Tassie

Thanks dezzyno.1 .. yes, we're fine. Taking a bit of a break while I work through Susan Garrett's awesome H360 agility online course .. and still teaching at dog club. Have added cat showing to the calendar with my two Norwegian Forest Cats - first purebred cats I've ever owned. They're nearly 18 months old and just gorgeous. How nice to get not only the Qs, but also the nice compliments on your handling . Have fun with the T & S.

Those times when we need a camera. Zig in a Yorkie's crate (or his head). My friend did get a photo of Rory in his Cavvy friend's crate .. complete with the embroidered Chloe's Cubby label above his head. Yes Mrs RB ..I think it's the hard wired den thing too.

IU answered for my 6 year old BC boy, who although he doesn't have to, usually chooses to sleep in his airline crate beside my bed. I took the door off it a couple of years ago :D . Occasionally he has to sleep on my bed or on my old girl's bed, because she's decided that she wants his crate, and makes him get out of it :laugh: . Both dogs travel in the car in wire crates with soft bedding. They have slept in those overnight .. for example, across the Nullarbor, when I was staying in motels. When we travel and stay in dog friendly houses, they have soft crates to relax in, and to sleep in at night (doors closed). As soon as they see the crates, they know that is our 'home' for the time being. At trials, I usually use a show trolley for the boy, and a K9 crate for the girl. (I've said it before, but it fascinates me how dogs who are not supposed to be great at generalising, seem to generalise the concept of crate, and will happily go into and settle in different kinds of crates - including ones that don't belong to them, but are handy and unoccupied :laugh: . Best examples of this that I've seen are a grey getting in and curling up in a soft crate belonging to a mini poodle, and my goofy BC boy doing the same in his cavalier friend's crate. :laugh: )

:D

What the others have said. While the price may seem high, if you choose the right registered breeder, you are getting not only the cost of a well bred, carefully raised puppy and on-going support. You also have the fun of knowing the background of the puppy's family through several generations. I don't know about Bull Terriers, but in my breed, people will often be charged more than the going ANKC breeder rate for a pup without any of the background tests or support. I see you're in WA ... there is a Bull Terrier Club there Link which may have some useful information. I would say don't necessarily discount getting a pup from an interstate breeder if you find one you 'click' with. Another thing that's worth doing is to go to a couple of dog shows and have a look at the dogs there, and if/when the exhibitors have time, make yourself known. Many exhibitors love to meet people interested in their breed and are happy to chat in down time. In fact, I see there's a Bull Terrier Specialty in Perth this Sunday (June 14th) :) WA dog event calendar

For anyone else who's looking .. they're with the worm farms, compost tumblers in our Bunnings down here. Pack of 4 panels ... maybe $28 or so.

This sounds like a possible, dotdashdot. How cool that the pup took herself into the crate at class ... Love the way dogs love their crates. (Somewhat O/T ... My best was a greyhound in a foundation agility class, who when class was finishing, took herself off (with owners' permission) into an empty at the time soft crate belonging to a mini poodle .... The grey fitted herself in it just fine. So totally cute :laugh: Oh and my own biggish BC boy, who made himself really comfortable (with room to spare) in his Cav friend's K9 soft crate while she wasn't using it.)

13 year old BC Kirra wants to thank DOL for this thread. On Monday I started using the Snugglesafe I got for her after reading about it here ... put it on the cushion bed that goes under her Snooza Cuddler, and she seems to be very happy with the idea. (She has her Back on Track Winter coat for winter pjs ... the last few nights have been pretty cold here, and she has slept soundly and apparently really comfortably right through the night. Happy girlie :D

Totally agree . At a seminar a few years ago, Kamal Fernandez said there were 26 components to heelwork ! (Think I got the number right.) It's so hard to get people to break things up and train each component before they put it together, and then if something goes wrong, figure out which component is broken, and take it out and fix it. But I agree with you .. I love heelwork now. :D

That's why I use the second platform, so it's easier to maintain criteria for the straightness of the final position. Agree that it's easier to maintain the straight front, cos you can see it ... we have to work harder to maintain criteria at the side .. but it's part of maintaining correct heel position, isn't it.

I can see what you're saying huski .. but with the control box/frame, you still have the frame. Just got to say the platform works fine for me .. mine are not high .. probably 4 camping mats high ... dogs don't seems to have any problem transitioning .. and when they're going from one position to the other, they are actually on the same level. Either way, you eventually fade the prop anyway.

