alpha bet

ajj, we run puppy agility classes - We are at Wandong which is not that far out from Greensborough on the ring road - takes 30 min from Greensborough exit to our place.... monday and tuesday evening but will be introducing some Workshop Days on weekends which will build some specific skills - we have just finished our new indoor facility for the winter... much easier in the cold weather. Will have some new photos up in a few weeks when I get my photo shop organised. www.alfoxton.com.au The pups learn to use different equipment but just at puppy level.... plus teaching loads of tricks and basic work under distractions which is great for any future comp work you might be interested.

Thistle, If you want to learn and build skills to be more comfortable in dog parks.... we run training classes designed just for this. We are not far from you, just up in Wandong which is about 25 minutes north of Epping. We have our own off leash training area where we run classes... also some large paddocks and a dam paddock, kinda like having an off lead dog park but in this one we have supervision... I set the rules and we guide you thru and give you and your dogs techniques to make socialising more safe. Check my website.

Pet shop is not an ideal place for puppy class....

Meet with the guy... talk out an arrangement and see if you both feel comfortable.... then put an agreement in writing.... a fair agreement means it is fair to both parties. Breeders Terms, Co-Ownership can be a great advantage to all concerned as long as you map out stuff so that everyone understands. As a rule of thumb we say that the family own the physical dog however the breeder owns the showing breeding rights. Costs involved in owning a pet are the responsibility of the family but anything regarding breeding and showing is the cost of the breeder. It is also a good idea to have a time frame placed on the Agreement - hence you might say by the time the dog is say 5-6 years old the breeder will sign the dog over to your full ownership. By that age the breeder is likely to have finished the show career and can then decide if they want to have semen frozen for future use. So the family can desex the dog if they wish. Don't be put off discussing the idea.

Chances are your dog is already covered by the vaccination she had at 10-12 weeks. You don't need to wait - there is no such thing as an indoor sanitised dog training centre.... anywhere. You are fooling yourself if you think your local vet was a safe place to attend puppy school. Your local vet was certainly not a "sanitised safe" area to have your pup.... after all the vet clinic is where people take sick dogs.... unless they remove all the furniture, pamphlets, magazines, photos etc and then wash down the floor and walls with soap and water and then steam clean.... there are germs in the environment..... and on the feet of everyone who comes to class. Just consider with human children who go to playgroup, infant welfare centres, friends houses.... prior to having their full vaccinations. If the mother was healthy and the pup is healthy she is building a strong immune system. The importance of the social development of your pup outweighs any risk to her health. Get out and enjoy your pup - Good luck

Yes our kennels are next to our backyard, about 50m from our house and we can hear if there is any commotion as well as a cct camera to my phone. I can get out of bed and be in the kennels in perhaps 3 minutes. They public don't actually realise how it all works with boarding kennels... I think sometimes people think we have a staff member walking up and down the aisles checking their babies every 10 minutes .... Consider a "major name' Kennel for example in the Industrial area of melbourne near Tullamarine.... they run about 200 or more dogs, charge nearly twice my price, their kennels are about a quarter of the size of mine and dogs only get 10 min out of the run (apparently). I think the public would be surprised to find that there is no one in residence at this location overnight..... yes they probably have a fire alarm system, security patrols checking outside the factory and cct cameras.... but in reality how long would it take staff to be there if there was an emergency. Factories catch fire.... even with sprinklers and security patrols.... it would be 20-30 minutes before staff arrive and try to remove dogs out of a multi storey building... People were horrified that the kennel burnt in SA and dogs died.... this can also happen with a modern kennel built in a factory. Even when people leave their dogs with a Pet Sitter... they do not understand the risks.... It sounds lovely to have your dog staying with a Sitter, but the reality is at someones house or even if at your own... problems happen. People can leave a gate open and dog gets out.... Sitters might go out for dinner and dog gets out... Sitters have friends over and perhaps someone teases your dog and it might bite someones kid.... Your dog might end up having a fight with the Sitters dog.... A storm happens and your fence is blown over and dog gets out..... There are always some issues and it isn't until something happens that the public realise.

