sas

It sounds like you're on the right track. If she growls then I'd be giving her a time out for a minute and when she's older the time out can go to 2 minutes. If she comes out of the time out and does the same thing again she gets another time out. I would reccomend heading to the book store and looking for a book called 'Dog Listner' by Jan Fennell. How old is she? Typically you want puppies with their Mother & their littermates up until the time they are 8 weeks of age so they continue to learn social skills as well as Bite Inhabition....puppies learn how hard they can bite by playfighting with their littermates. Your private breeder is actualy a back yard breder but being part of DOL now you'll soon learn all about them Welcome to DOL as well, remember we love photos!!!

Then perhaps he shouldn't be with the other dogs until he's big enough?

From the Method I was taught we had a start word so that word is what gets the dog into drive further down the track

I wouldn't reccomen a harness as harnesses are for pulling dogs such as sleigh dogs etc. Harnesses naturally teach a dog to pull. I would reccomend a Martingale Collar, it has a small length of chain at the back, mind you a trainer/behaviourist will find the most suitable training tool for your dog. I would reccomend you seek the advice of a behaviourist pronto to deal with your dogs behaviour issues as they will only get worse as your dog matures and it goes untreated. I personaly reccomend: http://www.k9force.net/

I'd reccomend reading through some of the previous topics on this thread in regards to your issue because there have been some recent ones Your problem could be any number of things. 1) Your puppy is only 4 months old...have some patience 2) Your puppy should see a Vet to rule any problems out 3) You have been slack or haven't toilet trained correctly.

Their release needs a bit more work doesn't itlol

Why? I don't get it. Why would you praise the dog for all 4 on the floor in a time trial? It's not teaching the dog to make contact but stop after the piece of equipment has been completed?

In regards to the extra large crate you will want to partion some of it off because the puppy may feel comfortable about toileting at one end if it's further enough away from the end it's sleeping at....sneaky buggers eh LOL Just remember to read up on crate training and learn about all the do's and don'ts 2-3 hours is fine to leave a dog in a crate, just make sure the dog has toileted before going in. Once your dog is crate trained, it'll take themselves to their crate by themselves.

Yes, will definately help! A dog won't want to soil in their bedding which is what a crate is

One of my dogs has a pair but it just doesnt sit right, its too tight around the eyes and squishes them up. *slaps sas for laughing at the funny doggles :D * :p Sas that reminds me, where are the photos of Leila with her cute little boots on . What boots? I think you're on drugs again!

I wouldn't expect a refund a year later. It may not be a genetic issue. Even if it were even the best breeders come up against it from time to time. How severe is the HD?

I believe you need to go back to step 1. At 4 m onths of age puppy should be able to go through he night.....you may need to wait until 5 months. Don't rub your dogs nose in it, it's old fashioned and it's doesn't work. This is what we do with the foster dogs, have a read through and see if there's anything in there that you feel may assist you. GOING BACK TO STEP 1. Take the dog outside every hour when you are home and give the dog the command word you have choosen that means to 'toilet'. When the dogs starts to toilet give calm priase using your command word i.e. "Good Toilet: (don't get excited yet as you'll most likely distract the dog and they'll stop toileting). When the dog finishes toileting, give a lot of praise, get excited for the dog. After you have praised the dog, pick up a toy and have a play for a few minutes, show the dog that outside is a fun place. If the dog has an accident inside which you did NOT see you can NOT punish the dog, don't even give it 'that look'. Simply clean it up and ensure you use a special 'accident spray' that gets rid of the smell that indicates to the dog they should toilet in that spot. If the dog poos in the house, we pick it up with a papertowel and take it outside and place it on the lawn so the dog can gain an association. If the dog has a accident in the house that you DO see, give a firm NO, but don't yell, don't raise your voice, don't run towards the dog. Take the dog outside in a positive manner as you do not want to associate going outside as a bad thing, when outside give your command word and follow the above steps. You really don't want to be taking your eye off the dog whilst it is inside. I'm not sure why I understand you have your dog sleeping in the kitchen overnight? Have you considered using a crate? Take the dog outside before you go to bed and allow a good 5 minutes out there, sometimes dogs are lazy and only do a little wee because they'll want to go back inside, they know the routine that they have to toilet before you go back inside. You can safely lift the waterbowl at bed time until the morning so your dog is drinking throughout the night and therefore filling its' bladder. However never be tempted to lift the water bowl at any other time, your dog always needs to have access to fresh water apart from when it's sleeping of course.

