rubyroo

I'm not sure whether you can use a phone, but I've read that the garmin unit is the best. The other brands just don't have the reliability. Maybe try google?

It's too cold to camp

Well we finally had a great arvo session! :D took all 3 for a run around to get the sting out of them. The 2old farts got locked in the back of the truck, and surprise, no screaming, no jumping over fences, finally peace and quiet rocket and I went back to the front paddock with a long rope and 3 dummies. Just did some walking fetch, here,sit. He got a few fun ones for being good, and a reminder when he thought he would go water the trees. I think he has decided that he will come and sit first then he can go pee on what he wants providing there isn't a dummy in his mouth. We did a few repeats of this and he was really enthusiastic, so that was great. I then threw 3 marks and lined him up and he nailed every one of them, came and sat. It really made such a difference without the other dogs there, we had a lot of fun together, I really need to build on this relationship. While I was getting their dinner he had to sit with a frozen pigeon in his mouth, I want him to realise which he can eat and which he can't, he wasn't to fussed on the bird, but did hold and got rewarded. A successful afternoon! Cheers!

Great TSD! You just can't neglect a concept can you? She is a smart little girl! Waiting is good, teaches patience I was watching my training DVD today whilst ironing (damn magic fairy just never seems to show her head around here!). And decided that I need to start work on my double T before the weather warms up and can concentrate on water. So I started with some obedience, 'what's that, says rocket, I'd much rather watch what the cows are doing because I know there are rabbits where they are! Talk about being back to square one! we did nothing but heel, and a few fetch from the ground. But it was a start and sort of good, he didn't give me 100% but did, unwillingly, do as he was told. So tomorrow we will do same again, and try for a little more compliance. On our walk he found a dead bird in the paddock and thought he won the best prize ever, took some convincing for him to hand it over but once he did I just set him up for some blinds, and he had a ball. Must go back and do some work on hold he didn't mark the bird but was getting rather rough rolling it. Till tomorrow!

That just doesn't make any sense at all! :laugh: (Let him get away with it). Stoopid auto correct! May be I was on my second glass of red!

I really have the pack drive problem with the boys and there are so many roos at the moment. Not easy trying to train two dogs, especially if their collars run off the one receiver They just have to walk with me until I have scanned every inch of the paddock. The collar has saved many roos(sometimes their drive is too strong and nothing will stop them), and snake issues. So they are on a real short leash (so to speak) at the moment. We are now experiencing problems with wild pigs, they haven't made it through the back fence but only a matter of time, so what then?

Neither is a steel cap boot, or a lump of wood, or being banished from family time, in the hands of an idiot. Please do some thorough research into the positive benefits of this training tool and how it could save an animals life before you come to this conclusion.

Just noticed this topic here as well as training/obedience section. Your dogs must understand the command before you use the ecollar, it is only a reinforcer. They won't understand what the stimulation is for if they don't know what is required of them. It is a life saving tool and if researched properly has endless benefits. Good luck

Spoil yourself blackjaq! Just let it sit in the cupboard!! :D

Interesting, maybe it's the toxicity of the venom? My bitch is collar smart, won't go near a snake if I'm there but I don't trust her for a minute if I'm not! My dog is so different, I've seen him about 5m away from a snake and try and detour even further away, needless to say his training worked really well (and a brilliant detector of something not right). Still training the young dog, I also scream like a crazy lady and that seems to be enough for him to take cover, (during training, the panic needs to come out in your body language, they do pick up on your moods) but Im not home during the day and with all the snake proofing I've done I still occasionally get them in the house yard, I'm like a nervous wreck in summer. But I need to do what I can to keep them safe.

I agree with lukegsp. Anything in the wrong hands has the potential to be harmful. If people take the time to educate themselves and understand the benefits of the life saving tool it can be, it might not be perceived as such an evil tool. Just keep in mind that dogs know the difference between a snake and a lizard as they have a different smell, so you may end up training avoidance from the wrong animal. A fresh dead snake (or road kill) is generally the best for training. Also the dog needs to understand the command before a collar is introduced it is only an enforcer, You are the teacher. Good luck, very interested how your sessions go!

Great weekend TSD. Rain is just no fun. We had Icey cold winds and also no fun. Rocket is also starting to pop on memory blinds, I wasn't happy and had to keep calling him back and re sending him, I think my fault as he hadn't had a good run first and obviously a few roos had been through over night, the 3 of them were going crazy. But I asked him to do a job and he didn't want to, and I wasn't going to let him give me the bird! I've found another property nearby which I've been given access to so I must make the most of it before it warms up. I'm very excited to try some new exercises! It's not easy trying to find clear sky at times, I still manage to hit most trees, luck they have been coming down! Also enjoying a glass of red in front of the fire, love winter!!

Lucky you! Yes known blinds are good, but today mr smarty pants thought he knew where I was going to send him, so I found it very difficult to line him up, (this was rather frustrating). I'm also finding as soon as I say 'dead bird' he keeps jumping forward, I think the heeling stick needs to come to training! I did a little water work, but surely it isn't pleasant it hasn't been warmer than minus 4 for a few days, I'm really wanting to focus on this now. But still need lots of land work, so much to do before all the snakes come back They are funny after a few days off, mine just follow me and whine and bark until I do something with them, rocket will find anything to put in his mouth to bring to me hoping we might do something. Your training sounds great, she really is doing a great job, she is really understanding what she is required to do, good on you both! National next year?

