Malamum

I'm sure you would know if your own dog was deaf or not...... oh no wait on second thought the idoit and complete stranger who has only seen Cody for 30 seconds must surely know better :roll: :x

You're right Newfiemom - I didn't notice it before but it's sorting them in time and date order but not taking into account the regional differences in the times and dates.

It's not so much the discrimination against poodles (or any breed for that matter) that I'm amazed at but more the rudeness of some people. Sure we all at times "think" unkind things about another person, I admit I do but I would NEVER EVER voice that thought.

it did on this one though.... strange :niewiem:

hmmm my posts aren't going to the bottom of the thread either....

[puts hand up] - I think I have that too :oops:

:lol: :lol: :lol: at Mei Mei - I've now got visions of people throwing poo at each other at the park and I can't stop laughing :lol:

Good for you KP.

I stated using a cliker with Indy a few months ago. However he already knew all the commands so I mainly wanted to use the clicker to improve on them. I'm about to start using it with Kira, who has no training and currently know's nothing. I am interested to see how quickly it will help her pick things up when using it from scratch.

I don't have a pit but I would never leave my dog nor any other unsupervised with a small animal such as a rabbit or a guinea pig. I don't think I would with a cat either, however cats are a little different. Cats can run pretty fast and climb things to escape if need be, a rabbit wouldn't stand a chance. I personally wouldn't take the risk - better safe than sorry heh.

Shara, I'll try to get some on the weekend.

Good luck.

I think it is very narrow minded for someone to think that just becuase they don't have a need for a check chain, prong collar, e-collar etc that nobody else should. All dogs are different and some are so much more head strong than others. As long as these tools are used correctly then I see no problem with people doing what ever they consider necessary to ensure that they have a well mannered dog. However with that said, these tools shouldn't be used as a crutch - they should be used in conjunction with training and I guess considered a "back up" control measure. I walk Indy on a Halti - he doesn't need it 99% of the time but I still have him wear it for the 1% that he does. For us the combination of the halti and trainng was enough but if it wasn't I wouldn't have hesitated to move up to a prong collar. However I would have ensured that someone showed me how to use it correctly first.

[quote] was also told you don't need to use the clicker EVERY time, you can phase it out just like treats... so that kina made me think "whats the point?" but I guess it helps to FIRST teach something... just like using treats [/quote] Shara, the purpose of the clicker is to help the dog understand exactly what it is they are supposed to do. Once they fully understand the command then there isn't really a need to click since they know they have done the right thing.

HF, spend a bit of time just clicking then treating. Click then treat, click then treat, click then treat - don't ask them to do anything, you just want them to learn that once that funny thing mum is holding makes a click they will get a treat. They are smart - it won't take them long to learn that they don't get the treat until they hear the click. So they will soon look to the clicker rather than the treat because they know that the click has to come first. I'll give an example of why I find it better than just treating or giving verbal praise. When I'm walking Indy he gets very distracted by other dogs and any level of sense goes out the window. He won't pay attention to anything other than the other dog. I've been taking the clicker and treats on our walks and when I ask for his attention I click as soon as his eyes meet mine. If there is a distraction involved he may only give me a quick look then go back to the distraction. The clicker is precise enough so I can click for that few seconds that he is looking at me. There is no way I could give him a treat quick enough otherwise and he wouldn't really understand what it was he was being rewarded for. Because of the click he does. It really is working and he is getting much better at being able to let other dogs go by and still focussing on me.

Very cute

oh dear... what kind?

Hehe BK & Aroura - be careful what you offer as I may just take you up on it :wink: Michael and I aren't taking our annual skiing holiday this year as we have noone to leave them with. We normally leave Indy with my Mum and Dad but they are going to be overseas this year. So if either of you feel like a holiday to Sydney to do some house and puppy sitting............ :lol: :lol:

K there were no secrets I promise. It was all very sudden. Michael said yes we could have another dog on Wednesday, I put some feelers out and had found her by that afternoon :o we went and saw her on Thursday night, then took Indy to meet her on Saturday and brought her home that day. All very quick. Sorry Amber I just didn't have a chance to hop on-line any sooner :oops:, she has kept me very busy since she is not toilet trained or anything. Anyway, thanks for all the lovely comments everyone, she really is the cutest little thing. And she is very tiny compared to Indy- he is 50kg (approx 100lbs) and she is 30kg (approx 64lbs). Indy has adjusted remarkably well. We met up with the people who had her at a park near their place. We spent a while getting them just used to being near each other then we spent ages just walking them around the park together. The decider was pretty much when they were drinking nice and calmly out of the tap at the same time. So we decided to take her home. We put her in the back of the car on her own and let Indy sit on the back seat with me - he thought that was a big privilege. When we got home rather than going straight in the house we went for another walk and made sure they were both relaxed before going in the house. Once inside we took it very slowly and used lots of treats. I sat on the floor with treats in my hand and they learnt pretty quickly that if they lay next to each other without any fuss then they would get treats. The first night I slept on the couch in the kitchen with them as I was hesitant to leave them alone but they did fine – they both just found a spot and slept through the night. Indy is a little jealous but not in an aggressive way - he plays with her just plays very rough but she gives back as good as she gets so I have been pretty much leaving them to it and trying not to interfere too much. I have actually found that they do better if we are not around. If we are in the same room Indy tends to show off and tries to pin her to the ground but if we ignore it he tends to back off and then they just lie down and relax. I left them alone in the yard for a few hours yesterday and spied on them out the window and they did fine. I also packed all Indy's toys away and bought new ones - one of each just different colours so there was no chance of him being possessive over his stuff. I probably won't bring them back out for a few weeks. One thing I have noticed since we got her is that Indy's general behavior has improved dramatically. He has always been pretty good but since Saturday he obeys first time every time and on Sunday at training classes he was the best he has ever been. He was so attentive and did everything perfectly - no misbehaving at all. I think this is really going to be a good thing.

Indy has a new little sister called Kira. She is an 8 month old rescue dog that we bought home on Saturday. Here she is with her first toy. [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YgAPA9kcaIMKzk9LrhBayEyx5l0ogKfDE8STcpHLnBLPEtLbV5ZCGZm0p!iax1BpU545Phe8ryVL5mXvS2vAQq2MEqVagqyNMkACR9lfXwaFqkk6Bsx9fFxhxCz0hZG28A1ql4cULzzLeH2TtLqg*w/2004_0322Image0012a.jpg?dc=4675464819721536577[/img] Just sitting and looking pretty. She has one floppy ear wich makes her look very sweet and innocent. [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YgAPA9scB4QKzk9LrhBayEyx5l0ogKfDycrbZNhXVs1XilL29wlBPd9CvIgOjDOQ6FQOd6BnjBN4hWahp45JVLcJhUypWIwaHrfZweYSCoCJ4!9gq1nQ1PA84*d*sK2vXI8QWjyBsvKJsZ*AwjCz*A/2004_0322Image0023a.jpg?dc=4675464819763993124[/img] Woo wooing at Indy - saying give me that toy :roll: [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YgDVAuAckoUKzk9LrhBayEyx5l0ogKfDGrAUIMM0RwmhgYKOvFXYBPPGzTKyo12ALFNzgsDlpZkoty8nYWfSAHPyR43Ha27Dyb4vcjbomOTGAsuefLetUacbmP**Mxr7qDlfZU6UbseBsMoNrnr!lQ/2004_0322Image0028a.jpg?dc=4675464819806094939[/img]

LOL at quietly waiting for pics - I am noisely waiting for pics (I need a little jumping up and down and stamping feet emoticon) :lol: :lol: Seriously though, CONGRATULATIONS!

What about these [url]http://www.australianoutback.com.au/drizabone_dog_coat.html[/url] [img]http://www.australianoutback.com.au/Resources/dogcoat%20l.jpg[/img] I actually saw them in a shop over here and they look really cool. They would be perfect for the manly dog - not wussy looking at all :wink:

:cry: :cry: :cry: Jane, that was really beautiful. I am so so sorry.

It really does make you feel good when a training class goes well doesn't it. :D

You are not a bad Mum at all. You had no way of knowing that the new food wouldn't agree with her. Also, the flip side of that is it could have been better for her but you wouldn't have known unless you tried. I have been quite lucky with Indy, he seems to have a pretty tough tummy and can eat any food. I went through four different types of kibble with no issues until I finally decided on BARF.