BC Crazy

That's really sad persephone, poor boy

It is really quite spooky, I agree Kirislin. Gives me the chills. With all the howling it's really haunting. Stella would have a nightmare at least 3 to 4 times a week of a evening. So its a regular thing. Funny because Sonny, my other BC will go over to her & check her out, turning his head from side to side, listening & smelling her. then go back onto his bean bag to sleep. He never wakes her up though. Sometimes her feet are going so franticly that they have hit Sonny on the face while he has been checking her out & she still hasn't woken up.

I have often wondered why Stella has nightmares. Funny you should mention the intelligence of your dog as Stella is the smartest dog I have ever owned as well. She amazes me with her interlect. She is extremely bright & such a fast learner. Stella is also a very anxious/stressed girl. I have her meds for these issues, sometimes wonder if she has such bad dreams because she doesn't relax fully. Like her mind is doing overtime. It can't be the meds because she was doing this before I starrted her on them. It would be interesting to know why though as they are quite frequent & intense. I do feel for her. Must be frightening you'd think.

My 2 year old BC girl has suffered nightmares on a regular basis since puppyhood. Complete with howling like a wolf, legs moving in full stride running mode at times, sometimes just fidgeting . Whinning all while absolutely asleep. I have always been advised against waking them during a bad dream. Apparently it can frighten them to be woken while dreaming. Instead I may just cough or make a normal house hold noise to slightly stir them & Stella seems to resettle into a more calm sleep after this. I have had another BC, years ago that had very similar very bad dreams as Stella does but not to the same intensity as she does. Hope I was of some help as it is quite scarey at times for all concerned. Just dont touch or sook them. Let them resettle on their own.

I roll any tablets etc for my guys into the middle of raw mince balls & they get gobbled up everytime :)

Some days are just so bitter/sweet & very heart wrenching when you have lost something so very dear to you

I only have Sonny on 1/2 cup dry food a day, the rest is raw. I am in the process of putting him 100% raw. So this will solve the staining issue's on his lower jaw.

Wobbley, & I'm so far behind you with my 2 guys, I'm out of sight LOL. I am still trying to my boy's body awarness happening as he moves like a log & get him heeling with some regularity. And my girl needs to chill pill & stop trying to steal all the treats like they are going to run out , giggle :)

Covus, I would like to join in on the trick challange but I am not computer savy & I haven't learnt to up load pic's as yet. As soon as I get someone to show me & can get my head around it, I'm in :)

Yes, I was just thinking the same thing Sheena. This thread seems to have just taken off. All of us just super keen to learn I guess :)

What is in the non natural Angel Eye's minyvlz? I was thinking of getting some for my boy to try as he has some slight brown/rusty stains around his mouth.

Same here RiverStar Aura. I too don't seem to be able to juggle the leash, treats & clicker either. I watch other really experienced people train & they make it look so easy, poetry in motion & I'm like all over the shop in comparison I think or that is how it feels at times How cute your Zues is. He must just really love to learn :)

I am by no means an expert but I would think that if you get a puppy from a reputable breeder, he/she will be able to pick you out a nice high drive pup. With a driven dog you can teach them to pretty much do anything as long as they are in capable, experienced hands. Good luck with your quest :)

I haven't heard of Fenzi Wobbly?? Off to google that later... I am of the same opinion concerning clicker's, I think they are very effective. OH picked mine up in the kitchen the other night not knowing what it was & clicked it. Both my guys came scrambling down from lounging in front of the TV & sat at his feet. He asked me, "What the hell is this little thing, magic?" :laugh: I too have to improve my user skills with it though & agree the voice seems much easier for me too atm. Poultry in Motion :laugh:

Corvus, it's with great pride that I can let you know that I am as of 6 months ago, a reformed "chatterer" LOL. And the difference it has made to my guys training progress is amazing. Poor dogs, I used to verbally bash their ears off thinking I was encouraging/helping them, NOT. Now I am barely saying anything apart from verbal markers & "good". I am finding training alot more enjoyable for us now :)

I have a clicker & have used it on occasion with success but I don't feel all that comfortable using it. I seem to be fumbling about with it, trying to get treats out etc & I also feel a bit removed from the actual moment of training my dogs as I do have a personnal need to engage/speak to them. This is just me though. So I do have a preference to verbally mark.

Sorry NicB, Jelly & Miss Roo, not Mr. LOL. Had a few sleepless nights of late due to not being in the very best of health atm. Lucky I knew what I meant cause no one else... :)

Nekhbet, a very informative post. So many key points for me. Too many to mention all of them atm. I knew I was making some mistakes with my luring as Stella kept being able to 'win' a treat for free which isn't the idea at all Very true regarding the way she looks at my hands all the time, just like she is 'eyeing' stock, exactly the same intensity. off to have a short practise, thanks again for taking the time to help me out.

Nekhbet, I was hoping you might post on this thread as I pretty much always benefit from your advice. Thank you. I have been having trouble with my 2 holding position. They are pinching treats out of my hand sometimes as I am trying to lure them. So no treats, just lure into position first then once they hold it, treat. Also teach "off" command as well. My girl is so food orientated she seems to just be obsessed with my hands all the time during a training session. I find I am always trying to slow the whole lesson down which is a constant struggle.

Yes thats what I meant. Sorry for the confusion. Didn't explain myself properly

Yes Rebanne, I would have to totally agree with you in regards to being extremely careful with adopting a Grey. I have been following your other thread NicB & am aware you have made wonderful headway with him & he does mix very well at day care BUT on his own turf, who knows, he may well be a very different dog. Some dogs are very territorial. I know my girl won't tolerate any other dogs in our yard, end of story & turns into a very nasty piece of work. Yet out of our yard, 90% she is great. So I would be following what Rebanne suggested & maybe look at a dog that has already been fostered. I can understand you wanting a Grey though, they are just so lovely But we have to be fair to both Roo & whoever else you bring into your pack :)

I have just started inducing the phone book method with my 2. Sonny my 5 year is a tad slower at grasping the concept than my 2 year old girl, who already has her 2 front feet on the book after 2 , 3 min lessons Sonny was lying down on the book at first but now is sometimes touching it with his feet. I am just shaping/rewarding any front foot touch of the book. At this early stage their foot or feet don't have to stay there & I haven't uttered a word to them apart from 'Yes' which is my verbal marker. I have recently realised my boy is much more relaxed & in a better frame of mind to learn something new after he has been for a walk or treadmill for 15 mins or so just to expel some energy before we begin :)

That is just it - it wasn't a one off. This has happened 4 times now. The episode that sent him to the emergency vet was much worse than the other times. The first one was a few months ago and I just thought he had an upset tummy (eating grass and stressing). Then it happened again about a month later, the same as the first time and again I thought it was an upset tummy. The third time - he was absolutely frantic, wide eyed, eating grass like no tomorrow, shaking and drooling. This is why I raced him to the emergency vet. Then last Thursday (exactly a week after being in emergency) he had another episode like the first two.. I am keeping a diary of food, exercise, what we do etc. So far so good. Oh opologises Staffyluv, I thought it was just a one off. Zig's a very mysterious boy then isn't he? You are doing all you can, keeping a diary etc, he is in the very best if hands, yours. I sincerely hope he doesn't have a relapse. Sending positive healing thoughts from my guys to Zig. Don't forget to take care of you too :)

Beautiful work Ashwyn Well done boy !!!!