Heidii

Thanks for your help guys!! I ended up entering on ozentries so was ALOT easier. I am entering in the Collie National agility thats in NSW. If on the day my dog isnt up to it (or more likely im not up to it and got heaps of butterflies) i'll just stratch him. He is entered in both Novice Agility and Confirmation :D

What class number is Novice Agility? Is says on the show form: Entered in Breed Class Nos: Entered in Special Class No: Entered in Retrieving Trial Class No: or Field Trial Class No: Is doesnt have one for agility?

? How can I enter an agility Trial? Do I just fill out the normal show entry form? I am entering my dog in both confirmation and agility at the same show - do I need two entry forms or one? im confuzzeled.

I am questing this 'free shaping' way of training. I was introduced to this method through my agility club. First time I used it was on contacts...thought it was great so started using it for everything....but have since found its confusing the crap outta my dog. Commands he used to know like sit and drop are being OVERRUN by his free shaping experience. Now, its like he DOESNT listen to what I say, he just trys every trick he knows until he gets the food. ( it think i read someone else having the same problems but could find the post). What can I do?....I have since decided as of yesterday to stop free shaping.

LOL! Awesome, Thanks! ETA: what commands are best to use?

How can I teach my dog to put his paw over his muzzle like he is hiding or is sad?

I like this idea!! Funny though....My cat has enough brains to relise this...yes she retrieves!!!! I throw the toy she brings it back and i giggle it around and throw it again....this lasts for ages!!...HOWEVER....my dog wont do this!?!?!?

GREAT topic Amanda!! I have done everything mentioned accept for: "The BIGGEST thing for me is not to snatch it back from their mouth. Bring out another toy of the same value and start the game again. Sometimes dogs don’t want to play with us because we always snatch the toy back, just when the game is getting good…. So what’s the point?! Have that 2nd toy ready and keep playing with them!!!" I will give it a try!!!!

LOL, i say this ALOT, but everyone shuts me down by saying. IT DOESNT MATTER ABOUT THE BREED OF DOG..... sometimes I dont think this is true..... I have had people say about my dog...thats is better to have a dog harder to train then getting one thats eays...and I say "HA...there you go, your already admiting that some breeds are simply EASIER than others"...

No its doesnt offend....its good to video yourself and then watch it. I have been training him everyday with alot more entusiasum.... and its helping with his speed slightly.....i guess all i can do is keep at it and see how we go.

Thanks Aussienot....as I said it may just take much longer for my dog to master

She doesnt lure with food, she lures with her body language. Maybe I can record on my phone that tiny snipet and post it...or is that illegal? Isnt GO a release word? She even says in the video at the start that you can see the dog is waiting for a release word. She doest use it then but does futhur in the video. Maybe you can do it once the dog masters the free shaping? Have done it with 4 poles like in the above video but now am back to just two poles and working on entries. I have been told at the agility club he needs more drive through the poles too but i dont think It will ever be as good as I am wanting it. As for using toy and food together I have been getting a chicken wing, wrapping it in a tea towel thats got little holes and using that to get him to tug and drive to. He does it, but only for like 3 times, after that he is not interested anymore....I just dont think 3 times is enough espc. when I'm trying to assess wether his entrys from hard directions is being achieved every time.

I'm just interested in peoples experience using the 2 x 2.....maybe it just might take longer with my dog. There is a part in the trouble shooting where her body language is luring. The way she stands toward the pole, with on foot pointing in the direct she wants her dog to go and by moving on the spot toward the pole...to me thats slighly luring. I have worked on his drive since he was 10 weeks old.....i have just never mastered it, i just dont think he is that type of dog....one that is physco about toys. He does like his food but not heaps. I am finding this 2 x 2 technique will only work well on dogs with high drive ? maybe im wrong?

I have been training my dog on 2 x 2 weaves for the last week and want to know if this method has been successfull for everyone that has used it? I have watch the DVD a few times. Susan goes on to say that it is very important not to lure a dog through the weaves however contradicts herself when I find she does it herself in the DVD...very slighty but she does it. Another thing she says is not to give a release word as we want the dog to do it itsef however she ends up giving a release word when she starts adding the second poles. All my partner can say is "So is what she saying true or is this all bullsh*t???" For some reason my dog will make the correct entry a number of times but eventually stuff it up....its like he really doesnt know what he is doing. here is a vid after only 2 days of training - That was back last week but since then have gone back to using just the 2 and working more on entries. I also find it hard to get my dog to drive through them like some of the dogs I see. He will work for a toy (only for like 20 secs though) but it still isnt the same as say susans Enchore etc anyone else been having problems?

I rekon "Working" and "Working Dog" mean two different things depending on the text. You wouldnt call a dog that competes in obedience a "working dog" simply because a working dog is usually one from a farm/police dog/guide dog that works everyday of its life and is there only for working or doing particular tasks. I personally would call an obedience dog one that "competes in dog sports", however when he is in the ring and doing the activites I want him to do i would consider that "working" but he isnt a "working dog" as such. Hope that makes sense...

Very cute puppy I use a Lupi harness to stop pulling. It stays slack most of the time and provides correction only when they pull. I dont see how a harness wouldnt stop puling, i mean what do sled dogs where to help them pull sleds? JMO

I'd use the flat limited slip collar. These are great! They are a normal flat collar but can convert into a limited slip collar. I got mine from the german shepherd dog club of Victoria.

Huff ....I wish I had made an order

Thanks Laffi! "Does he know front and rear crosses?" I dont think so lol, well i've never trained it "Do you know how to execute them?" umm, no, lol! I think i will have to do some training myself! Any documents online that you can recommended reading regarding these handling issues/how to's etc? "In the class, when you said there were 5 jumps, are they in a straight line or is it a GD box?" In a circle Thanks Laffi, gives me something to think about!

Where can I buy these in Oz?

I am not sure how long you have been training for. I trained Midge for a year and Laffi for a year and a half before we entered our first comps. Can your dog sequence now? How many obstacles in a sequence can he do? What class are you in now? I was told once that it's time to start competing if your dog can run much more advanced courses than the ones at beginner's level. There is a lot of truth in it. A course of 20 obstacles without rewarding during the course is hard for a dog that is used to run 3-4 obstacles. They can get discouraged easily and loose all the motivation. He has done 8 obstacles at once but that was back when he was 10 months old (naughty I know)....He is now 19 months old. This can be seen here: The only obstacles he needs to learn is the A-frame and Dog Walk. His weaves could be alot better but i would like to retrain that using the 2x2 method. That would all need to be taught in the next 3 months... I am in beginners 2 class.... They Have Beginners, then Beginners 2 and then starters. All we have sequenced in the class is 5 jumps in a row which he aced...I am sure though he can do alot more than this and my instructor even said after being in this class for one week that I could go up a class again. Maybe I will speak to my instructor and see what she says.

Thanks Mntgood! Will def come down and check it out I want to enter my first trial on the 31st May cos my club has a breed competition. Do you guys think its asking to much for the 31st May?

Thanks guys!

What that means is that jumps and tunnels can be used a number of times in the course, but the contact obstacles, spread, table and weaves will only be used once. So there may be several jumps and tunnels, or you may do the same jumps and tunnels more than once. The course is numbered, and you do it sequentially. There is a penalty for taking the wrong obstacle. Vickie, I think she means running a course, not setting a course out. Oh ok, so they will tell me what obstacles i need to do by numbering them and I just need to do them as quickly and accurately as possible. Ok that makes sense! Thanks!

Thanks Vicki, Those links are great!