Vickie

BC Crazy Have you ever tried training her with markers? I have worked with a few dogs severely lacking in confidence, including one of my own, and I find the best thing I can do for them in life and in training is to provide some constants for them. Markers allow you to provide something very predictable for a dog who fears the unpredictable and when used correctly can produce an autopilot response which can override fear responses. The beauty of it is that it is very uncomplicated to implement and can be used throughout their training, long after confidence issues have been overcome. Since Stella already has high drive, I suspect she would embrace this kind of training.

I agreed with this & find the same thing with the system I use. Over analysing trial courses from a rules perspective just puts extra things in your head when you are running it. I try to save my analysing for planning my training sessions and just hope like hell it has become second nature when it comes time to test in a trial situation. I had an interesting run in CFS masters jumping last Saturday. I ran a dog that has been trained exclusively with the GD handling system. I have never run him before, and handled him using exactly the same cues (similar to CFS system) as I handled Trim with. He took 2 bars, one was on a straight (so not affected by system cues) and the other was a poor signal from me before he had committed to a jump. Other than the 2 bars, he nailed it! He showed no confusion whatsoever with the handling system I ran, even though I used a totally different system to what his owner would have.To top it all off, other than the 2 bars, he would have beaten Trim on the same course by just under half a second. Food for thought...

Oh well, I tried :) I'm not sure how this solves the problem, unless you could be on the outside of the line between 4 & 5 when you release and I'm pretty sure that would break rules in most handling systems...

Thanks :). It was a really fun course. Ok, I changed the coordinates. Look at the map and picture yourself standing at 12:15. As he comes out of the tunnel you are facing him, left arm extended. Do a full 360 deg with him on your left & send to 4. So you are basically slingshotting him around you. Hope that makes more sense.

I was amazed at people's lack of fundamental understanding that dogs will nearly always curve towards you, so in most cases handing it from the other side and expecting them to take 4 instead of 5 (which was in a perfect curve) was doomed before it began.

I don't think I train for layering as such. I do practice setting lines and a verbal "go on" supported by my own line and if there are jumps in between, then so be it. I also think (and I know it sounds weird) that you can project a line by believing in it yourself and focussing on a fixed point. I was talking to someone today & realized that although I did train it, my "out" command is almost non-existent in practice and I can't remember the last time I asked my dog to move laterally away on course (other than in desperation ). Lia, the only solution I can think of for you , (without expanding your tools available) is to perform a front cross between the tunnel & 4, then send to 5. So as not to deteriorate your decel cue, you have to do it around coordinates 12:15. It would be inefficient and waste time, but I believe it would be possible within the GD/SG system.

Trim - 8 years - Agility Trim does some training every couple of days. Sometimes 5 mins, sometimes an hour.We trial every 2-3 weeks. I make a note after each trial of anything we found challenging or need improvement on and that forms the basis of our next training session. Since I also teach agility, she usually tests the challenges I set up for students before students arrive. At least once a week, although she is a Masters dog, we do something really easy like a big speed circle. At least once a week we do a reward session with one jump where she is rewarded for keeping bars up & taking directional commands. Fly & Lass - 11 months - sheep I try to work them 2-3 times a week. We have goals for each session and I am motivated to achieve them so that we can move on. Fly & Lass - agility Lots of foundation work for rewards. Each gets 2 or 3 5-10 mins every couple of days. I have a series of skills that I am building which will all come together when real training starts. We may work on 2-3 different things each session. I generally take a dog or 2 with me wherever I can when visiting or kids sports etc so they have some general training & get lots of running free. Each year, we all take a month off where we do no training and just go for long walks and runs on the beach. We mostly use tug/toys for training but will occasionally use food. I rarely deduct these from meals as they are all lean and fit so it doesn't impact their weight much. Probably the most important thing to me in training (and that of my students) is that if I identify a problem, or a hole in training that I wasn't aware of, I stop whatever I had planned and work through it then & there.

I would say that the advantage is that the box method puts less pressure on joints as it requires less repetition over the AF for training. So far...the box method seems to be producing more reliable results than stride regulators too.

