dididog

I don't crate (because I don't have one) but I confine my dog to a room when guests arrive because I know she will be too aroused to make appropriate decisions (altho instead of jumping up for kisses she is more likely to bark and get narky). By confining her and only letting her out when she is calm I know that she's in a clear headspace and not being impulsive and that I get time to properly explain to guests how to interact with her. The long term goal is that she won't have to be confined as she won't see visitors arriving as a particularly intense encounter and will know she gets to say hi a lot quicker if she's calm. When she comes out she still gets to say hello and practice greeting politely, only she is in a much better position to do so successfully than if she was still really excited, like raineth has said. Didi is not a full Dane but still 44kg and very much a puppy and there is no reasoning with a dog that big when they are too excited/agitated so I save myself the trouble and don't let it get to the point as otherwise I have to juggle greeting the guest and holding back my dog going off her nut in my tiny hallway! Just saying this as raineth suggested I do the confining thing when Didi started getting very touchy about strangers coming in the house and while I was going to try a different method, this one has worked really well and really quickly so I wouldn't discount it, Didi still gets to hang out with my guests and they all get to pat her and give her cuddles but the whole thing goes a lot smoother. :) However even if we totally iron out this behaviour I will still always separate her when a guest who has never met her before/I am not familiar with them comes over (ie a tradie) as I don't know if I can trust them to do the right thing and with a big and sometimes defensive dog it's not worth the worry!

Why is it the breeder's responsibility to make sure potential puppy buyers don't go to a BYB? I would think their only responsibility is to the breed, the puppies they bring into the world and the people that buy their pups. If they need reassurance to fulfill those responsibilities then there's probably a reason for it I would think ie. they've been burnt before by an interstate buyer. I don't think most people were trying to say that the OP is necessarily being bad but explaining that the reason they are probably finding it difficult or why they were 'interrogated' is because the breeder hasn't known them long enough to trust them implicitly. And the OP wants specific types/colours so their pool of potential breeders/puppies is smaller and will probably require some waiting. Also nobody knows if this is the way the breeder always operates... it may just be that due to the circumstances (no prior relationship/interstate) they feel the need to cover all their bases. If the OP had been inquiring about future litters I would find what they asked OTT as there's plenty of time to build a relationship and trust. I also find asking to speak to their vet a bit strange. I don't 'have a vet' I have 5 different vets I consider going to for depending on the circumstances. My dog has only ever gone in for vacs and the vets were loccum and a practice I don't even use anymore so it would be a pretty useless exercise on the breeder's behalf. Do we even know what the breeder's response would be if the OP had declined to supply info? I don't think it's fair to condemn a breeder as what's wrong with breeder's of today when they aren't here to explain their reasoning :)

I've been wanting to get a harness for labels for Didi since she outgrew an old one but am hesitant as it's a fair bit of money for purely aesthetics and she doesn't cope well in the heat so thought it might be a bit too much for her. The collar looks a way better option! And it would stop her martingale slipping down... consider me enabled :laugh:

I have little experience with breeders other than being on the waiting list for a breed/litter that wasn't meant to be but here's my two cents. I guess if the certain look of Chihuahua you are after is as hard to get your hands on as it sounds then your best bet will probably be to find a breeder whose dogs you really like and have the right type popping up every now and then. Build up a relationship and trust and I assume you will probably have breeders more willing to give you a pup that suits your desires. I wouldn't really blame breeders for retaining the type you're after rather than sell it to someone who pops up at the last minute and they have no rapport with. Also if they're so highly sort after I don't imagine many would make it past being a few weeks old without having a home waiting. And if you don't want an already desexed pup again your chances of having a breeder trust you enough to desex on your own accord is going to be a lot more likely when you've gotten to know them and have spent time committed to owning one of their dogs. With the Sheltie I think you'll probably have to decide whether you want a puppy now or are prepared to wait potentially years for the exact colouring you're after with an equally good temp and health. If you want a puppy now you'll probably just have to go with something not completely perfect colour wise. In a few years time I'm sure you will be more upset if your pup has a temp/health problem than whether or not it has symmetrical facial markings. I don't think the breeder was going too over the top considering they don't know you from a bar of soap and have to make a quick decision about whether you should have the pup as a opposed to weeks/months/years of building relationship and trust that they would normally have with puppy buyers. To adopt my puppy from a rescue group I had to fill out a lengthy application form about me/my family/my life/capabilities as a dog owner. I then had to have my landlord verify permission. I then had to have the foster carer decided whether I could even come meet the pups. The litter was split into two groups due to mum having mastitis. The carer for one of the groups decided she didn't even want to meet me because I was young and therefore most likely irresponsible but other foster carer was more than happy for me to come out. They would only adopt out if new owners came to meet pup and lived at the very least in the same state. I then had to have someone come and check that my yard and house was secure. Was it invasive and time consuming? Yes. But the rescue had the peace of mind knowing the puppies they had spent so much energy, time and money raising had gone to the best home possible and so I can't really blame them and it filled me with confidence knowing they cared so much. If I couldn't have met the pups or the carer and nobody could come check my yard I'd still be more than happy to provide them with all that info, even if through pictures.

