Pawprints

Thank you guys.

I had a session with a behaviourist/trainer this morning and have some homework to do lol

She has come a long way in 2 months but I guess it is very hard to see when you are so close to the situation. I am also out of my depth so feeling like I am not doing things right and also having to deal with the 'rejection' of her at times which is hard and something I have not experienced before. I believe I am need of some training myself to get my mind right about this! Its been a very steep learning curve for me too so I think I need to give myself a break.

I am so desperate to make her feel comfortable and to help her gain confidence in her that I think it is coming across in a bad way to her.

Many thanks. I do not feel a failure or anything as I have done what I can do. I just need guidance on how to proceed further. She has been medically cleared. She is a beagle. FYI - I am a current beagle owner and have worked with rescue beagles before so I know the breed etc. I have not had an individual dog this bad before.

I am desperately seeking any advice or tips from others who have dealt with very fearful dogs.

I am struggling at the moment with my rescue dog. I have had her 2 months and she was from a puppy farm.

She is fearful of me and has been since day one.

I admit she has improved somewhat (at least comes to the door and has stopped hiding under the deck) however we have stalled and I am wondering what I can do from here.

I largely spend my time ignoring her and not even looking at her. She really is just a dog in my house whom I am ignoring as she finds my voice, eye contact and presence scary. I am remaining calm and controlled and spending time with my other well adjusted and happy dog.

She will take food from my hand however ONLY in the kitchen/lounge. She will not take a lamb shank or treat from my hand outside at all and runs off.

She will walk on the lead really well and will take treats from me whilst walking however this is only if I can catch her to put the lead on. I have to wait until she gets in her crate before I can corner her to put the lead on. Otherwise she stays at home while I walk my other dog.

She will not come inside to her bed or crate but prefers to stand in the open doorway and then keep running off into the backyard. I cant keep having the door open all night as it is getting cold and letting all the mozzies in. So if she will not come inside by 11pm, she sleeps outside.

I have a dog door but I cannot train her to use it as she wont take treats off me and if she sees me the other side of the door trying to entice her, she is scared of me and doesn't want to be near me, hence wont come through.

She will come in rarely and explore around but either quickly runs outside again or she will lay down inside as far away from me as possible. The next day however she seems to have a brain fart and forgets that she slept inside and doesn't want to come inside and is scared.

Im just at my wits end and unsure what to do. Any advice appreciated as I do want this to work but I feel I am at my dog training ability threshold!

My beach that I go to is Seaford/Carrum and its great for dogs. Its not too crowded. At the moment dogs are allowed on, off leash before 10 am. Not allowed on between 10 am and 7.30pm, allowed on, on lead after 7.30pm.

To the OP - any updates?! Something like this should be reported without doubt. Feel free to PM me as I'd be happy to assist with anything. I live in the area and would certainly hate to come into contact with dogs like this - especially if they were off leash!!

Thanks LP. She has reported it to the police and Animal Control, taken pics of the bite (she took them at the time). The doctors also have the report of when she came in to be treated for the wounds too. We just have to wait now and hope they take their doggies for a walk again soon! ;)

Thank you to all the constructive posts. My friend is recovering but still very shaken. She was just glad that she was not walking her own dog, but she decided to leave her home that day as she is a pug and it was a hot day. It could have been even worse I imagine.

To clarify for those like Mace, she did give them a wide enough berth, their area is tree lined naturestrips so rather than walking on the road, she walked on the naturestrip. Being a dog owner she felt confident to pass them. Not so much now I'm afraid.

We are still keeping an eye out for them, they have to come out some time ;)

Dog's can be unpredictable and when passing dogs that I don't know or know of their behavioual history, I personally take a wide enough berth out of leash range so they can't get to me and bite which to me is just common sense? Why pass so close that a leashed dog can make contact. IMHO the lady who got bitten could have avoided that herself

Are you for real! I'm sorry that my friend didn't have the capacity in a split instance to calcualte the angle and extension of a dogs lead, taking into consideration the length of the owners arm and elasticity of the lead.

Just fortunate that your friend did not break any bones falling over. !

Hope she's OK.. and that the offenders are found.

They possibly walk at a similar time each time they walk.. so maybe some discreet drive bys every so often?

Yes they might lay low for a week or so and not walk their dogs but when they do, hopefully we will see them.

Hope your friend will be alright. What low lifes just walking away like that, People like that is what gives us responable owners a bad name. I hope they get caught and coupe a big fine for what there dog has done.

Sounds like from their reaction that this may not be the first instance

I agree as she said that just before she went around them, as she apporached, the guy tugged the lead on the dog and said "come here" or something to that effect.

Wow that is terrible. Your poor friend, I hope she is ok.

Make sure she goes to the doctor (obvious I know) and gets a report, then makes a full report to Animal Control and the police. Even if she doesn't have specifics like where they live, best to make a report as early as possible and then give further details later if necessary.

Thanks K&P, she did go to the doctor and got a tetanus shot and bandaged up. They have kept the file at the doctors and she is contacting the police today.

I just wanted to advise and warn that my friend was attacked while walking (on her own) around her estate in Lyndhurst last night.

She was walking and an 'older couple" (she described them as having grey hair) walked towards her on the footpath with 3 dogs, on lead, one Jack Russell and 2 unidentified, medium sized breed, black and brown dogs.

As she approached, she walked onto the naturestip to go around them as 2 people and 3 dogs take up the entire footpath and as she walked around, one of the black/brown dogs lunged and bit her on the calf quite badly. She fell to the ground, calf gashed and bleeding and the guy asked her "if he got her" which was blatantly obvious. My friend started crying and said yes, and the couple turned and walked off quickly.

My friend was upset and in shock and so couldn't run after them.

So please be warned if you are in that area and see this couple. We are currently trying to establish where they live to make a report. Any information would also be welcome.

LOL I wish I could post this about my beagles. I have a few winter kegs at my house.

Thanks heaps for the replys guys!! I went into Harvey Norman today, they had the Canon 550D it had the two lenses, 18 - 55 mm and 55 - 250 mm, the guy said that the 550D comes with a 18 - 135 mm also, he said this is a much more superior lens, the price of the first with the twin lense is $1685 and for the second with the one lense is $2100, not sure if there is a huge difference in the lenses or if he is just trying to get more money out of me, being its Harvey Norman and all. I will go the camera shop next time I am in town and see what price they have on it to.

Went to Joyce Mayne also, the guy there was totally useless, said he thought they might be getting those cameras in but had no idea how much they were going to be and that he wouldn't be able to find out for me

Be very wary of Harvey Norman, they are a rip off. You are in effect paying for their 'flexibility' because they offer Interest Free whether you buy it on that or not.

I am in the market for the 1000D with the twin lens kit. Dick Smith had it for $746, Good Guys $840, JB HiFi $860 and Retravision $850. Harvey Norman wanted $1199!!! When I pointed out and brought in catalogues to show that everyone else was a good $400 cheaper, they said they would price match but then added an extended 5 year warranty (which I didn't ask for) and a memory card (which I didn't ask for) all of which brought the price back up to $1150. Idiots

thanks guys, I've cropped it alot and brought the brightness down in editing. This is what it looks like straight out of camera, pretty ordinary.

Love the moon

I glanced up at it last night when I shoved the dogs out for their bed time wee. Thought about it for all of 10 seconds - it was so bloody cold!

LOL I was staring at the same moon! (I'm on the Peninsula too!). I took some shots too using my 200mm and mine are currently on my camera looking like your Kirislin! Must get them off and make my first post in here :rolleyes:

This is scarily sounding like the road I live on!!

I couldn't help but notice how he likes to make the asses on the brides smaller and higher - just about every bride shot on his site has had some booty shrinkage.

my oh my, he sure does and the waists are thinner too.

Sorry but I think they are bullsh$t. I would be hoping that those brides asked for the "instant fat reduction" or I'd be peeved. On the chick in the desert setting, she looked fine before, his editing makes her look grossly thin. Also the chick in the long slim white gown. She had a nice figure before with nice hips and curves and then he made her practically anorexic!

I agree she shot and composition are nice but the editing in some of them is plain ridiculous.

I certainly didn't mean that particular programs or effects are the sole domain of individual photographers. I think there's a difference though between deciding to use the Lomo effect, HDR, monochrome etc.. and being given the specifics of how someone with a very definite style (such as Rocco, Ruthless, Tess, becandcharch etc) gets from the in camera version to their final edited version. I very much got the impression that this thread was designed to have people share details of how their editing process and how they achieved their final result, although purely for learning purposes and not to rip off people's ideas. I don't mind sharing some of my stuff as I don't think I have developed a signature style yet but I understand why photographers who have would be reluctant to do so, especially if they're earning an income off of their style.

