The Spotted Devil

We had a fun day today (actually, every day is fun when you live with a Dally ) Hastings Obedience Club had a members comp - Zig worked really well for me to pick up 1st in Novice Obedience and Beginners Jumping (Novice standard for dogs who haven't trialled yet). Obedience was really good I think - maybe a few minor points on his heel work although I forgot to check his score. His halts, stands and drops were straight (thank you hallway training!!!) and he just trotted along confidently, wagging his silly tail. I couldn't fault his recall, stand for exam or change of position. Jumping was a real step up for both of us as we don't get much time to train. He'd never done a full sized broad jump and had never seen a spread but flew over them. Only last week I was putting in a front cross on a proper course and he caught on so quickly. It was a fairly tight course and my handling skills need a bit LOT of work so he did well to get around cleanly and with decent flow. Next week is our first jumping trial so hopefully that's a good sign

I DISAGREE about this being a small brag. I've lived with a Beagle Congratulations Huski - that's awesome

How wonderful LP Will I see you at the Royal?

Roast chicken, age and maturity do help One thing I have done with Ziggy is to use the thing that he wants to do desperately (i.e. zoomies, meet other dogs and piss on everything) as a reward in itself. So he looks me in the eye, click/treat, focus, click/treat etc and BEFORE I think that the pressure of the other dog etc is too much I then release him to do what he wants. It's a lot harder in an uncontrolled environment where you don't know the dogs of course but perhaps it's something you can work at. What has happened over time is that the presence of another distraction is almost a cue to focus and earn a food treat - often he will get the best of both worlds - the treat and the release so for him it becomes incredibly rewarding to focus. What also happens now is that when I release him he will go and do a quick zoomie and then return as if to say: "Now I'll teach her to give me a treat...." It's lovely to have him bolt back because the training has become more rewarding than the distraction. I'm not saying we haven't had our ups and downs but he continues to improve with age (nearly 3) and he has an amazing recall. Oh, and make sure you take your dog out when he's HUNGRY!!! No point having a pocket full of treats if they can take it or leave it - I also went through a phase of feeding every scrap of food for focus or some other sort of training. They soon get the idea

I heavily reward fast recalls because they are a good reflection of Zig's level of distraction and self control IMO. I think his ability to recall from a very attractive distraction is improving all the time as a result. He is released back to the lovely smell etc 9 times out of 10 so he doesn't think he has to make a 'choice'. He gets the treat and the smell! ETA: Just want to add that if Zig doesn't come when called I walk up to him, put his lead on and the fun is over. Free running is a privilage! After a few minutes of him calmly walking (he has also started to offer behaviours at this point) he is released, recalled and rewarded. I don't have to do this very often anymore

I only got mine today, Jess, so I wouldn't worry.

Just a heads up to check your tickets carefully as I was only sent one entry pass for obedience and jumping on two different days. I have spoken with Estelle Nix (Event Co-ordinator) and she is sending me a second ticket but there may be others in the same boat if it is a systemic problem. Go easy on Estelle - she sounds very much under the pump but was most helpful and apologetic

Personally I wouldn't assume that the dog knows it's been 'naughty' and has any idea what you're on about I never made that assumption. It's just an observation. Tell him off and he grumbles. Sometimes it goes like this "Pyry, get out of that litter tray!" "Roo-oo. Ruff grrrooo." as he shuffles away. He might then stand in the middle of the kitchen and bark as loud as he can and gets told "Oh, cut that out." to which he replies with a couple of whines and goes quiet. He's the smartest dog I know. If any dog knew what they were being gruffed at over it would be him, but it doesn't matter whether he knows or not. It's how he responds that I was talking about. I suppose that's my point though - if he doesn't know and you're just making noises at him (in his opinion) I can understand that he would make noises back - frustration even?

