Paul777

Oh don't remind me tdierikx, my Rotti pup loves chewing the frayed edges of my carpet & have um ... had to assist completion of his business once already, hahaha. I've got long hair & he seems to ingest some of that also. I actually keep a little plastic bag in my pocket when going out to toilet for that very purpose, just in case, lol. If I could communicate just one message to pup, it would be 'Whatever you swallow mate, just remember it has to come out the other end!'

Hey everyone, thanks for your replies : ) Thistle the Dog. "Past" AND present "companion", lol. It's why I awake with a smile when I 'just know' that Ponti is waiting for me : ) OSoSwift. So glad that you pulled through! Your story sounds very similar to other peoples Near Death Experiences, where they see family & friends (Dr Raymond Moody's book 'Life After Life' is a good one) Has this experience affected your spiritual views regarding life after death, may I ask? I love stories like yours. Thanks for sharing : ) Westiemum You're right on all counts : ) Griff love the cartoon, thanks. I work helping people with spirits (& worse) in their homes. Often it's the dogs & cats that alert their owners to their presence in the first place. I've heard many times people say their pet stares into thin air, either growling at a stranger or wagging their tails as if greeting a friend. For those who haven't experienced a visit, if you don't think it would upset you, try picturing your furry mate in your minds eye, patting & fussing over him/her like you did, before you fall asleep & ask him/her to visit. You may dream of him/her (an astral meeting) or like Dame Danny's Darling & myself, wake up with that 'knowing' feeling. These encounters have proved to me, that our friends are still with us, patiently waiting for us ......... not gone, not lost ..... love is the bond that can't be broken : ) It's very comforting to me & it's my hope that it provides comfort to others who are also missing their mates : )

Scrappi&Monty So glad for you & Scrappi that natural treatments are working for you. That Prednisone, nasty stuff from what I've read (I refused to take it) & seen in fellow patients on long term treatment. Cold-pressed coconut oil is a very useful supplement, that I take daily & am encouraged to hear that you're finding it beneficial for Scrappi. Never thought to use it topically though, what a good idea. How does Scrappi like the taste? It's got a strong flavour & would be hard to disguise.

Lol. Thanks Rebanne. I had to call the vet to make an appointment for his puppy booster shot tomorrow anyway & they basically said the same thing : ) I can't imagine him being able to swallow it without a sound. Yesterday I found him chewing on a two inch piece of broken glass, that he must've found under/behind the fridge, the little terror.

G'day everyone. I'm not certain but suspect that my 12 week old Rotti pup has just swallowed a large piece of dried pigs ear. He was lying alongside me chewing on what I thought was his pigs ear & when he got up to move there was no pigs ear. I've looked everywhere & can't find it. When he's chewed them down to a certain size, about 5-6 inches square, I throw it out & replace with a large fresh one. It was getting close to being replaced. If he had swallowed a piece that large, wouldn't I have heard at least some gagging? He's behaving perfectly normally. It's just that I can't find the piece anywhere. If he has swallowed a large piece of dried pigs ear, should I be concerned? EDIT; Rebanne made me realise that it was more like 3 inches square, doh!

Persephone, I'm starting to sound like the parent of a delinquent child who swears they're an angel, aren't I? lol It's because of my harsh training methods in my youth, that I guess I'm a bit sensitive to doing the wrong thing. The first 2 times that he chomped on my arm I was pulling out clumps of grass. Shaking the dirt from the roots excites Zagan & I guess I was giving him the benefit of the doubt. But his sideways look at me each & every time would prove you correct. Thanks for the link, it's a good one & what I needed to hear. Although it doesn't give exact methods (preferring an inexperienced owner to be shown correctly by a trainer) I certainly get the message. Several times in the first week or so when he was going berserk, I held him down with my forearm until he relaxed - Held his scruff of the neck with thumb & forefingers & gave it a shake while giving him the growly voice & stare down (it really is funny watching him decide if he should back down) - And when the little terror does something really dangerous like try to grab an electrical cord or grabbing at my pants leg, which will either send me flying or tread on him, I use my angry growl & stare him down. All 3 have worked so far. Are these techniques the sort of thing to which the link refers?