Wow TSD a week away with the dogs, how lovely. Not a chance mine would be allowed to come unless there was a trial. So many new areas what fantastic training opportunity. We've just been doing a few line drills, backs and overs, all going well. We have about 6 memory blinds on our walk and he is loving it. Will have to start to have a few new ones shortly. Have a good weekend!

SNT if you can't wait till the seminar you can purchase direct from: http://www.hawkeyemedia.net/ Great DVDs !

We've spent a week across the boarder at the gorgeous mt buller! We all had so much fun, the kids are getting really good and skiing. So no training or doggy things for a whole week back into it tomorrow hopefully. How was the agility TSD? Are you attending bill Hillman later this year, I'm still undecided.

They only illegal to use, not own. Great tool for saving your dog or wildlife's life. Like you said Anything in the wrong hands without correct training can be dangerous. it helps reinforce the command you have given. Why tell a dog 'here' 5 times, before he does it, why not tell him once? Non compliance is just not acceptable in certain circumstances re, chasing. Either the dog or the one being chased could have a very bad outcome. Controlling a dog definately does not rein enthusiasm. It teaches it boundaries, but it also learns there is still a reward if compliant. He needs to learn you are the hunter not Him. You will let him help you 'retrieve' if well behaved, this is a huge reward.

It's a great feeling when you can get them back on track with a few handles, we managed to do this yesterday as well, just wish I had a steep hill to practice on. We had a few fun retrieves in the water, jump in, shampoo, jump back in to rinse off, 3ft of air from land to water don't know what his problem was last week? The sun was awesome, jumped on the 4wheeler, not a chance I could keep up with the dogs! Man they can run fast! Pile work is brilliant, I try and do this a few times a week and his overs are starting to sink in and get better, definately worth the effort! Puppy cuddles are great!

Thanks TSD. You make sense of it all nice to have another opinion. Definitely trying to eliminate all pressure as I've had the disappointment of a bird chomper and don't want to go down that road again. I am up to water work in training but it was just getting to cold to push the issue. He will still go in in the morning chasing ducks or fun dummies, but too cold for drills just want to make it as pleasant as possible. No more trialling for us this year I don't want him to learn he can't do whatever he wants come trial day. Like you said short and fun sessions, he really gets excited about it all. Totally agree on the last point, he has always been a little too confident and will take anything out of anyone's mouth if he thinks he should have it! His blind work is coming along nicely I have several spots (,memory blinds) we do every other day and he gets so excited when I call him in for them, he knows what's coming, makes me happy he gets so much enjoyment out of it. His overs are getting a little better moved to a different location today, it went well. Have a great weekend!

Hi all! We hit a problem trialling last week, the water was too cold and rocket wanted to run banks and not get in! We were told we would get hit more (losing points) if we let the dog run the bank, so should stop them and get them to go in we're they are supposed to (this is novice, lucky I can stop him!). So after lots of stopping and overs and backs he got in the water where he was supposed to, so that was great. The next day I'm not sure if he saw the bird fall, I know he heard it but was very focused on the thrower. He ran the bank looked over, I'm sure he knew it was there. And just kept fart arsing around. SO what do you do? Do you go down and make him get in at a 90* angle (this run has a very big angle but enoughh scrub and trees around to justify it) and just not let him get away with it. Or do you retire him for the retreive no reward no bird? I made him get in, when he finally got in he found a nest of ducks, fat chance he was picking the bird up, ignored every 'here' and come in whistle. After holding everyone up for some time, I thought I was going to have to go swimming, a dog was sent across to pick up the bird. Rocket was not impressed and decided to fisty cuff him for it, what a disaster, no one was hurt, very embarrassed.

Hope u sort out the BB issue. I find if I let mine sit for a week, especially in winter the charge drains pretty quick, so I just give it a little top up for about a hour before I head out. Probably shouldn't but it drives me nuts if u lug it around for ,nothing. Yes the water is so cold at the moment, I keep sending rocket into the water on our walks and make it fun, no pressure till spring as I don't want him to sour. The last trial he really didn't want to get in, lucky his drive for the bird overcome it. But will turn around at minus 4 and chase ducks! TSD, rocket is 19mths and stinger is almost 10, old girl ruby is 12. RV I can't see your photos either. Aussielover where a outs in NSW are you? I'm just out of ACT.

Hi Aussielover! Welcome to retrieving. Glad Mindy enjoyed herself, it is a lot of fun! You can buy super cheap dummies on line from, eBay, cabelas or huntemup. Just google them and you can get websites from there. There is a really nice guy in VIC who also sells training equipment, http://www.specdog.com.au/dummies,_pegs_&_vests.html We had an interesting morning training. Decided to venture into another paddock to change scenery, smells and location!! After chasing 50 odd roos out of the paddock (before we even got out of the car). I set the bumper boy up and a few blinds. The smell of roos was just too much to handle, so after a few attempts rocket got sent back into the truck and thought I would tease him and let stinger have a turn! That worked, he paid attention the next time he was allowed out, only for about 2 runs. The next run fell to pieces. He was half way out to the dummy and decided the quail in the paddock were more fun. After that one took off I told him there was 'one more', he couldn't get there quick enough. He was so not interested in retreiving now!! So i put the long rope on and decided to got hunting for the birds again, no luck with birds but we did find a hare!! He was rock solid on point, and we just watched him bounce away! Back to the retreiving drawing board tomorrow.

Congrats TSD and Em!! What a great weekend :D

Just waiting for a very windy day for today's brilliant effort!!!

I am also fantastic and landing dummies up trees, could b the only tree in the paddock, I rarely miss!,, rather funny watching the dog look for it!