The Spotted Devil

I used to use Troy fly repellent cream on my ACD's ears and spray her body with Aeroguard. This was years ago in WA.

Em, in particular, loves her tricks...spin, crawl, reverse (in a sit), play dead. nose touch etc but my favourite is definitely The Tissue...she was heavily pregnant in this clip but you get the idea :)

Yes you've pretty much nailed my household. Retrieving, agility and obedience. One winding down at 9 years, one in her prime at 5 years and one rascal puppy at 7 months. My dogs have quite a bit of freedom at home and travel a lot with me - a) they are pretty soft by nature, and b) they do a lot of activities - training, competing, demos etc. Even pup happily sleeps the day away when I'm out.

Something that makes a big difference in my house is permissions. If you want to go out or come in or go through a door or gate you offer a sit. You release when I say so. If food drops on the floor (both in training and accidentally) you back off. And are then rewarded for doing so. Etc. This is just part of our lives - it means that you haven't got 3 dogs (plus visitor dogs) rushing through doors, pinching food etc.

It might depend on your ability to problem solve as a trainer? For example, SG has Puppy Peaks which I really enjoy but she doesn't show you how she fixes some things. Not a problem for me but it's not a course I'd recommend for everyone. Not sure how much H360 is but Tassie will know :)

Where are you CBD? Might be someone teaching it? Otherwise definitely register for the online course. Her courses are excellent in my experience - I think she much prefers them to DVDs as she constantly hones her skills and approaches to both dog training and teaching. It's very refreshing!

I've been very careful about building my "pack" - entire male Dally plus 2 entire bitches, mother and daughter ESS, 5 years and 7 months, respectively. Springers tend to be soft but issues can still arise. Zig is unbelievably good with females and puppies - just an amazing temperament. He grumped at the pups when they hung off him and they have all grown up to be incredibly respectful of adult dogs without any fear. I've had a couple of pups here in training (not mine) - he tolerates the male pups but doesn't enjoy them as much. So I would never have another male. Em can get away with just about anything and he is extremely apologetic if she tells him off for getting too personal. Ginny treats her Mum like her own personal tug toy and is rather annoying. Consequently I don't leave them together too long under certain circumstances - around food bowls, when Em has had a long day out training/competing or when Em has first got up in the morning. I'll also be darn careful when they come into season - although Em was extremely good this last time I did exercise them separately as I can't keep an eye on both of them!!!

That's not a bad idea :laugh: This handling system uses a lot more verbals than my last one did and it is taking a while to get used to! :laugh: And it's not an age thing either - heaps of younger folk tell me they have the same problem and I tell them the same thing. It's a bloody sight easier than running

Regarding the use of verbals...I practice saying them when I'm in the car at traffic lights. It's just like practicing articulation on a wind instrument. So much easier come performance day.

Erm Not mathematically or navigationally... eg north is 0' or 360'... to do a three sixty - you have to have turned a complete circle (like a spin) and continue in the same direction eg running north - spin through 360 - continue north... 180 is a U turn. ie face forward/north then turn 180' and you're facing the opposite direction ie south. A line is a line - no turn required - not a 180' angle in the corner of an infinite triangle (cos the other corners will never meet up). But we are talking about the line of the (face of the) obstacles. And that's SG's interpretation. I think you are overthinking it Mrs RB!!!

I think Nakita is 8 now? She's always been quick but since Katie switched to H360 a few years ago they've excelled as a team. That's my instructor by the way. I'm very lucky!

Digga Digga is 2 jumps on the same line so yes definitely 180. Check check is going back in the direction you came from so full circle - theoretically 360. A very tight na na would probably be 360 plus 180 because you do a full circle around the upright and continue on in the same direction. The biggest issue with turn cues is dilution. So if you use a check check where you should use a digga digga you end up diluting your check check. Similarly if you use a digga digga where you should use a tiss tiss you will dilute your nice tight 180.

holy cow...how do you get the dog at e.g. 0:53 to ignore the first tunnel and take the other one? Do you mean Kris with Jive? That's an easy one :laugh: Just lots of driving forward and handler motion. Check this one out of Katie with Nakita - taking the least obvious end of the tunnel at 0:15. We give a turn cue for the previous jump (tis tis - so the dog knows to collect their stride towards us) followed by a threadle arm (verbal is a drawn out "come") which means take the opposite side of the obstacle that you're approaching. If she had said "jump" the dog would have taken the jump in full extension and been in the wrong end of the tunnel before she could say anything.

Nothing worth having is easy :D I was on the verge of giving up on agility when I discovered H360. My Dalmatian struggled to make time and my Springer was crashing through jumps. Very much enjoying starting my pup from scratch!

H360 at it's best - clear commands and fast dogs that know exactly where they're going.

The best thing is that you can cue early and get out of there into position - saves running if you are not as fast as your dog. So as soon as my dog has committed to one jump I will tell them check check with my voice, work them with my shoulders and it gives them the confidence to commit to the next obstacle without asking questions. Unless I make a mistake I never have to call my dogs off obstacles - so I stay calm and my dogs have more fun. Also, understanding the turns has stopped my dogs falling on their shoulder and therefore prevents injuries. For example if I want my dog to take a back of jump tight turn I call a na na. When my dogs didn't understand this cue they would take the back of jump but then have to adjust mid air to chase me and consequently land awkwardly. Saves lots of precious seconds on course too. Mine also know a general turn cue (sprinkler or tis tis) AND a 180 cue (digga digga) AND a tight 360 turn cue (check check). They absolutely learn the difference and respond appropriately. Em stopped knocking bars and Zig took 10 seconds off his JDM times and gained his Ag Ch. Basically we are cueing full extension or various degrees of collection.

I thought check check was front side wraps and nanana was for backside wraps? Yes you are right but that's just how SG deals with the PNU work.

Definitely persist with a la la, na na and the check check. Mine took longer to get the na na and I've just gone back and retrained it with Em - fixed if in a week. When using the cone, SG uses check check for single wraps and na na for multiples.

I reckon that Gundogs tend to bite game a) when genetics aren't in their favour, and b) when they are put under too much pressure. Generally confusion or frustration as a consequence of lumping behaviours and/or use of aversives.

Took Zig ages to pick up the threadle but Em was quick smart as she hadn't had as much GD history. Both are great with it now - saves a LOT of confusion.

Love love love the chillybuddy coats - work so well on my dogs.

Both my Springers tug and they've both got beautifully soft mouths (Em on game). I was a bit worried when I started tugging with Em but decided I would embrace it wholeheartedly with Ginny - in fact I'm back chaining a delivery to hand at the moment and using tug as a balance break. What it does for her confidence and understanding is amazing. I understand the service puppies need to have a retrieve instinct but somewhere along the way you need to dampen the birdiness.

I'm working on RZ as the default release when I'm standing right next to water. That's a wow moment for obsessed Spaniels!

Because closing the crate door has nothing to do with me controlling her per se. Notice I never told her to sit or stay or leave it. Just rewarded good choices. It's so so much easier and more effective teaching a dog what to DO rather than telling them what NOT to do :) I need extraordinary control under extremely high arousal at distances of up to 150m. These foundations give me the best chance. ETA: The other point is I am teaching this in a low arousal environment with moderate distractions. I now do similar training at agility seminars or trials where the distractions are higher. She's also learned that it's ok to fail. Nothing bad happens except you don't get the treat. And if you try again you may well get it right and then party time!

Oh dear! Gees they are funny! In a Schadenfraude kind of way :laugh: