sheena

Because she keeps wanting to do "reverse arounds" I have changed that part of my routine to "3 reverse leg weaves" going into "reverse around". Hope I am doing it right...am following what Michelle Piollot instructed, which was side, reverse to heel, heel reverse to side, side reverse to heel again. She is getting better at returning close to position next to my leg, but we don't seem to be moving backwards...just doing it on the spot. I would really like to step back while doing it, but I guess this is only practice. In Michelle's video, she didn't go any further than the foundation moves. I have put the clicker down for this bit & just holding a treat in each hand so I can bring her forward after the reverse, back into heel position. I just didn't have enough hands to hold the clicker as well :laugh:

I have just made a recording of the music, putting small segments onto a CD & tried it out with her. She just Loooooooooves the music :laugh: trouble is she wants to do her own thing. I think it's because I am rocking to the music she thinks it is a cue to do reverse arounds. I may have to rethink my transitons & cut down on the number of things we try to do as I can't keep up with the music. But so glad to see that she just loves it now that I have put it to music. Opening 15 seconds going well Now doing lots of practice without the dog...till I get it right. We are going to have to move quicker though :laugh:

Karen Pryor started up the "clicker for humans" with a gymnastics class, but the parents were so horrified that she was training them like dogs, that she changed the name to "tagging" & that was OK :laugh: & yes it works well. Sometimes if I am training something with my dogs & it is difficult for me to really see what they are doing eg. back behind position in heeling, I will get OH to click & I treat. With my class, if we get time at the end of the session, we do what I call a "chicken dance" where we run the course/exercise with our hands behind our backs & no voice...so using only shoulders & momentum to guide the dog. It is pretty hard to do this without standing up straight, but this girl manages to still run stooped. I must ask her if someone has maybe told her to handle her dog like that, because it was someone from the club who "advised" me that she needs to lean over more to get right in the dog's face

I havn't met this dog in person, as he is so aggressive towards people & other dogs, that he has to almost permanently wear a muzzle just in case he escapes his backyard He is fine with their 4 year old daughter apparantly He told me his bitch is as quite as a lamb. He has only just moved to our area & as I said, the guy looks like he would be more at home with a SWF. Nice guy though & loves dogs :) just hope he manages to keep it locked up & I hope he is not breeding from him. Will check that out next time I am talking to him.

There was an old thread on Cane Corso's but it is over 12 months old & can't be used. I have just been talking to a guy with a pair of these dogs. He looks like the sort of guy who should have a poodle :laugh: He was telling me about the aggression problem he has with his male, describing him as "just goes in & attacks without warning" but makes a good watch dog. I didn't think this breed would have been legal in NSW

Just by chance, someone picked me up a copy of "Dances with Dogs Training Manual" by Gay Westmore. It is brilliant & I am only up to page 28 :laugh:

Blowing the whistle was just a joke....there is no way I would want to embarrass anyone. I have invited her to come early to class so we can do some one on one training. If she is not prepared to do this, then I am going to try & get her moved back to beginners. I have three in my class, that have just come up, & the other two are blending in nicely as I make the exercises easier for them than the advanced group & spend more time with them. She doesn't have any physical disability & I believe she is the same in the obedience class. I would like to persevere for a bit longer for the sake of her dog who is clearly not enjoying himself A more frequent reward rate wouldn't go astray Not listening & not wanting to take on the info of the instructor, is OK providing it doesn't' impact on the other 8 or 9 people in the class who want to get on with it. Why come to class if they don't want to progress & learn something...may as well just take your dog to a dog park.

Well, mine is the third class she has been put into & the other two instructors have given up on her Thinking I might get a big whistle & everytime I see her running like a gorilla, I will give it a blast :laugh: A shame because she is a nice young girl, but unfortunately wont listen to instruction & her dog shuts down easily. It takes up valuable time for the rest of the class, but I guess we have to be tolerant. I have asked her to come to class ten minutes earlier so we can do a bit of one on one. If everything else fails, to be fair on the rest of the class, she may have to go back into beginners. She shouldn't be in my class, which is Advanced, but she has been coming to training now for two years & still cant run a sequence or do the poles

That looks fairly normal running to me with bending to put the dog into the tunnel. This girl in my class, if she bends over any further, she will fall on her nose & the person who emailed me to tell me "it is normal", that's the modern way of handling, told me she needs to bend over more to get her hand in front of her dog When they get into my class they have to start learning distance handling, so hopefully that will help. I did a bit of basic "distance" stuff with her & her dog last night & he improved out of sight. He's a dog that shuts down real easily & then runs off & I just feel that her crowding (leaning over him) like that is not helping his confidence....she is NOT a good listener

Last night in my class I had a girl who is having trouble handling her dog. I spent a bit of one on one time with her & had her going pretty good, but what I did notice was that she runs her dog very stooped, not only her back but bent legs as well. It looks dreadful. Her dog is a large 400, almost 500, so not real tiny. Throughout the lesson I kept trying to get her to straighten up, but today I got an email from someone saying that, that is the new & modern way of handling your dog What am I missing here Am I not keeping up with modern training methods I have always believed that you should run with a fairly straight back, not just because it is better for your posture, but so the dog can follow the line of your shoulders. The only time for stooping is putting the dog into the tunnel & it must be hard to run fast stooped over. So please fill me in....am I training in the Dark Ages. If it is the modern way of running, then it certainly isn't working for this girl

What I did was put an ad in (it's free) outlining what I had to offer & what I wanted done etc. I then went through all the pages & anyone I felt might be suitable, I emailed them directing them to the ad I had put in. Seemed the best way to do it :)

I have LED collars for my guys & I bought an LED armband from a bike shop & I attach that to one of the harnesses when out walking as an extra precaution. I find the collars better than the lights (I had one of them) as the lights get a bit hidden under their chin, especially if they have a lot of fur.

