Skye GSD

Just had to ask the question :)

Oh dear - BYB's with no idea of health consequences for bitch and/or future problems for prospective buyers of surviving puppies?????

If you are using treats as a training tool then they should always be small and soft as it is easier for the dog to eat quickly and continue in "training" mode. Try cabanossi, polony, cheese or cubed cooked chicken/roast meat. Somehow I don't think a piece of bread would cut it for most dogs (especially mine!).

Totally agree

Stick to your guns and pull out of this class - the instructor should have listened to your concerns and allowed you to keep the distance that Rogue feels comfortable with. To force a pup of his age out of his comfort zone is asking for long term problems (IMO).

Good for you - and good luck with your training :)

I, personally, would not do this with a puppy that is showing he is uncomfortable with that situation. It is your dog and it is up to you to make the call on whether you are happy to continue to do this. Your instructor should make allowances for the younger ones in the group and if not, don't force your pup to comply. The big dogs can be very intimidating to a smaller one so try to keep your distance.

Check out the "Puppy Development Calendar" at the top of the Puppy forum - he is probably going through his 2nd fear period and I would be keeping him away from close encounters. Work him on the fringes of your group and allow him to dictate when he is ready to rejoin. If your instructor is not happy with this then pull out of the class altogether.

What breed of dog and a hint of the behaviour modification required?

RIP little Penny - so pleased she got the time with you at home. Hugs from WA.

My thoughts are with you Esky but I have to agree with Haredown Whippets in that it may be more stressful on her to transport her home. I had to help my GSD Sascha to the bridge 3 yrs ago and our vet came out to the car so we didn't have to carry her in to the sterile environment of the clinic. Having had to do this three times before it was a much nicer way to have her in familiar surroundings to say our goodbyes. If your reasoning is to have your other fur babies with her then this could be achieved in your vehicle. Big hugs for Penny and you - definitely a stressful time.

BC Crazy - pleased you saw Skye in action. She just loves the flirt pole and it is a fantastic tool for utilising your dog's drive or just for having fun - not to mention the excercise they get from it. Don't worry about where you are in terms of training in comparison to others. Skye is three next week so we are way behind but what we are achieving in terms of focus and execution now is fantastic. My main goal was to get her reactiveness sorted so she could concentrate on what I was trying to teach her and she is progressing in leaps & bounds. Today at training we watched dogs & handlers who were where we were even six months ago and Skye was the poster girl - so calm & focused. So it doesn't happen in a week, a month or even several months but with a committed effort and small steps it is totally achievable. Padriac - good for you. Reading your comment took me back to the beginning of our training and I remember those days so well only others used to do U-turns as soon as they saw us because Skye was so vocal!! I couldn't stop and have a conversation with anyone and people crossed the street to avoid us. So you can imagine what they thought when I started my training and would actually stalk them to practise the steps I was doing I now have the complete opposite reaction and the comments I get re my well-behaved dog has made our journey so worthwhile.

Would suggest you look at the comments on the K9Pro FB page to see how many people are satisfied with their leather collars and leads. I am more than pleased with mine for both the softness and strength. Used in all weathers they are still as good as the day I bought them.

Good job BC Crazy. All our dogs are a "work in progress" and sometimes it takes a lot longer than we envisage but each step forward is a huge milestone. If someone had told me it would take 12 months to get back in to a training class I wouldn't have believed them. But following the steps that Steve Courtney gave me we have achieved that goal and I still have to pinch myself - I am so proud of my girl. I actually used to go looking for other dogs so we could use them as training sessions and to begin with it meant me taking a huge breath, calming myself and thinking positive thoughts! Gradually we worked up to going to a local training club and training on the fringes with no interaction with other dogs. Armed with my tug toys and flirt pole people must have wondered what this mad woman was doing but I deliberately kept my distance and worked hard on getting Skye's focus on me. From a dog that was not food driven and I could not even get food near her in a group situation, we are now training with food and tug in a class so I am rapt. Don't get me wrong - Skye can still be reactive if given the "eye" by another dog but a stern "leave it" and we are back to focus. To Hankdog - I understand where you are coming from and your situation is different from my experience so I take my hat off to you for searching for answers. I believe there is no text book answer to a dog's problem and sometimes you have to tweak,add or delete certain criteria to fit your own situation. I am extremely lucky in that I found an awesome behaviourist who believed in me and my dog but that is not to say that the methods I have used will work for anyone else. I am also fortunate enough to have joined a new club in Perth that understands reactive dogs and is closely aligned to the work I am doing with Steve so I am rapt.

