Yonjuro

That is wonderful - congratulations

I can tell you right now that even capsicum spray directly into the face/eyes (used by police) won't work on a dog that has passed the point of "intent"...

T.

Wow, that is scary. I would have thought that the spray would mess with the vision and smell to the point that the dog wouldn't be able to continue an attack, assuming it didn't already have hold of the person or dog?

Now a taser might do the job nicely :D But seriously, a walking type stick that could emit a suitable electric shock would be great for the elderly.

cattle prod (some are the size of a ruler)

I thought those cattle prods were for putting the animal down? Or can they be used to move the animals where you want them to go? Legality aside, I was really thinking along the lines of something that could put just enough shock to make a dog back off, but after reading about how pepper spray doesn't work on a dog highly focussed on attack, I would wonder if anything other than a big jolt would do the trick?

I am doing support work for rescue day in and day out now Bjelkier and think this is smart and cute way of getting attention and standing out from the crowd. We often come up with silly names for cross breed pei simply because it encourages interest, comments and sharing that the dog is looking for a home. Sometimes they also get crazy names. We will stick the word 'pei' in anything we can to attract interest. We dress the dogs up for events (the ones who are ok about dressing up of course). BUT, it doesn't change how we care for or rehome these dogs. And it doesn't make a dog more worthy of buying over another - using a funny or cute approach simply attracts attention and more foot traffic. Rescue groups are constantly trying to find the uniqueness in each dog when they advertise it already - this is just extending the idea and I'm sure there would be a way of advertising a dog by a crazy breed name that ensures potential adopters don't think this is an actual breed.

Edited to add I am clearly in the minority today when it comes to mixing some love and joy in with the despair of rescue. I'd ask for the thread to be deleted but always think it is childish when people throw a tantie and do that. But I am incredibly disappointed in the responses and particularly who they are from. Could be because I'm hormonal today but it could also be because our rescue has been dealt some particularly bad blows of late with some beautiful dogs that can't be rehomed through no fault of their own. A little ray of sunshine and hope in the form of a silly and I thought harmless idea (if handled correctly) feels like it has been shat on because of fears it could lead to something more sinister or stupid. I shrug in return

I must be in the minority too as I think it is a great way to raise awareness to the plight of many mixed breeds in shelters. If you have a look at the way they write numbers they have used a dot instead of a comma on the dollars as well. I am confident in assuming adoptions went up 1400% - Thanks for sharing the link I enjoyed it.

I can tell you right now that even capsicum spray directly into the face/eyes (used by police) won't work on a dog that has passed the point of "intent"...

T.

Wow, that is scary. I would have thought that the spray would mess with the vision and smell to the point that the dog wouldn't be able to continue an attack, assuming it didn't already have hold of the person or dog?

Now a taser might do the job nicely :D But seriously, a walking type stick that could emit a suitable electric shock would be great for the elderly.

My thoughts are with you and I continue to hope that things will improve.

Well done - keep us updated

If you're going the white vinegar route, you might see if you can get your hands on some very hot peppers, stick 'em in the blender with the vinegar, strain the lot, and put it in your spray bottle. Pepper spray may be illegal, but I doubt they can outlaw putting some concoction in a bottle and spraying it at attackers.

(I've just made some home made Tabasco sauce . . . mostly vinegar and Tabasco peppers. It's deadly and there's lots of room to give it more bite).

+1

Yep, this really works. You actually don't need much pepper/chilli/capsicum for this to be quite strong. Coffee filters work really well to remove the gunk. Beware though, this is a pretty full on way of dealing with an aggressive dog or person. Having said that, if it is a case of protecting mine, then I would use it and deal with the consequences later.

If Steve recommended a raw diet get him to write out a diet for you. Different proteins have different effects in some dogs, I too recommend diet changes but I write out recipes and products to help clients do a change over and we see if it has the desired effect.

Get onto the www.vetsallnatural.com.au site and start there for raw feeding, it's all balanced and just add meat.

