persephone

While I am glad there was some improvement , I still strongly suggest a VETERINARY BEHAVIOURIST to check everything , as it would be awful to spend a lot of time & love on this pup ,only to find that there is a problem with genetics, or something like a brain tumour ... It is worth remembering too , that by consulting the specialist, you are given the best and most effective handling 'tools' for this problem . IF the problem is something like total lack of respect due to being whelped like he was ..and having to compete for everything ..maybe because he was smaller .. then getting a specialist help would again , provide the best approach to management . Pup is getting bigger every day, too ..and a bite in the wrong spot could be very damaging This behaviour really does need examining .. both pup and owner ... and , unless testosterone levels were/are measured , there is no way to tell if it was/is part of the problem ..as an improvement in a few weeks/months could be due to the age , the extra training ...or a healing of a lesion or something ... No way would I recommend just a 'wait & see if it was the testosterone' approach ..for all sorts of reasons .

:) Good update - I'm sure his owner will be VERY pleased to have him home.

AAWWWW..

R I P little marli.. you were loved and are missed ...

If this little one was aggro from 8 weeks - I doubt testosterone would have been the greatest cause.... were his testosterone levels very high(higher than normal for adolescents) when tested ? I would have been looking at brain chemistry - he may well have been born with a propensity to this behaviour. If you are in Melbourne ..and are committed to finding a cause..then may I recommend you contact Robert Holmes, atANIMAL BEHAVIOUR CLINIC he is a veterinary behaviourist and has been doing this for many many years ....

there can NOT be an empty thread, sorry :p

..perhaps give her bones like turkey necks/wings or roo tail pieces (about 6-8 inches long ) these can be chewed in entirety ..they are not hard hard bone ...it may take her quite a long time ..(which means her teeth are getting cleaned- 3 chomps doesn't do it .) ..but perhaps treat these days as 'meat on bone MEAL day' ..no other food ? :)

Ah..at least you now know ..and can concentrate on loving and spoiling her :)

yep ..vinegar is a great additive .

Aphra ..goo plan we use a flocculating agent in the tank - so it makes sense :) Hopefully I'll remember it, now!

..perhaps his gut just cannot handle a lot of foods now? poor old fella.

How old? perhaps his old digestive system needs a specialised diet ..one which is mostly easily digestible ..with very little to get rid of ..

Jules... these links might be of some help? LINK LINK

..perhaps he is drinking a lot more because of the dry food ? His previous diet was moist ...

your boy is what now ... around 12 weeks? Unlike your vet.. it doesn't sound normal to me ..and I would suggest you get a urine sample tested ...

ermmm, yes- imitation cow udders ! Thanks :)

Maybe put Loki on a NO carpet area... and hopefully find out what the problem is? For stains... you definitely need to scrape off stuff from the surface ...I usually then scrub with vinegar ..and pat to remove excess ...

an udder tug ...sounds a bit gross...... My old Kieran would ALWAYS give me something if I told him .. "I'll put it here for later" ... and I would place it somewhere in sight, but unreachable ..that way he knew where it was ..and so still 'had it' ..sort of .... I don't think that's being anthropomorphic ...it worked, anyway :p

<br style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17.600000381469727px; background-color: rgb(238, 242, 247); ">not really .. it seems like a lot of grain & veg ..... have you had a read of THIS THREAD? not specifically for brood bitches , but very useful in deciding what dogs need in their diets :)

brilliant!! :) :)

LOL!! at least Hamlet picks up rubbish from the floor for me!..tissues, dropped pens etc (but he also raids the little bins if the floor is clear)

what is her favourite favourite food? I train "gimmee" (out , here, means go out of a room /house/yard) with yummy food treats if on a favourite toy..I swap ... Command given, treat waved in front of nose,Dog releases toy ..a treat gets shoved in, and much praise is given,.repeat, repeat ... I also do a similar thing with YUK! for objects which dog is not allowed to have back ..stolen items, dangerous items etc . A shout of YUK ..means instant spit ..and backpedal...

samjohn ... is there any reason you want your dog boarded at training facility and have someone else train it? My perception of dog education...is that it is a communication between dog and owner..and a terrific experience for both :) It is all about an owner learning about their dog, how it thinks, and learns ..it is an owner learning to communicate clearly to their dog. Once that communication is there..and you know how the dog will react ,and why ..then it is a wonderful buzz..of expanding skills . Sure, someone can train your dog to sit & walk on a leash..but then , you still need the skills to consolidate this ..and you need to be able to communicate . I love the "lightbulb moment" which happens with a pup/dog ..when ,all of a sudden dog'eyes light up , and it KNOWS what you mean ..and that ,by doing said action, a reward is in the offing :) I would really hate to miss that by sending a dog away ....it's sort of like watching a baby human take a first step ... one of those things which should be witnessed by parents/those close to the baby :)

food :) anything from plain rice crackers, to apples, to cheese, to frozen green beans, to dry cat food , to bacon rind.

:) dogfan - droplets are hard to capture. That's pretty .