hankdog

What works changes over time as well. Threshold isn't really a concept that applies to Jake, see dog equals react. Right now what I'm doing is trying to get him to use his brain and call himself off. I point out the dog, watch him start up and waft the peanut butter jar around in a way that will encourage him to peel his eyes off the offender. Nowadaysp though he has to have a quiet time before he's allowed to get a lick. I'd like 10 seconds but not all situations allow for that. I'm getting more of a reaction than I used to when I just shoved the jar in his face and I have to use my judgement as to the effect this will have on the other dog and owner. I do believe that this creates a learning opportunity and teaches him to engage his self control. As your dog changes you need to be flexible and adapt. This is why I don't think method pushers do our dogs any favors. Any book I read that says do X and your dog will learn Y, I pretty much know isn't going to work for Jake, he always finds something else to learn.

Hank was a very mixed moving mulch like of a dog, I was always asked what he was and wavered between making up unlikely names to which some would wisely respond that they had heard of the "Dutch cakenpinscher" after he stole a whole cream cake. I once called him a mutt and politely enquired as to what mix the other owners dog was. She replied in a most offended voice that it was a purebred schnoodle with papers. Seriously you can sell some people anything if you charge them enough.

So much really, especially that I know nothing and should listen, try and persevere. That people react in strange and unpredictable ways. The value of an encouraging smile from a stranger, a kind word from an Internet buddy ( yes all you folks). Small things that you work really hard for make you very happy. Every day is a new day and yesterday's mess should be left in yesterday. Most importantly when your dog finally comes after ignoring you for 2 minutes, suck it up and praise the hell out if him. There's no such thing as fail, just a do over opportunity.

Ooh you should post mores than once a year. I am so envious, lovely farm and great critters.

Oh Jelly, I can hear the big gap in your world. I can't think of anything but time that will help. Big virtual hug.

I find the same with my bulldog, many older people are familiar with the breed and owned one in the past. Could it be a case of changing dog fashion. Bigger properties allowing for keeping of bigger dogs? Just general negative press meaning less people keen on getting one.

I love my chickens, I find I can watch them for hours. I hope when I'm old and have lost the last of my marbles they just push me out to watch chooks all day.

So sorry, sometimes at night I imagine I hear old Hank coming up the stairs. It used to hurt, now I like it. In time it gets better.

She's lovely blessing, your own silver lining.

My old dog jogged with me for years and appeared healthy. Went lame at 7 years, when I took him for x rays his spine had arthritis. Might be worth checking with a vet.

I hope in a years time we are having your success, you must be so proud. I would really recommend obedience training for reactive dogs, I'm not sure if we are just finally getting there or it's attributable to the obedience but we are having massive improvements. Having a good trainer guide us is great. I feel like although I read all the theory it's been very beneficial to have that experienced pair of eyes fine tuning and deciding the next step. One day I am going to go to an official class!

????????????????so cute!

So cool, what a good advert for bull breeds in general Ziggy has become.

Jakes a cross breed and so is a sports model which now that I've had I will have to find a breeder who does active BB's next time. His post production breathing modifications would be great if they came standard. The skin problems would definitely be edited out. Lots of the other issues such as gas and fold maintenance I curse but would make him less bulldoggie. Surprisingly absolutely droolless, although my purebreds were too so maybe that's not an issue anyway.

Gosh that sounds amazing, I love camping but no one in my family does. Sonny and Stella sounds like a tap dance act, two BCs in red and white blazers with little straw boaters!! We had a good visit to Sash today. The vet was so calm, she took an hour with us. Didn't walk straight up to Jake, sat at her computer and chatted and then knelt on the floor and called him over. She was able to get all the samples she needed without any sedation. We did some training in the room whilst she looked at everything and he eventually went to sleep and started snoring. Unfortunately they're a referral hospital but I've seen a mobile vet van around our suburb so I think I'll try using them as our regular vet.

Zippy past tense..did she find herself a home then?

No but they've also got little ones bopping round the garden. The butchers and squeakers seem tolerant of each other but they hate the kookaburras. Up until last year we had a nest in an old tree, it came down in a big wind though and they've moved on. They must be close though because occasionally one ventures into the garden and then all hell breaks loose. United against a common enemy I guess.

Wouldn't it be great if they ran a short course at the vets where the dogs were trained to adopt examining positions. A bit like the zoo keepers do.

I actually walk around with a jar if peanut butter, I try just have a layer around the outside of the jar. I think I should have shares in Sanitarium by now but it has literally saved my dogs life. somewhat ironic because he's known as the reactive nutjob!

Last Thursday when I went to fetch Tim and he was AWOL, searched that night and the next morning. Gave up and went to turn on the hose and there he was. Popped him back but when I came home from my walk he was on the steps so I climbed up the tree and put him in the original nest. I was pretty happy I did because they all flew off the next day. I've been picking them up and popping them in trees when I find them. There are too many cats around to leave them on the floor. Hopefully I'll be seeing them in years to come. All three in the nest, Tim is in the middle. Not too fussy who he begs from.

Haha still laughing at scruffy Harvey, lovely. Great shot Weibritty, very "moody". Jakes beeen a tubehead this week. If you ever have to get one of these gizmos to stay on I trimmed his pj's into a crop top and then tied the tube on with ribbon. It took him about twenty minutes to work out how to jam his head under the coffee table and reverse out of it when it was attached to his collar.

You can get training gloves, try lick sticks or teach her to catch a tossed treat. My hands used to get pretty trashed and I copped a tooth once and it got very infected. If you're careful you can pick a word and condition it like a clicker and that leaves your hands free. I use the word "done" because it's Something I don't often say.

That would be such a good idea. I've trained Jake in a bunch of tricks aimed at making him easier to examine but the approach seems to be to grab and force them into a position. Not surprising so many dogs are terrified of the vets. This behaviour issue really complicates things doesn't it.

Well I was going to invite myself over for a muffin.... but if you're storing them in the dog maybe not????????.

Unfortunately mine got a taste for peanut butter before I found these so he didn't think much of them. The licking is supposed to keep their jaws relaxed and therefore they're good for reactive dogs.