The Spotted Devil

Well if there was such a thing as a strategic pairs UDX - then I think we would almost manage our first leg As for your little live wire - just enjoy the ride I now have tears in my eyes - great idea - love it! I'll volunteer Ziggy to do all the stays seeing as everyone seems to hate them Ptolomy, she's like a day pass to side show alley at the Royal Show.....roller coaster meets kamikaze Fortunately she's just passed out so everyone is getting some rest!

So 'fess up you two - how'd your clever dogs go??? I have a little live wire here - she is such a blast to train but I feel such a responsibility to make the most of her potential.

Oh my - he sounds like a blast Sounds odd but have you tried anything like t-touch? I've been participating in a few sessions/workshops with my lot with some interesting outcomes. It's very gentle and teaches them self-awareness, control etc. Was amazing on Monday to have my whole crew (3 cats, dog and pup) at a workshop being practiced/demonstrated on. BTW, have you seen what's in my avatar FHRP? Damn Lablover got me addicted to retrieving

Sorry if you already know this but make sure she is tugging like a fiend at home (or at least chasing them for the food) before you try it in public. You can shut them down so quickly if you try to tug or play with toys "in public" too soon. I tend to wait until Zig is really revved up, then open the toy and fill it with food in front of him and put it back in the training bag - it's a really nice way to watch his response without putting it in his face and annoying the cr@p out of him He gets all excited, sticks his head in the bag and tries to pinch it - then I get it out, have a quick play (a real "come get me" with lots of silliness from me!) and put it away. At a trial I still use the tug sparingly - especially if it's a warm day and he is getting a bit tired.

Glad you had fun, huski I would definitely get a food toy...try here: http://72.29.94.88/~aussieag/products/foodmotivationtoys.htm The Bunny Tug is great for a dog that has no interest in toys but we have now moved on to the Ultimate Jackpot Toy. We don't always use it as a tug as Zig will switch off it after a bit - but at least I can throw it over jumps. Dova Oh my goodness!!!! I must say that it's easier to have a few pieces of equipment in one place for beginners as they can so easily get sucked into an obstacle and get a fright or hurt themselves! Zig has had a couple of lessons on the see saw and raced towards it in a training session when I had planned to avoid it. My heart was in my mouth as he hadn't experienced the full force of it landing but fortunately I managed to call him off it. I seem to have built very high value for contacts

I don't have a mouthy pup but have had them in the past, including an ACD. I put about half of pup's daily biscuit ration in my pockets and reward behaviour I like. Works for toilet training, mouthing, giving up objects she has found (like cat toys), not jumping up, leave command (from shredding older dog's bed), come when called (from chasing the cats or playing with older dog). Sometimes a water sprayer can just hype them up which is the last thing you need with a mouthy puppy! I also make sure I have a toy on hand and redirect pup to play with that. Good luck

OK - thanks for that - makes sense now! And I agree with you on that one. Question time! My pup is going to trial in multiple disciplines.....at this stage retrieving, obedience and agility. ET of course and I'd love to try tracking but that can all wait. When I started with Ziggy he was VERY slow to mature so I was careful not to push him too hard and I focussed on showing first, then formal obedience and agility later on. This one, however, is an absolute little live-wire and will handle multi-discipline training much better I think. Any suggestions for agility exercises that I can incorporate into her training? I have "The Focussed Puppy" book - she is currently learning sit, drop, focus, heel position, recall, nose target to hand and give (toy). I don't want to confuse her too much but she absolutely eats up the training. When I can get her on her own I'll also do some more shaping with the clicker. On that note - how do you train more than one dog at home? Obviously I'll crate when we are out but at home it's a bit more difficult.

