Zug Zug

Okay, I now officially blame you people for my spending spree on Clean Run after reading this thread!

Get David Weston's book 'Dog Training - The gentle modern method' Done in the 80s and still a fantastic book. Good clear instructions and pictures - step by step. This is it - you'll find it around at book shops sometimes too: http://www.ozpetshop.com.au/product_info.php/products_id/34

Count me in

Oh no! I assumed it was cancelled because of the heat. I must have read the wrong part of the magazine - I thought it said it would have to be cancelled. Oh well - air conditioning at home was nice I guess. Hardly any more trials coming up. Unless we trial on New Year's Eve, I think we have to wait until March now

At the end of a long hot week, we seem to have made it through OK. Got in a routine of leaving them outside for the morning, then popping home at lunch to bring them inside into their crate. Then back outside in the evening. So they were inside for the hottest part of the day, and much cooler. Also did the frozen water in a bowl trick. And an extra bath (they didn't like that bit so much but it was good for them). Less walks than normal - one of mine is getting VERY ratty as a result. But that's just physical/emotional frustration. When it cools down that will be easily fixed. We went for a long walk tonight so hopefully that has helped to take the edge off. Cooler tomorrow - hooray!

How do cool collars work? Do they last all day or need topping up every couple of hours? That sounds like a really good idea. I've frozen 2 bowls of water for them today - one for the morning and one for the afternoon. If they're still flat tonight I might head off to the vet.

My dogs are 11 and 11.5 years old. Usually cope well in hot weather, with some simple precautions. But this latest heat wave in Adelaide has really knocked them around (me, too). My bichon looked really sad on Monday morning after a pretty hot weekend, so I arranged to take him to my aunty's house in the air con for a few days. He had really bad diarrhoea later that day and overnight, and was really lethargic so she tells me. He picked up the next day (I called in - he was pretty happy), but then after I left started pining to come home and kept them awake all night. He's home again now. I have to go to work tomorrow. Poodle cross is also pretty lethargic - I suppose that's sensible tho isn't it? But it's not like her to be so flat. I'm a bit worried about them. They've never reacted like this before. I am keeping them in their crate inside at night (like normal), letting them out in the morning, then calling in at home at lunch time to bring them back inside during the hottest part of the day. Teenagers then let them out for a toilet stop at around 4pm, then let them back inside again. Late evening (very late evening) walk has turned out not to be all that popular with my usually exuberant poodle cross - she just walks along looking pretty tired. Not like her. I haven't attempted it with the bichon - he's clearly not up to it and doesn't usually need the exercise so much. We have lots of shade in the backyard, lots of water etc. etc. - but let's face it, it's really hot even in the shade. Help? Ideas? Maybe some blocks of ice. I gave them some frozen bones the other day but I'm wondering if that is what led to the diarrhoea. Took the poodle cross to the beach for a swim on Sunday and have the scratches on my arm to remind me that she wasn't all that keen (she just tried to climb onto the top of my head to get out of the water). How do other peoples' older dogs cope in the heat?

Now that's really cool! It's always so much more fun teaching the silly things. And all dogs should have a few good party tricks, shouldn't they?

Also keen to find out more - I will be trying my hand at instructing for the first time next year. I agree lots of heeling was really hard for us when we were coming up through the classes. Still is - dog gets bored, I get bored. It always seemed to me a lot to expect from young dogs, in particular. So what are the alternatives? The classes I will be involved with are 45 mins. Sometimes the class sizes are very large - up to 20 dogs (which is why they've been out looking for more instructors).

I have a close friend that lives in Tassie, and have been wondering how I might go about entering an obedience trial over there. Does anyone know how this would work? I am a member of Dogs SA but not of any of the interstate associations. Do you need to join their local Canine Control or can you just sign up and compete? Do you use the same forms as we use at home?

