New Member

Posts: 2
From:Santa Barbara, CA, 93111
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 10-28-2003 09:25 AM         

---

I just got an Aussie/ Pit Mix at the Humane society. She seems more of the other bread than the Pit but Im not too sure. I have gorwn up with Labs and she is a lot different. She barks at her reflection and gets scared over stuffed animals and ceiling fans. I know she is just a puppy but my boyfriend was playing with her and she was jumping on him with her fron legs as he was crouched down and was using her teeth pretty strong? Is this her being a puppy or aggression. She is only 6 months but should I take her to a dog training school? She is very well mannared and kinda keeps to her self but she can get hyper and jump very high. She has shown no human agreesion towards me when I feed her or pet her but seems to be very shy at times. I am a new mother and I am just scared! Can someone please give me some 411 about all this!?!?!

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 1387
From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 10-28-2003 09:58 AM         

---

Hi Lesfly,

Sounds like puppy stuff to me, if you just got her at a shelter chances are she has had no constructive training or handling. YES! definately go to a puppy class with her and then go on with obedience if you wish. I have an Aussie mix and a Catahoula mix, both will play a little too rough at times when excited. The Aussie X is almost three now and has for a long time been really good at guaging how rough he can play with which family member. He has learned which games are ok to play with Dad and not the kids or mom etc. It just took patience and teaching him commands like "enough", "leave it", "play nice". The Catahoula pup is 11 months old now and he still hasn't learned completely how to "play nice", he sometimes gets really wound up and gets a little too rough, especially if you get down on the floor and crouch, I think assuming this position is sort of "dog like" position and may be giving them the idea it's ok to play with you like they would another dog. It's up to you to set the limits. My pup definately knows what "time out" means, when I say this he lays down and puts his head down. He knows it means ...he went too far and he needs to calm down. I don't have to yell it or anything, I just tell him in a firm tone "time out Witt". He does the "awwww mom" wiggle and lays down. Both of those breeds you said she is crossed with are typically intelligent. You will have to learn to think ahead of her. I would also start learning about those specific breeds and their traits. Aussie's are a herding breed and there is alot you should know about that. Each breed has it's own unique characteristics and it helps immensley in anticipating behavior and understanding the WHY in what they do when it comes to training. Read up on agression, it will help you to see the difference between real aggression issues and what may be just doggie behavior" Knowledge about the subject will alleviate your fears. Read about the different styles of training so that you can choose one that makes you comfortable and that will work for your dog. PetsMart usually has a reasonably priced puppy class and you get the basics that are so important.
At 6 months, your pup is going to have tons of energy! Make sure she gets to play and romp and run it off daily. Wearing her out goes a long way in having a happy healthy not so destructive puppy.
Don't be scared...this is supposed to be fun!
It's awesome you adopted a dog from the humane society and gave her a forever home. Let yourself get excited about taking the classes and learning new things.
I do flyball with my Aussie mix and some agility training, he loves both and I have met some really super people along the way. We have alot of fun meeting other dog people who are as crazy about their dogs. Welcome to the board, keep asking questions and I'd love to see a picture of her if you can post one.
Maisey

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 57
From:Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 10-28-2003 10:30 AM         

---

Thank you so much for you input! I will take that all into consideration. Our Nala is Chatahoula/Aussie and Pit Mixed. How about your dogs? You seem very educated about all this and I just wanted to say thanks again!

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 57
From:Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 10-28-2003 10:30 AM         

---

Thank you so much for you input! I will take that all into consideration. Our Nala is Chatahoula/Aussie and Pit Mixed. How about your dogs? You seem very educated about all this and I just wanted to say thanks again!

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 1387
From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 10-28-2003 10:43 AM         

---

This thread contains instructions for posting a picture: http://www.auspet.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/001138.html

Here are my guys, Witt and Dooley.

Dooley my Aussie/Lab X

Dooley on a flyball run

Witt is a Catahoula Leopard Cur X

Witt when he was only 4 months old

Have some fun with your new girl, take some pictures, share them, go take some classes with her and keep asking questions.

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 57
From:Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 10-28-2003 10:48 AM         

---

Wow! Nala has the almost exact same coloring as Witt. They are both so cute! I am going to get my BF to scan some pics tonight to share!

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 1392
From:
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 10-28-2003 03:10 PM         

---

Heh, another Nala. People are going to start to get confused!

Welcome to the board. Here's my Nala:

Jamiya

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 57
From:Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 10-28-2003 03:48 PM         

---

Jamiya! Your Nala is so cute! I really have to get pics of my girl on here soon! HOw old is she? She looks like she still is a puppy?

IP: Logged

Moderator

Posts: 1591
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 10-28-2003 04:29 PM         

---

Jamiya, she is adorable!

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 169
From:New York, USA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 10-29-2003 05:18 AM         

---

AWWW Jamiya! I don't belive for a minute that cute little face causes any problems! Hehe, just teasing, she is adorable though!

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 1392
From:
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 10-29-2003 06:36 AM         

---

She's around 5 months old...I guess. She lost two canines this weekend and I noticed at the same time that she has a few molars in. Another canine looks like it is ready to come out. No pre-molars gone yet (I think) but she doesn't like me counting her teeth so it's hard to tell.

NewLabOwnr - HA!! (laughs until I cry) She is regressing if anything. The last two days walks have been nightmares. I thought she would break my hand yesterday pulling, and when she wasn't doing that she was sniffing EVERY blade of grass along the way. In detail. Telling her to SLOW made her slow down but as soon as I said "Good girl!" she would speed back up. And the leaves. Blowing leaves. I think every one called to her saying "Chase me! Chase me!" You wouldn't think such a small dog could actually fly me like a kite.

She stopped listening to SIT also. We had a crash course in sitting when I got back home.

When at home, she thinks "Good girl!" means "I get food from Mommy now" and if I don't give her food then she looks at me like she's thinking, "What's the point?" She really has no desire to please her people.

What's really funny is that this morning I took kibble out of her untouched food bowl to give her as rewards and she pranced around me nipping at my hands to get some.....but there was a whole bowl full of them 2 inches away from her! Weird.

I just need to work harder with her. It's so hard to find the time, especially when she is not too hyper or too tired to pay attention (she doesn't seem to have a medium speed - just ON or OFF) and when there is a place free from distractions to do it in. I also don't want to push her too hard since she IS just a pup - I'm sort of waiting until 6 months to get really strict with the obedience and lengthen STAY times, etc.

This dog is going to be the death of me!

Jamiya
(loves her doggie and tries not to think what life with a Golden would have been like)

IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)