Has anyone/everyone seen the new Petcare Advisory Service (who are these guys because they've been around a looong time) Pets in the City Website? It looks to have some really great information on it. I'd never heard of it before reading about it on the November Dogs NSW Journal. The main website is PetNet. They have been around for a while, are sponsored by Mars Pet Foods, but have their own charter. I have participated in one of their PetNet TV episodes and have a member on my PhD advisory committee. Obviously I think it's great that they engage with animal welfare scientists as well as the general public!

started off disastrous. I had 6 runs first up in under an hour (often as many as I get in a day here!) I blew every one of them! They were holding rings for me & I was running both dogs consecutively, I found it very stressful Got better though and we ended up winning 2 masters jumping & 2nd in another MJ. Also a 2nd Nq in masters agility, 1 bar I had a bit of bad luck in masters gamblers with shine. She did a superb run on what I thought was a really hard gamble but I did not hear or recognize the whistle, so was still in the opening when I was meant to be doing the closing. She still managed 3rd, but nq cause we ran out of time our biggest heartbreak happened at presentations on sat night. Trim had won mj on sat too but they didn't call my name. She did a brilliant run in the fastest time & the judge gave us clear, competitors congratulated me. They had written dq on the scribe sheet, so we weren't awarded the 1st. I wanted to cry but that's the way sport is. You win some, you lose some Crikey - 6 runs in one day is plenty enough of me! In fact, mine were spread out so beautifully on Saturday - it was one of the most relaxing days I've had. Great results in the end, though, Vickie - what do you need to get with Trim now or did that finish her off? Silly question - did you get an envelope with your win? I didn't get one and was wondering what I was missing???

Oh I know THAT feeling :D How did you go yesterday, Vickie? I really wish I could have hung around for a chat although I did enjoy soaking in a hot bath and a glass of red! Zig thanks you for the compliment and is still in with Cloe's pocket rocket. He is also the whingiest Dally TO - agility is a bit like that - all over so quickly too so it's hard to gain ground. Warringal it is! Just aim to enjoy yourself

I plan on entering Warringal so it would be great to catch up :D Happy to watch you run him if you like too. Unless my friend with her two Dals is there Zig will be the only Spotted Dog. I'm tall anyway so you won't miss us What about start line stays? How were they? Ok, so maybe pick one or two things that you know he can do and you can do and work on improving them. Be specific though - not just 'run faster' lol Front cross? Rear cross? Lead out? ETA: I didn't much like having wet, soggy feet either!!!! Tough conditions - smart dog I say

TO - sorry not to catch up with you at Warragul's trial. I did have the pleasure of meeting Vickie and Chloe though Personally I would persist. An agility trial is just so different to training, no matter what you do. Zig and I are starting to relax and enjoy the day so much more than we used to. Try some Rescue Remedy for both of you, for a start :D I have found it really good practice to enter Open Jumping runs - mostly way out of our league and thus the pressure seems to be off to get a pass. Good practice for running and remembering courses too! I was told to be trial ready for the next level (ie Excellent) before you run Novice - we didn't do that for our first few passes but are now. I would also turn up to a trial and just practice having a good time ringside without entering. Start enjoying it as a social day too. Here's an exercise - can you list 5 good things that you did and that Darcy did? Even if he perfectly followed your 'crap' handling - that's awesome! Agility is hard because every run is new!!!

It's a bit cheeky but it stems from the breed threads....horus and his Dallies keep 'invading' the Springer thread and the thread title says 'Springmatians welcome'. I couldn't resist

Is this what you're after? http://vicobedience2010.angelfire.com/index.html

Great run in Masters Luke - I didn't realise Yes, I went slipping and sliding in an Open Jumping run which was pretty entertaining - Ziggy was most confused I'm sure young Barkly will be jumping out of his skin before long - he's a sweetie :D Thanks Tiggy

Congratulations Rubystar and TerraNik You must be thrilled! DSO - that's one smart dog you have! She was just saving you time and effort We haven't trialled since the Dally Nationals so it was nice to stretch our legs at Warragul's agility trial yesterday. Zig ran so well all day and there were a few 'oh so close!' moments. We finally put it all together for a 1st place and qualifying score in Novice Agility - it wasn't the easiest of runs with some very awkward turns and obstacle temptations but he responded really well to my direction. It was quite a wet day but none of the forecasted thunderstorms eventuated so it wasn't too bad. Good luck to all those who hung around for a second day - one was enough for Zig and I have a puppy to play with, not to mention a heap of gear to clean and dry out I also had the pleasure of meeting Vickie and her daughter Chloe - I recognised their dogs straight away

GG85 - personally I wouldn't get too hung up on improving fitness per se. Off leash self exercise, lots of mental stimulation and training plus a walk or some swimming is probably sufficient. Muscle development will occur when she is physically ready - i wouldn't be in a hurry and patience will pay off in terms of soundness IMO. In terms of agility, fitness will develop as you train and by the time you want to trial she will be able to cope with jogging. To be honest there isn't much research into this and responses you get will be based on personal experience. I prefer to be on the conservative side. Remember that there is a genetic component to her muscle development that you can't control. My entire male Dally, at 4, is just starting to hit his straps and he comes from late maturing lines.

