Simply Grand

Ah yes, I didn't think of that. I get the impression (again speculating) that DAS has - not unreasonably - given consideration to this dog's individual situation. I'd love to hear an update from the person who actually has the dog... but I understand not everyone is on DOL all the time :) ETA - that being Brightstar 123.

I'd say its still at discussion point

As someone living in a small house with no yard (there is one but its shared and unfenced - open to the road - so not feasible for dogs to be out there off lead) I can tell you IT IS NOT FUN. I highly recommend against it with anything but a small breed, preferably adult. I'm doing it because it was the best of a bad bunch of options when it came to being able to keep my dogs at the time, which was and is my priority. It's a biiiig commitment to give them a non-crappy life and still maintain my sanity :) I have several dogs here at he moment but I could run through the individual issues I have with a 4 month old large breed puppy, a 2.5 year old medium-large breed and and a 3 year old small breed (the other adult small breed is fine in my situation, he's a nearly 5yo toy poodle x malt and he would be the only one I'd suggest as a possible good and easy to live with match for the OP). I will wait to hear more from the OP and confirm their commitment to taking on board what is being said before I write it all out ;)

Powerlegs does have a point, how many random cross bred dogs adopted from the pound are out there with the potential to be bred from intentionally or accidentally because their owners never honoured their desexing agreement? It isn't really up,to any of us to say that the LAW should apply to them but not to the people we trust because we trust them. However I'll be very happy to hear that this fella has gone to a suitable and responsible home. FYI if he had ended up at RSPCA instead of DAS he would definitely have been desexed before being released to anyone, even a rescue. Pure speculation but I wonder if that influenced the owner's decision to surrender to DAS instead.

I don't see how there should be any difference if an agreement was signed and the dog was released in good faith. Rare breed or not, I don't like that the topic hasn't been addressed if the dog is available for rehoming entire. If he'd come out under rescue there would be a Dol meltdown about dogs being rehomed entire. Yes, if he remained in the ACT he couldn't legally remain entire, you can get permission to keep a dog entire after 6 months but both the dog and the owner have to be registered with a recognised registry, of which I assume there isn't one for the Beauceron? Whether he stayed in ACT or not I'd say a contract is being breached by not desexing him. I'd be very surprised (shocked?) if DAS did anything about it though. However once the dog is in a different jurisdiction it would become subject to the laws of that jurisdiction rather than ACT's wouldn't it?

DAS doesn't do the desexing themselves, they release dogs with a voucher for it to be done so it relies on the person actually getting it done themselves. Great idea about contacting his breeder!

I've been wondering what happened to him. Is he living with you at the moment? I notice you say he hasn't realised he is entire yet, assuming that means he is not desexed? I think he should be, even if he is a French pedigree only Beauceron in Aus, he is not where he was intended to be when imported and being passed around as an undesexed, pedigree rare breed is unfair to him and his breeder. Agree that you need to be honest about him and what he needs in a home :)

RSPCA? I'm not sure about NSW but ACT will take, desex and rehome them. ETA as long as they are domestic, not feral.

Great pic Esky looks so happy :)

Look staffy x to me.

Could you talk to the head trainer and explain that you've been trying with the methods your instructor is giving you but they are not working for Bonnie, however you have another training approach that you find works well for her? Then ask if you can follow along with the class on your own at that 10m+ distance Bonnie is happy at? That way you can remove the stress on you of the instructor telling you you are doing the wrong thing and on Bonnie getting confusing different signals and stress from you. If you can make it fun again being in that environment with her focused just on you you have a better chance of getting her to perform in your assessment. If the club won't consider this I would be very wary of continuing as things are. You risk really damaging your bond with Bonnie and her enjoyment of training if you continue putting her in this position. It's very difficult in the face of an instructor who supposedly knows more than you to stand up and say no, I know what's best for my dog, but it's important that you do as our dogs can't do it themselves. Like Perse said, and hard as it would be, if this club won't work with you to find a way to get you and Bonnie where you want to get and it isn't manageable to go elsewhere then maybe now isn't the right time to get to agility... ETA just realised I somehow missed a whole heap of posts great advice from everyone re focusing on agility being fun for Bonnie. I wonder whether the times when Bonnie has been less enthusiastic are times when you are feeling a bit stressed or off yourself? Don't forget as well that if you start agility now you'll probably be getting more and more into it over the next few years as school gets busier. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself to get this done RIGHT NOW, you'll always be able to pick it up again at any time and will figure out how to find time for your passions :)

Hmmm, found it. :) He's talking specifically about dogs with fears associated with painful or uncomfortable handling procedures (grooming, nail clipping, veterinary procedures, etc). To quote the entire paragraph: “Some dogs appear to be more sensitive to touch and prone to develop persistent fears associated with discomfort and painful handling. The usual procedures used for resolving such problems employ some combination of graded interactive exposure with RP-CC. Although conscientious efforts should be made to counter-condition a fearful dog with treats and relaxing massage while it undergoes progressive exposure to the feared activity, it is imperative that avoidance and escape be blocked. Very often in such cases counterconditioning efforts will achieve only a small portion of the desired effect. Response prevention using physical restraint followed by massage as the animal begins to relax can be very useful. It is important for the dog to become relaxed before it is released from restraint. In the case of dogs that become highly reactive, they should be held in restraint (with massage) for an additional 3 minutes after the last strong effort to break free.” No references given. Page 158 in my hardcover edition of vol 3. Interested to hear Aidan's take but that's certainly what I've done with dogs that require grooming but are highly resistant to it. A simple example is dogs that don't want their nails clipped for whatever reason, I will hold their paw firmly but not hurting them until they settle down and stop trying to pull it away before releasing it.

