Melisski

Well, Diesel's a skinny little weed (he's 18kgs, but pretty lean, and on the upper end of the scale for BCs) at the moment but he eats a lot... at the moment (per week) he's costing me: Supercoat Energy - 4kgs last about three weeks, at $9/bag - that's $3 a week. 1.5kgs of chicken wings - lasts two weeks at $3/bag - that's $1.50 a week. 8 lamb flaps - last two weeks at $2/bag - that's a $1 a week. 4 lamb shanks - last two weeks at about $5/bag - so that's $2.50 a week. 1kg of mince - about a week - so that's probably $6 a week all up. 1 tin of sardines/tuna - one a week - they're about .80c for homebrand. Plus he gets a tub of natural yoghurt a week - that's about 0.60c. Dog treats/devon/chicken loaf - would be about $4 a week. Any extras he gets (veggies from dinner, a bit of roast beef/chicken - just meat - don't really count because these get bought as human food). So all up that means he's costing me $19.40 a week to feed all up - about $1 per kg of his body weight. He gets fed a lot more than many dogs his size but he certainly burns it off so it's not a problem. With him, it's keeping the weight ON that is the problem - and the Supercoat seems to be helping with that (as well as the fat off the lamb flaps and the mince).

Diesel and I had a bit of a breakthrough tonight at training - no growling of any sort, and I mean that in a good way. He got a bit stupid (looked like a skunk, tail in the air and chest puffed out and generally silly looking) when the corgi walked past, but no obvious signs of aggression and he soon forgot about it when I told him to, "leave it" and "watch" (meaning look at me). And on the training front - he was a different dog! Perfect recall, with multiple distractions... although he did roll around on the ground after the exercise was finished since I told him he was good and rubbed his tummy... and he made some stupid noises. Oh, and he cried when I wouldn't let him play, and 'purred' - sort of like a weird cross between a growl and a moan - whenever I petted him as well. I think everyone thinks my dog is nuts or something, but he is a BC after all. But apart from that - he was just SO good, it's so nice to see him actually behave himself and act like the dog he is at home. I didn't let him off-lead after class because I didn't want to risk ruining a really good session if he got the crankies, and I wasn't going to stand around in the cold waiting for him to have a run around so I'll just have to make up for it tomorrow. Can someone please remind me why I had to get the most active sort of dog I could think of? I should of got a greyhound :D

Sas - this is a really good idea, come to think of it. Most of the people in my class are aware to stay away from Diesel (except for a select few) and having something like this (or more noticeable - Diesel's REALLY hairy) would let everyone else know he's not one of those happy go lucky, lets let our dogs come over here and get in his face sort of dogs... I might suggest it.

Diesel from show lines - he's got quite a mix in there too - Clan-Abby, Danari, Majilibre and Nahrof to name a few. He's actually the exact opposite in regards to who he picks as his friends though! One of his best friends is a female Golden Retriever (who is bouncy as bouncy can be) and he picks fights with other BCs and working-type dogs, like Kelpies and Blue Heelers. Maybe he doesn't know what breed he is or something?

Thanks from me too, Zia. It really does make a difference when people recognise that it's not just me with the cranky pants dog. :cool: Actually, feeling a lot better about it today, have finally decided what do in regards to Diesel's desexing (will get it done when obedience has it's month or so break over Christmas, and I can keep an eye on him - sure, it's the end of any showing/breeding possibilities he had going for him, but it's not like he knows that! Just gives me an excuse to get another pup someday soon!) and his training in general. I do put a lot of pressure on this pup as well as myself, probably just because I'm a perfectionist anyway and can't help it. But the main motive at all times should be to have fun with him and that's what I'm going to try to do - whether that means he can have doggy playtime or not. He'll survive. I think he thinks he's human anyway.

