Henrietta

This has been great guys. Very interesting responses. Having given me heaps of ideas too, about other things that I can look at. LOL CTD - I think that's me, I have so much trouble and get so frustrated with my terribly uncoordinated self... and eventually it just happens, normally when I'm not thinking of it. When I first started clicker training, I got very confused with which hand to click and treat... I hestitated heaps because it felt wrong. I then just got over it, practiced bouncing a ball and clicker to improve my timing and now I'm much better at it. Sometimes I think, my poor dog, she has got the worst trainer in the world, but she is coping! Leopuppy, I used to get downhearted and think that I should stop because I sucked too much. I thought I was doing my dog such a diservice that I should quit while we're ahead. Thank God I got over that self indulgent crap and just kept going lol. I loved everyone's responses! I thought it would be nice to have a topic to share our experiences. Arya you are so right about how generous people can be with sharing their knowledge and helping you out, I have met so many kind people already!

Yep I can relate. Also when I watch someone demonstrate something, I try so hard to remember and understand, what action, what foot, what signal... and I end up doing the complete opposite... needless to say I spend a bit of time in the back yard, training myself.

Thanks for the responses guys. I hadn't really thought of planning as such. I make it up as I go along, but have a general idea about what I want to achieve/cover in any particular training session. I think I'll look at that, I can't believe I have never made a plan... I am such a planning type person too. Shorter, more frequent training session work well for my dog and I. It took me a while to grasp that concept.

Ok fluffy, lighthearted topic. Ok what do you think you have going for you to make you a good trainer? (Or in my case, hopefully what will help me become a good trainer. Now this is just a little bit of fun. I am a complete newbie to the training game, so it has been interesting and so much fun. What have I got going for me - I understand that it's not my dog's fault when she doesn't perform or get something. I have nearly endless patience, I have never had to cut a training session short due to frustration. (Never say never I guess, but so far, so good). I have a rule to always end on a high note, even if it was the worst training session ever! I listen to my instructers, to what they actually have to say and I don't take constructive criticism in a negative light. I also realise that one instructer's opinion isn't the be all and end all, and it never hurts to seek other ideas as well. That's about it really. What I don't have going for me - I am completely uncoordinated. I can be completely scatterbrained. I am still learning and sometimes I feel terribly in incompetent! Actually most of the time.... Maybe because I am new at this (relatively so) I get soooo excited over the smallest development/achievement. And I mean small. I hope that never changes though - it is great motivation for myself and my dog. Anybody want to share their experiences?

My two are very noisy when they play. The one and only time my older girl has snapped (in a normal warning manner) at my younger one, the difference was obvious. As for a full on dog fight, I haven't seen many but I agree with Miranda, they are horrible. ETA - sounds like my two actually Austen, complete with the ear and 'throat' grabbing. My two are a very playful pair, I honestly thought they would be sick of it now. The older girl, having been an only dog for her first 5 years with us, is in her element. Some dogs just never grow up.

Cassie, I am so so sorry to hear this. RIP Oakley, you beautiful boy. He will be in good company up there.

Nevermind

This has been a very interesting threaed, I have enjoyed reading it. Although I have never read VIcDog, it sounds very old school, very biased and very damning of anything alternative than what it recommends. LOL never play tug with your dog... I have been playing tug with my dogs since they were pups, great motivational tool - they love it! Yes, if you have an existing dominance issue than it may not be a good idea, but for your average dog, I see no problems.

Hey Stephie, I'll PM you.

Thanks guys. Arya and Erny, that does put a another perspective on things. I have just started at a new club (basic obedience, and agility) and I guess I was really excited about the new approach. Having said that, a yes has been working very well with Abby and she loves her food so I can see a verbal marker working well. I suppose I rushed into it thinking it was the be all and end all. My trainer seems pretty clued up so even though I didn't catch her tonight, I will speak to her as soon as she is free and discuss this with her. I get the impression that she is very much into tailoring for an individual dog's needs (and owner's). Plus I just don't the idea of her being freaked out I guess. Thanks again guys, I'll still with verbal markers for the time being.

Oh I must be blind. Thank you for all your help guys. Even though it is not the best that she is scared of it, I at least know now that others have experienced the same issue and I am not alone. We will continue to work on it, and there are always verbal markers.

Fortunately Abby enjoys getting her nails clipped, but you had me thinking for a while! Does anyone know if an I-click (no-name brand I have seen on the vet direct webpage) would fit on a normal wrist band (the coil ones). Yes I am very uncoordinated, I need a wristband. I have seen the black_dog ones for $12.50 (including postage) but I can get a no name one without wristband for $3.56 or something like that. I already have a wristband that goes with my box clicker.

Ok I am liking the idea of the i-clicker. LOL it look just like the central locking thingy for a car.