I would be concerned that the running away is feeding your dogs insecurities and if you came across a loose dog that has prey drive, it would initiate a chase. Skye is reactive and prey-driven and over the last twelve months we have worked hard on this problem with so much success that we are now back in to training in a class situation. We could not walk past dogs without her lunging and barking, even if the dog was across the other side of the oval. To desensitise her reaction to fence runners I would use them as training sessions and show her that I was in control of the situation with a "leave it" command and heaps of praise. Take your dogs favourite toy or food treats and use them as rewards. I know that our first reaction is to run from a scary encounter but I personally believe our dogs need to know that they can count on us to protect them and if we can project calmness and confidence then it will project on to our dogs. To turn and walk calmly away would be more beneficial to your dog than running - but that is just my experience with my dog.

Oh okay, thanks weasels we might check it out. Thanks for the advice guys,I think once she decides she doesnt want to play we will just head to a quite spot in the park for a game of chasey. If she is happy just hanging out with us, its fine with me :) I would "second" this park also - awesome set up with two fenced enclosures - one for small dogs and a larger one for the big dogs. I would not be putting my small dog in a situation with larger unknown dogs.

Totally agree with Persephone - when you own a dog you should be solely responsible for it's well-being and training. Becoming a team is a huge part of the training process so no outsider can train that for you. I would be looking for a good boarding kennel, allowing your dog to have a two week holiday as well, and find a good trainer when you get back.

Could be worth checking out Craig A Murray website - believe they are very good and do in-home assessments.

I was merely referring to Kate's post as above. I see she has now booked a session with a behaviourist so no doubt she will get the advice she so desperately needs. I have nothing against professionals being involved and use them so know what costs are involved but a lot of people who do not have the available funds can be left feeling terribly isolated when they are given no other options to try. I am not the only one who has suggested crate training so at least that is something to consider while she waits for the behaviourist meeting. I agree that safety for all concerned is paramount but I suspect that the Maltese X is used to being top dog (my husband has one who is spoilt rotten!! - but crate trained by me and will now happily take herself off for a siesta on her own).

Feel very sorry for the people who come on to this forum seeking advice only to be told "seek a behaviourist". Some people do not have the surplus funds for these fees at a particular time so are trying to get some kind of feedback from people who may have, or are, in the same position. We had much the same problem with my two youngest grandchildren and their family dog. Dog was great when they were babies but once they started moving around it became a different story. It never resulted in a bite but the growling was there and so the situation called for action. Dog was crate trained and kiddlies were taught not to go near the crate - it was off-limits. Likewise, dog was either in the crate or outside when the kiddlies were playing in the house or inside when the kiddlies were outside. Now that the grandchildren are older, there is no problem and through the training they had as toddlers, they are very respectful of all dogs. Young children have a tendency to crawl up or teeter over to dogs and many dogs feel threatened by this behaviour, especially when they feel cornered. My advice would be to crate train your dog with the crate in the main living area, teach your child that this is a dog-only zone and supervise both dog and child when in the same area. A definite NO to either one of them if lines are crossed.

My GSD girl is coming up three and if I could turn the clock back I would not have socialised her with other dogs for the first year. Her value for playing with other dogs became far higher than her value for me and quickly turned in to frustration/reactivity when she couldn't get to "play". GSD's play rough and your puppy probably feels threatened by the 5mth old. My daughter's GSD is a year younger than mine and although they play together now, we limited their time together when the new puppy was introduced. Concentrate on building your bond with your new pup - they grow up way too fast :)

Sounds good Snook - keep us posted.

How old is your dog and what behaviour is it exhibiting?

Are you north or south and what breed of dog do you have?

Thanks for the heads up Showdog - will check Monday morning. I did request a receipt for my bookings/payment from Dogtainers so at least I have a reference point.