I have a strange house.....last night I pulled out the nail clippers....and had a queue :D Cats first....Brontë and Dizzy lay on their backs on my lap to have theirs done and then Lilly sat quietly so I could clip hers. Meanwhile, Zig is waiting impatiently beside me for his turn :D Back to the case in point - corvus, in regards to this: Personally I wouldn't assume that the dog knows it's been 'naughty' and has any idea what you're on about

It does sound like too much too soon Bub - remember she's a baby You must be patient or else you will take all the fun out of it. Rather than a simple exercise for your puppy, I suggest you give the clicker to your hubby, ask him to think of something he wants you to do (e.g. stand on one leg - think left, right or either - with one hand on your head - again think left, right or either) - then get him to shape the behaviour only using the clicker and NO SPEAKING. You will find out just how difficult it is especially when you consider that you have to create motivation in your pup! Zig initially barked like crazy (he never, ever barks unless it's a warning) but now he sees the clicker and recognises that it's time to think a little laterally. One of my techniques is to use one piece of kibble for repeating the same level of the exercise and jackpot with a handful when he makes a step forward, if that makes sense! If I don't he gets incredibly frustrated. I taught him the beginnings of the U.D. box exercise yesterday - within 30 mins (with small bits of training) he was sprinting to the box and sitting in it - how I love the clicker, let me count the ways :D

Is that you stepping forward LP? Or is that everyone else stepping backwards? I really do feel like a complete idiot :D

Well, I'm going to go against the grain in here and brag about a "failure" :D The Dally Club had their Group 7 trial yesterday in miserable weather conditions. For the first time I had to trial Zig in his coat, which is something I always save for the stays. He worked just beautifully and the comments on his heel work from the judge and competitors were very positive. Unfortunately, I gave a very poor hand signal for the Change of Position (Novice) and he just looked at me with the most confused expression on his face. He went straight down perfectly on the second command. I heard the collective groan from outside the ring just to make me feel better He breezed through his stays (3 lots in fact as he was a stand in for other classes) and would have come out with 196!!!!! He still got a lovely ribbon for Best Dalmatian in Trial (donated by Spotofclass Dalmatians in memory of 3 of their dogs so very touching) which is a lovely way to remember the day. So, despite the NQ score I am so, so proud of him - we had a big day of training the day before and I tried a few new things - I thought it would all be too much pressure but he came through it with flying colours. Today I decided to look forward instead of backward and taught him the U.D. box exercise - he thought it was a great lark! Onwards and upwards! Congratulations to everyone with all the wonderful Q scores and placings Oh, and at the State trial I called his name before the recall (which I NEVER do) and he responded beautifully with a super fast recall so I stuffed up that one too

The felines get Artemis Maximal dry and Eagle Pack tins. The Spotted Dog eats Artemis adult - would feed Artemis Maximal if not for Dally dietary requirements I didn't have much luck with EP holistic - he looked great but his poos were awful!!! Zig did well as a youngster on Advance Large Breed Puppy formula too. Foster kittens usually get RC and no complaints from any of us. So definitely Artemis and perhaps EP and RC :D

