Jump to content

Roova

  • Posts

    2,029
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    1

Everything posted by Roova

  1. ZM it was a nothing special looking plant so I moved it and boy it took off! There's pups popping up all over which I should really be separating and replanting. Actually there's lots I should be doing in the garden but it gets a bit over whelming at times!
  2. Great photos everyone. Love the little chubby arm next to the well loved toy. How wonderful you keep it to share the love! Love the animals enjoying something cool, that watermelon looks particularly delicious! Mine is of a cactus flower which looks as spiky as the plant itself!
  3. I thought I'd share this book for the OP (if they come back) as it has some positive reviews and might give them some tips. "Chase! Managing your dogs predatory Instincts" https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1929242689/ref=cm_cr_srp_mb_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8 This is one of the reviews: A brilliant book! As a dog trainer and behaviourist (qualified) I gained alot from this book. It explains the merits of using positive reinforcement to change how dogs think and feel about their chosen prey (be it cars, rabbits, cyclists or cats). It also provides very good arguments (much better than I could have written myself) against using punishment, and aversives (things the dog may find frightening, or dislike intensely such as loud noises, or phsyical punishment such as an electric shock). I also feel I could recommend this book to clients without them getting to overwhelmed with science or terminology, nor is it too fluffy or full of anecdotes (just enough are used as examples to prove points). Overall the book aims to change your dog's behaviour, by training an alternative behaviour. From chasing its prey when he sees it, to sitting and looking at you. at which point you become way more fun than the prey item by providing food, attention and games. It also has some great exercies for teaching perfect recall and using longlines (great for allowing you dog freedom, whilst still being able to control his chasing). It would also be a good guide for preventing predatory chase in the first place for new owners of shepherds, border collies, lurchers and terriers.
  4. I'm not so sure. Is asking dogs owners the best way to conduct a 'scientific study' about this? Sometimes it's the environment dog owners set up for the dog which contribute to the problem. I kind of prefer this article on why a dog might start eating things it shouldn't and how to help break the habit.. https://issuu.com/petprofessionalguild/docs/bftg_september_2015_online_version/30
  5. I agree with some of what you said but did want to point out positive doesn't have to mean permissive. I know everyone has their own methods but surely trainers realise if they aren't getting the result they want the dog either doesn't understand or isn't motivated enough? I may be misreading your comments but are you suggesting a whack with a pool noodle might teach this dog to keep his distance? If yes what happens when the owner isn't around or someone doesn't have a pool noodle in their hand? How much will that damage the trust the dog currently has with his owner? Im half way through Susan Garrett's recallers program and it's simply amazing how quickly you can teach any dog self control and a 100% reliable recall by playing a variety of short games which the dogs go mad for. She is a positive only based trainer so all the games are a means to an end to get the result you want and the dog doesn't even know they're learning. Along the way dogs are taught anything from not chasing squirrels or rabbits, to not running off, to not jumping on guests or barking at the fence line and so on. You learn how to assess what behaviour you have, think of the behaviour you want and assess what training is needed to get there. No physical punishment needed. I'm pretty sure she's taken half a dozen dogs, including a Jack Russell to the world's best level in agility! Her dogs are walked around her property off lead without taking off to chase deer etc, so if she can get there without whacking her dogs it's not a necessary part of training. I do like your take on alternative outlets for drive though!
  6. Big time groan!! @persephone Great photo's mingaling! If that's what you can do with your phone you'd be dangerous with a 'big' camera lol I absolutely love that first beach shot
  7. That's a tough one to work on because chasing chickens is pretty self rewarding to a dog and killing them which is what I presume you mean by attacking can be hard to come back from. These are just my thoughts so Im definitely not saying they're correct. Firstly a positive based behaviourist is always going to be the easiest avenue because they can see exactly what's going on and work with you to make a change. If that's not an option you may need to work on management first, training second. Management would be removing any option for the dog to practice the behaviour you don't want to see which might mean having him on lead or inside when the chickens are out. Any time he's allowed to stare or chase them you'll go backward in your training. Training would begin with you deciding what behaviour you want to see instead and then heavily rewarding for this. You'll have to work out where his threshold is for focusing on you or the chooks and don't push to hard or expect too much. You'll need the whole family on board with training\rewards too. Once he realises its more rewarding to perform the behaviour you want, you can start changing reward delivery to be intermittent but still regular to make it worth his while to show self control. If he's creating his own 'fun' activities you might need to look at what mental enrichment and training you're offering in general. Can this be improved so he isn't creating his own entertainment? I do wish you the best of luck with this. I've been in your shoes and its a tough slog!