They are a favourite here, has put up to a years worth of river retrieving and countless sand burying sessions without a mark so far. I leave christmas shopping to the last moment so I'm not sure Thanks lisa, will probably get that then now that Didi has decided the river at our local park must be swum in at every visit. She swallows too much water trying to pick balls up and too much river water = the squirts so was looking for something easier to pick up on the move!

So very sorry for your loss VM

Didi has a cool mat coming and I will probably buy her a few toys. I think I'll buy her a new soft toy and a new treat dispensing toy as I haven't gotten one of those in a while. And then I also want to get a ball on a rope for training and a good water retrieve toy, something like the Chuckit bumper maybe? I don't really have anyone to buy presents for at Christmas so I don't mind going a bit overboard for the dog :laugh:

Crap HD that sounds truly awful for both you and poor Jake! If the council look at the objective facts that you were walking your SUPER restrained dog and an off leash roaming dog had a go at another dog before coming at both of you persistently to the point you were trapped and your dog lashed out to what appears to be little injury to the other, smaller dog. It's not like Jake tore off across the road to attack this dog completely unprovoked, no matter what Jake's attitude toward other dogs is, you were doing everything right and the owners of the little dog everything wrong. Also personally I think a lot of non DA dogs would've done exactly what Jake did in the situation of being rushed at, trapped and owner in vulnerable position so I think it would go in your favour if you feel it's worth reporting, especially seeing as you were injured too. Do you think you could find the other woman that the dog rushed? Really hoping for both of you that this doesn't ruin all the good work you've been doing. Nobody can argue that you were the irresponsible owner here when you consider the training and management you put towards Jake's issues.

Yeah I mean I probably wouldn't have cared so much if it was a misjudgement on her part but she clearly knew her dog was possessive of the ball and was selfish enough to put her dog and everyone else's dog in danger. I do bring a tug to the park because it is the way I reward Didi for recalls but no way do I let her take it into a group of random dogs, I know she could care less who takes her toy but I don't know if the dog who takes it will be so cooperative!

Yeah it's the legs that really do it, they propel her forward so fast you don't have time to think! I was thinking perhaps a custom leather harness might be your best bet as you could get it to be snug in all the right places. In other news I just got into the middle of a blowup with a doberman, a berner and didi and lived to tell the tale! Was at the reserve and saw a bunch of regulars with a few others I didn't recognise. We were there for about 5 minutes and this idiot woman kept yacking on about her dog was fine with sharing his ball with dogs he knows but will have a go at anyone else. Wasn't sure who her dog was and couldn't see any balls. Next thing I know this dobe drops a ball at idiot womans feet as Didi was literally just walking past it and it lunged at her throat and had a go at her. Didi's pretty non confrontational but not a push over when a random dog launches at her snarling unprovoked and gave this dobe a taste of its own medicine and then her berner friend rushes over on alert and joins in! Junped in and got Didi's collar and moved her away and she plopped down like nothing happened and idiot woman left with her dog going on about how he hadn't run around enough today which was why he had a go..? It was mainly noise and fury, nobody hurt or really trying to hurt but could easily have been worse. Bugs me that this woman was full of excuses and blind to the fact her dog had resource guarding issues... so don't let it loose with a group of dogs with its ball!! Didi went right back to playing and being submissive but if I ever see that woman letting her dog have its ball in a group of dogs Im throwing the ball in the bin!

44kg pup :D Probably one dessert spoon per day would be ideal. If the stools get too soft reduce for a while, but I don't think there should be any issue. Mixing 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric into it for feeding will offer additional benefits. You may already do this, but cutting back shampooing and using calendula tea instead of shampoo will be great for the skin. Shampooing will strip the dog of its natural protective oils so this is just something else to consider. The coconut oil rinse you did is great in my opinion Alright thanks :) I'll give it a whirl, might have to incorporate it it with her dry food somehow so it isn't just a big blob of coconut oil in the middle because she can be a bit fussy about eating her dry. I don't need to wash Didi in the summer because she swims every other day so I just save the coconut rinses for when she's a bit on the nose! But I might invest in some calendula anyway since the anti bacterial properties would probably be good for helping her skin heal?

Thanks Yonjuro! Yeah toughen probably wasn't the best word but didn't really know how to express it. I just gave Didi a coconut oil rinse yesterday actually (so soft) but I will give putting it into her food a go as well. How much and how regularly for a 44kg pup do you think?

Thanks! Hopefully she'll be as receptive to it as she has been with our other work on reactivity. To be honest I have no idea how I manage with her size when she lunges, just lucky she's for the most part a good walking buddy and even when she has the opportunity to physically overpower me her training kind of overrides it... I just wish cyclists would use their bells when they come up behind you and slow down a bit and give you space, I don't really blame Didi for losing it when they sneak attack you like that.