Sitting out in the early morning sun, still a bit groggy from sleep, Zagan sunk his sharp little teeth into my arm in a fit of over excitement, 'mistaking' my flesh for the branch he was destroying. I'm not at my best first thing in the morning. Rather than ranting 'No!' everytime he bites, I cry out 'Oww' & give him a toy to chomp on. When I cry 'Oww' he usually goes much gentler & when it's a loud OWW!!! because it hurt, he'll 'lick better', lol. He's so cute. This morning though, I was so grumpy & nearly snapped but I was interrupted by an image that reminded me of just how patient, gentle & tolerant my beautiful Ponti was with little kids, especially when my son was a toddler. In my minds eye I saw the photo that I've got of my then 2.5yo son holding onto Pontis collar, with a big grin, while Ponti just sat calmly, barely batting an eyelid. It's like he gave kids a free pass. It reminded me off an earlier comment; "He's just a baby." Like many pups, Zagan is quite 'mouthy', if that's the right word. He has plenty of chew toys with different textures/materials, like rope toys, rubber balls, soft plastics, a soft toy puppy that he beats the daylights out off, & his favourite, dried pigs ears. I also give him boxes to demolish. Diversion & crying 'Oww' & whimpering sounds (I've become quite the actor, lol) works the majority of the time. On the rare occasion that it doesn't when he's over excited, I ignore him. My question is this; how long do pups go through this biting stage? Until they finish teething?

Again, thanks for all your advice everyone. I've decided to contact SteveK9Pro & see what sort of plan he'd have in mind. Hope it's not too expensive. Steve advises that dogs that haven't been boarded for weekends before 18 month old, can have issues if boarding is required after that age. I'd have never thought of that. What's my fellow DOLers experience with this?

Yes, it's important to me that he gets some positive interaction with kids from as early as possible. I've already arranged for the neighbours grand-kids to meet with Zagan once he's had his final puppy vaccination in a weeks time. SteveK9Pro suggests to take pups out to expose them to everything from 8 weeks old but I didn't want to take the risk (regularly hear of parvo virus outbreaks in the Hawkesbury area)so up until now, his outings have been limited to short car trips (not a natural in the car like my other dogs) When I chose Ponti all those years ago, it was between him & another 18 month old Rotti who apparently disliked kids. Ponti adored little kids & was the reason why I chose him. I absolutely understand that dogs like Rottis are protective by nature, bless them. It's been my observation over the years, that dogs tend to be a little more protective of their female owners/handlers, especially when around unknown men, than their male owners. Due to the fact that my then OH ignored my advice & formed no real bond with Ponti, I had a chat with him when I left for night-shift. While saying good-night, I looked him in the eye & said "Look after Marcia*. Good boy, look after Marcia." He looked at me quizzically, tilting his head as dogs do, then looked in her direction, then back to me. I told him 'good boy' & repeated "look after Marcia". He looked at her, looked at me & vocalised what I took to mean 'Got it. For you mate, not a problem.' A few weeks later, OH said "What have you done to that dog?" (yep, she was without a clue) Apparently, from that night on, Ponti would not allow male visitors into the house after dark when I wasn't home, lol. Good boy Ponti. Protection training done properly, builds a dogs confidence. Not that a dog needs advanced training to be confident, but it certainly doesn't hurt. *not real name.

Thanks everyone for explaining the SteveK9Pro thing properly to me. I've been reading heaps, some of it conflicting, so I'm still sorting it all in my head (If I'm confused what hope does Zagan have? lol) You're advice is most appreciated. "With the owner/handler & treats/praise being the HIGHEST value." Right. That not only makes sense but it's a nice balance that I can live with. Happy & content Rotti's are friendly & sociable dogs. It's why I eventually went against the trainers advice & allowed Ponti to greet friends & family.

DDanny'sD, dreaming of Ponti just reinforced my personal belief that he's waiting for me. I smile when I think of my beautiful boy for this reason. Once they're in our hearts there's no forgetting. I'm so sorry that Danny's passing is still painful for you. Interesting that we both don't recall the dream itself but rather the feeling that our mates paid us a visit. Never ever did I ever think that I'd even consider attempting to fill the void left behind (I felt more empty than sad) but the little terror sleeping under me as I type, blows that out of the water : ) After more than 7 years it not only felt right, it feels like it was Ponti's idea.