OSoSwift.... you and I both run a similar type of business - we take 20-30 dogs... if you want to check my website there are a few things I mention on my page about opening hours that you might find interesting. I've been going for over 20 years and found that I have put my foot down about certain things when it comes to clients. Basically if they can't be prepared to try and work with my system then they can take there business elsewhere as after all I have a family as well and this is also my home. Some of my rules I have learnt to introduce...... 1. We have drop off/pick up on Saturday morning (by appointment) till 11am... then we SHUT to the public... we open up for drop off and pick up (by appointment) on Sunday between 5-6pm.......and we stick to it because this is the chance for us to have family time, kids sports, or go out and have dinner with friends, or even just to kick back and have a bottle of wine without feeling like I'm being unprofessional. If a client doesn't respect our private space then I don't want them as a client. 2. We don't have opening hours....ALL drop off and pick up times are by appointment.... that way EVERYONE has to make a time that is mutually convenient.... this allows me to plan my day around organising dogs, kids, banking, household chores and a chance to jump in the pool if I want. If someone is leaving a dog for 2 weeks or longer and they are catching planes etc. then we try to be a bit more flexible... but it is not worth fussing around for someone who just wants two day stay. As a small business - I explain to people we don't have staff sitting around during normal business hours waiting for people to turn up - however as a small business we get to know them and their dogs on a personal level. Stick by your guns.

Perhaps it is more that the judges should better understand the workings of colour within a breed. If a colour may lead to potential health issues that is one thing... if it doesn't impede the working ability well that is entirely different. How often would be see dogs who progress thru the ranks at shows who have better colour or colour patterns. Dogs are paraded into a ring... given a few moments of inspection, a run around and then decisions made... usually the first impression will place a flashy dog over others... and not to mention barely a look at the dentention. The colour pattern can create a visual impression of structure which is not always true.... and without a thorough feel thru the coat the judge can be fooled... even with movement we see how handlers lifting the dogs to create lighter front which can hide the tendency of a dog to paddle (for example) - good handlers know how to compensate and cover their dogs faults and novice handlers may have not have trained their dog to perform as easily....but with a short run out and back and perhaps a circle around for the group this in now way is sufficient for the average all breed judge to have a true guide to the quality. Just make a snap decision and move on..... If judging was better perhaps breeders would change their breeding practices...

Mandatory... is not a donation.....!

Take your dogs....There is no way that people can actually really know what dogs are there or not... who has the time to check.... The other point is that with some shows if they are in public venues then other dogs can be there anyway....

I had two dogs who went thru and passed the Delta Therapy Assessment... then went to the Handler Day at St.Kilda..... They didn't have any venues out my side of town but said if we knew of anywhere we were welcome to organise paperwork for them... but was surprised to then find out that Delta actually charge the hospital/venue a fee (over $500 a year from memory)... I was surprised at this as I had seen no mention of costs prior.... I know they have overheads, insurance and such, but a friend did hospital visits via the Lort Smith Hospital and they didn't have any charges. It kinda put me off the whole thing as I wasn't going to ask any groups to pay a fee.... so did visits with the school and local aged care unofficially....

The trouble is that then these 'newbies' can advertised as "qualified".... which does seem to the public that they could be of a higher standard..... which we know is hardly the case .....

Miru, if you want to get a good idea if an aussie would suit you then the best thing is to go and meet some. I see your in Victoria... I breed Aussies and run a training school up here in Wandong which is just north of melbourne.... I often have people come up to see the dogs and I am happy for you to come up and visit the dogs - see them in 'paddock condition' on our farm and see whether or not you think this is a breed for you. I rarely groom mine and have little issue with grooming, perhaps because mine are out and about charging around the farm, swimming in the dam and rolling around with each other. Have to say I don't find these dogs particularly anxious they are really people focused and love to have some work to do... I often have 4-6 aussies lazing around the house and we have horses, goats etc. Check the website and come up for a visit then you can decide for yourself.... www.alfoxton.com.au

