Erny

With the 'method' for the "food refusal" component of training, where the instructor slaps the dog on the face/muzzle if it reaches for the food that is offered, how do you ensure that the dog is pairing that punishment with the fact that it reached for the food, and not pairing it with the fact that a 'stranger' approached it? Ms Faye - is this not a 'method' used at the Club in question? If it is, I'm still puzzled at the reasoning behind the creation of the 'method'. Do you agree with it?

Poodlemum - I can't help but think Clyde has misunderstood and perhaps was thinking the OP was making reference to the indignity of having someone's 'smelly' thongs near its nose. So before everyone starts shrieking with astonishment, need to give a chance for the view to be clarified.

With the 'method' for the "food refusal" component of training, where the instructor slaps the dog on the face/muzzle if it reaches for the food that is offered, how do you ensure that the dog is pairing that punishment with the fact that it reached for the food, and not pairing it with the fact that a 'stranger' approached it?

Clyde - I think Skip might be referencing to the fact that the weight of the thongs on the lead would be applying pressure on the dogs' head collars. I'd tend to agree - I don't much like anything interfering with the proper use of a lead (I even hate those poo bag things that clip on to lead handles). As to how much additional discomfort they would cause I'm not sure, but it is more than what the dog should carry via its muzzle.

This is the response I had back from my friend : Stamford Hotel The RACV Club has the hairdressing service you are after (amongst other things). RACV Club

I agree - one step at a time, Pepi.

from me too. It's tough when we are just trying to get our dogs over one thing, to then know that 'one' thing has impacted to cause another. I have no answers for you Pepi - I wish I did. So is all I can think of to send you at the moment, along with my good wishes for strength for you both.

If you structure the tug game so that tugging is the reward for it, you should be able to get her to do the "toy selection" exercise again. Sounds to me as though it just wasn't satisfying enough for her, so she's given it up for lent. You don't live in Victoria, do you? It'd be fun to do a lesson with you and Bitty, teaching the tug and how to structure and use it to enhance obedience skills.

She'll always beg you for a game if you are in any way reinforcing her for her advancement/effort to get you to engage. Yes - you get the 'game' rules down (with the start, give and end of game rules taught) and use the game itself as a reward for compliance to behaviours that you want.

Oooh .... I'd love to work with your dog . The problem is that you haven't structured in any rules to the tug game. You need to teach her when the game will start, when to give up the tug, and when the game is finished. Satisfy her need for tugging by doing her training with it in short sessions but frequently, but work it on your terms. You can only work it on your terms though, if you have made your terms clear to her.

If you google for info on paw pads and their problems, there's quite a lot of information available. I should know as I'm having a whole set of other issues with my boy's feet/pads. Because the issue for me is different than yours, I didn't retain all the stuff that I read about split paw pads, but one of the things I do recall is the possibility of being low on zinc. But read up first, as it could be any of other things as well. I think it comes back to diet, and/or the dog's ability to absorb, assuming the splits are nothing to do with external trauma to the foot pad. I am hydrating my boy's paws with the use of Aloe Vera Gel at the moment. Couldn't give you a verdict at this stage - it is too soon, but it may help. I think Vitamin A and E are also indicated for split paw pads. But have a read - as I mentioned, I've been reading up over these past few days or so but my focus is on something else. It is just that split paw pads happen to be written up in some of the articles I have viewed.

That's the biggin', I think. I would be concerned if Parvo levels were too low. Sure - he might have cell-memory to rely on but I'm not sure how confident with that I would be. I think I'll be re-addressing that in my mind if/when we come to it. I do believe (from what I've read) that levels become low/disappear from the titre test view, due to non-exposure. Between now and then, if this were to occur, I have decided to let myself hear/read and learn more as I go, and follow what I'm comfortable with. I certainly work hard to not feed my boy's body with unnecessary chemicals/drugs, so I wouldn't be re-vaccinating easily. I'd need to re-check, but I think a Titre test every 3 years, unless I had reason to up-date it sooner. I'm not the best one to ask in this respect - I think Jed (DOL Member) would be the person to ask opinion on it. Jed is quite well versed in the subject of vaccinations and the resultant anti-bodies.

Hope he's ok this morning, Tilly.

I have the electric Dremel "MultiPro" 10,000 - 37,000 RPM. It is the first and only one I have ever had and I've had it for about 6 or more years. No complaints with it - quiet by comparison to others I have heard. I'm happy.

No heat in them? Sorry Tilly - I don't really know. I looked some stuff up and there is the suggestion of "see your Vet" but nothing that would suggest "urgency" - but then how can it? The symptoms are a bit vague at this point (not your fault). If there is weakness in the hind end - that's probably the part that bothers me the most. I guess coupled with the other symptoms .... I don't know what they represent, but I'm not comfortable about them. I was originally going to post that I didn't think it would warrant a trip to the emergency Vet, but I'd hate for this to be from a bite/serious allergic reaction or other thing that I just don't know about that should have had emergency attention. I can't offer much, I'm sorry. So it really needs to be your call on this one, unless someone else more knowledgeable pops in.

