Two Best Dogs!

Is this operant conditioning maybe? I always get the terms mixed up and the square things confuses me :/, but something like what SG describes was the foundation for a lot of our beginnings with the intention the behaviours are defaults and not so much a command? I think one of the links in the thread described how I use a verbal correction, as kind of a "hot or cold". Although in my head I think of it as the "nope not that action, try again!" when it comes to shaping or guiding something. It won't stop her from ever doing that action again but for the purpose of the current training session she knows that's not what we're puzzling out. She'd work it out eventually, but just a matter of speeding things along to help her work it out that bit faster. But then, I do it cause it works for us and kind of cobble things together from different training sources. I do think if I am saying no a lot, I am doing something wrong. A couple of no's a day tops, maybe. But more than 5 and time to step back and look at what's going on.

So many wins today, I'm dead! We went to the rocky ?dog? area down near williamstown at 6am for the sunrise then moved up to the sandy beach bit. Two dogs run into bush (Cookie and Thistle) FOUR DOGS RUN OUT! I was but yeah it was all loose-behaviour dogs so I told myself to calm the f*** down and just keep an eye on her. She was pretty excited but not worried, the only concern when she got a little standoffish with an equally standoffish old terrier mix but both owner and I moved in and redirected them away. Quite a lot more dogs than last year (ONE) so I think I've pushed my luck a bit and feeling stupid for letting it go as long as it did. But she did really well! I looked at my list and in all she met 10 strange dogs (most were nose boops, butt sniffs and continue walk. she only played with 3 dogs we met) - saw another 5 or so (I recalled her from bothering any younger dogs, puppies or very old), -1 dog she wanted to say hello to but the owners clearly didn't (nothing of note happened, I think they may have had a bad experience in the past and freaked out whenever Thistle or Cookie (the kelpie/lab) looked in their direction so we apologised for the bother and leashed the dogs until they went somewhere else but I feel bad that they felt that way cause i know how it feels) - and 1 dog Thistle took one look at and went back to our stuff and dropped there while I came over (go away vibes??) She also went in the ocean for the first time and swam out with me but got worried when her feet left the sand I think I pushed her a lot so I'm very glad it didn't backfire and she got some valuable experience out of it. I think because she knew Cookie, she followed Cookie's lead most of the time. Not something I'll do again anytime soon though, but I am glad she met a variety of dogs of various sizes and nothing bad happened. I think I needed it just as much. But I think I really pushed my luck so we'll keep it calm the rest of this month, pre approved known dogs only... I'm meant to be taking this slowly! *scolds self* Happy New Year all! I hope this year brings calmness, safety and happiness to all your dogs and yourself! Edit forgot to say! I'm ecstatic because some of the dogs were offlead when we were on lead! She got a little excited but the greetings themselves were good. We need to work on calm I think

That's a useful link, it's got some variations I haven't thought to try! I think maybe her name is the closest word to the cue I have, I've been slacking on reinforcing it and it shows. In other news, wish us luck! We're going to the williamstown beach tomorrow in the hope no-one will be around because of the New Year (we did this last year and saw one dog at a distance). I'm going to keep the car nearby with doors open, dunno about Thistle but *I'm* not ready for the adrenaline racing of meeting offlead strange dogs, even with Cookie's hopefully good influence. Her In The Car command is, if anything, better than her recall. Maybe cause it's the only command she knew when I got her? (I'm waiting for the other shoo to drop, the next step backwards etc) ANYWAY I want to wish this whole thread a happy new year and good luck for the coming one! You've been so helpful in the support and idea for getting this little girl to progress (and me!) and I hope we keep going forward. Thanks all!

I was wondering if an infrequent walk.. Or perhaps poops on someone else's strip rest of time. Most ppl around here walk their dogs offlead :s however if it is a wandering dog that is bigger concerns because of my proximity to main roads and a highway...if it is wandering I'll try and catch it. Owner may not be aware. But I don't expect to spot the culprit except by luck. So will be happy to just deter it before I do get annoyed. It's not on the path at least! Ew!

I've been trying to catch it but unfortunately is during the day when work and not annoyed enough to buy a recording camera ;) hoping I can just persuade it with smells to go elsewhere...

On the plus side I don't think it's any immediate neighbours. The only ones with dogs are across the road and they don't usually walk on my side of the st. It could be anyone tbh, going past my place is a quiet way to walk to the local parks and walking tracks and the other way leads to various pet warehouses/a vet. I'll try getting some citronella. May take awhile to see results, as it is only every couple of weeks. Buts it's beginning to be a pattern :/ (a couple of once offs I don't mind, it happens, but frequent enough now that I'm almost annoyed ;) ) I imagine i just need to respray after rain.

My solution on page 2 - To start with, I don't know who's dog it is and I don't want to leap to a passive aggressive sign just yet (although if I do find out who and where it is I may go for a letter in the mailbox) But every couple of weeks or so someone's dog is pooping on my strip and they're not picking it up It's definately dog, it's too big for even the biggest feral cat, who's poop I am resigned to (urgh. There's only 5 right now, up to 12 in winter!) and it passes the Thistle test (she doesn't eat it) Is... Is there some kind of smell I can spray or something to deter it from pooping?? It's usually the same spot. I was thinking maybe urine away so it doesn't smell like a potty spot or lavender to confuse the dog idk. Are there any smells dogs DONT like?