Oooh ooh what's it called and where do I get a copy? ;) I bought mine here RS. Note that it is definitely NOT a step by step guide (like The Focused Puppy for example) but runs through concepts and ideas based on traditional methods but using positive and clicker training. Sometimes they will discuss multiple options - some not used by many people but which may have potential. There's chapters on marking, blinds, casting etc. Thanks! Price is ok, but what is postage like? It wasn't too bad - about $11 and I had it within a week.

It was just a quick hello at the AWSC student seminar. I'm looking at human-canine interactions in animal shelters

Oooh ooh what's it called and where do I get a copy? ;) I bought mine here RS. Note that it is definitely NOT a step by step guide (like The Focused Puppy for example) but runs through concepts and ideas based on traditional methods but using positive and clicker training. Sometimes they will discuss multiple options - some not used by many people but which may have potential. There's chapters on marking, blinds, casting etc.

Interesting you say that as I have my first gundog to do retrieving with. Lablover tells me she always plays tug with her pups - her dogs have lovely soft mouths (I suspect that's one of the arguments against it?) I absolutely play gentle tug with Emily - teaching her to give at the height of her excitement is a great lesson. Funnily enough, when she pinches the cat toys - she will hold 2 or 3 in her mouth at once (I was wondering why she was happy to give me one with no argument at first ;)) and she is incredibly gentle with them - barely a drop of spit on them! ETA: Loving the gundog instinct! In the midst of crazy puppy zoomies, a bird on the wing will bring Emily to a completely serious standstill like nothing else can - it's like she's thinking "I know this is important, but I don't know why!" Just received a book on positive gundog training - not much out there I must say!

I did have a dog that was motivated by neither - I nearly wrung his Spotted Neck during those first 18 months I ended up training him with his dinner. Every single night. The first night he gave me the doggy equivalent of 'the finger' so I said "Oh well" and put his dinner away. End of training. He couldn't believe it ;) The next night he brought his brain to training and left his attitude at home. ETA: I also use a food filled tug toy for agility and he has gone from a completely disinterested tugging dog to a LOVING IT one although it's still a work in progress.

Just wanted to put in a good word for Tiffany - I've only met her briefly as a fellow PhD student but her presentation was absolutely fascinating. All the best - looking forward to hearing more. I would volunteer my lot in an instant but neither the Dally or young pup are what I'd call laid back :D

It certainly helps to know how your older dog normally reacts to puppies. My Dally is excellent with pups so I wasn't concerned. By the time I arrived home with pup it was too dark and cold to do anything else but introduce them then and there. I left puppy in the crate in the car and had my Dally come downstairs to meet her. He was predictably excited but was not over the top. I wasn't prepared for pup's reaction - she literally SCREAMED!!! A genuine case of puppy hysterics - would have been funny had she not been so overwhelmed by the situation. Dally sat on command at a distance and I was forced to carry pup in my arms, reassure her without sooking and let the Dally come closer. The screaming settled a little but she still started up when he came too close. I couldn't take them up to the house because the cats would have packed their bags and left with all the noise :D By the end of the following day she was gaining in confidence - I suspect the travel and change and the sheer size of him was all too much. Now she annoys the daylights out of him, they wrestle and play fight. Sometimes I will crate one or the other to give the Dally a rest as Emily, at 12 weeks, doesn't take no for an answer and he's simply not used to being harassed all day. Watch for resource guarding - especially by the older dog. Food and toys (and sticks ) that they never cared for much suddenly become very valuable. I always crate when feeding or make sure I can restrain pup so she doesn't steal his biscuit. High value toys are only for when pup is on her own. I have no problem with the older dog growling at pup when she is over the top - but I know him and he has a very consistent, stable temperament. Tonight he had had enough and she would not let up so I quietly put the older dog to bed early with a biscuit. He was thrilled.

Apparently it's been cancelled due to the weather forecast according to CC's post.