Herr Rottweiler

Nekhbet, there are parts of your points that I agree with and there are sections where I don't. I do understand where you are comming from and that I do agree with, especially the points where you are encouraging Jintanut to educate herself before rushing in. That's responsable and commendable. In my experience, there is no comparison from a Malanoir to a Rottweiler. They are completely different styles of dogs all together. A Rottweiler is mainly active when something warrants activity where a Mal will pace up and down like a dobe all day long. That in itself is something any potential owner needs to look into as it is like comparing a formula 1 car with a BMW. On another note, why does she have to get a 50 kg Rottweiler? Some of the females are suitable for home protection and they are 35+ kg and quite sensitive to their handlers. I used to train and sell protection dogs full time for about 5 years. Many of the dogs I placed went to single abused women/ mothers with children and not once did we ever have a problem. The police even used to recommend the women to us. In my opinion, that's a little etreme! I agree you do need an ongoing, diciplined committment but she's not looking for a military war machine. Just so we are clear here guys, i'm not suggesting for one minute for Jintanut or anyone for that matter to get themselves involved with something that they are incapable of handling however, I do believe that people have a right to feel secure. As other DOLers pointed out, 10 minutes can be an eternity and in 10 minutes, a good or a desperate thief can do over 2 or 3 houses. Jintanut one clear message that Nekhbet was pointing out is go and get an education about all of this before you make any rash decisions. If you can, speak to breeders of these types of dogs, (one that is suitable) and have a look at the training. I too would not sell anyone a dog without an assessment of their character and capability.

Sadly Anne that's not a shared attitude with quite a lot of dog owners. Some people can't even manage a child properly. Then people suggest, "well they shouldn't own a dog then!" Maybe not, but we're not quite a communist country yet but were working on it. I agree that people SHOULD take an active interest in their dogs and take it upon themselves to take responsibility however, as I have stated above, this will NEVER happen in my lifetime and I feel that there should be a service provided for the sake of the dog. In most circumstances, the owner will start to take a positive interest in the dog after their investment AND when they see that there is hope for their dog. I have been involved in, (to borrow your words) Boot Camp training for many years now and the positives I have gained and the clients have gained have been fantastic. I have seen literally hundreds of dogs come in who have been on their last opportunity with the owner and to have turned that around has been a very humbling experience and a rewarding one I might add when they turn up to classes 6 months later to tell me that their dog still remembers and has learned additional exercises. Don't get me wrong, i'm not trying to convince you not to do want you feel is right. i'm just offering some educated facts

If it was Stimpy he would have been covered in spray

Spot on Erny Anne, the same could be said for all training centres OR for that matter, all trainers. There are trainers AND THEN there are trainers. How many times have I heard people say, "I went here or there and leaned nothing for the past 18 months or so". Some boarding and training institutes are fantastic and they deliver very good to excellent results which often saves the owners making some troubling decisions about their dogs future. I agree that owners need to work with their dogs, no question about it but a little kick start never hurt anyone.

and another http://www.rottsvondeutsch.com.au/

See that's why you need Rotties, there's nothing left to bury

You would need a very, very dog confident person to attack you walking two dogs of that calibre down the raod Absolutely! We had a guy come to us when protection training was still legal and he told us that his dog would defend him if the situation arised. When I asked him if his dog had prior training he said, no. We asked if he would be willing to put this to a test and he agreed. Two of us jumped him and 'mock' assaulted while his dog watched and at one stage, his own dog went to have a go at him, (which is normal for a dog to do in a pack situation. I could talk about this in a discussion on its own) He was shocked. We were not!