He's coming on really nicely, AD. Love the H360 stuff. We're having fun with it ... including the 13 year old :-)

Or you could sit down and start a story book on the adventures of Don :laugh: .

I've got one crate which looks very similar to that Puppy Power one ... I use it when we're staying in dog friendly houses. At trials the boy has his show trolley, but I needed a crate for in the houses. Certainly not a sturdy as the K9 ones, and you would need to cover the other windows for cosiness/quiet, but quite adequate for the job .. and that looks a good price ... think I paid more than that for mine.

Another vote here for lots of pivot work. And then for nice straight fronts, and straight position at heel, I love using platforms (have a look for Michele Poulliot if you're not sure how they work.) Similar to the boxes that ness is talking about. You can make them by cutting up and duct taping something like yoga mats or those camping floor mats that are often on special. Make them high enough that the dog will know if they're not in position, because part of their body will be off the platform. I'm impatient, so I tend to use luring probably more than I should to get the behaviour in the first place, but then fade the lure as soon as possible. If the dog is not straight, they'll be off the platform, so just a try again .. The principle is to train the dog's muscle memory for what the position should feel like. I'd warm up with some pivot bowl/perch box work first each time.

It's going to be really hard, especially in the circumstances, but in time to come you'll be comforted by knowing that all he knows is your love and care, and that he has had a wonderful life with you that he wouldn't have had otherwise. It's so hard when we love them so much. Take care of yourself ... and know that DOL can be a very supportive community ... many of us have been where you are.

Phew .. that would have been a worry for a while, Perse .... but good Don in the end. And yes .. you'll have to find your training mojo. :laugh:

So very sorry that you have such a nasty diagnosis for your lovely boy. The next few weeks will be very hard for you. Thanks you for taking the time to post this alert. Wishing strength and comfort for you and Benny.

Sounds like you and Annie had a great first day at school. So pleased for you. (And an appetite on steroids is always a good thing when you want focus. :laugh:

Congrats to you both.

They are the exact combo of crates I have here already I have a wire from Vebo! It's very good! Lol I bought my puppy pen from Vebopet too - it's so strong! I will be buying some extra panels I think. <insert gratuitous puppy pic> Gratuitous puppy pics always welcome. That pup's down stay is going to be interesting ROFL .. he got the upside down genes in spades, didn't he, bless him.

Can speak from positive experience about the spare parts service from K9+ Soft Krates. My BC did the same thing when she was younger .. and the spare parts arrived promptly, complete with really good instructions about how to fix the crate.

Sounds like you're doing a super job with Annie, kami. And that it's mostly 'neutralising' the other dog distractions that you'll need to be working on now. The basic principle is that wherever possible, make it possible for the dog to succeed .. so that may mean working at a greater distance from other dogs, and using really high value treats and making the rewarding process exciting (I tell my puppy class students .. if you don't sound like an idiot, you're not really trying :laugh: .) Be prepared for the fact that she may well lose her brain when she sees the other dogs at dog club .. but same deal .. set her up for success. Don't feel embarrassed about asking your instructor for suggestions as to what will help your girl. Looking forward to updates on the adventures of Annie. She sounds like a lovely girl, and very lucky to have found a great home.

Hi Kami ... not sure how long you mean. I love the long line (not retractable) for use in situations where the dog can have lots of freedom, but you still have control, plus the opportunity to practise recalls. (Starting with her further away from distractions .. reward as she comes in, quite often adding the extra reward of letting her go off on the long line again to play. I would think if she's ignoring you,. then the distraction level is too high, distractions are too close .. so move further off again, and then rinse and repeat. You don't want her practising mistakes.) or this you could use a flat thin lead .. like a tracking lead .. between 5 and 10 metres long. Walking on public roads, at least here, the lead cannot legally be longer than 2 metres, and IMHO, that's the max you would use in the streets. You can easily shorten that up just looping it into your hand, when you need closer control. FWIW, for the most part, I only ask for loose lead walking out on the streets .. partly cos I'm walking 2 dogs. Heeling for me is a very specific performance behaviour, with very particular criteria .. I would usually not ask for the out walking on the street. You haven't said how old Annie is ... I'm assuming she's quite a youngster. So your big priority at present is creating a great relationship with her, so that she sees you as the best thing in her world. This is a great foundation behaviour for all the performance sports. Have fun at Moorabbin. :)

Pers, I think we need to keep feeding Jed a Boxer thread every now and again, so that we can see those gorgeous photos again.. The three in a bed is just precious.