Quickasyoucan

Nope mine does that too. And the chucking up if I give him bigger bones. If I feed wings I kind of hold on to them till he starts crunching, otherwise it goes straight down Same with large pieces of meat. I have on occasion fed bits of slightly out of date steak to them and watched as $10.50 worth of steak was inhaled without touching the sides. Must be a stafford thing ;)

That's funny as one of the reasons I will never recommend or use haltis is because I don't think they are very safe at all... not just because of the neck/spine damage that can occur but from when I've used one on Micha. He could slip out of the head collar and backed out of it multiple times, I also had the clasp come apart twice when we were walking - and he was instantly lose along the street. If it was a matter of safety I'd rather have something on the dog I knew it couldn't get out of like a check chain/prong/martingale. I hate to burst your bubble huski but I've had a prong collar ping open before at completely the wrong time. It is not totally unheard off for the link to reverse off the loop. You have to make sure that the collar is fitted properly and is in the correct position. For back up you can attach to a loose martingale just for safety purposes. Sorry that is totally off topic as people already said not in any way suggesting/recommending this for the OP, but just be aware it can happen...

Perhaps you need to do more of this. One dog at the time. I thought you were meant to pop to the side anyway or correct to the side, even for example with a martingale, rather than effectively trying to pull the dog back. I hope that makes sense. ETA: I find it much better to have the dog to my side. Sometimes if it is a low stim environment I will let him have a sniff and an amble in front for a while (all the time without pulling), but for normal walking I get much better results with having him by my side. Not to mention you are better prepared if you come across an aggro dog or (in my case a skateboard). Kamuzz have you paired a command with your corrections. I find now if I say slow, Jake will automatically slacken off on the lead without the need for a correction about 80% of the time.

Has anybody done obedience training here? I think Poocow who is on this forum used to do agility there not sure about obedience but she would be familiar with the club. They use food rewards or at least that is what they told me when I enquired. I am not sure if they are open to other things like tugs etc.

Okay I was wrong Kavik was right. The Lane Cove classes are only for pups up to 18 weeks. Group training at Dural Saturdays or at Mosman (Tuesday day only). http://www.petresortsaustralia.com.au/PETR...mp;elementID=13 There also seems to be a a training class at Brookvale at PetO on a Saturday (they are a non-pet selling petstore) next to Warringah Mall), but I didn't think the set up was ideal as when I went to buy something there the class was going on in a corner of the busy carpark. However, that may have changed. You may have to be prepared to travel a bit. Or alternatively you could pay for a one on one session with a trainer to start you off in the right direction and then move forward.

There is also Northern Suburbs Dog training at St Ives Showground on Saturdays. I think Steve and Vickie Austin runs some casual classses too maybe at Lane Cove sorry don't have more details.

Define "reasonably" Cosmolo Most (properly raised!) Staffords are OK with other dogs that are properly raised themselves, but they don't suffer fools gladly and really don't do well with rude unsocialised aggressive dogs getting in their face - problem being that there's a whole world of dogs just like that out there.....especially in dog parks Lots and LOTS of Staffords do agility and flyball where dogs are hyped to the max and off leash - but they are under the control of someone who knows their dog and it's limitations. It's frequently said in Stafford circles that the Stafford won't usually start the fight, but they'll gladly finish it. I think that people say that is also true of many other terrier breeds, kerry blues, irish terrier, lakeland etc so to be fair to the SBT they are not alone in this I believe and this can extend to other dogs, regardless of their breed, not every dog likes dogs in their personal space

I have actually decided owning a pup is like childbirth we forget about how hard it was when it comes round to going through it all again... I was just talking to a friend about this the other day. When Jake was young and I was subject to the bruises, the jumping up and the odd bit of destruction he had a mature rottie and would say, oh Max is just great, house never gets disturbed. Now he has a 1.5 year old lab and a 2 year old rottie and the situation is reversed as I have the older dog. Give it a few more years and I am sure it will be reversed yet again But its worth it...

The SBT has a mixed image in the eyes of the general public and certainly the media. How do you think that the breed's image can be improved? I understand that in some parts of the US, in Germany and some other European Countries SBT's are a restricted breed and are subject to breed specific legislation. In the US they (and other bull breeds) fall under the generic description in certain states of "pit bull". At the moment that is not the case in Australia, but what are breeders/owners thoughts about this and securing the future of the SBT?

V V noice, love the muscle tone. I love pics of dogs working.

