skip

She is outside because she is bigger? I wouldn't treat any of the dogs different from the others. To a dog surely being left out of the pack while the others are included.......sad.

I had the same issue but spent hours looking thru Petrescue. But the explanation why they don't allow breed specification did make sense as people often see a dog they love which is different from what they expected to like. I did find two siblings in Newcastle I loved but the rescue group would not rehome out of Newcastle. Even when I offered to have a local rescue group vouch ? for me. Very disappointed. I went to working dog rescue as well as they had the breed of dog I was interested in. I did look at the RSPCA and they do let you put in the breed however you are dealing with a pound and don't have the added benefit of buying from a rescue group with the dog in foster care. Good luck looking. Wish I was looking but three is my (current) limit. :)

So what happened Poodle wrangler? Interested as I go to a few clubs locally due to a nervy kelpie who needs all the socialising she can get.

Thanks for the link to that video. I have always sucked at the stand ( or rather teaching it to my dogs). My little ones go OK but the kelpie hasn't really been taught to stand. And the silly thing is, they all do great nose touches. I never thought to put them together so I'll give that a go and be interested to see how it goes.

Lovely story, they sound a really great home. It's not so much how much time people have but the time they are willing to spend with their dog. What rescue people do to change a dogs life is amazing. I have a small dog I found on Petrescue nearly 10 years ago originally from Renbury. There have been times when I look at him sound asleep after a full day doing doggy things like agility or walking on the beach and I hope the people who rescued him realise that he is in doggy heaven each and every day. Great job!

Great dog the poodle. I nearly got one but decided on the kelpie instead. I brought Control Unleashed for Puppies as I was hugely interested in agility but it had some good ideas for any dog. I spent ages while my pup was growing trying to get it right. I think I worried a bit too much and didn't enjoy the puppy experience as much as I could have. However the time I spent training is worth it. I basically rewarded all good behaviour (with food or tug/games) and ignored bad behaviour. If she was particularly wild or barking outside she had a very short time out. Could be food for lying down while I prepare dogs food ( I have 3). She still goes to the mat in my kitchen and throws herself in a drop on it very loudly if she is waiting for food to come. She is allowed outside after waiting in a sit or drop until given her release word. She loves the suspense. Rewards can be food or simply being allowed to do something she likes. Right now said kelpie is lying sound asleep at my feet. She is 1 and 1/2 yrs now and such a lovely dog to own. Good luck with it all. Great family dog but they are also so clever. Maybe you should investigate clicker training if you are interested.

I would be concerned about this rule. I didn't like halti's but since I had 2 little dogs who were easy to train it wasn't something I considered. Then came the working kelpie! Loved the gentle leader then. She was very reactive and also self rewarding everywhere and ignoring me until I introduced the gentle leader. It was used for a short while but now she has a flat collar or off leash. It served it's purpose which was to keep her focus and control what she was looking at ( with rewards for correct behaviour). But the main thing was taking the time to introduce the halti properly. For a week she was fed thru the noseband. Then she wore it while eating her tea. Eventually she had it on fitted correctly which means she can still eat and tug with the halti on. So in class etc she didn't roll around or paw at her nose to remove the halti as she was used to it. Mind you she still dislikes it as she has less freedom to do her own thing. Independent little miss. I can't help but wonder if beginners know how or spend the time to introduce the halti properly. The first class at this club, most dogs would be so busy trying to remove the face contraption that not much training would be done. I hated seeing dogs madly trying to get rid of this facething as they aren't comfortable in it. Sometimes hard to question these rules. Love to know how it goes? If they won't budge I'd travel or get private lesson. Better still, ask the dog club where they recommend you can train where you don't have to wear the halti. Ask club members for suitable trainers in the area. Might make them think.

I'm impressed. What a lot of thought and effort to help a puppy. I wouldn't have had any idea what to do with a pup so agro at the beginning. I was wondering what issues make a puppy so young act so aggressively? Good job.

I hope you can get to a good agility training club then. With your dog and your skills you would do well. Keep it up.

Hi Emily M did u learn an actual handling system? I can't help u as I only know the Greg Derrett system and it doesn't quite follow the way u handle. plus I think you are pretty damm good. Many people would like a dog that keen to do your bidding. Love the tricks, you can see the bond you've created. YOu call your cues "crazy" ? Did you go to agility training before? I think you are doing great. I have found learning a consistent handling system like Greg Derretts made my small pretty laid back dogs heaps better speed wise and with accuracy. Now you need to take it out on the road and also try to find a training class. Do you know contacts as well? Good job, Bonnie too!!

I've considered a spray as I found one on a site recently. And some idiots have been letting very unsuitable dogs off leash behind my place. I have 3 dogs, two small dogs and a kelpie who has turned out to be very fearful of other dogs. I am worried about the owners a bit. Some owners think their dogs are OK and I thought if I did something and the dog took off howling , then I'd be in trouble. But the spray doesn't cause such a severe reaction then? If a dog was really set on attack you are pretty stuffed anyway. I was abused by a bloke (and he did have a girlfriend with him) recently who was really aggressive and physically threatening in an on lead park. I did have mine on lead ( for a change) and while his dog was off lead, I simply asked him in a relaxed tone to call his dog back ( as it charged towards us) as mine weren't that friendly. He took that to mean they were vicious, and just charged over and went ballistic. He was basically chasing me down the path, telling me to get out of the park before he hit me. He was ranting such vicious stuff like I'd done something really bad. He also threatened to kick my dogs head in. He was demanding to know which dog wasn't friendly and saying he'd kick it's bloody head in. I stood in front of all 3 dogs then and got upset as I gestured at them and told him to look at them, 2 chihuahua x's and a petrified young kelpie. He was really mental and obviously had a anger management problem. Imagine spraying his dog? Which btw was a black staffy that took off back to the girlfriend and was also scared. Nice dog but the owner needs desexing! Maybe I should have sprayed him and then run really fast So I've thought of carrying a stick or a spray. Would love to hear how it goes.