I dont think so, well, I didn't take it that way, the OP only asked for before and afters, not blow by blow how to's. Although even if she did ask that, she wouldn't be the first. ;)

I think its great when people share. Just because I ask doesnt mean I'm going to sit and copy that style every time I take a shot. I recently asked a DOL straight out on a thread how they did something. I never for one moment thought I was breaking a rule or that it was rude. I never meant to be rude and the DOL member was awesome about it and gave me the general gist of how she edits. Simple. :D

I WAS trying to take a pic of Mitch with the ball when someone else snuck around to sniff the lens.

Thank you PP. I understand what you're trying to say

Ok, mostly I use a free program called Photoscape because I can't use Photoshop Sometimes pics turn out ok using it, sometimes they don't. There isn't a whole lot of control like there is with the better programs. If you download Photoscape, there is a drop down menu of effects and I often use the AGFA effect. It tints it greenish though, so I often will counteract that with some warmer tones. I don't like things too contrasty, so I often reduce that also. Just have a play, it's fun.

With the legs pic, I actually made friends with Lightroom, which I don't often do. I kept my legs red by upping the little red slider and pretty much leaving everything else as is.

Thanks so much for that and for not taking offence lol. Thats it, it is a greenish tint! I just love it because I don't like some pictures all bright and colourful. Thank you!

Sorry to hijack and feel free to PM me etc but I am trying to catch Huga and know she comes in here lol :D

I don't know how to word this so please don't take offence at the words I use

I adore your photos Huga and I would love to know how you get that 'washed out' 'antique' dulled down colour look you have adopted as the style for your pics. Some of the colours in the pics are very vibrant but the rest of the pic is this really 'faded' kind of look (told you I was crap at what I am trying to say!) How do you get that??

I don't care where my dogs walk as long as they aren't pulling. I don't mind if they sniff (I do own a scent hound after all) but I also expect that when I give a command (i.e. look or heel) that they will comply. I also don't like excessive marking and when I stop or say wait or hold the leash tight I expect them to stop and wait for my ok to continue.

Me too. I own 2 beagles and so a walk without sniffing is just not going to happen. They get corrected if they pull, and if they pull excessively to get to a smell, we bypass it and I check them in to my side until they realise that pulling like that gets them no where.

They get 5-10 secs at each smell then get told to 'leave, come on" and they do move on (to the next smell lol)

Mitch gets let off at the park, he waits just inside the gate for me to unclip the lead from his harness, looks back at me for the "go" and hoons off. When we get to the other side, where there is no gate, I stop about 3m away from the edge of the park, he trots over to me, without having to call him, and puts his back/bum to me knowing the clip goes back on the harness. He's a good boy.

Yep I got mine at Bunnings too. $80 or 90 bucks from memory.

I agree with Mantis, you shouldn't mollycoddle them as you are teaching them that it is OK to behave like that. Its very hard though.

My rottie was great in a storm. When he was a pup we took him outside one day when a storm with no rain was occuring. I swept the path and behaved normal and threw his ball for him etc. He was great with storms. Same with fireworks. We dragged him out into the backyard one NYE when idiots were letting off down the road. We played ball and gave him a schmako when he showed no fear. Nothing phases him.

My mums staffy however can hear a storm before we do and starts panting. In the storm, she shakes like you've never seen, you can't talk to her or get her to come to you. She goes on the bed, under the bed, under the coffee table, beside your chair. She pants and drools. Its horrible to watch but there is nothing you can do for her. She is the same with fireworks. Mum and dad now lightly sedate her on NYE.

My two beagles were fine until we had a storm once when mum and dad were visiting with their staffy. My two picked up on her extreme fear and now they carry on like pork chops too. Although I can snap them out of it. If Mitch starts to run around gettig under beds, I grab a toy and talk to him normally, and he forgets there is a storm. Fireworks still scare the crap out of them though.

I think it's very normal. When my mums staffy and my rottie used to play the sounds than emanated from the room were hilarious. It sounded as though they were killing each other, crossed with someone strangling a whipper snipper (that would be the staffy of course ).

It is very hard for a little dog to get out of a sand pit and land on his feet instead of his head.

Sorry all my photos end up being the same thing.

I will really try for some different stuff during the month.

Graceful!