Jen

good news! Wiggles has finally found his new home

very well written...thankyou. I have 6 dogs which are all working dog breeds and in training they all work for what they can get as individuals. They definately do not share! This is not a pack. They all do what works for themselves and as for the hirachi it changes all the time depending on what they are doing. One might be boss at food time while another is boss of the ball. Yet a different dog is boss when it comes to the tug toy. It all depends on what is most important to each individual. Once again this is not pack behaviour and so when it comes to training them it is silly to work with pack motivation in mind. Instead it is reasonable to think what is most important to each individual and work with that. This is why we need to understand the pack or not pack theory after all. Thanks for your post

I would definately be interested in Vic as well.

thanks Jules. got it. will check it out jen

he is great with my 2 cats. They sleep together at night. Unfortunately I dont have that option of trying to retrain him. after the first incident that was my plan however now the farmer is insisting that I get rid of him and I can understand that. I did try to talk to the farmer about retraining him if I was to ensure he doesnt escape again but he wasnt prepared to risk him getting out again and is insistant that the dog either is put to sleep or removed from the property. I am lucky really that all my dogs did not join in. I have 5 others which are border collies and kelpies so if they had followed his lead it would have been much worse. I have to respect the farmers wishes and sadly this lovely little dog really has to go. this morning I heard from another neighbour that 2 other people in the street have had their dogs let out as well. It must be kids playing a prank but I wonder if they realise that it has cost the lives of a sheep and now probably this little dog

I blame myself although I cant work out how they got out. They havent escaped again so I really doubt that they got the gate open on their own but if I hadnt had him off lead the first time he probably wouldnt have learned to chase. Its always hard when you dont know their history. I have been training him out in that paddock for about a month and the sheep have always been there. for some reason this day they ran and I was doing a sit stay off lead with him. Needless to say he didnt stay and worse still he didnt come back when called. Now he has learned to go after sheep his only chance is to find a home in town where sheep are not a problem. I really dont like his chances. Such a shame because he really is a great little dog.

the first time I was training him off lead in the paddock next door when the sheep ran and he took off and chased them. By the time I got through the fence to grab him he was already attacking one. I blamed myself and have only been training him on a long lead since then, however yesterday morning a neighbour came over and said all my dogs were out. The gate was wide open so I dont know how it happened. all my other dogs, which are working breeds were just in the driveway however this little buggar had gone into the next door property and out their back fence and was attacking the sheep. It amazes me that they werent all in on it. I guess the others didnt work out how to run around and through next doors property. He really is a very smart little cookie however, it is also his downfall. One of the sheep needed to be put down and I cant blame the farmer for requesting that he is gone. The farmer has actually been very reasonable about the whole situation.

I have a 1yo fox terrier foster dog who needs a new home urgently. He has started flyball training and shows enormous potential. Unfortunately he has been chasing the neighbours sheep and the farmer is prepared to let it drop provided the dog goes. He is a lovely little dog and very quick to learn and he has tons of energy. If you are looking for a great height dog and you dont live anywhere near sheep, this dog is perfect for you. I have to rehome him immediately or have him put down. He has been desexed and vaccinated etc. and is house trained and good with other dogs and sleeps with my cats. I dont have kids but I doubt he would be a problem with kids as he has a lovely temperament as long as you dont baaaa. Jen

Hi, I have kelpies too, so I know that they can be rufnuts. Have you thought about buying a livestock water trough or if you hunt around you may even find a water tank that is the right shape and size. It would be much stronger and you wouldnt need to worry about them damaging it. Jen

I have just been watching a story on 60 minutes about dogs being able to detect a persons cancer. I believe one of my dogs saved me just like the dogs in this story. I had a freckle on my arm for years and often had it checked over those years by several different doctors who all told me not to worry. My dog kept licking it and she seemed obsessed with it so I went to another doctor who agreed to remove it just to shut me up and it was a level 3 malanoma. dogs must truely have an amazing sense of smell! Jen

Hi, if food doesnt help then you need to find out what it is she really likes. You can train her on your own at first and find out what food she wil do anything for. I have had heaps of clients tell me that their dog wont work for food. I have a border collie who was also like that but you need to find the food she loves and teach her to enjoy it. If you really believe she is not food orientated then teach her to play. Whether it is a ball or a tug toy you can teach her to play. It takes time but once she learns she will be addicted then it is time to let other people interact with her as well. If she is afraid of men, then let her start with females that she does not know. gradually introduce those that she is uncomfortable with. I still believe that you can make any dog food orientated in time as you can with play. you have to take this very slowly with a dog who can not trust but believe me it can be done. Jen

