Lindsay

I went on a JR weekend for working trials and found some of it fascinating and some of it very annoying! I was surprised he put dogs over the scale to a fair height without building up the muscles and the "know how" of how to physically get over. However, maybe that works for him and his experience is that it works well *shrug* All credit to him though as he noticed one dog wasn't doing so well and suggested the owner get his hips X rayed. I do find him interesting as he certainly doesn't follow the crowd, but also find some of what he says/does frustrating. Re the Belgian Alison mentioned - I'd probably interpret that as the dog simply wanting to get to mum, not necessarily learning anything else. A BSD who is slightly underconfident being made to be with a stranger in that way is more than likely to produce that response, but I'd keep an open mind and would like to have seen that for myself. I must admit I don't so far agree with the aggression and play fighting theory... .

Hi, I'm just going to jump in with a bit of advice if that's OK Firstly, do contact a reputable behaviourist - some trainers will advise methods that will make things worse (and so will some behaviourists!). The link Madmerle gave http://www.apbc.org.uk/members.php is an excellent start. If he is insured, sometimes the insurer will pay. It's great you have men to help and are going to take advice before using them - what you need to do is change the dog's emotions (classical conditioning) and also use some reward based training (operant conditioning) and he will improve A very good little booklet to buy, to give you some idea of what classical conditioning is about, is Patricia McConnell's "The Cautious Canine" available from Canine Concepts. It's only cheap and explains how to go about changing the emotions - I often recommend it as it says it all so much better than can be explained over the net in one post Lots of luck.

I'm definitely going to send a letter, I loathe bullfighting, it disgusts me! Lindsay x

x Kong on a rope - Banya loves to shake this and adores hitting herself with it when she throws it from side to side -maybe they are from the same mould Also a tuggie/raggie - can be chewed and is nice with a big knot in the middle. Very good for shaking and killing. Probably best to observe her with both as usual with toys rather than chews... Lindsay x

She's every so sweet Jo - very pretty and I bet she's bright! Will you be taking her to Puppyschool? Lindsay x

Signed, my dog isn't too badly effected but hates the very loud single ones. I won't go out and leaver her at night from flipping October to about February in case someone lets one off and i'm not there!!!

Well, it sounds as if there's some good coming out of it Hopefully things will improve, are you sure it's always been Timmy marking? Just wondering in the light of what you found this morning... Lindsay x

I saw that article this morning - he looks adorable, who cares if he hasn't any ears? Lindsay x

Love your piccies as always Anne, they are so good at capturing the essence of your girls Love the ones of them playing, and have to say the one of Akita (head shot) is truly beautiful. Lindsay x

No problem at all, I know what you mean about drugs, somewhere along the line there may be side effects none of us know about, and I'm like you, I'd rather not use them. The attachment suggestion often works really well, and if you combine that with the other things you mentioned as you are planning, hopefully it will sort the problem out - do hope so Another suggestion - have you ever used a DAP? If there is any anxiety there, it may help but it does take while to have any effect and it also needs to be pretty much left on ... Good luck - am rooting for you!! Lindsay xx

Hi there Alex Is he sort of marking, or is it a largeish amount? Is there any chance he's got separation problems? I'm wondering if he gets anxious when you are out as I think Khanu already mentioned- I realise he did it whilst you were there too, but sometimes the general emotional balance of an animal can have an overall effect. It may be useful to try a DAP diffuser where he most often hangs out. May also be worth having a chat to your vet - in some cases it may possibly be due to weird things like anatomical malformation (!) or endocrine or neuro problems. I doubt it is as it's been going on for a long while now - however if you try everything and just can't sort it, may be worth considering medical testing as a final resort...it's also possible drug therapy could help usually with behavioural advice. Lindsay x

Is it OK to link to another forum to a thread about this? Only it seems all is not - well, as it seems, possibly. http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/board/topic/95411.html Note the post by Admin at the bottom of the thread. If it's not OK to post the link apologies to mods. Lindsay x

That's awful - who could be so wicked as to do something like that? Run free beautiful Boxer.... Lindsay x

Are you luring him into position as that can help Are you using amazing tasty smelly food like liver cake, or roasted chicken, when he is relatively hungry? If he's abit worried you need to kind of show him what you want...you could always look for a clicker trainer, try www.apdt.co.uk as there may be one near you... Lindsay x

aw not so bare then, all hairy just like my first two. Banya's an oddity - but it looks very sweet!! Lindsay x

Ouch Akita, how did you manage to do that? You will feel so much better when it is sorted, thinking of you Lindsay x

Banya sheds a bit every day - she should be bald to be honest, but no, she is covered from head to foot ...except for her bare, pink stomach which is totally hairless Does Indy have one of those? Lindsay x

that explains it, great idea to keep her muscles warm Anne, you are an excellent "doggie mum" Banya is much hairier than Indy too - the spaying did that, her double coat became a triple coat I think Give Indy a special pat from me won't you! Lindsay x Lindsay x

Love the coat Anne and the colour suits her I must admit Banya doesn't wear a coat - I'm feeling a bad mummy now! Lindsay x

I hope Hobbes is oK today? do get him checked by a vet in case there are any invisible injuries caused to him by the shaking. What a clever boy he was to go limp By the sounds of it the dog should be wearing a muzzle really and the owners need advice on how to control their dog. Lindsay

When homechecking, we always used to say a max of 4 hours and in an ideal world that would be right I think. However when peeps have to work it's not so simple - and I know many dogs are happy if left for longer, esp. if they have other canine company. Coming home at lunchtime etc is ideal - I found it hard when doing this and my dogs were so active they never had enough time or exercise so I had to change my whole life around and work from home - it was worth it though I think a lot depends on the situation, the dog, how old, what breed etc. I think actually crating for hours on end is pretty diabolical, how can people think that is actually OK? Why have a dog at all if they only want it with them for a few short gratifying hours? It's for their benefit solely and not the dog's in my view. Lindsay x

Many thanks to those who have signed. Now is quite a crucial time, as next month the Private Member's Bill to ban the sale, manufacture, use and importation of shock collars is being discussed. I do believe they will be banned - but only if we do something about it I've written to my MP and to DEFRA - if anyone is kind enough to do the same, here's some very useful info from the KC: http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/download/1...surgerypack.pdf Best wishes Lindsay xx Ps have signed the deed not breed one

Awful - terrible. Lindsay x

Ideally small dogs should be controlled as larger dogs should be, but owners don't always see it that way. I wonder if the neighbour just didn't like the dog or its owner. Under the DDA a dog has only to scare someone to be in trouble - presume this is what happened here, rather than an actual damaging bite with wounds...just musing as we can't know what happened... Lindsay x

Please consider signing this petition to stop the manufacture, sale, importation and use of shock collars on dogs. Wales has promised to ban them now, so all we need is for England and Scotland to do the same! If the collars are banned, people will no longer be able to make money out of using pain to train dogs Please help - the petition is a nice easy one to sign and is very quick compared to some. Every signature counts. Linky here: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Shockcollars/ Thanks for your time Best wishes, Lindsay x