wagsalot

I was just popping back in to apologise about the hijack. It was Alibears fault though. Theres a new Syd Dol meet thread in the General forum

I think Riley needs another chance to get to know Bear so he doest sound so snobbish Bear must of caught Riley on a bad day Poor Bear ;) They'll have to be a Sydney DOL meet organised.

;) ;) :p I dont think i'll be doing that :p

Would I be able to get a copy of the tape or dvd too please? I couldnt make it on a week night due to tafe. How much and who do I transfer the money too?

well its a huge thing for me considering id have a 10 hour drive each way, each month to attend. as well as having to give up work a day a week and still trying to run a business.

As i said - the main reason i liked the look of delta was because they offered better options for people not in Vic.

Its not only the price - having to travel from Sydney to Melbourne once a month is impossible for me too (i work saturdays). When i was looking at all the courses a while ago I actually liked the look of the DELTA better than NDTF. Main reason is because DELTA do it by a weeks stay at the beginning, and a weeks stay at the end. Alot more pracitical. But if NDTF did offer something like that, or by correspondance Id pick that. Shame they only do it in Victoria....I know a few people in Sydney who decided against the NDTF due to the travel requirements every month.

yep, both the SOA in Animal Care (found that to be quite good) and the Pet Obedience one too... its a good course for beginners but doesnt compair to the NDTF course. .. I havent started the Obedience Trainer on yet - ive got it here though - how long did it take to do? As long as the SOA in Animal Care? \

When i last looked into the NDTF was about $3000 and didnt offer it by correspondance and you had to attend one weekend a month in melbourne. Ive done the SOA in animal care through Thompson Ed. and really enjoyed it. Im now doing the Obedience Trainer one - I have my learning materials but havent actually started yet. I think THompson Ed Courses are a great starting point - the staff are friendly and their learning materials are excellent. I cannot fault them. Plus you get the convience of learning from home in your own time. rubeedoo - have you done a Thompson Ed. Course???? Obviously Thompson Ed courses wont allow you to go straight out and train dogs as a job, but they are a hell of a good starting point.

Bit of an update - things arent going as well as anticipated. :p I started taking Riley to a park late in the afternoon. We are up the opposite end to the kids playground - they can be heard but not seen very well. No one else around, except the cars going past. Well all Riley wants to do is follow his nose. His nose is constantly to the grass smelling. I cant get him to look at me, and no words make his nose leave the grass. It doesnt seem to be getting any better and we've gone about 6 times now. He is just way to distracted and excited. Even a walk doesnt help him concentrated. Its like he's never seen the outside of the yard before!! But something that confuses me is that at the Paws in the park event there were heaps of dogs around and he was really good. Yet when one dogs around he's terrible.

Im waiting for this too, as Im also in NSW.

I cant go into a pet supplies shop without buying a toy or a treat for the dog. Its an expensive habit!!

to be honest - besides from the breathing when he wakes up sometimes i have noticed no change in him what so ever. maybe t times right in saying he's too hot. really - as long as he's livng a happy life - which is certainly is - and he's healthy im not too worried.

ive never considered having rileys dew claws removed as they have never been a issue, however if they were a issue i probably wouldnt hesitate to get them removed. rileys back ones arent attached to the bone i dont think. I can move them around and they just feel like a excess bit of skin. We do have to get the nail clipped quite often though.

Really?? I told the vet he doesnt mind being by himself and that didnt change his answer. He said to keep an eye on him in thunder storms as that might bother him now, also loud noises. Oh, also he said riley hating one of his feet being touched had something to do with it. Everytime someone touches his back paw he goes bonkers. This has gradually got worse. Also he said about him being "A very alert dog". He's an excellent vet - Im really happy with him - maybe ive interpreted it the wrong way? He definately said anxiety though - maybe its a small form of anxiety? Sorry about the bits and pieces - my memory isnt the best!

The only way i know he sleeps is from what the neighbour told me - her kitchen window looks over into our yard. She said he occassionaly gets up to bark at a bird or a cat but other than that she reckons he sleeps in the sun nearly the whole day. (one of our neighbours complained that our dog barked alot a while ago - which apparantly he did for 1 day only as a cat was on our lawn - so the lady accross the road watches and shoos the cat off when she sees it wanders onto our lawn). he doesnt dig or cause any damage - and walks outside happiley when i leave for work.

no sign of separation anxiety - he's only home by himself 3 days a week for about 5 hours. He just sleeps til someone gets home.

Took Riley to the vets yesterday about his quick breathing and the vet reckons its anxiety. He mentioned a few things and some examples of anxiety and the things he mentioned i could relate to things riley does. Apparantly when he wakes up he stresses out for a bit as he worries we arent going to be there, but then once he realises we are he settles down and the breathing goes back to normal. The vet checked his heart and everything and said he's really healthy so im happy about that, and the anxiety we can deal with. :D

At the park riley wont go that far away from me. He run off to a certain distance ahead and then will stop and wait for me to catch up, then he'll run, wait for me to catch up again and so on. If i call him he'll almost always come back straight away. When he comes back its very difficult to put the lead on - he then forgets what sit means as he's watching the other dogs. Its then that he forgets everything - except for come. Really off leash he isnt all that bad - its on leash that the trouble - eg walking around a park where dogs are also on leads - he is constantly in a rush to catch up to them. Thanks agian for all the advice everyone!! I am definatley taking it all in and will put it into play - its greatly appreciated!

yeah i did a google search and got heartworm come up. he gets the yearly injection though edited to add: ive made an appointment for wed at the vet

it seems to happen when he's doing nothing, like when he gets up after being asleep. Thats the only time ive ever noticed it. - oh and he does like to sleep close to the heater sometimes..

im getting worried now?? the vet always listens to his heart and go overs him completely everytime we go in, and the last time we went was about 3 months ago. riley doesnt seem in pain and he's alwasy running (he is a kelpie).

pain? i hope he's not in pain. i will book a vet appointment for this week

Riley (kelpie x 4 yrs) seems to be getting short of breath for no reason. For example, just before he was asleep in his bed, then he got up to come sit with me and he was breathing quickly like he'd just been on a big walk. He doesnt doing that often, Ive noticed it a few times over the last 6 months. Im a little worried now as it doesnt seem normal. Anyone got any ideas?? Im going to book him in for a check up at the vets soon for his eyes, so i will mention it then, but didnt know if i should book this appointment sooner than later? Btw - it doesnt affect him at all - we did a 1 1/2 walk on saturday and he is fine with that so he doesnt get puffed easily, and he is a healthy weight. oh, and it was about 10 mins ago he did the quick breathing thing, and now he's fine and is back asleep. So it only lasts about 5 minutes.

Thanks for all the help. I think i got better advice here than from all the obedience classes! I was just reading the other thread about walking harness and the gentle leader and easy walker. Do you think their worth a try? Id prefer to stick with the harness ive got now though as he thats working fine on walks. I will try the change direction method, over the standing still one and see how it goes. BTW i took riley to the paws in the park event today and there was lots of dogs around and he was actually quite well behaved. He was doing his sits and drops when i told him too and he normally never does when other dogs were around!! The only thing id like to work on is that if he was in drop position, if another dog came near us, he quickly get up without being "released".