As for training treats raw, I find it horribly messy and hard to handle. Sorry, my poor clients get hotdogs, kabana and cheese :laughL

Cool I'm in , what do you give the dogs though :D

I am guessing that the trainer wants to encourage a high drive response and believes that bloody (for lack of a better term) treats will really help motivate the dog to perform the tasks?

but yeah, home made jerky is yum for sure :) and food dehydrators are not too expensive these days.

Oh dear, everything is crossed for you. I hope the cortisone helps. Take care in this very stressful time.

As far as training treats go, you could probably try freezing thin strips of beef, chicken or kangaroo etc. You can get small cool bags that you could pop a couple of small ice bricks in so you can carry it around when training. They should work as a nice meaty popsicle :)

the question, as far as I'm concerned, is what comprises a "raw" diet, not weather "you" agree or disagree. Whilst I HATE sticking my hand in a bag of raw offal/meat, I have already, in 2 training sessions, seen an improvement in his drive. I am uninterested in your opinion of weather you agree with feeding raw, it is my decision. Not wanting to be nasty here, BUT it is not a valid contribution to try to say that you don't agree with feeding raw, or you think I shouldresearch more. I am researching, thus my post here, I am also not going to suddenly totally change my dogs diet. However it is not the first time feeding raw has been bought up, and I have agreed to try it. there is no harm in trying (if you think I am harming my dog, sing out, I'll give you my address and you can ring the rspca...)

I have bought for a trial, a dog roll, to see if that is suitable I have also found (daft me missed it first time) a link to Steve's blog post on what he feeds.

We also had a chat about bringing my dog back from injury.. did you want to weigh in on that without knowing the details?

Good on you Paddles

Here is a link that has some good info that you might like to read in addition to the advice from your trainer.

http://www.rawlearning.com/rawfaq.html

You need bone as well as meat. My suggestion is to stick to a good quality kibble until you have researched a raw diet properly (there are many different types and not all types suit all dogs). You'll also need to find one that suits big dogs. If he is still young it is even more of an ask as you need to ensure that you grow them slow.

If you read the post you would have seen that the OP's trainer who is well regarded has recommended Raw, who are you to suggest kibble?

Nothing wrong with sticking with what they are currently feeding while they research, get off your high horse.

Ahh, so you also know more about this dog and training than Steve Cortney??? Pfttt, go figure!

Nah, let's do it your way and swap the dogs food over completely in one day from kibble to beef mince and see how it goes, with an owner who isn't confident with that. Great idea

What a ridiculous statement :laugh: I have suggested no such thing. Get your facts right.

You need bone as well as meat. My suggestion is to stick to a good quality kibble until you have researched a raw diet properly (there are many different types and not all types suit all dogs). You'll also need to find one that suits big dogs. If he is still young it is even more of an ask as you need to ensure that you grow them slow.

If you read the post you would have seen that the OP's trainer who is well regarded has recommended Raw, who are you to suggest kibble?

Nothing wrong with sticking with what they are currently feeding while they research, get off your high horse.

Ahh, so you also know more about this dog and training than Steve Cortney??? Pfttt, go figure!

You need bone as well as meat. My suggestion is to stick to a good quality kibble until you have researched a raw diet properly (there are many different types and not all types suit all dogs). You'll also need to find one that suits big dogs. If he is still young it is even more of an ask as you need to ensure that you grow them slow.

If you read the post you would have seen that the OP's trainer who is well regarded has recommended Raw, who are you to suggest kibble?

THanks Mita

I should have said that my research into this is only Husky specific, I have no knowledge of whether shaving other dogs is the same. I always shaved my late mini-schnauzer in summer and she would jump and run around like a puppy after a fresh shave :D

I should also say that Perth summers are very hot but usually dry, I imagine humid heat would cause it's own set of management issues.

here is a diagram from a husky forum regarding heat and double coats.

The diagram fails to take into account the dogs colouring. In basic physics you learn that darker colours absorb light and therefore heat and lighter colours reflect light and heat.

If you have a mostly black dog it will absorb heat when out in the sun and if the coat is long the dog will not be able to cool itself very easily.

The diagram shows how a compacted undercoat will impact on the dogs ability to regulate heat. It is not a comprehensive study on all aspects of heat regulation in canines. :)

I think the message is pretty simple - keep the undercoat in good order and you shouldn't need to shave a double coated dog to keep it cooler.

