paddles

I have two English Springer Spaniels, and I use thinning scissors on thier feathers etc, (As I was advised by the breeder) but I have to ask this, I bought a pair of human thinning scissors (From priceline) and I find that they are pretty hit and miss as to how they work. I'm not certain it the fault is mine, or the scissors? I was wondering if it is like with the clippers, (Human ones just don't work on the dog) so, should I be looking for a pair of doggy thinning scissors? thank you

She eats, anything! and generally is healthy. we have rulled diet out as a contributing cause. the vets current thoughts are, Brain tumor (Luck of the draw) menagitis type virus/infection (She's now doing a course of antibiotics) and epilepsy (Vet soesn't really think that that is the case, but I now have epilepsy medication, and if she siezes again, I'm to start her on them. I think its' just wait andd see now.

She has been getting into the compost bins, so yes she could have eaten something that caused internal damage. I belive the blood tests that have been taken/sent, will tell us about her liver/kidney function. She is vacinated with c5 annually, treated with advance? flea stuff (YOu know you put it on the back of thier neck?) once a month, wormed as per the vets instructions (She goes to the vets for it, since I won't shove tablets down her throat, the nurse does it for me) When I am rich, she is fed eagle pack dry dog food, when I am poor pedigree. She gets small amounts of tablescraps (Dependant on what it is , she has a touchy stomach, and I am very very cautious about what goes into her stomach) Unfortunately she is not cautious and will eat anything that she gets her mouth on. She seems fine and happy this morning

She is an english springer (A really lovely, well behaved (Who am i kidding)14mth old Desexed Bitch) everything is up to date with her vacinations etc. she has just started siezing again. I'm really concerned as to what to do at this moment. vet said to just contain her if she starts, but She is just not comfortable. (They are very mild siezures) first time she had them i thought that she had the hiccups.. I can only wait I guess. I contacted her breeder, there are no health problems in her linage.

She's home, bloodwork has been sent, I guess I'll find out tomorrow if its something really bad.

My dog is currently at the vet with an as yet undiagnosed problem, We are racking our brains as to what she could have gotten to make her sick, Current thoughts is either epilepsy or something worse. If anybody is on line atm, do they know what other things can cause fits? It is not presenting as straight forward epelepsy, she has slowly been losing wieght (Not a lot, but some) is staggery etc.

Now I must say first, this suggestion is what I began to use in desperation, so I think that it is a last resort, however I prefer it over different harnesses etc, I carry a dressage cane, (Long whip, although some people I know use a lengh of polypipe) now do not hit the dog! as you walk swing the cane back and forth in front of you, as the dog goes to go past you, let it tap the dog on the nose, keep swinging the cane, each time they try to go past they will get a tap, if they stay back it won't affect them at all, use the lead to keep the dog in range of the cane. Also you can teach the dog to like the cane, by stroking the dog with it and rewarding it with it, I repeat you do not need to "hit" your dog, just let your dog run into the swinging cane,(Polypipe is good in as far as it make a noise) this worked really well with my dog, and has the added benifit that if another dog attacks mine whilst I am walking I have a simple defence.

the way I was taught to train a dog, was if the dog doesn't get the idea in a few attempts to give the correction chain a yank, now this does train the dog, but I found that it leaves me with a dog that works nigh on perfectly, but like a robot whith head and tail down, no enjoyment in what it is doing. the new method I am being taught is frustrating at times but does leave me with a happier dog. It is very tempting at times to fall back on old tried methods, but I do query wheather the results are worth it.

I just do obedience etc, as a hobby, and I am trying to learn to be nice to the dog, I get told off in ob class for being too aggressive, if the dog doesn't learn the trick it doesn't really matter, but I would like to teach these tricks for funs sake.