I am going thru the same thing... trying to work out what is best... but it might just depend on what is available.... I would love to bring a bitch out.... even better bring out a bitch in whelp.....but that could be difficult to find what I want and what I want is probably not going to be available.... Did a trip a couple of years ago and have started discussions now. Expecting to go over again in the next 12 months with a hope of finding something that might be available? Bit scary really....

yep no problem mine is www.alfoxton.com.au

There is no such things as a Bomb Proof Recall.... same as there is no Bomb Proof Horse..... Animals are not computors and cannot be 'programmed'. Hence instead we should be thinking of having excellent recalls... meaning the dog will hear his name and pay attention and then you can ASK him to come to you.... Remember: "when a dogs mouth is going.... his brain is not.... when his nose is going..... his brain is busy"..... So if we want to teach our dog to have an excellent recall we need to give a dog time to enjoy the off leash activity first and then recognise when is best to call... if he has his nose to a new smell and you call him... his brain is too involved with the smell at hand - he doesn't hear you, or not fully anyway. If you wait (perhaps only 30 seconds) his brain will absorb the information from that smell and his head will lift up and he will then we wondering what else am I going to do now.??.. this is the time to call his name...give him something to do....ASK him to come..... and when he comes don't just make him sit and treat... otherwise the dog relates the treat is for sit....... sometimes give him a job... perhaps a spin... perhaps to jump something interesting then stop and treat if you wish and offer another 'game' to play..... Make the task of coming to you part of the fun of being out and about, exploring new territory.....

Have seen this often in my 40 years with dogs... with my own and at times when dogs in the pens might cut pads on wire or sticks.... Not a big deal, just they will limp when it hurts.... a bit like if a human has dry cracked heels.... no big issue just a bit sore. I find regardless of whether you go to the vet and spend about $300 on vet fees, medications and bandages... it takes the same time as if you do nothing. There is very low risk of any infection... and after about 2 weeks you see the pad kinda crystalising and by week 3 it seems almost healed. If you have concerns it can be worth swishing the foot in water to wash out dirt and then dipping the foot into metholated spirits which helps dry the area to reduce any risks. I don't bother cutting off any flap as generally it will dry up and fall off just from running around.

There is minimal risk for puppies if they have been well looked after at the breeders, especially if from healthy mums and are fit and healthy themselves. Chances are your puppy has some good immunity... Remember that your youngster is currently in a high level of absorbing new ideas.... hence risk of infection is outweighed by the benefits to your dog mentally. We don't keep our children home away from contact because of risk of infection.... why do it for the dogs.... Imagine a child who doesn't mix until they are 5-6 years old.....??????

And just to make comment about 'farmer daves' - one persons idea of dirty can easily be a dogs idea of fun. I get people here who think there dog is precious and should be washed and pampered - my website clearly states "This is a place where dogs are allowed to be dogs" that means they don't stay in sterile little compartments which are made of concrete, steel, vinyl... they are not sleeping on little brass beds with doona's nor do they have televisions in their room... They go out in the paddocks with other dogs where they can play and romp under the trees or jump in the paddle pools and then sunbake if they wish... for a few hours every day... not a 10 min walk over to the colour co-ordinated playground with airconditioning and fake grass. Yes my dogs can get dirty... in summer it can be dry and dusty but they run in fresh air, sunshine and space... then come into their pens for dinner and rest up for the night. The pens don't smell because they have fresh air and sun and I don't need to use heavy chemicals to cover the odour nor do I need to wash dogs in scented shampoo to make the owners think their princess is being pampered.... Easy to be critical of someone else's business and heresay is actually a risk of being sued.... but I question if the dogs have a better time at farmer daves... than at Hanrob

