Search found 2502 matches

by Erica
Sun Sep 04, 2011 2:40 pm
Forum: Health, Diet and Exercise
Topic: Raw Food Diet
Replies: 569
Views: 319590

Re: Raw Food Diet

Can we get this thread stuck permanently somewhere-- I would like to refer back to it again later on-- very useful stuff here. Okay, I believe it's time to get this permanently "stuck." It took me a fair bit of time to re-find this thread today, so I could study up on it in depth. I have ...
by Erica
Sun Sep 04, 2011 1:09 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: What has your smart dog figured out?
Replies: 41
Views: 22911

Re: What has your smart dog figured out?

Piper is only four months old, but she has figured out what my three cats can and can't scratch on. If they claw at either of their scratching posts, she completely ignores them. BUT . . . if they dare to scratch on my sofa, she's on the job! No matter what she's doing (even napping), she'll run ov...
by Erica
Sat Sep 03, 2011 5:40 pm
Forum: Health, Diet and Exercise
Topic: Glucosamine & Chondroitin Supplements?
Replies: 15
Views: 5078

Re: Glucosamine & Chondroitin Supplements?

Update on Onyx, who we recently started giving these sort of supplements to. He's doing a LOT better! Today, when I got some ice from the fridge, he actually got up and walked over to me to get some, instead of simply laying there, looking pitiful. When he dropped it by accident and it went under th...
by Erica
Fri Sep 02, 2011 2:27 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: What has your smart dog figured out?
Replies: 41
Views: 22911

Re: What has your smart dog figured out?

Oh gosh, dropping the kong...Opal tried that with her wobbler a couple times. For those not familiar with the wobbler, it's a really big Kong, but hard plastic instead of pliable, and has a hole in the side that the treats come out of. Instead of chewing/licking the kong, to dog knocks it around wit...
by Erica
Fri Sep 02, 2011 9:48 am
Forum: Episode Discussions
Topic: The woof pack
Replies: 4
Views: 14018

Re: The woof pack

Thx for the video but I don't know. To me it just makes more sense to turn away when the dog's barking It depends on what the dog considers as a reward. If he likes attention, then turning away when he barks makes sense. If he doesn't particularly enjoy attention, turning away when he's calm is a r...
by Erica
Thu Sep 01, 2011 9:14 pm
Forum: Dog Training Advice
Topic: Sudden Growling Issue?
Replies: 9
Views: 3633

Re: Sudden Growling Issue?

I told the kids the new rules the day I found them out. They've been listening to them well! The only change I made was that they needed no treat if Amadeus approached THEM for petting. Tonight, the girl tried to give Ami a treat so she could pet him, and he refused it (not abnormal - it wasn't a ve...
by Erica
Thu Sep 01, 2011 9:07 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Chase drive Vs Prey Drive
Replies: 12
Views: 4275

Re: Chase drive Vs Prey Drive

Very interesting! I took our GSD, Opal, outside one night, off-leash because it's dark and I don't want to walk in our yard for fear of big spiders. Blech! Anyways, we were both surprised when a herd of deer took off! Opal started chasing them, but I just called her name and clapped twice and she ca...
by Erica
Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:52 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: What has your smart dog figured out?
Replies: 41
Views: 22911

What has your smart dog figured out?

Or, hey, what has your less-than-smart dog figured out? Sometimes dogs learn things that we think are beyond them...what are your examples? My Opal has astounded me with her intelligence. I'm quite honestly surprised she hasn't tried to open the door yet - unless she only does that when we're not ar...
by Erica
Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:37 pm
Forum: Dog Training Advice
Topic: Unleashed dog encounter...appropriate response?
Replies: 5
Views: 2431

Re: Unleashed dog encounter...appropriate response?

I've seen people recommend, for several fearful dogs, turning around and walking/running away whenever they see a dog. It's exactly what I think this forum would recommend in that situation - Chance didn't have a bad encounter (good) and didn't get a chance to react (good). Overall, a perfect respon...
by Erica
Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:31 pm
Forum: Dog Training Advice
Topic: My dog refuses to walk.. help!
Replies: 2
Views: 1351

Re: My dog refuses to walk.. help!

Does she want to do other activities? If she's overall slowing down/not wanting to move, it might be that she's in pain. You'll want to get her checked out by the vet to make sure it's not a health issue. Also, depending on where you walk her, the pavement might be too hot for her paws. I'd keep thi...
by Erica
Thu Sep 01, 2011 3:44 pm
Forum: Training Tools
Topic: Help with Haltie
Replies: 13
Views: 11022

Re: Help with Haltie

You do have to consider, though, that bullmastiffs have a very differently shaped nose than a border collie. Zeus, the mastiff I walk, has a properly fitted Gentle Leader that will slip off of his nose if he stops to sniff something vigorously. BCs have very thin, long muzzles compared to chunky, fa...
by Erica
Thu Sep 01, 2011 3:35 pm
Forum: Dog Training Advice
Topic: new puppy
Replies: 4
Views: 2551

Re: new puppy

Think about it this way - the vet is a new person, much much larger than your dog. You were probably in a new environment she wasn't familiar with. She was probably unsure of everything and was being cautious. I won't pretend to know, however, whether a dog's personality is apparent at 10 weeks old....
by Erica
Thu Sep 01, 2011 3:13 pm
Forum: Training Tools
Topic: Halti question
Replies: 13
Views: 28554

Re: Halti question

I walk a Mastiff with a Gentle Leader because, like your dog, he's just too big to control if he gets riled up from situations beyond my control. I hope, first of all, that you're using a flat collar or harness now instead of a choke chain, since those are so thin that they can horribly damage a dog...
by Erica
Wed Aug 31, 2011 8:49 pm
Forum: Dog Training Advice
Topic: Dog doesn't like men.... why?
Replies: 13
Views: 4845

Re: Dog doesn't like men.... why?

There's a wonderful video about BAT training floating around somewhere...I bet you can find the original on Youtube. Basically, though, you find a place with a mannequin without your dog, then come back with him. You walk toward it, and as soon as the dog notices the mannequin, whether he reacts or ...
by Erica
Wed Aug 31, 2011 7:06 pm
Forum: Health, Diet and Exercise
Topic: Dog Scootering a journey
Replies: 112
Views: 77073

Re: Dog Scootering a journey

Wow, sounds like tons of fun! I'd love to read more about this...maybe I'll try to get one for Opal...she's pretty active!