Tassie

I've had success with the "fun stops/redirect to acceptable chew object" methods. As with other things, consistency is the key. I advise the people in my dog club puppy class to live with the fact that their house may look like a bomb site for a few weeks, since I find it helpful to have a legitimate chew object almost within arm's reach everywhere - even if it's something like the inside tube from a paper towel roll - doesn't have to be an actual toy. Something you can grab quickly, waggle it a bit to get pup interested. What you're doing is giving the pup the consistent message - "Not that, do this". Here's another useful article Click here for article And Another article ETA another link

CaseyKay - sounds like you and your dogs are off to an absolute flier!!! How cool is it that you're having to add new goals already. And a new BC puppy - we'll all enjoy that :)

:laugh: Hudson and Rory rolled in together would make awesome agility dogs. Rory is a total contact and tunnel suck. And don't worry about slow maturing - Rory is nearly 5 and a half - and I am starting to see glimmers of maturity ... off in the distance :laugh: . (No, seriously, I am loving the relationship he and I have now - it's not completely without holes, but it's developing all the time as he gets that he has to cooperate with me or the game stops (briefly). That I can do because he's quite a hard head in some ways (though soft as butter in others).) So glad you're developing that improving relationship with him - once they get that the game is played with you in the ring, you're well on the way in all disciplines - and I'd say Hudson is getting that pretty well - and that will build all the time from now.

]E&H ... Hudson is looking good out there - really enbjoying himself, which is the bottom line. Weekend of agility for us just finished - very small trial but lots of fun in the centre of the island. I'm so happy with my little feral girl - who will be 12 on Thursday. First trial of the year, and I entered her with the proviso in my mind that if she seemed like she didn't want to run, she wouldn't have to. So ... 11 runs for the weekend for her - only 1 DQ (all time record, I think - and that was DQ by a short nose - the nose she stuck into an off course tunnel), a couple of course faults in a couple of runs, but otherwise clear - although over time on some .. and ... an ADM Q (1st place - out of 3 :laugh: ). For your Monday enjoyment, here she is running SPDM with her friend Lucy ... the girls had a heap of fun - we were 2 seconds over, but for their age they did pretty well - and Kirra had to over achieve, taking inactive obstacles on our way to our next place. TSD, the misguided missile, Mr Rory, was doing some quite nice stuff in between a distinct lack of impulse control at times. I'm still not fast enough with my turning cues either. Reading what you said to E & H, I was feeling a bit guilty, because I did restart the weavers - for him that's an impulse control measure. He was actually getting his entry most of the time, but themn not able to contain himself to keep weaving. With the restarts, he did give me some full sets of weavers, which for him, with the smorgasbord of attractions out on course, was huge. I do redo the table as well - impulse control again. I don't take him back over other contacts though = just make a note to do more work in training when I get the chance. Also for your enjoyment, here's Mr Rory having fun with tunnels .... complicated by the fact that both the judge and the videographer are his very, very good friends - even more distractions. My bad on the sloppy second front cross - I sent him to the off course tunnel - bad handler. Not sure what happened with the spread - it was like he just didn't see it ... ETF typo

Congratulations to you and your baby dog. That's a great effort.

The kids are looking good, AD. So nice when you have flowing runs, even if they aren't Qs.

Big Yay for Naughty Nina ...that's do good to hear ...and for Scoota of course...sounds like he's actually not ready for retirement yet :-) ETA .. I forgot to say...another one here who is finding the Fenzi Academy courses really helpful.

Sorry ..finger trouble :-)

That is interesting, isn't it...I do think NRMs are significant, and that experience kind of supports that. I suspect she figured she only got the treat because she could beat you ;-) Think part of Rory's problem is that he doesn't get to see the contacts very often. Most of the end behaviour was learned on a makeshift contact board. And i didn't work heard enough at putting that on stimulus control ...oops!

All dogs should be so very much loved. So sorry for your loss. :-( My fur kids will have an extra hug tonight.