Just had obedience classes, and despite what I'd convinced myself was a slight improvement in Diesel's behaviour - I think I was just in denial. He picked fights AGAIN today with a dog he previously got along with alright - so he's lost all privileges (my decision though, the club has no problem with him) and he's not being let offlead unless in very controlled circumstances, where I know the dogs and Diesel has proven his behaviour with them is acceptable (to me). However, his on-lead behaviour HAS improved, so I'm hoping eventually this'll cross over and make an impression on him off-lead. I was able to get his focus when the corgis walked past (they're always late which makes it even more annoying, because just as I get him settled they're walking past again... and in general his behaviour and focus is definately improving - his last saving grace, I guess! It's just frustrating knowing that you've raised a dog who's become a bully and it's probably not ever going to get better or be able to trust him. I know I should just except it but I was really hoping to get the all-round 'perfect' sociable dog like everyone else seems to have - but I guess I just really stuffed up along the way.

From my experience, I don't think it's even just BIG dogs - Diesel is only like 19kgs or so, not really big at all, but when he growls at a corgi or similar he's automatically seen as aggressive, even though the corgi is doing exactly the same thing. I might just go purchase a SWF and train it to barge infront of Diesel when he growls... ;)

That's a fair call when the dogs are loose, even friendly staffies are not the most subtle of dogs. No, neither are bouncy labrador puppies, but Diesel likes those! Maybe he's just got select preferences based on breed types or something. I can just imagine him saying to his doggy friends, "Oh how could you go near that thing. It's just so... staffy... it's just beneath me." Mind you, with Diesel, anything other than him is just so insignificant - even another BC. They're very stuck-up you know. Getting told you're the smartest dog around certainly does go to your head.

Vickie - I sooooo agree with you there. At times, it's as if Diesel just finds a particular dog extremely offensive for no particular reason - just because of how it looks, or how it behaves. He gives such snobbish looks at some people at times I'm embarrassed to be with him...

Amhailte - sorry, this is the best I can do: well, he does attack his toys, after all. There is ALWAYS a threat present when you're playing with a squeaking, multicoloured plush toy - isn't there? Although I could borrow my brother's dog for a bit of a staffy-type advantage...

I know! Problem is my dog IS a woozy, skinny, weedy BC who THINKS he's the size of a GSD or something, the moron. The situation I was talking about off-leash was in an enclosed pen - me and Diesel and a few of his doggy playmates on the inside (along with their owners) and the other dog on the outside. It wasn't merely a case of the dog being close to me - the guy physically had to open the gate, release his dog AND give me the shits in the space of about twenty seconds. Luckily for him, I had Diesel by the collar before he even got the gate open.

myszka, I'm pretty much at this point too, and I personally don't have a problem with him being picky about his friends. But when some idiot lets their dog off leash and then proceeds to blame ME for Diesel acting up, it's very frustrating. On Tuesday night, one man even went to the trouble to ask me if it was alright for him to let his dog off - but then ignored me when I asked him to wait anyway! I would of quite happily grabbed Diesel and gone home, if he'd just given me a couple of minutes for D to burn off some energy and then for me to put him back on lead. As it happened, there I was attempting to hold onto a growling 20kg BC and stick his lead on while this other guy just stood there and let his dog get in D's face... which is one of the reasons the whole situation annoys me. Why bother asking if you don't care anyway? What part of, "would you mind waiting so I can grab my dog because he is likely to be aggressive," do people not understand? In the end I resorted to telling him, "can you grab your f***ing dog because otherwise mine is likely to bite it's face off," (which he wasn't, but I thought this might have some more effect). The response? Nothing. Edited to clarify.

First of all, Erny, thankyou for the advice - its nice to know he's not completely hopeless. Secondly - first off I really did want to speak to someone about the instructor, but I just ended up getting too indimidated and slacked off. As I mentioned, I'm probably one of the youngest members there - I'm definately the youngest in my class - and I guess I'm a bit worried that complaining might reflect badly upon myself and my dog. Natasha - he's not my normal instructor, just a replacement while my normal one was away (no warning). I definately won't be training under him again anytime soon! As for the advice - hey, it's just nice to know that it's not just MY dog who growls at stuff (which is the impression everyone else at the club who doesn't know me, or him, seems to have). packsapunch - this is all I want too. Hopefully with a combined effort of my corrections/focus exercises etc. etc. and getting the boy desexed will make a difference in the long run.

