Belijae

Wouldn't surprise me. It'd be a good way to keep up enthusiasm for work (which they always look like they are having a ball) and you don't want a dog doing that job half ar*ed becasue he'd rather do something else.

Don't tempt me! There is not a great deal of dog clubs on the Gold Coast - if I move, I will quite likely consider what clubs are in the new area I choose. ;) It'd be great seeing all the different doggies do their thing in the same team - and they'd each have their individual strengths to offer the team.

In my opinion and the opinion of quite a few trainers I have encountered there is nothing wrong with your dog getting all his/her food by working for it - in fact I have been encouraged to do the same for building my relationship, focus and training oppertunities with my own dog. You are supposed to alter your dogs 'meals' accordingly if they have received food for training, and if they have had their daily allowance in training rewards, then there is no reason for them to have a 'full meal' slapped down in a dish as well. There are people who fast their dogs for health and/or training reasons - would these people also call that cruel? As long as your dog is getting the proper dietry requirements from the food they are receiving as rewards, where is the problem? (food bought as 'treats' are often quite high in salt and not neccessarily nutritionally balanced - so make sure your pup is getting real food to ensure he/she grows up healthy) - EFS.

shame I'm all the way up here, or I'd love to come and watch... and ask if you want to add a dalmatian to the list. Good luck at the Royal!

It's fun to make them too! Jumps are easy enough to make. Here's a link to a topic I started with DOLer's home made agility equipmant.

We will be continuing foundation agility, so I want to improve Forge's focus and offlead work around distractions. In April he can start big boy agility, so we want all the basics under control by then. That's as far as I've planned. :cool: ... it would be great if we can be working at a level to enter a trial in October/November when he turns 18 months.

Poodle wrangler, I only just noticed that you supplied a link with your post (duh ) - It is a very well written 'how to' page ... OH was thinking he might want a dremmel for christmas - I might just encourage that thought.

The flaking had stopped/worn away by the time I got to the vets (today), but he has foot fungus, so we've got some spray for his feet, so will hopefully be all fixed soon. I asked about the immune problems and the vet didn't think the blood tests were necessasry.

I'v got a dog nail clipper... I actually clipped his nails two nights ago and noticed the flaking this morning. Might be that the clipper I bought was a little too cheap? The yard is majority grass, but there is also pebbly concrete and pavers, which is the shadiest area and where he sleeps mostly during the day. We also go for walks including on the concrete paths around the neighborhood.

Okay. Thanks poodlefan.

I'm sorry to hear about Cleo and Ellie. At least Cleo had a happy last few months living with you and not in a cold damp lonely pound. I hope Ellie has a swift and complete recovery very soon. Rest in peace Cleo.

Forge's toenails are a bit flaky. The rest of his fur and skin seem okay - does it sound like his missing some nutrients in the food he's getting? He rarely digs, and I can't think of anything else that might be damaging them. Any advice on where to start looking would be much appreciated.

I too have only just seen this sad news - I remember being excited for you while you told us about your long awaited saint puppy and all the wonderful photos you posted of him. He was still so young - it just goes to show how every moment we share with the ones we love is oh, so precious. You will always have the time you did spend together - I hope that makes you smile from time to time.

Oh Annedal, I'm sorry to hear of Claude's passing. At least you had a good 8 years together. Bye bye Claude. RIP.

Springything, I just found out. I'm so sorry to hear of Max, but happy that he had a life worth living, even if only for three years.

I have a red one and a blue one. ...but mine didn't come with a spiral wrist band. Or any wristband. ETA - there are articles on clicker training on that site too.

Here is a link that will show you what the i-click clicker looks like and some info too... i-click ETA - that's a good point Erny. I haven't used a normal clicker, so that is a problem I had not considered in my earlier posts.

Starting out, it can be tricky to hold lead and food and clicker and use everything without dropping food, getting tangled and then having to worry about timing for your clicks, but having said that, the use your foot feature is only beneficial if your standing still... or maybe tie it to your leg and drag it around, stomping on it when you want to mark something.

I got one (two actually) from a pet supply shop for $7 each. They are an i-clicker, which is one with an exposed button, so you can use your foot to click it, though the negative is that it is easier to accidentally click . I think the 'normal' clickers were cheaper - about $5. If you happen to come up this way on holiday I can tell you where to get them.

- shame they are not selling the items separately... we should all chip in and divvy up the goods.

Hmmm... now that you mention it... No, it was definitely Forge. :rolleyes:

Here's my little brag... its not a qualification in a comp or anything, but I still want to share. Forge is seven months old now and on the weekend just gone, he passed the foundation agility test. We were put on to the course a week after it started by another trainer who thought he would enjoy it, he missed the second week because he had already been booked in to be desexed (we went along without him so we could practice the homework anyway) and he acted like a complete brat when he finally started in the third week with no focus (but he focuses on the other side of the oval in the other class ) and lunging to play with every dog that was within cooee (he's still learning manners). I didn't think we'd pull it all together by the final week but he was amazing working of leash... I'm so proud. Before we were tested we told the instructors that we would re-enrol in foundation again next year anyway because he is still too young to do proper agility and we'd like to build on his off leash work more - they said they wish more students were like us (that was a brag for me :rolleyes: ).

I'm going to have to see if I can get my hands on some of these recommended books. I haven't read many training books yet - only what I have got from the public library, but 'The power of positive dog training' by Pat Miller is good, and I also enjoyed 'The complete idiot's guide to positive dog training'. I'm about to hire out 'Introduction to dog agility' by Margaret Bonham... anyone read it, or knows if it's good/so-so/not so good? I'm wondering if it may put me on the wrong track if it's based on another country's agility rules... I'm very new to it.

Forge is 'Domemco Master Ravenclaw' - Part name from his father and part from the Harry Potter theme of the litter (one of the pups had a kinked tail, lightning bolt style). I hope to get Forge some agility and obedience titles to his name, but I think the Endurance title is virtually a given.

SUNSHINE COAST DOG OBEDIENCE CLUB - Obedience & Agility Ballinger Park Ballinger Rd Buderim, 4556 Australia Ph: 0404 390003 I have no idea what the club is like.