Help W/ 4yo Bc Male

[Skruffy n Flea]

hello

i'm making this request on behalf of a work colleague.

the BC is a male about 4yo, who came to her family as a pup 'free to a good home' when a family friend told her dad about the litter...

she doesn't know whether it's a PB or X '... but it has short hair?!?...'

the dog gets little to no exercise but lives on a large block that has a '...pretty big backyard tho...' and from what else she tells me i don't think it's provided with much else stimulation ... it's becoming an unfriendly dog and after her and i talked generally about it last week, she says her mum is on board too with having someone help make him a happy, settled and balanced young dog.

her dad, who made the decision to get the dog, has very little to do with the ongoing care of the dog so it's only her and her mum looking out for it.

if anyone out there knows of a behaviourist or trainer or whatever in the blacktown region, please let me know their contact details so i can pass it on to my colleague.

thanks muchly :D

[mrs tornsocks]

I don't really have any reccs however I have a trainer that we used for pupppy school in Rooty Hill but she didn't really seem to be a formal 'behaviourist'. She had a great way with the dogs though, it might be worth a call. Can PM if you like.

However, if the dog is one that isn't too far 'gone' in the unfriendly stakes, I have a bouncy lab that makes friends with everyone and would be happy to perhaps have some play dates with the BC to help socialise. I owned a BC as a kid so have a soft spot - and we live in Blacktown.

[Skruffy n Flea]

:D thank you ... yes, plse, pm me her contact details!

i think a play date would be fantastic ... i'll find out and pm you :D

[WreckitWhippet]

If the dog is bored and understimulated, she can take it for a good hour of exercise each day.

[Agility Dogs]

If the dog is bored and understimulated, she can take it for a good hour of exercise each day.

Just be careful with doing this. Although it is better than nothing, sometimes when you end up with a fit BC they just keep needing more and more. I would recommend 30 minutes physical stimulation and 30 minutes mental for a balanced pup. (Even more is better, but that would be a start.)

[Skruffy n Flea]

If the dog is bored and understimulated, she can take it for a good hour of exercise each day.

thanks that is exactly what i said to her the other day and i reiterated it today ... even a half hour in the morning, with a half hour at night!

[Skruffy n Flea]

If the dog is bored and understimulated, she can take it for a good hour of exercise each day.

Just be careful with doing this. Although it is better than nothing, sometimes when you end up with a fit BC they just keep needing more and more. I would recommend 30 minutes physical stimulation and 30 minutes mental for a balanced pup. (Even more is better, but that would be a start.)

thank you do you or does anyone know of any places around her area [blacktown] that provide livestock for herding dogs!??!

ETA: could you plse define mental stimulation for me? i'm a girl off the farm but i had nothing to do with the working dogs.

Edited February 2, 2010 by Skruffy n Flea

[~Anne~]

Whatever you do, be carefull about what trainer you seek the services of. A person who adopted a Pug from me engaged one who decided the dog needed 'breaking' to stop dog aggression and he dragged the 8 year old Pug around for more than 2 hours forcing it to do different things, in the heat, before her owner said enough and get the hell off my property! This trainer comes from the Penrtih area.

[Skruffy n Flea]

Whatever you do, be carefull about what trainer you seek the services of. A person who adopted a Pug from me engaged one who decided the dog needed 'breaking' to stop dog aggression and he dragged the 8 year old Pug around for more than 2 hours forcing it to do different things, in the heat, before her owner said enough and get the hell off my property! This trainer comes from the Penrtih area.

noted. and thanks ... if you wouldn't mind, i would like to pm you when i've got say a few names to see if one of them matches your person. that will avoid any libel :D

[mrs tornsocks]

thank you do you or does anyone know of any places around her area [blacktown] that provide livestock for herding dogs!??!

I don't think there's anyone who provides livestock as such, but the Quaker's Hill/Kellyville / Annangrove areas certainly have wider spaces and possibly a few small farms. However I would also imagine that if the BC is not trained as a working dog, most people with cattle etc. would not really want a herding breed 'randomly' amongst their stock.

[Kelly_Louise]

www.premierdogtraining.com.au

Feel free to check out Craig and have a chat if you like - he is in the Liverpool area but does travel further out I believe.

He has helped me with Sasha, and I believe another DOLer and many in our obedience class.

[Skruffy n Flea]

thank you do you or does anyone know of any places around her area [blacktown] that provide livestock for herding dogs!??!

