Simply Grand

You can use bicarb soda dissolved in water for reflux too. Very salty though so if you use it don't give her much.

Yes! Walking and following hooman fingers at just two weeks sounds great :) She's so cute!

Sorry, what is your point in posting that video? (Denis, not MrsRB!)

It's pretty cool when it works :) You can see when it clicks in too, even just in your practices because you eventually let them show less and less attention to you before you call, then you see the automatic whip around.

LG, I suspect at least Stefan was doing other questionable things also which might be why the alias. Definitely agree it's frustrating, and in ACT at least the Inspectorate works fairly independently (or did) so the inspectors' views towards what type of intervention should be undertaken can determine what happens when others may not agree with it (although I don't know the full story with this case). Also agree with everything you say about not desexing. I also wouldn't be surprised if a lot of their puppies didn't survive given the conditions and they just disposed of them with no one knowing about them That's just speculation though.

Brooke, I think starting it with a young puppy makes it easier because baby puppies are generally keen to come to you anyway so it's easy to start the process, and because you are already into it by the time they start to gain independence they have less chance to rehearse NOT coming when called. It will still work with older dogs though, you may just have to work harder at management and being worth coming to while you are building the conditioned response. From what I can remember regarding when to use/not use this method, basically while you are building, reinforcing and rehearsing it you only want to use it when you are sure they will come to you, so basically when they are actually already on their way to you or you are sure they will call off whatever they are doing. And you want to be able to give them a great reward every time they do it to. You keep practicing it like that regularly and the time you really test it is when you really need it, when prior to the conditioning you wouldn't have expected them to come. So I practice it quite often at the off leash park, when they are at some distance and are maybe sniffing around but there is nothing super exciting close enough to be really tempting, then I wait for a moment when they happen to turn around to look at me or turn to wander back over, then I start moving backwards/waving arms/something interesting and as soon as they make a move towards me I start my exciting "emergency" recall cue and encourage them in, with a jackpot reward when they get to me.

Hello photography people! My sister has asked me to ask the DOL brains trust for advice on what to look for in a fairly basic/introductory DSLR. She mainly wants it so she can learn the basics (although she has done a bit of photography in the past) and take family photos as her baby daughter grows up. She's hoping to spend no more than around $500 or so. So any tips on what she should get and also where the best places to buy from are? What about lenses? Should she buy separately or go for one that comes with the camera? Tks :)

I don't know exactly what happened but from what I heard when I was there RSPCA ACT and DAS seized multiple dogs from them on a number of occasions. They would sign over those dogs and just get more, presumably through either breeding their own or getting them elsewhere, or both. I recall hearing that they would move dogs around between the family homes and wherever else so they couldn't be kept track of, refuse to admit who actually owned the dogs or was responsible for their care and deny that they kept the dogs chained up for any length of time. So it was difficult for RSPCA at least to actually prosecute anyone.

Oh, so glad to read this! He was well known at RSPCA ACT and we had a whole bunch of his dogs seized while I was there. They were actually sweet dogs but several had to be PTS for health issues and the way they were allegedly kept was horrible From what I heard none of their many dogs were desexed and would breed indiscriminately so they had a never ending supply of dogs even when some would be seized and not returned. All alleged of course, I never saw the property myself.

Oh, sorry MrsRB, maybe I misunderstood what you were saying above! Did you mean that the other recall you are talking about is the one that may fail if something distracting goes by? I took it as you saying the classically conditioned recall is the one that may fail under distraction and the one you are talking about is the brilliant recall you refer to but I could have got it back to front.

Sorry MrsRB but I don't think you are correctly understanding a classically conditioned recall. A classically conditioned response is an automatic, subconscious response. It takes time, effort and consistency to condition but once it has become a conditioned response distractions do not matter. The dog doesn't notice any of those things. Classical conditioning without the correct reinforcement is subject to extinction and if the response is not properly conditioned it will not work, which is why I caution against taking a written interpretation of a full demonstrated explanation of how to condition it, but basically if your dog (or any animal) is not responding automatically to your cue the the response has not actually been classically conditioned. ETA - I'm not saying a classically conditioned recall is the only option but if you can successfully train and maintain it it is pretty damn reliable. As I said previously though, I only have it with my oldest dog, my other two have a really good recall but it isn't the automatic response I see in Saxon in response to his conditioned cue. Not to say I couldn't get it in all of them, I just haven't done the work.

Ricey, what it is about debarking that you find inhumane? Genuine question, I am trying to figure out how I feel about this practice, particularly because I have an insanely barky dog - not that I am anywhere near debarking him! - but I have heard mixed things about the impact of debarking on the dog. Oh, and I do feel that $240K is a somewhat ridiculous amount. If the amount was based on the time frame why did the neighbours not sue earlier?

Great pics!! They look like all three are getting along really well. It's so cute how Ronin always seems to want to be touching Tigger when they're lying down :)

Stressy, sound like you are doing great. My 'puter savvy friend is coming to stay in a week and a half so I'll see if she can help me make a digital copy of Really Reliable Recall to email you (and of course we will pay the licencing fee to the production company ;) ). Watching it really goes beyond someone explaining it in writing.

I'm taking it off topic - HI W SIBS!!!! and get out that Emmy is 5, where does the time go?!? Although somehow I now have a 3 year old, 4 year old and almost 6 year old ,

Is that because those people breeding "Labradoodles" are unlikely to hip score the parents though? I'd be willing to bet it is (happy to be corrected if there is evidence though).