Hi, I had a similar problem with a rescue kelpie I had. I got every one who came to our house to give her a treat. At first they would throw it on the floor because they couldnt get close to her. Eventually, and it took months, she would take food from people at the door. You have to leave some treats available near the door all the time and tell people in advance so they understand to come armed with food and to speak quietly and calmly. If your dog doesnt like food from strangers you need to find something that she really loves. maybe a something really special like a chicken wing or a toy. Remember, she has been afraid for a long time and it will take a long time to change, but it can happen. Good luck, Jen

try [email protected] Jenny makes all kinds of harnesses to order. She may be able to help and she is in Aus. I have a couple of flyball harnesses that she made and they are very good and she even embroiders the dogs name on if you want. JD

hi Luke, I had the same problem with one of my kelpies. One day I was so frustrated that I took off my jumper and put it under his belly to make a sling. I held him in place while I stuffed him with heaps of treats and praise. It worked. Wasnt long and we had a really good stand. He couldnt do anything else but stand because I was able to keep him in place. Maybe its not the best way to teach stand but when you have tried everything else, I fail to see how this can hurt to give it a go. JD

thanks ness, I think i might try a thermo and if he gets that off I will try a horse place. JD

I am wondering if anyone knows where I can buy a dog rug that doesnt have valcro straps. My kelpie just pulls it undone. I am looking for one that has buckles on the straps or snap fittings. JD

I forgot to add, plenty of exercise. If she is tired she is less likely to get up to mischief.

Hi 2RB, I had the same problem with my kelpie, these type of breeds need plenty of mental stimulation. I found this worked with my kelpie. I put straw in his bed and I see that Bully and persephone sugest crate and paper bedding. These are all good, but try this:- Go to Karen Pryor’s web site: www.clickertraining.com There is a good article there called “How to teach a dog give: A Winning Recipe” by Leah Roberts. I know you will be thinking that this is not the answer, but keep an open mind and read the article. If you apply her recipe consistently you will eventually have a dog that will bring things to you and dropping them in your lap instead of chewing them up, or leave it when asked. Crate training is good, as the others have suggested, for over night etc., or as a temporary measure until she hopefully grows out of it, (which doesnt always happen) but if you lock her up all the time she will be very bored and her behaviour will become worse. Sooner or later you will have to let her out and she will go crazy chewing everything in sight. You also need a good selection of toys and change them everyday so that she doesn’t get bored with the same ones. Also labs are generally crazy about food so try things like hiding food around her yard. It will keep him busy finding them, also kongs are good value as they take ages to get all the food out and keeps them occupied for ages. Good luck. JD

Hi, most vets recomend desexing around 6 months old so I would be getting him done ASAP. Also, prevention is better than cure, so always seperate them when they have food. Even if you have to tether them, whether they have a bowl of food or a bone. It wont hurt them in fact they will appreciate being able to eat in peace. Good luck. Jen

hi, you need to go right back to the beginning. Teach him to focus on you at home in a room with no distractions. Only when he is giving you consistent focus there can you move to another room in the house and then into his yard. Start introducing distraction slowly and if he gets distracted go back a step until he is more focused. You need to do this slowly. You are just expecting too much too soon. JD

Hi, I had the same problem as you. I have 6 dogs and it didnt matter who was left behind we had a carry on. Solution for me was go back to the beginning. Proper crate training is the answer. You need to make going in the crate a good thing for all your dogs. Start putting him in the crate when you are at home for a short periods at first with a bone or a favourite toy. Make it a good place to be, because at the moment he probably associates it as a bad thing. It might take a while to change the way he thinks about the crate so start for short stays in the crate and build up the time slowly. Then you can start leaving him in it while you leave the room for a minute and then 2 minutes etc. It will take time and patience but well worth it. You will find that you can leave him in the crate when u go out eventually but he needs to be happy to be there. Wouldnt you? JD

Hi guys, I too had a very bad experience at W/P. I would say, with the same instructor. He told me that I had to really use the choke chain to do just that...choke the dog down. He bragged that he could put his male rotty on the ground with a choke chain to make him respect him! I left there and went to Berwick. They are terrific there. I would still be there except that we moved away from the area but Berwick is great and so is Hastings from what i have heard. JD

I use a bridge, not always a clicker. I sometimes use a dog whistle for the simple reason that I may need both hands free, and then I will use a dog whistle to mark the behaviour. Yes, you can reward with things such as toys instead of food. I dont because its too slow and I like to keep rewarding often especially when offered a really good behaviour. jen

dont worry Issis, you could always order a walking harness with your dogs name on it

Were you one of the ones she had to email about dodgy sounding measurments All the doggies look awesome in their personalised harnesses!!! Now I want one for my dog and we don't even do Flyball Yes but shhhhh don't tell anyone It was only cause she was used to doing borders etc, not boof head, broad chested Staffords, so out of courtesy she emailed me to make sure that the measurements were correct. Once I told her it was a stafford we were all good to go He thanks everyone, all the dogs look fab! I cant wait to get my orders now. I have a maroon one with yellow embroidery orderd for Molley and a purple one with yellow embroidery for sally. Looking at your dogs I know mine will be fantastic. Poor Zac has a black dog one. Its great but he hasnt got his name on it. JD