheap rubbish kibble and canned from the supermarket like most people I know do!

I'm just perpetually wary of anything to do with psychology LOL

I started a degree in it a while back but was constantly questioning the way they based their findings on "normal" parameters and would dismiss anything as irrelevant that didnt fit it. Eg doing class research on single parents and their children - the study already assumed kids identified certain things as "female" and other things as "male". But the family I was using for the study had a stay at home dad and a mum who worked so they had very different ideas. The solution in the class was to disregard the data from my family as it didn't fit the norm so it was an "anomoly" and not worth including - I begged to differ - a lot!!! I eventually quit the course.

Now this is a simple example - but it does indicate how these more complex major studies are formulated.

As another person who is not the Average Joe (I'm not sure I know anyone who is) I don't have much time for this stuff.

altheau - that's NOT minor - it's fantastic. I know what it's like to have a dog that behaves like an idiot on lead etc and how fantastic it is when they "get it". It means also that you know you'll be able to teach him other things - and it means the connection between you two has taken a big leap.

Great stuff!