WOW, you're confident! So many people are desensitised to alarms that they would be more likely to go over and tell the burglars to shut the bloody alarm off! We had a problem with druggies robbing houses willy nilly in my street and the only houses they didn't go near was mine and my neighbours after 1 of my dogs nailed one of the trio in my yard which the police were fine about No excessive force, just some holes in his bum and he held him in the corner until I got up and arrested the intruder

I have only seen a handful of staffies in back in the years when we did protection training that would make suitable protection dogs, but as K9 mentioned, they are as rare as hens teeth AND they are more likely to show aggression towards other dogs and animals before a human as they are generally a submissive type of breed to people In all the years of working with Sucurity/Law enforcement dogs I have never seen 1 natural protector where an untrained dog would protect it's owner in a dire situation. It had to be taught to. So even if you decide on getting a dog to protect you, since your in NSW go see K9 for some lessons Do yourself a favour, get a Rottweiler

Hi anne, About 1 week. I couldn't touch him before that. He didn't know me or trust me so I had to wait until he was okay. We have a very strict policy about checking dogs and I have a very keen eye for issues these days. On and off for 5 years or more. they weren't even known as gentle leaders only Haltis when I first used one, (I know they're slightly different). I have recommended them before and I wont argue anyone out of using one if they really want to but I just like everyone to know what alternatives exist and them show them proper usage of those techniques. Anne that's big of you to make that admission. Most people are terrified by the look of a prong collar but quickly warm to them when they realise how they work.

Pete, are you aware of how tight a halti is supposed to be fitted to a dogs head? As K9 pointed out; Pete, no offence intended but is yours an experienced point or an opinion?

I bought a Rotty years ago who was going to be put down because he was left in a back yard and just became stir crazy and aggressive. After he came to trust me I took him out of the kennel for a play and he was my new best buddy. I was patting him round the top of his neck and I felt a lump that extended around his whole neck! I thought what the hell is this? I took him up to the vet for an xray and they showed them to me when they were done. It was a correction collar that was left on him, forgotten about, grew so tight that his skin partially grew over it. Amazingly, after a small surgical removal he was as good as gold. The vets and I were in shock over it. I reported the old owners to the RSPCA for neglect and they were fined $1000. I rehomed him as a security dog and he had a fantastic, normal healthy life. He lived until 12 and only passed away around this time last year and was morned by his owner. A very cruel beginning but a happy ending

Okay i will mail you out an autograohed picure of Dutch

OMG!! You mean my team won?

Only the bird brains

This is primarily why E collars came about, for the bird dog people and farmers

Horses for courses kids

Can you dig these up and post, Rusky? I personally haven't experienced or seen check chain injuries .... I don't doubt they happen though. But I have seen frequent 'surface' injuries incurred by headcollars such as rubbing skin to the point of bleeding across the muzzle. How did you go with those photos Rusky? I'm curious to see thw amount of injury sustained

Yogi, I share those sentiments! I tell one of my classes, (which is based on complex skills training) that a clicker is a lazy persons "Yes". However, there are poeple that swear by them so, Horses for Courses.

Why bother to use a clicker at all when the word, "Yes" has so many advantages 1. It doesn't cost you anything 2. You don't have to look for it if you misplace it 3. You don't need a pocket for it or a super duper training bag 4. Clickers are a gimmick 5. You don't have to hold anything 6. It's always on hand at anytime "Yes" is so good that Optus uses it as their main slogan Seriously, I recieved a couple of clickers at an expo I went to and I gave them away.

Rusky, I'm not absolute on the ins and outs of the dogs treatment. He did show me the xrays and the hairline fracture was clearly visible. I know that he was not allowed to do anything with the dog at all except walk id outside in a harness to go to the toilet for 6 months untill the dog was re - xrayed and given a clear bill of health. It's a known fact that people have broken their neck from sneezing! Don't know about dogs though

Sounds good to me! If it works use it

No they were instructed to leave it on by a trainer while the dog freaked out and tried to dig it off its face resulting in self mutilation. Good news is that he is happy as a pickle at the moment and doing well in his training. The fracture was handled by sedating and crating the dog and it was given a course of steroids. That's about all I know. The dog healed well with no long term issues and was able to lead a healthy life. Why would the owner be prosecuted? He was following the instructions of a person that he believed to be an expert. I believe the impact would have been caused by the sudden change of direction and the inertia used. Believe me, the gentleman was deeply saddened by what happened to his dog and at the same time, very angry, dissapointed and humiliated. He suffered alongside the dog as he adores him and never wished this. It also cost him a lot of money in vet fees as well

My pleasure ;) I can back up my chest beating stories you know