jinkispirit

A tragic yes, but it's not even an obedience trial - we're going to a conformation show on NY eve - strts at 7.00 pm/ Should be fun, though.

Yeah same here, confirmation show on NYE - odd way to celebrate it but oh well. A few friends are going so will be the social thing as well - a few wines will be shared!

I've made a decision - same as the thought last night. CK is going to have a go in the ring and then once I get a taste for it with him I'll put Xena straight into the CD ring (I have to do sweepstakes first, dont' I?) so I don't have to put her through the pain of working on lead!!

I'm nervous already!!

Good luck - you'll be fine!

Yes sweepstakes first for Xena.

Try and do some practice in group stays. The dogs are pretty close in a trial.

If you do shadow handling (as we should be!) I would give that a miss for the lead up and focus on your obedience. Have you got your left about turn worked out?

Thanks Jules. I think we are looking pretty good.

Group stays are easy - we do them at flyball just about every week. (I know, go figure.)

At the moment we do shadow handling and heelwork at the same time (or at least in the same session) so that shouldn't be a problem - as long as I keep my signals nice and clear.

Left about turn is not a problem, for some reason it was one of the first things I taught them. (even though I tell the beginners in my agility classes to forget about it unless they intend trialling in obedience!! ;) )

I've just been down in the park practising. I think I'll enter with CK and leave Xena to do agility. He had an absolute ball - both on lead and off. She just HATES working on lead - it doesn't matter how hard I work at making it fun or how much I reward she just puts her head down and looks miserable. I don't think I'll ever get her past the horrible way I first trained her. Off lead she is a dream, but the minute I ask her to work on lead I get a sad dog.

Maybe I'll just have to start her in CD. (one day).

If Ember can get her CCD, I have no doubt that Xena or Ck can! They are ready and need the practice working with your nerves as well!

Point of order - please do not consider this to be advice that will work for all dogs or even your dog. I am just sharing what has been a really good learning experience for me and a great result for my boy.

CK is a VERY soft border collie - not particularly confident in strange situations or with strange dogs. He NEVER aggresses, but will react violently if he is actually or feels threatened by another dog. He is VERY quick and quite strong for a medium sized dog so, whilst I'm confident he would never hurt another dog and am able to call him out of anything he might be doing he certainly tells them off in an OTT manner if I am not on the ball. I have never been happy with that or what he has considered to be threatening - made it challenging to live with him so I wanted to fix it.

Most people would tolerate his behaviour because it was only on walks (never at a trial) and only some dogs, but I want to be able to relax and wander without having to worry about every dog that might be in the area.

We started by keeping him at what he considered to be a 'safe' distance from other dogs and have been rewarding calm behaviour. IF I got it wrong and put him in a situation where he felt the need to react he was very swiftly corrected if the reaction was any more physical than a grumble. The penalty has matched the crime - from verbal for a stiffening of his posture through to scruffing for a lunge. The correction was definitely timed so that he knew it was for the behaviour, not for the presence of the other dog.

Then we moved to allowing my other dog to greet the 'strangers' with CK sitting calmly by my side. Same correction and reward rules applied.

At the same time without realising it I started to build a 'happy' command. Every time someone came to pat him I would say 'say hello'. At first just our doggy friends, but then also to their dogs. Because he knew the people and dogs EVERY interaction he ad after I said 'say hello' was very positive.

The next step with CK and strange dogs who wanted to meet us was to let him greet the other dogs for a short period and then ask him to come back behind me. At one stage during one of these meetings I must have said 'say hello' because I noticed his body language change totally from a little wary to relaxed and happy.

So, I've been experimenting - greet a dog without a command and you get a wary CK who will jump on them at the slightest provocation. Tell him to 'say hello' and he relaxes and becomes quite submissive and tolerates behaviour that would have started WWIII six months ago.

By chance we've met a good number of dogs in the last couple of mornings and without fail he has been perfectly polite in the greeting as well as very relaxed about it.

This process has taken us the best part of 2 years and I'm not sure I'll ever let CK run loose with unknown dogs, but he is finally at a place where I am confident enough to take him anywhere and be relaxed about it - which is in turn helping his state of mind!!

Thought I'd share a happy start to the day.

cheers

Tony

Well done Tony, you do a lot of training with your dogs and should be congratulated with the effort and time you put in. you have 2 beautiful dogs who are well trained and it shows!

I try to sneak out with one on, but wife just won't let me!! Best I can do is fishnets covered by tracky dacks.

The other problem is that he things a skirt blowing in the wind makes a perfect tug toy..... ...we are working on that perception.

You know that is an image that I don't want in my mind nor one you should ever ever try!

Wow 2010 already

Ember

Agility - to have weavers consistent; to have contacts done well (to my standards of what I am asking her 99% of the time); to develop more as a team. I would like to be competing in Excellent so have our Novice titles by the end of the year.

Frisbee / Canine disc - to consistenly throw 30 m +. To enhance our freestyle routine.

Tracking - to get our first qualie in the new TSD levels (she got her Tracking Champion this year, which just blowed me away).

Gemma

Agility - to start training and by the end of the year have her competing.

Frisbee . Canine disc - again consistently throw 30m+ (I suppose more my goal) and to have a proper freestyle routine.

Tracking - for a young pup, she's already got her TD title so would love her TDX title.

Keira

Agility - to start training and by the end of the year have her competing. To control that drive of hers (not saying to slow her down, rather focus her and get her more confident).

Frisbee . Canine disc - again consistently throw 30m+ (I suppose more my goal) and to develop a freestyle routine - going to be such a different routine so have to work on what elements I will have to give her to make the most of her skills/style.

Tracking - get her more confident or is that me in her ability (she really showed me towards the end of the year she knew what she was doing) so would like to get her TD title as well as her TDX title - we'll see.

For myself

Agility - to consistently handle my dogs through an agility course. Provide them with the support they need.

Frisbee - develop my throwing so it is consistent. Get to know all the wind / weather condition and what throw I need. To really know the different speeds of my dogs and to be able to consistently adjust my throwing depending on the dog. To work out freestyle routines to make the most of the abilities of my dogs and the different styles they have (it's amazing how different these girls are)

Tracking - to complete my tracking judge training!

To have 3 beautiful litters from my girls as well - we'll see! The main aim is their health and the development of the sensational breed I live with and share my life with.

Go on - where is your brag!!??

You're so funny Agility Dogs.

My brag - I finally got my first Novice Agility Qualie. My girl went really well and the training is slowly coming together and we are working as a team. I also found out in Novice jumpers that the slightest arm movement can affect her - she is really listening to me!

Just a bummber in open jumpers, she came out of the weave poles - we fixed it and there was no other errors

So proud of her and how we are coming along as a team. We have a long way to go and I can finally feel as if we are getting there!

When it all comes together - agility is a blast!

Then we had two runs where we had one fault - one mine and one hers - she knocked a bar and I can't for the life of me pin it on me. Both runs were really quick though. Finally we got a card in open jumping. 20 obstacles in just over 30 seconds!!

Congratulations!! Yay to Xena

(FTR - he can weave quicker than Xena, he just doesn't like to do it in the ring. )

I'm so glad it is not just my dog that can do weavers but in the ring a totally different story!

We had an interesting training session this morning - teaching a new trick.

Basically I want to teach CK to vault off my legs and catch a frisbee. This morning we started to work on the foundations - me kneeling with one knee on the ground, the other out in front of me - CK to put two feet on my leg and then have a play. (Pretty basic really......)

BUT......it took two goes to teach it to him on the left leg, then a few more goes to make sure he knew exactly what I was asking for - clever puppy.

THEN - I decided to teach it on the other side - I took him around to that side and asked for the same behaviour - he looked at me blankly.

It was really easy to get him to understand what I was after, but I was amazed (but shouldn't have been in hindsight) that he just did not relate on side to the other.