Hugs Maeby I love the idea of Grover's name tag on your key ring, I will remember that for when I lose mine. I haven't had to deal with losing one of my own dogs yet (although I've lost some other beloved pets). I do have collars from a select few shelter dogs I've worked with, fallen in love with and had to let go. I've kept the collars as a way to remember them. I haven't been sure what to do with them but I think I will find a nice box to keep them in and maybe when I leave the job somehow 'cremate' the collars and put them in a nice urn.

I was planning to respond with "I love you Corvus" but a like button would work just as well. And I've said it before, but I still love Aidan too. In the informative and understandable posts context of the word :)

The shelter where I worked often shipped hound dogs west and north where they were less popular. probably a good 60% of inmates were hound dogs. I would think the responsible way to do it would be to health and temp check them where they are originally and only transport the ones that prove suitable for rehoming. If its done that way I think it's a good idea.

That's so cute :)

:laugh: You've brought back a funny memory for me. About 25 years ago I used to know a woman who lived across the road from some people who had a pet greyhound. Back then this was quite unusual. My dopey friend was terrified of the dog because she beleived that since the dog had raced, it must have been blooded and she reckoned that they can smell a woman menstruating from a long way off and will run her down and attack her crotch. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: now that i had never heard lol Wow, that must be quite inconvenient once a month for any female that owns one I just remembered another one too. Riley has never shown any inclination to lift his leg on a person except for the one time I took him on a doggy play date with my boss and her dogs, as soon as he walked up to her and he lifted his leg on her foot luckily she realised what he was doing and moved out of the way just in time to avoid the spray.

That's the strategy you would employ. Thankfully it's not common, more often the reactive behaviour just escalates until the owner or trainer give up on flooding. It's pretty hard to watch. I had a client who had another trainer come and do this with their dog. The trainer was resolute, but he got bitten and had to stop to deal with the injury. So the dog learned to bite, and after that bit everyone in the house. Aidan - on similar but different tack I'd love to get your take on something. I was rereading part of the 3rd Steven Lindsay book yesterday (Procedures & Protocols), and was dumbfounded to find a snippet where he talked about dogs with handling aversion/aggression. He says that in many cases, desensitization and counterconditioning are insufficient to change the dog's attitude towards handling, and negative reinforcement strategies are ultimately needed (basically, to restrain the dog until it "gives up" and experiences relief and relaxation). I don't have the exact quote with me since I'm at work right now and the book it at home, but I can certainly dig it up if you don't know the paragraph I mean (and also to check that I'm not remembering incorrectly - I may be, but I think I have the gist correct). I was dumbfounded since my education has always been that D&C are the go with most aggression issues, and what Lindsay was advocating does sound awfully like flooding? Given your experience, would you agree with Steven Lindsay? BAT and CAT use negative reinforcement and seem to be the next step if D&C aren't effective. They are not about just restraining the dog til it gives up though, they are about capturing and rewarding (through negative reinforcement - increased distance from the other dog) an alternative behaviour to reacting. Doesn't sound like that's what Lindsay was talking about though

I think it's ok to do this I would add in an extra step to help safeguard against them learning the wrong lesson and would introduce a 'leave it' cue and reward with a few pieces of something more high value than whatever they are eating in the bowl when you take the bowl away and then return the bowl when they are calm. Technically you aren't really teaching them that you're the boss but you are teaching them what behaviour they need to demonstrate in order to get what they want from you (which is obviously a good thing for them to learn :) )

I would want that dog in the ACT at a place that will assess it individually regardless of breed, unless it has a fully committed home elsewhere,

Dog poo is all natural, ommm...

Great thread, love how fast it's growing. Apparently dogs are embarrassing

Maeby you just reminded me of another one, DOL Aussie Shepherd play date at an off lead shared area, Quinn ran straight into the middle of some people's picnic and stole a Danish. She stood proudly in the middle of their picnic rug eating it. Soooo embarrassing Luckily they saw the funny side.

Quinn's favourite thing ever is to jump at people's faces and stick her tongue in their mouth She gets attention in public because Aussie Shepherds are still not very common and she is quite striking looking so people talk to her and if she's off leash and decides she loves you will go straight for the pash.

This dog needs an assssment from a reputable behaviourist and an ongoing training and management plan. Non stop barking, extreme reactivity, frantic activity, foaming at the mouth... The dog sounds seriously stressed