The Spotted Devil

Link to original article with video and comments

I found some great examples of how much agility has changed over the years. This is how I remember agility with my very first dog - not quite this far back but the standard was similar: The First Ever Agility Course at Crufts 1978 This is an example of what the sport looks like now in Australia at the high end: Edited to add Susan Garrett in action - there's also a course map on that website - how things change!!!

Dry food or carrot would be my suggestions but it really depends on the dog. I also love asking for self control when using high value treats....training 2 dogs means that a little training envy develops so they think EVERYTHING is high value. It also means I can build on that - especially with Em where nothing beats live or dead game as a reward and I need her to whistle sit on a dime and handle away from the desired reward or through a more difficult path to the reward at distances of up to 150 m. She's learnt impulse control on food rewards and that transfers surprisingly well.

Since our last weekend of trialling I've been concentrating on confidence building single marks with the bumper boy. However, it's been HOT, I've been busy, the BB has been a bit temperamental and, to top it off, Em had a grass seed in her paw! I finally got rid of the latter (yay!) and we got the dogs to the water tonight. Zig had an awesome time being an idiot and Em had an absolute hoot. First set up was a memory mark (water) and hot blind (across water). She nailed that so I added in a second memory mark (land) to go up first - so a double memory mark and blind. Blind was easy but she wanted the easy land mark. I took my time lining her though and she picked up the water mark no problem followed by the land mark. Was going to run a double fall on a hot blind (land) but the BB didn't go off so it ended up being a hot blind and a single mark. Easy. In between letting Zig run riot Em did a heap more easy water retrieves for fitness - occasionally I stopped her in the water and sent her back or threw a 2 bird or sent her for a blind when Mr TSD tossed Zig's toy too far. Finished off with some fun handling drills on land to encourage steadiness until I signal left/right or angle backs - she gets so excited and has a tendency to pre-empt. She nearly took the bait on several occasions but I only managed to trick her into fully breaking once lol. I really concentrated on slowing my handling down....on advice from one of my mentors I have been purposely sending her quite quickly on blinds (training and trialling) just to make the most of her forward momentum but tonight I held her for a bit longer and it now feels like the right thing to do - getting her straight, focused and concentrating.

I haven't stayed there but I think it is right next door to the grounds? It wasn't really my style from the look of the website. I have stayed here: http://www.greataussieholidaypark.com.au It's definitely further out of town but I loved it. Worth the drive for me - I camped.....think it was an ensuite site. I'd stay again.

Exactly. I think Susan is AWESOME, but this time around I know I won't get the value out of it because I just don't have the time to commit. I think the thing is that this stuff is not just about getting a dog titled. That is easy. This is for people who want to be at the pointy end of agility, whether it is here or abroad. It's for people chasing tenths of a second (but will help those chasing tens of seconds as well - I have dogs in both categories and it is working for both.) I think the proof is in the pudding with this stuff. For Susan Garrett and Lynda Orton-Hill to still be matching it with the super fit, stick think 20 year olds in what is becoming and increasingly youth dominated sport at a world level speaks volumes for her ability as a trainer/motivator/technician. Not for everyone, but you can't deny the formula works. I think the criticism that it is a cookie cutter approach is probably justified if you haven't had a heap of exposure to what she is doing and if you try and translate it on your own without getting the full picture. It's not really cookie cutter - yes, she expects the same outcome from every dog, but within the system things are tweaked for each dog. Maybe not wholesale change like some people use, but definitely different depending on the character of the dogs involved. This is a super exciting time for agility in Australia - so many different people coming out that we've never seen before. It's going to be very interesting as more and more of us move away from what we've been doing for the last 10 or 15 years and adopt the more movement based handling systems. (I know some have been using them for a while, but all in all they are relatively new to agility in Aust.) Well said AD!

I use the chews as training treats. My dogs go nuts for them.

It's one of the reasons they use Beagles in the airports apparently - very loveable, sweet looking dogs.

My dogs are well used to "cats in residence" Tassie - Ziggy wanted to hang out with me in the bedroom this morning but just wouldn't settle....turned out Dizzy was in his crate so I had to get Em on my bed so Zig could have hers. Very funny. When my dogs have chicken frames for dinner they are fed one at a time outside. Em has been doing crate games on and off so I think this is why she has started to dash into the open crate and sit at the back when Zig is given his frame first....maybe the magical crate will produce her dinner sooner rather than later!