It never ceases to intrigue me how their brains work - I think that is what makes training so much fun. Results come from thinking like a dog - not like a person.

Training vaults is just interesting to start with. You think they get it and then you stand a little taller but leg is pretty much the same and they have the blank stare again. Or maybe that's just my girl!

The World Dog Games will be shown on Channel 7 on Saturday 19 December at 4pm (check schedule though as it may change depending on States). It would be fantastic to get heaps of people to watch this show - it should be a fantastic show with fantastic dog sports. (the more people who watch it will show how popular dog sports are and hope the event continues!)

WDG took place in 31 Oct and 1 Nov at Acer Arena in Sydney - with Frisbee, agility, flyabll and dock diving. There was a crowd of 4000 people and was made for TV so I'm expecting it to be great viewing with great sports! If you are at a dog show - tape it, - it really should be great viewing!

The World Dog Games will be shown on Channel 7 on Saturday 19 December at 4pm (check schedule though). It would be fantastic to get heaps of people to watch this show - it should be a fantastic show with fantastic dog sports. (the more people who watch it will show how popular dog sports are and hope the event continues!)

I would be interested with my Border Collies as well . Both love playing frisbee & are quite good at it, but i need help with my throwing skills (well lack of ).

Once the dog knows how to fetch, it really is improving the handling skills - for consistent long throws and consistent height etc. It's the throwing that needs the practice and what we need to work on.

It's a lot of fun but like all sports does need training.

Liz

I have been looking into this off forum and once again im in the wrong darn state. I would be interested though so depending on when and which day of the week, ROAD TRIP.

Damian is organising clinics in NSW and Vic.

He would love to know where exactly to hold clinics and if anyone is interested in helping set up the clinic, that would be great.

Liz

is there any books, videos, youtube links to get started? good ones?

There are heaps of Youtube on Freestyle which is the next 'type' of canine disc sport played. It's a lot of fun but I would recommend learning the basics first before starting freestyle but certainly motivating to see what you can do.

Links for some great advice and canine disc community is – K9 Disc; Pawsitive Vybe; Discdogopedia; K9 Athlete and Disc Dog Learning Lab

Some videos to watch so you get the hang of it – gives you ideas of what you want to try and also what you don’t want to try. (not in any order)

Karen and Amber 2006 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAR0nvDbJP8

Damian and Tigereye 2006 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r4oCil_5K8...re=channel_page

Dean and Skye US Nationals 2007 -

Disc Dog Freestyle -

Japan Style Vid -

World Canine Disc Champs -

Mark and Skyler -

Jada - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec--9mk2D24...feature=related

Awesome Frisbee Dogs - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsyZToSg--U...feature=related

Chicago Bears Half time entertainment -

Frisbee Dog -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=AU&hl=...p;v=axoyB4pypWY

Have fun watching!

Liz

WOW!!!! WHAT A WEEKEND - I AM NEVER GOING TO FORGET THE WORLD DOG GAMES!!!! This is a long post, but I am so excited about what we achieved and still buzzing after playing frisbee in front of 4500 people!!

...

Any hoo, our big goal for the weekend was to showcase the sport and I think we did a pretty good job of that judging by the level of enquiry! Look forward to working with some of you to get the sport into other areas of the country!!

Tony and CK

Congratulaitons Tony and CK - you did a great job with CK all weekend and I was extremely proud that CK was your priority!

Well done on your results - couldn't have staged a better finish then we got! Up to the final throw!

Let me have a chat to Damian when he gets back and I'll answer in the next day or so.

Cheers

Tony

How exciting that frisbee is taking off! WDG were a lot of fun and it was great that everyone saw how much fun frisbee is.

I am positive that Damian and Karen would love to organise a clinic down in Victoria - Canine Disc Australia held shows at the Melbourne Royal to start getting people interested so would be great to get some clubs happening as well.

Looking forward to the 2010 Canine Disc National Championships - more the merrier.

