Two Best Dogs!

Yes, it is good to have people check in and remind what is going well so I don't get sad or hopeless. Here is the video! Sorry it's all choppy and we had a rocky start to it "Quit it" is the "quiet" command - I cut out any personal conversations or times I was looking at something other than Thistle (not to say she wasn't barking when I wasn't looking at her, just that it's hard to see how a dog is feeling when the camera is not on her). But I wouldn't say that the total time outside was longer than 6-7 minutes. There's only a little bit of inside. To be honest, I had forgotten it was on and was carrying it...also she was calmer and quieter I guess step 1, as mentioned above, have a job/task for her to do (i.e. sit in a place/bed) so not so many loose ends. Also, having guests throw kfc popcorn chicken at her had them quite close? Towards the end you can see her approaching and taking food from my brother/brother's girlfriend so I think most of the barking was towards my dad. In a stroke of luck, the store I do the social rehab at on Thursdays has a new manager? He is of similar build and looks to my dad. So will practice lots of looking at him. Not sure I introduced myself well, I swear my brain turns off and I'm just working on instinctive energy with minimal thinking when doing anything dog-socialising. My brain is just so focussed on everything Thistle is doing/going on around us that proper people conversations are hard I feel exhausted afterwards! Anyway, we are going to go have a hot drink and cuddle on the couch. Vegetating time and an early night. Obedience tomorrow! We won 2 weekly trick competitions in a row, so 2 new toys for us! Next times: Step 1 is to get her a raised bed/platform, as realised unlike inside the house where she is calmer and quiet because she knows to go to bed and it is safe in bed, in the yard there is no place for her to go sit and be safe on. Step 2 would be to have her sitting on it as the guests come out Step 3 is for me to stop being so worried and frazzled

Optimism is a little hard when you're sad your dog is sad but I'll get over it and optimism will come back when I've eaten I think putting her in her kennel would be difficult as it's so far out of the way so she can't see what's going on. I could get her one of those raised outdoor beds though, somewhere to put her that is her "safe zone" like with the beds and mats indoors. I think telling her to sit or drop without some kind of personal space marker doesn't work well enough (although did work in cutting down on her barking. She was also pretty well behaved when I was showing them the shed/her training stuff so most of this seems confined to the backyard)

Today we had some good and bad. I think, considering it was 3 strangers in one go in our house, one of which is a large old male person, she did really well. The bad is that she did a lot of barking and growling in the backyard. Clearly didn't feel safe about my dad. She was more accepting of my brother and his girlfriend (watchful but not barking/growling/backing up everytime they breathed). It was much better indoors, where most of my guest work has been, she didn't need to be coaxed into the loungeroom. Was reluctant to leave her bed but wasn't slinking/cowering. Didn't pee anywhere whenever someone got up or moved or waved an arm in conversation. She approached both my brother and his girlfriend. She only approached my dad towards the end when he had food. She would take tossed food from him though. But! She did rest her head in his open hand and enjoyed some chin scratches. She had her worried face on but didn't move her head away when he stopped rubbing. She does like chin rubs. I did record some of it on go pro - mostly the outdoors barking because i don't have it on video yet. Just cropping out personal family conversations and the like. So I'll share that in a bit for feedback on signs i missed, suggestions on what to do - i think maybe thistle doesn't know what to do when guests are in yard so resorts to barking? in the house her job is to go to bed and sit there. in backyard she doesn't have a job so seems at loose ends? taking suggestions on something I can teach her to do. I think step 1 to do better next time, shouldn't have introduced her to them in the backyard. Should have introduced her in the lounge like I have with all the other guests. I think my tired brain was thinking give the house tour without her underfoot/accidentally cornered. Next time with guests, put her to bed then invite them in. In the backyard she is always so vocal and suss. But overall I think it was better. She wasn't AS barky or growly in the backyard. I think if my dad wasn't there she wouldn't have barked at all. But since Dad's her greatest fear she did feel the need to bark a bit. I need some dinner now too while it uploads into editor. I think my dad is both worried by her and likes her. I think mostly he's a little sad that she didn't like him straight away (he didn't believe me on how suss she is over strange men OR her size ;) ) Hopefully next time she meets him will go much better. Probably in a year or two. I’m a little sad she barked and growled, but trying to keep optimistic. It was better than last time. I should have kept her in the house for initial greets. Overall she did really well - she was barking and growling but she wasn’t cowering or peeing in fear.

