dogdude

Hi JulesP I am going to take a few weeks off, and start up training straight after Christmas weather permitting. We have not all met up for a training session for ages, but maybe whoever is around during the holiday period may want to organise one. I should be available depending on the day. I'll also be off work for a number of weeks in late March, after the birth of our fourth child.

Thanks guys! I think i'll be busy planning to avoid trials with certain Pug's and Aussie's entered to keep my run of luck going.

Gee, here's me thinking i'm giving the thread a bump! Well done Ptolomy and "Ch Beans!!! (I need to learn how to type faster lol!!!) Well done to Bridgie_cat too, and it was nice to meet you!

Had a good weekend at the Portland Trial this weekend, with Oscar gaining his Novice title with a couple more H.I.Ts (both by one point) The Saturday was very warm and muggy, so it was good to give the dog a run down on the beach at Cape Bridgewater after the trial and he just loved it. (score 192) The Sunday was much nicer trialling conditions (without the heat and glare) (score 196) The trial was really well catered for and was a credit to the club. They even had a country pancake breakfast on the Sunday morning. Got some time to say hello to a couple of doler's, and set up beside some lovely F.O.O people too. (one of which also gained her Novice title) I can now start to concentrate on getting his Open work right over the summer break (as soon as he is finished being spoilt rotten), so the timing was very good.

Hi Arya Not a genetic expert, but these remarks are based on what I see as a whole. Like conformation traits, you only very rarely get whats close to the ideal, no matter how great the dogs before them were. You can sometimes breed a good dog with an ordinary dog and get outstanding conformation traits. Reading K9s posts, he can test thousands of dogs and only find a few suitable for protection training or Police work, so...........why is this the case? If there traits were so easily bred for, K9s assessment would hardly be needed. It strikes me strange that all of these hundreds of years of breeding purebred dogs to the same standard, still cant regulary breed one to the ideal standard. This is a clear indication that there is a lot of hit and miss. I think that as a whole, it would be much easier and definately more reliable to search for the desired trate in the dog rather than try to breed one.

I do not believe that the average breeder is able to accurately breed for drive. Without being a scientist in genetics, its all hit and miss. If you cast your eye over all of the obedience champions in the country you will find that they are all from different lines and of different breeds. Its my understanding that Police dogs and the like are sourced from a variety of places and chosen on their individual traits..........not necessarily lines they come from.

I think what sets most trialling dogs appart is drive..........not intelligence, and handler skill. I dont believe you can breed for that, it's hit and miss. Some breeds are more likely to exibit it though, but not guaranteed. I wouldn't try to breed one.......but look for one instead. In stating all of this............. I think that looking at a dog with a title, or one that simply scores highly does not necessarily point to good genetics. You dont see many "very high scoring dogs" with ordinary handlers. You still need to know how to manage the drive to keep producing results...............Therefore.........how do you compare any two dogs accurately??

I love Coolies! I"ve only ever trialled bull breeds. I would love to train a working breed like a Coolie. I have already started to "butter up" the wife by showing her the Coolie photo thread She likes the look of them too!

Congrats on your title bridgie!! Sounds like you've had a great month too!!! Entered in Portland Double? Not too far for you. I just heard that it might be 37 degrees on the Sunday!!!!!!!!!! If that is the case, I'll probably go fishing, but judging does start fairly early I suppose. It would be a shame to get a pass on the Saturday, and not try to complete the title on Sunday if I had the chance. I have another little brag: I got home the other day, and could hear my little girl (just turned 4) barking commands at my dog out the back. I peered out the window and she had Oscar going over the Broadjump (formally) using well timed commands, hand signals and "free" at the end!! She even set him up properly and everything! They were both having a ball together! Its amazing just how much they pick up at that age. A little trainer in the making! (although the jumps are now locked away :p )

Yay Leo and Tess!! Cmmmmmmmon Leopuppy04!! Wheres your shameless brag????? For a dog that wasn't ready, it sounds like he did great!! Seems like a great month for us doler's. I am entered in the double at Portland next weekend, as long as it is not over 25 degrees or i'll scratch and go fishing instead!! His work was a little sloppy today, not a good sign. I also need to find accommodation still. Silly me, always leaving things till the last minute There must be a few going, as all of the dog friendly accomodation is booked within about 30kms! I called one of the realestate agents and it looks like they may have found a house for us to stay for the weekend. It will be our last trial of the year if we do not scratch.