Lol that's hilarious!

She runs like a bloody gazelle lol. I can't do what she does but I do love her sense of joy and her ability to break stuff down so thoroughly. I think that's a real talent as a problem solver.

Silvia is awesome - love her DVDs and wish I had the time to do one of her online courses.

Try this link and let us know how you go! http://www.australianworkingretrievercentral.org.au/bb/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3167 ETA: As a newcomer to the sport I train a lot on my own but try to meet up with a few mentors to train with them when I can. It does mean a lot of travel but it's incredibly rewarding. It's quite different from obedience and agility etc in terms of training opportunities.

Little darling How are you holding up SLF?

Going near my dog I could cope with. But getting attacked is another story. It happens often enough in trials to be of concern. I had an Aussie Shep grab my Dally around the throat whilst he was doing some beautiful off leash heel work. Not during a trial fortunately. Yes, my dog seems to be a target for other males. Although he was 100% focussed on me it's clear his body language triggers aggressive responses from 99% of other males we meet and the risk is not worth it. My dog decked the other dog in self defence but was very composed when I got between them and glad to see me taking control. I was shaken but he was keen to leap back into training despite the cut on his ear. I have had several similar experiences (always my dog doing his own thing) and do not wish to put my dog in that position. He won't start something or join in another fight but he is confident enough to finish it if he feels really threatened. When the bitches get in his face during the stays, he wags and flirts like crazy but those front feet don't move.

No it's not that at all :) But I don't know many Lab/Golden breeders and the ones I do know are bred specifically for certain purposes eg retrieving, so I always recommend people do their OWN research. If I can give a breeder recommendation I do so. Most on this forum would be aware that the human-dog relationship often breaks down due to unrealistic expectations on the part of the owner. So whilst I love the two breeds I have I will always tell you the negatives first because all you will see of my dogs is they are intelligent and pretty well trained. But you won't see the HOURS of work I've put into training and exercising them nor the number of times I sweep up all the hair in the house! We also know that puppies are cute and exciting but they can be hard work! Go in with your eyes open - call some breeders, ask if you can meet their dogs and work out if they are the dog for you. They can be very boisterous with young kids also but I'm not sure how old your kids are.

For sure. And socialisation with litter mates and Mum is critical during the first 8 weeks. Genetics is also important though - just like height in humans for example - you are born with the genes that dictate how tall you will grow BUT poor nutrition (ie environment) can cause stunted growth. So, they don't reach their full potential. Temperament is much more complicated!

And remind yourself that, with 2 kids in the house, it is critical to have a dog that is of stable temperament and will not bring heartbreak to your family.

I don't know much about Golden Retriever health tests but I'd certainly expect to see hip scores of sire and dam.

Walk away. Run even. I understand you feel sorry for THIS pup but realise that by purchasing this pup you may simply encourage this person to breed again. Not to mention the potential health/behavioural issues you may have to deal with. You posted here for advice. Please take the words of experienced dog breeders and owners seriously.

Yay! Yay! Yay! Go Kaos!!!

Nekhbet - it's not necessarily a training issue (Ptolomy is one of the best obedience trainers out there by the way) but a safety issue. Judges and stewards can be slow to react and many a good dog has been stood over or intimidated or worse during sit stays in particular. My male has been stood over multiple times in the ring and I am fortunate that he has held his ground and not reacted. However, he is MORE than capable of defending himself and I do not feel comfortable about entering CDX with out of sight stays.

We were at the beach this morning. I can smell the farts coming from the spare room from the lounge. Ain't no way he's sleeping in the bedroom tonight! I was just saying the same thing about Mr TSD...

Not fair You have access to the ultimate reinforcer ... must make it so clear to Em - no sit = no bang stick and fetch Oh I know! She learnt out of sight sit stays (in the hide) quick smart I tell ya! Last weekend I heard the judge comment on how hard she was wagging her tail whilst she was in the hide - she clears a path behind her lol.

I have found that me treating a shy dog for approaching people (rather than the people giving treats) seemed to be more effective. I started with just an acknowledgement that they were there - look at the person, look back at me, treat. Puts the ball back in the dog's court if that makes sense but takes the pressure off.