Mooper

Jack works really well When he settles, after an initial barking frenzy, he can at least look like he knows what he's doing. His headless handler is not fooled, however. He's definitely better in a small yard than in a paddock setting at this early stage. And several instructors have independently said they could do with a yard dog that uses its voice as much as he does. At Jim Luce's old place at Bungonia, all Jack did was bark a couple of times and the sheep all moved off together. At Bungendore the last time we went, he did the same thing and the cheeky woolies penned themselves! I say this in jest, because I'd rather he only used his voice to work, not to give me the finger ... it stresses me and the sheep.

That's what I'm doing in the backyard with Jack, Kavik. So I hope it's OK! Mind you, Jack doesn't generalise well. So we're probably doomed, regardless

Can she post piccies? I reckon she can! Heck, I've probably even got piccies of Poss working. Although when Jack and I went to Binalong last, we were still in the round yard, and will be for some time Jack has a bit of a thick head ... and his handler isn't much better :D

Reading this, I think I'm one of those people who is guilty of saying "stop" and "steady" when that is what I *want* Jack to do. Rather than shaping his behaviour when that's essentially what he's doing already. So this morning while I hung out the washing, I noticed that he was stalking birds in the backyard. When he walked slowly and steadily, I said "good boy" and he looked at me with a wag of the tail (but no idea why he was a good boy!). This happened another three or four times. Tomorrow I think I'll be armed with clicker and treats, and we'll see how we go from there. I also told him he was good when he came to a standing stop. He never got the hang of the stand for examination in obedience (he always sits automatically) so I'll be chuffed if I can get him to understand a stop. We'll keep working on this Off-sheep because we're not likely to get to herding again until March. P.S. good to see you're up to 38 posts, Kylie. Are you addicted to DOL yet?

Praying that he bounces back to health again, Jodie

He's such a great little actor. So happy and bouncy whenever people pop around But as everyone has said, he'll look into your eyes when he is truly in pain and you will know that it is time.

Awww Rest in peace, Jessie girl, knowing that you were loved.

I have an odd picture of you and the dogs all outside spraying your neighbour with supersoakers

Well, I'm pleased to say that our first use of the citronella collar while it was switched on and full appears to have been a success As I think I said earlier, I've been putting the collar on Jack without switching it on, just to get him used to it. Today I put it on him full, then we hopped in the car (his worst barking offences happen there ) and I turned the collar on before heading out. After one big WOOF the spray squirted up under Jack's chin and he stopped for a moment. I clicked and treated the silence. And so it went. Quiet for a while, with plenty of verbal praise at those times. Then if he couldn't take the excitement and barked again, the collar would squirt him, he'd get a surprise, I would say "quiet" and click/treat. So if you do try a citronella collar, Muttly, in your situation it's sounding like you'd need an agreeable neighbour to help you as Mita suggested. And if you use a clicker, I don't see the harm in reinforcing rewards for silence at times of excitement etc. I borrowed my collar, but I know the Qbn Pound and I think DAS rent them out -- does your Council do the same? In which case you could use it on the worst offender and hope the silence spreads to the other dogs?

I believe that the collars require a fair bit of training to be put in, too. I've been putting the citronella collar on Jack for 10 mins, 20 mins, 30 mins at a time with it turned off. Just to get him used to its presence. Tomorrow when we drive to town for the Walk Against Warming, I'm switching it on with a new battery and full canister Have you discussed your dogs' change in behaviour with Sean at any point, Muttly? Not being a fosterererer for any length of time, Jack's behaviour doesn't tend to change much. A break sounds like it would do you and the dogs the world of good :D

So you've tried citronella and it did nothing? I've borrowed a collar from a sheepherding friend and will be trying it with Jack in the car this weekend :D My plan for him, if that doesn't work, is to get in touch with K9-Force about an Innotek anti-barking collar but I need to find out whether it's legal to purchase one as a resident in my council area. Treatwise and activity-wise, I find that Jack spends a good 30 minutes batting his Buster Cube about of a morning to get 2/3c of kibble out of it. I bought mine from the Save a Dog Scheme shop -- Jude is wonderfully helpful. She also sells the Buster Fun Bone, Jack's new favourite toy (although he has it inside) which he also dotes over in 20-30 minute intervals. Hope that helps ...

