The Spotted Devil

I've been working on a lot of stationary (sit) position and attention - in lots of different environments, contexts and from different angles. I need it for retrieving anyway. This morning I grabbed the training bag, clicker and dummy and sat outside to practice presenting the article in front. Before I had a chance to do anything she flipped into heel position I have never trained Em to heel with a lead on. Saves me making silly mistakes.

certainly not the minority in the agility world. Not trying to be argumentative, but I'm still confused :D if the reward is the handler interaction with the toy, what is the difference between the toy being on the ground, as in the video you posted, or thrown so that it lands in front if the dog as it is reachng the same point? In both instances, the reward is happening when the dog returns the toy to handler, yes? Nor in the retrieving world - chasing a 'toy' (ie dummy) comprises the vast majority of training. Delivering to hand is rewarded by throwing another retrieve item. I'm confused with you

Yes, Zig loves the Snooza futons too We went with 2 x Snooza D1000 - not cheap but washable and not a mark in either of them

Try having more than one ball (I know there a few here that swear by the i-squeaks from Clean Run - no names, no pack drill ) Start with the 2-toy game throwing them one at a time (otherwise known as the 2-food game) - I think Ness has a video of her youngster doing it but don't worry about the bringing it back bit. My Dally has limited long-term interest in tug although he tugs me off my feet initially - developed that by using a food-tug toy (again from Clean Run) and now use that to throw forward in agility (as it's too difficult to see thrown food most of the time) - yes he gets a food reward rather than tug but he still drives forward. I have to play to his strengths to keep his enthusiasm and focus going.

Thanks Jigsaw

Are you serious ness??? People weren't impressed? Wonder if I could make it to Albury...

I even travelled to SA and stayed with the in-laws

I saw Sue Hogben trialling in obedience with one of her Goldens (Tonka) many years ago and she inspired me to search for a better way to train. Went to an agility seminar a few years ago and was not disappointed!

Part of my research interest is the relationship between human attitudes and human behaviour (and obviously the effect on dog behaviour) and ways in which you can cause long-term attitude change. So obviously that's what I'd like to see more of!

Have a look at the retrieving thread in this forum first. It might answer some of your questions. Most of the references use traditional methods and you need to adapt more positive reinforcement techniques. There is still a lot to learn from the traditional methods - you just have to be selective about what you use.

My local Petstock has air dried pigs ears that are produced in Victoria. I use them as occasional treats (maybe fortnightly?) - neither of my dogs bolt their food.

Thats a great video I want Shelley walking nicely like your dally is. I guess i have my work cut out for me. That's very kind of you to say - I think we have loads to work on but he was the biggest PITA - you wouldn't believe how difficult he was to train. Nup! Just wanted to sniff and pee on stuff He is 4 now and I still have to work on the tricks to get him motivated - lots of different food, being hungry, being fit, not too hot, not too cold, not tired, no repetitive training drills, not too much physical interaction, a little bit of tugging but not too much, chance to mark his territory first and last Guess what he gets to do, though, when we step out of the agility/obedience ring? Gobbles his treats and then marks his territory ;) ETA: Zig and Em are my 2nd and 3rd dogs who (will) do obedience and I make so many mistakes all the time so don't be too hard on yourself.

No, it's definitely not a release - it's always try again. Sometimes I'll mark it with praise and then set him up to do it properly and jackpot. Depends a bit on the circumstances. It's very effective but only in small doses and I have to keep it really light with Zig. I think it's about the dog too - Em has a much higher desire to please me (dreadful description but you know what I mean) than Zig did to begin with - I've had to really build motivation with Zig but push him too hard and he's gone. Em just bounces back if I make a mistake but Zig is not so forgiving.

I must say I encouraged eye contact in the stays so Zig could learn to focus and concentrate instead of looking around at all the pretty doggies I'm working on out of sight stays and he remains focussed on my returning rather than thinking about other things he could be doing....like sniffing and peeing!

Cos, if I'm training something new or in a different setting I often just wait it out. Like a crooked sit with Em - and she'll cotton on and wriggle (or SPRING!) into position. If Zig gives me a crooked sit (because it's more distraction with him rather than not knowing), I'll often just say "ah well" and he will rear up and back into position. For me it definitely means "you didn't get it right but you are not in trouble and let's have another shot so you can get a jackpot". I find that it really helps a dog to understand the exercise when they are at the 'is this right or is this wrong?' point....for example I remember setting Zig up for a recall in the early days and he was so enthusiastic he broke early. I'd say "ah well" and walk him without fuss back to his starting point and make it easier (he would be wagging his tail like mad) - jackpot like crazy too when he got it. After a couple of sessions he absolutely 100% understood what I wanted and he has never, ever broken a recall since no matter how wound up and excited he is.

