raineth

that's so funny Kirislin because they are the flowers in my mum's garden and she's a grandma to 12 kids (only 2 of which are mine) yeah pers I have a lot to learn!

I just wanted to share these because I'm really happy with them

i honestly cant see how it would have raised eyebrows, my small dog is aggressive unprovoked to any dog. i worry she will get hurt. she lives with the other 2 and only just tolerates being in the same room even if the oher 2 arent near her! the post was supposed to be informative about the different breeds living together not a way of saying we let our dogs drive each other crazy! anyway, i do agree with you that people can only go by the words on the page i just believe the tone of the reply was a little accusing and for any dog lover to have someone say the way they treat there dogs isnt good is going to get your back up! i'm sure you would agree with that the thing is that from what you wrote it doesn't sound unprovoked. Well adjusted and socialised dogs will tell rude dogs off. You said one of your dogs tried to herd your little dog and the other one tried to play with her but due to the size difference it is too rough. Most dogs would stand up for themselves in that situation by growling and snapping. She has probably told them before with other body language that she has had enough before she steps it up to the growling and snapping stage. If she had teeth she would give them a nip and it would probably be enough for them to learn their manners with her. I really think it is up to you to stand up for her. Put the other dogs in a time out if they start harrassing her. She is small and old and needs you to be step in for her. I won't comment on the fence fighting it does sound like a frustating situation. If he is on your land you can report him to the police or the counsel.

good question Just because a breeder advertisers on Dogzonline does not mean they are an ethical breeder :D So sounds like you have decided to go for the maltese :D Have a bit of a google serach to look into the health problems they get. Then you look into the health testing that can be done to ensure a breeder is breeding from healthy animals. Not all health probs can be tested for; but quite a few can. Ask for copies of documentation on any health certificates. Please note that a "vet check" is not a health test. secondly with a breed like the maltese (i.e. not a working breed) you would expect that the breeder shows their dogs. This means you will get a maltese pup that is more likely to have sound conformation and actually look like it should :D thirdly I would be asking for lots of detail about temperament. Be honest with the breeder about what you want - ask lots of questions about what especially the mum dog's temperament is like. The more you tell them what you want the better able they are to choose the pup in the litter that will most suit you lastly it is a good sign if you feel that the breeder is really weighing you up as to whether you are going to be a good owner or not :D

I so often have this weird sort of conversation that goes like this: They say: I don't think Digby is a Great Dane. I say: that's right he is not a Great Dane. they say: his head is different to a Great Dane. I say: yes they say: and his body is different to a Great Dane I say: mmm yes that is because he is not a Great Dane. They say: he's not tall like a Great Dane me: uhuh you would not believe how many times I have had that conversation with people. and with some people I have had it more than once!

thanks Vickie, they looked great didn''t they?

well I better have a look at some youtube vids and the like. He is a decently behaved boy and we do got obedience and do other training at home so that is something. he is also a little bit of a giver-upperer so in other training I do, I really try hard to make things simple and have him feel like he's succeeding. I think one of the things I am getting most out of this thread though, is that I need to make sure the learning is fun for him. Which I know he hasn't found the weaves fun up until now. So I think I will skip doing them at club and have a look around the interwebz and find the method I think will suit him best Corvus - thank you ;) I will make sure I always ask 'why?' especially if I'm having doubts ;) I must say most of what I've done at the club has been really good and we do enjoy it. Its just these two things that I feel are not working for us

Hi Kavik, to answer your question "Is there a reason you specifically want to lure the weaves?" well basically when I went, they had the weaves set up with a 'guide' (I think its called) and the instructor instructed me to lure him through with food. I said that he targets my hand nicely and would she mind if I had a go at getting him to go through the poles by targeting my hand. I thought it would be easier for me to click and treat throughout doing it that way. But he was too big to weave with the guide in place anyway - he did follow my hand and then got stuck in the guide. so yeah, there is no specific reason - I just looked at what they were doing and thought it might suit us a little better to use a target rather than food lure To be honest, they haven't really mentioned much to me about foundation work! We just kind of go about the obstacles. I can tell you are probably shaking your head right now

Thanks Vickie! that info is much appreciated

thanks Perdy! its good to have the perspective of an agility-expericed giant breed owner. I do feel that I need to do things a bit differnently with him, not just because of his size but because of his totally laid-back temperament. yeah the club has one course set up and so everyone spends most of their time waiting (he lies down and snoozes) and actually I think Digby likes that bit just as much as the actual agility We usually only go round twice before i can tell he wants to go back to lying around. will look up the 2X2 method

Vickie, sorry I just wanted ask you about the bit I bolded above? Because I'm a bit confused about what you mean? Are you just saying that whether I decide to use my method, or theirs, the important thing is to stick with the same method? Also, if I can ask another question. When you are starting a dog out on weaves do you start with just a couple of weave poles set up? If i try to teach it at home I was thinking that I might start with a couple of poles.