I don't think there's anyone who provides livestock as such, but the Quaker's Hill/Kellyville / Annangrove areas certainly have wider spaces and possibly a few small farms. However I would also imagine that if the BC is not trained as a working dog, most people with cattle etc. would not really want a herding breed 'randomly' amongst their stock.

thanks again mrs t i read something somewhere that described places where dogs with herding instincts were provided a small flock of sheep and under strict supervision the dog is allowed to then 'round up' and herd the flock. the exercise exercises the dog's basic instinct to herd...

i wondered if there was something like that out blacktown way ... perhaps not!?!?

[Skruffy n Flea]

www.premierdogtraining.com.au

Feel free to check out Craig and have a chat if you like - he is in the Liverpool area but does travel further out I believe.

He has helped me with Sasha, and I believe another DOLer and many in our obedience class.

thank you ... their site is quite informative and their rates kinda cheap, which is a plus!

[Miranda]

i think a play date would be fantastic ... i'll find out and pm you

Be very careful, this may not be a good idea, if the BC is unsocialised and inclined to be DA a lab bouncing around trying to make friends could be perceived as a threat and cause the BC to snap or even attack. My dogs are all well socialised and certainly not DA, but even they don't like over friendly dogs who get in their face. Also look at it from the young lab's point of view, the last thing he needs is to be attacked by another dog.

Contact a behaviourist like Steve at K9 Force and get the dog evaluated before you do anything, when you're dealing with DA you really need someone who knows what they're doing because it's very easy to make things worse.

Also I note that the dog is 4 years old, his behaviour will be well ingrained by now so it isn't going to be easy to change. You may get to a stage where the aggression can be managed, but don't expect the dog to become a social butterfly, chances are that he will never be friendly towards strange dogs although he may learn not to react to them providing they're not right in his face.

Edited February 2, 2010 by Miranda

[Skruffy n Flea]

i think a play date would be fantastic ... i'll find out and pm you

Be very careful, this may not be a good idea, if the BC is unsocialised and inclined to be DA a lab bouncing around trying to make friends could be perceived as a threat and cause the BC to snap or even attack. My dogs are all well socialised and certainly not DA, but even they don't like over friendly dogs who get in their face. Also look at it from the young lab's point of view, the last thing he needs is to be attacked by another dog.

Contact a behaviourist like Steve at K9 Force and get the dog evaluated before you do anything, when you're dealing with DA you really need someone who knows what they're doing because it's very easy to make things worse.

Also I note that the dog is 4 years old, his behaviour will be well ingrained by now so it isn't going to be easy to change. You may get to a stage where the aggression can be managed, but don't expect the dog to become a social butterfly, chances are that he will never be friendly towards strange dogs although he may learn not to react to them providing they're not right in his face.

aahhhh, see this is why i need to be here :D that is very good information ... thank you miranda!

the dog isn't unsocialised but you are absolutely correct ... it really needs to be assessed first! i'll take a look at k9force too as an option for these pple in making their decision.

[Kelly_Louise]

www.premierdogtraining.com.au

Feel free to check out Craig and have a chat if you like - he is in the Liverpool area but does travel further out I believe.

He has helped me with Sasha, and I believe another DOLer and many in our obedience class.

thank you ... their site is quite informative and their rates kinda cheap, which is a plus!

No problems I do encourage yourself or the owners to talk to any behaviourist or trainer that you might go to see first though (regardless of who you choose to go with). I believe not every trainer is suited to every dog/owner. I had one who did not understand Sasha's needs (she was a very fearful rescue dog), but Craig has had experience rehabilitating abused dogs - and he and Sasha just clicked and seemed to understand each other. He has helped her gain much confidence. I think you need to discuss their methods etc as well, if it is something the owner is not happy to use, then it is pointless to see that trainer as the lessons will need to be continued by the owner.

Just my opinion

[Skruffy n Flea]

www.premierdogtraining.com.au

Feel free to check out Craig and have a chat if you like - he is in the Liverpool area but does travel further out I believe.

He has helped me with Sasha, and I believe another DOLer and many in our obedience class.

thank you ... their site is quite informative and their rates kinda cheap, which is a plus!

No problems I do encourage yourself or the owners to talk to any behaviourist or trainer that you might go to see first though (regardless of who you choose to go with). I believe not every trainer is suited to every dog/owner. I had one who did not understand Sasha's needs (she was a very fearful rescue dog), but Craig has had experience rehabilitating abused dogs - and he and Sasha just clicked and seemed to understand each other. He has helped her gain much confidence. I think you need to discuss their methods etc as well, if it is something the owner is not happy to use, then it is pointless to see that trainer as the lessons will need to be continued by the owner.

Just my opinion

very informative ... thank you. i will pass this information along to them as well :D