My post certainly wasn't designed to upset anyone. Thanks PossumC.

Absolutely with you on that one Karen. My puppy has slept tethered under/next to my bed, since I brought him home & he hasn't whinged even the once : ) Once he proves that he's capable of being trusted alone without tearing stuff up, Zagan will have free range of the house, just like his predecessor.

I'm not a fan of that idea. I want my dogs to be friendly under normal circumstances. I want to be able to take them out in public or to the vet without them constantly being on alert and mistrusting everyone. Most dogs will naturally do what's needed to alert or stop an intruder if they are a part of the family unit... T. Deep down I know you're right & I can't disagree. Funny thing is, there was 2 occasions when Ponti didn't like a certain person (friends of friends) Rather than greeting them, he'd 'dog their steps' from a distance of around 12 feet & not take his eyes off them, with no aggression, just vigilance. The first time it occurred the visitor noticed before I did & said "I don't think that your dog likes me." As it turned out, the bloke was apparently a wife basher. Our doggie mates are a lot more intuitive than many people. I've got some thinking to do.

Yes, I thought she was there That experience alone, would show me that Penny's never ever left you. Isn't that simply beautiful? Thank-you for sharing Kirislin : )

Good boy Vandal, hahaha. German Shepherds are another favourite. I've heard several similar stories over the years. The funniest bit is when the owners describe the 'I did real good' smiles of satisfaction on the dogs faces. One mate said the intruder relaxed when 'Fang' (forget his name) turned from menacing to happy puppy when greeting my mate Bill & as soon as the bloke relaxed, Fang turned back onto him bailing him up against the wall in the backyard as if to say "I'm not talking to you!" And then he'd alternate between turning to wag tail & grin at Bill, then menace the intruder, hahaha. Serves them right.

hahaha, I can see it in my minds eye. And who'd walk past a Rotti protecting his home &/or owner? lol It's the thing that I love the most about Rottis; so sweet-natured, who protect out of love & affection rather than meanness. Which leads me to SteveK9Pro's methods. When I purchased Ponti, the trainers offered the same advice as SteveK9Pro's; 'Don't let your dog interact with other people'. Eventually it was just so obvious that Ponti was a friendly boy, I'd allow him to say hello to friends & family before sending him to his bed in the same room as us. I fully understand the psychology behind it, & he's right, but not letting them say hello makes me feel like a bit of a meanie. I sold a Ducati motorcycle to buy Ponti after buying a house, to protect my then wife who'd been attacked the last time that we lived in a house & was terrified to be left alone in a large home. Didn't then realise that I'd love that boy more than any motorbike. It takes me a few minutes to get my prosthesis on when I awake. In those moments, when I hear inexplicable night-time noises, I feel vulnerable. Especially since several neighbourhood break-ins, a few while occupants were home. I know I don't need to explain, but people have their reasons : )

No, not the nail clippers! When my beautiful Ponti got past 12.5yo, he could no longer go on his daily walk & got his exercise at his pace (still frolicked at times like a pup) in the backyard. The long walks obviated the need for me to ever to have clipped his nails, as the pavement would keep them trim. I asked around & thought that I knew how to do it myself. On the 5th nail I got his quick. Gee did he yelp. It took 30 mins of a pressure pad to stop the bleeding with one hand, stroking him with the other while offering my apologies. I felt so bad. He never forgot & wouldn't let me have another go (fair enough I say) After a long explanation, while showing him a file & offering a demonstration of how it was done, he would allow me to file them down once a week or so, lol. Because I did it weekly, it only took a few minutes. His relief when finished was obvious.

While on the subject of 'protection' training. For those who may not know, protection training comes after passing obedience training & before attack training. Protection training is designed to build a dogs confidence.

