drjeffrock

Hey Izzy, Just wanted to let you know that the gang here is hoping Tabatha comes home soon.

[quote name='pitbullEmily'] When the pit bulls killed the lady last year, the Post screamed the story across the TOP HALF of the front page.[/quote] Out of curiosity, which incident are you referring to?

That is good news. Kira has not been vaccinated for anything (xcept rabies) for almost 5 years. I hope the day comes that everybody realizes what a joke yearly vaccinations are and jeapordize the health of dogs more often than boost immune systems.

Hey CC, I am sorry about breaking your heart, lol. Just joking! This guy sounds like a creep aside from his exquisite taste in dogs. :wink:

[quote name='Canis erectus']Getting a little off-topic, I think different diets will work for differnt dogs, I think it's kind of crazy to think that one brand of food can be called worse or better than another for an animal with such a variable physiology. You want to talk about unpopular foods then hear this: My fiance's mom owned a Great Dane named Elmis. Magnificent animal, he weight something around 160-170 lbs in his prime, he turned eleven a little while ago and is soon at the end of his days but arthritis had only caught up with him about a year ago and he's been without any health problems. Want to guess what he ate? Aside from the occaisional bit of people food or raw bone, the only thing Elmis had eaten all his life was... OLD ROY!!! Couldn't believe when I heard that.[/quote] Hahaha, I havent heard anyone mention Old Roy in some time. My good friend has been an Akita breeder for decades. She used to feed Old Roy all the time. Her keeters were in great shape, no health problems at all. I think she is feeding Nature's Recipe these days. Seriously though, pups do not need large-breed puppy kibble, its just a marketing ploy like breed-specific kibble.

Here ya go! [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4d806b3127cceb141ac1c77220000001610[/img] [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4d806b3127cceb141a173b6e30000001610[/img] [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d933b3127cce8a8630585b680000001610[/img] [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d933b3127cce8a863035da350000002610[/img] [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d701b3127cce8eebe99419ce0000001610[/img] [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d701b3127cce8eebe99219c80000001610[/img] [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d701b3127cce8eebe99198fb0000001610[/img] [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d701b3127cce8eebe99798fd0000001610[/img][/list]

[quote name='Canis erectus']Good for you jeff, I'm glad you were able to find somethimg that works out for Dexter. Most aggresive dogs aren't that lucky.[/quote] Thanks! I wouldnt say that things are fine and dandy, but I take it one day at a time. I have seen lots of improvement, I hope it continues.

I agree K. It seems kinda silly to let a Dane run around on slippery floors. The main problem with the show is that I fear some people will try his methods on their own, and will end up with a nasty bite. The way he handled the feisty chi would def. be a tragedy if someone attempted that on a pit, akita, etc. Also, you have to take things on TV with a grain of salt. I mean, of course all the shows will demonstrate a problem solved in a short amount of time. More often than not, it takes a lot of hard work, not one little method and the problem is solved.

[quote name='rotten_two']i agree that not all dogs respond to +R in the same way-- this is what i meant by some dogs need a different approach. i am considering any dog with MAJOR behavioral hang ups -- not just breed specific. you mentioned that he works with pits, rotts, gsd as if they are the trouble makers -- or maybe you are saying they are of robust enough build so as to handle his rougher methods? personally the rotten two respond quite well to positive training methods and i wouldn't resort to use of physical force with either (but of course this is just me). again i am not attacking you for training with this guy and i think it is great that you found solutions that worked for your crew. :D you are correct when you say joe schmoe dog parent should not try this at home. that is the scary part -- this show is marketed toward the average pet person who likely doesn't have the knowledge or experience to implement this type of training. i wonder if they will put up the warning box that says "DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME"[/quote] Hey rotten, I did watch the show yesterday, and it was riddled with "Do not try this at home. Consult a professional before attempting any training method." I would say it was put on maybe 6 times within the 1/2 hour show (after every commercial and at the beginning/ending of the show as well as during his discussion with each dog owner.) While Cesar does work with a lot of GSDs,Rotts, pits, etc. he does work with any breed. His methods do differ according to the breed though. I believe that I have tried every other method with Dex (PP, NILIF, etc.) I will discuss Dex briefly and what Cesar suggests to help us. Dex is quite dog-aggressive. He lunges, barks, snaps, etc. at other dogs whenever he sees them. I have worked, and worked on getting is focus on me and desensitizing him to other dogs on our walks. I was doing this by getting Dex's attention BEFORE he postures himself in an aggressive manner towards the other dog. I have seen some progress, but not much. I have used this method with other dogs I have trained, with success, not Dexter though. Also, Dex pays no attention to people on walks when they walk right by us. However, if someone stops me and says "nice pitbull" or "Hey man, do you have an extra cigarette?" he will growl and posture himself in a dominant fashion. So, here is what Cesar has us working on w/ Dex. Cesar's main point is that dogs (especially pits) need exercise. It sounds obvious, but an unexercised dog hs a different attitude than one that is exercised. Cesar wants Dex to learn how to avoid and ignore other dogs. The way to do this is to bring him to the dog park everyday and get him used to being around other dogs. Using a choke chain (fitted properly) Dex is to be at my side at all times, never allowed to walk in front of me (as I lead the pack.) When he turns his head and sees a dog, he gets a correction to put his head back forward. If he is just looking without sticking his nose or chest out, it is not as big of a deal. Anytime he postures himself in a way to attack, he gets the correction. Its hard to explain how to do it over the internet. For example, if Dex is heeling on my left and sees a dog to his left, I can also use my right heel and graze his ribs. Not hard, just enough to break his stare and get him to look back at me as if to wonder what just touched him. I have def. seen results. Normally he would lunge at every single dog, but I would say that he has gotten to the point that of the 100 dogs he sees, maybe 2-3 will catch his attention in a bad way. Also, Cesar thinks its important for me to keep my stride up, and not slow down if a dog pairs up with him, or walks in front of him. He thinks that dogs can read our energy, and if we show signs of nervousness, etc. they will pick up on it. I have been around dogs my entire life, and have tried and watched numerous methods. It would be silly to think that Dex will get along with all other dogs, he is an APBT after all. But, he should be able to be walked without acting like a terror on-leash. Christine and I used the same method with Kira (our Akita) a few years back. She was a terror on-leash too. Now, she can walk past dogs with no problem. Its not to say that she would not try to rip a dogs head off if she was off-leash but she behaves on-leash. I have def. seen improvement with Dex, I hope it continues. Since I have started with Cesar's method, he has been friendly to everyone who greets us on the street, a far cry from before. No doubt, I think that any type of fear or human aggression in a pit is a big no-no. In fact, I was ready to put him down as the last thing I want to do is jeapordize any ones safety or health around me. If I do see more signs of human aggression, I will put him to sleep. I am just trying to do everything in my power to help, before I make the toughest decision of my life.

