Mooper

Oh, the poor sweet. And poor you! RIP Tyra.

Argh, Jodie, I was hoping you had posted good news! Dammit, I bet there has never been a roller-coaster built with this many ups and downs. Come home soon, Ollie dog

I can't see what I'm typing, Erny, but my thoughts are with you. Rest in peace, Kal.

Ooh, Erny, I like the dirt-swishing idea! Given how much Jack loves to snuffle through a bit of freshly dug-in compost, I think that would add to the taste sensation

Another vote for the Breville juicer here. Jack gets all the pulp and juice. It's a sloppy mix, but comes out neatly when you freeze it in a take-away container. Judging by the drool each night as I make Jack go through the triangle of temptation routine, he doesn't mind the sloppiness...

Thinking of you and Kal, Erny ... post when you're ready

Glad his appetite still seems to be there. It was great to be greeted with his familiar bum-wag at the door last night

Oops. I must be lazy. Jack licks out every bit of his plastic food bowl, and I have never washed his Buster cube. His water bowls (s/steel) get washed to keep algae at bay, and because the birds bathe in one of them in particular. But with his food bowl, unless the ants have got at it, I leave it. I wash it before taking it somewhere else, of course, like a weekend away together. But at home, he licks it clean. I figure if he's not concerned about eating cow manure from the garden, or chomping on an ant-covered, compost-covered recreational bone then why should I waste water cleaning his bowl?

I wondered why you sent a PM at such an undogly hour Ollie will bounce back again. And when he finally runs out of bounce (he has a heck of a lot of it, the spunk!) you'll know.

Hey, how did you manage to dognap Jack and make him look like a GSD? I would swear that was him at training ... We haven't been back for a while but that was just the sort of 'focus' he would show in the ring!

OK. I seem to have the dog training happening. Now to work on training my husband ... who fed the dog inside last night, in the laundry. Jack must have thought all his Christmases had come at once. He didn't sit, didn't wait, just chowed down I've had a wee chat with my husband about consistency ...

With a bit of sushi on the side

You're a good boy, Ollie dog

Sending Ollie all the strength I can muster to get over this latest hurdle

I'm getting dizzy with all this spinning and helicoptering

This is how we started off, too. Jack was fitted for his check chain at the club shop, which was great. But then our very first instructor showed me how to put it on and did it the wrong way, ie choking, not checking I told him so and he insisted he was right. I thought "bugger that", then fixed it. Meanwhile the instructor told me off for having my dog off-lead for those few seconds I should have known then that he wasn't the instructor for me, but we persevered for the rest of term! He was taking Advanced when we last went to training, which is initially why we didn't go back ... EDIT: Oh, Jack's on a flat collar now. Much better

We've had Jack for a little over two years and I've been a club member for all that time -- for memory, it's about $70/yr, no ground fees. So $140 all up thus far. But they only offer obedience, no agility, flyball etc. The club is entirely run by volunteers, and I think part of it is subsidised by the City Council. We haven't been since late last year. Partly because my PhD is getting more busy and I can't get home in time (they only offer weeknight classes), and partly because there are several instructors whose methods I don't agree with. I have learned much more by taking Jack sheepherding for the occasional weekend than I did in 18 months or so of weekly obedience classes! And his respect for me as a handler has improved.

Thanks, K9. I'm not keen on the "number 11s" (aka drool) all over the laundry floor! So we'll stick with the cold. I'm just learning from my dog and having a whinge. Cool. We'll stick with it then, because I always have a clicker with me when training, walking etc. He knows exactly what the clicker is all about! Thanks for your help

Alrighty, I've started trying Jack on the TOT program but it's bl00dy cold in Canberra to be outside in the frost waiting while he drools! Guess I'll just have to rug up. And take a stick to break off the drool icycles. He responded really well straight away. No whining while on the tie-out, even though he does whine when back-tied at sheepherding or waiting at a cafe. And he offered constant eye contact the moment I put the food bowl a few metres in front of him, until the verbal release. So we'll start working on extending the duration. Time before distance before distraction, right? I want to get him out of the habit of whining, so we'll keep working on that. I have one question, though. Instead of using the marker word 'yes', I've been using a clicker. And saying our standard release word 'free' instead of 'OK'. Is that all right? Or is it better to use the verbal marker 'yes' in case I lose all five of my clickers or want to use this program when I'm out and about without a clicker?

That's unreal, Gigi! Well done to you and Ziggy :rolleyes:

Right-o, then. Canberra residents aren't allowed to use Googong Dam water Did I miss something ... who is Bruno?

Getting white knuckles from holding on here ... I didn't know you were already planning on an ACT workshop. E-e-excellent I'd better get myself on your email list so I don't miss out! Must do that tomorrow.

Hey, Bellas Person have you already been to one of K9 Force's workshops? If we look at a Canberra session on training in drive (which I've whispered about here for months ) would you be interested in coming along? When we weather warms up, that is :rolleyes:

A big MWAH! to the clever Kiss!

Mr Nasty Pants, indeed. I know Ollie dog lies down like a frog sometimes, but a toad? Never