The Spotted Devil

Aloveen. Once a year. If they're lucky :laugh:

Well I'm pleased to say that Em DOES understand memory marks Mr TSD threw a few dummies for us tonight on the oval - I used the command that she was used to and she was all over it. Thank goodness! Barkley did just 2 walking singles - on a long line since his recall has gone out the window - but sat nice and steady (no prompting from me just things we've worked on at home), looked forward and went out after them like a shot. Not bad for 4.5 months :) Had to reel him in as he would have done laps of the oval showing off his prize had I let him! Then it was some recall training using Zig and Em as high distractions when he started to improve. Now we have some Serious Springer Zoomies out on the deck :laugh:

Not if he bolts across the oval into the distance again :laugh: He's heading back to his breeder before Christmas as I'm going to the USA for at least a month on 1st Jan (for Uni). When I get back I'll see how I'm coping as it will be thesis writing time. It's a huge commitment and I don't want to spread myself too thin. He is a ripper little dog and Em is having a ball playing zoomies. Zig is surprisingly much more tolerant but doesn't really engage with him.

I agree :D Well said RS :)

Great to see you back in here RV It's not easy training in the field! Lovely pics of Zora Here's a photo I snapped of the Little Terror this week......did I mention he's crossed with a bloody Mountain Goat? Boot camp is helping - have shaped a reasonable front and just started on the delivery tonight...

Nice one Ptolomy Video footage or it didn't happen :D

I'm still managing to squeeze some retrieving training in every few days. Em seems to have made some progress with blinds and handling - just has a really good attitude and is gaining some confidence in herself. Note to self: don't forget where the blind is Was a bit confused about her memory marks......until I realised I'd changed her commands and she couldn't work out what the hell I was wanting! Note to self: don't be an idiot Puppy is going through a REBEL stage :laugh: Little darling has NO recall all of a sudden so is in training bootcamp. Loves walking singles though. Note to self: girls are much easier than boys!!!

Wow! What a great outcome

Couldn't agree more.

Hmmmm...,good thinking. Will have to measure the rear door to get a feel for it as well. They're such a good idea!

The boarding kennel I use doesn't allow owners anywhere near the dog kennels. There is a viewing platform so you can see the kennels and where your dog will go. I like it for security reasons and because it reduces the number of comings and goings.

One shelter I have done research with put in half door barriers - it did seem to help dog reactivity but it was a right PITA for the workers because they couldn't assess the dogs if they were right at the door. Another shelter in the US that I'm working with has rather small pens in adoption (and lots of dogs) but the barking is not at all bad. The shelter director puts it down to the amount of exercise the dogs receive - they very quickly learn that pen time is for resting

Thanks gals - most helpful! I was thinking it might be handy when I'm camping and want to make sure the dogs are secure but have airflow.

SSM, there was an interesting paper on this. The authors conducted extensive interviews with people relinquishing their pets to an animal shelter. Your experience (my bold) is similar to what they found - however, it turns out there had been extensive procrastination (at least months) prior to suddenly wanting to be rid of the animal straight away. It was a difficult paper to read without some level of subjectivity (and fist shaking!) but it was a very interesting insight. In particular, the way people only "heard" what they wanted to hear from the shelter staff - even with serious issues such as aggression (and biting the owner!) they convinced themselves that the shelter would find a home for the dog.

Has anyone here purchased a ventlock? And if so, are they any good and how much do they weigh please?

You ready to take our orders with you? :laugh: Only if you're ready to pay my excess baggage fees :laugh: I had to purchase an extra suitcase on my last trip just so I could get all the dog training gear home! The quarantine beagles thought it was Christmas :D

Ooooooh free shipping store wide for US delivery! Just as well I've booked my flights :laugh:

Congratulations gsdog2 That should be in the Brags thread you know :D It's fabulous!