I use older leads and collars at the beach. They do get wet and sandy. Some leads probably better quality last regardless and the clip still works. The really cheap clips rust and get stuck. My friend says she puts oil in her clips but I don't bother. Rodz dog? leads that I have last for years even if used at the beach. I hate getting the collars stuffed thou. They get wet,rust and fade so just use old ones at the beach. BUt it's worth it! I love the beach

Just to backtrack a bit here but this is in regards to your question about getting dog to bring tug to you. I have a young kelpie who likes to play with toys but was pretty slow to return and tug with me. My fault as she had some select toys to play with during the working day all by herself. When you start teaching weaves etc you wanted a quick return with the toy to your hand. So I was told to go into a small room like your bathroom where the dog is contained. Drop the tug and when the dog gives it to you reward with tug ( or food if dog requires it). To encourage the dog to understand the tug is to be given into your hand, do a few nose touches , drop the toy and generally the dog might pick up the toy and nose touch at the same time. This did work with my dog. I dropped the toy and she was placing it in my hand very quickly for a reward. Very soon in the bathroom she was grabbing the toy and placing it back in my hand consistently. We moved into another room and eventually outside. Now she will get the tug at training and run back to me, putting the tug in my hand. Sometimes she'll drop it a bit away but I wait till she brings it to me before we play. I found this a struggle with my kelpie as she is pretty independant. This was a a great behaviour as I also found I could ask her to bring things to me or give me something she already had..... I ask her to bring me that and she will come over and put whatever she has in my hand. Your topic made me laugh as most agility people love toy driven dogs. Play gets arousal up and the arousal helps with the drive for agility. Love to know how its going?

Thanks think I'll get sucess with one jump and someone is going to lend me one of Susans.

Double post! haven't done that in a while

I have an assortment of crates as compete in agility with 3 dogs range in size from 4 kgs,10 kgs and 16kgs. The 2 smaller dogs are in two crates where the back seat would be normally. Personally I took the back seat out and then all 3 crates fit in well. But you could have 2 crates on the back seat. But what I wanted to say is that I went to Uncle Sam's warehouse and paid $39 each for a black metal fold down crate. I brought 2 of these and they fit back to back on the back seat. Each crate opens at each door. They fit my 10kg and 40cm high at the shoulder dog and the chi x probably doesn't need such a big crate but what the hell. The kelpie is crated back further as her crate is tied down and bigger. The crates from the petshop are heavier but these cheaper ones if put together properly are really good. At training I can just take out the crates and place on the ground. I only drive a toyota btw.

Thanks Mrs Rusty Bucket I just realised I wasn't very clear as I'm looking for a good DVD on jumping for a dog starting. However you have just made me think again as I have used the Greg Derrett handling system and I suppose that means I need a DVD from him or using his system. That narrows it down then. Thanks

Hi all I'd like to buy a DVD with basic foundation exercises for a young dog just starting. I have access to club training but would like some grids and exercises to do at home as well. I did buy the Susan Salo Jumping DVD with bump jumps etc for the really young dog. My dog is 1 1/2 now so ready to start with more. We've done jump grids, offset jumps, simple 180's etc and she is handling everything well. Would like your suggestions please. Was thinking of One Jump, Two Jump or maybe the alphabet jumping one?

I am off to the beach tomorrow and it is a deserted beach mostly. I tend to stay away from most other dogs as I have 3 and 2 are little ones. Just less hassle unless I like the other dogs. I'd also think it weird if someone settles next to me with a dog on lead and yet there is miles of beach away from me. Weird but not much you can do. I am always grateful that the other people at least leashed their dog. In the past I've met dogs off lead that definitely shouldn't be. I don't go to off leash parks now.

If your new dog was happy to see your partner if the cocker wasn't around you could think that but more likely the dog is just unsure. Time ,patience and no fuss will win althou the partner feeding and walking is good idea. A dog resource guarding isn't always that obvious. My chi rules the kelpies and the young kelpie loves her but the chi calls the shots. Sometimes the kelpie isn't around and doesn't come up the hallway to a bedroom. If I notice I look under the bed and remove the chi from under the bed where she would have been sitting and glaring at the kelpie. There is often no sound and very little obvious effort on the chi's part because the kelpie is so sensitive a look will send her away. So nice when dogs find loving homes.

Can't help you with QLD supply. But ADAA in nsw brought equipment from SA recently. I wonder if ADAA in QLD could advise you? One local club had some great lighter equipment made on the central coast. Forget his name right now but he ( Rick Pike?) is on gumtree for agility equipment. His stuff is rubberised but still pretty light which is great for a club. Wish our club could get a grant as we are pretty new and poor! How did u wrangle a grant? Probably different in NSW.

While I was looking at getting a kelpie I met a lady who had a tracking tittle on her kelpie at a really young age ( something like 8 months?). The dog was a Callicoma kelpie, very good. So herding breeds can do tracking :) Good luck with it.

Jess I think your pup is pretty awesome. I'd be thrilled if I was you. You've been working consistently and it shows. Technically I'd have no chance of every working out how to do video clips. I must look more at ST training as my club uses SG and Greg Derrett so that is all I really know. Althou I have seen some video of ST and La.

Just like to say it sounds like he is very lucky to have an owner like you. Two weeks isn't very long, sounds like he is learning heaps. Someone I know who rescues said it can take a while for a rescue dog to really settle in and for its personality to develop. Good luck with it all. It is very rewarding to have a rescue dog.

Off to google too.