From the instructor's point of view perhaps they find it difficult when one person in the class is experimenting and then everyone decides to experiment. All of a sudden out the window goes their lesson plan and it becomes, not a free for all, but not a lesson either. Our club tries to balance all of this, to let people in your position enjoy their time with their dogs, but it is frustrating when people take up the classes time, but don't really want to listen to what you know works. This isn't a shot at you, rather I am trying to look at it through the instructor's eyes. Maybe have a chat with them about how you feel (as opposed to just telling them you don't want to do things their way because you don't want to compete. At least that way the lines of communication are open and everyone has options. thanks for the responses! I'll reassure you agility dogs - that its not quite that situation All the other people there are competing... two of those people are 'appointed' (sorry can't think of a better word) to teach any newbies who come along. I am the only newbie - so I'm not causing dissent among the ranks or anything ;) Everyone else there actually does it on there own - I mean without an instructor. Although other people will offer support or advise as warrented. It is a nice atmosphere. I also didn't say "no I'm not doing that!" I just said that I'd like to have a go with targeting. You see they had this set up where there was like a kind of zig-zaggy fence on one side of the weaves and my Digby couldn't even fit through it! I have a lot of respect for the instructors. - and I don't want to be a pain in butt to them. That's why I'm conflicted between going along with jumping him at 600 and doing weaves there way etc. Vickie, I really like the suggestion of doing the weaves at home - sounds like a fab compromise - I'm not annoying them but I'm having fun experimenting with my own methods. Digby is 3 years old. He is really big and solid - like a bullmastiff. While he can do a big jump he really alnds with a big thud when he does. I would hate to cause him physical problems from doing this - especially when its just a bit of fun for us both ;)

I take my big dog Digby to agility. I just do it to spend time with him and have some fun with him. I don't want to compete - I'm too busy with kids etc. I'm really happy to have their instruction. There are a couple of things that i want to do my own way though. For example because Digby is a giant dog and we're new to it all, I don't really want him jumping 600 all the time; I just want the jumps to be just high enough for him to need to jump. Also I wanted to experiment with him learning to weave using my hand as a target (he targets fine). But the instructors just basically said "no" and if i go to do they say "don't do it that way!" These people do know a lot more about agility than I do - that is a given. But at the same time - I have been clear that I don't want to compete. And even though I'm new to agility I think people shouldn't mind if I want to do some things my own way. Anyway i am all filled with doubts now. I don't know whether to hold my ground with these things. Or whether I should just do what I'm told by the instructors. Afterall I know they know more about agility than I do. But at the same time I can't see why it would bother them for me to experiment a little with different methods? afterall if i fail they get to laugh at me

Panzer (Panxer tank)

I will just add that Temple Grandin believes that one aspect of play is for the dogs to practice being the submissive and being dominant. Mostly dogs are not all submissive or all dominant; they are submissive in some situations or ages, or with certain others and vice versa re dominance. Play is an opportunity to pracitce both these things. Have you noticed how dogs often take turns in play? one will be the chaser and then it will be the chased. and you can see it with wrestling too. Temple thinks that is an example of how they practice. I know my dog Digby when he is having his turn of being dominant in play with Delta will be more dominant than in any other part of his life. He does seem to relish the opportunity That is just some food for thought for you

Very nice! she's a pretty girl

well Corvus, I did the thundershirt for about an hour every morning (except this morning). I think it did effect her arousal throughout the day. She was calmer when getting ready for a walk and she settled into her walks quicker than usual. It definitely had its biggest effect when she was weraing it. She generally went and slept or atleast relaxed on her bed. When normally she's more a part of everything in the morning. Its also funny how she didn't play when wearing it - even though its her standard routine to play with Digby in the morning.

Wow Shell!!! they are all so beautiful! Amazing colours! I love the light saber; it really does look very futuristic. my photo above is just my daughter spinning on a suspended chair. Kind of like kids do on a normal swing. It was just the only thing I could think of that was handy I have had the camera for about 5 weeks now so I am still very much in the experimenting phase. I want to go and take one of a big fountain. I like the way you can make running water look all smooth with a long exposure

It doesn't pay to bog sometimes! what a way to ruin your afternoon I hope you have happier experiences their next time :D

I know nothing about resizing, I sharpen using DPP, the canon program that comes with the camera. As to the composition of the pic I took I have to admit putting absolutely no thought into it at all , I just wanted to try to get an in focus pic to use as an example of how I cannot get them as sharp as others. Kirislin, in the photo magazine I bought. I just happened to read today that the program canon gives you with the camera is not as good quality as the programs give with some of the other cameras such as the Nikon. Just thought I'd mention it incase its at all useful. I too love your photos by the way

Breezy, I think that is a wise decision I'm sure you'll find a lovely rescue dog who is a good fit for you in the future :D

You are classically conditioning the dog/s to be terrified of babies! What utter craziness! You scorn the use of a cookie" you wouldn't believe what can be achieved with classical conditioning via the use of cookies! With the correct use of "cookies" you would end up with a dog that thinks babies are nice to be around - but understands that it is not to actually interact or be in contact with a baby, or the baby's things. This is important Because we can never completely control everything!

I had a dog who liked to pull washing off the line. I decided to try to re-shape this behaviour rather than completely eliminate it. So we attached a cotton lead rope (for horses) to the line. Then we encouragewd him to pull on that. He got lots of praise for it. He didn't pull off anymore washing after that. He just tugged on the rope if he felt the need. I know that won't necessarily work with all dogs (I guess it depends why they are pulling washing off the line - whether its a game or whether its anxiety etc) but its probably worth a try I also think its a bit kinder than putting things like chilli on the clothes, and the dog has that horrible buring sensation in its mouth for ages afterward. Other than confining him when unsupervised. I would be encouraging them to get as many time consuming toys for him to play with. Actually one simple thing they can do is feed his dinner in ice block form. That will take him a lot longer to eat, and costs really nothing :D

Excellent well done Toby!

Digby used to go under my desk and not come out until the storm was over. I have used the Thundershirt for about the last 6 or 7 storms. The last storm we had I didn't even need to put it on. I went our under the awning and he followed me out there and laid on his bed and relaxed. Definitely not stressed at all. Pretty huge improvement!