;) :p ;) Well done Prodigybxr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You must be on cloud nine!!!!!!! I was lucky enough to watch her heelwork and other stuff in the ring last time, and I can tell you, all of the people outside watching had a beaming smile on their face! I'm sure there are a few Open trainers shaking in their boots! She is a credit to your training Prodigybxr! Congrats on the High in Trial and your title!!

C'mmmmmmmmmmon,...............tell,.......the suspension is bloody killing me!!!!!!!!! Wish I was there to cheer you all on!!!

I pretty much do the same as CTD. It seems to work for us.

These are the things that I think make great obedience / trial trainers: 1:To have the ability to see things from the dogs point of view 2: To have the ability to read a dog accurately, and understand how to "float his boat" 3: To have patience 4:To pay attention to detail (both hands on and planning) while working towards "your perfect picture" 5:Ability to listen and observe others, even the less experienced 6:Ability to simplify seemingly complex problems by referring to basics 7:To have enough experience to decide when it is time to take the next step, and to have the common sense to admit when you need to take a backward one

Congrats on your title Ptolomy!!! FANTASTIC NEWS!!!!!!!!!

I'm sure you guys will do great, you and Leo are a fantastic team. With the level of focus that you have with him, not too much should go wrong. I cant wait to be competing in Open. There are some great trainers to pit your skills against (and learn off) Best of luck to you Leopuppy, Arya, Prodigybxr at Southern, and anyone else attending (Glorybea?)

As long as its healthy and of high value to the dog, it dosn't really matter. It does help though if its moist and easy to scoff, otherwise it slows you down too much. My tip is to go for maximum value foods. Some of these may not be the easiest or cleanest to handle, but that is not important. They can be used in target bags etc.

Thats an awsome pic bridgie cat! Congrats on the title :rolleyes:

Thanks guys! My thoughts go out to Prodigybxr who was on a terrific score up until the sit stay. The High In Trial would have gone to a double countback had she passed. There was another guy who scored a 195 in my ring.

Oscar's debut trial at Northcote. (196/200)

I did hear a few people at the F.O.O night say they will be there. I will be heading down to Portland later in the month for their trial.

Hi Bullyluvr I take it she is a Bull Terrier? Having trialled one successfully, I can tell you that you could not have picked a harder dog to train formal obedience! If you just want to acheive basic obedience, use positive drives only, as they respond very little to aversive methods. Formal aversive training at a dog club will leave you quitting very fast. Bullys are all about pleasing themselves (while making you laugh) but respond well to food drive or prey drive methods. I honestly am of the opinion that using aversive methods on bullys changes their breed characteristics, having trained 4 myself. Private lessons will be the go if you can afford it (you will learn 10 times more in one lesson compared to dog club) so is just as economical if you do the homework and listen. I found that although some of mine have been quicker learners than others, their attitudes to formal training have all been the same. You must keep it interesting.

Sorry Arya, my instrution skills can be confusing at times...even to myself. I did mean coming to a halt as you described. I agree with your argument about cuing.

What method are you using? Aversive or other? First teach focus and the rest will be easy. No attention equals a long hard road in all levels of obedience. Once you have it, get your (hungry) dog to heel along in a straight line (off lead preferably) and use your left hand to lure a moist smelly treat just above his nose and get him to follow it along for a few steps. When you have some nice attention, slowly come to a stop on your left leg while luring upward and slightly backwards (no command needed until exercise is learnt). He should rock back to follow it into a sit........ reward for a compliance. Do this a number of times, then only reward every second sit, etc etc over a few days until he has chained a good sequence of sits together until a large reward. When you are at that stage, start rewarding him with his meal at meal time. This will take the direct focus off the food and will develop a drive to work with.

Hi Everyone My little brag for today was fantastic trial run through at the F.O.O night tonight (KCC Park). Probably was the best he has worked in a trial situation, and we are a week out from Oscars debut trial. I was very proud of him, and I just hope we didn't waste it on a mock trial! I just hope the weather is cool on the day as that was a major factor in tonights performance. It was good to catch up with Arya and Glorybea too.