The Spotted Devil

Oh gawd. Just had a session with Mr TSD - it's moments like these that make me realise why the dogs blow him off all the time :laugh:

Yes, it's not easy in this weather Leah! I'm getting pens fitted to my car in a couple of weeks time so am looking forward to transferring crate games to the car. I've also been doing "scruff grab" games with my 2 as they rarely wear collars and never when training. Zig had lots of free running opportunities yesterday so I made sure I played lots of recall/CGG.

Miserably wet and cold here - doesn't worry Em (crazy English dogs :laugh: ) but I'm snuggled in the warmth analysing my behaviour videos and didn't really feel like taking them out - so did crate games, RZ, IYC and yesterday's new game using the crate as my 2nd person. The dogs were driving in and out of their crates so darn fast it was fantastic! They held their positions in the back of the crate really well too. No barking from Em or whining from Zig. Will try the new game with Mr TSD when he gets home. I might drive them somewhere a little later for a bit of retrieving training and exercise.

Sorry Stan but :laugh:

Ha! You should see Em's "play dead" .....on her side, stiff as a board, eyes like saucers just waiting for the "OK!" Funny thing out retrieving or in the field she will sleep in the back of the car until it's her turn and just explodes when I take her to the line. People used to ask me if she was unwell lol. That's genetics not training though. Yes, I think you are right - when you are busy and doing various sports it really helps to build the games into daily life. Zig gets to run wild when Mr TSD and I are walking out for retrieve set ups for Em so we are going to incorporate recalls and collar grabs into that - Zig has a pretty super recall anyway but has more value for me if he has to make a choice. It will be great exercise if nothing else!

RZ is pretty cruisy for my 2 as I work them on both sides a lot - Zig started the RHS much later in life so it needs tidying up quite a bit. Really working on real life IYC and "accidentally" dropping things when we aren't officially training.

superminty I'm so with you on the relax thing! I'm trying to set her up for success by popping her in the crate after training (tired, half wet and often muddy) when she is happy to relax. At least we've progressed to QUIET in the crate - she still goes nuts when I'm training Zig at the park (she is in the car or staked out) - but she is definitely shutting up much more quickly as I refuse to get her out until she has been quiet for several minutes.

Do you have a good Bowen or Physio? Niggling injuries are so frustrating. Can you video his movement? It is SO cold at the moment that I reckon the snakes have migrated to NZ :laugh: Yesterday I managed to do some handling and stop whistles in the morning and Mr TSD finished work early so we did marking in the afternoon. Walking singles through heavy cover with one landing beyond a very cheaty pond. Very good effort. Then did a set up with a short memory mark in water and a long channel swim to the go to mark. Took a bit of work to keep her on a tight line but I was really pleased. She swam straight past ducks with just a brief acknowledgement. The water must have been freezing but she was loving it so sent her for a final mark across water, land, water with heavy cover around both ponds. She ended up a bit off line after the second swim so I gave her one left over to pick it up. Today I took the dogs with me on a few errands which took me past a favorite training ground - freezing cold and the wind was up so I tried to keep the water work until the end. Took a thick coat for Em for between runs. Set up 3 blinds - had the dogs with me but I didn't make a big deal of walking the line at all. First was moderately long and she nailed it. Second was shortish and she nailed that. Third was much longer and across a small body of water - I lined her a bit poorly so she needed an angle back. Hard running - just a little slow to stop. Finished with a set up - long blind across water with hand thrown marks either side - one in the water and one real tempter on land. Her understanding has really improved as she was super excited by the marks but did not suction at all. Just needed a back to keep her on course in the water.

Stan. The Man. A genius is amongst us Em has her own take on Stan's idea: Zig has toy. Em wants toy. Em sidles up to Zig. Zig grumbles at Em. Em rolls over and offers Zig a free sniff. Zig can't resist free sniff, Em grabs toy and bolts. Poor Zig falls for it EVERY time :laugh:

Freaking adorable though!!!

Doh!

Hybrid vigour Breeder provided papers No health problems with the parents I read that in the past 5 minutes!

Completely agree about ball throwing = dangerous for the dog and that is really about how the dog has to skid to a halt to retrieve the moving ball. With retrieving drills the dummy is stationary and the dog can prepare to slow and stop and pick it up. It's a very different action.

And remember that dogs that are "easy to train" also require a heck of a lot of mental stimulation to keep them happy (read non-destructive :D ) day to day.

Whippets are very strong pretty much everywhere but Victoria in particular. Didn't stop me getting one because I really love the breed. :) Got told I could have picked an "easier breed". I didn't want an easier breed. I wanted a Whippet :) Exactly! Yes People keep asking me when I'm going to get a Lab for retrieving or a Border Collie for agility. I have the dogs I love to live with and enjoy the challenge to boot.

Another reason SG likes tug is that it required lots of focus from the dog and it gets them into a high state of arousal, such that they ignore all the distractions.

With the GR - that obsession with the tennis balls is a) exhausting for the dog and handler around the home; and b) not great if you're out and about and someone else is throwing tennis balls about or if the dog decides that chasing birds is more fun than anything the owner has to offer. When you start off teaching this in conditions that tightly limit access to the resource conditional on a behaviour, it translates really well to more testing situations.

This is how I see it: I want the dog to take the reward I choose. When Em had her first retrieve of game she literally spat out the cheese I gave her when she brought it back to me. So why not use another retrieve to reward her? Because I need her to pick up the retrieve I tell her to. There is no way I can match the reward of a duck in the water - but today she chose to stay on the line of the retrieve (which meant a long swim in cold water) and to swim past a pair of ducks right near her (which she acknowledged and kept swimming) to retrieve a boring plastic dummy. Then get back in the freezing cold water and swim back without hesitation. When we are out in the field I need to be able to recall her off live game when she is in "the zone." Just like I need to be able to call Zig back when he's sniffing and peeing. Or chasing a kangaroo.

rubyroo - how's your boy? Recovered from his back injury?

YAY!!! Finally got my car back! Took the crazy Spaniel training today and she was so fired up. Mr TSD did walking singles for us and she just flew. Nailed every mark - distance was around 100m and terrain wasn't too challenging but she just about walked on water and pulled up on top of the mark every time. I was surprised after her lack of training. We found a nice body of water (freezing cold and rain can come in handy sometimes) and worked on a few concepts - double rise/2 bird and double rise/double fall - with the mark over water, double rise up the hill and the 2 bird and double fall landing in water as she was swimming. She did the mark easily (no getting sucked in to the 2 bird and double fall) but I did need to call her back and send again for the double rise. Great learning curve though as she just about winked at me and said GOT IT! And she did.

Yes! Talk about polar opposites you and me! You are so petite - remember from the Agility Nationals with that big dog of yours! Although everyone says I make Em look super tiny lol

Ah postage info - thankyou! Melbourne folk - if anyone wants a t-shirt etc maybe we should do a bulk order and save on shipping...

What are the sizings like MrsRB? I am 6'1", lanky and long of arm lol so these things can be hit and miss!

It's even funnier than it sounds :laugh: Lessons at home are translating surprisingly well....just got my car back after 4 weeks at the mechanic. Trained at the park and had Mr TSD rewarding them for quiet behaviour in the back of the car. Zig was a bit slow on the pick up but when we got home I went to open the back of the car and Zig went straight to the back and sat! Very impressed. It's nice living with polar opposites raineth - can be challenging but extremely interesting!

I'm browsing DOL waiting for Em to get over her bacon and eggs moment :laugh: