wagsalot

I can go to the offleash park, but at both ends it would be really hard trying to avoid the other dogs. I think wherever i went that some dogs would run up and try to play with riley. I am going to try the local park though late in the afternoon, as there is normally a few people walking their dogs round there (on lead) and kids playing, so that might be good to maybe start off with as there are some distractions, but i would also be able to stand away from them. When he plays up - for example today when he pulled the lady told me to pull him back (to be honest i didnt really want to do this as it put alot of pressure round his neck) and it didnt seem to be working, just made him pull more. If im walking him and he pulls i normally say "no" and just stop and stand still until he stops pulling, then start again and keep doing it everytime he pulls. This seemed to work well as he knew when he pulled he wants going to get anywhere. Then id reward him after he walks nicely for a while. But as we rarely see any other dogs on our daily walks, he rarely pulls anymore on our walks..

Well I took Riley to obedience today and it was a nightmare! He just wanted to play with the other dogs!! (the lady said its bad becasue he goes to off leash parks and gets to do what he wants there, then at training he wants to do the same thing!) anyway he was a abosolute terror at first - was too interested in the other dogs, but once we got to get our own bit of grass he wasnt too bad. He knew his sit, stays and drops but it was the walking we had most problem with. I walk him on a harness, and we walked to obedience (25 min walk) and he walked perfect on the way - well he was walking in front of me a little, but there was no pulling. In obedience i had to take of the harness and just use the collar, and he just wanted to pull and pull and pull!! So we're going to have to work on that. I felt like such a idiot - i really thought he was going to be better than that. He is so good at home but he is like a different dog when hes around other dogs on a lead. Anyway, we'll give it another go next week. I just down know how to practice at home, as he's perfect at home. oh btw i thought steve austin did the training classes? he wasnt there.

I normally walk with riley on my right side just as it feels more comfortable. but if we're walking along a busy road, i switch it so he's always on the side closest to the kurb. so really its a bit of both sides

Will do! Ive been told to take treats with me so hopefully i can bribe him with those! Im not sure if its all on lead stuff, but riley seems to be better off lead. I suppose at least if he plays up it will give me the opportunity to learn how to correct it!

I am hopefully going to go to the 1.45 class. Well thats the plan, if i dont make that one it will have to be the 2.30. Ive got my fingers crossed that Riley behaves!!

My kelpie x Riley is the perfect dog while we are at home - he obeys every command. BUT when we're out he seems to just forget everything. Its not so bad if its just on a walk, it seems to be when there are other dogs around and lots of people. He gets distracted and then doesnt listen to anything i say. At the offleash park he is ok - he seems to be alot better off lead, then on lead. Just wondering how i can keep his attention on me. I am going to Hanrob on Saturday in Steve Austins classes to help, but I just wanted a bit of a head start before we go.

does hanrob just do basic obeidence? or anything more involved?

Goodluck joannakathleen ive only ever heard good things about sylvania

Im in Shire. Im really interested in getting riley into flyball as he's a kelpie x so has the energy to burn. I put it off as i was worried he wouldnt be very good - he tends to get "selective hearing" sometimes when he's out and doesnt do what he's told! Hes never done anything like it before though, so i didnt really know where to start. sorry for the thread hijack :rolleyes:

no where. we ended up teaching him the basics from home. we were going to go to hanrob but they werent doing it at that time. Im looking at getting him into flyball now though...

I took Riley to obedience at Sutherland and all went well for the first few weeks, then all hell broke loose! :rolleyes: Suddenly Riley was the terror dog and did nothing he was told, he really didnt want to be there. THe instructor we had for that week was very rough with him and dragged him along trying to get him to do what he was told. Riley also had a check chain on (they told me to use one) so he was getting choked in the process. At this stage i got my dog and walked off mid class and never went back. I never knew why Riley behaved so badly that one day and he has never done anything similar since (that was about 3 yrs ago). I really think he just didnt want anything to do with that instructor. He mis-behaved everytime the instructor walked near me so it was like that was triggering him off. Never had any prob in the previous classes with other instructors - he was as good as gold! Had a friend take his dog there though and they loved it and had no probs.

Well ive decided to do it. I rang Thompson Education up and once again I got a lovely lady on the end of the line and i was sold. I cannot fault their service and their learning materials are tops. I know its no where near as involved as the delta or ndtf but its a great starting point.

i always use the heartworm injection every year with rileys normal vaccs

Has anyone here completed it??? I done the S.O.A in animal care through Thomsons Education and loved it. It was really interesting and their materials were top quality. I just got sent a pretty good discount offer (as ive alreayd done a course through them before) and its a bit hard to resist!! Just wanted to know if anyone else had done it. Btw - Im only doing this for my own knowledge - I dont expect to become a dog trainer when i complete it. Im planning on doing the Delta course a few years down the track, but thought I might do this in the meantime.

Mine gets his shots every year. I keep them up just to be safe, but also back when i had the time, i used to visit the dog shelter on regular basis and didnt want to bring anything back and give it to my dog

Well if you, or anyone else, wants to do the Delta course but can't take their own dog, and I do end up enrolling, then I'd be more than happy to provide a dog! Funny you said that. I actually emailed them and asked what happens if I cant take a dog and they said they arrange for you to borrow someone elses dog. I kind of thought people might not like me borrowing their dog.

After researching myself a few months ago the delta seemed more suitable with the two, two week session, over the ndtf's once every month attendance. the one problem i hit with both was that my dog gets car sick and also that he wouldnt cope being crated.

before i started up we had a mobile one come round and wash riley once and they just dried him chamois (sp). He was still really wet and i had to go over him with the hair dryer and towel. I use the chamois (sp) to soak up the excess water then use the dryer to completely dry the dog. Do most mobile groomers just towel dry?

I told her i'd do it for $20 as i know the dogs coat is in really good condition and he's really well behaved so he should be a pleasure to wash . She is bringing the dog to me as well.

Just had a friend of a friend ring me up wanting me to wash her dog. A grooming salon near me quoted her $60 just for a wash. I thought that was fairly extreme Its a golden retriever, so a larger dog but the dogs coat is in excellent condition so they didnt charge high becasue of that. Ive found alot of my customers come to me as they've got quoted really high at other places. Maybe i just think its extreme as im doing it for the love of it not all for the money

I do dog washing from home on the weekends - people bring their dogs to me, and I charge $15 a dog for a bath, dry and brush. I also found alot of the mobile ones didnt disinfect they're baths after every use, but just at the end of the day. I like to disinfect my hydrobath after every dog (i know id prefer this is i took my dog somewhere). I agree with inspectorrex about wetting the dog first. I rinse the dog, then add shampoo by hand, rather than putting it in the tank water. I find it gives a better result. Before i had the hydrobath i used to get a mobile one to come out and wash Riley and they used to charge me $38.

yep mine gets the yearly injection along with vaccinations. i find this easier than remembering to give him the tablets

havent had him back yet. told the owners ive had some good advice though on how to deal with it so she said she'd definately bring him over soon. she might not want to bring him back as i told her i wanted to keep him as he was so adorable!

what a great topic will have to try some of these ideas, im sure my dog will love them!

mine has only ever had one to try, a larger one, but he didnt get green poo's. dont think ill be giving him another though now.