I'll bite 1. What is my relationship with the breed? (ie breeder, first time owner etc) I am a first time owner of this wonderful breed but have a lot of experience with dogs. I have a black-spotted entire male, Ziggy (Yarrowfell High Society) who I show (occasionally) and compete with in obedience. We are training for jumping/agility trials and intend to do the endurance test and tracking when time permits! 2. Where and why was the breed first developed? Here's a quote from the Dalmatian Club of Victoria regarding the history of the breed: 3. How common is it in Australia? I'm not sure of the exact numbers but there were some unfortunate repercussions from the 101 Dalmatians series of movies. Their stunning and unique appearance led to the production of puppies by less than reputable breeders with little consideration for health or temperament. It did nothing for the reputation of the breed and a number were surrendered to shelters/rescue. 4. What is the average lifespan? Around 12 - 14 years. 5. What is the general temperament/personality? Class clown A Dalmatian should be confident and well socialised and have a madly wagging tail! In my experience Dallies are extremely intelligent......often more so than there owners, which can give them the reputation of being difficult to train or stupid (remember, people, we are supposed to be the one with the forebrain!!! It's very important to use it with a Dally!) I must admit that I, too, once thought Dals were stupid but was soon put right when I spoke with Zig's breeders for the first time. They can have a mind and will of their own so you must give them a very, very good reason to work with you. Loads of positive reinforcement (food!!!!) is the best way to go - I've found clicker training & shaping particularly beneficial. Even over-using the non-reward marker (removing a reward) can turn a Dally off very quickly. They can also become bored with repetitive training very, very rapidly and I also need to mix up the type and delivery of rewards more than I'm used to. He also has a rather short attention span so I have to slowly build mental endurance, particularly when he is learning something new. With maturity (some anyway ), Ziggy is now starting to respond to verbal praise but it's nowhere near as effective as food. Having said all that, he is an absolute DELIGHT to train - lots of hard work has resulted in a dog who is focussed and enthusiastic. After owning an Australian Cattle Dog (competing in obedience & agility) the Dally is EXACTLY what I was looking for....a real challenge When training a Dally, creativity is the key! 6. How much daily exercise is needed for the average adult? I give Zig an hour free running nearly every day. Mental stimulation is equally important - I do a few minutes of training daily, train at an agility club once a week plus compete on weekends. Obviously, as a larger breed, excessive exercise is not recommended until the dog is mature. Keep them fit and trim - there's nothing worse than an overweight Dalmatian!!! 7. Is it a breed that a first time dog owner could easily cope with? A dog of my lad's temperament - I would say definitely not as he has been quite a handful, particularly as a teen. However, I selected him as a 5 week old pup - I spent several days observing him and his littermates and his characteristics were just what I was after for a sports dog. The ratbags are often the most fun to train There can be great variation between breeding lines and within a litter. I know of a number of Dallies who are much more laid back than Ziggy so I would always suggest that a potential buyer discuss their requirements with the breeder and ask their advice. 8. Can solo dogs of this breed easily occupy themselves for long periods? Ziggy is an only dog and has survived very well. However, as mentioned he has lots of mental stimulation and exercise plus I have been fortunate to work from home quite a bit. He has the company of 3 cats, the youngest of which (6 months old) is now his very best friend. He happily sleeps the day away snuggled up in his smart coat in the sun next to the central heating vent once he has had a good gallop. Dals left to their own devices will probably become bored and thus very destructive and escape artists. Dalmatians love to be inside with their human (and feline!) family. 9. How much grooming is required? Very little grooming is required with such a short dense coat - a rubber grooming mitt works well. I don't find much of a need to wash Ziggy either and his coat has no 'doggy smell'. However, it is commonly understood in the Dalmatian community that Dallies only shed twice a year.....six months in the autumn and six months in the spring If you don't feel like using a clothes brush daily or are precious about your carpets, please don't get a Dally! 10. Is it too boisterous for very small children or for infirm people (unless the dog is well trained)? Dallies can be extremely active and boisterous and thus may be too much for the very young or frail, particularly as puppies and teenagers. However, I have seen well trained, older Dallies as beautiful companions for young children growing up. 11. Are there any common hereditary problems a puppy buyer should be aware of? The main issues with Dals are deafness and a genetic uric acid anomaly (common to all Dalmatians) that can result in the production of urate stones. Dalmatians must be fed a low purine diet to reduce the incidence of this urinary stone that is peculiar to the breed i.e. chicken based meals and no organ meat (e.g. liver) amongst other things. More reading to be found at the Dalmatian Club of America. 12. When buying a puppy, what are the things you should ask of the breeder? (eg what health tests have been done (if applicable) and what is an acceptable result to those tests so the buyer has an idea of what the result should be) Puppies should be BAER tested for hearing before being homed. Puppies that are deaf in one ear (uni-lateral hearing) make perfectly good pets but should not be bred from. Breeders that are members of their state breed club are not permitted to sell completely deaf puppies under the code of ethics. Consideration should also be given to eye and hip testing. Find a breeder who you are really comfortable with - their support and advice throughout the life of your Dally will be invaluable!