One of my Burmese cats had a really bad time teething and was shredding her gums with the pain. The receptionist at the vet clinic was very dismissive but we took her in anyway. Some good painkillers and taping her paws got her through it, poor darling. Oh and I was 14 at the time. Willow had to be supervised so was permitted in my bedroom at night. Mum had previously insisted she sleep in the back room. Willow spent the next 18 years snuggled in and on my bed whenever she wished :laugh:

I've missed so many brags S&W, CC, TO, RS , Tassie and I'm sure to have missed some but congratulations Last agility trial for the year today - it was horribly muggy and the mere 27C felt 10C hotter. I was feeling exhausted from work/PhD/usual back pain/trip planning so Zig and Em did a stirling job of handling me throughout the day :D Zig picked up 2 ADM passes and 1 JDM pass whilst Em picked up a nice 3rd place, Q in JDX. However, the absolute highlight of my day was a sudden enlightenment about Em...she has consistently being blowing her weaves and, on occasion, shows signs of stress in trials such as sniffing and getting distracted. I have been trying to nut this out for ages as it contradicts her keenness to get in the ring and I'm very conscious about making trialling FUN - I never repeat missed obstacles or drop my shoulders. I assumed it was the distractions outside the ring and tried to run with her more for support as this works really well for Zig when he's tired. Today I decided to try something different. Half way through her AD run was the table followed by the weaves. I left her on the table, ran all the way beyond the weaves to the tunnel and released her. She bloody nailed them and fast!!! So the problem is ME. All this time I've been trying to help her I've been crowding and hindering her It makes so much sense as she's so used to working 50-100m from me in retrieving with whistle stops and handling. And, for such a young dog, she excels at lead outs! So my goal for the New Year is to dial up the distance, no more babysitting and just RUN! Sorry for the long post - just had to write that down. TO should have some brags too.....her Jovi thought my pup was pretty fun

It got to 27C at our agility trial today but it was very humid and felt at least 10C hotter! It was hard work keeping everyone cool between runs but at least it didn't matter what they looked like :laugh: Rebanne - I had 8 of those compost panels set up today at the trial on the grass (adjacent to my gazebo) for my temporary resident puppy. Absolute lifesaver! Put a reflective "blanket" over half for shade and I reckon he was more comfortable than anyone. Thinking of adapting this for my Dally who has learnt how to undo padlocked zips on soft crates - dragging the big Vebo crate around is killing me.

Was just thinking about this and remembering back to our first few obedience and agility trials....it was more like: OMG The Dalmatian

Mine are garbage gutses! I feed late in hot weather and try to take the dogs water training so it's rare they're not hungry. Otherwise frozen chicken frames are popular. Current pup is a poor eater at the best of times (too busy playing or sleeping and teething isn't helping). Normally I wouldn't worry - if they're not hungry so be it (and they often know what's best!), but pup is hard to keep condition on at the moment. Soaking his dry food is helping to get him interested.

I just spoke with Yarra Ranges Council. If you have 2 fertile bitches or a dog and a bitch than no dramas. If you have 3 or more dogs then you need a permit to have multiple dogs. If you have 3 or more fertile bitches you need a multiple dog permit and then it goes through to planning. However, it doesn't necessarily mean concrete runs. There is another person with more knowledge about the planning side who I will speak with next week.

I have 2 dogs, 3 cats and a temporary resident puppy. From the second my pups come home they learn that cats are NOT for chasing. The only time there is an exception is when one of the cats initiates play (which is regularly) but the dogs absolutely know who they play with and who they step very carefully around. My cats are very sweet but, because I always back them up, will teach new pups a quick and swift lesson. Personally I would be putting your Staffy on lead and teaching him to settle on a mat in the house with absolutely no tolerance for chasing. Teach him that lying quietly means rewards come his way often (food, attention, all the good stuff!) Give the cats some clear escape routes - climbing towers and baby gates are great. It's very difficult for the cats to keep swapping between dog present and dog absent - they just get used to one situation and it changes. Stressed cats can develop UTIs and start toileting outside the litter box so you want to avoid that. If you can't supervise the dog - pop him in a crate or outside. Provided he's well exercised and has plenty of mental stimulation there is no problem with either of these options.