megan_

I want to teach my boy "two on two off" and to hold it until I give him the release word. I also want to use the clicker to do this. He is doing it very well but I'm running into trouble because I have also taught him that a click is also a release (he no longer needs to hold position and can relax and get his treat). This has worked well for us and I want to continue with this method. The problem is that, at the new agility club that I train at, click doesn't mean release. So, how do I mark the position, but get him to hold it until I tell him "free"? I can't be the only person who uses the clicker as a release too! My current line of thinking is: Step 1: Click the position, he releases and gets a treat. He is already doing this consistently. Step 2: Get him to hold the position for a few seconds before I click. Step 3: Add the queue when he's got it nailed Step 4: Get him to hold the position, then say "play" (my release word) and don't use the clicker any more. Thoughts?

I recommend Judi Buchnan from prok9 ("Erny" on this forum)

Does he get walks on leash? They can be great for tiring out. Maybe up the exercise a bit too - My boy isn't a working breed like a cocker spaniel and I think he'd go nuts if he only had 30-40 mins free off leash play every day.

I didn't know non-whippets could race. My two (ms and ms cross) would be in heaven.

Or dog as the case maybe. oh crap! Now that you've quoted me I can't change it.

You could try using a target stick and moving it closely to them, they'll then need to step back to target. But it feels like cheating!

She could stilll have been allergic to the puppy. Asthma is caused by inflamation (that is why cortisone is often prescribed). She would need to be puppy free for a few months before she could be certain that it wasn't the puppy causing the issue. Regardless, she returned the puppy. It was no longer hers. If you buy something you can't return it and then ask for it back a week later. I suggest that your sister gets proper allergy tests done by a specialist before looking for another job.

um, where are the photos???

this is what I was going to say. I could never truely free shape my dogs to walk backwards (just as I couldn't truely shape them to come to basic heel position) because they never do that of their own accord (unless there is a physical blocker, and then it isn't free shaping). They obht know the clicker (I only use it for free shaping, no luring at all) and they both offer all sorts of behaviours as soon as the clicker appears but it has never entered their heads to try walk backwards when there is no inpediment.

When I was young I accidentally locked the cat in my room for the day. She was so clever that she even did her wee in a myers bag (she even opened it up!). I also have a few water bowls around the house in case the wind blows a door shut and the dogs are stuck somewhere.

I love that book - I use some elements of it to deal with my fearful girl who would shut down (in real life, not agility). My boy - who used to be such a good little worker - has started to fool around at agility training and set his own course, so I might need to get my copy out again too. Click to Calm is another good book to read. It is aimed at aggressive dogs but the principles apply to any dog that isn't in a calm state. Uta Bindel worked with a very vocal and hyper dalmation at her seminar on the weekend and got him into a calm state of mind very quickly. She did some things that seemed counter-intuitive to me but they worked. She fed him little bits very frequently to alter his state of mind and the second he was calm she worked him for a very short period and tried to finish the exercise before he barked. If he barked, she'd use a NRM and walk away - all fun ended.

Thanks all. Dee lee - I agree, it is outrageous that you can't walk down the street without encountering an off leash. I tried to take the guy's number plate but it was missing. So I've decided that I'm going to book a meeting with my local councillor and mayor and try to address the bigger problem of no law enforcement in my area (I have walked my dogs twice a day for 3 years and have never encountered a ranger enforcing dog laws). It might not help, but I feel that I need to do something constructive. If that doesn't work I might have to take the "pain in the arse" approach until they do something just to shut me up. Lucy's reactivity has greatly decreased, but this is due to management by me. Everytime these things happen she goes backwards.

What makes you think Australian poodle owners want a dog different to poodles in other parts of the world? I love my poodles for their playfulness, their love of life and their gaiety. If I didnt' want a happy outgoing dog I'd own another breed. They're not nut cases, they have an off switch and they don't bounce off the walls. But that is the point - they suit you (and me) but that temp doesn't suit a lot of people. Many families just want a dog who is happy to hang out with them. A dog that doesn't constantly think and require you to think in order to meet its needs. Personally, I'd be bored out of my mind with such a laid back dog, but that's just me. This thread has gone way OT, it was originally about a very small group of labx poodle breeders who are trying to get their breed recognised. Not the mass produced gen 1 oodles. But for some reason, people can't see past that. And now I'll go OT, sorry: I own a gen 1 oodle. Disclaimer: I don't promote DD's and would never get another one (due to ethical reasons). My next dog will be a PB standard schnauzer (if I can find a breeder who will sell me one. I work f/t which seems to rule me out automatically for a lot of breeders, never mind the fact that my dogs do agility twice a week, tricks every day, get walked 2 -3 times a day....but now I'm going OT....). I did have a giggle at all the "those oodles are crazy/I've never met a well behaved one" comments. I went to the Uta Bindel seminar on the weekend. I'll eat my laptop if anyone who saw my boy in action thought he was stupid, crazy etc. Even Uta commented to me what a smart, focused, good little worker he was.

