Two Best Dogs!

I use Dermcare Aloveen Oatmeal shampoo. It is gentle on inflamed and easily irritated skin, don't need much to work up a good froth. Most petstores seem to hold it.

I see the tiniest little bits of tongue poking out! <3

I'm seeing cute little brown puppy love!! Aww they're like slightly altered mirror images

Aww give him a pat for me <3

Okay I think we can firmly put me in the silly slot. Due to a broken train/damaged tracks it took me 2 hours to get home so I was gone the full 9 hour day with her in the yard. Going by the camera Thistle did this: Played with kong Lay down under the camera where I cannot see and slept for a few hours. Got up. Went back to sleep. Got up. Went back to sleep. Randomly ran around the yard twice. Went back to sleep. Walked across the yard, looked around. Went back to sleep. No barking, no whining. Not any different to her usual greetings when I did get home. All the separation anxiety was on my end. Instead of walks I've been building her toy drive, to see if it makes a difference on her focus skills at class. I've been doing this with her new long line on so she'll get used to it and hopefully not bite it off while playing with Didi. I've coated in antibite stuff. She REALLY likes the k9pro tug toy. Enough to disregard her favourite ball we've had since I adopted her

They have arrived! Looking good, I'm absolutely stunned by how ORANGE the long line is. So vibrant. The harness fits? I'm not sure if I'm putting it on correctly. What kind of looseness should it have? Her anatomy made it weird. The tummy strap is on the tightest, the middle strap is the middle and the neck strap on the loosest (hopefully less tight seeming when i'm not manhandling her). The strap between neck and chest I have made middling I tried doing a support lift but most of it was pressure on her neck and tummy but not her chest, so I think I'm doing something wrong. I think that middle one is meant to be further back but not sure how? Tomorrow night I will cover the long line with nailbiter stuff, as she seems to dislike it hanging off her back and is suspicious of it following her. Will hopefully get her out of the habit, managed to do it for the short leads. The other long line has half a metre of chain so she hasn't been able to bite loose. But overall, am pleased :p Current failings are working out how to put it on and dog's biting habits. The bucket is also nifty (got it for visiting birds) and can't wait to introduce that tug.

After you teach him a marker you could try tricking him into sitting. Like, if you put something like a post it note on his back foot will he sit down to take it off? Bit of tape? Wet food or feet? If it's something he really doesn't do often I would expect you'll need to build his muscles up in that movement too.

Unless the dog has given some indication that she is going to get out then you are being silly. Sounds like you have high, sturdy fences. My only indication is the foster carers warning of her on occasion hopping the fence and hanging around. Their guess was separation anxiety based. I don't seem to be having SA, possibly because it's her own safe house and not the foster carers? (other ppl, multiple dogs. Was twitcher back then) Which is why I'm hoping just my anxiety and paranoia, it's hard to tell. Hopefully when i get the outside camera set up it will put my fears to rest.

Haha! my saving grace is that she prefers to sleep if I'm not there? My security camera is so boring. She finished her Kong then went to bed. Finished faster than I thought! My friends have had an idea. Get one of those construction temp fencing (apparently cheap? I will see on the weekend) to block off from half the yard. Then set up an inner fence with my chicken wire <- this works with the veggies and plants I am growing along the fence line anyway (and I already own chicken wire that should span it) so she cannot reach the main fence.

Yeah that's the sort of thing. Can the inside of the gate be covered with a whole sheet of ply or something so that it is smooth with no grippy bits? Assuming it's high enough, a smooth cover should do the trick. The only issue sometimes if you cover up a gate/fence that the dog can see through, they may start jumping on it to try to see over it. None of my backyard fencing is see through! Most of it is colourbond 6ft/6ft and a bit except for one side, which is wood. I have the "smooth" side of it. Which is why I'm wondering if I'm just being paranoid, but then I see her easily jump something up to my shoulder (okay, her feet scrape it and she needed a run up but she got her chest over it) and I get all worried again. and if i do do fence protection, do i do it for all of it or just where i worry she can get out - I do not know. She may not even be able to climb that high but I don't want to put the idea in her head by testing it... Someone tell me I'm being silly

Like these? I would have to chat with the neighbours I think, unless I am able to install it on my side. Most pressing is the side gate I think, because it has "footholds" unlike the rest of my fencing.

