Search found 188 matches

by Cracker
Sun Sep 20, 2009 8:06 pm
Forum: Dog Training Advice
Topic: Rescue Dog with extensive bite history
Replies: 10
Views: 4112

Excellent advice from everyone so far! I just wanted to add two things: One: the rolling over may NOT be an invitation to a belly rub at all, but may simply be a submissive gesture towards you. Two: the lip curl may also be preceded by a whale eye..many people miss this subtle sign of fear. If you c...
by Cracker
Sun Sep 20, 2009 7:54 pm
Forum: Dog Training Advice
Topic: Can we overdo 'reading behaviour'?
Replies: 9
Views: 3711

I agree that it can be over read in some cases. It is very important that we put what we know about dog body language to use contextually and that a certain amount of stress is necessary in life to grow, to achieve goals and learn things. But there is a big difference between a dog showing lots of s...
by Cracker
Sat Jul 25, 2009 5:40 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Merlin is having a scan
Replies: 10
Views: 4033

Sending good thoughts and Reiki your way Mattie and Merlin.
by Cracker
Sat Jul 25, 2009 5:32 pm
Forum: Dog Training Advice
Topic: fear of walking
Replies: 3
Views: 2019

I'm sorry you are having such a hard time. Of course it's hard to keep your confidence up when you have had repeated bad occurrences! That being said...it's quite amazing your dog is not reacting the same way... Have you thought about carrying an umbrella or an air horn or something to deter other d...
by Cracker
Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:59 am
Forum: Dog Training Advice
Topic: Collie's nonstop barking
Replies: 17
Views: 11754

I won't get into the discussion of what you have done or didn't do previously as that has been covered. What I do recommend, like Mattie, is more exercise..physical and/or mental. I also HIGHLY recommend the book "Control Unleashed" by Leslie McDevitt. You mentioned you tried clicker train...
by Cracker
Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:23 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: "In The Dog House"?
Replies: 21
Views: 10042

This is actually a canadian tv trainer repackaged for the US market. His show in Canada is called "At the End of My Leash"..you can probably find more episodes of it on the Slice Network site. He's a jerk. He makes people CRY regularly (while CM at least has decent people skills). He doesn...
by Cracker
Wed Jul 08, 2009 8:34 am
Forum: Health, Diet and Exercise
Topic: Lab thinks he's starving!
Replies: 48
Views: 16373

Lots of good info. Remember that ingredient lists on dog food are NOT legally enforced to be in order of quantity. On human food yes, but on dog food, labelling is iffy. I started out on Purina too. I had a hard time justifying the cost. Then I did some research and the Wellness food I have her on n...
by Cracker
Mon Jul 06, 2009 8:44 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Giving advice and hopefully helping!
Replies: 44
Views: 11714

I wanted to quote this piece..and now I can't remember who posted it...sorry! "Like I said, I'm not quite sure what that "has to do with the price of tea in China," but I thought I'd mention it anyway. I'm thinking her previous owner, or even the breeder may have trained her to "...
by Cracker
Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:02 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Has your dog ever been attacked?
Replies: 6
Views: 2968

It wasn't Cracker that got attacked but one of my puppy walking/training puppies. She was 5 months old and was attacked by a dog resource guarding a ball in the park. She had torn gums, a puncture in her backside and on all four paws from when she rolled over and tucked. It was pretty traumatic. Wha...
by Cracker
Tue Jun 02, 2009 10:24 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: So Calm
Replies: 4
Views: 2476

You let that go by realizing you are only human and then by working out a plan to do what you need to do that reduces the stress on your animal. Then you move on. And don't feel the need to be "unaffected", that implies a loss of empathy and that is a skill (however painful it may seem) th...
by Cracker
Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:17 am
Forum: Dog Training Advice
Topic: Biting the mailman
Replies: 13
Views: 5344

A third solution is possible but it depends on whether you want to do the work. You CAN classically condition the arrival of the mailman to mean good things. I'm a dogwalker and everytime we meet a postal worker on our walks I ask them to give the dogs a treat or I have the dogs sit and feed on good...
by Cracker
Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:07 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Agression to all strangers
Replies: 8
Views: 4028

I agree a vest could be a good idea. I also agree that quick and sassy is the way to go. A sharp CAREFUL! or She's in training please dont touch her. Atleast startles the person into pulling back. Which can give you a chance to explain and possibly enlist the person for a moment into your reinforcem...
by Cracker
Fri May 29, 2009 8:37 pm
Forum: Dog Training Advice
Topic: I think I might have made a crating mstake
Replies: 14
Views: 5819

My cat food is up high so Cracker cannot eat it. Cat food is VERY tasty to dogs as it is much higher in meat content than dog food, being "true" carnivores cats need much more meat (and taurine)in their diet than dogs do. I finally ended up putting the cat food on top of the fish tank..lol...
by Cracker
Fri May 29, 2009 8:30 pm
Forum: Dog Training Advice
Topic: I can't get my dog to stop peeing in her crate
Replies: 14
Views: 7230

I also agree a vet check should be done FIRST. Then go back to the retraining and make sure that pup gets AWESOME treats when she goes outside. Also..if the crate thing still doesn't work after working on the retraining...have you thought about using an xpen with a puppy pad instead. I personally do...
by Cracker
Fri May 29, 2009 8:21 pm
Forum: Episode Discussions
Topic: Weimaraner "Bella" a Doberman??
Replies: 1
Views: 3295

Weimies do have the gene for bicolour and I have met several that have blue/taupe main body and points that are beige/tan. It's considered a fault for show...
I don't know a whole lot about the dobes and the weims history of breed creation but it is likely they have common ancestry.