I understand your frustration! I have given up on one of my dogs, (She is an absolute fleabrain!) and am concentrating on my other dog, its more rewarding, However I now have the vet telling me that "dukes"days are numbered, and I'm feeling a little sorry for myself. (I could say talk about frustration!) I love my dog, he's a one owner dog, and our bitch is the family dog, so I sort of feel hard done by at the moment. (I'm still discussing treatments/operations)

I am not really certain weather I actually have a problem at this stage, but wonder if it will become a problem and what would be the best way of dealling with it? my dog is now picking up the dumbell, and then droping it, now if he is close enough and I am fast enough I get my hand under the dumbell as he drops it saying give, but he doesn't seem to understand that he can hold the dumbell and walk, he picks it up and drops it repeatedly, occasionally nosing it towards me a bit. Am I moving too fast, should I go back a step? or should I just not worry and persist in waiting until he brings it close enough for me to catch? I only give treats when the dumbell end up close enough for me to grab.

Nope, they are illeagal at all times, there are periodic notices in the papers stating that they are illeagal and warning of the fines/prosicution. (At the time I was looking into getting one to stop yappy fleabrain) we tried a citronella collar, but didn't have much luck with it, was informed after that there is a trick to it, and the dog should only wear the collar for a couple of weeks, putting it on and off at various times, substituting a wieght for when its not on so the dog doesn't know, thus doesn't associate the collar with the citronella. (Personally, I just try to distract gypsy with things like food reward balls, etc,)

Ok, I can shed some light on this! If it was a citronella collar, it could be something simple, such as duties not being paid, however the electric shock collars are actually illeagal in Parts of Aust, NSW for one, with heavy fines etc if caught using them, and yes I know they advertise them etc, but, they are illeagal.

Well, after reading up on that website, and having a play with dogs and Dumbell, I'm off to buy a dumbel that doesn't roll! theory looks good, I'll have a play and let you know in a week or so if I make any progress, (If any!) I don't know weather I'll actually try a clicker, sounds a bit strange to me, and, to my mind, you always have your voice! (and in my case food) I've spoken to a few friends, and its interesting in the replys I got, Clicker training relys on good reflexes, which I don't have, so I'll stick to voice and food at this stage, I am not interested in competing, this is just for fun! And sits and drops and stands get boring after a while! (Although stand for inspection is interesting when you don't have anybody to do the inspection! LOL)

Ok, sounds good, have never used a clicker before, might have to look into it a bit more, will talk to the instructor at obediance, and read up a bit.

thats how I got them to mouth the bar, put the food over (Meat paste) and learnt theat shelties have amazing toungues, then used treats behind the bar, that worked but I can't seem to get them to hang on to anything (Tried bones etc,) they just drop them if i am anywhere near (They must carry them at some stage because they bury them all over the place, just not when I'm around.) this is really frustrating and I'm at a loss on how to retrain them. I work with them daily, mostly just a little (5 Min) obediance, and I would really like to be able to teach them to retrieve, I accept that the fault is mine (I've never managed to teach a dog to retrieve) but feel that there must be a way around this problem.

I don't think that I really want to teach them to tug, although the method sounds sound, as such, its not really me, there must be some other way to get them to hold the bar, Or anything for that matter, (Oh, I tried the chicken neck thing, and the moment i shifted she just dropped it) they were both really hesitant to take it too, although they do recieve bones etc on a regular basis, and they do play tug of war with each other, they are both completely submissive to me. (The trainers at the new obediance club I now attend are trying to retrain me, (No such thing as a bad dog, only bad handlers) but I am slow in learning these new methods.

Unfortunately they don't play any games like that, it was something that I discouraged when they were pups to avoid conflict between them and the kids. they assume that anything in thier mouth is mine and drop it, (I think that that is how they are thinking anyway.

Yes, I agree, with the take, hold etc, but I guess my question is, How do I teach them to hold? they will put thier mouth around the bar, but will not either pick it up, or hold it if I let go of it when they are sitting, they just let it drop

What are you using to mark the reward? A clicker or just voice. Clickers are much more accurate, and your dogs may be confused about what they are being rewarded for. Get a book on clicker training or attend a class or seminar. Food

My 5 and 6 yr old shelties are being very resistant to retrieval training, with food rewards, I have got them going up to the dumbell, but they will not pick it up, or if I put it in thier mouths (Again food taught them to open thier mouths and briefly mouth the bar) will not hold the dumbbell, they just drop it, repeated methods have not been making any progress. I'm at a loss for what to do now.