The Spotted Devil

A couple of days off over Christmas and Miss Em was FERAL last night Was cooking up a storm for Mr TSD's birthday so just snuck downstairs whilst everything was in the oven to do some drills. Worked on left and right backs - they were SO much better and I think her understanding has improved. However, definitely more work required on distance and in water. Then did stopping and casting to the back pile as I had plans to run that drill in water today. So...made my excuses to the in-laws who are staying for a few days and had a lovely time out training. Started with stopping and casting to the back pile over water that she could run through. Easy peasy although I did need to straighten up her stops. Then moved to swimming depth and did it all again. No problem, although because I need to stop and cast quickly in water at this learning stage she wasn't straight on the stop and turned left instead of right. Ran the drill again after a break - this time when I stopped her she pre-empted the cast back so I stopped her again before casting back. Kept to the 1:4 stop rule on each drill and mixed up where I put in the stop. Decided to bring out the Bumper Boy. The third servo needs replacing so am running on 3 bumpers at the moment. Set it up for a nice water retrieve through a bit of cover - no problem picking that up so ran the same retrieve again but as a double. Picked up the across water mark fine and then the in-water memory mark that had floated into the reeds really well. Still think she needs a lot of marking work though - she's a thinker and gets herself out of trouble - very deceptive if you don't know what you're looking for. Moved the Bumper Boy and ran another in-water mark. The entry was through very heavy reeds and there was a clear path either side of them that she wanted to take so I worked on that. Ran the same retrieve again and she took a much better line. Ran a land mark which confused her a bit - it was angled back and she couldn't see it land so she pulled up a bit short. She was still extremely hyperactive even after all that so I did some short water retrieves through heavy reeds to reinforce the anti-cheating training. Heading home I decided to stop at another training haunt where I lost a bumper about 6 weeks ago - at the time some tourists told me they thought it had landed in a tree (I was using the Bumper Boy) so every time we have a big wind I drop by and send Em in to have a hunt for it. It's a steep slope - about 80 degrees - down to where I train and today I just couldn't be bothered sliding down and struggling up it. So I lined Em up as a blind and sent her from the tourist lookout. No problem for a gundog! One handle to get her in the area, she disappeared into the long grass and within about 10 seconds she reappeared WITH THE BUMPER I had a grin from ear to ear and the elderly ladies watching on were absolutely delighted too - it's a very pretty lookout with a view that attracts lots of tourists but I don't think they expected to see that! The bumpers aren't overly expensive but a pain to get from the USA in terms of postage. Clever girl has finally fallen asleep on my feet :D

How old teekay?

This is how I feel about it. Nothing wrong with dogs being fit for (whatever) purpose as long as they are healthy and sound. There are distinct differences between work/show lines in Gundogs but horses for courses. Coat is certainly a factor and there is a strong genetic element - you only have to look at w/line dogs that don't hunt. The majority of training for retrieving I do is on an oval and she is groomed daily just because I enjoy it but everyone thinks I clip her off! Again, I say, live and let live! I had the pleasure of attending a large ESS field trial in the US recently. The dogs were very handsome to my eye but, on the whole, much taller than UK style working ESS. A conscious decision because of the tall cover they have to work in. Again - fit for purpose.

I have been slack the last few days - what with Uni, impending Christmas celebrations and planning to go away again it's been just a bit crazy. Em has reverted to being the mischievous youngster in the house and has taken to doing evening zoomies with all the spare energy! Mr TSD helped me with a few drills at the oval tonight. Started with an in-line marking drill. First try at this one and I'm pleased to say that both Em and Mr TSD nailed it :laugh: After a break we did a double mark but both going right to left. Ran at as 2 singles first then as a double, picking up the 2nd throw first. She did well on depth for the memory mark (1st throw) but the 2nd throw dragged her inwards (not unsurprisingly) so she ended up wide of the mark - more practice to be had on that one! Concept wise she was great though :)

Great post Vickie Handlers not giving dogs focus drives me crazy as does under rewarding. Particularly in agility training you see the dog take an off course obstacle (handler error) and the handler throws up their hands and/or exclaims in disappointment. Terribly confusing for the dog. I stuff up a LOT (ask anyone!) but I curse myself with a laugh in my voice and body language, celebrate with my dog for doing what I inadvertently told him/her too and reward with a treat/tug.