Thanks Pax, I'll try the sitting down outside method and see how we go. It's a box clicker, it really is quite loud. I will look into I-clickers. Are they digital or run on batteries, or are they just quieter? I'll see how we go, but if it is too much for her, I will go with a verbal marker, maybe until I find an I-clicker and see if that is ok. Thank you Pax!

Hi Everyone, I have just starting using a clicker and we are going through the click and reward stage. Turns out Abby is quite scared of the clicker. At first she was ok, she just jumped but still took treats out of my hand (she is a very food oriented dog). Now she runs away. I have tried higher value rewards (chicken instead of cheese), and I have done the same thing to my almost bombproof older girl in front of her. (She loves it by the way, thinks it's the greatest thing lol ) No change and I don't want to push it. Besides, aren't I rewarding her for jumping at the sound even when I do get her to take the reward? She isn't afraid of a pen clicker (I was curious, so I tried). What can I do to overcome this? Should I just use a voice marker at this stage? Should I run outside and have a game with her whilst someone clicks in the background get her used to the sound? I hate seeing her run away from me. I am going to ring my trainer tonight as well, but I was just wondering if you guys had any experience with this. Edited for punctuation

I have seen a Sheltie at obedience, it did really well. I am no expert, but I certainly think that all breeds are capable, maybe it's just up to the individual. I have a Chi that I am starting agility with soon, if she enjoys it that's great, if not we will just concentrate on obedience. It's a fun thing for us, I don't even know if we would trial, but I would not rule that out. I am just very much an amatuer right now. :D I have heard that pappies can be very good at agility, very fast apparently. I remember asking when I first got my little one about suitably for agility and everyone said that there is nothing stopping a little dog from competing (just because it is little) and they also mentioned pappies. I'll see if I can go and find the link. http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?show...&hl=agility ETA - found link ETA again - I know poodles are renowned for their trainability! I mean every dog is trainable of course, some more than others in any breed, but I think if I was going to get a dog for competition out of those breeds you mentioned, I would be seriously looking into the poodle (without ruling any of them out though )

Sorry I am a bit slow to figure out what happened, but if I get the general gist, someone emailed you to abuse you anomously, because they are too cowardly to own their own comments. Sorry Erny, please don't take them to heart, they are not worth the effort. You are truly one of the most helpful DOLers, always offering advice and in the past you have had many people totally flip out on you and abuse you simply because they don't agree and they don't want to learn or at least consider what you have to say. But despite that you still help people! :rolleyes:

Hey, glad to hear there may be a start to some improvement for Kaos. :rolleyes:

Yes, that is great to hear Erin!

Glad to hear that it shouldn't take long to see some improvement!

Sorry, I don't have any advice Erin, but fingers crossed for you and Sally.

Thanks guys, your help has been great. I wonder why offal is banned in Tas. I thought that offal bought at the butchers/supermarket was completely safe because it has been tested etc? Maybe things are different in Tas, not that I am in Tas, I am just curious.

Hope Kaos is ok and feels better asap!

Thanks guys, that has helped me out. It really doesn't matter what, but variety is good. I still think chicken will be the staple and then whatever is on special. I just realised that I have bought/eaten lamb myself for so long because it is so pricey lol. I forgot in my OP, what about Offal? Do people feed it and if so how often? About 2 or 3 times a fortnight? And what do you use? I have heard that liver is great? Once again, I know I can get the info from the internet and books, but it's good to hear straight from real people who feed it in real life.

Firstly, apologies if this has been asked before, I did a search and whilst finding a lot of other useful info, I couldn't find anything relating to my specific question. I am in the process of researching and preparing to switch my dog over to a full BARF diet. I have read the first Dr Billinghurst book which I found excellent and I am really excited about the whole thing. :rolleyes: I am no longer afraid of getting it wrong nutrionally, I understand the importance of balance over time. I just don't think I can stuff it up. Previously I have been feeding a mixture of dry, bones, eggs, sardines, yoghurt etc etc, but I want to go the whole way with BARF. The only thing that confused me is this - what meat or type of bones are the most important for your dog? What are the basic ratios you feed? Chicken for me is great, because being a small dog, she already loves them. Plus it is nutritionally very sound, so I have read. Next is lamb, that is meant to be great too, if a little fatty. So that would be an ocassional after chicken? Pork and beef? Beef bones seem a bit to big for my little dog, but surely I could give her one, once in a while? ETA - I am under the impression that you could get away with feeding chicken all the time and still have a nutrionally sound diet. Would I be correct? Even so I don't want to do this. I want my dog to eat as wide a variety of food as possible, it is just the frequency and ratio of the different meats that is confusing me. Any other meats I should consider? The book alluded to rabbit being good for dogs, does anyone know if it would at all be available in suburbia? Anyone had any luck? Thanks in advance everyone. ;)