The Spotted Devil

I remember a seminar, where Custom dogs were show cased. The trainers rewarded, in my opinion, too frequently, seemingly for the dog simply breathing. In hindsight the dogs were YOUNGSTERS and in the TEACHING phase. Hey, have you finished packing yet?

Interesting results Philippa - it's a very confusing area isn't it! Isn't there something about a dog's titre test being low just because they haven't come in contact with the disease itself? Makes sense in terms of the immune system - just not something I've read up on sufficiently. Pretty sure PF is right though...he'll have to have a C3. However, if at least it is every 3 years it's better than every year!

I play a controlled tug game with my lad too - he knows "tug" and "give" and is very responsive. However, he was an EXTREMELY exuberant young pup/adolescent so I did back off the tug games for a while until he learned some self-control. Lots of calm, quiet time put him in a better frame of mind to learn than being over excited. Now, as a 2 year old, he's wonderful - switch on, switch off!

Yay Well done to all! I've been at a seminar this morning so Zig missed out on agility training.....the only thing he can brag about today is his 'wet nose to cat-bum' accuracy

Fingers and paws crossed here I agree - would be best not to move her - it may be very stressful.

Not sure if this has been mentioned, but aggressive dogs at my club where bright yellow "give me space" coats :rolleyes:

You are naughty, you clicker train so get out your clicker and get her picking up anything and everything. I will help Sue whip your butt. ;) She doesn't hate it, you just haven't trained it. LMAO PAX Yep, I just kept hiding the metal object tonight and teasing him with it.....touched it with his nose...c/t....then he kept looking at.....carefully opened his mouth around it....click and jackpot :rolleyes:

;) It's ok, JulesP......I do the same - my neighbours think I'm off my rocker! Funny thing is, my OH will be on the computer and he will get so enthused by my whooping and praising that he joins in: "Good Boy, Zig, whoo hoo!" :rolleyes:

I think you've nailed it Kelpie- i After some more thought.... When I'm shaping I'll use a handful of kibble as a jackpot....if Zig has got something right but I want him to take it to the next level, I will give 2 or 3 pieces of kibble for what he is already doing and then give him a handful if he cracks the next step. If I stop treating he gets really dejected, but keeping that pattern makes him keen as hell to work out where we are going with the shaping. If it was something where I was trying to build up duration/focus, like heel work, I probably swap between the two methods to keep him on his toes. Hope that helps

Agree with PF - I don't do anything specifically for one exercise, but generally what is convenient at the time (e.g. handful of kibble instead of one piece at a time and one piece at a time if I'm using different treats from different pockets) - I mix up the way I deliver the reward as well......from the hand, tossed on the ground, jackpot container on the ground etc etc Keeps the little rascal guessing

Both

Too funny Ness - should be another great weekend OK - just did our normal training for dinner........for the first cup of food we did one of Ptolomy's exercises....the Hansel & Gretel game - inside in a small space using kibble but the concept still worked really well. Zig had a ball and, by the end of it, he was bolting back to the heel position. I even swapped directions on him occasionally just to liven things up - not sure if that is in the rule book but it was great fun! For the second cup of food we practised his retrieve which has finally sunk in after 3 months of clicker training. He was all over that so, after another break, we worked with a 3rd cup of food with leather and metal articles - just getting him to hold them at this stage. He's all tuckered out now, although he keeps trying to find the articles so he can wangle some more food out of me

I'll raise you a Dalmatian who will lick you to death, smell your bottom, lick his balls and then wander off and piss on a tree

Nah, just Leema

It's going to be an awesome Easter weekend LL Looking forward to meeting you Leema!

Flights booked! Cheque in the mail! OH sorted! In-laws absolutely delighted

Going to throw a spanner in the works and tell you that you really need to take a dog and get a working spot! Nooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!! In-laws' Sheltie will have an apoplexy :cool: I think there are only working spots for agility though? And the dog has to be at trialling level....which we are not!

In-laws are wrapped with my potential Adelaide visit - and have already worked out which bus I need to catch and when they can drop me in the car Flights are really cheap too! Just spoke with OH and he is supposed to fly to Sydney on the Saturday for ANZAC day......he is going to try to swap with someone so he can do the Melbourne gig instead Fingers crossed please :cool:

Um, yes....I am delaying :rolleyes: I am THE worst fibber so I don't even try! The 'judge' at FOO last night asked if we were trialling yet......when I said no and explained that I think he has a bit more to give in the heel work, she was very understanding and said I was right not to rush. She had some nice things to say about his work which was very encouraging. I've been waiting for FOO this year and the cooler weather......then I don't think we will have much more of an excuse......unless I can find something

Yes, but she doesn't have spots :rolleyes:

JulesP - you are so, so right about the attitude of the handler I enjoy working on heeling with Zig and I have been working on duration as well. I think it is a deceptively complex exercise and it can be quite hard for the dogs to work through those little tweaks and accuracies. Not sure if that makes sense.....but after teaching Ziggy a really solid "front", his recall is just SO reliable. You can see the excitement and enthusiasm and understanding in his eyes as he waits for the command. I think he is nearly there with heel work and these variations and games will be fantastic. Thank you so much everyone!

Already downloaded :rolleyes: Just need to consult with the 2IC.....actually that's the cats

Oh fantastic! I used to board my dog and cat with Sue and Linda - I remember Sue from the Dancingate Golden Tonka days Hmmm...might have to check the calendar and ring the in-laws....

I might think about that ness.....the in-laws have been after to me come and see their new house for ages! Are you going to the ob & agility sessions? Ptolomy - love the figure 8 game :rolleyes: Zig is used to having to work around food - he will do a recall straight through a pile of biscuits on the floor and then get released. Although I can't put too many out, otherwise he jumps them Do you think it would look odd taking a raw chicken frame to the park for his training and dinner? Lately he's had to do weaving poles for his dinner and that worked well. He went from doing 4 at home to 12 at training in one session. The other games sound good too. I think the hardest thing is STOPPING after 15s of great focus....but of course that's MY problem Jo - yes, I think Tara sounds like Ziggy in many ways....really like the "A recall" and your other ideas. Thank you :rolleyes: ETA: Ptolomy, the only thing with the i-squeak, is that I'm concerned he might get too distracted if someone else is using a squeaky toy. He loves squeaky toys a lot!!! Actually, I still don't know what an i-squeak is I just assumed it was the squeaker from a toy..???