wuffles

I shouldn't laugh but... :rofl: Everything is "jolly good fun" to Aussies. ETA: On the barking issue, Aussies are barkers in general, although some are pretty quiet. Ava's one of the quieter ones but she is super protective and will bark at people walking past the house a lot. Before we got her, our older dog used to ignore the neighbours but when she arrived they both started barking at them She also barks to get Satch to play with her and can be quite persistent. Doesn't bark at all when I'm around though - go figure.

I hear you met Riot the other day, does this have anything to do with your decision? From my limited experience, Aussies can be pretty full on pups and they really need lots of training not to be rough on the littlies. Ava loves to play with them and tries quite hard to be gentle but isn't always successful. In saying that they love to please so much that they tend to be very easy to train if you put in the time Also, Ava was a total destructo pup, she ate a Hound House, three clam shell pools, the front of the shelf in the pergola, all the plants including bark off the tree, the pipes on the hot water system... so I hope you're not too house proud

Another thing to think about - it sounds like she is an outdoor dog? How much interaction is she getting a day? How much exercise? How much training? She sounds like a typical bored pup. My young girl was a little ratbag at that age with chewing in particular. I spent heaps of time training her which did help, and she's nearly always inside with us when we're home which means she learnt the house rules quite quickly. These days she is most content just pottering around after us in the house I still can't put washing on the line unsupervised with my dogs, they are 2 and 7 I also can't leave them any form of soft bedding or it turns into snow. They're dogs, and it's fun!

I'm not convinced that going slower is better for the dogs, but I just wanted to point out that the dogs do not generally have to be fast in the lower levels, the times are quite generous.

At the same time, can they move Aussie Shepherds to group 3 so I can do retrieving with one please? Sure, but if you get one like mine, I hope you wouldn't expect her to actually retrieve something? She doesn't have a retrieving bone in her body (she's more chase, pounce, OOH BUTTERFLY, leave item on ground 20m away from mum).

I agree to an extent I do take my dogs to dog parks, and I think they were great when my girl was a puppy as she learnt a lot. We rarely had issues with aggressive dogs. My dogs both accept that they will get told off by both other dogs and people if they misbehave. These days I still go, but only if I trust the dogs that are in there at the time. The issue for us has come when actual aggressive dogs have been taken off leash. They don't "tell off" for bad behaviour, they simply floor anything that gets in their way. Even dogs that are minding their own business on leash. My girl has been approached by off leash dogs, submitted to them, and been quite viciously attacked. Her temperament is just too soft to deal with that anymore and she has started to see any dog approaching off leash, while she is on leash, as a threat

this is the very attitude this post is talking about. The owner of the dog on lead never causes the problem, the owner of the dog that is allowed to approach is the problem. I have never had a DA dog but will do whatever I have to, to protect my dogs from any approaching off lead dog. After having several dogs attacked over the years I no longer wait to find out if an approaching dog is friendly or not. In my experience none have ever been friendly so I now take no chances. If mine are off lead, they get put back on as soon as I see other dogs. I decide which dogs my dogs get to meet and have no desire to have any unknown dog approach them ever. If you cannot prevent your dog approaching others it shouldn't be off lead. :thumbsup: I will do ANYTHING in my power to protect my dog. I have picked my dog up before to avoid a conflict (she is 18kg, not exactly small). It was either that or physically hurt the other dog. I used to scoff at people who picked up their dogs when another approached, but after my girl was attacked MULTIPLE times while she was under perfect control and the other dogs were not, I do not take any chances anymore. Neither of my dogs are aggressive at all, but dogs getting in another dog's face, especially one on lead, is asking for trouble.

Here is a list off the top of my head of what I get out of going to class: - Controlled socialisation for dog, on leash - Dog learns self control around distractions - The viewpoint of a number of different instructors with different experiences - Watching how others train their dogs - Talking to like-minded people - Building a relationship with my dog, that whole hour is dedicated to them - Working towards a goal (eg. passing the level) and having to practice at home to meet that goal (motivation) - Meeting lots of different dogs of many breeds and temperaments - Meeting friends for play dates but also for human dinners and activities :D

I'd go at least until you have passed the club's companion training levels I stopped taking one of my dogs at that stage because he didn't really like being there. That may take 6 months, it may take 5 years!

Toys: CKCS, Lowchen, Tibetan Spaniel Terriers: Cairn, Lakeland, SCWT Gundogs: Flat Coated Retriever, Brittany, Welsh Springer Hounds: Whippet, Greyhound, Pharoah Hound Working: Aussies, Beardies, Puli Utility: Berner, Portugese Water Dog, Samoyed Non Sporting: Poodles (all sizes), Tibetan Terrier, Great Dane

Great work with Sascha, congrats!! Where you go next probably depends on what your goals are. I went straight to the trialling class (different club but similar premise) because I really wanted to trial But if you're not sure either way, probably go the Primary Companion route

Satchmo came to us at around 3 years old: First day he came home Sometime between then and now Now (aged around 7)

Ava: Slug 8 weeks 5 months going through the uglies 18 months 2 years

Mine get one main meal which is at night. They do get a small brekkie though in the form of a Kong and/or treat ball when we leave for work. Nights we are at training they don't generally get a real dinner, just training treats. Edit: My big boy throws up if he has nothing for breakfast, so he at least has to have something tiny!

One of mine is well socialised, she is not timid, but she does not like being approached by rude dogs AT ALL. It's too unpredictable for her (and me, I hate it as well). Once she has had a proper introduction she is fine. ETA: My rescue boy is a rude greeter and doesn't have great recall so he gets walked on leash. Unfortunately not everyone will do this, though, so I'm afraid to say this type of thing will happen many more times in your dog's life

I agree, goldies are usually not that fearful as well so you may want to look into getting help with that. I would think that it would be fairly normal for puppies to be scared by off leash dogs approaching them. My dogs are well socialised, but off leash dogs approaching them still often make them nervous.

My other dog is VERY challenging training-wise and he certainly has taught me a lot.

As if you'd be a let down I have found Ava to be the most amazing "learners" dog sports dog, so I can only imagine what more experienced handlers can do with them ;)

Annie is such a sweetheart, and smart too! :cool: Here's my little smartypants with her loot.

Thanks guys :D She is a pretty darn special little dog.

End of the year brag for me! At our club's presentation night tonight, Ava was awarded trophies for the highest score in CCD and also the highest score in Novice! She turns 2 years old today and I am very proud of her.

Australian Shepherd? ;) I loooooove beardies, they are crazy and fun-loving and BOUNCY. The only thing that puts me off is the barking, they like a good woof.

I must admit that I am careful letting my Aussie girl interact in groups of other working dogs until they are very familiar with each other. BCs tend to be serious about what they're doing whereas Ava just thinks everything is a game and does big no-nos like stealing toys and body slamming I've found once they know each other, she body slams less and when she does, the other dogs just ignore her - all is right in the world again. Mine act like they are trying to kill each other in the backyard

CDX title Start UD by the end of the year ET RN - would like to say RA too but it depends on how many trials are actually held in Canberra JD, AD, GD, SPD - some X's would be nice too! That's a lot of titles! I'd also love to start some tracking work but that depends on time.

Congrats on the SPDX We left after our pitiful attempt at Novice so I'm glad some people made it through