I am just wondering what you might be giving him for training treats. Dried liver will often give pups the squirts, even in small amounts.

I will second this comment. I will third it. A wonderful idea from an outstanding trainer who knows how to raise puppies right. Katrina's high profile and enthusiasm for spreading the word about dog care and training plus Kelly's vast experience make them a great team to help those without access to a good puppy school, get off on the right foot with training puppies. I wish them every success with this new venture. I personally couldn't think of a nicer person, than Kelly, to help me train my puppy (if I had one) :)

Kelly is a great trainer & instructor. After my last experience with a puppy pre-school...I would never go to one again. I would rather do something like this in my own time & socialise my pup as I see fit & with whom I see fit. Not to mention 2 hours travel to go to one

Thankyou Vickie as I said ...I wish I had a pup so I could join in. It sounds like fun as well as being informative :)

Gee, I'd be reluctant to let my dog run free at a campsite, especially after dark and especially for a high activity breed like a BC. I think there's too much risk that the dog would take off after a roo or fox, pick up a 1080 bait or even get shot by a hunter like that unfortunate husky in Victoria (that was in daylight). You may want to consider getting your dog a GPS tracking collar if he/she is going to go out of sight after dark. Sorry, but I was thinking the same thing I have LED collars for my two that switch onto 3 different modes & just use them if I am walking them in the dark or at dusk. They are fairly easily obtainable. I bought a whole box full for prizes for our dog club.

MIshka is going great & is clearly enjoying it. Now that you have her lifting one leg for "shake" or "high 5", get her lifting the other leg, then she can "mark time". I put the cues "hip" & "hop" on it after it is taught & cue it with me lifting one foot then the other facing her. :) Too cute, my two are almost getting to do it together, but the young guy needs a bit more practice to get his timing right :laugh:

I would guess that "online education for pooches" would be far better than no education. I agree that they need to get out there & socialise & I don't think that doing online courses means that owners are not getting out there amongst others. Quite the opposite...if they can teach their pup good manners at home, than they will be much more confident when they take them out. Kelly & Katrina use only positive reinforcement training methods, which has got to be a good thing. Wish I had a pup.....I would be doing the course. I don't think a person can ever stop learning, & it's cheap enough. :)

HazyWal...what's the book that was given to you....sound interesting :)

I might try the sweet potato idea one day, though for the effort, I don't think they would last too long in our household with all the training we do. I like to make up at least a couple of kilos at time, mix them together & keep them in the freezer. For in the house, on the carpet, unless I am teaching something new, I just use their Black Hawk Kibble, whatever variety I am feeding at the time & of course if comes out of their dinner. I also like to keep a small bag of dried liver or lamb puff in the back of my treat bag, just in case I run out & want to reward something really good like a nice recall. I never leave the house without some sort of treat even if it is just a hastily grabbed pocket of kibble. :)

Heres my list of homemade treats Homemade treats It is not conclusive though & there are lots of other things I use as well...but these are my basics :) Because my dogs get so many of them, I make sure they are healthy. That is why I don't like using things like hot dogs.

This! Well written DDD The OP wants a Border Collie and good on them! Great dogs, there WILL be one that suits their family and be a wonderful addition. Where's the "Like" button

Thought someone might be interested in this starting on the 18th May. It is going to be an ongoing four week online course with the next one starting on 1st August. Online 4 wk Puppy Class 4 week, online interactive course. Enrol today for first course, starting Sunday, May 18. All puppies receive free copy Wonderdogs Tricks and Training book rrp $24.95 First 100 puppies receive gift from Eukanuba and Oakwood pet products. Weekly e-package – with videos, fact sheets and checklists. Basic obedience lessons – sit, stay, drop and recall. Learn cute tricks like spin, fetch and shake paws. Problem solving with Dr Katrina and Kelly- eg toilet training, biting and chewing. Guidance through challenging times, like adolescence. Live & personal Q/A sessions and forums with Dr Katrina and Kelly. Weekly competitions and giveaways. Make friends and celebrate your puppy with other Puppy Clubbers. Puppy owners from around the world are welcome!

That's what I think too. Border collies are a great dog if you find the one that suits your family. They just thrive on learning & training & affection, & have such wonderful personalities. I wouldn't have any other breed, not that I am biased or anything :laugh: We have grandchildren & have never had any issues with our borders...no nipping or nastiness. Like every other dog they have to learn not to jump up on the kids, but our youngest guy, we trained him out of this right from the start & he has never jumped up on anyone. So if you are prepared to put the training in, you should be rewarded with a wonderful family companion. :)