Liz

Hey all,

We've just returned from the ADAA Grand Prix and although we didn't come away with the results I was hoping for there were some really encouraging signs to come out of it.

Xena managed the 24 weave pole challenge in 6.72 and 6.79 seconds for her two runs - I was pretty happy with that since she's only ever seen 24 poles once before.

She also got one gamblers card and another games card. The gamble I was especially happy with. Aside from that we didn't do all that well in the results dept, but she ran very nicely in some attrocious conditions (either hot or wet depending on the day) and got better and better as the weekend went on. In her last run on the weekend she managed 15 obstacles in just on 23 seconds - including the dog walk and weavers - I was pretty happy with that.

CK ran nicely all weekend and got better as we went, but still decided there was no way he was going to weave in the ring. I think the extra layer of pressure is still a little too much for him so it's back to making sure that he loves weavers before putting him back int he ring again.

All in all pretty happy with both dogs - and they ran brilliantly at training last night as well (Yes, CK did weave well - arrrrrrrrrgh!!!)

Tony

Well done Tony, Xena and CK.

It's different for each sport we play really, or at least I turn up at each with a different mind set.

Flyball is just a hoot for the puppies and I love the team spirit and the overall spirit on the day. It is competitive, but more in a friendly way than in a serious manner. (In Qld at least, can't talk for other states here.)

Disc/Frisbee is because I like the people for the most part and the dogs have an absolute ball as well.

Agility is a little more serious. It's still fun for me and for the dogs, but I do judge our progress as a team by how we do in the agility ring - not so much in terms of titles or wins (although both are nice!), more in terms of how the dogs run and their understanding of my cues and how I manage the courses.

I have to agree with Agility Dogs here. It depends on the sport - and I've tried most. I am mostly motivated by what the dogs themselves love - it gets them out, active and mentally stimulated.

Tracking - because the dogs love it and because of the people. As you don't actually compete against anyone else, it is just whether your dog passes or not, it seems to be a lot friendlier than other sports. It's the only sport, that it is all up to the dog and you have NO 'control' over it, it's great to see a dog really working a track. But I do aim for Tracking Champions in this sport.

Disc frisbee - again, dogs just love it. People are friendly and it's a great day out.

Agility - dogs love it again. But I have higher goals on what I want to achieve but have so much to learn. At the moment, I am looking for real team work and working together. Although, I personally have to work on my fitness.

Herding - natural instinct of my dogs but too expensive to really get into it.

Obedience - vital but my dogs don't really enjoy it (like the more fast paced activities) so probably don't compete much

Luring - solely because the dogs love it. They go mad over it and it's great exercise. No training required, just an avenue for them to expel some energy.

Flyball - yet to try, but would like to some day.

Gees no wonder it seems all my time is taken up by dog sports. Last weekend Tracking, this weekend agility and showing. I'm mad though.

The club I train with has twice this year had tracks ruined by a hot air balloon company coming in with bus loads of people to use the field to take off. from. :D

That's just rude. :p

Hope you have better luck at your next trial

We have spoken with these 3 balloon companies now and given them our dates. They haven't even given the owners notice - they just think that they can take off from anywhere. I feel for the property owners!

Molasseslass will go really well in the next trial.

It was a TD2 and really the long grass makes it easier - more things to hold the smell - and it's so hard for clubs to find places to trial, they can only do the best they can.

Ultimiately that track was all my fault. I as trial secretary and as the tracklayer for that track, basically placed that track. Some dogs love the long grass as it holds the smell more. But it was really thick and although he did a fantastic job, it just all got too much for him. But he certainly knows what he is doing - you should be proud of him!

Can anyone help with a couple of questions please?

1. What does track on mean. Ie if people are willing, you can track on.

2. From those that have tried it both ways: My dog stops at each article enough to show an atual detection of the article but I have noticed other people train their dog to sit or drop at the article. Does anyone have an opinion as to wether the stoping to sit could possibly make the dog loose focus or the scent at all. I prefer to just let the dog pause and then move on but don't want have have to re-train later if one method is better than the other or is more likely to end in a pass.

