Cosmolo

Thanks CBL- it was a while ago and i wasn't close enough to see how the harness was fitted, but it did worry me, especially when the owner didn't seem surprised by the action.

He is a little better today- non steroidals obviously helping i think.

Thanks Milzi, i just read through the info there. I have seen a different type of harness that clipped to the front on a dog and when the dog lunged it (without the owner doing anything) pulled her off balance, moving her front leg opposite to the side the owner was standing on toward the owner and the dog slipped quite badly. Has anyone found this to be the case? This was on a large boisterous dog.

I have to find some test dogs that pull so i'm not too sure what size they will be.. Maybe a medium large and a large- how adjustable are they? Now to find some pulling dogs..

Could someone post photos of black white (with spots) pointers? I am trying to see whether my boy has some Pointer in him.

I would shape it like Rubystar did.

CBL- i don't suppose you have one i could borrow?

I understand that widget- which is why i think there may be something else going on with your pup and having a professional come and assess the situation would be in order. Whats happening in response to a verbal correction (especially one that has nnever been paired with anything) is not normal IMO. in the meantime, have the lead on whenever he is in the house so that you can build his confidence

Given what you have said, i think this is quite abnormal and not just a result of being verbally told off a few times. How old was he when you got him? What area was he kept in where you got him from? ETA Has he always done this? Is it getting worse?

Thanks heaps for that, i hadn't seen one of them before and think i need to get one to try out

Not sure, he is a rescue. He's much bigger than a staffy- more bull arab like i think. This photo shows a bit better how big he is- don't have many of him standing up

Thanks Staranais. I just watched him try to walk (he has been sleeping on the couch all day) and he's still shocking. Part of me wants to throw a childish tantrum because its not fair- he's only 18 months old and he'd been doing so so well

Thanks S+T Do you have a link for the halti harness? Do you guide or direct in any way with the harness?

I know you're right. I just feel like i need to know whats going on and whats going to happen.

Thanks Staranais- you make some good points. We have discussed the denervation with a specialist when we met with him after Dex was first diagnosed. You're right that x rays won't tell us if he is in pain but sometimes he doesn't tell us either. Or like this time he doesn't show any sign and then bam, he looks cripple. Denervation is designed to reduce pain as it effectively kills the nerves in the hip joints so that the dog doesn't feel the pain anymore. No side effects- except that some dogs end up doing more damage because they don't feel the pain and don't know when to stop. He is not on regular non steroidals- we only use them if he is sore so he hasn't had any for at least 6 months. He has been on supplements and they made no difference- cartrophen and bowen are the two things that have helped and seem to have had him going fine until now. Thanks Cavsrcute- Dexter has bowen massage and will be having one asap so hopefully it will help.

That answers it fine ML- so you don't do anything specific with the harness, just fit it and go and the dog automatically stops pulling?

I'm very interested in the different ways people use no pull harnesses and also what type of no pull harness you prefer. How do you choose to use your no pull harness- As a simple restraint while luring the dog, ie not actioning the harness at all? To apply pressure until the dog stops pulling or guide the dog back to the walking position you're after? To give an on/ off tug before there is tension on the harness? Other? What no pull harness/ harnesses do you prefer?

Can't he stay in the yard when you aren't there? And crate at night- one that he can't break out of.

Thanks guys- its so hard puggy puggy because while i think he is 'happy' its very hard to tell knowing his pain threshold is so high- is he just really good at putting up with it/ hidining it or is he actually not in pain. Thats the reason why i was thinking about the x rays- becaue whether Dexter is sore or not doesn't seem to give the greatest indication of how he really is. We could consider the hip denervation surgery because they can do both at once and the recovery time is only a few days- but then it will make it even harder for us to know whats happening with him.

Dexter has HD and ED in all 4 joints. He has been doing unbelievably well- absolutely no obvious soreness for the last 6 months or so (although he still can be a little stiffer to get up on cold mornings, after running etc) Its been at the point where you really wouldn't know he had a problem unless you were told. However today (after lying on cold concrete for about 1 1/2 hours last night- totally my fault, i didn't even think) he is very very sore. I have already spoken to the vet and we are going to give him non steroidals to make him a little more comfortable and he has had another cartrophen injection today (he gets them every 4-6 weeks) The strange thing is, his xrays and clinical signs showed that his right hip was the worse of the two and he always favoured that one when he was sore. But today he is significantly favouring his left hip. Is there any benefit in re x raying his joints to see whats going on and to see the progression of whats happening? Dexter has a really high pain threshold so i am wondering if he has just been putting up with pain for the last 6 months and the cold concrete last night has just meant he can't do it anymore? I didn't think the arthritis etc was progressing rapidly because he hasn't shown any sign of being sore but maybe it is and he's just been 'hiding it'. Is it possible teh left hip is degenerating quicker than the right? Should we find out whats going on? Will be talking to the vet again about it but just wanted to see if anyone else had re x rayed a HD or ED dog after diagnosis.

Does Sue ever come over to Vic? I'd love to go to one of her sessions. Even though we don't trial, i think it'd be really interesting.

Lots of handler running Sorry, i'm not much help- migt be good to look at why they are clingy, if there is any issue with their confidence to independently negotiate an obstacle- i would start with some shaping at home. None of mine are clingy, even my otherwise fearful dog is happy to run, i mean bounce, ahead when we do agility.

Staranais I think in any part of life, someone who has to ridicule another to sell themselves or their product is way off the mark.

My dogs are always at classes because most often i have needed them earlier in the day to assist me with clients (socialisation or working with reactive/ aggressive dogs) All 4 will hold a drop stay at a distance for the whole class even though they are at different levels in their other obedience but only two are used for certain demos because they are the 'finished product'.

Thats the thing Erny- i'd hate for people to look at Georgie and think her fear based issues are a result of our training when in actual fact she is 100 times better than when we came to have her. Dexter jumps up on us too at times in training because he is so enthusiastic and we don't mind. So i just ask that people judge us on Cosmo or Jessie- please!