Luke W

OK - with lots of rewards for being relaxed at home - he's already starting to develop an off-switch. Some of the things I'm doing (so far). - Using the Premack principle to make being relaxed rewarding - Transfering value from food to calm pats. - Transfering value from food to "good boy" - I've started on-lead walking. - I'm giving him more stuff to relax at home on his mat with (chew toys, rawhide). - Short bursts of tug followed by a quiet pat and a reward. I think it's helping his home behavior. AND...I actually tied him up outside a shop last night. And he was more chilled than he's ever been. Normally he would bark and cry for me to come back. He barked for about 1 second, then waited patiently!!! A small victory. We did agility class on Monday night. I noticed an improvement there as well.

Exercise - yes - we could both do with a bit more

I put sniffing on cue (regularly releasing with "go sniff") and click/reward for a return of focus. Increase your reward rate for paying attention to you.

Thanks Em. Sometimes I feel like a bad owner Hopefully you'll notice some subtle changes next time you see him.

Very very very nice!!!!!

She's soooo happy!!!! Good work!

It's the little things that seem to add up... ;) Getting distracted during the table, then ambling off after being released, knocking the next bar. Stopping and getting distracted during weaves. Slowness and a seeming lack of drive. Stopping and pooing Lack of excitement at the start line. He's much better at training (as my mind races, I think to myself - sometimes he's the opposite during training - too frantic, too eager) he doesn't have the same problems he does trials. I know I need to think about how I behave during trials. I guess there's a few issues here...his trialling issues and his general behavioral issues. I'm learning he's got certain triggers that tend to get him over-excited at home. Clicker training is one. A knock on the dooor is another one. I'm tackling these over-excitement issues by starting to reward relaxed behavior at home. It's only the beginning and a part of the CU program. I've managed to start using the clicker in a calmer more relaxed way. I've had to really calm myself down! I've got no doubt I need to tackle certain aspects of trialling - I haven't thought that far ahead - but the CU book describes many of our issues and I think it'll help both training, trialling and his home behavior. added: I rambled a bit there didn't I.

Thanks Erny. At the moment - it's early days. I'm starting to introduce his 'off switch' training - early days simply involves rewarding relaxed behavior. Eventually, I hope to have an super strong 'off switch' that will get him to lie down and relax. I won't be totally avoiding the motivational stuff - I'm still playing with him and I'll do some really light agility or obedience stuff. BTW - I don't want to make him seem worse than he is - I've seen many dogs with bigger problems than his. I've got high expectations (yes, part of the problem!). A few weekends ago, he got 4 passes in an agility trial (plus a couple of clear masters runs where he didn't make time) - he's not a total disaster. He's got JDX and ADX despite his trial issues. At the moment, he's completely chilled on his mat in the office. Mark, reward. ;)

Thanks for the suggestions all - I've got a lot of reading to do!

I've really just started rewarding the calm stuff around the house. He gets 30-40 minutes 'off lead running around free' most days in addition to agility training (2-3 club sessions a week, plus small daily amounts at home). Honestly, it's probably not enough off-lead relaxing stuff.

Erny - part of the problem is no off switch

I think for the next few weeks, I'll continue to work mostly on calming him down and helping him to maintain a quiet focus. Back to basics with training. I probably won't do much actual agility training until I've finished the book! At this early stage, I'm working on getting him calmer and less stressed. Stopping him goinng insane at dinner time for example And yes - I'm working on retraining myself :D Cos I need it the most

After some recent issues during trialling - essentially he's shutting down - I've started to take a closer, unblinkered look at my dog. With the help of "Control Unleashed - by Leslie McDevitt" I'm started to recognise the signs that Barkly just can't chill and that he's generally a pretty stressed dog. At home it's very obvious. He's desperate for work to do ALL the time. He barks too much, he's too hyper and finds it difficult to control his impulses. Clicker training and simple obedience work is accompanied by much Barking and hyperactivity. I've created a monster. All this time trying to rev him up and build drive has been counter-productive I think. So...I've started working through the Control Unleashed program and after only a couple of days - I've started noticing improvements in him around home. Simply by slowing down my movements, talking to him less and more quietly he's now able to do short sessions of clicking training, without barking incessantly. I'm going to take a break from trialling for a little while and work on quiet, calm focus. I remember started to read Control Unleashed back when Barkly was about 12 months old. I stopped reading it because I thought "not applicable to Barkly". Well, now is is applicable to him If you've got a dog that seems highly strung, stressed or a dog that shuts down, I'd highly recommend at least having a read of Control Unleashed. Anyway - it'll be interesting to see how he progresses over the next couple of months.

Warnambool sunset. iPhone photo.

Barkly got his ADX on the weekend

Still no tongue control Elspan Barkly Blue ADX JDX

The updated model is the G: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5853...0mm_f_1_4G.html

Awesome shot!

Thanks guys - he had a good day! A nice bath (courtesy of Emma the wonder groomer) and a chicken frame after a day spent smelling of poo.

Happy Birthday Barkly. Three years old today. He got to go for a nice morning walk. And roll in some poo.

Koemi here Thank you! Can't wait to see more pics of Archie, he is gorgeous. Awesome, I wish you a smooth and painless (er, well not *YOU* but you know what I mean!!) whelping! And yes, they are Papillons Yay! Hey, I've been meaning to ask you for a while - where do you groom? *nosey Melbish groomer* LOL awww, you're getting a Goldie too, right? How exciting! They are the most darling bubbas (and adults), one of my most favouritest dogs in the world is a darling older man GR named Cooper. He has my heart. I fell asleep on him while grooming him once on Christmas Eve for a few minutes because I was sooo tired and he just stood there and let me sleep. LOVE! Oh me too!!! And I LOVE REN! And Bronte! Collies have the most stunning faces, I really need to make a trip to Kepala once I get my wuppers (and will have to tow along Luke & Barkly & Tucky) GIVE ME YOUR PUPPY! Sooooooooo jealoussssssssssssss. I LOVE HALO!

Nice work!!

but obviously some terrific memories and photos that will last for ever. Such a beautiful dog.

So much depends on the background and the 'fuzziness' of the foreground object. Diferrent foreground/background combinations call for difference treatments. With a pug, I'd probably be creating a selection with the pen tool. Post the image ;)