Ahhhh in a perfect world it would be wonderful to have a facility that operated so strategically.... The reality is: Boarding has peak times - and these are not always regular Grooming does tend to be a bit more seasonal - unless you are located on a main road with the long hours required to provide easy drop off and pick up... Training Classes - very few places would have three classes running every day, again on a main road in a busy area, provided council will approve such facility in this location. Therefore the idea of budgeting any such business structure has to be planned on the low to average.... costing out staffing for fluctuating businesses is very difficult and effective advertising is the hardest and most expensive especially when you consider costs of newspapers, websites, google ads, yellow pages, internet. Example.... I have a boarding facility that is set up for 25-30 dogs... not because I have that many dogs in residence but to allow for the peak periods... generally over the xmas I have 30 dogs but inbetween xmas and new year I am actually able to accomodate up to 42 dogs (we have some multifunction areas in the training school and stables. School holiday periods are generally catering for 15-20 dogs and then for the rest of the year is 4-8 dogs. Therefore to cost the income achievable on a kennel my size I would need to calculate 40 dogs for one week, 25 dogs for 4 weeks, 15 dogs for 5 weeks and 6 dogs for 16 weeks = 1601 dog overnight stays @ say $26 = $41,626 Whereas most people setting up a plan would think that as I have a 30 dog facility therefore if you had it half full on average that is 15 dogs for 365 days = 5475 dog stays @ $26 = $142,350.... I WISH! This is not reality... there is another local boarding facility who caters for 150 dogs but off season she says she generally has 1-2 dogs during the week but might have 10 for the weekends.... I run most of this myself with flexible work from a local woman who is also a great groomer and has apprenticed to run the training classes as well but finding the right staff is like finding gold... and then you have to provide regular enough of an income to keep them. The type of structure you are talking about has very little likelihood of achieving the perfect scenario : finding the right location, council approval and ability to have on-road advertising... I know this is an assignment..... therefore a "fantasy" business, but to really create a great Small Business Assignment you need to factor these issues into your business plan....

Had a Lagotta recently come to stay with us at the kennel for a few weeks... first time I have had any first hand contact with this breed.... What a ripper of a dog... Looks everything like what the oodle people are trying to breed but this guy had the best temperament, fun and happy, mixed well with other dogs but unlike the general experience Ive had with most oodles.... this Lagotta was smart and relaxed...... Just seems that there are already breeds out there who have the traits desired without having to "develop" a new one... Have to say the name 'cobber' has a certain cringe factor....

What is a cobber dog....?

There are always different approaches that can work - dependant upon the individuals involved.... most of our classes are held off lead and the owners have to learn how to gain their dogs attention, so working with distractions is something that I find we have specialised in over the years. So here are a few ideas. First thing I suggest is to find areas with high distraction - dog beaches and off leash dog parks.... (3 times a week) Wear a jacket/vest with zip pockets so you can place treats and not have dogs poking their noses inside.... Now take a big breath....... let it out... stand still .... and let the dog play and run and frolic...... When the dog has sniffed and absorbed much of the info from the surrounds then start walking away... if your on the beach walk along the shore.... if in a fenced dog park walk around the perimeter... When the dog follows to see where your going (and he will)... bob down and hold out a treat.... then promptly turn and keep walking.... After perhaps three times of this..... you might find your dog is hanging with you as you walk.... he might run away for a sniff and then back to you.... Be happy with little flashes of attention and then dog is looking away... normal... let him explore... As you become more relaxed and confident with your dog you may find that he is starting to hang with you more and more... even asking for more attention from you.... so now you can ASK him for some simple tricks whilst on the beach or park... perhaps a simple SPIN AND REWARD... only repeat 3 times and then move on..... then repeat.... and move on.... The objective is to have the dog asking you for more games to play.... if you tried this three times a week for three weeks you will see a big difference.... remember to relax...hence BREATHE..... Hope this helps and happy to chat if you need more ideas.

I run a facility...since 1993 We have boarding for 20-30 dogs.... We also run training classes (not inhouse boarding) We conduct some grooming services We also breed Australian Shepherds Happy to answer any questions to help www.alfoxton.com.au

I've just been told that the MDBA is a group that also accepts cross breed Breeders - oodles etc... Is this true.... Have seen lots of posts here from them and thought they were a further association for the pure breeds.... Surely this is not the case.