I lost so many things in the first few months. She just didn't have any idea what she was allowed to destroy! I had to completely bomb proof the house while teaching her which toys it is okay to play with. Then I started slowly introducing people things around so I could catch her "doing the wrong thing", take it off her and hand one of her toys. I spent a lot of time teaching her to dig in an allowed area - even now sometimes I sprinkle dry food around there to encourage her to hang around in that place. Give her bones a lot. But when I leave I hide most things. I have lost 3 chairs, a hose, so many plants and part of the couch (cleverly hidden with a pillow) A behaviourist to help train you to train her is invaluable! I think one thing that really helped, encouraging calm behaviour. I ignore Thistle when she is too excited - wiggle bum or jumping. She doesn't get pats or treats unless she is sitting or standing calmly, the tail going slowly or not at all. I do it in and out of the house too, reward and attention for being calm. Ignored or told off for being too excited. It sounds like you're doing that. Good luck! There is also nothing wrong with realising you two are not a good fit and returning her, depending on how attached you are and how far you are willing to go.

That is really exciting! Also kudos to her on her weight loss, well done! I wonder what this reads as like, information for rescuers, fosters or buyers? Either way I would think it is good to give guides and reminders to help either of the rescue side. I love that grey dog's smile, gotta love a staffie smile :)

No disagreement here from me Steve :) I'm pretty neutral on outcrossing and see it as a tool that is sometime the best option, sometimes just "an" option and sometimes not needed as an option. Would depend on the breeds, COI, pedigrees, gene pool etc involved. Studies can only help to add to that information pool to decide if it is a tool someone wants to go with, so I am curious to see results as they get further down the generations. I promise I will listen to your podcast :) It will have to wait as I have family visiting though, but I have a very long work commute on monday XD

Thats funny Im a bit like that too .When I find a quiet 20 mins I will re listen but it seemed to be a least a bit contradictory to the article about the head shape.Dont quote me but I think they said no correlation to head size but something to do with the amount of ventricular. Their advice for trying to deal with it didnt include an outcross. I'll give it a try on a quiet day or night! I start thinking over one line, then miss the next two lines while thinking about it, then have to rewind a bit, then forget what I heard earlier so have to rewind further. It's also easier, as you say, to mishear (and I like all the photos and diagrams in studies) With videos it is easier, because I have their face and movements to focus on at least @Jed, oh I am sure there will be lots of opinions either way, but no matter the result of the study it can help knock out or knock in how the size of the skull can affect CM/SM and contribute to other studies around backcrosses in general. Valuable information from the bits I've seen so I'd like to see it written up in its entirety. I think my link was about generation 2, but they're growing out generation 3 now. Probably a bit to wait for those studies. Grow up faster, puppies!

Stark, if I ever wanted a puppy - one raised by you is what is be after! You're setting them up for such a great start to life that I am blown away by all the work you're putting in. You are setting my expectations for if i ever get a puppy* from a breeder exceptionally high *i prefer teenagers and adults, but I'd be delighted if they had gone through puppy culture

I am hesitant. People don't even obey the rules as they are, I would not expect them to obey rules in new places. The rules as they are are also not enforced consistently/enough, I would want them strictly enforced. Especially national parks or high public areas. I would think focus on helping the general populace be more responsible/dog understanding/ rule abiding then let dogs go to new places once the overall trend is better. But as it is. Eh :/ anecdotal experiences so I am jaded: I went to you yangs regional park. My dog was the only one on lead. Dogs are not allowed offlead! Aireys inlet, dogs to be leashes and middle of winter - 4 offlead dogs let loose! They leashed them when I yelled at them (to carry voice over distance) but they should not have been let off lead in first place. There is bird sanctuary nests nearby? Campgrounds in mt disappointment regional park - dogs are to be leashed? Well that dally and that terrier were not leashed so I was forced to leave by people not obeying rules. I would hate for those rules to be discarded in national parks. Even a couple of months ago eating lunch in the city park - strict onlead rules, small and crowded - an offlead young one comes running up and angry-barks at us sitting in grass eating our lunch before tearing off. The owner blissfully walking behind without an apology. Rude! As it is, right now, if such a privilege were granted I would expect it to be lost straight away. Or something similar to Bunnings scenario happening. Everyone swarming in once with unprepared dogs then allowances changed or revoked. Saying this as a frustrated and cranky person who takes their dog to as many places as possible. Parks. Towns. Markets. Camping. Games nights. I'd take her to more places where we are currently already allowed to socialise more except can't trust other dog owners to be responsible so avoid them for now. Id love to take her into a national park! But not if the cost is all the people who will disobey the rules and ruin the experience for everyone - dog owners or not. Better % of responsible ownership before I would support I'm afraid. The current allowances are not respected so do not think should be allowed more.