Lucy hates the water with a passion! I once spilled a drop near her- she almost landed on my head. I think shed think I was torturing her if I tool her to a pool. It is really her weekday walks that are an issue - she does lots on the weekend but I am a strong believer in at least 1/2am hour of walking every day. We haven't been able to have that lately and I'm just cross at the world!

Ta that is far but it is a weekend walk option. The only other place where I feel safe is the botanical gardens when they open.

That was one of my safe places- princes hey. And then we ran into an offleash GSd who charged at us. Fortunately I was near my car so threw my two in the backseat. That was last night's experience. Right now my plan is to win Saturday's 20m draw and buy a private park - No dickheads allowed Eta bloody iPhone auto correct

Thanks- I knew the crazy dog ladies would understand :-). I am at a loss what to do. My previous safe place is safe no more. When I tell people she has issues they don't care- she is small so she will always come off second best. That or it is her problem if she has issues and their dog will " sort her out". She hasn't had a decent wall with me since Thursday. I take her Ou twice a day but we every time their have been unruly off leash fogs. I understand why people are pushed to PTS da dogs( she isn't in any danger of that, don't worry). I think I need to make her a rottie suit and then people might think twice about letting their dog harass her.

I sitting in the car on tears. TriEd to wall my dog with issues at an on lead park and it is dark. We still got harrassed by off leash fogs. My dog has issues so Im in the wrong. Im so over it. I hate - and I mean hate- 90% of dog owners right now. Most are so f**+* selfish . Oh and I acted like a crazy woman and had a fight with a guy ( put my dogs in the car first) . No point to this post really

tie a little piece of string to her lead. Let her drag it around (supervised of course). Repeat until she doesn't even notice it. Then make it slightly bigger etc. until she is draggint the leash behind her. Then, and only then, pick it up for a second, take one step. Praise, treat. Repeat. Do this for as long as it takes. You might take weeks to get her to the point where you can pick up the lead. Be patient. It isn't a race . I did this with a rescue who was absolutely petrified of the leash. She is now a happy little walker. ETA: You might not have thought that you scolded the puppy, but dogs are experts at reading body language. A slight slump of the sholders, squinting eyes etc can count as a major telling off from a sensitive dog. ETA ETA: Just read the vomiting bit. See a vet, contact the breeder.

*gasp* I let mine have the run of the house (no bedroom access though) and they had a dog door on day 1. They were fine. I' with you PF, there is a trend to inside only I don't really understand it. That said, my two are currently indoors after the dog door got used to break into my house twice! My outdoor area is very small so they are better off indoors but I'm getting a smaller dog door installed soon. I'm also looking move to a house with a bigger garden - when I do, they'll be outdoors and very happy about it.

My boy was (and still is) the little black cross breed with the mowhawk. He looks a lot like a mini schnauzer, but has poodle legs. Did your dog come too?

Staffies have been known to shake small dogs to death - no marks left.

Thanks- fergs does well despite my handling! For me the biggest lesson was to take things very slowly. Get the foundations right and proofed before moving on- make haste slowly. Don't be afraid to go back to the basics if you dog is making small mistakes. And finally, have fun with your dog!

Not all purebreds were bred to work - pugs, cavaliers etc were bred as companions. In "the olden days" people relied on dogs to work the farm, hunt etc. Now hunting is a sport, rather than a means of catching dinner. Our needs have changed, and therefore so have the functions that we require. We have many purebreds that can herd. By your thinking mumtoshelley, maybe we should only have one (ie we have a dog that already herds, therefore we don't need any more). ETA: My understanding is that "purebred" relates to pedigree and breeding true to type etc. It doesn't relate to a breeds ability to work or contribute something to society.

I have a girl with issues and I'm very afraid of large/powerful dogs so... I sometimes drive to really swanky suburbs to walk her! I find that less people have dogs and if they do they are SWF which, if worse comes to worse, I could sort out with a kick. The added advantage is a like looking at really nice houses, so it makes for pleasant walks. I also carry a bag with a squeaky ball. This won't stop an aggressive dog, but if an over-enthusiastic dog runs at you and your dog reacts you can throw if for the other dog to chase, giving you some escape time. I also sing little tunes to help me calm down. It is hard to be stressed when you're humming. I am sure that most people in my local area think I'm nuts, but that does mean they give me and my dogs some space . I second (third, fourth?) seeing a behaviourist. Also search for the "Look at That!" game on this forum. This has helped by me and my dog immensely (if she's calm, I'm calm and vice versa).