dogdude

Fantastic news!!!!!!!!!! Well done H and Tess!!!!!!!! Roll on Open Yayyyy!!!! Iv'e been away from the dogs for a few weeks now because of the heat, but I may enter Ballarat or Mornington. Should be a new dad (again) any day now.

I think that most newbys really do not like the idea of check chains to start with and most fail because they are either to soft on a hard dog or visa versa. Then there are the people who have no timing whatsoever. I do think a confident, experienced handler can train most dogs to loose lead walk in just a few sessions. I have only seen a handfull of dogs that I have come to the conclusion that a check chain was useless on that have sound temperements and no physical issues.

My advice is to get the dog stopping on his rear end first so that there is no rock back. Teach it by getting the dog to lift his head up as he gets close to you. Hold a tempting lure high in the air as he gets close. If they stop on their forehand it only encourages a slow change of pace. Just be careful that you don't get bowled over. Experiment with your hand movements to get it right.

Great work biker girl!! What a fantastic weekend for you! Where are the "loot pics"??

Always nice to start off with a win. Congrats!!!

There is a large obedience trial on at KCC park Easter weekend too. I think agility is included too.

Hats off to Ptolomy and Scoota!!!!!!!!! :D

Hi Kowai Has your dog been registered on the AR? If not, just ask them to pop some entry forms in with the paperwork. They gave me a few along with my registration papers.

You should not even have to change the registration if only temporary. When I lived in Portland I used to trial accross the border in S.A all the time. As long as you are registered with and ANKC affiliate you should be right. You trial under the ANKC rules wich are Australia wide.

My club Warringal is also next door to Wiltja at the Heidelberg end of Bundoora. I think that there is also a club somewhere in Mitcham? It depends what amount of money you want to fork out to train your dog as to where you will go. The cheapest end of the scale are the DogsVictoria affiliated clubs that will charge you about $40 a year after an initial joining fee of about the same amount. They will teach you all levels including trialling and dog sports if you want to do them. Wiltja will teach you basic obedience to about class 4 level for a higher fee than the DogsVictoria affiliated clubs and ADT will charge you well over $600 to reach the higher levels, but you can attend the classes for the life of the dog depending on what "package" you choose. There is also private trainers from which you will learn at a lot faster rate and their fees vary. There could be a club around Box Hill somewhere too. Warringal would probably be the closest DogsVictoria affiliated club to you if you live near Doncaster/Heidelberg area. (opposite Latrobe Uni) Make sure you bring proof of vaccination where ever you end up going. They all require it.

Thats not the correct entry form for obedience. Ask your club for one and photocopy it. If really need one asap, I can scan and email one for you.

Rusky Not sure how "you" teach D.O.R...........but you do not start off by training it at full distance anyway. You can teach it by throwing food back over dogs head, or, you move to a food target placed behind your dog. When it drops, you release dog back to food target. Dogs will always gravitate towards the reinforcement. Food placed/thrown behind will get the dog to drop quickly and not come forward. The dog should not twist and turn or break from exercise until released. But as we have just found out........its a physically unsound dog so slowing it would be the best option.

If this was a dog that I was training, I would want it to stop quicker.....not slow down.

I wouldn't use a wall, but like Pax would release and throw food behind as soon as he is almost into position. The key is teaching him to stop on his back end rather than using his forehand to do the stopping. His head must come up in order for this to be possible. Use a large visible piece of food at first. Teaching this way will still keep the speed. Dogs can stop on a dime if they really want to. If it was a wall that he was about to hit I could guarrantee that he would stop in time. The food thrown behind him will bring his head up. When he is used to using his back end to stop, you can then resume normal training. If he is not right for the next trial.........simple,....scratch!! There will always be another.

Congrats T.O...sounds like you guys done very well !! Well done Shoey and Molly!!!!!!! GO THE STAFFORDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've seen some real shockers around the trial circuit. Lots of people see a trial like some small window of oportunity that is about to close on them. The only thing you can do is give your dog every chance with good handling and training, and the rest is up to your dog. If you can accept that, then you will have a much better chance of acheiving it. The key is to get a very high level of confidence in your dog before you enter, and refrain from entering till you do. Sometimes it may be just that extra week before you both "click", but you will know when it is time. Good luck Kelpiesrule!!

Congrats FHRP!!!! Great score!!!

Hmmm...Must run in the family. Brydee's bed is full of lemons! I always find a steel offcut left over from the new fence too. Never had a dog that likes metal objects to play with.

Congrats Seita!!! Now that you have your first ring win under your belt, you can aim for a H.I.T!! There is really no easier time to snare one than during Novice comp either...so it pays to take your time before you debut your dog in Novice, and pay attention to all the little "one percenters". Dog looks nice and switched on in the vid too. Well done, fantastic work!!! Good luck with the H.I.T!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats Silvawillow! I'm losing track on what dogs that you have!!

Congrats on the title Leopuppy04 :D !!!!!!!!! A lady from club said she did quite well with her elderly border, (think she also got a title). Same dog is an O.C as well! There were a few sleepy looking members at club today.

Hi Kyndaara I was having(and to some extent, still having) problems with triggering high drive with food. Like you, I am getting super drive at night time, (the time when I have always fed him) as opposed to a medium drive during the daytime. I have now started to feed in the mornings, and there has been a definate improvement........but still at probably 60 percent of what his night time drive is. I am thinking that the darkness may be a further trigger? Another of my problems in the past was that I was not consistantly using a trigger command. I think that these two mistakes were the reason for this problem......maybe K9 may want to chime in?

I second the focus work. Make that the first thing that you teach and it should make life a bit easier on you. Meeting scores of dogs will not neccessarily help your dog. Postive experiences around them will though. Don't let strangers approach your dog even if they ask. I find the less dogs mine meets, the better. Less chance of having a bad experience. Funny enough.........you actually don't see many Labs trialling compared to other breeds.

In the past I have debuted my dogs in the ring at around 2 years of age. So far the dogs that I have trained have all of a sudden exhibited a distinct "lifting of the fog" moment. From that moment on they seem to be so much more mature, with a seemingly clearer understanding of whats required. My current new pup may be an early starter. Showing great potential. Mrs dogdude"s learning curve will be her ball and chain. :rolleyes:

Wow Seita......You guys are on fire!!!!!!! My advice to keep improving is to jot down the scores off the score sheet to help you focus on your homework. Spend a few seconds after completing the trial to interrorgate the judge on what he would like to see in your dog. You won't always aggree with what they say, but no harm asking! Hopefully the ring win will come next week!!! Good luck!!