C3 (which relates to the 3 core diseases we like to especially guard against) is IMO all that is necessary. When you have a C4, it is the same as C3 but with cover for one strain of Canine Cough. If you have a C5 given, then it is the same as C3 but with two strains of Canine Cough. Does that clarify it a bit for you? :D

What do you mean by "swollen paws". Is there a possibility of bites/allergic reaction? Is there redness or other signs of irritation with the swelling?

No, I'll find the name. It's just that when I was typing it, I couldn't remember it. I'll know the word when I see it. Just too brain strained (it was classes day today) to go into the indepth reading again tonight. Don't worry about that side of things - I'm only muddled by the names. When I find the articles again, I'll be able to relate to them (and the conditions they refer to) more clearly. I do understand them. Just one condition has slight variations to the other condition. It's ok .... the only word that puzzled me was the "ventrical side" word, which I had wrong anyway. No wonder I couldn't work out what they were meaning. LOL ETA : Just to clarify (although this is not the reason for my thread) the conditions I am reading up on are (I bothered to look up their names) : Pyoderma Furunculosis Pemphigus Complex

No, I'll find the name. It's just that when I was typing it, I couldn't remember it. I'll know the word when I see it. Just too brain strained (it was classes day today) to go into the indepth reading again tonight. Don't worry about that side of things - I'm only muddled by the names. When I find the articles again, I'll be able to relate to them (and the conditions they refer to) more clearly. I do understand them. Just one condition has slight variations to the other condition. It's ok .... the only word that puzzled me was the "ventrical side" word, which I had wrong anyway. No wonder I couldn't work out what they were meaning. LOL

From what I remember reading, yes they are cysts. But there's something similar (the "Pyr" word I can't quite remember) that is very very similar but aren't true cysts. Either that, or I have the two mixed up. Don't mind me - I did understand what they were meaning (for the most part) I'm just tangled up with regards to which one was what and what I read on each. Doesn't help that the similarities between them make them seem so inter-related. They are all auto-immune related though and hyperkeratosis (sp?) ("mutant hairy feet" LOL) is mixed in amongst it all somewhere. LOL ..... I should have printed them off so I could look at them clearly. I'll have another go tomorrow if I can.

Ok - I'm getting the better picture. Hopefully you didn't take that from me. It is ok to be questioned if things go on a public forum. There was another time when someone has posted on here - let's just say there were many embellishments to make a place of training look worse than what it was. So sometimes things need to be clarified. And when it is going up public, the picture should be made clear for the teller's sake, or deeper trouble can brew for them. Either way, to let dogs off lead knowing a recall was unreliable and then punishing (in whatever fashion) once the dog had returned or to slap a dog for reaching for food offered to its face, in the name of "food refusal" is not "training" IMO. I don't think "do nothing" is the way to solve anything though. If you have a complaint - and by your accounts you certainly do, then it should be put in writing so that it can at the very least be documented. If any of my trainers did something like what you've described I would certainly want to know about it. Apart from me falling off my seat because I know that my trainers know better than that, I would want to take it up with them as well. Not only for their perspective on things, but also to avail the opportunity to put wrongs to rights.

Thank you for that. The annoying thing is that I'm struggling to back track on the article. I was reading on one, which led to another and then to another. Interdigital Furunculosis was one. Pryromedia ( LOL .... no, tha's not the word, but has similarities) is another. And the other is the P ...... Complex that Poodlefan mentioned to me in another thread. I've got some of the details from one, crossed with the other. But the part that made reference to "Ventral" now that I realise that's the underneath of the dog, makes sense to me. When I re-googled, the list didn't show where I'd been before (it usually does - the articles I've read go a different colour) so I had to start from the beginning, but just couldn't find my trail. Made my head hurt, so I gave up for a bit. But thank you for your help. When I find the articles I'll definitely re-visit here and put up my queries as I come to them, so I don't find myself in this mental tangle again. Cheers Erny

I'm a little puzzled by this contradiction too. Mind you, I don't agree with reprimanding for a no-recall once the dog has been come back, but the above different accounts are confusing. But do be careful what you say and ensure that it is truth. If you do not then you can quickly find yourself in the hot seat. Not to mention that untruths (from either party) are not fair on the accused and they too, if they are telling untruths publicly can also find themselves in the hot seat. If you do have the grievance, Miss Squish, you have several choices. Leave and go elsewhere. Complain to the Club in writing, setting our your grievances. Complain to the Club in writing, setting out your grievances, and leave. Don't leave. I know you say that you don't believe that if you put anything in writing anything would be done about it, but you would at least have the matter documented and this helps to alleviate the 'he said : she said' component.

Think he's been a bit naughty. Mind you - stuff like that means nothing to me until I know the why's of it. Sometimes it might be against law/protocols, but all for the right reasons. Dunno

The last I had heard was that he'd gone to Pakenham - that wasn't all that long ago. Wonder what happened? Oops! Seems there was a bit of trouble. Not sure where you would find him, SM.