Inherited Dog - Australia

Generali

She kills them and eats them. They don't move so quick so I don't think they present much of a challenge to her. The adults are a bit over a foot in length.

They won't hurt her: I mean they have a nasty nip but their main defence seems to be a nasty hissing noise which is no match for her teeth and they're not poisonous. I just quite like them and they keep the spiders and flies down which is good for me.

As an aside about the more dangerous local wildlife, we get black bellied red snakes around which I don't know if she'd have a go at. We don't get them in the garden but we've spotted the odd one at the local kiddies park which is recently built on bushland. They're poisonous to people but I have no idea if they are to dogs (funnel web spiders can be fatal to people but don't even make dogs sick).

foreign_correspondent

I echo the advice lostinrates gives above... teach "leave it" then work on it from there...

Once she has mastered "leave it" with other things, you can transfer the learning over to leaving the lizards, and call her to you and give her a treat when she leaves one alone!

Generali

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

I echo the advice lostinrates gives above... teach "leave it" then work on it from there...

Once she has mastered "leave it" with other things, you can transfer the learning over to leaving the lizards, and call her to you and give her a treat when she leaves one alone!

I can see how that would work.

We seem to get them in the garden perhaps 3 or 4 times a year so I'll have to get cracking on 'leave it' as now seems to be the time BT Lizards are out and about (mating season perhaps so they're looking for some good lovin'?)

candygirl

aww she's lovely:D:DWould the lizards still come in if the grass was shorter?Just an idea:D

Generali

candygirl wrote: »

aww she's lovely:D:DWould the lizards still come in if the grass was shorter?Just an idea:D

1. The lawnmower broke down
2. I'm very lazy

The lizards get attracted to the courtyard which is a bit of a sun trap. From there they go looking for food and the unwary ones end up as a dietry suppliment for Lady. If anything, the 'shaggy look' I'm pioneering in the back yard might give them a bit of cover :-)

ailuro2

Generali, do you get he programme "Dog Whisperer" over there? a little guy called Cesar Milan. It's an american show.

He's great for teaching dog owners how to be leader of the pack, and it's amazing to see how he teaches owners to behave correctly to get the dogs to behave and do as they are told by their pack leader.:D

You also need to google BARF diet - Bones And Raw Food, this will let you fine tune what you're giving your little Lady.

Generali

ailuro2 wrote: »

Generali, do you get he programme "Dog Whisperer" over there? a little guy called Cesar Milan. It's an american show.

He's great for teaching dog owners how to be leader of the pack, and it's amazing to see how he teaches owners to behave correctly to get the dogs to behave and do as they are told by their pack leader.:D

You also need to google BARF diet - Bones And Raw Food, this will let you fine tune what you're giving your little Lady.

Not that I'm aware of.

I've started giving her left over rice and carrots that have been used for stock making both of which she seems to like or at least is prepared to eat.

She actually seems quite keen on being trained. Her last owner was pretty old and rather on the frail side so I think Lady may have been ignored a little. And not well treated prior to that too.

I have to confess I'm a bit lazy about it - I'll do a few days and then skip a couple. She doesn't seem to mind though.

hethmar

Talking about Cesar - he is coming to England next March! My sister has had an invitation to a do at Nottingham where he will be lecturing and taking questions.

He is rather gorgeous isnt he - reminds me of Martin Shaw (although I have to say I have baulked a bit at some of his training techniques but he does seem on the whole to get good results)

Genrali, you can buy his books and videos on amazon.

AussieLass

I think you mean red bellied black snakes and yes they are very deadly to dogs. I would really try and keep your grass short during summer. Snakes love long grass not to mention ticks and you're in for a real treat as those snakes give birth to 40 live snakes at one time.

My dog loves raw chicken neck bones. I usually give her 1 a day & it helps with getting plaque of their teeth.

lostinrates

Generali wrote: »

Not that I'm aware of.

I've started giving her left over rice and carrots that have been used for stock making both of which she seems to like or at least is prepared to eat.

She actually seems quite keen on being trained. Her last owner was pretty old and rather on the frail side so I think Lady may have been ignored a little. And not well treated prior to that too.

I have to confess I'm a bit lazy about it - I'll do a few days and then skip a couple. She doesn't seem to mind though.

Actually, so long as you are consistant about house rules (e.g if you expect her to wait for her food, and not jump up) its BETTER to train exactly as you are. (you're well within my area now). Traning in very short sessions is best, and time to ruminate over things is beneficial...so studies show so don't think of it as lazy, think of it as thinking time for her. OTOH, do try and make sure you end the little sessions on a positive note.

Dogs should always enjoy training. Its bonding time with you, its stimulating and, the way I've decribed, its both fun and positive. what's not to like?:D She's also going through the stage of ''larning to learn''. Once she's got the idea ..erhaps she has, that she has to figure out what you want then do it, things become easy peasy, she only has to figure out what you want, and with positive training, she'll want to do it...most of the time:D