:laugh: Well it will be freezing and I'll be working my @r$e off so the joke's on me :D I was very good with my order - cut out about 5 things. Had to leave something on my wish list!!!

Fantastic Tassie! I put my free domestic shipping order in - it will be waiting for me on New Years Day when I arrive in Ohio

Uh-oh...that sounds ominous. :laugh: lol...not really. I think Ziggy is so much more relaxed already and that's important....I'm not sure I'm ready for 2 entire males and a bitch and I don't think he is either. Really fell for the little rascal though - more than I realised. Such a lovely temperament, energy to burn and plenty of instinct. Hopefully I've given him a nice start :)

We learned to do a 3 leg lining drill in water today. The water was half run/half swim and she took a stop and backward cast really well on the middle pile. Did left pile and right pile separately - needed a slight bit of help from me on the left pile on the way out and a "swim" cast on the right pile on the way back (very cheaty for her) and then she was fine. Gave her a rest whilst Barkley had a swim and a few retrieves. Then we layed out one dummy in each pile position. She eyed off the one on the right but a quiet "leave" and she picked them up very nicely in the order I asked her to (middle, left, right) so a very good start. Lots more work to do of course. Barkley had a great time out today and then I left him with his breeder. He howled when I walked away. I might have cried a bit. And a bit more when I arrived home to a strangely calm house. Mr TSD has admitted to missing him already too.

Jess has got a puppyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Something I've found useful is to reward away from the nail trimming room once they have been conditioned. I run with Zig from outside on the deck through the house, down the hallway to the dog cupboard for his treat. Helps let off steam and keeps him thinking about his prize. I used to reward after each paw the same way but he now stands calmly whilst I do all 4 feet (lifting them up like a horse lol) as he knows the drill. The Springers and the cats think nail trimming is just a way to have more snuggles :)

We haven't had a tree for 3 years - not because of the dogs but because of our crazy foster failure kitten :laugh: He's a nightmare! I'm thinking of getting one this year. However, as Diz brings all his toys over the baby gate (to play fetch with us) which then get munched on by Em it could get a little messy

Back to the question at hand...it depends on the dog.., Ziggy (Dal) - formal training (agility/obedience) about every 2nd day is a good pattern for him if he's trialling on the weekends. Sometimes it's just the 2 food game with drops and a few finishes. Other days he has long walks or swimming and/or shaping or rear end awareness or a few sets of weaves. A bit dependent on how busy I am and the weather. Training sessions tend to be 2-3 x 5-15 min as he gets rotated with Em. He's always "on" and ready to train but short snappy highly rewarding sessions are best. Not all that much incidental training - I like him to be fully ON or fully OFF. Em (ESS) - formal training about 5-6 days a week (retrieving/agility) and the sessions are 3 x 5-15 min, swapping with Zig or pup or a rest when moving the throwers. Em lives to train and is happiest when she's running so walks are a PITA and I have to be careful that she doesn't go a-hunting when having an off leash run. Thus training makes us both happy and keeps her safe. She can train for longer so I have to be careful not to overdo it. At home we do shaping, bits of obedience, rear end awareness and lots of DWD-like tricks. Barkley (going back to his home on Tuesday ) - pup gets 90% incidental training....his self control was lacking so lots of work on moving through doorways, getting in and out of his crate, recalls etc. Formal retrieving training, recalls and loose leash walking at the oval about 3 times a week. Retrieving sessions are VERY short (2 retrieves).