Hey rotten, Thanks for the article. I know some of his methods sound bizarre, and I would not expect everyone to just accept his methods as correct. Unfortunately positive methods do not work with all dogs, it would be nice if it did. Cesar works mainly wi/ GSDS, Rotts, and APBTS. I have seen first hand some of the dogs he has rehabed. K, the Dane had an accident on some linoleum floor. He was running around his masters school, and he skidded into a glass pane that knocked him out cold. He could not stop in time b4 hitting the glass pane. Ever since then, he refused to go on any shiny surface (linoleum floors, that institutionalized waxed floor, or wet pavement. The owner was saying how she would love to be able to bring Kane back to school with her, as the kids loved him, but he would not go inside. Within 15 minutes, Cesar did get him inside, by pulling him in at first, then letting the Dane walk further inside under its own will. It took 15 minutes, then the owner was able to walk Kane inside with no problem whatsoever. Not making excuses, but his methods certainly worked in that case. No doubt, what he does should not be tried by the average dog-owner.

Hey everyone, Sorry I have not been around lately. Between PC problems and some isses I will post about later, I have had no time. Dexter's trainer filmed 26 episodes for the National Geographic Channel and they are starting to air today. His name is Cesar Milan, and the show is called the Dog Whisperer. I know it sounds cheesy, but Cesar does work wonders. He is not a trainer in the sense that he does not teach "sit" "stay" etc. He mainly works with aggressive dogs (both towards humans and other animals.) For those of you unfamiliar with Dex, in the past he has shown some signs of human aggression to strangers that approach me on the street. Also, he is extremely dog-aggressive towards any other dogs (aside from Kira.) Some of you might find Cesar's methods to be bogus, but he does work. His main philosophy is to exercise your pooch, and really let them know that you are the boss. For example, with an extremely dog-aggresssive dog who lunges and snaps at other dogs on leash, he uses a choke-chain (fitted properly) and basically does not allow your dog to even look at other dogs in a menacing manner. Basically on walks, your dog should never be walking in front of you, only along-side or behind you. Also, he really helps to understand your dogs body language, focusing on the nose area. I was skeptical at first, but a few years back he helped us with Kira. She would pull Christine like crazy anytime she saw another dog. His methods have worked in the past, and I started to take Dex to him as his dog-aggression has gotten increasingly worse lately. I have seen him at our local hiking spot (which is also a dog park.) He tends to work most with APBTs, staffs, GSDs, and Rotts. Last time I saw him he was running with a pack of 15 dogs. Most of them were APBTS with a couple Rotts, GSDs, and a poodle. At his warehouse in South Central he trains dogs that have bitten their owners, their kids, killed the family cat, etc. Last time I went I was greeted by a pack of approx. 40 dogs. Most were pits, somewhere GSDS, a wolf-looking mix, and a few Rotts. None of them were seperated. It was quite amazing. Two pits started to growl and lunge at each other, Cesar said one word, and the pack was back to normal. Its like he is the pied piper with all these dogs following him. I am sure some people will have problems with him trying to rehab man-biters (especially pits.) But, its not as though he will say that every single dog can be helped. Anyhow, just thought some of you might be interested. I had not seem him in the past couple years, as he has become quite the quasi-celebrity appearing in magazines. tv shows and newspapers. Dex has started to show some very serious signs of aggression towards strangers (mostly bums, and tall men at night-time) so I decided to get back with him and work on Dex to see if he can be helped. The show is at 6:30 eastern time, 3:30 pacific on the national geographic channel. Check your satellite/cable listings for the channel. Talk to you all soon! -Jeff

:cry: Rest in peace sweet Sandy.