"cuddliest trollopes" hahaha Ponti was a different dog at home, than on a lead out & about. At home, I couldn't have asked for better. Being aware of his imposing stature, he'd gently try to show those who reacted with fear that he was harmless. Such a sweet natured fella. On a lead out in public however, he was a different boy. So extremely protective that he wouldn't allow anyone to come near me. And not just on a lead, he'd do it in the car too. Whenever in public. This is something that I'd prefer to avoid with Zagan. It does come down to what one expects from their furry companions. A friend who has 4 cats, also has a mouse problem, useless things they are. Many would disagree with me, but a cat who can't be bothered eradicating rodents isn't worth feeding. A dog who's not capable of bailing up a burglar for e.g., is better off housed with owners who don't expect that & just want "cuddly trollopes" 100% of the time. But that's just me : )

Hey Kavik. I'm what's called 'clairsentient' & get impressions/feelings that are rarely wrong (I've felt the presence of spirits since childhood, for e.g.) From day one, my gut feeling was that Ponti was raised by a migrant family where the father used (like myself in my youth) harsh/incorrect methods to train. To my mind, there's a big difference between "mistreated" & doing the wrong thing out of well-intentioned ignorance. Ponti was very well trained & extremely obedient. He taught me much about mutual respect. It wasn't just me, others would say 'that dog can read your mind'. Yep, we were best mates & although he passed over more than 7 years ago, I still think off him fondly every day. Ponti taught me that 'grabbing' his collar without getting his attention first (even unwittingly) is rude & ignorant & I never made that mistake again. What I learnt from Ponti is being applied to little Zagan : )

Hey Simply Grand Yes I've had pups before but not for over 30 years. My attitudes about life in general were very different back then & although I trained my dogs myself (always expected an obedient dog) I'm sure that my methods back then were no-doubt harsh : ( & not worth remembering. He IS a big baby. Yesterday I trod on his little paw & he screamed his head off. I'm an amputee. When one steps on something unknowingly when wearing shoes, one can feel it before full weight is applied & possibly able to react. With a prosthetic leg, there's no feeling at all & poor Zagan got my full weight. He ran off screaming looking at me with suspicion & I had to go after him. I picked him up while sitting, with his back in my chest & cooed my apologies. His reaction seemed to be one of relief. When I 'kissed better' his little paw he got all excited & licked my beard, lol. Once he settled he trotted after me without any limp, thank goodness. He was no-doubt just as frightened as he was hurt. Just a baby (he's sleeping off his breakfast under my feet as I type) Yes, I've been reading SteveK9Pros ToT & I'm quite impressed with his ideas. As it happens, I'm also in the Hawkesbury area which is very convenient. I've yet to read the NILIF tutorial yet but will. A few tips from him now would be helpful keeping in mind that we'll be doing protection training later on. I agree with your what works at 10 weeks may not be reliable later comment, so we're just doing the basics for now. At this age, repetition, positive reinforcement & patience is the key. Zagan is very food driven & very smart which makes it much easier.

Thanks todierkx, correct. Although I had no history on Ponti (brought home as an 18 month old) I suspect that he was raised in a family situation (he adored children & had a definite preference for human females) where the head of the house had no idea how to handle a dog of this nature & was given up because of mistakes made. I hadn't given the 'collar grab' issue much thought before, but me thinks that 'dad' in the family must've used harsh corrective measures that needed training to undo. Grabbing his collar possibly triggered a bad memory? (again, it only happened the once where I thought that I had his attention) It would piss me off if someone just grabbed me without warning as well. It comes back to, if one desires respect one must give respect : )

showdog Zero. If you love the idea of the possibility of avoidable drama in your life then don't let me stop you.

Hey Bballj. How are things going with your pup? I hadn't heard of crating till recently. It does work for many from what I've read (I've just got a Rotti pup who's going to be quite big so I didn't bother. Plus he settles & sleeps soundly at night tethered next to me on HIS bed) & it appears that it especially works for insecure/anxious pups because it's their safe place (A pen is open, a covered crate is like a cave, giving a sense of security) Makes a lot of sense to my mind. Re; "night noise". If your pup sleeps next to/at foot of your bed (either tethered or crated) your breathing noises & smell are enough & she should learn to settle herself. (never been a fan of locking a pup away alone, especially considering that they're used to sleeping with siblings) As hard as it may be, ignore whining (not to be rewarded with attention or that's what they'll learn to do to get it) but IMHO, I don't think it's detrimental to make one or two very soft 'shhhh' noises (the idea is that they have to quiet to hear it) every now & again. As much as it may drive you mad at first ignoring her, they will wear themselves out whinging & will fall asleep. It sounds like you've chosen a very people focused breed (that will make training even easier) that needs human company. Not a bad thing at all : ) Hope that she's settling for you.