Luke W

Just a tiny bit :rolleyes:

despite being impossible to tell where it was coming from, barkly had stinky lip folds as a pup

Barkly spends a lot of time at the beach!

You haven't defeated the purpose. Editing in the Nikon program (I assume it has some options to adjust exposure, white balance, brightness and contrast at least) - then converting to TIFF will give you more flexibility than if you'd already shot in JPG. Saving as 16bit TIF from Nikon software will give you the optimum starting point for PSP. BTW - I really feel for pro photographers, having done a few paid shoots myself . They only get one chance. The shots you see from the photographers here are probably the best of the ones we have. If we have a bad day (bad light, subjects that won't stay still, problems with our settings, etc), then we just file the shots away or trash them. They never see the light of day. The pros have to produce, no second chances. Having said that, that's why they are pros and why they can charge. You should at least expect some 'usable' shot - in focus, well exposed, reasonably composed.

http://www.clickertraining.com

I suck at free shaping. He gets frustrated when I try to change the criteria.

You know guys, I really appreciate all the replies. I'm starting to think that my expectations are simply too high and maybe I am pushing him a little too hard. Cosmolo - on our frequent good days, often(?) when we work, we are both in the zone and he is a joy to watch. His tail wags, he smiles, his eyes light up. His sits and downs are fast. He runs to retrieve and sprints back. His heeling is lively, head up, tail wagging, trotting gaily! On good days! - he also loves targetting - it's one of his favorite things When I go back to school next weekend, I'll hunt down some of the experienced triallers and see what they think.

FWIW He gets around an hour off-lead at the park or beach per day. We do about 10 minutes of training during this time, plus periodic recalls for treats. He has free run of half the house (he's an inside dog and I'm home all day). He has his chew toys. I tend to play with him around 5 times per day inside (tug mostly, short sessions) His crate door is always open. He gets cuddles and pats and wrestling.

I agree. And did not mean to infer that all training issues are solved with control of resources, if your post was directed to me or in response to mine. Calm assertiveness. Not everything on the dog's terms. Nope, just a general observation Erny based on issues I've seen. The key is to find the balance between control and freedom. I have seen trainers who think the response to a well done exercise is to do it again, just to be sure. If its not as good then they keep doing it. Hell, if the dog has nailed it, it should be end of exercise. That was one of the principles of the Joffrey? method of horse training. When a young horse got something - end of exercise. Take the pressure off as that in itself is a reward. Barkly did a perfect retrieve the other day. He got the whole bag of chicken and we called it a day!

A fair question. I think his obedience is holding 'reasonably well' but I really don't know if that's good enough. This is the first dog I've had in many years. This is the first dog I plan to trial (in obed and agility). I'm a newbie who's not quite sure what my expectations should be. Why does it bother me that he enjoys time by himself? - I only worry that it's going to hinder his obedience and work ethic/performance further down the track and that it's impacting on his general behavior now. The things that bother me... General behavioral stuff: The difficulty I have getting him to 'leave it' (sticks, other dogs, people lying in the park, food wrappings in the park, dead possums). The difficulty I have getting a recall when he's focused on sniffing, playing with other dogs, greeting people, etc. The training stuff - His lack of interest in tug when he's outside. - The difficulty I have lowering the rate of reinforcement (demand barking, displacement behaviors) - His occasional lack of eagerness to work. I'm looking forward to getting back to school to discuss these issues with the more experienced triallers and to get a feel for how we are progressing.

Get him a float vest maybe? He's still a youngster Luke. Work on the relationship and the training will improve. Some dogs cannot be drilled. You really want to find the sparkle that makes a great dog/handler combination such a pleasure to watch. I really need to take some video. Sometimes he sparkles

and I'm very aware of the possible downside of having a super focused dog I want the best of both worlds!