Try placing a very low bar jump in the middle of the broad jump boards, to teach your dog to jump with a bit of height, as well as length. This will avoid ideas of stepping on the boards. Oscar learning broad jump Reminds me of this old photo

One of the great advantages of working really close to home is you get to make good use of your lunch break... I got a bit excited today - went down to the local hardware shop with all of your great ideas in my mind. I was only going to look, but one thing led to another and ta-da - we have a new dog jump. Total cost $38.17 including a spare jump bar and loads of left-over tarzan grip and duct tape. See pictures below - Zamba seems happy but wanted to stop with the dumbbell in the shade under the verandah instead of staying on the grass (don't you know that's actually our TOILET you're asking me to sit on?). Mozart is not sure about the whole thing, but he won't be doing any jumping anyway. Good thing I didn't call in at the animal shelter during my lunch break, eh? Anything could happen... (this is how we got Zamba in the first place!)

Cool idea - count me in! The bar jump looks like something even I could handle. I could bring my sewing machine along and sew us all some groovy canvas bags to keep them in while we're at it! And I take the point about the broad jump. One less thing to worry about...

It's that time of year again, and I'm putting my family on notice for what xmas presents I would like this year I'm thinking some jumps for Open training would be perfect - solid, bar, broad jump. Anyway, I'm not sure where you can buy home versions of these jumps. Or do people make them instead? I'm pretty lazy/lousy with a hammer and my husband is a bit similar (better than me, but pretty busy). So either we go with very easy/quick construction, or we buy something and be done with it. I would like to be able to use them at home, but also pack them up easily and take them to a local park to train. Any ideas?

Thanks very much - that's great. I'll just show up around 7pm. Happy to 'waste' some time talking about training issues anyway!

I heard recently about an obedience seminar in Adelaide tonight, but I couldn't go because I had to work. Tonight's work thingy has been cancelled - but now I don't know where the seminar is! Can anyone shed any light? I think some of the Dover members are going, not sure who else...

OOH and am I right in thinking you can talk, clap, cheer, wave your arms around and be lively etc. to help your dog through? But I assume you can't touch your dog. Does that sound about right?

I'm in SA - and yes we are already joined up to Dogs SA so no problem there. Tunnels as well as jumps? Then what is the difference between a jumping and agility course?

I'm curious about introducing my dog to some simple agility exercises. She loves to jump over things (started when my girls were young and she was required to perform as a backyard show-jumping pony - without a passenger of course ). Anyway I'm wondering what she would need to do to get a JD title? Is there a set course? Different types of jumps? A time limit? I know I should go along to a trial (I will) but I was just wondering if someone could give me an idea what I will be looking at and what the rules are.

Yep that was us - and thanks I might just take you up on that sometime! The clicker training has made a big difference and is a big part of the reason her tail was wagging so much today. I think I'll be smiling for days...

And then there are those of us who are reeeaaaallly slooooow.... Zamba and I started weekend training (half-heartedly) when she was 7 years old. She got her CCD at 10 years old. We now have one leg of her CD title and she is 11. We'd be happy to get her CD before she breaks a hip! :D The point with us is really that I'm a learner. She's a great student - if only I'd stop teaching her all the wrong things! But honestly I don't care much. We have a great time and she neeeeeeds the stimulation (bonkers dog otherwise), so I reckon who cares how long it takes? It's a great game I play with my dogs, we love it, so we keep coming back.

Me too - Zamba and I passed in Novice (at last! ) with a score of 192. Brought home some really nice trophies and a huge smile. Judge said she was in position the whole time (really??? I wish I had a video) and wagged her tail the whole time too. She even did her stand for exam for a MAN which has always been really hard for us. I've been getting my husband to work with her at home and I guess that paid off. It was nice to see her enjoying herself so much. Had someone take some photos too (but forgot to give her my email address). I wanted a record because this might never happen again!

Seriously impressive - Jedi works so close to you and attention is fantastic. Inspiring. Zamba and I are in a trial tomorrow, but our track record of late is AWFUL. But you never know - what is it they say about a bad rehearsal?

My little fella was a bit barky when he was young (up to 1 year), but very quiet as an adult dog. I would not describe his bark as yappy, though - for a small dog it's quite a mellow, medium toned bark. He will still bark when my other dog gets barking, but I can't remember the last time he started barking at anything in his own right. If I take him walking at the beach on his own he won't utter a sound but just wag his tail and greet every other dog on the beach. Brilliant social skills!

Great - ear coverage as well as body coverage! Looks like it could get a bit hot in there? My grass seed problem rears its ugly head in the summer months, so that might be a problem in our situation.