The Spotted Devil

My hope is that I don't get pulled into the lake by Em. My expectation is that I probably will

How hungry is she? What else makes her tick? Is she always hard to motivate?

Just going through this with Zig - if he mouthed it I said "ah well", removed it from his mouth and out of reach for a few seconds. I've built such value for it (had to!!!!) that he was desperate to try again. I will not tolerate any level of mouthing now - still a work in progress but at least it's progress ETA: I started by waiting him out just so I could mark the behaviour but quickly stopped as he was learning that chomp, roll, chew, hold = reward.

Yes, it's the SC way but SH seems to move the dog through quite quickly, in terms of generalising to different angled pick ups (held in the hand) and lots of different objects, teaching the dog to pick up the object in the middle straight away and no mouthing. SH really emphasises TIGHT criteria straight away, which is really good. I didn't even train it with a dummy! I enjoy the posts on Positive Gundogs but many don't adhere to 2Q. If you remove the adversives, the US train retrieving really well, especially the modern trainers - they have an excellent understanding of the skills required and how the dog learns (mostly). I just break down their drills into the basic parts and build it up using 2Q.

RV - personally I would build really high value for the delivery - the classic Sue Hogben sniff, click, treat progressing to presenting any article you offer. Don't worry too much about the retrieve itself - if she's got good instinct that will come. It's good to remember that the retrieve is naturally very rewarding but the present is not. There's a thread on dumbbells somewhere about where we talked about it. Welcome to the Positive Gundogs list by the way ;) ETA: Hi ST

Norty girl should be doing these every day!!! Yes - pretty much. See Em's first video and I'm positive I gave a really long description earlier in the thread when we first started Em on dummies :D

Oh what a shame fetchin!!!!! I tossed a couple of dummies for Em at the river yesterday and she entered the water very cleanly without faffing around - it was a deep entry and she was really enthusiastic and was the same coming back when I tossed the dummy on the other side of the bank. Worked on some more handling skills at the park - it's incredible what a complex exercise it is and how the "picture" changes for the dog when you increase distance too quickly but we got there in the end and she really enjoyed herself. Still waiting for my gun license and I really don't want someone else shooting for me!!!

That's the beauty of retrieving trials - the handler stands still whilst the dog does all the work! So I can see myself with working Springers for a long time to come. There are some inspirational people running fast agility dogs who aren't so mobile so no excuses there either! Will just have to teach my dogs loose lead walking a little more consistently

Yes, I use a series of whistles aussielover - one pip for sit, two for come in and will be adding more as needed. It's the clearest way to stop a dog running a blind as they are going full tilt away from you.

I *think* the mention of Staffords reflects a lack of understanding of breed names by politicians and media. I heard the same thing this morning but suspect that they mean Amstaff but are saying Staffordshire Terriers. Just my personal take on it.

I definitely gained a lot of experience doing CCD with Ziggy. I guess Em is a bit different in that she will be running in retrieving trials before she does obedience. Time wise it's tough to fit everything in (with agility as well) and I won't trial her until she is well and truly ready. There's still a place for it, I agree.

What she said! Love the dogs that can save you like that - my Kirra is the opposite - she'll drop me in it whenever she feels like it - and then bites me to tell me off for not handling properly Oh if only there was video The lad will turn on a dime for me although it was an amazing collection of stride that saved my front cross on this occasion. My instructor expected nothing less than a collision and a tangle of legs but Zig came to my rescue yet again. How else do you think we manage any passes

Hey RS - just focus on lots of walking singles for Ruby - lots and lots of confidence building. It helps to have someone assist you but 90% of the training I do is on the local sports ground and most of it is on my own. I'm just waiting for Mr TSD to get home so he can throw some birds for us actually! Need to make sure there aren't any kids around - poor buggers will be scarred for life ;) I took Em down there at lunchtime and worked on a few drills - I just isolated the straight backs. I sent her to a pile a couple of times, then added a whistle stop and sent her back to the pile. I was really pleased with her.

We ran a jumping course from the AKC champs at training last night. It was very deceptive and I could really see where the very fast dogs would have picked up milliseconds with tight turns. It was pretty challenging for a big striding Dally but even more so for a big striding, lightening FAST Border Collie. Heaps of fun though and my @r$e was saved on more than one occasion by my Mad Spotted Dog

Depends on the audience

Yes, I'm bypassing CCD with Em....partly because I can't be @r$ed dealing with a lead!