But corvus some of us train for things we have to plan for. Unfortunately I can't do water training or retrieving drills or agility training in my back yard, as much as I dream about The Perfect Acreage :laugh: Sometimes I have to plan to spend half to a whole day out training for retrieving if I want access to other people's training advice and grounds.

Not sure that a Dal would be the best choice for a child to train. Awesome dogs and trainable, yes! But they do require more patience and creativity in my experience as they don't have that natural focus. Saw the suggestion of a Springer - they tend to have a soft, low down playing style even when at their most feral (happening before my eyes lol) and my Dally is very gentle with them. Certainly the working line ESS have a lot of drive but without something to engage them may be tempted to self reward and go a-hunting bunnies and birds.

Adults get fed at night here - every day is different in terns of training (quantity of treats vary) and exercise so some time in the evening is easier. In summer it could be as late as 9pm if I've had them out training as the sun goes down or if they've been at agility training (under lights). Sometimes when I leave the house (could be any time) they'll get half a small treat biscuit.

Hey LL Nice drivey pup! I would say not a problem if done for video purposes only. Done repeatedly every day I'd say over the top mentally and physically. Just because a pup WILL do something doesn't meant they should. Plenty of other stuff to do with a youngster. But context is everything!

lol well you did call her "Trouble" :laugh: It's a bit like the youngster I've got with me at the moment.... "Barkley". Mr TSD calls him "Barkers". Not very helpful :D

Today was really good. Did some simple drills working on stopping and casting in water. Em was good. I need to remember the following: 1. Keep the whistle in my mouth. Always. Learn to give commands that way. 2. Slow down the send. We will need it for memory marks. 3. Make sure she is sitting straight (or standing when in shallow water) before handling. 4. 3 sends for every stop and cast. 5. At the moment when she is swimming stop and cast immediately. 6. Call her in if she's shopping on pile work. 7. Call her in if she's day dreaming on her way back from a water retrieve. 8. Work seperately on backs, lefts and rights in water. 9. Teach her to pick up a retrieve coming in and to either side (throw it as she's running out to a pile, stop and call in). 10. Keep having FUN.

Glad to hear the renegades are making good PA

Zig is fed Artemis dry, a bit of Pro-plan sensitive and chicken frames. Being a Dalmatian, he needs to be on a low purine diet and this fits the bill pretty nicely. He has a high metabolism so I'll sometimes throw in chicken wings or even a quarter raw chicken, especially after a big weekend of trialling. I have not bought dry food for Em for 5 months as she has been eating all the bags won at trials. She has a cast iron stomach and does well on everything - Canidae, Advance, Nutro etc. Ziggy just won another 7 bags of Advance so that's what she'll be eating now. She also gets frames, wings and 1/4 chicken like Zig with the addition of lamb necks. Both dogs get a lot of training treats including 4 Legs, cheese, cooked chicken, tinned salmon plus the odd egg from the chooks and a big carrot to munch on.