No need to respond to this, Jo. Kylie has filled me in. Back on-topic (this one has meandered a bit ) I can't wait to see some piccies of Pickle and Darcie in action

Jem or Trent? Have you been to Binalong or Michelago lately, TigerJack? We've been going to Bungendore (smaller groups, closer to home) but I'm keen to get Robert to give me a hand working with my boofhead Jack.

There is a link from the ACT Companion Dog Club's website: http://www.actcdc.org.au, I think.

Hmm ... I'm tempted! I think it's $80/day for non-club members to audit. I have never been to any such seminars and haven't seen any clicker trainers at work. I use a clicker myself, but everything I know is from reading or trial and error. :D

If that's the same Trent and Jem who also do sheepherding (and Kylie with Possum) then, yes, Jem is a high-drive dog! He's a cheeky monkey but great fun, and a great test of patience I dare say :D So for the non-agility, non-flyball types with an older dog (eg me ) would the Susan Garrett sessions be worthwhile? I'm thinking her three-day obedience sessions would be awesome ... would be great if I could get Jack in there, too, but I bet they're full for doggies already.

Gee, Darcie is stunning And talented, too, by the sounds of it

I know about porky dogs because Jack was one :cool: But we stopped using treats for training in the mornings and used his Science Diet kibble, then adjusted his brekkie amount accordingly. For dinner, we had been making BARF and that was great. A box of free chicken carcasses did it for him. He piled the weight on. So we went back to lots of pulped fruit and veges with his raw meaty bones and used a fair bit of grated carrot or steamed mashed pumpkin to bulk it out a bit. We also switched to the "Lite" Science Diet when the bag we had finished. He now has a lovely waist, has much more energy and is much less tired after a big offlead run or a weekend of herding HTH

The yards at the Bungendore showgrounds would probably be 3 to 4 times the size of the one I saw you and Xia in at Paul Darmody's place yonks ago with Bernard. And quite a few dogs had a go further out in the paddock last time -- there are pics on the BADSA website, http://www.badsa.org.au

Jack's "gimme five" I forgot to turn the flash on but the effect is kinda cool!

So Sidoney and Kavik will both be down for the Bungendore workshop? Cool The Bungendore & District Sheepdog Association are hoping to eventually afford our own mob and agistment space for club use. Because, as others have said, a workshop once every month or two with no sheep in between is only going to do so much ... several club members have moved to properties and run a few sheep themselves for in-between sessions. I don't think I'll be participating with Jack at the next Bungendore workshop, but I'll probably be there as an auditor. Jack and I are doing some off-sheep work before I want him on them again ... too much playing chasies and not enough attention to me. It's pretty much the story of Jack's life so I think we're doomed. But at least he's giving me plenty of challenges so I can learn what not to do before getting a sheepdog somewhere wayyy down the track

Here are some pics of my boofhead herding last weekend ... photos taken by Chris Atyeo Hot doggy: Noisy doggy :shakehead: I'm going to borrow a citronella collar and see whether that gets us anywhere with this excited barking. Shek -- did you get any pics of your two?

Email sent, K9. I toyed with the idea of getting to Vic for a workshop but I just can't do it ... Ballarat would be great, but a tad far for a weekday. I'll just have to wait until you can get here, or I'll have to come to you for a consult next year.

Yep. PerrysMum was at Michelago but we went to Bungendore. Were you there and I haven't made the connection?

Isn't that interesting? Jack is the opposite. This was by far the biggest ring we've been in, almost a small paddock. Jack seems far better in a small yard. Several instructors and observers have now said he'd be a great yard dog. Some of the local sheepdog club members are going to help me sort out these training issues with him. Wish us luck!