Just hit twelve months, about two weeks ago. Aggression started at approximately 7-8months. No. He was left as a possibility for main registration and show/breed etc., although due to a change in intention of what I want to do with him - obedience/agility rather than showing, and the aggression, he will be getting desexed over the next break from training (probably the next month or two). YES - definately. He likes to play but is generally reserved in first meetings - and will growl if the other dog is a bit too full on. One of his first interactions as a small puppy (about three months) was with a much bigger dog who proved to be WAYYYYY to much for him, so I took him home. When I think about it, he growled then too. Yes - definately. In particular corgis, staffy types, kelpie types (the dog in the last question was a staffy/kelpie cross). He is wary but not aggressive with larger dogs. Smaller dogs, apart from corgis, are fine. As far as I am aware, it had only ever happened at obedience training, and at the home of the staffy cross in the first question (which he no longer goes to anymore, because the dog, in my opinion, is HIGHLY unstable and a bit scary to boot). Unfortunately, no. He will bully/growl at STRANGE dogs in the off-lead runs, as well as the corgi etc. if he gets the opportunity (which he doesn't, to the best of my ability, anymore).

Yeah, it really is bullying more than anything - no flat out mauling, biting etc. In fact, he's never bitten anything to my knowledge or anyone elses - he just picks on certain dogs. I would never describe him as dangerous, and that's not just a biased opinion. He is the most sociable, playful, placid dog in almost every situation, except with these three or four particular dogs that I know of. He's been attending obedience classes since he was 5 months old - the aggression only started at about 7-8months. He's been very well socialised in my opinion - and the aggression hasn't gotten any WORSE, it's just not getting better. As I said before, he's a total goofball most of the time and just wants to PLAY all through the lesson. I don't think so. The first time he did it I grabbed him, growled at him and removed him entirely from the situation - sort of like a time out. But yeah, I think it might just be an ego boost sort of thing. The weirdest part is, other dogs he HAS had problems with (see my previous post about a Kelpie) he now thinks are awesome and wants to play with constantly. I thought that too, although he still does growl on leash - he just doesn't have the opportunity to cause trouble. Lately I've resorted to simply removing the opportunity, but obviously that's not going to affect the behaviour, just prevent it. Overall, I'd just like to get it to a point where I don't have to worry he's going to indimidate everyone else's dogs - or pick a fight with the wrong one and GET HIMSELF hurt in the process.

Over the last six months, Diesel has developed aggressive tendencies towards certain dogs within our obedience classes. If he spots one of them (in particular, he has a problem with a corgi) he'll growl and carry on, even if it's five metres away. Now, this hasn't really presented a problem as although its unacceptable (for me) for him to show blatant, unjustifiable agression, I know who and what dogs to avoid and so do the other owners - apart from some There's another dog in my class who has fear aggression (and has for as long as I have known this dog... nearly a year). It has improved, however still has hissy fits every now and then. THIS IS ONLY DOG BASED, IT HAS NO AGGRESSION TOWARDS PEOPLE (unlike some other dogs in my class who, in all honesty, are a bit scary). Last night, it growled at Diesel. Diesel promptly decided it wanted to play and starting bouncing around like a lunatic (typical BC!). The only problem was, my replacement instructor then decided to grab Diesel, put the two dogs face to face and FORCE an intereaction. Nothing happened, the other dog growled and then Diesel got pulled away. But what I don't understand if WHY this idiot decided to put them together in the first place. And I don't mean like let them wander around in the same area and see what happens. I mean grab them both by the collar and shove them together. For me, putting a dominant-aggressive dog up next to a fear-aggressive dog seems slightly stupid, let alone the fact that he did it without seeking any sort of approval from me. But my main problem is, how am I supposed to combat Diesel's ego problem? He has never bitten anyone, and he doesn't challenge MY dominance over him - it's just certain dogs. It's gotten to the point where I can't let him off lead incase some idiot I don't know chucks their dog in the same pen as us and he has a go at them (this happened last night, even after I told the guy at the gate to wait until I had caught Diesel and taken him out - some people are completely inconsiderate, brainless twits with no knowledge of dog behaviour at all. It's as though because I'm younger than everyone I simply do not exist). At the moment I've been correcting him every time he growls without provocation (sp?) and trying to get him to focus on me more during training (which is working quite well) but I'd really like to be able to let him have a run without worrying that some 40yr old idiot with his completly untrained puppy is going to cause me grief. As far as I am concerned, I'm just as entitled to let my dog run off leash with dogs I know he socialises with well as the next person - aren't I?