SecretKei - that's a good point (again I haven't looked at the videos). Don't be afraid of making a complete idiot of yourself is a video of me training my young pup who, at this stage, wasn't even 5 months old. Keep in mind that she is from working lines and absolutely bred to work, work, work so I am spoilt and I couldn't do this with my Dally who isn't really into praise and play as a reward. However, I have to make myself more exciting to her than all the butterflies, lizards and especially the birds and ducks that she is genetically wired to flush out and retrieve.ETA: Stuffed Em's age up

Damn, that's miles away! I was hoping you were more local to Melbourne. Obedience heeling (and training it) has changed so much over the years and it often takes several dogs to even begin to get it right (because we inadvertently stuff them up with our crappy timing and lack of understanding ). The other thing that I would suggest is that you drop any use of a command until you get exactly the behaviour you are looking for. Otherwise you teach your dog that "heel" means: "Hmmm....wander around, kind of close to my left hand side, put your nose down....oooh! That must have been a nice smell!!! I turned - where do you go? Ah well...." Does that make sense? Just keep this in your head (thanks Sue Hogben!): If the dog doesn't do as it's told, it either doesn't understand or it isn't getting paid enough

Where do you train mumtoshelley? It's very hard to describe a training method sometimes - perhaps one of us could give you a few tips in person. I train at Croydon if that helps

mumtoshelley - I haven't had a chance to watch the videos but if I can motivate a Dalmatian to do obedience you can motivate a Golden Retriever However sometimes you need to start with something more basic and teach your dog how to learn and how to earn that food reward. Firstly, make sure she is hungry!!! Then start with something simple (with the best food ever!) like looking you in the eye - mark it with a clicker or a verbal "good" and treat. When she can do that, make it harder and put the food in your enclosed hand in front of her but she doesn't get the food until she looks you in the eye. Does that make sense? She has to learn HOW to earn the reward before you can teach her a (surprisingly complex) behaviour like heeling. Not all dogs are the same. My new pup is a breeze to train - mind you she is from working lines and I am more experienced and relaxed with her. Have fun!

I'm so enjoying having a couple of days off Went out with Em again today. I did a small pile of baby puppy blinds with her again, which she enjoyed immensely. After a break (and a cuddle!) I tried a suggestion of Lablovers and played the part of the handler and the thrower! Left Em in a sit stay, walked out, called "hey, hey, hey!" and threw the dummy. Returned to Em, lined her up and sent her. WIN! Great option for training alone We did pretty short ones to start with as her stays aren't proofed to a great distance - a bit of confusion on the steady part to begin with but you could see the penny drop very quickly. Then it was off to the lake for more swimming practice and recalling off birds.

In my experience, animals cope very well with loosing their senses although they can get a bit disoriented - just try not to move furniture or leave things on the floor where he will trip. We didn't even realise my 18 year old cat was quite so blind until she had to be in a small cage at the vet clinic and she really struggled to get her bearings. I'd be looking at pain relief first and foremost. Think how grumpy you feel if you have something simple like a toothache ETA: Make sure you ask your vet about a course of cartrophen as well - really amazing stuff but not suited to all cases of arthritis.

Is he on painkillers at all? Dogs can be very stoic and he may just be warning you that he is sore. How long since he was diagnosed? Joint Guard is a long term solution but will not help his pain short term. Low level pain killers and a course of cartrophen might not hurt but of course you need to go back to your vet.

Member of the Dalmatian Club of Victoria and Gundog Club of Victoria. For the Dally club, I don't show much anymore so I mainly assist in breed promotion (e.g Dogs Day Out) and obedience/agility demonstrations. I do attend the AGM, send in my dog sports results to the newsletter and I'll be helping on a sub-committee for obedience and agility when we host the Dalmatian Nationals in 2012 For the Gundog club, my membership was part of my "puppy pack" for Em. She is only a youngster but retrieving will be our main association with the club - obedience and agility as well. I will very likely re-join next year. I'm not sure if there is an ESS club in Vic but I probably wouldn't join as it is likely to be oriented towards showing and Em is working lines. It would be great to have more obedience trials etc within the Dally Club but we had a restricted to Group 7 trial a few years ago and the entry was dismal and just not worth putting on. The club has held a few agility trials but that was before my time. The ET is becoming a bit of an annual event which is great. I think the club is pretty proactive and given only a very few of us compete in dog sports it makes it a bit difficult. No. It was until fairly recently but legal advice is that public liability is not covered by being a Dogs Vic affiliated club and it is too expensive for the club to maintain. The club secretary ensures that people who contact the club are given as much assistance as possible including being put in touch with their breeder if a member of the club.

Mine would want to go and say hello How do you train drop on recall? Thought this may be something we can add to our box of tricks Love it ness I think Emmy would explode with excitement! Mason, I train the drop whilst Zig is running free at the park, especially when he is running flat out. Also with the 2 food game for fast drops. I did an actual drop on recall for the first time last week and he nailed it. Don't overdo the actual drop on recall as the dog tends to preempt the drop and comes in slowly.

Yes, I'm going to have to proof "heeling with butterflies" for Little Em! Dog help us if she gets dive bombed by a bird