Please note all - I don't mean any offense to anyone in particular with my posts in this thread, nor do I have any association with the development of the Cobberdog, the MDBA or anything to do with Labradoodles or anything along those lines, I just find arguments based on personal feelings and bias rather than logic difficult to accept. And I also think that for the longer term welfare of dogs and their owners it is really important to focus on good objective breeding and care practices and genuine health concerns for the animals rather than personal opinions on what we like and don't like. For example, breeding a healthy Standard Poodle to a healthy Labrador is actually not likely to cause any health issues for either the dam or the puppies so if we want to argue that it shouldn't be done and be taken seriously by the wider community we need another factual reason, not just "ANKC recognised purebreds are better".

This is what the original breeder of these dogs thinks. He's sorry. http://www.theguardian.com/science/2010/nov/13/inventors-idea-regret Same Rutland Manor lady involved but I can't remember her name sorry The 'cobberdog' name gives me the heebies :laugh: I don't know anything about developing breeds but isn't this the way it is done? Apologies if that's a dim question, not my field of expertise obviously. I went and looked at the RM website and on the home page she says she did not invent the breed. She also connects the "labra... dle" and "cobber dog" directly. Ie effectively says they are the same thing. And she says she's a member of the MDBA. And it's nothing to do with the guide dogs associations. Personally I agree with Wally. I've not met one that isn't crazy and difficult to train. Most of the owners seem not that interested in training. And increasingly the ones that show up at my local park - get themselves into trouble with other dogs. Not just mine. They've got no dog to dog manners - I'm guessing because most of the pet shop ones got taken away from their mum and littermates too young to learn. Are you talking about Cobberdogs or random poodle/lab crosses? Saying they are the same thing at this stage is a bit like saying the Staffy bought from the guy down the road is the same thing as a pedigreed purebred SBT.

Showdog, so which existing breed is it that is specifically bred for the purpose of being an assistance or therapy dog to humans? How many breeds have been developed when another breed already existed that already did that job anyway? We have Labrador Retrievers, why do we need Golden Retrievers and Flat Coat Retrievers and Curly Coat Retrievers? We have Pointers, why do we need GSPs and Weimweraners and Viszlas? We have English Springer Spaniels, why do we need Cocker Spaniels and Brittanys? We have German Shepherds, why do we need any of the Belgian Shepherds? We have Collies, why do we need Border Collies or Kelpies or Australian Shepherds? I could go on (and I actually have no idea about the order in which those breeds were developed so could be inaccurate in that) but those saying there is no need for the Cobberdog hopefully see that that isn't a convincing argument (though I doubt it).

Miru, the number of times I've said to her "see, this is why I can't have nice things!" :p And there are times when I'm stressed or tired and she gets into something she shouldn't and I want to scream, but generally I keep my sense of humour about it and she really is fun to have around. She's also very caring towards me, if I am upset she will come over and touch me with her paws and lick me to try and calm me down. I wouldn't change her for the world though, and as with any dog if you are committed and it's something you really want you make it work, and it's worth it :)

Have a look at lagottos. Correct me if I am wrong but one of the primary goals for the cobber dog breed is to make useful, non-shedding service and assistant dogs. A friend of mine relies heavily (literally) on her assistant dog to assist her in getting up off the floor and back into the wheelchair. I highly doubt a lagotto would have the size nor strength to hold the weight of an adult resting on their back. What, so they've made up some nonsense about service dogs because the oodle has no actual function? I don't see the problem with developing a breed with the specific aim of assistance/therapy work. We know this is valuable work for dogs and there are no existing breeds specifically bred for a temperament suitable to this work as far as I am aware. The only wide spread specifically bred assistance dogs that I know of are Guide/Seeing Eye Dog Labradors and that is not to say that is the intention of the Labrador breed. As mentioned previously in the thread they are actually a retriever, some of which just happens to have proven effective in assistance dog work. Having said that, they are a large dog that sheds so are not suitable in all assistance or therapy situations. Although the "inventor" of the original Labradoodles for Guide Dogs does now say he regrets it, from what I've read that is because of the flow on effect it had to people randomly cross breeding all sorts of other dogs with poodles, making up names and claims and cashing in, NOT because the initial idea of the development of a non-shedding alternative to Labs was a bad one.

Oh cool, I should have looked! :)

Meetup.com.au might have some interesting groups near you too. I haven't joined anything but have had a quick look up here and there are all sorts of groups.

I'd be in if I was there for sure! You'd be fun to walk and chat with Stressy. What about the dog parks? I've usually found groups of regulars I get to know and chat to. Ernie's socialable enough to give you an opening isn't he? :laugh: Quinn and Saxon are very good at forcing themselves on people for attention so I can sidle my way into conversations Depends on the times you can go though I suppose, I think regulars usually go mornings and evenings rather than in the heat of the day. What a pity you aren't up here, we have a great big fenced park here where you can walk around or stand and chat to the regulars while the dogs sniff and play, we'd love to have you

I had two of mine at Renbury Farm for four nights a couple of years ago. I was happy with it and my guys came home happy and healthy, it was the first time they'd ever boarded/been away from me too. They are working breeds, fairly robust, no particular issues and in a kennel together though. The facilities were clean and the staff were nice, it was loud in the accommodation shed though, and yes just mesh between kennels so I think it could be stressful for a sensitive dog. Have a look at findadogminder.com.au Aimz08. Someone on here suggested it when I was looking for somewhere to take my two little dogs for a few weeks in January and I found a wonderful lady who looked after them in her home (in Qld but they should have people in your region). There is Don't Fret Pet as well, which has people who mind in their homes.