Gayle.

Erny, what would happen if someone gave too strong of a correction while the dog was wearing a prng collar? I've heard of people giving a correction chain a hard enough yank that it's lifted the dog off it's feet (never seen it and never wish to, just the thought makes me sick)......what would happen if the dog was wearing a prong collar in this instance?

I don't think there's anything "wrong" with that...but putting a device on a dog and getting instant results is NOT training the dog. I could tie the dogs legs together and make it hop.....that isn't training it to hop, that's just tying it's legs together, now it has to hop. The dog doesn't have a choice. Putting a prong collar on the dog to stop it pulling is doing just that...it's not training it to stop pulling, it's just forcing it to because it no longer has much of a choice. The prong collar used this way is NOT a training tool, the handler isn't training the dog at all and the dog has simply stopped pulling because if it pulls it feels discomfort. It merely becomes a non-pulling device. The problem with that is that you always have to have a prong collar handy to take the dog for a walk, or the dog is unwalkable because it pulls too hard. By actually using the prong collar (or any non-pulling device) as a training tool, you can teach the dog to walk on a loose leash by using voice commands and eventually it can be walked with any collar or no collar at all. And *this* is what I thought professional trainers were advocating in their support of prong collars.

I've gone from a head halter to a snake chain cos it's easy to slip over Bensons boofhead....or a limited slip collar (same reason) or a flat collar. I like to mix it up so he doesn't think he only has to behave in ONE type of collar. His correction though, is my voice. And I thought that was the reason for using a prong collar.....to teach the dog to walk on a loose leash and to teach them to respond to verbal commands.

Interesting comment. Everything I've read from "experts" points to the prong collar as being a training tool.....a means to an end. A useful tool to train the dog to walk on a loose leash. The same way I used a head halter........the dog doesn't pull, praise him and use positive reinforcement for walking on a loose leash, then gradually reintroduce a flat collar or a chain and eventually ditch the training tool. This comment tells me there's no training going on here......the prong collar is a permanant solution to the problem.

The white version is the Wella one. They aren't making it any more apparently. The lady who owns the hairdressing supply shop I went to rang Wella and the person she spoke to told her it's no longer in production.

Fantastic. I didn't know there was a poultry shop there as I don't go to Mid-Valley very often but it's worth a trip now. Thanks for the info!

Which poultry shop are you getting it from? I've been buying human grade minced beef but it's getting expensive now Dusty is getting bigger and $1 kg sounds like it's right within my budget. The lady wouldn't be from Moe and breed GSD's, would she? Cos if so, I know her quite well and was having a good chat with her about raw feeding recently. She makes a lot of sense and I really like her ideas.

Yes. I had my bloke bring me everything that wasn't bolted down one night, simply because I used treats to get him to give up his "prize". He soon cottoned on to the idea that if I wanted something from him, I'd give him a treat, so I was brought all manner of "gifts" such as the remotes, shoes, clothes etc which he'd only give up in exchange for a reward. Now I use the word "Give" and show him the reward but he only gets it after he's worked for it. Given back the object then done a few sits, drops, some heelwork and a stay.

I think one at a time but different thoughts in quick succession. These were Benson's thoughts a few nights ago. Cat food, I can see it. Cat food, damn I can't reach it. Mum's moved it, how can I get it? Two paws up on the bench. Nup, still can't reach it. Two paws up on the stool. This might work. Two paws up on the bench and two different paws on the stool. This is gonna work, yay, I outsmarted mum. All four paws on the kitchen bench, god I am so freakin' clever! Cat food on window sill, now I can reach it. Far out, mum's screaming out me, damn it's loud, why am I in trouble, how fast can I get down from this damn bench, jeeze, it was way easier getting up here and mum's just not shutting up, down, down, down, okay, I'm down, mum I'm a good boy, truly I am, I just had a moment of brainlessness getting up there, truly I didn't mean it. Okay, I really am your boy, aren't I mum, and I really didn't eat MUCH of the cat food. Well, there wasn't a whole lot there to start with, just a few pieces in the bottom of the bowl, honest mum. Yep, one thought at a time, but lots of them in a very short time. That's all it takes!

I just thought of something an instructor pointed out to me when Benson was a puppy. I was stopping too abruptly and giving the sit command, he was confused as I'd given him no warning that we were stopping so he'd swing out and sit to face me to see what to do next. By slowing down those last few steps, he now knows that we're going to stop and he's going to have to do something so he listens and watches for the command.

I find it easier to handle when it's cooked, and it adds a different consistency to the mix....a bit like a binding agent. I add the water it's cooked in too (just a couple of tablespoons full) so they don't miss out on any of the nutrients.

Chinese greens are usually very cheap (bok choy, pak choy etc) and you can use the whole lot, leave and all. Grated apple and pears are a good addition too, but they are a bit pricey right now. I buy lamb offcuts in the supermarket that the dogs love. They are like ragged lamb chops and have heaps of meat on them, often the pack contains bones which are soft and fully edible, and the packs are cheap. Brisket bones are good too, ask you friendly butcher for some (they are cheap!)

I don't use any supplements but mine also have Eagle Pack kibble occasionally but I believe there are supplements you can add to a raw diet to make up what they might be missing out on. One thing I do add if I have some is flaxseed oil....very nice for their coats. It won't take a day to make up a few kgs....it takes me about an hour to make up 5kgs, divide and freeze. Don't cook anything, buy plain label pre-grated cheese and use a food processor to grate the veges (if you have one) or hand grate but don't worry about peeling anything. The only thing I cook is pumpkin and they get that with the skin still on and the seeds still in. Just microwaved and mashed into the rest of the mix.