:-) :-)

Sounds good TSD. I had a session with three two the other day in the backyard. My strategy was, if you don't meet criteria of correct entry and going all the way through correctly, you miss the chance for reinforcement ..NRM oops, pull out, other dog gets a chance, same conditions..you want to you must meet criteria. Took a few false starts, but when they realised I was serious, they worked their little butts off :-). By the way, agree with backchaining the end of the contacts if you want fast stopped contacts. Mind you, be careful what you wish for...I've reinforced the end so heavily that I now have a major contact suck :-)

Just read this, and wanted to say what a great post - wish it could be pinned on Gumtree and similar sites. I've just watched (via Facebook) a litter of beautifully bred Goldens bred and raised by friends of mine - all pups should have such an upbringing. All of the things that jed has described.

:)

Have sent you a PM

Our local dog club starts puppies from about 12 -14 weeks - as soon as they've had their 2nd vacc. I'm one of the puppy instructors, and I find the pups and their handlers cope really well. We do lots of little bits - teach the mechanics, do a bit of trying and practice - just so I can see the handlers are getting it, then on to something else - so the pups work a little then rest a little. I just love seeing how the pups go so quickly from just wanting to greet other pups (most of them - although if they just want to look that's fine too - use that initial time to have the handlers watch body language and learn to turn and go when their pup or another has had enough - try to get them to meet different sizes etc. From then on it's pups and handlers working together - working on building focus and relationship. It staggers even after years of doing this, what little sponges the pups are, and how quickly they can learn - we show them what we want, and mark and reward when they gdo it. Little bits at a time. I have a very young GSP in class at present - doing fine. We just work at the pup's pace, and as I say, little bits and lots of different things. Just go and have a look maybe, and make sure that you like what you see. Most of the clubs in Perth should be fine, from what I know - the home of great dog training - just ask Ptolomy and Bedazzled and Rubystar and Pie :laugh: to name but a few.

+1

@ E+H - I'd agree with AD - maintaining the level of engagement - high value tuggy is good, as it acts as a lead while you're getting him hooked up again. Massive reinforcement for turning to you when you call him excitedly - huge game - you should be more exciting than anything else out there. By the way, have you got a short quick form of his name - that you use in agility - like, my Kirra is Kizz, Kizz, Kizz, and Rory is Roarz. It's useful for cueing on course too. And if all else fails, and he does shoot off - try one call, then if that doesn't work, just go and get him, take him by the collar and away from the equipment - he doesn't get to play the game for a little while (I'm assuming that he finds the game rewarding.) "Too bad - you missed your turn. How sad." Combination of those two should help. I certainly wouldn't call him more than once - and maybe not even the once. Just a thought.

Thinking of you today. Just spoke with a friend who thinks she will be farewelling their dear old Border Collie girl today. It is such a hard thing to do, even when you know that it's the right and kind thing to do.

Nice brag, Tony. Rory says way to go little sister Wikki Woo and extra special congrats for Xena. Mr Rory did a little bit of training at club today - found lots of holes (expected) but some good things too. Poor boy chinplanted - he sped out of a tunnel onto a slightly damp table at warp speed - skidded and sailed off the other side just as I gave him his drop (late as usual) - so he tried to drop as he was landing on the ground - no damage done - but it was really very funny.

I'd love to be a fly on the wall, Ptolomy :laugh: . I'm not so worried about the HTM (though I probably should be) - it's the Freestyle .. no creativity here. And of course then there's the matter of getting in some agility training, especially for the misguided missile, and a few odd trials - oh, and work - and keeping up with FDSA courses - but hey - we'll get there, and we'll have fun - as you will. Make sure there's video from the Classic. :)

OK - edits done - probably not up to your standards ness - but they're not too bad. All between 1.55 and 2.00 - including the 4 seconds silence at the beginning - thinking time . Now to get the choreo done, then the dreaded costume - oh, and train the dogs

:laugh: Glad it's not just me, PME. I did get the music editor sorted out last night and had a go at cutting Rory's FS music. Will try to get Kirra's done today, and their HTM. They're in Novice so minimum 1.30, but that's good in a way. I found Starters felt a bit rushed ... or maybe that was my lack of proper training showing. It's going to be fun, whatever happens ... love our BCs :D

Totally agree. Just hope things get better from now on.