caffy

It was like being there and as exciting..and so well deserved Mine would be my little baby dog taking out Open Agility at last year's States...maybe because it was so unexpected considering the other dogs in the Finals.

Do you have the Shirley Chong site? Conquer the hold and the retrieve. Get to the point where your dog can hold a coke can, a toy, even a clicker....anything you can think of. Don't stick to articles and dumbells. Do it at mealtimes.

We all seemed fine last time I looked

Use whatever motivates your dog..doesn't have to be food... http://www.nwk9.com/twosqueakies.htm I don't use correction as this article suggests. You're increasing drive :D

Teaching SD is fun but my feelings are you need that “formal” (that doesn’t mean it’s not fun too!) retrieve fairly solid. I always use the 2 food game when teaching the SD(and the retrieve) so the dog doesn’t necessarily have to present EVERY article but there are times when I ask for it and I don’t want to rehearse dropping an article, waiting, then asking for the dog to pick it up…that’s just another behaviour you are reinforcing? There’s lots of play in between too. In the beginning (I use Dogscout method too), I will turn and throw food and give a verbal “YES!”when they PICK UP the correct article so they would drop it to pick up the food. Make sure the “YES” isn’t said as they are hovering over the article. I vary when getting the correct article is consistent when I turn and throw the food…it maybe the pick up, it maybe three steps in after picking it up or it maybe 5 steps after picking it up but I also make sure to ask for a present as well in the session. I also make sure my dog can’t see me reaching into a pocket as he turns and heads towards me but show him the “final” picture which is me not saying anything and standing very still….the dogs love it as they can’t predict when the reward is coming and I make a lot of noise when they are rewarded. Probably not a good idea for an OTT toller and a full on BC, but I enjoy it. Funny, how everyone has a different slant on training…makes it all less stagnant. I like reading how others do it as all dogs respond differently.

I'll tell you when I work on the nose target. Hang on, you're good at those aren't you? You're good at setting challenges..get your clicker and get Beans to rear foot target...have a few wines first

It's good getting back to the theory. I've been going back over shaping behaviours and Alex has conquered the rear foot target I've struggled with Snazzy so gave him to Sue H. Ahhh, just watching gives you goosebumps.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=MrWgyypGIGQ Go Dizzy. Precues...love em or hate em...this is a great example of them. Beautiful run.

Yay Glad that Lexi did the SFE! Well done mate

I'm a bit late on this thread. Teaching a stand from a sit is very easy. Clicker and food in right hand, dog in sit and kneel next to dog. Keep dog's head high with food in right hand(you aren't releasing food yet, just letting them lick it ) and then tickle their rear foot...any movement with it backwards..click. Build it from there. Make sure you are "pushing" the food towards the dog to prevent the front feet moving forwards. You'll get a nice kickback stand doing it this way. HTH

Wow!! Amazing poodle!! She was a highlight of my Nationals watching her beat the BCs in the Finals. What an amazing feat with those little legs. Good on her. PS...I had one of those BC's she beat in the finals