Once he's a bit older, I think agility is a great team building activity and very self rewarding for the dog. Of course, the dog doesn't get to perform the obstacles unless they do them at YOUR cue. I'd suggest a short 'holiday' from training and perhaps new offlead stuff together with no other dogs arond - can you beach walk with him (just you two) and recall him occasionally for a reward? Would fetching from water be something he'd enjoy? We do the beach walk and recall thing...fetch from water...he's not really that confident swimming to be too keen on that. BTW - Sometimes I just wonder if my expectations are too high.

Yup. That's exactly why I'm looking at Ruff Love. I think he enjoys being off lead, sniffing, playing with others dogs and crunching up pine cones, more fun than playing fetch, playing tug and training with me. ETA: I just thought of a good example - when we get to the park, I make him sit at heel while I take his lead off. Then I say "off you go" and he does. Like a shot, nose down. He's 20m away before he turns around. Somehow I think the relationship would be stronger if he hung around and looked at me as if to say "play?".

No doubt, he prefers foo. When he knows there's a chicken frame at stake, he has the snappiest downs and sits imaginable.

Thanks Jules! I'm looking forward to school starting again!

this? http://www.naturaldogblog.com/blog/2007/08...-using-pushing/

Yeah, Barkly gets quite a lot of off leash time (park and beach). This is where he gets to self reward: chewing sticks and pine cones, sniffing, playing with other dogs, swimming, stealing balls, not coming as soon as calls (the "just one sec, let me finish sniffing this" response )...

A little... I've just finished the first Balabanov DVD, just start The Game. I'd need to transfer the value of food up to tug (or his orbee). In a mildly distracting environments, he's not particularly interested in tug.

I've read Control Unleashed and it doesn't seem to really fit Barkly. It seems more suited to a very hyper dog. Barkly is pretty laid back. He just wants to do his own thing (which usually involves walk around sniffing the ground and chewing pine cones). I should watch Crate Games.

Added: I'm also studying Susan Garretts "Transferring Value" article in Clean Run. I'd like to transfer the value of some things.. Something like Food -> Tug Chicken -> Kibble Pine Cones->Kongs

I read the book a few months ago and I'm reading it again. I think Barkly is loosing focus and getting too many rewards from his environment - he doesn't work as well as he did when he was 6mo old (he's now 11mo). His recall isn't as strong as it was and I seem to be battling with him in some areas (keeping of the kitchen bench, not chewing sticks, 'leave it', etc). He's not an out of control dog and still works reasonably well (for an 11mo cocker) but I'd like him to be a bit better! So, I'm considering following he Susan Garrett, Ruff Love program. It's pretty full on and looks like it will take around 15 weeks of dedicated effort. For those that don't know it, it involves completely removing any chances for the dog to self reward, building up conditioned reinforcers and conditioning the dog that you are the source of everything wonderful in the world so that the dog looks to the handler for all reinforcement. It's involves a lot of crating and the dog being on a lead and halter when it's not in it's crate. Mind you I need to read it again. Anyway - anyone taken the plunge? Results?

Hey LP - congrats on your decision to get a Canon! You can compare cameras side-by-side at DpReview (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sidebyside.asp) I checked out the 1000D, the 400D and the 450D http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_po...0d&show=all The main difference is the larger LCD on the 450D and a marginally better 'burst' capability (more shots in rapid succession) plus a few more megapixels (this matters little). If it was me, I'd spend the extra $160 and get the 450D. As for lenses, you get what you pay for. If you want to get serious, you'll now doubt end up wanted the best lenses you can afford. You'll almost certainly buy newer better lenses as your photography progresses. I'd propbably start with a twin lens kit, one wide angle zoom and one telephoto zoom... Something like this: http://www.digitalcamerawarehouse.com.au/prod2866.htm Of course it all depends on budget! If you ever need any tips - let me know!

Thanks poochmad! Barkly is a good model.

Dunno what to say. Barkly loves everybody and everything and seems very trainable. I think. First dog I've trained for 20+ years. He's a better dog than I am a trainer! At 11mo, he can be a bit unfocused and unreliable at times, but from what I gather, he's actually very, very good for his age. One of the trainers I work with says I should start going for my CCD. Today he did his first perfect chained formal retreive!