wuffles

If they are clipped repeatedly then I don't think their flocks will form properly. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. My Aussie has a typical Aussie coat and even she gets dreadlocks behind her eats and on her pants if I don't brush her

If I just let the dogs at the dog park 'sort it out themselves' I have no doubt that at least one of my dogs would be severely traumatised and quite probably seriously injured by now. That being said, I still go to dog parks on occasion. I am VERY vigilant and I understand my dogs' body language well. I know the signs of when they are frightened, or becoming overstimulated, are bullying or being bullied, and they are removed from these situations quick smart. I don't go at busy times and if I turn up and we're the only ones there, great! IMO one-sided chasie games need to be stopped, no matter what size of dog and whether they seem to be enjoying it. Running alongside each other or taking turns is alright. I also break up any play that's not one-on-one. My dogs go back on leash until they have calmed down and in certain situations I just leave the park at once.

trojka, what did the fur look like on the dogs you knew? Just asking because from what I understand, it would be very difficult to keep the dogs' fur from flocking as this is its natural tendency, but it takes a fair bit of work to get it 'neat'. They don't get that way because they are neglected! The coat on young dogs, however, is fluffy

You could always give the training club a go, it doesn't mean you can't use your check chain at other times. It's only one hour a week. Would they let you use a martingale?

Ahhh ok, makes sense, thanks!

I use a tug toy with food inside it: http://www.aussieagility.com.au/productdet...ate_jackpot.htm Some nights I don't bother with the tug at all (Ziggy has his 'moments' ) but just throw it for him. ETA: Nicki at Aussie Agility is great to deal with - just let her know what you are after. Definitely on my shopping list - unfortunately it is quite a long list at the moment ;) When you throw the toy, do you get the dog to bring it back and treat them from it? Not with Ziggy - that's asking a little too much interaction with a toy for him but you could do it. Took me 12 months to shape a really confident dumbbell retrieve - not going to worry about tug toys on an agility course!!! ETA: Zig can eat a lot of treats without putting on weight so I use 4 legs balls or the Eukanuba treat biscuits broken in half - you need something they can just grab and eat without being distracted and sniffing the ground when they can't find it. Sorry, feeling very noobie here - LOL. How do they get the treats from the toy? Ava thinks retrieving is torture which is why I was asking

I use a tug toy with food inside it: http://www.aussieagility.com.au/productdet...ate_jackpot.htm Some nights I don't bother with the tug at all (Ziggy has his 'moments' ) but just throw it for him. ETA: Nicki at Aussie Agility is great to deal with - just let her know what you are after. Definitely on my shopping list - unfortunately it is quite a long list at the moment ;) When you throw the toy, do you get the dog to bring it back and treat them from it?

We have only had two agility lessons so far but we are loving it! Did anyone use sending to rewards as a technique to help their 'obedience dogs' work away from them and stop drifting into the handler at every possible moment? Any tips as to how to go about this properly? She is not toy motivated, but will do anything for food, and is already used to being sent to food containers in obedience training.

Ava still watches me return around behind her in all her stays... SFE, sit and down stays. As long as her feet aren't moving I don't mind. Is there a reason you want him to look forwards the whole time? If so, clicker training would probably work as CleoJ has said

I am boring... I just fill the Kongs with Natures Gift tinned food and freeze overnight

I don't know what it's like in Vic, but I've done 4 CCD trials now here in the ACT (mostly under NSW judges) and this was the first that I thought "wow, that's a long way". There was possibly one other that was a few extra metres. As far as other stuff I wasn't really expecting, in two of the trials the judges have come over the top of the dog to pat the opposite side in the SFE. Also, one of the judges walked between the handlers and dogs a few times for the stays. 3 times we've done the figure of 8 at the end of heeling and 1 time before the heeling. Not complaining about any of this, but it's definitely keeping me on my toes!