Didi is covered in scars atm. While smooth coated she doesn't have the same sort of thin skin like on a whippet so I don't think that's the issue and she doesn't lead a very rough and tumble life but it seems like everyday we find a new cut or scrape and I'm wondering if perhaps her skin is too delicate for some reason and if there's any supplements or diet additives which could help strengthen it? Or alternatively anything to help promote quick healing and repair of damaged skin/scarring? Her diet is currently 1 1/2 cups Canidae pure sky morning and night and a chicken frame or lamb neck/shank for lunch so pretty basic.

Lunging is the absolute worst! Didi only ever lunges at bicycles but living in the inner city we always get at least a few every walk and if I don't see them coming we're in trouble. She's yet to pull me over because I've developed a tree root grip on the ground when it comes to walking her but my shoulders are absolutely screwed after repeats of all 44kg of her slamming to the end of the lead. Though because the martingale tightens sharply like it would if I were correcting her she always whips around after she hits the end of the lead, if she decided to keep going after the bikes that would be a different story! It's my big thing to work on this summer as it's getting super dangerous since we're more or less restricted to busy main roads and shared cycling/walking tracks around here. I'm fairly sure it's just a prey drive thing since it's only when they are moving fast and she doesn't lunge when she reacts out of fear to people and there's no barking or growling, just wants to chase them

I think there was a kikopup video I watched and it was to teach a dog to settle and be calm for when you were sitting at a cafe or something but I've taught it so Didi knows if she is on lead and I am not engaging with her that she needs to park her butt and wait calmly for my next move whether we're at training in between exercise/on the train/waiting for someone etc. It's one of the few things Didi is really good and consistent with, probably because it doesn't involve moving :laugh:

I'm glad when you hear of dogs eating houses you think of us haha! While her initial weirdo behaviour did councide with the first time she ate a fair chunk out of the house she never got any of the symptons of lead poisoning so I don't think she was affected by it. We've barricaded the walls off from her so hopefully no more house eating!

It sucks so much, having your dog in a public setting DOES NOT = free for all interaction. Didi would be perfectly fine in a busy setting if it weren't for the fact I have no way of ensuring that nobody will touch her or approach us without my say so, so I just don't risk it anymore. Which is a shame because I'd like to be able to spend that time with my dog. I think you handled the situation with restraint and were perfectly reasonable and others are right, if you took the dogs out of the equation this would be extremely rude and confrontational behaviour, just because he wants his dog to 'say hi' doesn't make it okay. I also briefly went down the labels on the harness path and nobody really approached us but I don't stay still with Didi in public (too many possibilities of getting trapped by idiots) so I don't know if we were sitting down whether it would attract more people asking about her being 'in training'. I think the double harness configuration might be a bit impractical but you could just alter the harness you currently use. I did this to my car harness (just wrote labels on thick paper and taped in place), lasted just fine and is good for a temporary alternative to a harness with patches... just not as attractive :laugh:

Was really proud of Didi last night, she handled a stand for examination with a trainer she'd only just met (and a male too) and was perfect (well not technically but perfect for me). I don't think anyone got why I was so happy when she broke her stand to follow the trainer for more pats but for me it was a great marker of progress going back to when her reactivity was at its worse and the mere act of a trainer walking up to us made her react in fear. She's still got a way to go and I don't even consider taking her out of relatively quiet and controlled areas but still super happy :D

Awh, they're so sweet! :) Didi gets along with most dogs but is always so cute with her berner friend. Here they both found a chunk from a palm tree and they then took turns letting the other one have a nibble.

It's all just an act... this is a more accurate representation of couch time with Didi :laugh:

Finally got round to getting a new battery for my camera, not particularly great but oh well. Loving this little lady more and more everyday if that's possible :) I wish her dumb puppy demeanor transferred into pictures better, she always looks too serious!

:laugh: glad my struggles proved helpful for somebody else! Didi's loose lead walking still isn't perfect but she's nice to walk and responsive to me and the lead. She is still however pretty crap if we go somewhere new and exciting due to lack of proofing under distraction because she's developed some fear problems in the last few months and if I took her somewhere new and exciting to try and practice I would spend the whole time having to manage her reactivity so no point going through that stress atm. We also started at a new obedience club where there's new grounds new people new dogs so she gets pretty excited at the start but it dies down pretty quick. She does go into worker mode pretty quickly though and spends way more time looking at me than sniffing the ground like she used to :)

I like it a lot apart from the whole cut me to bits thing as I know the leash will never slip through my hands if Didi's ever silly. My mum has pretty tough skin and she held the leash for 2 minutes on one of our walks and got a cut too We have some nylon leads but none of them have brass buckles and I don't want to risk a breakage if Didi freaks out over something so I'm stuck with the machete leash for a bit longer. I'm in the market for a nice thick leather martingale so may as well chuck a leash in there while I'm at it!

I bought a gripper lead as I wanted something with the solid brass buckle but didn't want to ruin an expensive leather one at the beach and park... it's fine except for the fact that everytime I use it my thumb gets covered in tiny but painful papercut sized slices. I have to wear a bandaid now otherwise I'll get home and my thumb is a stingy bleeding mess... and Didi doesn't even pull that much! Not sure exactly why it happens (i suspect something to do with the impregnated rubber) but I'm going to have to buy a different lead and just retire the gripper to backup/emergency car lead.