It's great to look back on the training goals I set - feels like years ago :laugh: Zig & Me What a whirlwind 6 months. I could not ask for any more from my Spotted Devil in terms of agility - his weaves, contacts and responsiveness have gone through the roof! I think my handling has also improved. Completed his JDO title and stunned me by wining ADO at a recent trial. Topped it all off with consistently fantastic runs at the Agility Nationals including an ADO qually that I'd like to bottle plus JDM and ADM quallies. His attitude throughout our trip was also great, tugged to and from every ring and remained focused, even after flirting with every bitch in sight particularly the Spotted ones All the fitness work we did really paid off, although we didn't get time to start running with the bike. Unfortunately the Dally Club ET clashed with our Nationals road trip. Now that the pressure is off agility, I'm going to put a heavier emphasis on obedience. Em & Me Everything started to click in a hurry with this little dog - from struggling through our first Novice retrieving trials to now having two 1st places, one 2nd and one 4th One win away from being bumped up into Restricted so I need to get my act together. She really loves it and we are both enjoying the journey. I really need to concentrate on walk up retrieves, double rise, two bird, steadiness in the hide and continue to work towards cold blinds. Not too much water work over the next month as it's just freezing - she doesn't seem to care though! Em has started in agility/jumping, had a win in JD at her first trial and picked up her Novice Jumping title at the Agility Nationals with two passes to spare. A 2nd place in Canberra, a 3rd and 4th in the Nationals heats and 2nd in the finals. To see her dragging me into the ring after struggling with the busy environment all week made my heart sing :) I'm still doing bits and pieces of obedience but not working towards any trialling goals as there is only so much you can do at one time. Heading overseas for at least 6 weeks at the end of July so will squish in as much fun with the dogs as possible before I go - I expect to get serious training withdrawal :laugh: With 2 months away overseas there's not too much to add to this although Ziggy excelled himself at the Dalmatian Nationals with 1st place (Q) in ADO, JDM and ADM (for his ADM title!) and 1st place (NQ) in JDO plus Best in Trial (Agility) and Best in Trial (Jumping). No pass in his first CDX trial but I was over the moon with his performance given our rushed preparation. He continued to pick up agility passes and finished off the year with the Dally Club's Performance Dog of the Year once again. Very, very pleased with his enthusiasm to train and trial this year and also his tolerance of our temporary puppy resident. Em and I are still finding our team "fit" in agility but she's had some nice runs in JDX (for one Q) and I had a revelation about how she likes to be handled (distance! distance! distance!) in our last trial of the year. Retrieving training is seriously FUN, particularly with the ripper bumper launcher I brought back from the USA in my suitcase :D Lots of water work now the weather is warming up and starting to stretch her on blinds and memory marks. Training for Restricted in a slow and steady manner which will set her in good stead in the long run. Also delighted with how she's coped with the puppy - it really has been the making of her and has given her heaps of confidence. She's gone from being very unsure and unimpressed to non-stop wrestling and zoomies and arguing over delectable treats such as sticks :laugh: Although PUP didn't have "goals" I really should list his achievements at 4.5 months. He's only been with us for about 6 weeks but he has learned that: 1. Em is ok to snuggle on top of. Zig not so much. 2. Offering a sit is THE BEST WAY to have a door opened, be given or thrown a toy, be fed or be patted 3. Dizzy is fun to play with but he's pretty rough for a cat! 4. Messing with the lilac Burmese girls AT ALL is really tempting fate 5. When you hear your name, snap your head around FAST if you want a treat 6. Recalls are optional when you're off leash at the park 7. When recalls become optional you get put on a long line and into training "boot camp" :D 8. Barking actually DOESN'T get you anything much at all 9. Swimming and retrieving like the big dogs is awesome fun 10. Being a cross between a kangaroo, a mountain goat and a fish comes with it's own set of training challenges! A really amazing year :)

With the Feliway, you need to use the diffusers not the spray.

Urine Off as mentioned but you MUST use a black light to find every last drop. With the house in darkness the urine will fluoresce. Circle it with chalk or similar and then clean with the Urine Off spray as directed.

The oriental types (Burms, Siam, Orients) can be a bit more anxious and don't always cope well in a multi-cat household. I know one of my Burmese girls doesn't cope with foster kits very well even though she never sees them. Make sure you clean the house properly using an ultra violet light and something like Urine Off. I can understand you don't want to confine him but would you consider a well sheltered outdoor run? Also, have you tried anti-anxiety drugs at all? Might help identify whether this is the motivation and perhaps assist long term. There are a couple of studies that suggest Feliway might help and certainly a number of anecdotal reports that it helps in multi cat households. Use the diffusers but ensure you use sufficient for the area. I would suggest a multi-pronged approach. I hope that's of help for a start. ETA: Try teaching him a few behaviours or tricks that are incompatible with reacting to the other cats. What makes him tick? Food? Attention? Toys? Use those as rewards eg teach him to sit or climb up on the scratching post. I taught my old Burm to sit stay on a chair using allorubbing as a reward!!!