Rocky had become so sick that he stopped eating (this was a GR/Lab cross - and they NEVER stop eating). The cancer had spread to his stomach and formed tumours that were inoperable across many of his internal organs, and it was either have him PTS or watch him starve to death infront of me. I made the decision based on what I would want someone to do for me if I was in the same situation. But that doesn't make it any easier when I think of how he looked at me as I went in to hold him and the vet gave him the needle... ;)

dogsbesotted - I didn't think you meant he was either! Just trying to make a point. I know a lot of people's vets believe they're unnessecary, but my training club and most of the local dog club still require proof of regular vaccinations, so I'm pretty much stuck getting them done for the time being anyway.

I know this is the opinion of many people, and each to their own... but at the moment I'm sticking with the boosters due to personal experience (see above) and my vet's advice. And I doubt they're just trying to rip me off - they actually ended up not charging us for a lot of the work (came to a grand total of about $3000, but we only had to pay $1600) that Rocky had done in his last week or so.

I agree about the chemical thing - and mine you, there were a lot of other factors that probably didn't help with Rocky - mainly the fact that we were all ignorant (as many dog owners are) and didn't think twice about things such as diet, exercise etc. Rocky lived on Pal for his entire life - Diesel's on a strange mixture of BARF/raw and good kibble (and is very spoilt). I suppose it's like the old saying, once bitten, twice shy. Once my vet tells me it's ok to vaccinate every three years, I'll probably start doing it!

Jen - I haven't actually spoken to my vet since Diesel had his third lot, but I have heard about them changing them to three yearly. Having said that, my previous dog actually died from contracting canine hepatitis which led to other problems as well, so personally I'm a bit obsessive about vaccinations etc. (Rocky missed a booster vaccination - he was my parents dog - and I'll always wonder if he would of gotten sick if he'd had it). Plus, Diesel is around A LOT of other dogs, and since I don't know what they're vaccination histories are like, I'd rather be safe than sorry, lol. My vet is pretty good in regards to being upfront with information, but I'll bring it up when I take him for his check up anyway.

Thanks ML, that's what I thought, but it's been a while since I've had I've had a puppy (ten years! lol) so didn't remember back that far.

I am not trying to start an argument here, so don't need any input in regards to whether or not I should be vaccinating my dog every year - for now, I chose to follow my vet's advice and do the annual booster shots, although this may change. Problem is, I can't figure out when the booster shots are due? Diesel had his first vaccination at 6 weeks old before I got him. Should his booster fall at 12 months from this date (during Sept '05) or 12mths from his FINAL vaccination (which he had in December '04)?

So true - when Diesel's hyperactive, he'll only down in what I like to refer to as the 'sphinx' position, which inevitably leads to him breaking halfway through (currently working on down stays of about 2mins, at three metres away). If I can get him to relax on his side then he's quite happy to lie there for the next hour of class if I'd let him.

Diesel is an 11 month old, entire male Border Collie, can be very active although also a couch potato at times. Over a week (although I shop once a fortnight for him) he costs me approximately: $2.50 for 4x large chicken wings $3.00 for 3x large lamb shanks $5.50 for about 700g of beef mince (human grade) Plus a bit (probably two cups) of Supercoat Energy per day... which usually seems to last for about three weeks... so that's $3 a week for dry food. He also gets any leftover vegetables (usually stuff like broccoli, carrot, peas, snow peas, beans, bok choy etc.) and sometimes Mum will spoil him and give him a bit of leftover roast (pork, chicken or beef - no bones though). He also gets food rewards during training which is usually devon, cheese or those Nature's Gift treats which all up would probably cost me $3 a week as well. So all up... that's $17 per week for food, if you don't count how much the vegetables and stuff cost (since they're being eaten by everyone else anyway).