NATIONAL AGILITY TRIAL 2012 – COMPETITORS NOTICETable Timer The NSW Committee has been in discussion regarding the use of the Electronic Table Timer at the Nationals, following queries and concerns raised by the Agility community. We would like to reiterate that this timer was purchased and offered to the Nationals with the very best of intentions to improve both the sport and the event. Please find following the decision of the Committee. We have attempted to find a solution that we hope will please the majority, to cater for those who wish to use the timer and to be considerate to those who have concerns about using it. Note: The Table is Optional Equipment in Excellent, Masters and Open Agility, Gamblers,and Strategic Pairs. The Table is NOT in Jumping or Snooker. The table timer will be used during the Nationals.It will be used in the following Rings:--Wednesday 13th June - Ring 4 (Outdoor)-Thursday 14th June - Ring 1 (Indoor)-Friday 15th June - Ring 1 (Indoor)-Saturday 16th June - Ring 4 (Outdoor)-Sunday 17th June - Finals (Indoor) What does this mean to you the competitor? From Wednesday to Saturday, using the above Rings allocation, each height category has been catered for. Out of three Agility heats you will experience the table timer once. The other two heats you will just have the judges verbal count.The table timer will be used in the finals.If during your heat, your dog experienced difficulties with the timer AND YOU HAVE QUALIFIED FOR A FINAL you will be permitted to approach the Judge PRIOR TO the start of the final and voice your concern. If any-one in the Final does not want to use the Table Timer, they may run last in their height category, and the Judge will disconnect the table timer for them. Before you make your decision, remember that the Judge is human and MAY have a fraction slower reaction time than the table. When the Table Timer is not in use, it may be used for practice – an announcement to the competitors will be made advising times, when and where. Please do not prejudge the Table Timer for your dog – you, more than likely will not have a problem with it. NATIONALS AGILITY TRIAL 2012 COMMITTEE 26-4-2012

Please get someone to assess him and DO NOT leave him alone with children, even if he does appear relaxed. Incorrect diagnosis and treatment will only lead to escalation of this behaviour. It sounds fear based to me but very difficult to know from your description. Nipping, snapping, nudging or biting at children's faces is NOT a herding trait, nor is it likely to be more common in working line dogs! Labeling things like this, whether they are true or not, often makes us subconsciously excuse them. .Someone very wise once told me "it doesn't matter why they bite, it matters that they bite"

Welcome back GusGem I remember you & your girl :). I bet she hasn't forgotten a thing.

I want to come & watch as well. Is this possible? I'm happy to pay but my dog who I think would really enjoy this is in season. Also, will the pool be open at any other times in future? Would love somewhere close to swim my dogs regularly. Any other facilities in the planning?

How is he today?

I would take him to the vet, if not tonight, first thing in the morning. Eta, after googling reactions to advantix (and there are heaps of different reactions documented), many suggest washing them with detergent, it may not help given how long he's had it on, but something to consider?

Excellent post HW! And exactly why I suggested someone recommending a trainer who can help. Relationship building is great, but unless you can apply the communication and rewards at the right time and place on course, your problem will probably still remain, even if your relationship is improved outside of the course.

Where are you located Woodbyne? Maybe we can suggest a good agility trainer nearby. There are so many exercises you can do to build her confidence in agility, but stuff like this is hard to diagnose over the net as I suspect there are a number of things going on here. I don't think it's a good idea to trial her until you get this sorted out.

Why the barrier? Out of interest, in the above scenario, what would happen if you fed Bindi inside first and then put Crickets food down & released him, while she was also outside? Would he eat it, given that she hadn't started first? So long as you are comfortable doing it, I would try this. Any resource guarding and I would simply remove his food & try again the next day. Clearly I'm not a behaviourist, but this worked for me many years ago. My dog soon leant that any carry on & he went hungry. As a general rule, rather than dealing with things as they occur, I much prefer to take control and set them up, so that I dont have to deal with them unexpectedly.

New Research

This

Well done Lia & Kaos Unfortunately I didn't get to see your runs, was a busy day.

First exposure doesn't always mean much. Some start out looking good, but do not show serious faults till real training starts, others start out with little interest & turn into brilliant dogs. One of the nicest & best bred sheepdogs I have ever seen started like a piranha. A good sheepdog needs more than instinct & balance.

But this is not stopping someone who wants to breed a DUAL PURPOSE Border collie from doing so. If someone wants to breed a good working collie who also has the qualities to meet the standard for the Border Collie in the show ring they can do so. Really? How would one go about this? There is a very small percentage of ANKC registered Border Collies in the country who have been bred based on their working ability & none of them, that I know of, meet the breed standard. So where do you start? Maybe pick the 10 closest to the standard and water down their working ability by breeding them to dogs who do meet the standard? That is a very simplistic and idealistic view. It totally undermines the complexity of traits that people select for in breeding a dog for stock work. Again, how would you go about it?There are currently 44 BC puppy listings on DOL. 11 of those mention herding, and all in the same breath as obed. & agility. Most of them do not show dogs. Some Sires &/or Dams of those 11 litters have HT titles...which mean they have enough instinct/ability to move trained sheep around a cone on a small yard. Is this the starting point if one wanted to "choose" to breed dual purpose dogs? Australian working Border Collies bear a strong resemblance both in terms of work and looks to working BCs all over the world, including Scotland, the country of origin. They ARE the traditional Border Collie.

The spelling for the sire is esrvelspirit sir azlan Breed standard says 46-48 cms at shoulder for males.

They just posted some scores for Alison & Archie. Not that I know much/anything about obed, but they look good right?

My very best wishes for Murphy Le. Please keep us updated. Thank you for the warning, although I wish it was under different circumstances