There's no sure fire way to see if your fence is too difficult for a dog, is there? Obviously am worried she will get out and be hit by a car/lost. Was dismayed today to realise she can jump over a barrier that was up to my shoulder. She only needed about 1 metre run up D: Am hoping the 6 foot fence (colourbond and wood) is enough? Don't really want to make a new thread asking, since inward facing attachments etc are out of budget and the rest is making the yard interesting/exercising. Also how to tell if I'm being paranoid @_@? I have 2 webcams set up now. One pointed at her kennel/the back door and the other I will set up tomorrow in the garage to cover most of the yard. Which is why I was boarding some of it off, cause it is out of view and just boring cement.

I'm feeling a bit better thank you. Keeping our walks to around the block and not ordering any take out in order to avoid barking. Keeping to other side of street from the barkers so she's only a little whiny. Lots of tug. Thinking will still go to obedience on Sunday but keep it calm and simple. In, extra space and out. It's our adoption anniversary/thistles birthday so won't linger. Also we won a trick competition on our obedience social group and need to pick up our prize. On Monday we are going to visit Didi and go for a nice walk. Hopefully my k9pro gear will be here for some long lead manners practice. Then I think I'll take her into the bush for sniffs and swims. See how the webmaster handles water ;) I'm beginning to transition her to being an outdoor dog while im at work. She seems okay with it so far. It's me being paranoid something will happen or she'll get out.

Do like our training but I guess I am struggling a bit maybe a big break is in order, I'll see how we both seem to feel next week. We can always cut back to just in and out for class, no hanging around before or after. Thanks guys, a good suggestion

No, I get you. I have wondered if she's just feeling a bit burnt out and over it. Even before class started, when asked how we were going, I'd mentioned she'd been pretty standoffish this week at her usual haunts. Didn't misbehave or anything, she just pretended people didn't exist. Even the ones she usually approaches for attention, she would obviously look away and I don't let people push it. But the barking is less acceptable, because you dont' know when someone is an asshole who may take affront and escalate. Even though while barking she also backs up so she was definitely not feeling safe but I'm not sure why as it wasn't anything new? Just two old people walking past? On their third final loop she stayed quiet. I wish they had done more though, so she could realise nothing to worry about. They were not looking at her or anything. I'll skip out on our thursday people session this week, see how she is next week to decide if the vet or 1on1 is in order. Never had more than 2 weeks of playing up before. I get overexcited days happen, but 3 weeks in a row (+1 public holiday weekend off) is a bit much. Also next week is our anniversary So i hope she feels better then. Dog, you confuse me and make me sad sometimes.

I'm hogging the thread... This week was a little better I guess but I'm still frustrated. Thistle has taken up doing "go away barks" at random passerbys again and also our dog trainer (we see her around but this is only our second sesssion with her)*. They were all walking pass, not towards her. She did quiet down a bit while I worked out the attentive but quiet distance - about 1.8 metres - so I could reward her for quiets. The rude BC lady wasn't here that I saw, but then we were all on the fringes and not the field because it is hot. There was an old spaniel playing sedate fetch with a frisbee at about 10 metres which Thistle had subdued interest in so I rewarded her for looking and dismissing. She did really well with leave it and people-with-dogs walking past while in a drop. I was really bummed out when the other girl with a dog-reactive dog got to progress to advanced and not us, she's only been here about 6 months. Well obviously we wouldn't be, with Thistle acting out over passerbys, but it still stings. It's down to me and one other guy from my induction level who haven't gone to that class. There were the usual offlead dogs who I think we've got a good handle on. The black kelpie is DA but very obedient so we just give him space. The solo schnauzer is dog indifferent but I think she's baffled by his shape so stares a lot. The old brown kelpie just doesn't care so she sniffs him and he just stands there. Dude is soooooooooo old. Black/white border collie just wants his ball. Rude lady's brown BC also just wants his ball. white schnauzer and paired black schnauzers are trouble so I avoid. We hang around to watch people pack up because its something different to reward her with (tent coming down, segways, weird movements), she was doing great ignoring the other dogs and not barking these (familiar) people. Even let the head trainer walk past without barking, only tenseness. The offlead old spaniel who was playing fetch and his owners had come over and she only barked at them once before ignoring. She was paying the old spaniel no mind, even kept drinking some water while he walked around her, until he decided to jog past us (<1m) after his owners and she lunged after. Not sure if it was a "go away" lunge or a "let me body slam you as a greeting" lunge or a "I can jog too and also jump on you" lunge but it was embarrassing and frustrating. Idk. I've almost had her a year and it feels like we've progressed a lot but also not at all at the same time. *After months of her not I'm finding this back step confronting. I'll give it another week then try and toss up between the vet (maybe something is hurting her?) or getting a one on one with the head trainer, whom she will bark at a lot because it'd be a housevisit...