Goodness......WITHOUT A DOUBT. Ahhhh, lovely. Hey, do you prefer working or show kelpie's? Ooh nice and also black (I know I have to get over the colour preference it is a problem :D ) Is there a side shot? I know not much about labs obviously but if I saw that dog in the pound say I would have thought it was a cross. Can someone post me a pic of show vs working - genuinely interested.

Yep as the French would say Vive La Difference. Would be boring if we all liked the same thing. Besides dogs that are popular are always going to attract more attention both negative and positive just by the sheer numbers you meet. Haven't met any average joe blow with a dislike for PBGV's recently. I like poodles btw, so long as they are black (no I am not at all shallow). Oh and I met a chihuahua I liked the other day, twas cute.

And Erny gave us a lesson on how to teach a dog to clean the floor - now that was worth it! My dog doesn't want the house clean though, that's why he periodically attacks the hoover!

Glad to see this. Dad has been vigilant with George's ear too and atm he is looking good too! Just have to keep on top of things I think.

Of course it is, but it was just the way in which some of the comments were said that some of us were particularly "sensitive" to. There are plenty of dogs I don't want to own for various reasons, but I wouldn't go and tell the owners those reasons as I'm afraid it would be quite offensive to them! I just reread my first comment in this thread and could see nothing to be sensitive about? I said very diplomatically that I liked a dog at work tht was not a breed I usually considered (there are many breeds I would not own btw, not just Labs!). Kelpie-i I'm sure they will be very happy with his progress I also didn't think Kelpie-i's comments were very offensive. Try owning a bull breed for a while, then you'll get a thick skin about people insulting your dog. Incidentally, Rubystar, where did you get your signature from? It's really nice. I'm with you there, it is so lovely when people cross the road... Yeah I didn't see it as offensive either, as I said before, I would rather people know both sides, good and bad so that the right kind of owners can be attracted. No point in pretending it is all sweetness and light otherwise you are doing the poor dogs a disservice and increasing their risk of ending up in the pound. At least no one called labs "primeval and ready to turn at any second" try having someone say that to your face as your poor dog stands quietly beside you minding its own business. We all have personal favourites in the dog world for all sorts of reasons, some shallow (I love black dogs, don't like the look of white ones) and some perhaps more logical given the type of person we are. What I love is when one dog comes along that embodies all that superficially you wouldn't want in a dog and turns the whole thing around by just being plain adorable. For example, I walked a white boxer at staffy rescue - now I am not attracted to white dogs (no offense meant but I don't like blond men either!!) and I am not particularly keen on boxers, but this dog was gorgeous, just sweet and gentle have no idea how he ended up in the pound. Luckily he now has a new home to go to. :p

I thought you were training Mandela to do that? <sigh> ..... please don't tell Jeff Jones, but Mandela's house-work training is very slow in the making . I was drying a fry pan that I'd washed and told him that he should be able to manage a tea-towel by now. Well, he can manage a tea-towel actually, but not in the way I mean . He also seems to have the vacuuming back to front. He brings in the dirt and I vacuum it. It seems he thinks I am the one that needs to practice! So it brings me to dreaming about having a house cleaner. I dream of a cleaner too. I seem to have a genetic aversion to hoovering (sorry vacuuming)! I would love my house not to have leaves, dog hair and dust floating around permanently. ETA: now Erny if you could crack that as a dog trainer ie teaching basic housecleaning you would make a fortune!!

Eeep, it would be like having a combination of Micha and Daisy in one evil package We looked into getting a Basenji years ago, I still adore them, not sure I'd want a dog that is a combination of both spitz and hound though I love the look of them too. There is something about them, not sure what it would be like to live with one though. I also heard they didn't much like water and since we spend a lot of time in and around the dam or the beach that was one factor against them for me. Still would like to meet one in person though.

Well said. I was watching an episode of the Dog Whisperer the other day and he went to visit the guy who wrote Marley and Me which I haven't seen but understand was about the trials and tribulations of living with their dog? However they now have a new lab and more problems. What irked me was that they bought a dog obviously just to be a pet, but from working lines, did nothing with it and then were surprised that it killed their chickens and ran around out of control chasing things. Great dog but it needed a job. Anyway luckily they found a gundog trainer nearby and the show showed her working some of her labs, amazing. Was a real lesson in matching the right dog energy to the right owner energy though. ETA: anyway com'on you guys what you really want is a dog like a Basenji, bit of a challenge never hurt anyone.

