huski

I think it's definitely true that a good trainer will get more out of a dog but at the end of the day you can only bring out in a dog what is already there genetically. True. You wouldn't bother trying with a poor animal that is a hideous mess, but if you considered the said faults minimal...then you work on the pros. The 'pefect" dog has yet to be found. Yes, but if we are talking about a dog actually working I don't agree it can do it well "purely" because of good training. The dog has to have a correct enough temperament, drive, nerve etc relevant to the work it needs to do. And a working dog needs to be structurally sound or it could tire faster/lack endurance or be more prone to injury.

I think it's definitely true that a good trainer will get more out of a dog but at the end of the day you can only bring out in a dog what is already there genetically.

I wonder what would happen if you whacked an 'in training' harness on them or similar :laugh:

Really!! I thought enough of the general public knew not to approach guide dogs that they'd show more common sense?! Well I was waiting for an ESS but timing didn't work out and now I've ended up a Malinois to train :laugh:

Having a lab is probably useful in some ways then as people can be more courteous about approaching a guide dog as most people know you shouldn't without permission?! I've had more general rudeness from people in public areas who aren't dog savvy than I have when we used to go to club for training. I don't know if it's because people in general don't understand you are trying to work with your dog and have less general knowledge about training than people at a club. I don't get as many people approaching or bringing their dogs over with the young pup I'm training now though, people think she looks a bit mean/crazy/scary, I never had that problem with my husky or beagle :laugh:

Not all beagles are determined escape artists, mine has never tried to climb or dig out of the yard. I don't actually know any beagles that do that (although I am sure there are some out there), as long as the fencing is secure and they have enough mental and physical stimulation serial escape artists aren't that common. I wouldn't call them particularly submissive or handler sensitive dogs though.

Unless you grow and then kill your own meat and grow your own veggies (if you feed them veggies), you don't actually know what they're ingesting. +1 That's true and it's also true for what we eat ourselves too, but making as much food from scratch and eating as 'clean' as possible is still better for us than eating a lot of highly processed crap. It's not the only reason I feed raw but it's certainly one of the reasons (for me).

Ok, then why do people who buy tools like infin8s use them as a training tool to try and stop their dogs from pulling? I understand that you are saying you use one because your dogs slip flat collars but most people don't use them strictly for that purpose, they use them to try and control dogs that pull on the leash. I know what an infin8 is and how it works, which is why I was confused that anyone would say that they never cause "any" discomfort to the dog.

Then why would people use tools like the infin8 if it was as effective as a flat collar? Like I said, if you want to use it and it works for you that's great but it's simply untrue to pretend that there is no discomfort caused to the dog. They have to be aversive on some level to stop the dog from pulling. I have a dog that can slip flat collars so he wears a martingale for safety :)

How do they work if it's not at all uncomfortable for the dog? It works in the same way a halter works on a horse. If the dog pulls, slight pressure is applied across the dogs nose,as soon as it doesn't pull the pressure ceases & goes slack. So the pressure on the dog's face is what causes the dog to stop pulling, I wouldn't say that it works without applying ANY discomfort, if the pressure applied to the dog's face wasn't uncomfortable the dog would keep pulling. It's great you found something that works for you and your dog but it's not accurate to say head collars somehow work without applying any level of discomfort to the dog.

How do they work if it's not at all uncomfortable for the dog?

Do you mean the K9 Naturals supplements?

Vurd2BB, hang in there - you are doing are doing a great job with Sara so far, I saw the email update from the weekend with the pic of her and Jet together and they looked like they were getting on really well. Remember as a new dog owner it takes time to learn the theory and get the handling down too. As far as I'm aware Sara had already developed these behaviours as a young dog, so you have to build some foundation work before you can address her behaviour problems. Dog training is progressive and you're progressing well so far! :) Bec

I run dogs separately here, I don't see how it's an issue if you have a set up for it. It's my choice and they don't fight so it's not an issue if they did get out together so I don't have to be as diligent as some but it's really not difficult to do.

You don't need to go to puppy school to make sure your pup is socialised, and a bad puppy school will do far more harm then good. Certainly if you have access to a good, safe puppy school run by a knowledgeable trainer then it would be worthwhile going but it's not something I would consider if I didn't have access to a puppy school that met my criteria.

My beagle is a massive pig, my Sibe is food driven but has nothing on her. The malinois I handle eats things even my beagle won't but then she is super driven for everything!

I haven't needed a vet cert with Qantas, I think it depends on how old your dog is? When we flew our elderly family dog recently I remember her being just under the age cut off for requiring a vet cert.

What Nekhbet said! If you are flying with Qantas on the same flight as your dog, call them directly to ask about it. It's a lot cheaper to fly the dog with you. A BC will probably be too big but when I fly my Beagle she's small enough to fly as excess baggage with Qantas (so no charge if you have a baggage allowance on your flight). Looking forward to meeting you and Ollie :)

LOL, Wisdom (the Mal) is scared of my cat :laugh:

Can I give you a baby Whippet to take out and about. You can give it back when the destructo mutt wrecks something ? LOL it sounds safer to stick with the Malinois!

Yes because if she destroyed my house or car I can give her back! LOL! Jk :)

Oh she's not mine, she's one of the pups from work. I just get to play with her and take her out etc. She is with me most of the time. I never saw myself with a mal, but it is lots of fun :)

I don't think I have much of a destructo dog here luckily. However she did find a plank of wood longer than she is and was running around the yard with it in her mouth not chewing it. Just running around with it lol. Anything can be a game with a Malinois!

Scary damage! My car has been safe so far taking the Malinois out and about, actually surprised so far that nothing has been destroyed. I did lose an erratic ball to the river when she didn't want to taint her paws by getting them wet though :laugh:

I have been feeding raw for years and I don't believe in annual vaccination but I've never read any research that proves that dogs should never be vaccinated.