Good Luck to you, you really need to be there and take them to the spot you want them to toilet at.

Rest in peace wee girl.

So sorry to hear about another one of your babies going to the bridge. Rest in peace sweet girl. And again, thank you for looking after the oldies.

Rest in peace sweetie

Rest in peace Thomas. Thank you for looking after the oldies....

*giggles* Sorry but I think they're bloody funny.

You're expecting a pack animal not to show dominance tendancies to each other? A dog doesn't have to hump or be aggressive to 'try it on'.

Sounds like a lack of soclisation problem to me.....fearful. I have a 6 month old foster dog here with me that is affraid of strangers, I ask them to ignore him and not make eye contact with him as this starts him defensive barking.....then he will approach them when he's ready. I never correct a fearful dog from barking or growling as what you then create is a dog that gives no warning before it launches a bite/attack.....allow the barking/growling as this is warning tool.....but then go forth and work with this dog. Punish a fearful dog and you'll create a dog that you're not going to be able to rehome. Don't assume this as she'll prove you wrong.....dogs have 3 modes...flight, fight, freeze, if she can't run away and freezing doesn't work then she has no option but defend herself against what she percieves to be the 'big scary'.I really would not be putting this dog with children who are unpreditable in their movements and especially young children who tend to grab (cuddle) small dogs and restrict their movement. Plenty of positive interaction with people you trust will assist her confidence. Are you getting her out there on short walks so she can get used to the big wide world? I highly suggest that you contact the rescue shelter you foster for and arrange a behaviourist to come and meet with the dog to teach you how to handle this dog.

I would have smacked her around the head for starters. Your dog exhibits a behaviour that many dogs do, and they learn to calm down over time with more socalisation in controlled environments. I suggest you start really training you dog so that you can recall it in any situation, especially when you see it starting to get too rough, then do onlead work with him....one day he's going to be too rough with the wrong dog. You can also simply remove your dog from the situation as he'll soon come to understand that over the top behaviour means the game stops. What this woman did to your dog was repremand him when he came when he was called which could potentially stuff up future training you do with your dog and also mess up your dogs confidence levels with strangers....she clearly has no idea at all.... You call a dog to you, you praise it, not punish it. You can't repremand a dog after the act as it is. No I would in no way handle a dog like this, completely unnccessary....as human leaders....we shouldn't be bullies....we should be firm and fair. Any interactions with a young dog should be positive......when training puppies and young dogs distraction really needs to occur rather than punishment.....i.e. dog chews something its' not meant to....you give a firm 'No' and redirect the chewing to something you want the dog to chew and then praise............verbal correction then verbal/physical praise.

I'd really suggest you start mentally stimulating these dogs.......you can do this from sitting down on the sofa if you really have to. Sounds like you have 2 stressed dogs that don't actually understand where they stand with you. Training mentally stimulates dogs.

I'd be heading back to the backyard and teaching your dog to actually react to the heel command. I personaly don't find the 'stop' process works fantastic or perhaps I like to see results faster but we use the turn method, so as soon as the dogs shoulder goes past my leg, I say "Heel" and turn in the opposite direction and we keep doing this until the dog is responding. Make sure you give the command just before you turn so the dog can actually associate the command. Good Luck!

Dog Tech will cost her more than K9 Force as one session is never enough. I would highly reccomend that she has a lesson on using the prong with Steve or another trainer as more damage can be done rather than good. I would suggest she head out to the book store and pick up Jan Fennells book called Dog Listener, if I were in the situation I would stop taking the dogs for walks until I had things back under control and would mentally stimulate the dog instead. I've used DogTech personaly.....a very uneducated thing to do about 3 years ago.....I have absolutely nothing good to say about them. I really reccomend she get someone to take her out to Steve or get Steve to come to her. If that's not possible, I'm sure there is a NDTF qualified trainer in her area. I know a brilliant trainer in the Blue Mountains, she's a Great Dane lady though, message me if you'd like her details.

I don't think even Static-Pulse collars stop dogs barking when they don't have the collar on. The dog knows when the collar is on, that's why they have mock collars as well.