I do the opposite! When practicing stays, I reward heavily for eye contact - helps Zig concentrate and have something to look at other than the fun looking dogs next to him or in the neighbouring rings

With my first dog, the obedience club was invaluable....if a little misguided in their training methods Ziggy hasn't been to one obedience class - I had a pretty clear idea about how I wanted to train him and prefer to utilise like-minded people to practice distractions, stays, stand for exams etc. Some of these people are DOLers, people who I've met trialling in various dog sports and some are from my agility club.

Not a dumb question! NRM stands for non-reward marker. For example, I will say to Zig "oh well" if his behaviour is not appropriate. Very calmly, I might add. For him it means: "You have not performed that correctly, therefore you miss out on a chance to earn a reward. You can have another chance at completing the behaviour successfully." It's actually a form of negative punishment as you are taking away (negative) the reward to reduce the occurrence of a behaviour (punishment). Used carefully it's a wonderful tool. When I give a NRM Zig wags his tail and tries harder the next time. Hope that makes sense!

I don't think defiance is such a good word to apply to dogs - it implies a conscious decision to rebel whereas it's more a case of balancing different levels of motivation.

that's a big trap, isn't it? we laugh at the buggers, and lose our focus!!!!! Oh absolutely! I always remind myself that as WE are supposed to be the most intelligent of species, it might not hurt to engage my brain in problem solving sometimes

See- that, I don't see as defiant, but rather, a preparatory/anticipatory response to the 'game ' of being picked up .... ??? Yes, good point pers (as always) Definitely my interpretation as an owner, not my perspective as a scientist Bloody hell but he was funny

Yep! I had a moment yesterday - I've been away and OH can't let Ziggy off leash (walks him twice a day instead). I took him to the park to do some training and he was woefully distracted with 10 days of built up frustration. In the nick of time I realised what was going on so just did brief, easy stuff, rewarded heavily and frequently then released for a mad run. And repeat The subtle signs of confusion/anxiety that LP mentioned - a very slight ear flick or 'frown' or a lack of 'softness' in the body are things I look for in Ziggy. ETA: The only time I would ever class Zig's behaviour as defiant was an episode as a young teen. He would do a zoomie in the house and then throw himself on the couch with glee. I quietly picked him up and removed him. Another zoomie and a flying leap onto the couch Repeat. When I went to remove him the third time, the little Devil looked at me with wide, mischievous eyes, stiffened his body and legs so I couldn't shift him and wagged his tail furiously in delight Little turd knew exactly what he was doing!!! Had to pull out the big guns and threaten him with a water spray bottle to get past that trick!

Our lad was "Bomber" as in bomber pilot....the ears, you know :D Yep - Bomber was a sucker for food and it was the only way to train. Not sure if it's useful but I use sniffing as another reward for Zig - he is obsessed with sniffing and leg lifting and this has been a fun way to harness an otherwise annoying tendency

How's she going huski? I have a dreadful soft spot for Beagles after growing up with a stunning tri............he was a right rat bag but I'd love to turn the clock back and apply what I've learned to him.

The age of the dog is not as important as their maturity and the handler's experience/confidence IMO. I held off trialling my Dally because he was, shall we say, a late bloomer.....physically and mentally He was doing all the required exercises but I just sensed that he lacked confidence and wasn't as relaxed as I'd like him to be. I needed to refine my approach to training too :D

Heh heh I have an 'anticipator' here - can't ever correct him with more than a very relaxed NRM as he's trying SO hard to earn the reward. Makes me prepare VERY carefully for a trial