... or perhaps the thousands of people in Australia who keep huskies ranging from white to black are all wrong and should change their thinking and shave their dogs in summer? :D

The OP has made her post based on her concern that there might be a problem with what has occurred. At least she has acknowledged this and is asking quite reasonably for advice. She has determined a couple of pages back that she is going to either abort or spey so why is it that some people feel the need to keep raving on that she is a BYB!?

This is obviously a stressful time for her and the dogs so why not give her the benefit of the doubt that she is trying to do the best now and has taken onboard the helpful information that a few people have given.

I think the purpose of the illustration is to show that the undercoat needs to be thinned and kept in good order and that the guard hairs should remain.

here is a diagram from a husky forum regarding heat and double coats.

You'd be amazed at some of the training techniques I've seen with drug sniffer dogs... *grin*

T.

Oh dear, please don't tell me the drug dogs are junkies

The snails can carry a parasitic rat lungworm that can cause illness in humans, including a form of meningitis, although no such cases have been identified in the United States.

They are aware that rat lungworm also affects dogs, yes?

T.

I would think so and imagine that like drug and bomb dogs they don't ingest their targets... well at least I hope the minds behind this are not completely daft??

something a bit lighter in the media...

Florida to call on Labrador retrievers to stem Giant Snail invasion

Reuters

August 30, 2013, 7:36 am

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Reuters © Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam holds a shell as he speaks at a news conference about successes in attempts to eradicate the Giant African Land Snail in Miami, Florida August 29, 2013. REUTERS/Joe Skipper

By Kevin Gray

MIAMI (Reuters) - Florida officials trying to eradicate the Giant African Land Snail, one of the world's most destructive invasive species, plan to deploy a new weapon in the battle - Labrador retrievers.

State agriculture authorities say they hope the dogs will add to their success in fighting an infestation of the slimy snails, which were first spotted by a homeowner nearly two years ago and quickly swept through the Miami area.

On Wednesday, officials said that since the start of an aggressive extermination campaign they have collected 128,000 of the snails, which can grow as big as rats and devour plants as well as stucco and plaster in a hunt for calcium they need to grow their big shells. In large numbers, the snails can cause extensive structural damage to buildings.

"We see a lot of strange things in Florida and this one makes the top of the list," said Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. "It is a very serious pest."

Putnam said $6 million has been spent so far to eradicate the munching mollusks, which may have been introduced to Florida by a Miami Santeria group, a religion with West African and Caribbean roots that was found in 2012 to be using the snails in its rituals.

The snails can carry a parasitic rat lungworm that can cause illness in humans, including a form of meningitis, although no such cases have been identified in the United States.

To stamp out the snails, a team of 45 people regularly fans out across Miami, sometimes using rakes and getting down on their hands and knees to hunt for them.

The snail fighters are also using bait, chemical treatments and experimental traps to root out the mollusks, helped by phone calls from local residents who report sightings.

Joining them soon will be canine detectors, including a Labrador retriever being trained to sniff out the snails.

"They're very good at detecting the Giant African Land Snail," said Richard Gaskalla, the head of plant industry at the Florida Agriculture Department. "So we're building four-legged technology into this program as quickly as we can."

The Giant African Land Snail has no natural predator, posing a challenge to eradication efforts. But it can give off a strong odor that dogs can be trained to detect.

Officials showed off a black Lab named Bear who is expected to soon wrap up his three-month training and start accompanying the snail hunters. Two other Labradors are also expected to be trained, they said.

Officials say they believe they have contained the snails to the Miami area.

Gaskalla said the program was showing success, with a sharp drop in numbers found.

"The number of detections this last year were in the thousands; now they are down to around 200 to 300 a week," he said.

It's great that you've found what works for your dog, but also bear in mind all the commercial foods you trialled are fairly mediocre to very mediocre kibbles.

I kind of agree with you some poor quality ones in the list except for Earthborn grain free which I believe is one of the better kibbles out there.

Shelly is obviously doing really well on her kibble-free diet, but as you allude to it is finding what works for the individual dog.

... and yet another one on news today

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/video/watch/18712756/another-vicious-dog-attack/