I'm sorry. I don't have much advice to give, but my first thought would be seeing if installing garden screening and breaking their line of site while you wait for your red robins to grow? Bamboo screening is meant to be affordable I think?

Very sad. Was the foster carer unable to catch and leash the staffie after it bit the first person? I can see how some dogs can slip through the tests then "suddenly" be HA or DA, that people were previously unaware of because it was in situations (i.e. rspca/pound tests, different areas, only walked on lead previously) where it didn't express it.

I'm not nice at all.. lol. I make one polite request for them to call their dog and if they ignore me or yell that it's friendly I get my bitch britches on and tell them in no uncertain terms to come and get their effing dog. I spent far too long continuing to be polite and try and explain that my dog is frightened and it rarely ever resulted in a recalled or retrieved dog and caused huge amounts of stress for my dog so now I'll be as rude as I have to be to get them to stop their dog harassing mine. I was offering a reply based on the OP's Dad not wanting to inflame things or upset the owners of the dogs. I don't personslly care if I upset them if their dog is racing up to us. Hahah I see! Contextual. Yes, I have been learning to pull on the bitch britches and be damned if it upsets them when I've got the dog with me. I view everything from that pair of trousers now, whether the dog is with me or not.

Snooks nicer than me, so far when walking (on my own) a loud "BAD DOG" has been enough for the dog to bugger off and the owner to realise that not everyone appreciates a dog running up and yapping at them. The umbrella is also a good trick. I also cross roads, so the owner is forced to recall their dog if it keeps following me. People who are abusing him for not wanting to be harassed are in the wrong, I'm sorry that's happening Many people are very inconsiderate.

Good luck!

The second photo I think was later in the day or the next day, as her collar is on and I had taken it off soon after getting home from vet cause of the swelling. Sounds like he's getting better! This was last month lol, and I log new dog experiences so it's all fresh...

Can I also ask what symptoms she had at the 36hr mark? Sam hasn't had a rash or anything since the hives let but want to be prepared in case he relapses. Love her name btw! Sorry it's been so busy today I'm only getting on DOL now, hopefully your pup is okay - at that 36 mark one of her lips went slightly poofy (only noticeable cause i was looking for it. we suspect she ate a bee and there was an indent in her inner lip where sting may have been) and the red rash/hives went across her whole body again and she was all hot. Vet said as long as they didn't turn into blisters to not worry so I just gave them a cold-rag wipe. They were especially visible on her tummy/underarms/inner ear/lady bits I've got a picture from one of the first ones, each consecutive one was "worse" but the "wave" would arrive and go faster: By 48 hours she was in the clear, but I keep antihistamines and cortisol pills around for next time Dunno how well you can see it, but see her skin has gone all red and is raised hives? The vet was strict on overdosing and it was the most happy/alert she'd been so I didn't give her more. But I think I could have. My main concern was all the swelling around her throat/face so with that down a rash wasn't so bad.

When thistle was stung earlier this year she swelled up straight away. It took over 24 hours to go down and she had a small relapse at about 36 hour mark. The whole time every 2 hours or so she'd have a rash and hives pop up then go down. Fever the whole time, poor thing b She got get antihistamines and cortisole shots at the vet and I was given pills to give her the next day, no matter how bad it got so she didn't overdose. My vet was very firm on that. Perhaps check with vet to ensure you don't unintentionally overdose?

The tiniest of adorable fluffy!

Love those ears!

It'd be pretty cool to see side by side comparisons of the differing body types (and drive/temperaments etc) from the differing criteria, and what might be the drive behind each of the changes. Since changing one thing can change others for good or worse? Curious because I was reading about the border force program and the PHD study behind it last night (https://minerva-access.unimelb.edu.au/handle/11343/39395?show=full). This topic is good timing to ask questions!

Don't the guide dogs of Australia have their own breeding program and criteria? Same with the border force customs dogs?

Does anyone else find their dog getting more gifts than them? XD I've been getting boxes in the mail and they're NOT addressed to ME... (whats in them? I don't know! She can open them on the 24th with the rest of the family)

Disregarding the things pirhana-mouth has bitten through in one quick nip...(my long leads are horse lines now too, they'll take quite a few nips, enough time to get her attention!) One long lead that snapped when she reached the end, creating a less supervised play than I wanted

I'm hoping I can convince my local store to bring in some and then we can try them on to avoid size issues scoping through brands to suggest to them.

woops i forgot to say (heat has fried my brain) they would only be used when i am there. i am thinking for obedience class, car driving and hotter days where she cant seem to be comfortable

thanks everyone, glad to see they actually work as advertised! i'll have to try some on her to get the right fit, but if the weather keeps going up I can see use. Neither of us could get comfortable last night! Even on the cool tiles for her </3

Do they actually work as advertised or am I being overly optimistic? Very short haired dog, hairless in some spots. Panting lots today and feeling bad for her