totally off topic. Thistle your dog looks like she's lost an eye Oh! Haha yes I can see how it looks like that! I was photographing her in some thistles and thought it would be a funny icon XD Promise she still has 2 beautiful brown eyes

Hopefully more clubs would follow in a more proactive manner rather than letting breeds get to these stages in the first place and waiting for vets and the wider public to sign petitions. Much easier to prevent than undo health problem trends, I would think (accepting that sometimes shit happens). It would be a good example and reassuring to see.

That's a great fail safe method I think XD

Sorry Steve I'm not very good at being able to follow along with podcasts (I get distracted and tune out), is it available in a written format? Of a written summary and I'll try to get to the MP3 sooner rather than later to fill in the gaps

Oh poor justice what a horrible bunch of days for the 2 of you. I hope he feels better later on

Wow! I do find their face expression endearing. Even considered one when I was meeting dogs. I wonder what being there was like. 600! Must be a big beach! Do you think with that many similar dogs, owners accidentally call out to the wrong one?

Here's an article on the current ongoing Brussel Griffon outcross/backcross study I mentioned earlier. It's nice to see the MRI scans will be helping both dogs and humans. Can't wait for the full study to come out with all the details. My link Here's the text:

This is a great read. I love all this puppy culture work you're doing. They all look to be delightfully stable and sensible. I look forward to all the future videos! Curious, at what age do you let them go to their new homes? Will their new homes continue all the startle and recover work? Your squeaking videos got my dog all curious XD

Haha yeah I make a big deal over new things like they're the best thing ever. Patting it, playing with it and not involving the dog etc - she gets all "hey you're having fun I want fun too!" And I modulate my enthusiasm based on how uncertain she is. Then she chooses to go to it instead of me waving it in her direction Fingers crossed. My dad and brother are coming to visit. Two strange big white men I think for this one I'll have her out back when they arrive then bring her inside once they are seated. Not sure what to do with the backyard tour. Leash her to me and keep shoving chicken nuggets in her mouth I reckon. Minimal barking out there is the target, only 1 or 2 inside with lots of cowering is the inside target. Those big scary men ignoring her

That's a delight to hear! Didi is such a darling girl who's matured into an equally darling confident adult. Especially handling the stranger in the dark like a pro! Go Didi!

Yay odie! I'm glad he's found a place :)

How can you say no to those pleading eyes?! Pretty sure he's starving to death ;)

What a champ! Well done!

Yeah we could probably get novice as it is XD and possibly intermediate too. I guess I'm just surprised a lot such an honesty based system. I just realised the list of tricks has page numbers of which book you can find the trick guidance in! Think I'll get that 101 one, it looks to clarify the more vague wording ones (directional casting? I can guess?) But this is all really interesting! So many stunt dogs... Promising stunt dog modelling career for us one day sometime ;)

Sorry to clarify again, I need to join one of the Facebook spark groups that has the instructors grey badge so they can be witnesses? Edit. I joined 3 of them, to have a peek at the different styles. Rocking dawg, Discover spark and Brodie and Dalis team (novice only?)

He shouldn't have chewed them out if he didn't want the wait extended Was he at least a little bit shame-faced? ;) Yeah, she did not like that lady at all - the poor thing. Currently this is just people at the door, although I have to take it back now - she did a couple of quiet woofs at what turned out to be a tradie/salesman type person today. Soon I will start inviting people over again to work on her staying calm when they enter. Just need to clean up the remains of 3 toys. Awww poor Malcolm Could piling up his other toys around it encourage him to give it an explore? How about if you handle it a lot and make it not smell so new? I've only had her be scared of the broom after it fell on her because she was wagging too hard - I played "101 things to do with a box" only using the broom and she got over it. I rewarded any interaction with the broom, any look, sniff, walking close to etc.