Feel free to add any other advice regarding the first test and what NOT to do.

Thanks Neatz

1. As people have answered, track on, means that you get to do your next level track and the competition.

2. Getting your dogs to sit or drop means that the judge can definitely see the indication. Sometimes, if you just traing the dog to just pause, in the excitement of a competition, when the dog might get faster (dogs also pick up on your nerves) the dog might not really give an indication of a full pause, so the judge will not award it. Personally I feel it is better to train a sit or drop and hope for the best at the trial.

I have trained a Tracking Champion, another with a TD title and another who just passed her TD2. I am training them to pick them up, sit and wait for me to take the article from them. In the 3 years, I've been tracking, not once as this affected their focus when resent - you do have to train for it though. The times, people say that if the dog picks it up and carries it, in can affect their smelling of the track, but I never let the dog continue when they still have the article in their mouth. If they pick it up and you take it off them, it does not affect their rescenting of the track.

I personally just feel better to be safe than sorry so would train for the better indication so a judge can never say "I'm unsure whether that was an indication or not".

Good luck with it.

Can I join in!?!

Very new to tracking, and finally learnt something about handling, my girls competed on the weekend for 3 out of 3 passes!! Maddie got test 4, Tahlia test 3 and her TD and the baby Jindi got her test 4! The grin is still a mile wide but I'm not sure my fingers have warmed up yet and my house looks like a dry celaners with wet weather gear drying all over the place, apparently we found rain in Victoria! I'm adoroing tracking!

Congratulations - that's some fantastic results - well done.

I had a trial on the weekend too, and Gemma got a very good on her TD3 and Keira got a very good on her TD2. Gemma's was through water holes so she did really well to keep tracking. So proud of my girls.

I'm very excited. My young girls had a tracking competition on the weekend and Gemma got her first title 'TD' through a very hard track and through water holes which did not deter her! The judge said it was very hard especially for such a young girl but she did it well and was awarded 'Very Good'. Keira passed her TD2 with a 'Very Good' as well. She did a lovely track and stayed really focued all the way. She has one more level to go before her 'TD' title.

I'm so proud of my young girls!

Hi all,

I did a net search for tracking and came across this forum. There doesn't seem to be much discussion about tracking despite the season being in full swing. Is anyone participating in tracking trials? It would be great as a newy to the sport to read about others' experiences.

I've been training alone and basically learning from internet articles and books. Does anyone know of any training groups in N/E Victoria

Cheers.

Hi

I don't know much about tracking in Vic - but check out http://www.trackingclubvic.org.au/.

I have just attained my Tracking Champion with my first girl, Ember and we have started training TSD - the new levels that came in this year. Ember unforunately failed her first attempt at TSD1 - but not on the unknown terrain - no on grass where a herd of cattle just went passed and she followed them!

I am also training my two younger girls who are 12 months. Gemma has her TD2 and is going for her TD3 in 2 weeks, and Keira unfortunately failed her TD2 at the last trial, so we are doing her TD2 again.

It's a great sport so enjoy it. It's fantastic to see your dog do what it is capable of and we have to trust them.

Liz

The other cool thing was that Xena and Ember (Jinkispirit's girl) ran in their strategic pairs and did a really good job for their first outing together. Both girls had a look at each other for the briefest of seconds, but after that it was all smooth sailing - we are looking forward to getting them working well together down the track.

Also well done to Ember for getting a Quali in the last run of the day!!

Thanks Reddii. And thanks for trusting Ember and I to me your strategic partner pair! We've certainly got 2 speedy girls!

Ember is fast - if only I could keep up with herso she doesn't get too far in front of me and then wrong courses! But we are getting there - a long way to go, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

My only brag is the qualie at Novice Snooker. But I was really pleased with her weaving at the end. Made her keep doing them on one run and it worked for the next! She knows how to do them but in the ring - all sense escapes her!