What's the point when they're all lumped in the one category? I may as well let my girls run riot and quit training now, and feed them up nicely. I'm not saying my girls are perfect, they are far from it and do have the exuberant Lab personality that some people aren't that big a fan of, but give me full of life anyday :rolleyes: Some of the "typical Lab traits" that have been mentioned here are displayed by many breeds, it's called being a dog! I actually look at it the other way round and agree with what Jess said. I own a SBT cross, "staffies" as everyone knows are a popular dog also prone to stereotyping. Just yesterday a woman said to me "staffies are different from other dogs they are more primeval they just turn" Obviously that is an extreme view (but her dog had in the past been attacked by what she said was a 35kg (!!!) "staffy" and had severe nerve damage so obviously that coloured her view. But instead of getting defensive, I try to look at it this way, the stereotype does have some foundation, lots of people get staffords for the wrong reasons, like labs they can be overexhuberant, they are not an "easy" dog to own and they need attention, exercise and discipline otherwise they will not grow up to be good canine citizens. That is why I try to may sure that my dog is a good example of the good side of the breed. I am not going to defend every stafford because there are some dodgy ones out there who (through the fault of their owners same way as labs can be overweight or over exhuberant) are dog aggressive, or over exhuberant and a general PITA. Saying all staffys are wonderful snugglebums and I can't understand why everyone wouldn't want them is doing a disservice to the breed IMO, we want to attract the right kind of owners who will put the time in not the wrong. Getting back to labs I think that a lot of people do view them as the easy family dog (and don't get me wrong there are many lab traits that warrant this tag) and won't put the time in to exercise and train them. Like SBT's there are also a fair few BYB's of labs out there who would sell a dog to anyone without taking the time to see whether they are a suitable home.

You can borrow my dog for training, he is way too energetic for a 6-7 year old dog with an allegedly dodgy hip socket (he's never shown signs of it bothering him). It's like yeah we've done that, now what are we going to do next... oh and do you want to play ball. Some days couch potato would be just fine, but then again we always want what we can't have! I can't say I empathise but I definitely sympathise.

Ooooh, I wonder if that was my girl we were at one of K9 forces workshops earlier in the year :wink: Yes that was her, she is gorgeous!!! I wasn't lab bashing btw, unfortunately I just find the breed attracts people who think you can throw one into a backyard and hey presto perfect family dog, yes that may happen on the rare occasion but the other side of the coin is the seriously annoying over excited lab that jumps up, scratches you, snatches poo bags from your hand (yes it has happened to me) and eats them and is generally the annoyance of the dog park, or the lab that is so fat that it can hardly walk. :p I am sure those who own labs find this frustrating too. A working dog or a fit and well trained and polite family pet of any breed gets my vote every time. And having seen working labs on TV a few times that is stunning to watch.

Why is it that vets seem unwilling to be proactive? Is it because they worry about losing out on the fees for vaccs? I would think they would want to be following updates on vaccination protocols. I am sure I read somewhere that the American Veterinary Association has re-issued protocols with a recommendation for a 3 year regime for certain vaccs? My vet raised their eyebrows when I told them I didn't want the Proheart 12 injection.

Agree with what Kavik says and I have a lot of problems with this. "Yes i do agree that not all dogs are keen to run and play. However dogs of this nature have to learn to ignore and be non reactive to the doofus. " No they don't have to learn to ignore. Doofus' owner needs to give Doofus lessons in manners. Take a fearful dog and they will not learn to ignore, chances are they may respond with aggression. Do you not understand the meaning of effective control??? Have you read the Companion Animal Act recently with regard to dangerous dogs, it doesn't just cover actual attacks a lot of other behaviour can be classed as "dangerous". And this: Little dogs can easily learn not to be a victim and not to be a bully. How many times do people have to post stories of small dogs killed by shaking or over intense play by larger dogs.

Me too. Anyway IMO you are not really solving the issue, surely it is just lifting the dogs legs up so it can't get traction. I would be worried about chafing too. How about looking at some loose leash walking training? I did it with my staffy x from about the age of 4 and he will now walk low distraction absolutely no probs and even high distraction only requires minimal corrections.

I'm someone too who has never really been into labs for probably the opposite reason, all the labs I come across are massively overweight waddling things. As someone has already said, people seem to get them for the wrong reasons. So rarely do you see a fit looking lab that it is kind of off putting. I also have been put off by the chocolate craze which has seen the rise of byb's and dodgy temps. HOWEVER I saw one at one of K9 Forces workshops who was stunning to look at and a friend now has one who he exercises and trains regularly. Toby is a lovely dog and one I would be happy to own myself. ETA: a lady I meet has a shitzu who I also have a secret crush on. Not a small dog person but this little girl is a real character