Dapper Christmas gift for sure!

My bad, I don't know why I thought it was Bundoora. Maybe because all the other things they advertise are. It's the next suburb over in Thomastown. The store manager seems pretty happy with it last week, she must be talking about it a lot because when I grabbed the pamphlet the person today told me their store manager goes there for her husky with separation anxiety. Eta: here's the facebook I also grabbed some pamphlets of local obedience trainers who do house visits if your daughter wants them.

There are some great ways to do this without using long lines. First, super high value rewards around recalls. Then work with your dog on leash and another person. Ask your dog for a behaviour. As a reward tell your dog to "go seep" the other person (who makes a real fuss), then calll once and party and reward like crazy. If your dog doesn't come on the first call, quietly go over and walk them away (your dog needs to think having their collar grabbed is an awesome thing so prime this behaviour before you start). From there you have heaps of variations to work with....maybe other dog is quietly sitting next to owner on leash and so doesn't tempt play before you call back. Ah yes, pretty much what I do right now so we're on the right path! She'll recall on the 1.8 metre lead from calm nose sniffs/drivebywalks but has a harder time of it when either she or the other dog is excited*. We need to work on our thinking when excited, being calm and impulse control more. And practice, lots and lots of practice. Or maybe I'm being a bit unfair too, to expect her to recall mid chasies with another dog/rabbits. But will strive to that skill nonetheless, I'll ask the lab guys if we can do some more involved nose sniffs.

I'm thinking she is probably a medium, I'm just so used to buying things labelled large so it is throwing me a bit XD

Oh I just paid and everything!! Will send you an email

Look at him go! 10 metre it is, that is what I'm hoping to get! I've got everything in my shopping cart, I'm about $10 off free shipping so trying to find a toy I reckon she'd like XD How exciting, our first harness

I am pretty decided on the ruffwear webmaster :) I really like all the padding for her furless parts (genetics?), the bright red visibility and the handle. I am still leaning towards the 10 metre...thinking if it is a giant tangled pain I can just cut it to half, do some amendments then have a 5metre and a 4 metre (to account for new handle/clasp)

Oh yeah all that makes sense, and I think what maybe dididog and I will be doing whenever we next meet. Well, after a nice walk and some butt sniffing. I'm not sure. Didi has great recall so I was hoping Didi's owner would be my teacher for that. But there would be a lead to lure her back/ensure she does come to me if no response after the first few seconds? So my horse lunge is 10 metres so I'm gonna go half that and see how I feel... ETA: Okay I see what you all mean XD 5 metres is pretty long. But also suspect any playing will get out of reach quickly. Also forgot to say, she gets too excited during play so I need to be able to grab the lead and bring her back and calm her down until she relises calm play only...

Not the dog park! One on one sessions with Dididog and a couple of other dogs on my approved dogs list. All one on one dogs though. Not groups. Am not sure how to proof recall from high distractions like playing with dogs without a lead?