  8. I can't answer in regarding to which breeder but was going to mention to please make very sure they are health testing their breeding dogs. There's a heck of a lot of BC breeders noted on the puppy pages but only a small percentage seem to be doing this testing (or advertising it anyway). Hopefully you can find someone who has a higher regard for temperament and structure with colour being not so important. You want to make sure your pet is going to have a lovely nature plus be healthy long term. Good luck with your search..I love the excitement of puppy hunting!
  9. I'm toadally loving your pic too @persephone
  10. One week in and I nearly forgot my second pic! I was taking a photo of moss and realised there was teeny caterpillar right there. Still not sure if it's one or two caterpillars though.
  11. Great photo's everyone! That peacock is divine, I'll bet those peahens were swooning at his feet lol fern by Rachel Wallis, on Flickr
  12. Yay, thanks SM! Bring on 2018...
  13. Thanks to you too @Scottsmumand thanks for starting the thread! Are you up for another one this year? Would love to see your bub throughout the year?
  14. Happy New year everyone! Can't believe we got to the end year, great achievement! https://flic.kr/p/234bQZ6 Arrrgh I cannot work out how to insert the photo not just the link!
  15. Nearly forgot! Poor Poppy being forced to dress up... she's not thrilled lol Merry Christmas everyone! https://www.flickr.com/gp/110996911@N02/9ds44s
  16. Oh God he's just adorable!!
  17. We're getting close now! Today's photo is of Chinese lanterns from the garden. Busy getting the house clean for Christmas guests so not getting out and about much.
  18. Welcome back lol. Those roses are gorgeous, their colour is so vivid! I went to an orchid and succulent sale and this is one of two orchids I came home with. I was told to soak them once a week and so far they're growing, buds are still opening and they're still alive! Orchid by Rachel Wallis, on Flickr
  19. I love it when you find a flower in a flower flower within flower by Rachel Wallis, on Flickr
  20. Arrrrgh it's so annoying. Why do so many people put so little effort in to training and respectful interaction?
  21. These stories give me chills. The worst thing is in an effort to protect your dogs safety and nice nature you end up appearing over the top in your reaction to get the other dog away. I had my first off lead incident recently and it really shook me. I think I reacted the wrong way but sometimes there's only seconds to make a decision and then the adrenaline starts pumping. I was in an area opposite showgrounds which is over a km in length but not that wide. Its grassy and mown and just lovely when no one else is around. Unfortunately more people are started to take their dogs there and beside the idiots leaving their dogs poo insitu, there are now plenty of off lead dogs. I keep Poppy on lead (a lunge line so she still gets plenty of running) because we're still working on a reliable recall under distraction So I'm on my way back to the car with Poppy's at the end of the line and a ute pulls up about 50 metes away. They take a mini bike off the back and two large cattle dogs are let out. They immediately start running flat stick for Poppy and I and my heart sunk. I'd just finished reading an article on dog body language so to me it seemed they're weren't running and bouncing in a friendly way, they were running with intent. I called Poppy and she immediately recalled God love 'er so I scooped her up, my first instinct with two of them almost on us. One of the two leapt in the air and air snapped at her on the way past! He then kept jumping trying to grab her as I turned circles and tries to walk on. I'm sure if he was deadly serious contact would have been made but still it was scary. I yelled out can you put your dogs on lead please until I get past please and the guy yells back I didn't bring them. I said well can you call them to you or hold their collar so I can put my dog down and get past? He yells out to them and of course they completely ignore him. He starts ambling over yelling out just put your dog down you're making it worse. I'm looking at this circling, jumping red cattle dog and I say no thanks, this one has its hackles up, he's jumping up and I don't feel safe. He still trying to call his dogs as he gets closer and telling me to put Poppy down so then I get mad and say I deliberately come here to avoid dogs rushing us and now you're dogs are doing just that. If you had control over your dogs I'd put her down but you don't so I don't trust them. That definitely annoyed him because he yells back whateva and turns and walks back to his car. Arrrgh. They eventually leave me alone as I get past them but I'm almost at my car when he does a drive by on the on the bike and the red dog jumps and air snaps at me from behind!! Totally deliberately because he could have gone the other direction up the park. Now I'm too scared to go back there because of him and his dogs I still don't know if I should have left Poppy on the ground and I know what I yelled didn't help, but I was so mad at him!!
  22. Almost forgot last weeks photo myself! I found one of my frangipani's has produced two different coloured flowers which I thought was quite unusual. https
×
×
  • Create New...