Naomi

I've been using Photoshop for years now and Lightroom is meant to be easier, but I've just downloaded it and it looks intimidating. Up until now I've been using Bridge in combination with PS actions, but after a hard drive crash I lost everything and decided I may as well restart in lightroom and begin collecting presets instead. I've found a few freebies doing a forum search. But I really love the look of Snook, Huga, and Ruth's photos. They all have a great feel which I assume you all got using presets in lightroom? I'm after some presets that have that warm, dreamlike feel to them. Hard to describe, but google image is my friend: What are your favourite presets? I would love to have a good library to start with to see what suits my style. :) I've found a whole heap here (so many! don't know where to begin): http://www.thecoffeeshopblog.com/p/coffeeshop-actions-and-presets.html

She looks gorgeous. Hope everything works out.

I use Walky Dog. I think I got mine from OzPets.

I didn't make it through last year. But I may as well try again. I might get some more good photos out of it. Love the pics so far!

I'm not sure if this is the right way to do it, but to teach Archie I would have him in a sit. I would hold his collar, put the food down and ask him to wait. The moment he was still I said he was free to eat his dinner. It didn't take long and he learnt that staying still would mean he would get his dinner. I slowly loosened my grip on his collar until one night I didn't have to hold it at all while he waited. ETA: This was a video I saw yesterday that might also be helpful if you are already using clicker training. http://www.youtube.com/user/zakgeorge21#p/search/1/8i-L3-gqWic

I love the first shot! What lens did you use for that one?

Pssst I'll let you in on a secret... I'm cheating this week to catch up! 22/52 23/52 24/52

Lovely shots again everyone. All our dogs are such posers! I'm sad because I missed another week. D: Fail.

Akita: Kyojin American Staffordshire Terrier: Tua, Max Australian Shepherd: Banjo, Archie Australian terrier: Bailey, Brandy, Jasper Belgian Shepherd (Groenendael): Fleming, Ivy Border Collie: Roy, Molly Bull Terrier: Bonnerville Cane Corso: Ali Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: Bree, Ingrid, Jersey, Lacey, Fern Chihuahua: Chelsea and Pansy, Heidi, Bertie, Moose Dally:Appollo Finnish Lapphund: Halo, Vienna, Jaana English Cocker Spaniel: Jesie, Bonnie, Chelsea English Setter: Spartan, James German Coolie: FlashBazil, Latte German Shepherd: Java, Odin, Tlaloc Golden Retriever: Onslow, Matilda-Rose, Chester Great Dane: Sparkles Griffon Bruxellois: Mocha Labrador Retriever: Lestat, Bailey, Tia, Mieka Newfoundland dogs: Annabelle, Katy, Lukey Papillon: Blaze, Minka, Portia, Tyson, Coco Pointer : Kite Audrey Poppin konrad, [english] Badger Pug: Lotus Rottweiler: Roxy, Feonix, Radar, Neo, Abby Samoyed: Mistral, Alchemy, Yngvie, Dante, Bundy, Kamikaze, Fergus, Kato Siberian Husky: Akira, Tikaani Staffordshire Bull Terrier: Kiara SWF: Zoe Rescue Bitsa: Keely, Fred and Ginger,Ozzie, Tess (Wolfie X), Tessa White Swiss Shepherd: Rakim Weimaraner: Ariane, Lulu, Louie West Highland White Terrier: Penny, Mac, Daisy

Archie trys to sit on as much of me as possible. I think it's because I let him sit on my lap as a puppy.

Here are my pics from the previous two weeks. Too tired to comment, but I will be back! 20/52 - This one makes him look scary O_O 21/52 - Just a nice one to show how much he is growing.

He is gorgeous. And he looks super happy!

Of course! Yes I ended up there. My best friend and I both take our pups there most Sunday mornings. If you see me there you should introduce yourself. Watching my friend and his pup do the grading was super helpful. They got perfect marks! A video is here if you're interested: >link< I feel that I really have something to work towards now. And the instructor we currently have is the best yet! So I'm quite positive about it all. Off topic - What doggie sports are available in Tassie?

Wow there has been some great photos this week! Ralley, who is the pup? I haven't managed to catch a name. I love the blue eyes. Clicking Mad, love the red couch shots. Very elegant with the paws crossed. :D

Tassie, I'm a bit new to all this. What does ES stand for? :D Fuzzy82, Thankyou! Great advice!! I will try my hardest to capture the behavior as much as possible. In the last few hours we've attemped the kick back stand. I think it is actually working! He is definitely doing it more reliably. Too early to tell for sure though.