[quote name='Carolk9s'] If any one of my dogs did this, I'd kill them myself, I would not need a court order.[/quote] Agreed.

Dexter says he is in love with Brittany. :iloveyou: [img]http://www.petfinder.com/fotos/TX565.2076760.jpg[/img]

6star, Nikoma is a very handsome guy! 8) [img]http://www.6stardanes.com/snugbarniko.jpg[/img] This pic is too cute.

Hachiko was a very famous Akita. Hachiko was the faithful companion to Dr. Eisaburo Ueno who worked in the Agricultural dept. of the Tokyo University. Ueno commuted daily by train, and his faithful Akita would accompany him to the train station in the morning, and would walk to the train station alone at night to greet his owner as he stepped of the train. Unfortunately Dr. Ueno died one day of a stroke at the University. Hachiko was only 1.5 years old at the time. The next day and EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THE REMAINING 7 YEARS OF HIS LIFE, Hachiko would go to the train station at night expecting his master to get off the train. If that is not a true example of loyalty, I dont know what is. A bronze statue was erected in the Shibuya railroad station at his favorite waiting spot. Here's a pic: [img]http://www.media-akita.or.jp/akita-inu/gifs/shibuya-hachikoL.gif[/img]

Hello, and welcome to the board fellow Akita lover :B-fly: You do make some good points. An Akita raised from a pup with a young child usually ends up adoring the child more than anyone else in the family. It is almost eerie how Akitas tend to fall for the youngest child in the family. I have witnessed this time and time again. And for people who dont know too much about the breed, there is an on-going debate in the Akita world regarding the split from the native Japanese Akita and the American Akita. Most people are probably more familiar with the American Akita (aka by some as the Great Japanese Dog, GJD.) The American Akita is bigger, heavier-bone, etc whereas the Japanese Akitas are smaller and look more like a Shiba-inu. I do think that the whole bear hunting history of the Akita in Japan is a little over-romanticized. Yes, many were used for hunting bears along w/ other animals, but I think that more keeters were probably used for fishing purposes than bear hunting (this is arguable.) I would love to see some pics of your Akitas.

[quote name='DeafAussieLover']*LMAO* i started to watch that how last night and then flipped over to cheaters.. lol that is sooo funny.. i would be beyond p***![/quote] LOL, I love Cheaters too! I caught a couple of minutes of it on Sat. night (the girl lighting the guys stuff on fire.) LOL, good stuff!

Good to know. Poor pooches, I hope they feel better quickly. And good boy Elmo!!! Dex has an ear infection, and is not trustful of any human to make it feel better. I will post up a thread later about my quest for a new vet.

I think a grass awn is the same thing as a fox tail?

Yikes! 10 pages and I didnt even reply to this thread. Favorite breed: AKITAS of course. I love all bully breeds too. Dogs I would love to own: Bernese mountain dog, Anatolian sheperd, Newfie, and last but not least... I want a black Pomeranian. :D

That movie is one of the funniest I have ever seen! Christopher Guest rocks! :ylsuper: I love the gay guys, when he asks the hotel manager "Are you from Norland or something?" LMFAO! Also, when the announcer comments on the gay guys outfit. He said "Where I come from, you better be a doorman with an outfit like that!" :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Parker Posey is great as the neurotic Weim's owner when she is looking for the bumble bee toy.

[quote name='__crazy_canine__'][quote name='drjeffrock']Is she on drugs? Is she on Prozac? (Kira does not get all excited to meet new people. She will let strangers pet her, but she doesnt get the wiggly butt and tail.)[/quote] Thats how the chow/akita puppies I work with are. they dont like to be pet at all unless they know you. They are calm and dont get excited about anything but food. :lol:[/quote] Hahahaha. Kira has no problem with people petting her, especially men. She is really a flirt. She does get excited about food though. Sometimes she will let out a little AROOOO or yodel to express her excitement.

I get all the typical ones for Dex: How much for your pit? Do you wanna breed him to my female? Do you fight him? Do you want to fight him? Where can I get one like him? I get some really funny ones for Kira: Is that a bear ?!?!?!?!? LOL, I cant get over how many people have actually asked me this. Is she on drugs? Is she on Prozac? (Kira does not get all excited to meet new people. She will let strangers pet her, but she doesnt get the wiggly butt and tail.) Who would win in a fight between your dogs? :roll:

I am kind of skeptical about that study too. Were the people using the choke chains using it properly, or just letting them jam into the dogs neck/trachea,etc? I think that prongs are a bit safer, but I have used a choke chain in the past (properly) and had good results. Still though, I think a prong is more effective. If your moms wont let you use one, just work with the martingale. I used the martingale for 80% of Dex's training and have seen results with it.