helen

I love clicker training. I use the every click earns a reward and end of behaviour as it has worked like a dream for me

I get the 8kg Optimum from the supermarket. We don't have a BigW yet but hopefully some time next year so that is great to know they sell it cheaper.

Great tip inspector rex

Way to go Leo & Kinta

Optimum is cheaper in the larger sizes, it is also a higher graded food than the bonnie - the rep told me it is made to fill in the gap between the premium foods and the cheaper foods. I pay a little over $30 for a 8 kg bag which makes it $3.75 per kg. At that rate it would be about $75 for 20 kg, but if you take into account the drop in price for bulk it might be more like $60

I don't know what triangle of temptation has to do with stays but if your dog is not staying then I would go back to basics. there are 2 parts of a stay, distance and duration, do not try and work on both at once. I would try for some duration first with you in front. Work up to the duration you want then gradually add distance. If something fails do not keep trying, go back a step for a little while, just work at the pace of the dog. You need to work at such a pace so the dog is always successful, if the dog is moving you need to go back a step. If you are aiming for CD at the moment stop the out of sight stays and work on what you need at the moment, the dog staying with you standing there with the temptation of going to you. You only need to increase the distance one step at a time if necessary. Once your dog starts staying at a distance I like to occasionally go back and treat the dog in the middle of the stay, tell the dog to stay and walk away again - this is also a great strategy for a dog that is dropping in the sit stay, reward while it is still sitting. Introducing distractions as thespotteddevil said is a great idea too when the dog is staying.

I do like supercoat, my dogs do well on it and they are showing and doing agility. I do change from time to time so have just started on optimum and I can see my dogs are thriving on it, I found the webiste for their offer - http://www.optimumpet.com.au/ will have to check it out. I was doing what showdog suggested and buying advance and mixing it with supercoat, then went to supercoat. I won a best of breed at a show Advance were sponsoring a while ago and answered their questionaire when I went to collect my prize. The rep suggested the optimum as it fits somewhere between the cheaper brands and the premium brands so I tried it and really like it. PS - at a trial on Saturday Bella's first run was a bit feral and she ran faster than ever (at nearly 8 years), don't know if it was her mood or the change of diet.

Luckily for me Bella really enjoys the crowd and the atmosphere and really flies around as is really excited. The agility/jumping day at Melbourne will be much better this year as there won't have been bitches in season and bait all over the ground.

Bellarine Dog Activities Group is another place you might be interested in. Look under dog training in the yellow pages.

If you are looking for a place who trains with +R then have a look under trainers in this website, there are clubs and private trainers listed - http://www.k9events.com

When do you not compete/train? As soon as bitch is mated or once you know you have pups? I agree with you but would like to know when to stop training. For me, once the bitch is mated.

I also know of a bitch who tracked at 7 weeks, had the pups that night 1 week early and they lost most of them (and had vet's blessing). I just think that the dogs should have a few good years in them still if they are having pups so a few months isn't going to hurt. I knew before I bred I had no intention of competing Bella while pregnant. I know that nothing may happen, but the dogs don't choose when to go out to do agility etc, we make that choice for them.

I am supposed to train there = if I ever get there LOL

With any certificates a certificate IV is a higher qualification than an a certificate III

I still did excercise Bella with on lead walks etc and that was the limit. The VCA used to have a 2 day breeders seminar before it became compulsory. A vet who is also a breeder and agility/obedience competitor also did a talk. This question actually came up and I remember quite clearly she said she has known of dogs competing in agility during the first weeks of pregnancy but said she wouldn't do it with her dogs. I figure it is not worth the risk and there is always plenty of time after the pups to continue on.

Congratulations, nice when you get over some problems. Bella wouldn't sit with the dumbell in her mouth to begin with either, she would drop it before sitting. I did some fun dumbell work with her while watching TV. I got her to sit a few times then threw the dumbell, pushed her into a sit position without saying sit to begin with, she got the idea pretty quickly

I certainly wouldn't/didn't with my girl

Highton Vets in Geelong. She has done accupuncture for years

I know there is training in Kew - have a look at the top of this page for details - http://www.k9events.com/localityguidevictoria.htm

I trialled in pouring rain once. Bella worked the best she every had which surprised me, except for one small thing - she wouldn't drop LOL. Because we weren't going to pass I made up a lame excuse not to do the stays and the judge was glad, probably meant a bit less time in the rain for her.

I certainly prefer regular check ups and agree with Poodlefan and Leopuppy. I mainly use a massage person who is brilliant, there is also a couple of good bowen people I know who are great and occassionally I will use a vet who does accupuncture but find the bowen very similar. I have done the chiro thing but prefer the other methods.

I have done both, but the first thing my dogs learnt was stand. I also don't get serious about training for obedience while they are young and they are shown a fair bit when young.

I have been using it and love it but also feed dog biscuits. I went to a talk he did not long ago also, he recommends barf diet and naturally bones whether feeding the vets all natural or not. He said this product is made for those wanting to feed barf who can't or don't want to do all the preparation themselves. if you look at the website there is loads of information

I've often wondered about this. As Laffi said - how advanced is it??? Can you pick things up from it as a reasonably 'experienced' trainer??? Flickinig through it and i've always thought it looks good :D It is probably one of the best 'Idiots' guides, it is written by Pamela Dennison who has a fantastic reputation and I can see why when I read this book. It has theory and 'how tos', even covers things like stress and calming signals. I think it is a great reference book to have handy, although Leopuppy you may already know a lot of the info.

Another great book is The Idiots Guide to Positive Dog Training