Well we didn't have such a good trial today! We didn't fail any particular exercise, just lost enough points across all of them to NQ by 2 points I don't know where my little girl went as she was very, very flat. So we still need one more CCD pass... come onnnnnnnnnnnn Edit: Just watched the video and thankfully it doesn't look as bad as it felt There is some good stuff in there and in particular a lovely right about turn so at least I know she can do them! Another edit: I also think we did the longest recall in CCD history. I counted the amount of steps I take - I usually take 15 - and it was 24 I thought I mustn't have heard her due to the wind but nope, she didn't tell me to about turn and halt until 24 steps!

Mine generally put themselves to bed after dinner When I go to bed they get a bikkie each, then Satch stays in his bed in the lounge and Ava usually comes into the bedroom and sleeps under the bed.

I have a 6 year old big lazy rescue mutt and a 1 year old very energetic Aussie. They get along well (better now that the Aussie is older and calmer) but to be honest, our older dog does put up with a LOT. He still gives us the "When is this dog going to leave MY house? Get it OUT of here!" looks sometimes I think it can work, but you have to be prepared to separate them if required. My big boy is the boss and the younger girl knows it, he is also much bigger than her so can stand up for himself even though he is getting older.

GG, there are a lot of blue merle Aussies with tails around. They would definitely be easier to find than a BC. In saying that, I find Aussies and BCs to be very different breeds so you would need to thoroughly research the differences to see if that would be a viable alternative

Daisy yes it is in the new part of the mall, up near the new bus interchange (opposite the police station). I won't be able to make it as we have an obedience trial. Have fun everyone!

Agree, I wouldn't leave my Aussie unattended with a smaller dog. She has a very soft and submissive personality but she still plays very rough. She has been well socialised with small dogs and gets along fine with them, but when excited she is too boisterous. Body slamming a chi has a very different effect to bodyslamming another Aussie, and I don't think she realises that :D

We get hover drops on wet grass too

We get hover drops on wet grass too

You may as well give it a go There is a group of people in my suburb who walk through our local reserve at 6:30am every morning. I think our record number of dogs one morning was 12. I used to join them most mornings and it was lots of fun and all dogs got along well. As time has gone on, dogs have left and joined the group and now I find that unfortunately the dynamics don't really suit my dogs anymore (my younger girl gets bullied). I sometimes walk them the opposite way so they get to say hello to the other dogs and people on our way past then we go on our merry way afterwards

I'd just say, train for what you want! If you want him calm of an evening, train for that, but if you like the constant thud of a ball in your lap, train for that My dogs are both fast asleep - Satch on his bed and Ava beside the couch. Ahhhh, peace...

My dogs knows when I am unhappy. One of my dogs puts on the 'guilty' face when OH talks angrily to the TV or if I hurt myself and swear.

Ava was an insane little puppy, she was go go go go all the time. Very tiring. She's now 16 months and is great. She really only gets attention and play on our terms. She gets about 45 minutes to an hour of walks a day. She gets some training most days which ranges from 5 to 15 minutes. She knows what happens when we're at home and generally that is relaxing. I get home of an afternoon after she's been alone (well, with our older dog, who barely acknowledges her anyway) for 9 or 10 hours, we have a 2 minute play then she goes to her bed and sleeps. She might follow me around the house but in general she just chills. That's just what happens so she has accepted it. Have you tried training stays and "on your bed" with Echo? Ours have always been expected to lie in their beds while we have dinner and now they pretty much stay there the whole night. Despite this, Ava is FIT. The vet said so, and her heart rate is really low! She would go forever if you let her. She gave me such a sad look after agility tonight because she didn't want to go home after the hour My older dog is calm and laidback and 6 years old. He'll lie in his bed from 8pm at night until midday the next day. But he still digs holes. Lots of them. He lunges at dogs on walks. He squeals if we take Ava out and leave him at home. He is very hard to train. He can't be let off leash. But I still think he's one of the easiest dogs ever... Edit: I know you said you didn't want to get into obedience but I would credit this very much to both calming Ava down and building the bond between us.

just wondering why? I don't think that his training methods are right for my dogs.

I've seen him use this technique in a few episodes. Fundamentally I have no problem with most of his methods but in saying that there is no way in the the world that I would ever let him anywhere near my own dogs.