I have an entire male and an entire female at the moment although the latter is unlikely to remain that way. She has had her first season so I will probably have her desexed at around the 14/15 month mark after chatting with her breeder. She is a working Springer and is training for obedience, agility and retrieving so I want her to be in optimum condition. Put simply, when sexual maturity occurs the presence of the sex hormones promotes growth plate closure. So - if you desex early (and that depends on the dog but could be up to 12/18 months - maybe more for a giant breed) the main structural issue is that it delays closure of the growth plate long bones. You will end up with a slightly taller dog (and that is a scientific fact) and less muscle mass (which also can add to the illusion of a taller dog). What is not known is how it affects the dog's structure in terms of hip displaysia, for example. The pdf that has been posted is VERY selective when discussing the cons of early desexing and the effect on structure. I have read the original articles and there is much to argue with - it is by no means a simple issue. Basically, the jury is out and decisions need to come down to what you want to do with your dog and whether you can handle an entire dog. RSG is dead right - lay down the rules, be consistent, firm but fair and you won't have a problem. My entire male Dalmatian is a delight to live with - never, ever lifts his leg inside (even with a bitch in season) - and competes successfully in obedience and agility without getting distracted by the "ladies" ;) The toughest thing about having him entire is that he is a real target for other dogs - big, strong dog with an upright, dominant stance - he has been attacked completely unprovoked on numerous occasions, one of note a few weeks ago when he was 100% focussed on me in training and a young male Aussie launched at his head. I always keep him engaged with me at training or in his crate but the number of dogs that try to make eye contact with him and snarl/launch is astounding - always males and often Border Collies but possibly because they are in high number in agility trials - plus the Aussie and a few Labs.

Bugger. There are no words, Jules, just hugs and more positive vibes for your lovely girl xxx

That's rough, Jules. I was hoping you at least had something more definite from the specialists. I hope the ultrasound shows up something constructive

Awesome Kavik Well done!!!!!

When I was teaching my youngster not to toilet on the deck I used her daily ration of food to reward her every time she toileted in the correct spot. She got food for no other reason for a few days. That helped make the connection for her and she started toileting so often in the hope of a reward I thought she had a UTI. Also, a play pen that you can walk her into (not lift into) in the correct spot might also help if she doesn't like toileting on lead. Good luck! Has she been given the all clear by a vet? Just in case it is a medical problem.

A first for you and Lottie too, Beth - yay! Well done Rory and Tassie Not sure that I have time for Rally O! Good work Ness - and not so much of the Old Girl ;) Go smisch!

Lumping is too much all at once - that might involve the specific exercise you are training (think all the aspects that make up heeling) or the number/type of novel distractions (numerous!!!) Dogs aren't great at generalising either. Stress/anxiety can cause zoomies and sniffing in agility - not uncommon in a green dog and often mistaken for being over excited. Just too much pressure for a novice dog! In retrieving some dogs will munch the bird when under too much pressure!!! One thing about refining positive training skills is that I am SO much less likely to get frustrated but rather I shrug it off and work out what went wrong afterwards. Like when Ziggy cleared the new, smaller table in ADX yesterday (it reminded him of the trolley at training, I suspect, which he has been known to jump) - the judge was most amused and we both had a good laugh when I got Zig to stay on the table. The result was a very happy dog who nailed the rest of the course and went on to win his next run in the same event. Hindsight is BRILLIANT

First and foremost I try not to take it personally ;) Generally there is a good reason for bad training sessions ...mentally/physically tired dog, tired/distracted handler, poor planning, lumping. Notice I keep picking on the handler? In your situation I would have taken her away from the obstacles and played some focus games - simple, fun and highly rewarding and then thrown in the towel for the day. Had a couple of amazing retrieving sessions with Em during the week (huge leaps of understanding) but a short session of simple handling drills yesterday was below par for her. Did a couple of easy blind retrieves and left it at that. Long day at a trial, hasn't been out for a while (in season) so everything was distracting - maybe I lumped a bit at new grounds after such a break from proper training? I was tired after running Ziggy in 7 runs, a bit of an airhead after a flu shot - I know Zig picked up on that and was less focussed than normal. Today at Em's first agility class she was just lovely.

The new height see-saw ;) Ziggy gained his first ADX pass yesterday (with a first place to top it off) but the best thing was the way he attacked the seesaw with ever gaining confidence. He entertained the judge and onlookers in one of his rounds by sailing right over the new low height table Very funny indeed....think we need more training on that one! Em had her first agility class today. We had so much fun....tyre, tunnel and table in the first session and contacts in the second. She is quite tired after all the novelty.