luvsablue

Hi all, I found the frog style not good, she used to crawl forward, I think they like doing it because it makes people laugh,

Hi, yes it sounds right. I used to leave her in a straight down and wondered why she used to roll onto one hip or the other during the stays. Then I twigged how uncomfortable it must be lying dead straight for 5 or 10 minutes (open or UD). So I used to say "lie down", not "drop" and she worked out this meant to find her most comfortable position and stay in it. Because if they roll onto their hip during the stays and show daylight under them they fail, always a shame if they are on a pass. From Luvsablue

When she's doing a seekback her tail is up high, when she's heeling her tail is 3/4 up, but just before we do a turn it goes right up and sort of cracks like a whip. I know because I've seen her on video. Luvsablue

TerraNik said "The only thing I could think it would be 'useful' for competition-wise is Heelwork to Music/Dancing with Dogs." Hi TerraNik, I've got a DVD Of Richard Curtis training his young dog for heelwork to music called "Puppy to Performance" His website: www.k9freestyle.co.uk I think it would be helpful for increasing the dog's backend awareness. In the DVD he also does dog keeping front position so dog is sidestepping while he sidesteps; they are at a right angle to each other. I can't explain it very well, but you might like to see the DVD. Cheers Luvsablue and Beckie the Bluey, Victoria

[quote name='Staranais' date='28th Oct 2009 - 07: So I guess it all depends exactly what you mean by "jackpot". I think a jackpot is just as in gambling. Entirely unpredictable, and random, except we (unlike the real poker machines) make sure the dog doesn't use up all its "cash" (motivation, mental energy) before "winning". I use the idea to improve concentration and to lift the dog's interest in the activity. Random mini rewards, and a jackpot at least once every session. Surprise for the dog, but linked to some extra good work, sometimes merely a very good finish, or a beautiful bit of attentive watching. I have seen her regain interest in an exercise by randomly rewarding and continue to be interested in it for many sessions after a jackpot was included. That's how they trap the gamblers!!! Luvsablue Victoria

The problems were caused by me. I was practising the positions in motion too much and rewarding them often. She started stopping whenever she thought the judge was going to call one especially the stand. I started stooping over so I could look down at her and you can imagine how awful it was. A friend pointed out my terrible posture which I corrected: this was half the battle. The other half was realising that by ignoring her heelwork except the 3 positions in motion was making her lose interest in the whole exercise, and so only seeing the p i ms as important. I started back on praising and rewarding all parts of the heelwork and only doing the 3 pos in motion once unless she made an error. She's not looking for them now but has gone back to paying attention to my signals and verbals. And I'm doing more random rewards in the heeling so she's watching me hoping to cash in on whatever's on offer.But this is probably in the wrong topic, it's more training than bragging, sorry. Luvsablue Victoria

Hi Mym, It is only in Victoria as far as I know maybe best to contact Theresa Brook to make certain. We got brochures at Gisborne Obedience Trial yesterday. From Luvsablue, Victoria.

There's a seminar with Uta Bindels in January 2010, at the State Dog Centre, KCC Park, Skye Victoria. You can book or inquire by phone, Theresa Brook, (03) 53487735, or email [email protected] It is a good chance to catch up with Uta if you missed her last time. I will be there for one. Luvsablue Victoria

" I LOVE reading about everyone successes in the trial ring and at home so please post away!!" OK I will, because at Gisborne Trials yesterday Beckie and I got another pass in UDX. She did good work and was very happy to do it. I was rapt because we had one or two little problems which I've been working on. She's 10 nearly 11, but is working better and better. I must be doing something right! From Luvsablue and Beckie the Blue Dog.

I use any food which does not drop to bits, and which I would eat myself (because of spitting it), and which is strong smelling. Remember, hunger is the best sauce, so make sure your dog is eager to eat. From, Luvsablue

Why is it that a question about all the training methods seemed to produce answers which mainly were about curing problems, aggression, fear biting, attacking other dogs in parks? Or at least that's the impression I get. I have training friends in VCA and in schutzhund. We just train the behaviours we want, whether for competition work, or everyday living. The nasty stuff isn't an issue. We use a mixture of + methods and reprimands, but more rewards than reprimands. Ivan Balabanov is my favourite trainer, his methods are relevant to any branch of obedience training. I know that remedial training is important, but anyone reading the topic would get the impression that most training is remedial and dealing with nasty behavioural issues. Whereas most training is about dogs with good temperaments learning to improve their lives, and having fun. Or is it? Should it be? I think so. from luvsablue

Well I put it in brags that my dog is my first dog ever so is my first trialling dog. She got her CD in five tries and went well with three firsts. She had five goes at Open and got her CDX. We took 6 months to learn UD and she had 5 goes at that too. Then it was OC in the days when you needed at least 3 firsts and 5 scores over 185. This took longer because she enjoyed it so much she'd fly around doing great work but often slipped up, like taking the bar jump twice or some other "mad moment". She got her OC with 5 1sts and no score under 190. She never got a pass under 185, just lots of crazy nqs. We did another year and qualified for Top Dog, then started training for UDX. By then her jumping days were over, she had a crook disk in her spine and managed to recover enough to get her UDX title in June this year at age 10. She is a cattle dog cross with a big heart and a good brain. I was very lucky the day I found her at the RSPCA, a gorgeous 4 month old puppy. She was easy to train and I had a great teacher and lots of help from the Mornington Obed Dog Club. I intend to do a few trials more while we are both still enjoying it. From Jan and Beckham (the dog)

I love the chance to have a brag, love this thread. June 7th, Sunday, my Australian Cattle Dog cross got her third pass in UDX, so hello title! Seeing she"s 10 years old this is MAJOR for me. She's still doing a few trials, because she enjoys training, but I'll only do the ones I really like (and she really likes). We enjoy the small country trials best, but will have a go at the State Trial in August. From Luvsablue Victoria

Hi all, I'm going to be there to watch and learn, and to support my buddy Robyn who is competing in Schutzhund II. See you there. From Luvsablue, Victoria

Not a real difficulty where your leg is in relation to the dog. I used to try leaving her with my right leg, which made me hesitate. Then I found that after she caught on to it it didn't matter which leg. Initially I added the word stay and kept walking. But as mentioned by kallistar 19th April, slow it down at first. The trickiest thing for me was the dog anticipating the position and doing it as soon as the judge called it. Also I used lots of reward for quick responses in the initial stages. And I would walk around her after she dropped, sat etc. ot turn around as soon as I commanded so I was in front of the dog. After a while they do it with voice only or a hand signal. I couldn't think up a signal for the sit in motion, so only use a voice command for it. From luvsablue, Vic

I don't think it matters whether we call it "work" or "sport"; let's be honest we do it to show our training skills, or to exhibit our dogs, or simply to compete against others. But even so, I've got a suspicion that it is good for the dog's brain to learn new stuff and it strengthens the bond between dog and handler. And I have heard people say that a dog is a good worker if the dog does the tasks well. Anyway my dog thinks of it as fun, and I try to keep it that way. Question; would we think obedience was work if it was paid? When I compete in an obedience trial it's not work, more like when I used to play tennis on a weekend.