Can you make up a mix of mince, raw grated veges, grated cheese, raw eggs etc? I make up about 5kgs at a time and freeze it in meal sized portions, but it's easy enough to make up a couple of days worth and just store it in the fridge. As well as the base ingredients, you can also add tuna, yoghurt, cottage cheese, offal and whatever else you like to make a variety. Alternate with what they're already having, maybe add some kind of supplement and they should do well without any kibble.

I use a fence as I had the same problem with my boy. It's also good for getting them in the correct heel position (close to you). One tip, only praise and treat when she's sitting correctly. If she sits crooked, do it again and again until she gets it right then praise big time. She'll make the connection soon enough.

My 13yo Lhasa has had one meal a day for years......my 14 month old Aussie Shepherd has been on one meal a day since he was about 10 months old. With both of them, they stopped eating their morning meal...they'd sniff it, lick it and walk off and leave it so I just cut it out altogether.

My boy was a chronic leash puller from about the age of 4 1/2 months. The lead would go on and he'd decide we're going THAT way, with me dragging along behind. He is however, the nicest and friendliest dog you could EVER meet. Not an aggressive bone in his body and he's just a big, sweet sooky boy. Who walks very nicely by my side now.

Here's a recipe for ya! Benson and Dusty's Favourite Dinner. 5kg of raw mince (beef, chicken, roo, lamb or a combination of all). 1kg of grated veges (carrots, zucchini, bok or pak choy, broccoli, parsnip etc). 1kg cooked pumpkin complete with skin and seeds. 8 raw eggs. 500g grated cheese. 3 chicken livers, finely chooped. 3 tablespoons of flaxseed oil. Optional extras: sardines, tuna, yoghurt, cottage cheese, brown rice, oatmeal. Mix well in large bucket, divide into meal sized portions and freeze. This is a really good and healthy base diet for a dog. Add meals of good quality kibble, chicken frames, necks, wings, brisket bones etc. and your dog will look fantastic.

I tried to get the Wella version from a local hairdressing supplier but they apparently don't make it anymore. She rang Wella for me after trawling through catalogues and not being able to find it. I ended up ordering some from a US eBay seller.

My brag is a little one for the dog world but a HUGE one for me. We had our obedience club graduation on Saturday. It's conducted and scored as a trial and you have to pass to move up to the next class. Classes are Puppy (uo to 6 months), Beginners, Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, Class 4, then various trialling classes. Benson and I were aiming to graduate from class 1. We have done tons of work over the past few weeks, tidying up his heeling, his sits and getting him to stay down on a down stay (he prefers sitting up!) We had our turn in the ring and when we came out, I told my friends who were watching that I didn't think we'd passed. They said "But you guys looked fantastic!" I felt our heelwork had been sloppy and the judge had been very critical of everything we did. Later we went back in for the group stays and he did them both beautifully. But I still didn't think we'd passed. Imagine my surprise and delight when they called us up for SECOND place! And a PASS!!! Only 3 passes out of 14 dogs, so I was rapt. And just as special, my 14yo daughter and our puppy Dusty came 3rd out of 8 dogs in the puppy class.

I get it from our local Pet Stock store. I think most of our local pet shops sell it. It's not cheap but you feed a lot less than supermarket foods. Do puppy a major favour and get her off Pedigree as soon as possible. I was discussing puppy diets with my vet and her opinion is that Pal and Pedigree are a very poor diet for a pup.

My puppy has Eagle Pack Holistic kibble, my big boy has also had Eagle Pack since he was a puppy. They also have chicken necks, wings, frames, lamb offcuts, brisket bones and raw mince mixed with eggs, cheese, raw veges (finely grated or pulverised in a blender). Chicken necks are a great way to introduce fresh meat to puppies as they are not too big for them to get their mouth around but also nice and chewy and fun to play with. Good teeth cleaners as well. Sardines and tuna make good additions to a puppy diet as they are packed full of nutrients. Find out what the carer is feeding the pups and if you want to make a change, start with what she is feeding, then gradually change to what you want to feed. Another good brand of kibble is Nutrience. I am currently trying it out on Benson and he loves it and he's looking fabulous. If you want to try a tinned food, Natures Gift is pretty good....maybe keep a few cans as a back up for when you don't have any fresh food for her. I like to give my dogs a wide variety of food, starting from when they are puppies and introduced a little bit at a time.

Don't add vegetable oil, it adds nothing to the diet. If you want to feed some oil, make it flaxseed oil which is excellent for the coat. Or replace the oil with some sardines......excellent source of Omega-3! My guys eat raw eggs whole.....it's like a snack. I give them an egg each on the lawn, and they have fun breaking it open, licking out the inside then crunching up the shell. If they have eggs mixed in with their food, I mash the whole lot together.

My old Lhasa is missing most of her teeth. I soak Eagle Pack or Nutrience kibble in warm water til it's soft then add some sardines in tomato sauce to it. She LOVES it!

My 300D was my first SLR and I loved it. I sold it after 18 months of solid use for $700 (paid $1600 for it when they first came out). Under $250 would be a reasonable price now, I would think.