Baja

Hi Petmezz sounds like you are feeling a little overwhelmed with your class. Some classes are boring and owners will switch off perhaps think about dividing your hour into four segments the first 15 minutes could be spent by asking if anyone in the class had specific problems that they would like to try and resolve this encourages interaction and breaks the ice. You can then select something that is offered and advise on how to resolve it. The next quarter ask each person to complete a task from the previous lesson. The next quarter add the new exercises and give everyone a chance to try and finish the last section with a bit of agility as mentioned earlier or teaching a trick.

Kristie maybe your dog suffers travel sickness mixed with anxiety. Try a little grated ginger about half an hour before intended car trip and if possible put him in a travel box or a crate with a blanket over it, some small breeds suffer from strobing or fast movement of objects like the trees etc. Often this is cured by covering in a small crate. After a few trips begin to fold a section of the blanket back a bit at a time over several outings. Good luck

Don't think people really consider the weirdness of the handler more curiosity a lot of the time. If you look happy while you train and your dog is all bouncy then most people would think you were both having fun I train mine all over the place on the golf course, in the shopping centers and most of the time I'm so involved with what I'm doing I don't notice people looking anyway. If there are comments made they are usually nice ones, like I wish my dog was that good, or that's a happy dog. Squeak just enjoy yourself and your dog don't give a thought to what people may be thinking.

What's wrong with using wet weather gear? You can hold the dog in one hand and the umbrella in the other If the teach' can get wet so can the pupils, what ya reckon Steve? :

One thing life has taught me is never genralize.... I've been training dogs for a long time owned a variety of breeds, compete successfully definitely agree with your comments on anthropomorphism but disappointed at your one eyed attitude toward positive training. If used correctly it works you can't make a Killer Wale co-operate by using negative methods so why choose to use coercive methods on your dog? I don't use choke chains on my dogs and owning five medium to large breeds which I take out every day and receive comments such as "I wish my dog behaved as well as your bunch" speaks for itself. I use fitted plain collars and normal leads, none of my dogs pull on lead, they come when called and stay where put. I currently have one new youngster who's a bit of a handful but this is changing. Some of my dogs are rescue dogs and came to me with behavioral problems but are now well adjusted and well controlled. It's not the methods or the dogs getting it wrong the problem is generally at the top end of the lead. :D

Hi Meriment Thank you for taking the time to reply. I have had a look at the K9 page. having a few probs with the silly computer (perhaps silly operator!) it seems to enjoy encrypting portions of the details Still I've got the gist. Most workshop I've been to limit numbers and everyone works their dogs according to handler/dog's level of experience etc. But that's cool everyone has their own way of doing things. I'm always eager to broaden my knowledge so attend as much as I can in the way of schools workshops etc. I can't agree with you more it's us the handlers that are attending to learn then go away and work with our dogs Thanks Bikle I had a look at the page as mentioned above. So I guess from here I send an email to Steve to see if there are any spaces available. If there is I'll plan to do both days may or may not bring a dog. Mine all compete very well and I don't have any problems but I am a sponge when it comes to learning. Thanks again for taking the time to give me some feed back.

Does that help you Baja? Thanks for that at least I know how far I have to travel, time etc. I've still not heard what sort of training methods K9 use. There are three of us interested if there are gaps available. I gather if you bring a dog the cost is $180 for both days but there is no mention of cost as a spectator who is not bringing a dog. I've attended many workshops and have always had a fee for those with dogs and a cheaper rate for spectators but this course could be structured in a different way. Anyway, I'll wait to hear. Cheers and thanks for trying to help it's much appreciated.

Hi bikle thanks for the link I already have that but 'where is the venue' 15 minutes from perth tells me nothing. I really need a location suburb etc so I can see how long the travel time would be. ;)

Hi All, I'm new to your forum so muddling my way around. The workshop lined up for Perth caught my eye. Can you let me know where it will be held as I live a long way out of Perth and will need to check traveling time etc. Also being knew here what type of training will be demonstrated by K9? I mean training techniques positive or coercive etc.