Interesting method! This could work. I've always been told not to force the behavior, but maybe because Archie isn't offering the behaviour himself this could help him along. It would stop him moving forward too. Which is what he is doing at the moment. Has this worked for your dogs? This is the way we have been taught at obedience. It works great for my best friend and her Rotti puppy but for some reason it is a huge distraction for Archie. He follows the hand around with his head and then ends up sitting to try and get his nose closer to my hand at his side. Thanks Tassie! I'll keep in mind my hand signal and if it is parallel to the spine. There is a grading this weekend, but we have missed too many lessons (no choice of our own) for me to feel confident in this weekends grading. I am going to work extra hard to polish it up for next grading. My friend is attending the grading this weekend so I might go along and see how it all works. Thanks everybody for all the advice. I will keep you updated with what works. :D

I've made a couple of posts about this which have gone un-noticed so now it deserves it's own thread. :D Archie and I are new to clicker training and I am using it to try and teach him 'stand'. I really need him to know this for his obedience grading. He will need to know a 'stand-stay' but he can't even get a solid stand yet. We are also expected to use them for heeling. Up until now, when we have come to a stop in heeling we having been asking the pups to sit. We did that for so long that it is natural for him to sit when we stop, but he needs to stand at my side. I've tried using the instructors method of using the signal of running my hand across his face and down his side but this is more of a distraction than a helpful tool. It works for our friend and their pup. But I guess different dogs need different methods. At the moment I am using food as a lure to get him to stand and when his bum pops up I click and treat. I've been doing this a lot and I feel like nothing is happening. Saying the command without the lure isn't working yet. And if I wait for him to offer the behaviour, he just sits there and stares at me. It's like he think it's just one big treat fest. He isn't connecting the standing up with the reward. Usually he is really fast to make the connection with new commands. Also, when I'm luring him into a stand, as soon as he gets the treat his bum is on the ground again. I don't know how to get him to stay standing without him moving anywhere. I am desperate for some help and eager to teach him. He is eager to learn too! He loves training. I just feel like I'm missing something here?

I'm happy to donate. The Mercury also seems to have supported the Dogs Home Of Tasmania in the past. Maybe let them know? They have run stories in the past which have helped rehome a lot of their dogs. Are you referring to just the Risdon Vale branch? Or are all the branches throughout Tasmania in trouble?

Bundyburger, thankfully Archie has picked up the command 'touch' already. :D

Thanks for the input everyone! I got a clicker today and looked up some youtube vids. I found two really helpful vids: >link< This one was quite amusing. I love how he transferred the clicker training to the lady. Skip to 1:55 in the video to see what I mean. OH and I had a good laugh. I had a bit of a joke with OH. When he did something I like I clicked and he got a kiss. Haha. >link< This was my favourite. Very informative and demonstrates a step by step approach. I can not believe how big her Great Dane is in comparison to her! Wow. I'm "charging" the clicker with Archie at the moment. Feeding him his favourite treats after the click is working a charm!! He is even getting the hang of the 'touch' command. I'm sure it would of been easier if I didn't teach him high five first. He keeps trying to offer me the high five behaviour. And what's more is that OH and I are already finding this training a lot more FUN and exciting than traditional training? Who knew. I think because it isn't as frustrating for us or for Archie and you see a quicker response. Can't believe I hadn't tried this sooner.

After a bit more testing I think you are right about the camera trying to use light from the flash to lock on the focus. It's a real pain though. I could always try manual focusing. How do you change the strength of the flash?

Archie is 6 months old and I was wondering if this would be too late to start clicker training? Can I buy one in pet stores? I've never seen them around and I can't wait for one to arrive from online.

Poor Archie No, Sid had the snip way back before he came home. He has fractured his tibial crest and had surgery on Monday. Poor Sid. Hope he is feeling better soon. Sid and Archie came home on the same weekend and now they are wearing cones at the same time. Brothers from another mother maybe? Haha. They grow up so quickly! Take at least one photo a week. You won't regret it. :D

I was at a design event the other night and offered to take a few photos. It was poorly lit, inside environment. I wanted to use auto with the flash, knowing that I would get a lot of noise if I relied on high ISO's. But I haven't really used the flash or auto mode before since I bought the camera back in February. When I tried to take a picture in auto the flash would pop up but instead of taking a photo the flash just keep strobing and wouldn't take a picture. Agh. I know it's a case of me not knowing the camera functions rather than a camera malfunction. It was incredibly annoying and in the end I ended up having noisy yucky photos. I'll have a flick through my manual but any advice is appreciated. It's probably something really obvious and simple.

Awww that is so cute! I love his eyes.