The Spotted Devil

For Jed :D :D For Blue Nurse and Jed's friend ;) For QLD health system

Oh, I should also add that I find "growling" at Ziggy whilst we play tug really gets him going - I must look and sound like a complete git but we're both having so much fun that neither of us care And the food pouch tug is covered in rabbit fur too - it's like a triple whammy - food, fur and feral

Oh well done I have been fortunate enough to handle someone else's Lab in Novice and Restricted (3 runs in each over 3 days of last year's Easter Trial nearly killed me ) so understand just how difficult it is to title a dog. Whoo hoo! Well done on the new title!

*bump*

I'm currently working on tug as the pre-pre warm up - just a game....not asking for a behaviour. Then it's tiny amounts of food when he's dancing on his tippy toes - metaphorically speaking of course!

I am working on doing a few minutes of focus exercises then putting Zig back in his crate or relaxing quietly with him a couple of times before we trial. My idea is that should I need to suddenly switch him on in a few seconds I can. He is a dog that needs to have a really good sniff and pee and scrape and then is re-focussed on the job at hand. However, the biggest trialling problems have arisen when I've been ready to walk in the ring and the steward/judge has delayed and delayed until Zig has lost interest and I struggle to get him back. My current method is working so much better and it means I don't get stressed if someone needs to slot in front of me or is absent.

I swear by the tugs with a food pouch - dog tugs, then dog gets food. It still took lots of work and generalising to different environments but Zig tugs really well now. Still with limitations but we are working on that - e.g. when he is a little tired I don't offer the tug but stick with the food he loves. With the tug toy itself I have a training/trialling bag and I make a great pretense of Zig not being allowed to get his head in it to steal food treats or tug toys. Nothing like showing a dog what he is NOT allowed to have to make him want it more If he tries hard enough to get the tug then he is allowed to have a game.

Hey, great work Seita! How did seekback go? Love her effort on directed jumping...very sweet

Huski - sounds like there were lots of positives for the day, the main one being getting that first trial out of the way and realising you're not playing for sheep stations, nor is it a life and death situation I have no doubt you will do well with Daisy - relax and enjoy her!!!

Good morning all I'm posting this on behalf of a colleague (doing Masters research) who is looking for Labs and Goldens in VIC, NSW & Tassie particularly. However, wherever you are, please get in contact with her as she may be able to co-ordinate something. Diane is looking for dogs from all sorts of backgrounds - showing, sport, pet or working. If you have any questions please direct them towards Diane as I have a very limited understanding of the project. Diane will be at KCC Park this weekend. Will cross post this across the forum. Please feel free to pass this information on. Kind regards Sally.

There's also what is called in psychology, the fundamental attribution error, where people tend to over value personality based explanations for the observed behaviours for others whilst under valuing situational explanations. When examining their own behaviour, there is a tendency for people to attribute the causes to situation stimuli rather than personality traits. This leads to the so called "actor-observer bias" i.e. attributional bias. I try to simply focus on my relationship with the dog - supporting him, communicating with him and giving him confidence. If you just keep on working on that, the rest seems to flow.

Hi Pers - one idea to help the chooks adjust is to lay some chicken wire on the ground of their pen - you may well find they feel more secure to stand on the wire to begin with due to familiarity. Once they begin to explore they will return to the wire less and less

*sits next to sas* I didn't even think to mention to click on it. Glad everyone enjoyed it

huski - have you played the steady feet game with Daisy? I think it's also excellent for reinforcing stays - sometimes I play the game even though Zig's stays aren't broken. I know you are trialling soon so it's not something you want to mess with at the moment, but the other things I would consider are using a NRM and putting the dog away. Bring the dog out - do a really short stay and reinforce. I think Daisy needs the opportunity to understand the criteria for a stay i.e. don't move and keep your mouth shut It's quite possible she hasn't worked out the latter! Dog, does that make sense???

'Morning Jed! 'Morning all! Isn't the waiting room especially bright and cheery today Wonderful interview, Jed - you spoke eloquently and succinctly. Not a word wasted. I hope you have had a good night's rest - sending our best wishes that you will be out of hospital and reunited with your beloved dogs very soon. The pile of felines on my lap also send purrs and gentle washing to your cat who is still receiving treatment

Ah yes! I know this one well A very easy solution is to rapid fire treats to the dog whilst he is sitting and giving you attention and continue as you take that first step. One step only!!!! Release. Repeat.

My dearly departed ACD was in an ad for BankWest in WA. She had to do a backflip and they superimposed it on a paddock of wheat with the farmer jumping for joy. It was funny and a bit corny

That made me smile. A LOT.

Do you think a non-tugger would learn to tug with something with rabbit fur? Can you please link me to the one you bought and promptly had destroyed? RS, I suggest you try the rabbit fur food pouch tug toy from Clean Run. It is brilliant and got my non-tugging Dally tugging like a fiend. He nearly pulled me off my feet at a recent trial

Whoo hooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great to see you, Jed I KNEW there was a purpose for that Smurf icon

Sorry Seita, but that's bloody hilarious Poor dog I had an interesting time with our baby seek back - next door's property is vacant (owners live interstate) so I used some fresh ground to see how we were progressing. Ziggy was a bit confused at first (the whole generalisation thing) but soon got the idea. Then I decided to take the article on our forrest walk as he has been offering some really nice enthusiastic heel work after doing zoomies - clearly chasing a biscuit to warm his empty tummy The first time I tried the baby seek back he looked at me like I had gone mad and just offered me more heel position but yesterday I tried once more and his eyes lit up. He absolutely BOLTED back from whence we came and clearly over shot the mark but then put his nose to the ground and headed straight back towards me and found the article. No pi$$ing this time The track was very wet and muddy and there were great smells, sticks and all sorts of loverly things on the ground. Sooooo, I'm interested in opinions - has he "got it"???? The thing is, he BOLTS in that first few metres (I can't think of any other way to describe it - he sprints like agility!) rather than sedately putting his nose to the ground from the beginning like I see the trialling dogs do. I don't want to impact on his enthusiasm in the slightest (and it's bloody funny to boot) but not sure he is doing it "right"??? Thanks

Some lovely positive news - thank you goldchow Step by healing step, Jed. There's no rush - we'll all be here snuggled up with felines and canines and lovely food (some of it not so virtual ) when you are ready. Sending you our best wishes for your ongoing recovery

Kirty that's gorgeous Hasn't LA grown up He's looking really well - a credit to you

becks (DOLer) shows there regularly - I'm sure she knows all the ins and outs by now!